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But the hotel at 8th Avenue and 34th Street has gone through some changes. Their old room was renovated from one bedroom to a spacious suite. "I've never stayed in a suite before," said 75-year-old Irma Sussman. "It's so exciting." The hotel will be at least 95 percent full until Dec. 19, said Murphy. Nonetheless, the Sussmans will stay Dec. 13 and 14. "He (Murphy) said we could leave whenever we wanted," said Irma Sussman. "He's a wonderful angel," said Nat Sussman. The Sussmans' daughter, Alexandra, will drive the couple to the hotel, stay in their room on a pull-out bed and show them around the city for the two days. Irma Sussman said she and her husband didn't know what to when they were in Manhattan the first time, but now, with her city-smart daughter as chaperone they expect to see all the sights.
"We were just kids then," said Irma Sussman. She was 18, he was 20. Nat Sussman, who entered the Army a year after his wedding, and served until 1946, said he's a "little nervous" about returning to Manhattan.
Although the couple lived in Brooklyn after they were married and then moved to Syosset, Long Island, where Nat Sussman built a successful career as a uniform salesman, they have not been back to Manhattan since 1941.
Nat Sussman said he found out recently that Radio City Music Hall doesn't show movies any more. Alexandra Sussman has purchased tickets for them to see "The Phantom of the Opera" at the Majestic Theatre on Monday, their anniversary day.
Irma Sussman said she thought most of Broadway was normally closed on Mondays. "It's like a message from above," she said. "It's like it's open just for us." If all goes well, said Nat Sussman, maybe they'll go back for their 60th anniversary, too—if the rate's still reasonable.
The Sussmans retired years ago and moved from Syosett to Rollingwood Condominiums in Brookfield.
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