Monday, March 31, 2008

Flip Video Visits The K&K

flipI discovered that if I prop the flip in a shirt pocket and start it, I can tape incognito

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Joanie Sommers "Reincarnated" As Stacey Kent


Thankfully Joanie Sommers is still with us, but if one of those body snatcher pods
were used ...
from a review by Peter Marsh
cute without cloying, sassy without being smug...15 January 2003
Now that Stacey Kent's hit the 200,000 mark in sales, it seems like a good time to whip out a collection like this. Taken from her first three Candid albums (plus a collaboration with tenor player Jim Tomlinson and one unreleased track), it's ample demonstration of the qualities that have made her one of the most popular mainstream singers around.
Kent has the knack of giving straight, unadorned readings of well worn standards witha freshness that's rare and sweet. Much like Peggy Lee, she doesn't reinvent on a grand scale or dazzle with vocal pyrotechnics but draws you in with the clarity of her delivery. It's subtle, unforced stuff; she can be cute without cloying, sassy without being smug and handles ballads with an assured delicacy and depth. What could easily become cliche is never in danger of being so; check the joyful treatment of "In The Still of the Night", "It's Delovely" or the poise of the hushed, Bill Evans-esque "You Go To My Head".
Tomlinson's tenor displays similar qualities; with a breathy tone reminiscent of Zoot Sims or Al Cohn,he elaborates on the Lester Young school with an easy grace (best heard on the delicious bossa-tinged take on "East of the Sun, West of the Moon"). Able support is given by pianists David Newton and John Pearce, guitarist Colin Oxley and rhythm sections that include the wonderful Dave Green on bass. (Though a slap on the wrist should go to Candid for not crediting Guy Barker's sparkling trumpet on Ellington's "I'm Just a Lucky So and So").
All in all, a fine introduction to the work of one of the best interpreters of the Great American Songbook around. Diana who?

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Darin And Joanie


On January 30, 1961, this show made television history on NBC when Bobby Darin became the youngest performer to headline his own prime-time special.

Return To Innocence: Joanie Sommers


from the villagevoice
A '60s waif from Buffalo who came off sort of like a mildly hipper Eydie Gorme, Joanie Sommers is best known for having sung the hit "Johnny Get Angry" and also for helping make Pepsi palatable to the youth explosion via various swinging commercials. But her most rivetingly weird appearance was on the contempo music show Hullabaloo, when she covered Freddie & the Dreamers' "I'm Telling You Now" in a sultry, seductively nasal samba style

I'm telling you now
I'm telling you right away
I'll be staying for many a day
I'm in love with you now
I'm telling you now
I'll say what you wanna hear
I'll be telling you for many a year
I'm in love with you now
Do you think I'm foolin'
When I say "I love you"?
I love you
Maybe you'll believe me
When I'm finally through, through, through, through
I'm telling you now
I know it's been said before
Say you love me and I will be sure
I'm in love with you now
I'm telling you now
I'm telling you right away
I'll be staying for many a day
I'm in love with you now
Do you think I'm foolin'
When I say "I love you"?
I love you
Maybe you'll believe me
When I'm finally through, through, through, through
I'm telling you now
I know it's been said before
Say you love me and I will be sure
I'm in love with you now
I'm in love with you now
I'm telling you now

What Ever Happened ....


I matched up the photo from the 1963 camp photo that supposedly was Bradley Joe with this one (not a match to me) from the New Jersey Casino Control Site which:
provides for the establishment of a list of persons who are to be excluded or ejected from any licensed casino in New Jersey. The following is a list of persons so excluded by the Casino Control Commission.

With the Social Security Death Index showing the death of a Bradley Joe born in 1953 it leads one to think that Bradley is no longer with us.

Bradley Joe

there was a further discussion of Bradley Joe
Bradley Joe is either serving a life sentence or dead. ..he went off to Viet Nam and came back nuts. If neither of these, Dave--this is the biggest challenge yet. Have him join us next Sunday and the restaurant will pay us to eat there! And whatever parking spots we need down there, they're ours.

