The Subway Sun: A Look Back at NYC’s Iconic Subway Campaign
Long before the New York City subway cars became rolling billboards for modern-day advertisements, they were adorned with a unique form of public art known as The Subway Sun. Created between 1936 and 1965, this two-toned mock newspaper served as a creative way to promote etiquette and local attractions to subway riders.
Originally launched in 1918 as a weekly promotional campaign for the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT), The Subway Sun evolved from a text-heavy publication to a visually engaging series of posters under the artistic direction of Fred Cooper and later, Amelia Opdyke Jones. Cooper’s whimsical illustrations and distinctive lettering style became the hallmark of the campaign, enticing riders with a blend of information and humor.
Exploring the Art of The Subway Sun
Today, Poster House in Manhattan is showcasing a collection of original The Subway Sun posters in an exhibition titled From the Bronx to the Battery: The Subway Sun. Curated by Es-pranza Humphrey, the display features 17 posters from the 1930s, highlighting Cooper’s innovative designs and Jones’s unique contributions to the campaign.
Cooper’s posters often promoted local attractions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, using humorous characters and playful scenarios to capture riders’ attention. Jones continued this tradition by incorporating etiquette reminders in a light-hearted manner, addressing issues like seat hogging and littering.
A Legacy of Creativity and Humor
Through their inventive designs and witty messaging, Cooper and Jones left a lasting impact on the NYC subway system. Their colorful posters entertained and informed riders for decades, setting the stage for future campaigns like the Transit Authority’s “Etti-Cat.”
Today, both Poster House and the New York Transit Museum pay tribute to the legacy of The Subway Sun through exhibitions that celebrate the artistry and creativity of this iconic subway campaign.
As riders continue to navigate the bustling subway system, the spirit of The Subway Sun lives on in the legacy of Cooper and Jones’s timeless artwork.
