NOTHING SAYS, "COLUMBUS DAY" LIKE CHINESE FOOD

Five years ago, on the Friday of the four-day (Friday through Monday) Columbus Day weekend, we took a disastrous day trip to Manhattan with two of Andrew's friends. In order of importance, we were to have lunch in Chinatown, visit Ground-Zero and spend a little time at Battery Park to see the Statue of Liberty across the harbor.

Maybe disastrous is too strong a word but through no fault of anyone, nothing went right. Our first obstacle in town, aside from being anxious to get started and hungry, was that the main hub through Chinatown (Mott Street) was closed off. Soon I discovered that all the side streets were inexplicably also closed. Parking in Chinatown has always been a challenge but if you're willing to run back and keep feeding the meter there's never a problem.

ONE OF THE GAZILLION VENDORS NEAR MERCER STREET. THIS ONE HAS, COCONUTS FROM MADAGASGAR, LIVE BABY TURTLES AND KNOCK-OFF ROLEX'S FOR SALE (NOTICE THESE $10 WATCHES SPELL ROLEXX WITH 2 X's) .

Our parking search radius widened without any luck. Then because I had kids in the car, even though it's against my religion to pay more for parking than to eat, I, for the first time in my life, gave in to the horror of paying to park. My nightmare skyrocketed to Hitchcockian proportions when, thousands of live crabs crawled out from Pell Street and worse, all the parking lots were FULL! Oh, I was kidding about the crabs on Pell Street...it actually happened on Bayard Street however, the parking lots were indeed full-up.

We finally parked at a meter on the Bowery with distant Canal Street easily ten blocks away.
It was clouding up and I recall saying, "At least its not raining."
Perhaps it was a sign from above because a street urchin saw it fit to pee in the street right in front of us...ahhhh,the ambiance of Chinatown. I re-thought the situation and figured, by the time we got to our destination, I'd have to walk back a half mile to feed the meter.

We turned around and got back in the car. I drove to the corner where our favorite restaurant was (it was closed off, remember) and dropped them off. I took the fifty-cent tour and drove through oddball places I never saw. I stopped after thirty minutes when I realized that I was one of several other cars trawling for a parking spot.

Back in Chinatown, I pulled along side a traffic cop and asked why all the streets were closed.
He said, "They are gearing-up for the Columbus Day Parade on Monday."
I said, "Where is there a Columbus Day Parade?"
He said, "Little Italy."
Adjacent to each other, Little Italy and Chinatown are separated by Canal Street. Mott Street is on the Chinatown side and its called Mulberry Street on the Little Italy side.
I said, "They closed all the streets in Chinatown today, for a parade in Little Italy on Monday?"
He said, "Gets really crazy around here."
I said, "Its pretty crazy right now...I dropped my family off at the Wo Hop restaurant and they have been waiting almost an hour."


THE PHOTO DOESN'T GIVE JUSTICE TO THE WO HOP RESTAURANT--17 MOTT STREET (downstairs). IT'S MY FAVORITE EATERY IN "C-TOWN" AND THERE REALLY ISN'T A SECOND CHOICE. I'VE BEEN GOING THERE SINCE ABOUT 1973 WHEN GAS WAS 38c A GALLON AND IT WAS NO BIG DEAL TO VENTURE INTO THE CITY FOR "CHINX" AT 2:AM.

He said, "Tough break."
I said, "Well, can I leave my car here (in a traffic island, on the corner of Mott and Bowery) for five minutes so I can let them know where I am and get them out."
He said, "You'd be illegally parked...I'd have to give you a ticket."
This of course was in the pre-cell phone era.
I pointed up curvy Mott Street, "C'mon, gimme a break. It's only a half a block, I'll run and be back in no time."
He said, "If I let you, I'd have let everyone..."
I controlled my sarcasm and said, "I'll give you my wallet...please they might be panicking...don't make this an emergency."
"Okay. Keep your wallet but hurry." He then smirked, "If my sergeant shows up, I'm gonna have to nail you...and if she's in one of her moods, you'll probably get towed."

