The Times Square Ball drop was suspended during the New Year's Eves of 1942 and 1943 because of World War II blackouts.
During those years, New York City observed blackout restrictions intended to reduce the visibility of potential targets and protect the city during wartime. The ball itself was not illuminated, and the public celebration shifted to a quieter observance.
Crowds still gathered in Times Square, but instead of the familiar glowing descent, they marked midnight with silence followed by church bells and other sounds. The ball-drop tradition returned after the wartime restrictions ended.
This interruption is an important exception in the event's long history. The ball drop began in 1907 and has otherwise become a remarkably durable annual ritual, surviving changes in technology, broadcasting, and the design of the ball itself.