The thousands of men and women who inspected the Tower Saturday and Saturday night paid us a compliment we can never forget. “I do not believe any building in America was ever opened with such great public interest as the people of San Antonio displayed at the dedication of the Tower … It is needless to say that we were deeply gratified. Properties Co., one of the tower’s developers, placed an ad in Monday’s San Antonio Express: The turnout was so vast that people were turned away. After speeches, the Edgar Rogers band played popular dance music on the roof where “many couples danced until midnight.” Mary’s Street to the coffee shop at the Plaza Hotel, now the Granada Homes. People strolled the promenade of the 22nd floor, they explored the tunnel extending beneath St. The crowd did not become thin until midnight.” “Hundreds didn’t wait for elevators but climbed up and down long flights of stairs. “The six elevators, having all-automatic controls, were not able to handle the crowds,” the Light wrote. That night, the tower was “ablaze with lights,” and roughly 5,000 people attended the festivities, which began at 8:30 p.m., the San Antonio Light reported. It was a Saturday, and throngs explored the wedding cake-tiered building during a daytime open house. On June 1, 1929, the Smith-Young Tower formally opened to the public. From opening day 85 years ago, when it debuted as the Smith-Young Tower, the 31-story skyscraper drew the masses. San Antonian’s enchantment with the Tower Life Building isn’t one that took years to develop. Rick Hunter/Staff Rick Hunter, Staff Show More Show Less JOHN DAVENPORT / STAFF JOHN DAVENPORT, STAFF / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS Show More Show Less 10 of10 DAILY FOR METRO- The carpet inside the expansion of the convention center shows various historical buildings of the city including the Tower Life Building. Shown here are San Fernando Cathedral (bottom, foreground), the Tower Life building (rt.) and the Tower of the Americas (L). ITC photo UTSA Special Collections Show More Show Less 9 of10 Varied architecture in San Antonio. (Wednesday July 30, 2008.) JOHN JOHN DAVENPORT, / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS Show More Show Less 8 of10 Main Plaza Tower Life Building under construction in background. JERRY JERRY LARA / San Antonio Express-News Show More Show Less 7 of10 Main Plaza is well illuminated at night and provides a nice evening view of the Tower Life building (center). Also aerials of downtown and Alamo Stadium, the quarry and Loop 410/U.S. The antenna removal is part of the restoration of the building. John Davenport, Staff / San Antonio Express-News Show More Show Less 6 of10 METRO - Workers start dismantling the antenna atop the Tower Life building, Monday, Jan. John Davenport, Staff / San Antonio Express-News Show More Show Less 5 of10 Gargoyles are one of the many favorite details featured on the exterior of the Tower Life Building in downtown San Antonio, Texas. Hernandez said she has no plans to retire any time soon. Hernandez said there were once 12 elevator operators in the building and she is the sole elevator operator left there. She has worked as an elevator operator at the Tower Life Building since the 1950s. John Davenport /San Antonio Express-News Show More Show Less 4 of10 Lupe Hernandez,76, stands Tuesday Main the lobby of the Tower Life Building. Originally called the Smith-Young Tower after its builders, the building was downtown’s crown jewel when it opened in 1929. John Davenport, Staff / San Antonio Express-News Show More Show Less 3 of10 The Tower Life Building is viewed from St. Originally called the Smith-Young Tower after its builders, the building opened in 1929. Mary's Street Tuesday Main downtown San Antonio. John Davenport /San Antonio Express-News Show More Show Less 2 of10 The Tower Life Building (center, with flag) is viewed from St. 1 of10 Originally called the Smith-Young Tower after its builders, the The Tower Life Building was downtown’s crown jewel when it opened in 1929.
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