Astor Library

John Astor.

John Astor bequeathed $400,000 to build the Astor Library and its building, which would become the New York Public Library.

Oh, was that where I saw Winnie the Pooh? Yes.

Is that the exact actual book? Yes.

something.

So rich people used to have to do stuff.

So he built the Astor Library and And its building was the New York Public Library.

But then they basically, at a certain point in time, consolidated all the libraries into the New York Public Library system.

As Kara mentioned in our episode here, that the Ghostbusters actually did film their iconic opening scene from the original movie down in the basement stacks, like she talked about where all the books are kept for the haunted library that opens up the movie Ghostbusters.

And on another interesting history pop culture note, before the main library opened or was built, it had a predecessor called the Astor Library.

And there was a very famous 19th century sighting that occurred in the old library, the old Astor Library.

The librarian that was working there one night, saw the ghost of a deceased local physician reading books on witchcraft.

Now, like I said, some of these, that story, you know, is from a very long time ago.

All right.

The Public Theatre.

Oh.

Off-Broadway.