Mary Malchiodi Of The Fourth Ward: Part 5

st.joachim
Note that the women who were poisoned were employed at the Cherouney Printing Plant on Vanderwater Street. At that time the Fourth Ward had many factories and blue collar jobs.

Mary Malchiodi Of The Fourth Ward: Part 4

More on the Church of St. Joachim and the Congregation of Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo

(Roman Catholic)
26 Roosevelt Street, New York, N.Y. 10002
The Roman Catholic parish of St. Joachim was founded in 1888 as a haven for Italian immigrants. Previously, Italian Catholics had been relegated to attending mass in the basements of neighboring churches. In 1967, a six-block area that included the church was cleared so that the Park Row housing development could be constructed. The parish of St. Joachim was merged into St. Joseph's Catholic Church, located nearby at 5 Monroe Street.
Founded by John Baptist Scalabrini, Bishop of Piacenza, Italy (d. 1 June, 1905); approved in principle by Leo XIII in a Brief dated 25 November, 1887; constitution definitively approved by a decree of the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda , 3 October, 1908. The expediency of providing for the spiritual — and also, in some degree, for the temporal — needs of Italian emigrants to America was forcibly brought home to Bishop Scalabrini by the pathetic spectacle of a number of such emigrants waiting in the great railway station of Milan. Acting upon this inspiration, and encouraged by Cardinal Simeoni, then Cardinal Prefect of Propaganda, the bishop acquired at Piacenza a residence which he converted into "The Christopher Columbus Apostolic Institution", forming there a community of priests which was to be the nucleus of a new congregation.
This congregation, which was henceforth to be known as the "Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo", was to be governed by a superior-general, dependent upon the Congregation of Propaganda ; its aim was to maintain Catholic faith and practice among Italian emigrants in the New World, and "to ensure as far as possible their moral, civil, and economical welfare"; it was to provide priests for the emigrants, as well as committees of persons who should give the good advice and practical direction needed by poor Italians newly arrived in foreign ports; to establish churches, schools, and missionary homes in the various Italian colonies in North and South America, and to train youths for the priesthood. The members of the congregation promise obedience to their superiors in the congregation and the ecclesiastical hierarchy.Seven priests and three lay brothers of Bishop Scalabrini's institute left Italy, on 12 July, 1888, of whom two priests and one lay brother were bound for New York, five priests and two lay brothers for various parts of Brazil. On this occasion, Cesare Cantú, the famous Italian historian, addressed to the Bishop of Piacenza some memorable words of congratulation, asking leave to add to the bishop's blessing on the departing missionaries, "the prayers of an old man who admires a courage and an abnegation so full of humility ". A welcome had already been assured these first missionaries of the congregation by a commendatory letter (1 June, 1888) of Leo XIII addressed to the American bishops.
Immediately after their arrival in New York the new missionaries were enabled to secure a favorable site in Centre Street, where there was a colony of Italians, and in a short time a chapel was opened; soon after this the church of the Resurrection was opened in Mulberry Street; lastly, a building in Roosevelt Street, which had been a Protestant place of worship, became the property of the mission fathers who transformed it into the church of St. Joachim, the first specially Italian church in the Diocese of New York. The Society of St. Raphael (see Emigrant Aid Societies ) was organized at Ellis Island. The good work thereafter spread rapidly through the continent. The United States and Canada now (1910) contain 21 parish churches, besides several chapels, served by the congregation; in Brazil the fathers have charge of 13 parish churches, mostly with schools attached, and 2 important orphanages. The two provinces (Eastern and Western) of the congregation in the United States number 45 priests and 3 lay brothers, while the single province of Brazil numbers 35 priests and 5 lay brothers.

a previous post where St. Joachim was mentioned

Mary Malchiodi Of The Fourth Ward: Part 3

I tried to get a sense of where 29 Roosevelt was, since it no longer exists. I matched up a portion of Mary's family census with a map of that era. Roosevelt ran in a north/south direction and was parallel to Oliver and Catherine Street. Now I'm curious as to what the church was across the street from Mary. Her family may have attended there. Her father was Pietro, her mother was Rosa and her older brother was Carlo.

Mary Malchiodi Of The Fourth Ward: Part 2

Here she is with her fellow news vendors a few months later than the previous photo. From what I can make out of the headline that the boy has on the left (I have a higher definition photo) it looks like the story referred to was the one below. I'm sure the dates given for the library of Congress photos may not be accurate. Newsies always wanted sensational stories to sell their "papes." Things haven't changed, especially in New York City with the Post and the News. I wonder what that boy on the right is swigging down?

Mary Malchiodi Of The Fourth Ward: Part 1

Lewis Wickes Hine has more than one picture of Mary in his study of newsboys and newsgirls over 100 years ago. They can be found on the Library of Congress site I believe her name was misspelled there because the census has no one named Malchade, whereas Malchiodi seems to be the closest common spelling. It looks like Mary might be wearing a sibling's pair of shoes since they look far too big for her.