I searched for Bradley Joe and found this article dated 12/7/1979 on the nytimes site along with the death notice of a Bradley Joe who was born in 1953 and died in 2007.
Read this doc on Scribd: bradley-joe

Camp Edelia 1963


A contribution to the Knickerbocker Archives from recently rediscovered brother Mark Schumer. Though slow afoot, he was a potent punchball hitter with his unique, sweeping lefty stroke. It was my mistaken belief that Eddie Moy was in the picture, however a certain semi-kevorka blessed brother wrote this:
Top left looks like Mark, third from left top is David, Ronnie is top right, and the Asian boy next to Ronnie I think is Bradley Joe ... Bradley Joe was in my court (H bldg ?), younger, had a very attractive mom who once showed me a bowling pin given to him at City Hall lanes after he somehow hurt himself (minutia is back), and last I heard was that he became a gang leader in Chinatown ...there seems to be a dearth of Asian participants for Reunion II, besides Bradley what about Cy Chin? (superhuman speed), Eddie Moy (greatest artist ever) lived in Smith.

Friday, March 28, 2008

Dream Lover: The Line Dance


This will be performed at the Reunion by all participants on the 6th in Tanahey Park at 12PM. Please study the steps. Mrs. Lebergott and Marty B will be leading
(I kid, I kid-but wouldn't that be a hoot?)
DREAM LOVER
2 Walls, 64 counts (Higher Beginner)
Choreographed by Chee Kiang Lim (Singapore) Oct 2006
Choreographed to “Dream Lover" by Lobo, Album “Very Best of Lobo”
Email : monack@singnet.com.sg

SCISSOR STEPS (X2)
1-4 Step R to right, step L besides R, Cross R over L, Hold
5-8 Step L to left, step R besides L, Cross L over R, Hold

RUMBA BOX
1.4 Step R to right, step L besides R, Step R forward, Hold
5-8 Step L to left, step R besides L, Step L backward, Hold

BACK ROCK HALF TURN, SWEEP, BACK ROCK, FORWARD
1-2 Rock R back, recover on L
3-4 Half turn left and step back on R, sweep L from front to back
5-6 Step L back, recover on R
7-8 Step L forward, Hold

RIGHT MAMBO, LEFT MAMBO
1-4 Step R to right, recover on L, step R besides L, Hold
5-8 Step L to left, recover on R, step L besides R, Hold
(Styling : Show those Cuban Hips !)

ROCK, ROCK, ROCK, HITCH (X 2)
1-2 Turn 1/ 4 turn to right, Rock forward on R, recover on L
3-4 Rock forward on R, turn 1/ 4 turn to right while hitching L
5-6 Rock forward on L, recover on R
7-8 Rock forward on L, turn 1/ 4 turn to right while hitching R

ROCK, ROCK , ROCK, HITCH (X 2)
1-2 Rock forward on R, recover on L
3-4 Rock forward on R, turn 1/ 4 turn to right while hitching L
5-6 Rock forward on L, recover on R
7-8 Rock forward on L, hitch R

WALK BACKWARD, LOOK, WALK FORWARD, SCUFF
1-3 Walk backwards on R, L R
4 Look over right shoulder (Weight on R)
5-7 Walk forward on L, R, L
8 Scuff R besides L

JAZZ BOX, CROSS ROCK, SIDE STEP
1-2 Cross R over L, step back on L
3-4 Step R to right, Hold
5-6 Cross L over R, recover on R
7-8 Step L to left, Hold