I ran off and luckily my family never went into the restaurant. So it was easy to gather them up. Back in the car, I explained the Columbus Day situation while they moaned in a collective high-pitched starvation tone. We wound up at the South Street Seaport (YAWN). The highlight was taking pictures of the East River and Brooklyn Bridge as a foggy haze set in. Of course we ate in what amounts to their up-scale mall's food-court first but the PHOTO-OP was clearly the better time. P. S.-- I paid through the nose to park!

We then found out that there is nowhere to park at Ground-Zero. I parked at a fire hydrant and we took turns looking around, reading the plaques, etc. Our last stop was Battery Park. There was no place to park their either. So I waited in the car while they walked out to the water's edge for their first up close glimpse of the Statue of Liberty. They got back to the car rather quickly and cheerfully explained the abundance of weirdos they saw in such a short time.
Looking for inspiration I said, "What did you think of the Statue of Liberty?'
Andrew said, "It was too foggy we couldn't see it."

THE CADILLAC OF TWINKIES

Hostess Twinkies are 75 years old. YUMMY LOOKING AND STILL SO VERY TEMPTING

In 1933, Twinkies were introduced by the makers of Wonder Bread; the Continental Baking Company of Indianapolis. They were invented by baker James A. Dewar who was looking to use idle strawberry shortcake machines when strawberries weren't in season.

I had always assumed that they got their name from being packaged as twin cakes but that is not so. James Dewar was inspired by a billboard advertising the Twinkle-Toe Shoe Company.

The snack cake's originally had banana filling and cost five-cents for the two-pack. That affordability made them particularly popular during the depression.

In the 40's, to support the war effort, bananas were rationed to the general public. So, vanilla creme was substituted. The new flavored Twinkies exploded in popularity, therefore the recipe was never changed back.

Twinkies became a household name when it became a sponsor for the classic kids TV show, "HOWDY DOODY."
YOU CAN'T SEE THE STRINGS BUT HOWDY DOODY WAS ACTUALLY A PUPPET !

During the Cold-War, due to the fear of nuclear attack, many paranoid Americans built personal bomb shelters. It seems hard to believe these days, but Twinkies...due to the reputation...that they stay fresh forever...were among the survival foods that were stockpiled.

President Bill Clinton recognized their significance and included Twinkies in a time-capsule.
RELEVANT IN THE 21st CENTURY, "TWINKIE THE KID" RIDES AGAIN

Today, a half billion Twinkies are sold each year.

Me personally, I loved Twinkies as a kid...especially if they were refrigerated. But because I was a choco-holic and still am...I preferred Ring-Dings, Yodels and Devil-Dogs (in that order) before Twinkies.

In the summer of '74 when RBOY and I worked at *Disneyworld, we together, discovered something that satisfied our love for Twinkies with our stronger love for chocolate...behold...the Chocolate Twinkie. Chocolate Twinkies, (the cake was chocolate and creme center remained the same) never really caught-on and were discontinued in a short time. Nevertheless, he and I were their best customers. At our apartment complex, we'd go to the convenience store buy them up. For our epic 24-hour car ride back to New York, we bought every one they had.
*On October 1st, Disneyworld celebrated its 37th anniversary, RBOY and I were there, year 3.

Over the years, most of our tastes become more adult. I left Twinkies behind twenty-plus years ago for better junk food and didn't look back...until I had a child. My son Andrew is 14 (I'm not sure if he wants me to include the half because he's actually, 14 1/2). Like all kids, he has tried every conceivable snack food there is. That means...I have RE-TRIED every conceivable snack food. Unfortunately, this time around, my adult palate found Twinkies to have a chemical taste...even refrigerated.

I swore-off Twinkies for another ten years until now. What I discovered is the "Cadillac of Twinkies," however, it must be noted...that these are NOT Twinkies. What they are can be summed-up in one word; ENTEMANN'S. More specifically, Entemann's Sponge Creme Cakes. Trust me, if you ever loved Twinkies, drop everything and find them...maybe your waistline will hate me...but your tongue will love me !

PAUL NEWMAN'S OWN

Frequently, we take our heroes for granted. Deep down we know they're human but when they begin to age, become less effective, lose their sexiness or die, we often seemed surprised.

Actor Paul Newman died yesterday, he was 83. I knew he had formally retired from acting and was strickened with cancer yet I was still surprised.