Turkish Night Club On Allen Street: 1942

Turkish Night Club 2
The descriptions:

New York, New York. Turkish nightclub on Allen Street
Joe Levy, Jewish-Turkish-American owner of a nightclub on Allen Street
Turkish-American and his wife who own a nightclub on Allen Street. Their son is in the United States Army
Orchestra at a Turkish nightclub on Allen Street
Orchestra in a Turkish nightclub on Allen Street. The girl plays a tambourine between dances.
Guests get up and dance to the Oriental music whenever they please
Habitues of a Turkish nightclub on Allen Street drinking beer and eating hors d'oeuvres. Apparently women are left at home
CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1942 Dec.
CREATOR:
Collins, Marjory, 1912-1985, photographer.
PART OF: Farm Security Administration - Office of War Information Photograph Collection (Library of Congress)
REPOSITORY: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
DIGITAL ID: (digital file from intermediary roll film) fsa 8d24224 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/fsa.8d24224

Market Slip 1960

You can see one of the water tower's of Knickerbocker in the top right of the photo.
These buildings probably adjoined the Journal American building between South and Water Streets. Now it is a parking lot.

Market Slip 1927

This would be replaced by Tanahey Park sometime around 1950

Son Of The KV Rambo's JT Project

The JT Project is comprised of 20 year-old Jacob Webb and 21 year-old Todd Schefflin. The JT Project's debut album, "Love Passion Correspondence," is available world-wide on Itunes. They represent the bridge between Jazz, Hip/hop, R&B, and Neo-Soul. They are two good-looking young men that are committed to the worldwide distribution of their original music. The JT Project believes solely in an emotional connection with the audience. Music is a therapeutic source for the soul and The JT Project has the ability to lift the spirits of any of those who will listen.

For more information visit the official JT Project

Dr. Solomon's Coney Island History

Prof Solomon - Coney Island

Coney Island History: Including Ravenhall Pool

Coney History

Ravenhall Pool: Coney Island

After reading Luna Park Joe Bruno was reminded of his summers in Coney Island:

Ravenhall, which was a small city, something like Steeplechase Park, without the rides, where people bought seasonal passes. I had my own pass from about 1958, until around 1963, when Ravenhall burned down. Everyone I knew from both the 4th and 6th Wards spent their summers in Ravenhall. It was like having your own beach resort. There were several pools. A male and female locker area. Male and female solariums. Steams rooms. Several restaurants/bars. Basketball courts. Handball courts. And you had access to the beach though a turnstile, where you had your hand stamped to get back into Ravenhall.

Book Review: Luna Park

from a review of Kevin Baker's and Danijel Zezelj's new book It's locale is mainly Coney Island, but there's a stopover (above) in the fourth ward of the early 1900's.

I am constantly amazed that Kevin Baker is not a household name in historical fiction. His New York City of Fire trilogy (Dreamland, Paradise Alley, and Striver's Row) should be required reading in any course on New York City history. It would certainly liven things up. Being a fan of the Jack Kirby age of comics I'm a little at loss at the popularity at the modern day comic style. And what's with manga, or is it manta? I guess they may be stylistically cutting edge, but my older text-driven brain can't pick up much of narrative. Baker bridges the gap and does so with his extensive knowledge of history, obviously here bearing his Russian chops as well as his American ones. It's also a great marriage of art to text. Fantastic ending, truly a walk off homer. I should have seen it coming, but I didn't. Let's have more of these please.

Hip "KV" Parisian

an excerpt From Brooklyn to Paris: An Interview with Zeva Bellel of “Paris By Appointment Only”

Text by Tory Hoen, Interview by Erica Berman
Like so many Americans in this city, Zeva Bellel came to Paris by way of a dream—and an impractical one, at that. Raised in Brooklyn, New York, she spent her youth indulging her Francophile fantasies, devouring French new wave films, and scheming about ways to one day live in Paris. Met with much skepticism from her family and friends (her grandfather demanded, “When are you ever going to speak French, you live in Brooklyn for chrissakes?”), Zeva had to fight to make her dream a reality.
Now, after 10 years and lots of amazing experience in Paris, Zeva has recently launched Paris by Appointment Only (Paris BAO), where she seeks to connect Paris’ “hidden network” of artisans (ceramicists, artists, clothing designers, etc.) with curious consumers in seek of unique services and products.
From her roots across the Atlantic to her current lifestyle in Paris’ trendy 10th arrondissement, Zeva is living the life she had always imagined. In retrospect, it may have begun as an irrational dream—but isn’t that the best kind?
We recently sat down with Zeva to learn more about Paris BAO, and what it is that she loves most about life in Paris.

Book Review: A Guide to Gangsters, Murderers and Weirdos of New York City's Lower East Side

Eric Villager
A recent review from the Villager (see page 2 of document above) of A Guide to Gangsters, Murderers and Weirdos of New York City's Lower East Side" (History Press)

1908 Sewers: Monroe Street and Ward 7

A Happy KV Thanksgiving 2009-Pt 2

From the west court facing Monroe Street

Clara Lemlich-Shavelson In The US Census

Last Sunday, November 22, I was able to present personally copies of Clara Lemlich's census records fro 1910, 1920 and 1930 to Rita Margules (Clara's daughter). It was quite a thrill. Rita recalled that she loved the apartment they had, in the 1930 period, on Arnold Court in Brighton Beach. She said she believes it is now named Brighton 6th Court. Rita's father Joseph Shavelson, had a good union job working as a printer for the Big Six. Here's a link to a picture of Clara's 1910 address on 3rd Street.

