Sammy’s Bowery Follies was the New York bar where hobos, sailors, socialites, and photographers drank together. Grit, vaudeville, Weegee, and one very smart barman who knew a good show when he saw one.

When imagining royal palaces, the mind conjures visions of gilded halls, glittering chandeliers, and extravagant banquets. But beneath the veneer of grandeur lay a pungent reality that few history books care to emphasise. For centuries, royal residences were not just seats of power—they were veritable cesspools of filth, overflowing chamber pots, and dubious hygiene practices. If ever there were a reason to appreciate modern plumbing, the sordid history of royal palaces might

New York City in the 1970s was a world away from the shiny, modern metropolis we see today. The city was facing serious challenges—budget...