Repeat

Restart : After 32 counts on wall 3

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Simple Song Of Freedom


Come and sing a simple song of freedom
Sing it like you've never sung before
Let it fill the air
Tell the people everywhere
We, the people here, don't want a war
Hey there, Mister Black Man can you hear me?
I don't want your diamonds or your game
I do want to be someone known to you as me
and I will bet my life you want the same
Come and sing a simple song of freedom
Sing it like you've never sung before
Let it fill the air
Tell the people everywhere
We, the people here, don't want a war
Seven hundred million are enlisted
Most of what you read, most of what you read, is made of lies
But speaking one to one, ain't it everybody's sun
To wake to in the morning when we rise?
Come and sing a simple song of freedom
Sing it like you've never sung, never sung, before
Let it fill the air
Tell the people everywhere
We, the people here, don't want a war
No doubt some folks enjoy doin' battle
Like presidents, prime ministers and kings
So let's all build them shelves so they can fight among themselves
and leave us be those who want to sing
Come and sing a simple song of freedom
Sing it like you've never, ever, sung before
Let it fill the air
Tell the people everywhere
We, the people here, don't want a war
Come and sing a simple song of freedom
Sing it like you've never, ever, sung before
Speaking one to one
Ain't it everybody's sun
To wake to in the morning when we rise
Speaking one to one
Ain't it everybody's sun
To wake to in the morning when we rise

Dream Lover


lyrics
Ev'ry night, I hope and pray
A dream lover will come my way
A girl to hold in my arms
And know the magic of her charms
(Chorus:)
Because I want a girl
To call my own
I want a dream lover
So I don't have to dream alone
Dream lover, where are you
With a love oh so true
And a hand that I can hold
To feel you near when I grow old?
(Repeat chorus)
(Bridge:)
Someday--I don't know how
I hope you'll hear my please
Some way--I don't know how
She'll bring her love to me
Dream lover, until then
I'll go to sleep and dream again
That's the only thing to do
Until my lover's dreams come true

Queen Of The Hop


#9 in 1958)
Well, you can talk about your Julie and your Peggy Sue.
You can keep your Miss Molly and your Mary Lou.
When it comes to the chicken or doin' the bop?
I got a girl they call the queen of the hop.
(chorus)
Oh well I love my queen.
Do you know who I mean?
Sweet little sixteen
Yes, that's my queen.
Well, she wears short shorts and a rock 'n roll shoes.
You ought to see her dance to the yellow dog blues.
She's my sugar time baby, I'm her lollipop,
An' everybody knows I love my queen of de hop
(chorus)
Oh well she tunes in to Bandstand every day
To watch the kids dancin' 'cross the USA.
She don't care 'bout a thing 'ceptin rock 'n roll.
My baby drives me crazy when she does the stroll. yeah
- - - - - - -
Well she tunes in to Bandstand every day
To watch the kids dancin' 'cross the USA.
She don't care 'bout a thing 'ceptin' rock and roll.
My baby drives me crazy when she does the stroll.
(chorus)
Well, that's my queen.
Yes, that's my queen.
Oh, well that's my queen.
Yes, that's my queen.

My 45 Collection

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Knickerbocker Village, The Video: Early 1950's, Part 2


These clips are in color! It looks like many of this was taken when the Smith Houses were being constructed. Looking closely you can see the old park's building in the Smith Projects, along with the small park house in Tanahey along with the horse show pits.

Knickerbocker Village, The Video: Early 1950's


From an anonymous KV donor. A real treasure. Madonna House is visible on Market Street, between Water and Cherry Streets, as is the building on Market opposite the famous King Hero shop.

Monday, March 24, 2008

KV Fonzie And His Sweetheart


Sometime in the early-mid 1960's, taken on Tanahey Park looking east

Double Chai


Only the best for these Knickerbocker Village Bar Mitzvah Boy Twins, a reception at Gluckstern's on Delancey Street.
Below is a 1930's ? commercial for Gluckstern's from the Yiddish Radio Project. It's sung by the Pincus Sisters

An 11 Year Old Boy's 15 Minutes Of Fame


Nancy and Tommy Red's favorite pitcher

Graduation Day: PS 177, June 1959


Nancy and Mrs. Jonas

6th Grade Graduation: PS 177, June 1959


Top Row: Sheila Suss, Valerie Hammel, Nancy Bueller, Susan Miller
Bottom Row: Renee Leder, Elaine Aaronson, Alison Shue
The nicest group of girls you'd ever want to meet.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Friday, March 21, 2008