Commemoration Of The Centennial Of The Uprising Of the 20,000: Part 3

Lemlich PDF
The shirtwaist images towards the end of the slide show were taken at the commemoration on 11/22/09. The mural with Clara's picture is called When Women Pursue Justice. It is located at 498 Greene Avenue in Brooklyn. For information go to democracy now A good source for images of the uprising and the struggle for worker rights in the early 1900's can be found at the archives at Cornell University

Commemoration Of The Centennial Of The Uprising Of the 20,000: Part 2

Joe Raico speaking at the Commemoration of the Centennial of the Uprising of the 20,000. This took place on Sunday November 22, 2009/ 1- 3:30 pm at IBT Local 237 Union Hall, 216 W 14th St, New York, New York. There was a screening of Alex Szalats Clara Lemlich: A Strike Leaders Diary. This was followed by discussion with honored guests: Rita Margules (Clara Lemlich's daughter), Richard Greenwald (Triangle Fire Historian), and Bob Lazar (former ILGWU archivist).
Organizers of the event were
The Remembering the Triangle Fire Coalition and
Organizing the Curriculum

Joe was featured in SCHMATTA: RAGS TO RICHES TO RAGS
Joe knew my father since they were both cutters and Local 10 members of the then ILGWU. Possibly he knew Nat Schumer and Eli Hyman, two of my friend's fathers who were also garment workers. Joe told me that today there are less than 100 cutters.

Commemoration Of The Centennial Of The Uprising Of the 20,000

Ruth Sergel speaking at the Commemoration of the Centennial of the Uprising of the 20,000. This took place on Sunday November 22, 2009/ 1- 3:30 pm at IBT Local 237 Union Hall, 216 W 14th St, New York, New York. There was a screening of Alex Szalats Clara Lemlich: A Strike Leaders Diary. This was followed by discussion with honored guests: Rita Margules (Clara Lemlich's daughter), Richard Greenwald (Triangle Fire Historian), and Bob Lazar (former ILGWU archivist).
Organizers of the event were
The Remembering the Triangle Fire Coalition and
Organizing the Curriculum

Heaven Will Protect The Working Girl: Teacher's Guide

Heaven Viewer Guide
from the american social history project at cuny

Heaven Will Protect The Working Girl

A clip from heaven-will-protect-the-working-girl

Heaven Will Protect the Working Girl: Immigrant Women in the Turn-of-the-Century City
An unexpected friendship between two Italian and Jewish immigrant girls provides the backdrop for this story of labor organizing and women’s growing activism. While working in harsh sweatshops and factories, the young women also experienced the thrills of movies, amusement parks and dance halls. As their numbers in the workforce grew and working conditions declined they took matters into their own hands. In 1909, garment workers staged the “Uprising of the 20,000,” a massive strike that won union recognition and transformed the role of women in the union movement. (Length: 30 minutes)

The Uprising Of The 20,000

Today is the 100th anniversary of the Uprising of the 20,000. Above is the clip from I'm Not Rappaport. from the ILGWU wiki page.

On November 22, 1909, New York City garment workers gathered in a mass meeting at Cooper Union to discuss pay cuts, unsafe working conditions and other grievances. After two hours of indecisive speeches by male union leaders, a young Jewish woman strode down the aisle and demanded the floor. Speaking in Yiddish, she passionately urged her coworkers to go out on strike. Clara Lemlich, a fledgling union organizer, thus launched the 'Uprising of the 20,000,' when, two days later, garment workers walked out of shops all over the city, effectively bringing production to a halt.
A dramatization of that incident, re-created in the Hollywood film I'm Not Rappaport, movingly introduces the documentary portrait CLARA LEMLICH, which recounts the life of the Ukrainian-born immigrant. Like thousands of other young women, Lemlich found work in a clothing factory where she worked 7 days a week, from 60 to 80 hours, for less than a living wage. In her burning desire to get an education Lemlich read widely and organized a study group to discuss women's problems. Her success as an organizer, which included numerous arrests and beatings by strikebreakers, eventually led to her election to the executive board of the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union.
Lemlich's story is movingly recounted through interviews with her daughter and grandchildren, dramatic readings from her diary, family photos and archival footage, strike songs in Yiddish, an interview with labor historian Alice Kessler-Harris, a visit to the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, and excerpts from silent films of the era.
In addition to its biographical portrait, CLARA LEMLICH also chronicles the historic ILGWU strike, which demonstrated to the male leadership that women could be good union members and strikers. The union negotiated a settlement in February 1910 that led to improvements in wages as well as working and safety conditions. One of the companies that refused to sign the agreement was the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, where, the following year, a fire resulted in the death of 146 young women, a tragedy that galvanized public support for the union movement

.

