November 9, 2025

By Arthur H. Gunther III

the columnrule.com

Every town has a Broadway, even if it isn’t named that, a running stream of consciousness for all who walk it.

Call it Broadway, or High Street in Scotland, or the dirt road of “High Noon,” shot on the Columbia Pictures western lot in Burbank, or just name the appropriate street “Broadway.”

Broadway is life – the new baby in a stroller; faith – the house of worship; wealth – the mansions; blue collar – life in the apartments; love – the young couple, she talking, he looking down at the sidewalk; theater – where emotions invest you in other places.

Main Street is not Broadway; save that path for the shops, the hurly-burley of retail, the dentist of old above the hardware store, the hole-in-the-wall diner, stools at right angle to Main, an alley of quick respite.

Broadway and Main have their particular purpose; the latter the practicality of a downtown in everyday life; the former, even by its name, beset with cache. Derived from Old English “brad,” meaning wide, not narrow, Broadway is to a downtown what expanse is to the wide country, a vista.

In days past, a Sunday stroll on Broadway was elegant – suits and dresses worn; today the garb is relaxed. But hopes are still expressed on the walk, achievement noted. There is time during the leisurely stroll for reflection, a continuous flow of thoughts and feelings: stream of consciousness.

In the journey, though, Broadway always seems to meet Main Street. Dreams do meet reality.

The writer is a retired newspaperman.

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