NYC in the 50's/60's/70's

Twin Willow and Baker Write------40 cent movies on 42nd Street was not
the "big deal"-----the real deal was
Skipping out of High School after lunch with a buddy or two, Taking
the subway to Times Square and going to a BURLESQUE show on 42nd Street.
They were closed down eventually and moved to New Jersey.
No one ever asked your age at those joints either. Wow was that a big deal.

Twin I am much more "Ancient" than you and I can not remember the Steak
House on 39th off Park. But in the early 60's I was already the father of 4
so I didn't know from Steak Houses. Hot Dog stands, maybe, but Steak Joints,
forgettaboutit.

Mariner, as 16 year olds, we used to go to NJ to go to the "Burlys" too! That was back in the mid-fifties.

quote:

Originally posted by John A

quote:

Originally posted by Edwaste

Any body remember Horn & Hardart?

During the early 50's we use to go to the one on East Tremont Ave in the Bronx.

John

My family used to go to the one at the Cross County Shopping Center in Yonkers, on Central Avenue.

We also loved the Patricia Murphy's Restaurant on Central Avenue also in Yonkers - boy I had forgotten how great their popovers were. We also frequented the Howard Johnson's Restaurant on Central Avenue in Yonkers - I sure remember those delicious huge platters of fried clams and their great iced tea.

NY Pizza Nut--------I know Central Ave pretty well it is a busy place.
My cousin lived in an apartment overlooking the Ave and Patricia Murphy's
was a favorite. I love Pizza and Brew on Central in Scarsdale-----go there
at least once on every trip north.

Now what was that Hawaiian/Polynesian place to go after the prom? Mai Tais (with umBrella), PuPu Platters, MooGooGaiPan? I think it was on Broadway. The Far Eastern version of Mama Leone.

Oh and what was it you got on the Table at Moma Leone's? You own persoanl mini loaf of bread or your own personal hunk of cheese or whatever. I remember cutting something...(not my wrists),,,,

NYNM

After our prom we took the girls for a carriage ride thru Central Park,
and then to------ the Astor Roof overlooking busy Times Square for the
music of Harry James, his trumpet and his orchestra featuring the voice
of pretty Kitty Kallen-----take it away Harry.
Us macho 17 year old guys didn't go for no drinks with umbrellas. Ya dig?

Years later my wife and I and another couple were standing in line at Mama Leone's
when the boss man, the manager of that part of Restaurant Associates came out
to reassure all of us that the wait was not going to be long. He spotted my
buddy Ken (they had played HS football together) and took us off the line to
a special table in the wine cellar. He sent us a couple of bottles of Cianti
and a bill for nada, nothing, nil, zippo. A memorable night---except I can
not remember if there was bread or cheese on the table------I am inclined to
say a round hard cheese. Yes I can see it now------

My ex was the doorman at La Fonda del Sol on 51st, I think.... He was attending NYU, Bronx campus and was active duty AirForce.... He wore a big poncho with a huge sun on it, and he made pretty good tips.... Occasionally, he would bring a chunk of cheesecake home with him - - it was fantastic - - shortbread bottom crust, a filling to die for and a thin crust of some kind on top.... This would have been in 1964/65..... When school was done, off we went to our next assignment....

quote:

Originally posted by the ancient mariner

NYNM

After our prom we took the girls for a carriage ride thru Central Park,
and then to------ the Astor Roof overlooking busy Times Square for the
music of Harry James, his trumpet and his orchestra featuring the voice
of pretty Kitty Kallen-----take it away Harry.
Us macho 17 year old guys didn't go for no drinks with umbrellas. Ya dig?

Years later my wife and I and another couple were standing in line at Mama Leone's
when the boss man, the manager of that part of Restaurant Associates came out
to reassure all of us that the wait was not going to be long. He spotted my
buddy Ken (they had played HS football together) and took us off the line to
a special table in the wine cellar. He sent us a couple of bottles of Cianti
and a bill for nada, nothing, nil, zippo. A memorable night---except I can
not remember if there was bread or cheese on the table------I am inclined to
say a round hard cheese. Yes I can see it now------

I dig.

I was just a young hick when I first went to Mama Leone's. The "free" pickles, cheeses, and meats before the meal blew me away. Hell, I even felt the food was good and I was mesmerized by the fact that it was one of Babe Ruth's favorite places. So, shoot me. I miss it to this day.

Sardi's is still there. It was and still is "more than o.k." for a pre-show bite.

Lindy's is still there but is all formica and kitsch.

I really miss the Sunday Brunch buffet at The Palm Court of The Plaza when Trump owned it (circa 1990).

And I miss La Caravelle, where Nelson Rockefeller dined often before succumbing to "Nelson Rockefeller disease" in the company of Megan Marshack, is missed. It was the scene by my best "reverse Lindy's moment": ME: "I'll have the Steak at Poive". WAITER: "One does not come to La Caravelle to have Steak au Poive". ME: "Do I take from that that your Chef prepares it poorly?" BTW: it was excellent!

Along with the Nation, I mourn the loss of the fairly decent, but spectacular restaurant where I took my eldest daughter for her 16th. birthday: Windows on the World.

The thing I miss least about the NYC of the 1970's is Times Square smelling like pi$$, the grifters, the graffiti'd subway, etc. ad infinitum.

God Bless Rudolph Giuliani.

quote:

Originally posted by Twinwillow

You must be as "ancient" as me.

I would say so, but I suspect 'Mariner' has both of us beat!