Sixth Street, Between Avenues A And B

sixth-st-a-b
If you're really good you might spot some of these from the previous Godfather on 6th Street clip

The Godfather On 6th Street And Father Moffo

from famous residents of Waterbury Connecticut

Rev. Joseph Moffo, Roman Catholic priest who appeared in the Godfather Part II. Fr. Moffo was pastor of St. Joseph's Church in New York City where a portion of the movie was being filmed and was asked to play the part of a priest.

Production designer Dean Tavoularis chose East 6th Street in Manhattan, between Avenue A and Avenue B. The block was completely remade, its storefronts converted to the cigar stores, social clubs, butcher shops, and theaters Coppola’s grandparents might well have known. The pushcart-crowded block is complete to the dirt and dung on the cobbles. As Vito Corleone walks among his people on this block, first as a serf, then as a lord, we see him as he is, without apology.
A production photo exists of a smiling, relaxed Coppola standing on a roof during the shooting of the Lower East Side sequences. Below him, it is 1919; down the street, just out of camera range, it is 1974. In GODFATHER PART II, Francis Coppola lets us occupy two worlds simultaneously, as well, those of Vito Corleone and his son Michael. And we see each of those men, handsome, loving, and terrible, with utter clarity.

There is also a film made about the filming of the Godfather on 6th Street called THE GODFATHER COMES TO 6TH ST.
from the reel new york site

Mark Kitchell was a film student at N.Y.U. when he shot THE GODFATHER COMES TO 6TH ST. on the Lower East Side block he called home at the time. The piece shares the chaos, excitement, and disappointments that came along with the film crews who descended upon his neighborhood in 1974 to make THE GODFATHER, PART II. Prevailing over Paramount's attempt to ban him from filming, Kitchell highlights locals who were cast as extras and the efforts of a community group who protested the presence of the film crews and were eventually awarded additional money for use of their territory. THE GODFATHER COMES TO 6TH ST. garnered awards from the American Film Festival, the Chicago Film Festival, and the Festival of Festivals (now the Toronto Film Festival) and was nominated for an Oscar.
Q: What inspired you to make this piece?
A: I'd come to NYU film school, fallen in love with documentary, and was looking for a subject to make a film when representative of Paramount showed up on my block on the Lower East Side, saying they wanted to shoot THE GODFATHER, PART II there. I was reluctant at first, not wanting to make a film about a film; but my teacher George Stoney urged me to go ahead, certain that I'd find a story. So I set out to chronicle the filming through my neighbors' eyes. It was meant to be a portrait of the community caught up in the drama of being center stage, for THE GODFATHER no less.
Q: Do you have any interesting and/or amusing behind-the-scenes stories about the making of this particular work?
A: I had a long battle with Paramount over the making of this film, which they tried to stop. Ron Colby, the local unit production manager, was supportive; and I had no trouble until the time of filming drew near. Then the treats began and I prepared for guerrilla filmmaking. On the first day of filming, the production manager kicked me and my crew off the street; so we took to the fire escapes and I asked to talk to Coppola. The next day he gave me his blessing, and from then on we had freedom to shoot whatever we wanted. When the block called a protest meeting, the prodcution manager again tried to exclude me; but the block association insisted on admitting me since I was a member and on their side.
Finally, when the film was done and THE GODFATHER II was about to be released and I wanted to release my film, Paramount's lawyer threatened to get an injuction. I appealed to Coppola. He agreed to see me, and screened the film (at the Rizzoli, while a limo waited to take him to Cannes); but there was nothing he could do. So at last I gave up, and told Paramount's lawyer, Norman Flicker, that he'd got me -- but all I wanted to do was show it, not make money. A few months later, when NYU wanted to submit the film for the student Academy Awards, I got Flicker's okay; after it was nominated, he dropped his opposition to showing it. But not until he'd made his point. Still, I got around his ban, and got the film made.
Q: Is there a relationship between your work as a video/filmmaker and life in the New York metropolitan area?
A: My film was meant to be a portrait of the community most of all, and used the filming of THE GODFATHER II mainly as a means to reveal it going through change. I don't know that I succeeded in that intention. But at least the focus is on the people of Sixth Street. And it turns out to have captured an era on the Lower East Side that's pretty much gone forever, so it has historical interest.
Q: How did you fund this particular film/video, and what is your general experience in seeking funding for your work?
A: I funded this film by hacking, driving a taxi forty hours every weekend and then going to the lab Monday. We edited all night for a summer, while I drove days. Most of the finishing costs came from NYU. Arthur Mayer, bless his heart, gave a modest donation. But that was all. I got very good at cadging a camera here, a tape recorder there, an editing room everywhere.
Q: How do you define an independent film or video?
A: The definition of independent is pretty slippery -- and that's sometimes a good thing -- but in the documentary ghetto it's easy to tell the difference. We're the ones who beg, borrow, and steal, go thru blood, sweat and tears to make our babies; and then hope someone wants to see them.

