HISTORY MINUTE
The first chain, founded by Leo "Lindy" Lindemann, operated from 1921 to 1969.
Lindy’s had locations at 1626 Broadway (at NE corner of 49th Street) and 1655 Broadway (at NW corner of 51st Street).
Harpo Marx frequently ate at Lindy's in the 1920s, writing "I had a home again, and during the day a choice of two homes-away-from-home,
Lindy's or Reuben's. I was back with my own people, who spoke my language, with my accent - cardplayers, horseplayers, bookies,
song-pluggers, agents, actors out of work and actors playing the Palace.
The cheesecake was ambrosia. The talk was old - familiar music - a lot of yucks - a lot of action - Home Sweet Home.

Jewish Mafia icon Arnold Rothstein claimed Lindy's as his favorite "office" and would stand on the corner, surrounded by bodyguards,
and conduct business outside.
On the day that Rothstein was killed in 1928, his last place before the murder was Lindy's and he received a phone call at Lindy´s.
Milton Berle frequented Lindy's almost on a nightly basis.
Groucho Marx was eating there with Dick Cavett and Woody Allen in the 1960s when they informed Woody that his work was appreciated
by college students of the time.

In 1979, the Riese Organization determined that the Lindy's trademark had been abandoned, and opened new restaurants,
the last of which closed in February 2018.