Living Small


Growing up in Knickerbocker Village and later in Warbasse I never had my own room. I slept in our one bedroom and my parents slept on a high rise in the living room. I thought I was deprived, but look at this family on Ludlow Street, just a half mile from where I lived as a kid.
from the nytimes of 3/16/08
Living Small, By BONNIE YOCHELSON
THOMAS HOLTON first met the Lam family in 2003 when taking public relations photographs for the University Settlement, an organization that has helped immigrants on the Lower East Side for more than a century. Like thousands of New Yorkers before him, Mr. Holton offered his services to the settlement house as a good-will gesture, but he also had a more personal motive.
Mr. Holton is half Chinese. His father, an American, met his mother in Taiwan after her family fled mainland China in the wake of the Communist revolution. Although Mr. Holton’s grandparents lived in Chinatown when he was growing up on the Upper East Side, he felt like an outsider whenever he visited.
When he met Steven and Shirley Lam and their three young children, Mr. Holton seized the opportunity to get to know them. Visiting once a week over several years, he became part of the household, helping with chores and celebrating holidays and birthdays with the family. In 2004, he accompanied them on a trip to Hong Kong and China.
The Lams’ apartment consists of two rooms at the top of a five-story tenement; on warm days, the roof becomes a playground. The children, Michael, Franklin and Cindy, attend Public School 184, a bilingual school on Cherry Street, and Mr. Lam, who speaks English very well, handles administrative paperwork for an import-export company.
Within their small home, order reigns supreme, and each family member knows his or her part. In a dinnertime portrait, the family forms a line, surrounded by neatly arranged rows of coats, plates and chairs. In another kitchen scene, Mrs. Lam washes the dishes while watching her children play in the bathtub, which sits next to the sink. In the softly lighted bedroom, the multicolored sheets and the Lams’ wedding portrait form a quiet counterpoint to the bustling kitchen.
Mr. Holton’s pictures are on view at the Sasha Wolf Gallery, 10 Leonard Street in TriBeCa, through April 26. Although he no longer photographs the Lams regularly, they stay in touch. Last summer, the family attended his wedding in Groton, Mass., and Cindy was a flower girl.