A Happy KV Thanksgiving 2009

In the west court

Fury: A Boy And His Horse

Fury, Fury
Smartest stallion anywhere
Fury, Fury
Where they need you
You're right there
Every time, I call you
I hear your call replin'
Then you gallop straight to me
With mane and tail a flyin'

from tv acres

Saturday mornings where the best time of the week when you were a kid back in the 50's. There were great shows on to watch like *Fury, Sky King, Jungle Jim, *Tugboat Annie, *Lassie, *Ramar Of The Jungle, The Lone Ranger, Roy Rogers, Cisco Kid, My Friend Flicka, Casey Jones, Adventures of Champion Hopalong Cassidy and many many more. I miss those days, and wish that programs like these could be on Television once again for the kids of today. All of these shows taught lessons on how to treat people and what was right and wrong. No one back then ever thought to talk back to his or her parents, and they treated adults with the respect they so truly deserved.
I have started this site because it seems that Fury has been lost and forgotten in time. There is not much left on the show, but what I find will be posted here. So for those who remember the show, sit back and enjoy. For those who have never heard of Fury, it will be a new experience and one I hope you will all enjoy......

Fury: The Comic Book Version

Fury
for the kid from IE10

Fury

Joey suffers a severe head injury while riding FURY. Episode # 17 - Season 1 - 2/04/1956 Starring: Bobby Diamond, Peter Graves, Jimmy Baird, Roger Mobley, and William Fawcett as Pete

from crazy about tv
The Fury TV show was a western action series about a widower (Jim Newton) whose wife and son had been killed by a drunk driver in an auto accident. Jim owned a ranch and adopted an orphan boy who had been wrongly accused of a minor crime. Joey developed a deep, loving relationship with a horse on the ranch named "Fury". Fury apparently felt the same way about Joey since he wouldn't let anyone but Joey ride him unless Joey said it was ok. The episode plots usually involved a person or persons who did something bad and ended out in trouble and then would be saved by Fury. There was a definite attempt to teach the kids who were watching what is and is not acceptable behavior.
Fury Cast:
Peter Graves .............. Jim Newton
Bobby Diamond ............. Joey Newton
Rodger Mobley ............. Packy Lambert
William Fawcett ........... Pete
Highland Dale ............. Fury
Fury TV Show Trivia:
Fury got his name when Pete, the ranch's foreman, said that the horse was full of "Fire and Fury". Fury had begun life as a wild horse. It had taken three years of trying before they finally caught him so the name fit pretty well!
Fury may have been the king of television shows when it comes to merchandizing! There were several comic books based on Fury. There were Fury coloring books, puzzles, trading cards, and a board game!
In addition to his outstanding movie career, Peter Graves also appeared in several other TV Series including "Mission Impossible", "Court Martial", "Whiplash", and "Where's Raymond"! He also appeared in two of television's greatest miniseries, "The Winds of War" and "War and Remembrance". Peter is also the brother of James Arness, best knowns as Marshall Matt Dillion on the TV series, "Gunsmoke". Peter even worked with his brother once on Gunsmoke by directing episode #402 of that series titled, "Which Dr.".
The horse named "Highland Dale" who played "Fury" on the show was a purebred "American Saddlebred". The Fury TV Show was not the only starring role for Highland Dale! The horse also starred in the movie, "Giant". In that movie, Highland Dale's name was "War Winds".
Fury was the first of many series that was produced for U.S. TV by "ITC Entertainment", a production company based in England.
Highland Dale somehow appeared at a wild animal park called, "Africa USA" that is located in the Santa Clarita Valley of California. Africa USA also housed the animals for the TV series, "Daktari". Anyway ... the park attendants had no idea that Highland Dale was the star of Fury! He was very sick when he arrived at the park but they got him back in good shape. They had been told that the horse's name was "King". It was strange when they discovered that "King" was extremely intelligent and could do many tricks. Finally, one day a stuntman visited the park and recognized that "King" was really "Highland Dale"! The people who worked at the park were understandably thrilled!
Bobby Diamond also had an extensive show business career including regular roles on the "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" and "Westinghouse Playhouse". He even appeared as a guest star on three episodes of the series, "Lassie" and played a different character each time!
After Fury went off the air, it ran in syndication until 1966 with the new name, "Brave Stallion."
Just in case you wondered what happened to Bobby Diamond, he went to law school and earned his degree in 1970. He then practiced law in Los Angeles, California.
Episodes List With Original Air Dates
The First Season
1. Joey Finds A Friend (10/15/1955)
2. Killer Stallion (10/22/1955)
3. The Horse Coper (10/29/1955)
4. Joey Goes Hunting (11/5/1955)
5. Scorched Earth (11/12/1955)
6. Joey's Dame Trouble (11/19/1955)
7. Joey And The Gypsies (11/26/1955)
8. Joey's Father (12/3/1955)
9. Joey Saves The Day (12/10/1955)
10. The 4-H Story (12/17/1955)
11. Junior Rodeo (12/24/1955)
12. Ghost Town (12/31/1955)
13. The Hobo (1/7/1956)
14. Tungsten Queen (1/14/1956)
15. Joey Sees It Through (1/21/1956)
16. Stolen Fury (1/28/1956)
17. The Choice (2/4/1956)
18. The Boy Scout Story (2/11/1956)
19. Search For Joey (2/18/1956)
20. The Miracle (2/25/1956)
21. The Test (3/3/1956)
22. Fury Runs To Win (3/10/1956)

Full Of Fulton 3

Fulton Book
Back to a sample of the overflowing libido and intellect of Robert

Full Of Fulton 2

Making Fulton Market
from the blotter

Full Of Fulton 1

Fulton Street Forgotten Ny 2
from forgotten-ny

A Yank At The Oxford

Just heard from the KV Colonel that he's currently in Oxford.

