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Daniel J. Wakin

Author, Journalist

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Photo by Chang W. Lee

Author Bio

Daniel J. Wakin is a journalist at The New York Times. Read the full bio.

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Barnes and Noble

MWSOL in the News

New York Times Close Up

MetroFocus: The Podcast

West Side Spirit

On the Town with Michael Riedel, AM970

Brick Underground

Upcoming Events

obits meeting March 27, 2023 at 10:30 am – 11:00 am
turnaround meeting March 27, 2023 at 4:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Praise

“An urban anthropological biography of seven Upper West Side buildings [that] provides an inviting window on New York’s variety and vibrancy.” —The New York Times

“Wakin’s aim is to find the hidden lives in these stalwart buildings of New York’s Upper West Side, but it is he who breathes life into them in this wonderful reverie of a book. All city streets should have such history; and all micro-histories – peopled with Runyan-esque gangsters, early biotech adventurers, and unscrupulous society folk – should have a chronicler the likes of Wakin to lend them the breadth, insight, and vitality that you will find on each and every page.” —Jonathan Rabb, author, “Among the Living”

“Wakin is an excellent storyteller. … While you understand that this book is about a few buildings, it also feels inescapably like a larger story about New York.” — Alexander Aciman, The Tablet

“A riveting true crime story that also unlocks the doors of some of New York’s most evocative characters of the last century. A great read for anyone interested in the secrets of the city.” — Michael Gross, editor, Avenue Magazine, and author, “740 Park: The Story of the World’s RIchest Apartment Building”

A wonderful writer and terrific reporter, Daniel Wakin brings alive the many tales of a single city block, taking us on journey back to a vanished New York —

Michael Shapiro

author, “The Last Good Season” and “Bottom of the Ninth”

“Wow! Who knew?” — Jack Ford, Channel 13

Photographs

The dining room at 330 Riverside Drive, 1907. Notice the ghost butler on the left. Courtesy of Brian Finnerty

Second-floor hallway at 330 Riverside Drive, with butler. 1907. Courtesy of Brian Finnerty

Dr. Jokichi Takamine, an owner of 334 Riverside Drive. Courtesy of Great People of Kanazawa Memorial Museum

R.B. Davis and his daughter Lucretia at 330 Riverside Drive. Courtesy of Brenda Steffon

The Rubel warehouse as it looks today. By Laurence Beckhardt

The Seven Beauties, 1932. Courtesy of New York Public Library

Jennie Davis, first mistress of 330 Riverside Drive. Courtesy of Brenda Steffon

Side view of 330 Riverside Drive, along 105th Street. 1907. Courtesy of Brian Finnerty

A delicate Marion Davies in 1922, while making her home in 331 Riverside Drive, bought by her lover William Randolph Hearst. New York Times/Redux.

A fierce-looking R.B. Davis, master of 330 Riverside and inventor of Davis Baking Powder. Courtesy of Brenda Steffon

Detail, 333 Riverside Drive. By Laurence Beckhardt

Detail, 330 Riverside Drive. By Laurence Beckhardt

Detail, 337 Riverside Drive. By Laurence Beckhardt

Caroline Takamine, who lived with her husband Jokichi in 334 Riverside Drive. Courtesy of Great People of Kanazawa Memorial Museum

Percy Geary, a member of the Rubel heist gang, is seen here after his arrest on a previous kidnapping charge. He was named but never charged in the armored car robbery but went to Alcatraz for the kidnaping. The New York Times. Percy Geary, last of the three escaped members of the O’Connell kidnap gang, as he was brought into headquarters at Syracuse, N.Y., Nov. 18 after his capture. His capture followed that of his two cronies, John Oley and Harold Crowley, on Nov. 17. The trio escaped from Onondago County Prison two days ago. 11/18/1937 NYTCREDIT: Associated Press

Percy Geary’s mug shot. By The New York Times

Joseph Kress, a member of the Rubel gang, who stole the getaway cars and drove one of them. The New York Times

Bernard McMahon, the man in the title.

Lothar W. Faber

Bernard McMahon working as a bartender in a photograph provided by his family.

Follow Daniel J. Wakin on WordPress.com

My New York Times articles

You can find them here. They are listed in strictly chronological order so be patient

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