I mentioned awhile back that I was working on a book - 60 WARREN - about the NYC restaurant business during the 1960's. Several recent posts here mention a number of familiar places from the era, so I've posted a sneak preview of 60 WARREN which you and our fellow Roadies may find interesting:
http://passingtrains.blogspot.com/2008/10/60-warren.html

UPDATE - 12/5/08: Above link (book excerpt) unavailable until further notice. Thanks.

Baker Write
---------------60 Warren sounds like a "wild and crazy" place filled with
"wild and crazy" Guys and Dolls---thank you Steve Martin and Damon Runyon.
Also reads well---------thanks. Better than Moby Dick that's for sure.

quote:

Originally posted by the ancient mariner

Baker Write
---------------60 Warren sounds like a "wild and crazy" place filled with
"wild and crazy" Guys and Dolls---thank you Steve Martin and Damon Runyon.
Also reads well---------thanks. Better than Moby Dick that's for sure.

Many thanks for the blurb, Mariner, glad you enjoyed it. That's exactly what 60 Warren was, too, wild and crazy! And the characters, like herding cats...

I've never been to New York City (although I have been to Canandaiguia) and I do alot of reading but that doesn't count, right? When New York City and restaurants come to mind I always think of Billy Joel and "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant".

quote:

Originally posted by NYNM

Now what was that Hawaiian/Polynesian place to go after the prom? Mai Tais (with umBrella), PuPu Platters, MooGooGaiPan? I think it was on Broadway. The Far Eastern version of Mama Leone.

Do you mean Trader Vic's, downstairs on the CPS side of The Plaza?

I first went to Manhattan St Patrick's Day weekend 1973 for a high school journalism convention at Columbia. Ted Kennedy, ironically, gave a rousing speech on Freedom of the Press. We went somewhere in Greenwich Village, a smoky basement club, to watch National Lampoon's Lemmings Revue. They served us Lowenbrau even though we were 16. Anyhow, I was watching SNL years later and when I saw Belushi doing his spot-on Joe Cocker imitation, I realized he was part of that incredible troupe I had seen. Chevy Chase, too, I think.

Metroples,
Trader Vic started a few steps up but then decended into the bowels
of the Plaza, but I don't think that is what NYNM was looking for.
There were a few other places that did the Hawaiian bit back then.
Trader Vic's was too high class for high school kids.

Capybara,
Belushi and Chase in the village---you can tell your kids and their kids
and ----well anyhow it only happens in NY. You see them coming up and you see
them coming right back down. If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere---
New York, New York

n

quote:

Originally posted by NYNM

Now what was that Hawaiian/Polynesian place to go after the prom? Mai Tais (with umBrella), PuPu Platters, MooGooGaiPan? I think it was on Broadway. The Far Eastern version of Mama Leone.

Oh and what was it you got on the Table at Moma Leone's? You own persoanl mini loaf of bread or your own personal hunk of cheese or whatever. I remember cutting something...(not my wrists),,,,

Hawaii Kai...remember the winding staircase to get to the upstairs place...drinking a "Sufferin' Bastard(only two per customer!!!...a college staple!!!

Ancient Mariner:

I remember eating at the[url='http://www.armoryonpark.org/']7th Regiment Armory [/url]in the early '60s.

Hey Miami---I was there many times. Ran there while in college--some
indoor track meets were held there. Then a century later was invited
to a dinner dance there and went back for 3 years. There was talk a
few years ago of tearing the building down because the property is so
valuable. It really is a beautiful historic building but is now used
in part to house homeless etc. ----another of the 8,000,000 stories
in NYCity.

Looks like Tavern on the Green will be shuttering up as of the first of the year:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/T...een.closing/index.html

One of the more sad things is that even after they've lost the restaurant they still have to fight to retain the naming rights. Is anyone planning on eating there before it's gone?

In all my years in NY I was only inside Tavern on the Green once,
and then it was to make a delivery.  A box of Chocolates from Rosemarie De Paris
to some celebrity whose name I have long since forgotten.  It is a shame to see
wonderful old places like TOTG disappear.   Next it will be Luchow's the best Chinese Restaurant in the city.  What a great Christmas tree they had.

Hi All
 
Although i am too young to remember  the New York of your youth, My father and others have  told me stories of Romeo's on 42nd street. My dad worked there from 1952 until its closing around 1960. According to family legend my grandfather opened the place when the little flower outlawed the slots. . Somewhere he's smiling that people out there still have fond memories of the place.

What a surprise this morning to see this old thread has been revised by
a youngster.  Maybe a whole new age group will have memories of
being taken to Times Square and what a big event it was.

the ancient mariner


Next it will be Luchow's the best Chinese Restaurant in the city.  What a great Christmas tree they had.

Are you testing us, AM?

http://s1.hubimg.com/u/1055668_f520.jpg

Mr MacTac, himself is it.

From Long Island

Where I was born and raised and grew up and loved-----

Yes, I must confess I was testing and teasing -----

I did work for both Jan Mitchell and Guido Luchow Eckstein----

and loved the Restaurant, especially at Christmas.  

But, the name, when verbalized, always sounded Chinese to me---

Let's Go To Lu Chow's for Lobster Cantonese.  Ah So !!!!!!

the ancient mariner


Yes, I must confess I was testing and teasing -----

I did work for both Jan Mitchell and Guido Luchow Eckstein----

and loved the Restaurant, especially at Christmas.  

But, the name, when verbalized, always sounded Chinese to me---

Let's Go To Lu Chow's for Lobster Cantonese.  Ah So !!!!!!

LOL! I wish I had experienced the restaurant. I do remember some years ago (the 70s?) when they were moving from the original location there was quite an uproar from their clientele.


I must confess, I assumed it was a Chinese restaurant for a long time...