Just arrived in Oxford. Weather looks great. Bus ride from Heathrow didn't see much until the sun came up. City looks interesting. Will shower and start hitting the streets. Today is my only day to tour. Returning to DC on Saturday.

Mostly Avenue C

Archival Pics Of Tompkins Square Library

Tompkins Square Branch Library, Photo Album

Scene I'd Like To See

What is real about this scene is a new Chinese bakery at 77 Catherine Street. Also, my handy-dandy poster tour cart can be viewed on the left.

Sweet Lorraine: 1940

A 1940 New York recording by this brilliant four piece combination, Mugsy on cornet, Bechet on Soprano and clarinet and the superbly balanced rhythmic combination of Carmen Mastren (born Carmen Mastandrea) guitar and Wellman Braud bass.

John Palumbo: KVer Starring In Upcoming Movie With Tatum O'Neal

I got an email from John

I saw that you did an article on Sweet Lorraine with Tatum O'Neal filming on Orchard Street. I am one of the co-stars opposite Tatum, Steven Bauer (Scarface) and Peter Greene (Pulp Fiction-Usual Suspects). I play Steven's best friend, Marty. Tatum was great. Very cool, very down to earth.

Very lucky guy!
For more info on the upcoming movie

A Robert Fulton Descendant

Unfortunately Cory's New York explorations were not a successful as his ancestor Robert's. About Cory

The Great East River Shipyards Of The Past

Fulton's steamboats were constructed nearby. I wonder if James Fulton Pringle was related. Here's a link to the full image

Robert Fulton: "The Forgotten Man Of The Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial Celebration"

Being curious about the man considered the forgotten man of the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial celebration, I did some research on him. Quite an interesting guy. Hero or scoundrel? Sexual adventurer or opportunist? Audio from John Lienhard and KUHF-FM, Houston,
Kirkpatrick Sale's fascinating biography "The Fire of his Genius"
a review of Sale's book
Curriculum unit from ny state ed department
Hudson River Maritime Museum, an excellent source
Fulton's boats were built in the shipyards in Ward 10
His descendant, Yankee pitcher Cory Fulton Lidle!

Archival Pics Of Tompkins Square Park

photographed by the Byron firm via Detroit Publishing, Library of Congress

It's A Snap With Shu-Loks

I found an image of these in, as it often happens, when I was searching for something else. I seem to recall getting them at Laskys. Boy Did I love those shoes. It was great for the double knot challenged. Evidently they are a hot item now

Miriam Friedlander: Celebrating A Life Of Committment To Justice And Dedication To Her Community

Miriam
This was given out at the City Council event on 11/12/09

Miriam Friedlander Honored

Legendary Lower Manhattan City Councilmember Miriam Friedlander, who died at the age of 95 last month, was remembered on Thursday, November 12, 2009 at the Council Chambers, City Hall. The event was hosted by Councilwoman Rosie Mendez and Family and Friends. Thanks to Marion Fox I was lucky to be able to attend. Years ago Miriam appointed Marion to one of the Community Boards. Speaking above was Miriam's friend Frances Goldin. "I don't want to hear East Village anymore, we are the Lower East Side" Love it. There was an article about Miriam in The Villager last month

Municipal Building Slide Show

The Foxy Ms. Fox

I met the Assistant Borough Historian of Manhattan yesterday and got a copy of this treasure. It's Marion Fox in the early 1950's with two of her admirers. The one on the left is Leonard Michaels, the acclaimed writer of short stories, novels, and essays and former KV resident. They are in Washington Square. Leonard was attending NYU at the time.

Tenement Museum Talk From 11/10/09

photo above a composite of a previous Tenement Museum talk with Kevin Baker and my insert of a pic of Edward Rutherfurd

KV Goomba and loyal Yankee fan Kevin Baker introduced author Edward Rutherfurd who gave the Tenement Museum audience a glimpse of his new novel, New York