Monday, March 17, 2008

What's New On The Menu At KV

Well prices are still pretty reasonable at the K an K. In a search for what's new on the Knickerbocker Village news' menu I wandered into the Gotham Center's New York History site which has a neighborhood discussion board. Some interesting reading, including an attempted pick-up by msg817:
Knickerbocker Village • posted 5/7/07 9:59:AM
I will be moving into Knickerbocker Village sometime this year. I went down to the area this weekend, and was not sure what the area is like. I leave for work at 6:00 a.m. and I come home from school around 9:00 p.m., is the neighborhood safe? I'm a 55 year old women and I've lived in Manhattan all my life. I currently live in East Harlem so I would say I'm street smart, but the area didn't look like too many stores were open at night or early morning.
msg817 bowler,kv • posted 5/7/07 10:53:AM
If you're latina or Asian, no one will bother you, if you're white, be careful
Bowler Knickerbocker Village • posted 5/7/07 11:01:AM
I am white, however, in East Harlem people have asked me if I was Puerto Rican, so maybe that will help, I can't pass as Asian though. Thanks.
msg817 bowler • posted 5/8/07 5:44:PM
i'm a 56 yr old white man who lives on the upper east side; since you're in east harlem now, let's get togethe for coffee; if you're single?
Bowler Knickerbocker Village • posted 5/9/07 7:05:AM
thank you for the invite, my life is pretty hectic right now, I work full time and go to court reporting school full time and on the weekends I'm doing chores and studying. I'll think about it.
msg817 bowler • posted 5/9/07 8:02:AM
okay,thanks
Miguel frm 25th St Knickerbocker Village • posted 5/20/07 9:13:AM
Hi Bowler,
The Mailman who delivers the mail to Knickerbocker Village is one of the Carriers in the local Post Office (Knickerbocker Station)in which I work. Frankie Cea is the one guy who can tell you anything you want to know or don't want to know about Knickerbocker Village. Frankie is old school and loves New York.
Bowler Knickerbocker Village • posted 5/21/07 7:20:AM
Thanks for the info Miquel. Does the mailman communicate on this site? Or can you ask him for me, my only concern is that I go to school at night and get out around 8:30 p.m.. I go to court reporting school at Park Place near City Hall. Will I feel uncomfortable coming home at night? I know it stays light in the summer, I'm more concerned in the winter months. And do they use keys or key cards to get through the gates? Thanks.
Miguel Knickerbocker Village • posted 5/22/07 1:32:PM
Frank and I think you will be pretty safe. The area to the West of KV used to be kind'a rough during the 60's &70 but now it has become a whole lot better. The M 22 Bus which you can pick up at City Hall drops you off right on the corner of Madison St and Catherine one short block from KV. There is a 24 hour grocery store across the street from the bus stop. The neighboorhood is pretty mixed Asians,Hispanics Italians Blacks and Jews. Knickerbocker has Security guards inside the gate and they admit access to the the complex. It is a nice place to live improving all the time. I forgot to mention that there is a 24 hour Pathmark Supermarket 2 blocks from KV. Glad I could Help.
Bowler Knickerbocker Village • posted 5/24/07 1:09:PM
Thanks so much for the reply. I'm so looking forward to moving there. It looks lovely and I can stay in New York and retire instead of going to Florida. Thanks Again for all your help here.
Phyllis Knickerbocker Village • posted 2/1/07 8:33:PM
Anyone out there live in Knickerbocker Village on Monroe Street in NYC? I lived there from 1956 through 1971.
lee Boyles knickerbocker village nyc • posted 2/19/07 11:30:AM
hi my name is lee Boyles i was raised in knickerbocker village my mother and father's name is albert and helen Boyles mostly residing at 16 monroe street, after a long absence i moved back like three years ago, as my mom is still alive, dad's deceased and im kind of taking care of her! your last name wouldnt be Defalco, just curious, i was in school st joseph with a phyllis, anyway u can reach me at leebcom@myway.com
Joseph Knickerbocker Village • posted 3/2/07 11:07:PM
Hello, Phyllis. I lived in Knickerbocker Village from 1957 until 1961. I have relatives who lived there from the 50s until the 70s. My cousin (b.1954) attended St. Joseph's School. (My mother's family lived in that general neighborhood from at least the 40s until at least the 90s.) I'd be glad to correspond with you; my e-mail address is josnaz@aol.com.
terri knickerbocker village • posted 3/16/07 11:18:AM
hello
I LIVED IN KNICKERBOCKER TOO. UNTILL 1975.
MY MOM WAS ROSE HAUT MY BROTHER BILLY AND SISTER LINDA. I MISS THOSE GOOD DAYS THERE I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU TOO! MY EMAIL
IS TAFDISCO@AOL.COM
Steve KV • posted 3/22/07 11:30:AM
I surivived KV from 1943-1955. I will be publishing a novel about the experiences I has to indure from the local youth. KV had some very mean streets if your were a member of the wrong religious group. Stay tuned- you will find the novel on Amazon in a few months. I will keep you updated.
jackie knickerbocker village • posted 3/22/07 6:34:PM
im considering moving into knickerbocker vilage. can you tell me if this is a wise choice and can you please tell me does this complex have a garage? this is very important in my decision since we have two vehicles. thanks
Phyllis Knickerbocker Village • posted 3/22/07 10:15:PM
Please be advised Knickerbocker Village does not have a garage. You will need to park on the street, and with two vehicles, good luck! You might want to reconsider.
Phyllis KV • posted 3/22/07 10:18:PM
Steve: I'm sorry that your KV experience was not a good one. I had a wonderful childhood. I look forward to reading your book.
msg817 angie saggese • posted 3/24/07 10:36:PM
phyllis, did you know angie?
Phyllis Angie • posted 3/26/07 5:45:PM
The name does not ring a bell. More info.
msg817 phyllis;k.v. • posted 3/26/07 7:28:PM
I have the wrong Phyllis; you weren't married to Arnold?
terri childhood memories • posted 3/27/07 12:17:PM
DEAR STEVE
I TO AM SORRY YOU HAD A ROUGH CHILDHOOD IN KV. GROWING UP THERE FOR ME WAS INCREDIBLE
IF YOU NEED SOME POSITIVE FEED BACKON KV LET ME KNOW GLAD TO SHARE THOSE TIMES OF HAPPY MEMORIES. TERRI
TAFDISCO@AOL.COM
Phyllis Angie • posted 3/27/07 3:59:PM
No, I was never married to someone named Arnold.
bower Knickerbocker Village • posted 4/13/07 2:57:PM
I'm from the lower east side all my life and will be moving into KV, I heard the elevators there have gated doors and you see the elevator shaft was you go up in the elevator. Is that true? How are the rooms?
msg817 elevators and rooms • posted 4/13/07 3:45:PM
doors not gates; you only have gates in old movies ; rooms are nice sized
Bowler Knickerbocker Village • posted 5/7/07 9:59:AM
I will be moving into Knickerbocker Village sometime this year. I went down to the area this weekend, and was not sure what the area is like. I leave for work at 6:00 a.m. and I come home from school around 9:00 p.m., is the neighborhood safe? I'm a 55 year old women and I've lived in Manhattan all my life. I currently live in East Harlem so I would say I'm street smart, but the area didn't look like too many stores were open at night or early morning.
pat tomasulo knickerbocker village • posted 3/7/08 1:43:PM
Phylis,my name is Patrick Tomasulo. We went to grammar school together. If i am correct your famliy owned Ruggerio's Bakery.
pat tomasulo grammar school friends • posted 3/7/08 1:47:PM
Hello Lee,we went to grammar school together,how are you doing,I remember your mom well a very nice lady and your father was a really big guy,your cousin Rosemarie went to school with my wife Lena. say hi to Dennis for me