"COOL HAND LUKE," 1967. THERE IS A TEMPTATION TO FIND PHOTOS OF ALL MY FAVORITE NEWMAN ROLES BUT THERE ARE FAR TOO MANY.

I won't be including a list Newman's acting credentials because its a click away on the information super highway. Plus, I feel his entrepreneurial savvy and devotion as a philanthropist speak for them self. Instead, I'd like to share with you something I saw a long time ago...that few other people I know have seen.

SINCE 1983, PAUL NEWMAN HAS DONATED ALL NET PROFITS FROM HIS FOOD ENTERPRISES...IN EXCESS OF $220M, TO CHARITY.

From 1953 through the mid-fifties there was a TV show, "THE UNITED STATES STEEL HOUR." This program featured live stage productions. In 1956, they performed an adaptation of the Mark Harris novel, "BANG THE DRUM SLOWLY."

THIS IS A PAUL NEWMAN AT A YOUNG AGE...BUT IT ISN'T THEE PAUL NEWMAN.

Bang the Drum Slowly is a metaphor for personal loyalties packaged in a baseball wrapper. Unlike the movie of the same name from 1973 there were no outdoor scenes. Nevertheless, its theatrical limitations served it well, by making the presentation more intimate, more sensitive and more stirring...because the overt theme was death and how friends rally together when the chips are down.

"BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN" JOKES ASIDE...FROM 1969, "BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID." ANOTHER GREAT MOVIE ABOUT FRIENDSHIP.

In Bang the Drum Slowly, Paul Newman is the headliner. He plays an articulate, star pitcher who learns that his inarticulate teammate (catcher), played by Albert Salmi has a terminal disease. The play delves into the relationship of friends and/or co-workers and how...at any cost, unconditional support becomes the sole priority.

We can expect a lot of attention going to Paul Newman on the old movie networks this week. If by chance this 1956 production gets aired, you should make sure you see it. Also in that cast look for George Peppard in his TV debut as Piney Woods, and Clu Gulager too.

The 1973 movie version with Michael Moriarity in the Newman role and Robert De Niro in the Albert Salmi role should be easier to find. However, the movie comes off more like a baseball flick. Perhaps because it came out shortly after "BRIAN'S SONG," I think it was intentionally softened to a dark comedy...and to some people...nearly a full comedy. Nevertheless the movie's final message was...that when the players stopped harassing their dimwitted mediocre teammate, he, for one last season played better than ever. At the funeral the closing remark by the star pitcher was, "I'll never rag on anyone again."

The movie is pretty good even without Paul Newman. But with him in the United States Steel Hour production of Bang the Drum Slowly," it is far more moving and thought provoking. I hope you can find it. But literally, anything Newman, is bound to please.
NEWMAN REPRISED HIS ROLE AS "FAST EDDIE" FELSON FROM THE 1961 MOVIE "THE HUSTLER" IN, 1986's, "THE COLOR OF MONEY." HIS PERFORMANCE EARNED HIM THE OSCAR FOR BEST ACTOR.

Paul Leonard Newman January 26, 1925 - September 26, 2008.

McSORLEY'S OLD ALE HOUSE

Established in 1854, McSorley's Old Ale House is the oldest bar in New York City.LOCATED IN THE EAST VILLAGE (MANHATTAN) at, 15 EAST 7th STREET... STOCK PHOTO: KINDLY DISREGARD THE TWO GENTLEMEN IN THE PHOTO.


Despite the social changes going on all around it, McSorley's has remained overwhelmingly the same. From the moment you walk in, the pleasant scent of ale fills the air. Then with a quick scan of the walls and ceiling, you'll see original memorabilia that is *reputed to have never been removed since 1910. These items include: photos, political buttons, musical instruments and even a pair of Houdini's handcuffs. One exception is, the dust covered *wishbones hanging over the bar. The story behind the bones stem from the boys going off to fight in WWI. They would hang a wishbone up with the intention of taking it down when they returned...so whatever is still up there represents the men who didn't make it.

McSorley's boasts a veritable who's who of famous elbow benders; like Abe Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Boss Tweed, Woody Guthrie and don't forget me...during my college years. I had my first taste of McSorley's, sometime in 1976...and returned many times. I even had my "Going Away Party" there when I was re-locating to Las Vegas (first week of January 1979).

