Before New York built its legendary subway system, an inventor quietly constructed a different kind of underground transit—powered not by electricity, but by air. In 1870, Alfred Ely Beach opened the Beach Pneumatic Transit beneath Broadway, a functioning subway that silently whisked passengers through a sealed tunnel using air pressure. It was revolutionary, popular—and ultimately, shut down.

This episode dives into the forgotten story of America’s earliest subway experiment, built in secret under Manhattan at a time when the city’s streets were choked with chaos. We’ll explore how political corruption, especially from Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall, crushed the project—and how the remains were unearthed decades later during construction of the modern subway system.

Discover the bold innovation that came before its time—and what might still be buried beneath New York’s streets.

Chloe Rose Fineman is an American actress and comedian who has been a repertory player on Saturday Night Live since 2021. She joined the show as a featured player in 2019 during its 45th season. Fineman is known for her portrayal of Kelsey, a new bride and mother whose friends celebrate her life events by changing popular song lyrics to tell the story of her affair. Also all her hilarious impressions!

Brooklyn photographer Samuel Gottscho is well known for his New York City photography in the 1930's. We have featured his photos on Viewing NYC a few times before, and now we have this gem to share with you as well.

The Empire State Building has one of the most iconic observation decks in the world. Celebrated by locals, tourists, movies and television shows alike, the view from the deck is one of the best sights in all of New York. This shot was captured by Gottscho on it's opening day, May 1st, 1931, and shows a much different view of lower Manhattan than the one we enjoy today.