Oh Venus


a more modern version of Frankie Avalon's big hit of 1959
btw a happy birthday today to Nancy Bayer (Bueller), a KV Venus
Hey, Venus
Oh, Venus
Venus, if you will
Please send a little girl for me to thrill
A girl who wants my kisses and my arms
A girl with all the charms of you
Venus, make her fair
A lovely girl with sunlight in her hair
And take the brightest stars up in the skies
And place them in her eyes for me
Venus, goddess of love that you are
Surely the things I ask
Can't be too great a task
Venus, if you do
I promise that I always will be true
I'll give her all the love I have to give
As long as we both shall live
Venus, goddess of love that you are
Surely the things I ask
Can't be too great a task
Venus if you do
I promise that I always will be true
I'll give her all the love I have to give
As long as we both shall live
Hey, Venus
Oh, Venus
Make my wish come true

Sunday, March 16, 2008

The K&K Lucheonette: Then And Now

The photo above taken by Murray Schefflin in 1967

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Scavenger Hunt Update

There are 58 "photo scavenger" sites on this KV vicinity map. The video displays what many of them look like up close
Sound Track, "Coming Home," by Mel Torme
(Do-do-do)
I'm comin' home, baby now
(Do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do
I'm comin' home now, right away
(Do-do-do)
I'm comin' home, baby now
(Do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do)
I'm sorry now I ever went away
(Do-do-do-doo - I miss you)
Every night and day, I'm gone stay
I'm comin' home, baby
(Come on home)
Comin' home baby, now
(You know I'm waitin' here for you)
I'm comin' home now, ree-al soon
(You've been gone)
Comin' home baby, now
(You don't know what I'm goin' through)
I'm comin' home I know I'm overdue
(Since you went away - how I feel, too)
S'pect me any day, now real soon (soon)
I'm comin' home
(Come on home)
Comin' home baby, now
(You know I'm prayin' every night)
That everything is gonna be fine
(Please come home)
Comin' home baby, now
(I want to feel you hold me tight)
'C'pect to see me now, anytime
(When I'm in your arms - I'm all right )
When you're in my arms - I'll be fine
I'm comin' home
(Come on home)
I'm comin' home, baby now
(You know I'm counting everyday)
I'm comin' home now, yeah-yeah-yeah!
(Use the phone)
[Coming Home Baby lyrics on http://www.metrolyrics.com]
I'm comin' home, baby now
(And baby let me hear you say)
I'm comin' home, you're hearin' what I say
(That you're comin' home - I will lay awake)
And I never will go away
I'm comin' home!
(Come on home)
I'm comin' home, baby now
(You know I'm waitin' at the door)
They can't hold me back now, no-oh-oh more
(I'm alone)
I'm pressin' on, baby now
(And pacing up and down the floor)
Oh hear me holler and hear me roar
(Say you'll be with me)
Gonna be with you ever more (ever more)
I'm comin' home
(Come on home)
I'm comin' home, baby now
(Oh baby, say you're comin' home)
That's what I say, I say I'm comin' home
(Something's wrong)
The road is long, baby now
(You ought to either write or phone)
I'm comin' home and never more to roam
(Baby, tell me you're - comin' home)
Baby, I'm for sure - comin' home
I'm comin' home
(Come on home)
I'm comin' home, baby now
(Come on home)
I'm comin' home, baby now
FADES
(Come on home)
I'm comin' home, baby now
(Come on home)
Comin' home, baby now.

