American Notes New York City

A once familiar landmark returned to Times Square last week, flashing the headline of the day: explosion on twa 727 over greece. After an absence of nine years, the famous "zipper," true to its nickname, again began zipping around 1 Times Square, known also as the tower where the New Year countdown begins with the dropping of a giant apple. First lighted on Nov. 6, 1928, to report Herbert Hoover's presidential election, the zipper paraded the Hindenburg explosion, the end of World War II and other newsworthy events until its operator, the New York Times,pulled the plug in 1962. Resurrected in 1965 by Life and other sponsors, it flickered until 1977. Last week's comeback is a $1 million promotional effort by Newsday, a Long Island newspaper intent on invading the city.