Back in the olden days.
There's no denying that from a strictly aesthetic point of view, the 1930-1940 skyline looked wicked.
The golden days. Where men smoked cigars, dressed in suits, and the mafia was in control. Which was great because a job at the port could feed a family of 4. And... they always paid on time. The golden era of unions and safe neighborhoods!
Where men could lounge around after a hard days of labor and get a beer or whiskey for 5 cents. Where businessmen could make deals to carve the skyline, and later, go to Times Square to "rub" some stress off.
Midtown Manhattan skyline from roof. New York, ca. 1939 by
cobravictor, on Flickr