The real Taxi Driver: The Belmore, August 1976
News of the Cheyenne Diner's planned move to Brooklyn inspired me to once again dive into my photo archives for these images of the Belmore Cafeteria from August 1976.
Known as a locale in the movie "Taxi Driver," the cafeteria on Park Ave. South between 27th and 28th Streets always had a line of yellow cabs parked outside, day and night.
Sadly it closed in 1981, at a time when it served up to 5,000 people a day. Today a high-rise condominium stands in its place.
The first image, left, is a taxi driver (not Travis Bickle) after he finished his meal.
Below is the sign familiar to all as they entered through the turnstile: "Minimum check 25 cents at all times Strictly Enforced" (Note: Click on images for larger view.)
-- Jefferson Siegel
Photos by Jefferson Siegel
Comments (1)
Actually I think it was on Park between 28th & 29th Streets, on the East Side of the Avenue, not between 27th & 28th.
Go slow-mo in Taxi Driver as Wizard pulls away from Travis after they have their convo outside, (and the camera's looking rearward from Wizard's cab), you'll see the street sign is 28th, and the one-way sign is pointed to the left.
28th Street goes eastbound currently (I was too young to ever see the place in-person) but I imagine 28th street always was eastbound. Which means Wizard took off north on Park, which places Belmore between 28th & 29th.