My memories of those festivities are sketchy. However, I do remember two things; 1) Standing on a chair to toast other friends that had already re-located that weren't there...this ended abruptly when a couple of (legal or illegal?) Irish immigrant waiters "suggested" I get down. Please note that the whole staff speaks with a Brogue, (Brogue means Irish accent) 2) My female friends did not like the single toilet facility. In fact they had to post a guard outside the lockless door while they did their business.

The reason McSorley's had the single restroom was; it was one of New York City's last "men only" pubs. It wasn't until 1970 that women were permitted. The only reason McSorley's began allowing women was...they were mandated by law. Women's libbers took McSorley's (kicking and screaming) to court and the women won.

At the time of my going away party, the entire McSorley's "menu" consisted of: light or dark ale, coca-cola or diet, ham, turkey or roast beef sandwich, a cheese platter with raw onions and NOTHING ELSE ! Also the only condiment they offered, English Unbleached Mustard, sat on each table in a beer mug. This mustard is so unbelievably hot that I once (and I stress once) put a drop on my finger and gingerly dabbed a millionth of that drop on my tongue...and regretted it for hours. Forget the hottest Chinese mustard you can imagine...this stuff is POISON ! Down through the years, I have mentioned it to a lot of people and nobody (without knowledge of McSorley's) ever heard of English Unbleached Mustard.
WAITER SERVING EIGHT DARK ALES. IN 1979 A HALF-PINT (served exclusively in pairs?) WAS 80c A PAIR. IN 2007, THE PRICE HAD JUMPED TO $2.25 A PAIR.


McSorley's has had three mottoes; 1) Be good or be gone, 2) We were here before you were born, and 3) Good ale, raw onions and no ladies. (This one, no longer in vogue since 1970).

Needless to say, I never took any of my dates there but I did take my mother. In the late eighties, (Geez, this story is 20 years old), I came into Brooklyn to take mom out for Mother's Day. We wound up in Greenwich Village and accidentally found GRANDPA'S RESTAURANT, as in "Grandpa Al Lewis from the "THE MUNSTERS" TV show. He was even there but that's another story. After lunch there, mom and I strolled around doing the tourist thing. Later, mom wanted her 3 o'clock coffee and I kiddingly mentioned that McSorley's was nearby. Mom knew of its "historical" significance and surprisingly wanted to go.

We took-in the "saw-dust joint" and all its charms while having an ale each. Before leaving, I took a couple of minutes to use the restroom. When I returned, my mom discreetly pointed out a fat, drunken slob on the verge of passing out. He was dressed like a motorcycle gang member and I still remember he had a large wad of spittle (it might have been 2 week-old mashed potatoes) in his beard.

When we got outside, my mother said, "That Hell's Angel guy approached me while you were in the bathroom and asked, 'is that dude coming back?'" That story never gets old. We still get a great kick out of telling it...especially when we try to guess how much fun mom would have had if she let him pick her up.

To help prove my point, check-out what poet E. E. Cummings once wrote in a 1923, "McSorley's ale never lets you grow old." Go check it out when you go to Manhattan...I insist...if you don't believe me, NEW YORK MAGAZINE ranked McSorley's in it's top five of "Historical Bars in New York City."

CARS

MSLEMMA reminded me of this story that happened to his dad.

At his dad's regular gas station in Brooklyn, another new face stood at the pumps ready to serve him. In that short moment, his dad reflected that as the neighborhood was changing, the turn-over of workers was high.

As usual he asked for, "Twenty regular." The new attendant was twitchy, avoided eye contact and said, "New rules, you gotta pay first." Even though his dad was personal friends with the owner and hadn't been told of this policy change...he paid. As soon as the kid got the money, he ran across the street, down an alley and hopped a fence...never to be seen again.

Even if you don't drive, we all have our funny/unusual car stories. Here are a few more.

From Monday September 15's ATLANTIC CITY PRESS, (region section).

Two women (ages 21 and 25) from out-of-town entered into negotiations to buy marijuana on Pacific Avenue. The seller said he would take them to his stash. The two geniuses got into his car and were taken about 15 miles to a dark country road adjacent to Atlantic City Airport. At that point he produced a gun and forced them out of the car. They were then ordered to take off all their clothes. The thief never touched them but went off with ALL their belongings. The moral of the story is...to avoid one of life's great embarrassments... even adults shouldn't get into a stranger's car.