New York's magnificent gift to the storyteller is a four-century history as exciting as that of any place on earth.It is a place echoing with stories, from old Manhattan's Indian trails and Dutch settlements to the dramatic construction of the Empire State Building and the tale of John Lennon's Dakota. During the American Revolutionary War, New York was the British Headquarters; New Yorkers organized the canals and the railroads that opened up the American West. In the Civil War, astoundingly, the city almost seceded from the Union. From the terrible Draft Riots, the Blizzard of '88, the Great Crash of ’29, to the tragedy of 9/11, New York has so often been centre stage.Larger-than-life historical characters abound in this story: Stuyvesant, the Dutchman who defended New Amsterdam, Lord Cornbury the transvestite English Governor, Washington whose presidency began in New York, Ben Franklin who tried to keep America British, Lincoln, who made one of his greatest speeches in the city, the titanic JP Morgan, Tammany Hall's Fernando Wood and Boss Tweed, legendary socialites like Mrs Astor and Mrs Vanderbilt, memorable city figures like La Guardia, Robert Moses, and Mayor Koch.But above all, for me, this novel is a tale of ordinary people - local Indians, Dutch settlers, English merchants, African slaves, German shopkeepers, Irish labourers, Jews and Italians arriving through Ellis Island, Puerto Ricans, Guatemalans, and Chinese, inkeepers and gangsters, society ladies and sweatshop workers. These scores of fictional characters were frequently suggested to me by the lives, or fragments of lives, of real people, sometimes nameless people, that I discovered in my research and who moved me. And those people were just a tiny sampling of the millions who came through New York to America, in search of freedom - and usually found it.

A second bonus of the event was meeting a current KVer, fellow Kevin Baker fan and nice guy, Jeff Spielman. Jeff is a photographer who did the cover shot of Homicide pictured above.

Todd Schefflin Performs With Frank Wess: 11/08/09

Todd, pictured on the left above, performed with the great Frank Wess at William Patterson College.

Saxophonist/flutist Frank Wess, a longtime featured soloist with the Count Basie Orchestra for more than a decade, brings his powerful solo voice and his well-known arrangements to the stage as he joins forces with the talented students of the William Paterson University Jazz Orchestra.

Todd is the son of the KV Rambo and the greatest southpaw pitcher in the history of the Two Bridges Little League, Murray Schefflin. btw, Murray's still smarting over the loss of the overall pitching honor that was won by Vinny Adimando. A link to Todd's myspace page where you can hear samples of his outstanding work
below Frank Wess takes the sax solo in a 1962 performance with the Count Basie Orchestra. Thad Jones solos on trumpet in a composition by Freddie Green called Corner Pocket

Site Of Maruffi's Bar, 1937

an excerpt from a nytimes article from 1996 that mentions Maruffi's Bar on the corner of Baxter and Bayard

LIVES;Bar, None, By Madison Smartt Bell, Published: Sunday, March 3, 1996
The Spring Lounge, one of the last two neighborhood bars in Little Italy (aside from private social clubs), is up for sale, which makes me scared. For years I've used the place as a rendezvous-resting place and portable office; it was also a virtual residence for a character in my first novel. The Spring Lounge isn't the only neighborhood bar I've used to shelter both myself and people who populate my books, but lately it seems as if they've all been going down like birds shot off a wire.
For sure, there is no shortage of bars in Manhattan, but the new ones are too bright, have too much glass. The bartenders are so brisk they ought to be serving double lattes instead of the waters of Lethe. In fact, you don't have to go thirsty half so long if what you want is chichi coffee -- soon enough there'll be a Starbucks on every corner, but how much enlightenment is all this caffeine producing? Coffee or booze, there's almost no one left to drink it but the gentry, and the trouble with those sorts of clients is they're too much like oneself.
The first bar I ever entered in Manhattan was at the corner of Houston Street and the Bowery. There was a blizzard; I was 20 years old, shuffling down from Chelsea in leaky cowboy boots in search of a Greenwich Village that had long ceased to exist outside of my imagination. Nothing was open and no one was on the street, no one interested in wading through knee-deep snow except for me and of course the homeless, then known as winos. When Bleecker Street ran out, I turned right and followed the winos to where they were going. Like most of the Bowery bars I later patronized, this one didn't seem to require a name. The tables and chairs were legless, which didn't matter, as the customers were sleeping in stacks on the floor, the bottommost snuffling in pools of filthy water from melted snow. There was also a bathtub-size pool table, where I was able to earn some money. I was the youngest person there by at least 20 years, but no one objected to my presence. I felt oddly at home; it was not exactly a welcoming place, but entirely uncritical. You could stay there as long as you liked. There are no bars left on the Bowery now. The last one closed at the end of 1993, foreshadowing within several weeks the death of Charles Bukowski. A nice coincidence.
Because I lived in Brooklyn, I used Manhattan bars as staging areas, and Maruffi's, on Baxter Street at the corner of Columbus Park, was a good one for sorties into either SoHo or TriBeCa. Because of its proximity to the Tombs, Maruffi's was a place where many cops unwound, and the first time I went there, they were relaxing by means of a large general fistfight. One officer (out of uniform) came over to the only table left standing, where I and my young lady companion demurely sat behind small, stout glasses of bourbon, to apologize; his friends, he said, were "a little excited." One of his friends clubbed him over the head with a shoe, and our officer roared like a bear, knocked him down, then jumped on the bar and lowered his pants to moon the entire assembly. When he had rebuttoned, he came over and apologized to us again with even more formal courtesy. But Maruffi's has been closed for years; its space is now a second-floor dining room for the restaurant next door.
Besides the cop bars, there were others in Chinatown that I will not name because they were almost exclusively the resorts of criminals -- Chinese criminals, but the occasional white guy might be tolerated. These venues were in basements and tended to be more or less unmarked. You could drink Tsing Tao beer and Chinese vodka there and count on meeting no one that you knew. Occasionally these places would be swept clean by opposing gangsters with Kalishnikovs, but such celebrations were acceptably rare. The phones were good: a good bar phone must be adequately secluded from the noisemakers, yet near enough to the counter that you can watch your coat. No more bars like these in Chinatown. Since the last of them was boarded up for tax evasion, I wonder how the cops and criminals know how to find one another.

