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Times Square Kiss-In
Celebrate V-J Day and the world’s most famous kiss tomorrow in Times Square
The V-J Day crowd in Times Square
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Usually the idea of PDA (that’s Public Displays of Affections for those not in the know) creep me out, especially when they occur in Times Square (the romantic lights of the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company just doesn’t do it for me). But even I’ll admit there’s something charming and nostalgic about tomorrow’s Times Square Kiss-In, probably because it’s rooted in history.
On August 14, 1945, now known as V-J Day, the Japanese surrendered, effectively ending World War II. And to quote a Sports Night episode title, “And the crowd goes wild!” Spontaneous celebrations broke out all over America, none bigger than Times Square’s party. The most famous image from that day was Alfred Eisenstaedt’s “V-J day in Times Square,” which showed an unnamed sailor locking lips with an equally anonymous woman in a white dress (well, anonymous until years later, when George Mendoca and Edith Shain revealed their true identities).
Sixty-five years, the Times Square Alliance is inviting couples to celebrate V-J Day in Times Square, in honor of the U.S. Armed Forces. “A special invitation is extended,” according to Times Square’s website, “to couple whose kisses bridge boundaries, be they religious, political, racial, national or otherwise, as well as veterans of WWII, returning veterans from the Iraq War, and couples in costumes commemorating the original 1945 kiss.”
The Kiss-In, beginning at 11 a.m., is sponsored by Maybelline NY and feature a guest-appearance from Dancing with the Stars’ Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Makeup artists will be on hand to provide lip touch-ups, while professional photographers will be on-site to capture post-makeover shots of participants for a chance to be featured on a billboard in Times Square.
More events (including a chance to win prizes) and information can be found here.