In 1981 while living in Las Vegas, my wife and I responded to a used car ad for her. We were way out on East Charleston where little sub-divisions were springing up in the desert, (its probably considered the middle of town these days). The seller lived in a cul-de-sac off the main road. He gave us the keys and we took it for a test-drive. About three miles past the "middle-of-nowhere," it stalled at a red light. I tried to re-start it but the ignition was dead. We decided to hitch-hike back but only a few cars went by. We were forced to walk back but luckily after a while someone picked us up. An hour had gone by when we were dropped off on Charleston. To shorten our walk, we went in a straight line, through some one's backyard.

As odd as it must have been to see us coming out from behind his neighbor's house, he surprisingly didn't ask what happened to his car. I handed him the keys, told him what happened and where the car was and we got into my car. At that point the guy said, "Hey wait, you didn't tell me if you were still interested?"

Me personally, I have always been attracted to less glamorous cars. To me there was some special about the Studebaker that looked like a mini-airplane (without the propeller), the Nash Rambler, Edsel and Corvair. Plus the Rambler American station wagon and Chrysler Imperial (both featured in my novel...Marco's and Rocky's car).

RAMBLER AMERICAN STATION WAGON (1961 ?)

Of course main streamers like everyone else in the world gravitate to upscale wheels like, Corvettes, Mustangs, Cadillacs etc. My friend Manny in Las Vegas (circa 1982) reluctantly deprived himself of a Corvette throughout his adult life. When he was recovering from a messy divorce to satisfy what he termed; mental masturbation...he bought one.

Being the heavy thinker that he was, his first passengers were his 3 and 5 year old sons. He took them for a 125 MPH joy-ride through the desert on I-15. Then from out of nowhere two motorcycle highway patrolmen began chasing him. Manny knew Vegas cops had an especially ornery reputation. He pulled over and waited for them with both hands clearly on the steering wheel. As one walked up to Manny's 'Vette, his elder son poked his head out of the T-Roof and said, "Look, its Ponch and John." (For you yungins...that's a reference to the Erik Estrada TV show, "CHIPS)." The officer laughed and said, "Your kid just saved you a lot of grief." The lecture ended when he said, "If I ever catch you doing it again whether your kid says something cute or not...you'll seriously regret it for a long time."

JOHN (left) AND PONCH (Right) FROM TV's "CHIPS," (California Highway Patrol).

Finally, in 1984 we (three couples) went apple picking in Haverstraw New York. Each couple took home a bushel of a few pounds. The next with a threat of rain, ZYMBOT drove into Manhattan with his apples left in plain slight on the back seat. While he attended to business, the skies opened up and it poured. While trudging through the storm, back to his car ZYMBOT saw the broken glass and cursed the whole apple picking excursion. Until he saw the apples in their place, his stereo intact, his collection of 8-tracks undisturbed and his unlocked glove compartment untouched. A steady drizzle soaked his car the whole way back to Brooklyn. But when he got home the rain torrents returned...it was then he reached for the umbrella that wasn't there.

P. S. ZYMBOT once bought a new car and on the way home from the showroom, he stopped at a BASKIN & ROBBINS and left the car running...I don't really have to tell you what the moral of this story is...do I?

ASTROLAND IS CLOSING !

I really don't care that "ASTROLAND" is closing! But what is Astroland? And why would anyone care that it is closing when so few associate it's name with what it is? To prove it's lack of name recognition, I must explain that Astroland is, for the most part, the mere shadow of what was left--of what we Brooklynites call: Coney Island.

Before any of you shocked Coney Island buffs slit your wrists with rusty razor blades, it should be noted that the Cyclone (landmark roller coaster) and the Wonder Wheel (landmark ferris wheel), Parachute Jump (landmark, closed since 1964) and Nathan's original fast food restaurant will be unaffected.

When the harsh reality sets in, you'll realize that the property where Astroland is situated is prime beachfront real estate. Although Astroland is zoned for "amusements only" it now seems possible to work around it, (money talks and B. S. walks). Besides, by today's amusement park standards, Astroland is a small, filthy and insignificant conglomeration of twenty dull rides and dated attractions that seems to attract a seedy clientele...especially at night.