from Joe Bruno

I used to "live" in Maruffi's, when I lived across the street on White Street, and after. At least 2, 3 nights a week. Forlini's was more of a restaurant. Maruffi's was a man's bar. Very few women ventured in. I played on their bar softball team in the mid 60's.

New York Yankee Celebration: City Hall, 11/6/09

Sixth Warder and friend of Knickerbocker Village, Cecilia Maruffi Mogilansky, attended the awards' ceremony for the World Champion Yankees at City Hall on November 6, 2009. She graciously shared these great photos with us.

More On Eckstein's

ecksteins
from The Suburbanization of New York

Henry Eckstein: A LES Legend Passes

An email I received from Bernie Dolnansky

ECKSTEIN--Herbert, died peacefully at home in Great Neck at the age of 87 on October 27, 2009. Beloved husband of Nadine for 56 years; devoted father of Kenneth, Linda and Myra Mogilner; cherished father-in-law of Ruthann Eckstein and Dr. Alon Mogilner; adored grandfather of Max, Sam, Shoshana, Josh, Zack, Joey and Gabi; much loved brother of David, Eugene and Barbara Shostak. During his lifetime he was proprietor of H. Eckstein & Sons, a dry goods store and Lower East Side institution. He will be sorely missed.

I believe that's Eckstein's store window showing on Grand Street on the left of the picture above. I fondly recall my trips to Eckstein's with my mother. The basement at Eckstein's was a world unto itself and there was always interesting back and forth sales talk/flirting going on between my mother and the salesmen.
An excerpt from a 2004 nytimes article about Eckstein's

Trendiness Among the Tenements; Descendants Return to a Remade Lower East Side
By JOSEPH BERGER
H. Eckstein & Sons was not quite as much a fixture of the Lower East Side as Guss's Pickles or Yonah Schimmel Knish Bakery. Still, Brenda Zimmer spent much of her life there, haggling with customers in the cramped and hectic clothing store on Orchard Street that her family owned, hanging on until a greatly weakened Eckstein's finally shut its doors in 1998.
Yet when she told friends a few years ago that her daughter, Amy, was moving into one of the neighborhood's storied tenements, ''they looked a little shocked,'' she said.
''Everybody spent their lives trying to get out of there, and my daughter is trying to come back,'' Mrs. Zimmer said, recalling her friends' puzzlement and suggesting more than a little of her own.
The rapid changes in a neighborhood famous as the squalid foothold for immigrants just off the boat have produced more than a few such expressions of astonishment.
There are still many people around who were glad to escape the neighborhood when the old life seemed to be seeping out of it more than a half-century ago. Some of them are now wonderstruck as their adventurous children and grandchildren are returning.
On a recent stroll from Hester Street to Houston Street with Amy, Mrs. Zimmer seemed tickled that her daughter, a 28-year-old Yale graduate and freelance writer, had actually settled a few blocks from where Amy's grandfather was born and where Mrs. Zimmer worked full time for 15 years. Sure, only a handful of the wholesale and retail stores that sold hosiery, linens, lingerie, and handbags were still around, and even many of the bodegas of a more recent era of migration were gone. But the neighborhood had once again quickened to life, something closer to the bustle of the days when the walk-up tenements were teeming and the dowdy stores drew shoppers from all over for their Sunday bargains.
''Now it's exciting; it's prestigious to live there,'' Mrs. Zimmer, a high-spirited woman, observed.
Dry-goods shops are being replaced by restaurants with $30 entrees; by boutiques where the tastefully spaced wares are fashionably retro but the prices are decidedly nouveau; by galleries like Fusion-Arts Museum, which exhibits a robotlike ''fusion golem'' made of motorized hardware; by cafes where young people peck at laptops while sipping lattes; and even by one shop, Toys in Babeland, that, to Mrs. Zimmer's embarrassed amusement, sells sex toys.
''A very unusual store,'' Mrs. Zimmer observed, gathering up her dignity. ''Colorful.''

A link to another article by Amy Zimmer about Eckstein's

Avenue C

Some old pics I had of the Avenue A, B, C, and D area from a few years ago. A neighborhood study school project may be in the works for an Avenue B school. I had forgotten about a similar slide show done to this great Lambert, Hendricks, Ross version of an old Count Basie tune. It's a lot better than a more recent Manilow version.