The Answer To 49 Market Street

From 1984:
Geraldine Ferraro's free ride from Big Media crunched to a halt in mid-August after she revealed on August 12 that husband John Zaccaro would not be releasing his tax returns. Rep. Ferraro had issued a statement on July 24 promising that Zaccaro's returns as well as her own would be released. That statement said: "I plan to include my husband's financial holdings in that disclosure because my husband and I believe that it is in the public interest to do so and because the office of vice president is one of high public trust."
Ferraro first revealed her withdrawal of that promise on August 10 when she met with the Texas congressional delegation in Washington. It was reported in one sentence in the third paragraph of a story on Page A7 in the Washington Post the next day. Neither the reporter nor the editors realized that Ferraro had dropped a bombshell. They illustrated the story with a photo of Ferraro with this caption: "Rep. Geraldine Ferraro ... plans to release her tax forms." .......
The Naive Landlord
ABC gave John Zaccaro high marks as a landlord, putting on a city official who thought he was a model for others. But it was noted that he had "at least one very embarrassing tenant," Star Distributors. Ltd.. described as "a major supplier of pornographic: magazines and linked with organized crime." It said: "There's no evidence that Zaccaro has had any connection with anyone at Star, other than as a landlord renting storage space. Still, it's an uncomfortable association, and Zaccaro is trying to see what can be done to remove Star from his building."
While this statement was being made by correspondent Steve Shepard, the camera showed packages of porno- graphic magazines sitting on the sidewalk in front of the building within sight of the Zaccaro real estate office. The packages were labeled with such titles as Kink. Bondage Times, Fetish Times, Screw, and Swing Contacts. ABC did not report that Zaccaro had said that he did not know the "exact use" this tenant was making of the space he was renting. (An AP story published August 20 went further saying, "Mrs. Ferraro said her husband did not know the firm was in the pornography business until news accounts of it appeared"}.ABC said Zaccaro was looking into the possibility of evicting the tenant but said that might be difficult legally.
On August 13, Reed Irvine had discussed this at length with George Watson, an ABC News vice president.
Watson thought it reasonable that Zaccaro might not know what was going on in his building until he was told that Zaccaro's own office was only 40 yards away and that the pornographic material was loaded and unloaded on the sidewalk in easy view of any passerby. Irvine had also told Mr. Watson of the gambling den in the Zaccaro building at 68 Mott Street and of the New York Tribune's as yet unpublished discovery that a building at 49 Market Street that had been in the Zaccaro family since 1946 was reported by police to be a hangout for the Bonanno mob.

