The Players ARCHITECT: Unknown DATE: 1845 The porch of this building represents the epitome of refinement and elegance and that this handsome addition brought a new gaiety to New York City. This building was remodeled from a Gothic Revival townhouse. The very distinguished front porch of the Players with its handsome iron railings and gorgeous wrought iron lamps is the work of Stanford White.

The Players Club ca. 1935 Originally a Gothic Revival town house, this building was purchased by Edwin Booth for his home. In 1888 he made it into a clubhouse for his actor friends. At about this time Stanford White offered his services in remodeling the interior and adding the Italian Renaissance loggia and lanterns, which provide such a handsome entrance.

Players Club, June 1925. The building that has houses the private social club, the Players Clubs (or just Players) was once Elihu Townsend's actual house. The Greek Revival townhouse was constructed in 1847 the banker, Townsend, and was purchased in 1888 by actor Edwin Booth to be the home of his passion project. Inspired by a social club for actors that he visited in London, Booth and 15 colleagues and friends (including Mark Twain and General William Tecumseh Sherman) established a social club. It was too be a place where actors "mingle \[..] with minds that influence the world." The Players is the oldest social club in New York City that remains in its original location.

Between 1954 and 1957, the Municipal Art Society surveyed historic buildings in all five boroughs to create a database of potential landmarks to preserve. Local residents and MAS staff compiled individual sheets devoted to about 200 buildings. Each sheet outlined the building’s date, location, and style and provided a description and a small photograph. This is the list of Manhattan buildings.