Friday, March 14, 2008

The Closer I Get To You


featuring Anzie (brown tinted female) and Max. Picture credit to Stephanie Stein
by Beyonce and the Al Smith Projects' Luther Vandross
The closer I get to you
The more you make me see
By giving me all you've got
Your love has captured me
Over and over again
I try to tell myself that we
Could never be more than friends
And all the while inside
I knew it was real
The way you make me feel
Lying here next to you
Time just seems to fly
Needing you more and more
Let's give love a try
Sweeter and sweeter love grows
And heaven's there for those
Who fool the tricks of time
With hearts in love will find
True love
In a special way
The closer I get to you
The more you make me see
By giving me what you've got
Your love has captured me
Over and over again
I try to tell myself that we
Could never be more than friends
And all the while inside
I knew this was real (got to be real)
The way you make me feel (you know)
My baby, my baby, my baby, my love
Come a little closer so we can see into the eyes of love
Just a little a closer let me speak to you
I wanna tell you something
Here I am-- I just want you to come closer
Come a little closer let me whisper in your ear
‘Cause I wanna tell you something
Move a little a little closer we can say for real
The way we feel about each other’s lovin’…

The Infamous 49 Market Street


Here's a scavenger hunt question that anyone can participate in. Given recent media coverage of a certain person displaying questionable intelligence, this building's history echo's another questionable decision made by that same person.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Scavenger Hunt Answers

As a warm up to the Scavenger Hunt of April 6th, some of the KV have been testing their
recollecting skills. The above is a collage of some of the answers.

Celebrities Appearing At 2nd Annual KV Reunion

Dion And The Belmonts (Kitchen Staff, Camp Edalia Summer of '63)

Miss Camp Commodore 1964

Monday, March 10, 2008

Knickerbocker Village Scavenger Hunt

One of the tentative activities being planned for the 2nd Annual KV Reunion slated for April 6th, 2006. Using the aerial photo which contains approximate numbered sites, the participants are to match the picture clues to their location. They might also be asked to recall some memorable event in their childhood that occurred at some of those sites.
The thumbnails are just a representative sampling of the more than 30 spots.

Knickerbocker Village Passover Seder


From circa 1949 from the Hellman family archives. More than likely not Knickerbocker, but some other LES location.
From Neal:
At the head of the table is my grandmother and grandfather Samuel and Jenny Pacewitz from Czyzew Poland. Jenny is the daughter of Joseph Kanet, who was a very successful tsitsis maker. There's a web page about him and other members of my Polish family In the photo my mother is the third person on the left and my father is third man on the right.

Knickerbocker Village Slumber Party


From the archives of the Meyers' family. That's Lewis on the left, Stewie Brick in the middle and the jury is still out on the kid on the right. From the mid 1950's

Friday, March 7, 2008

10 Montgomery Street And Sol Hellman


Neal told me that his dad, Sol, grew up on the lower east side, not far from the family sewing machine repair store on Pike Street. Knowing that and his father's year of birth, 1915, I was able to find him in the 1920 census at 10 Montgomery Street (between Henry and East Broadway), apt 87. It's one of the few tenements still standing the neighborhood. His father was Philip (listed as a machinist), his mother Ida, and an older brother named Jacob lived there. The letter R stands for the fact that the family had a radio. Neal also mentioned that his dad went to Seward Park High School and City College with Zero Mostel. Both Sol and Zero also probably knew and went to school with the song writer, Sammy Cahn (Cohen) who was born in 1913

Madison Street Fire


126 Madison is now an empty lot. I imagine 124 Madison looks a lot like what 126 did. The 1927 fire took place on the fifth floor.

Pike And East Broadway

Taken in 1931. It's the south side of East Broadway and the eastern side of Pike. The synagogue, now a hardware store and a Buddhist Temple is visible in the 1931 photo.
The now photo below is taken almost from the same vantage point as the old, only it's from street level. The second "now" photo is taken from Henry Street looking eastward at the synagogue at 11 Pike.


from the nypl digital collection, photographer Loomis Sperr.

Pike And Henry Street


from the nypl digital collection, photographer Loomis Sperr. Taken in 1931. It's the eastern side of Pike at just about the spot where Neal Hellman's father and grandfather had a sewing machine repair shop.

The Birthday Party



Neal Hellman sent this along. It's his older brother Billy's party from the late 40's