Coney Island has been an entertainment mecca for New Yorkers since the 1880's . Punctuated by its beach and boardwalk, it's located at the hub of several bus and subway lines and is convenient to the Belt Parkway. Coney Island it should be remembered, is NOT the name of a specific park. It is simply one of 37 or so sections or neighborhoods of Brooklyn...like Canarsie or Bensonhurst. Down through the years, some of the amusement parks in Coney Island were; Sea Lion Park, Luna Park and Steeplechase. However, somewhere down the line the individual names of the parks were forgotten and generalized to Coney Island. The last of these individual parks being Astroland.

Sea Lion Park burnt down in 1902 and was re-built as Luna Park, (1903-1944).
POSTCARD OF LUNA PARK'S BOARDWALK ENTRANCE ...(circa 1914)

How amazing it must have been to visit Luna Park. Just the fact that it had thousands of light bulbs was a novelty when electricity was so new.

Overshadowing everything else on Coney Island was the more famous Steeplechase Park (1897-1964). Originally owned by George C. Tilyou, (the first impresario of controlled chaos), Steeplechase, a huge semi-enclosed structure made a name for itself with wild and dangerous rides that would boggle the mind of contemporary insurance companies and attract today's lawsuit-happy scam-artists like flies on...
STEEPLECHASE PARK ADVERTISEMENT PLACARD, THE FAMOUS ANIMATED FACE LOGO WAS A CARICATURE OF GEORGE TILYOU.

In 1965, Fred Trump (Donald's father) bought the site with the intention of building apartment buildings. However, the Coney Island Chamber of Commerce held firm and wouldn't allow a variance that would eliminate the area's "amusements only" zoning status. Trump decided to demolish Steeplechase before it could be declared a landmark. He held a "demolition party" and invited guests to throw bricks through the once opulent pleasure palace's facade

POSTCARD, EARLY 1920's, STEEPLECHASE FROM SURF AVENUE (Cyclone roller coaster far left). ENCLOSED BY STEEL AND GLASS, THE INTERIOR PART OF THE PARK ALONE WAS FIVE ACRES.

THE PARACHUTE JUMP - Purchased from the 1939 World's Fair. It was originally intended as a training device for paratroopers. One or two riders sat on a wooden plank (and held on for dear life). I was about five when my dad took me up there on his lap. The slow rise to the top (approx 250 feet) was agonizingly slow as the cross breeze rocked us side-to-side. As the ground got smaller, I looked up to the heavens for relief but all I could see was the ever-nearing intricate mesh of metal wires at the top-that when we hit it, would cause us to drop. The free-fall until the parachute opened was probably three seconds...some people refer to that as the "rush" but not me, I was never so scared in my life. Despite the calm descent the rest of the way--that once in a lifetime experience was terrible --I was lucky I didn't soil myself...and dad was even luckier!

The Parachute Jump closed with Steeplechase Park in 1964. It was considered too expensive to tear down and was given "Landmark" status in 1977.

ON A CLEAR DAY, THE PARACHUTE JUMP'S SKELETON IS VISIBLE FROM HIGH PLACES IN BROOKLYN
LOOKS LIKE A GREAT WAY TO GET RID OF AN UNWANTED "LOVED" ONE

THE HORSE RACE - (sometimes called the Steeplechase) was my favorite. A series of near-life-sized mechanical horses on tracks were lined side-by-side. The idea was to race the other riders with your speed determined by the strength and frequency of kicking your heels into the horse's mid-section. The track rimmed the outside of Steeplechase and had dips and cool curves. The only problem was I was too young and had to ride with dad. He'd only go once a trip and I had to share time with my sister...even worse, the lines were usually long, sometimes we didn't go on at all.

THE HORSE RACE CIRCLED THE ENCLOSED PORTION OF STEEPLECHASE

GIANT SLIDE - Was a highly polished, wooden, two-story slide. I recall more adults that children flying down that thing. Oddly, due to naivete, this "ride" was unsupervised. Nobody regulated when sliders could go and sometimes more than one went at once. The bottom of the slide was a rounded pit. It would often become "demolition derby" as slower exiters were crashed into by new riders. Even without heavy people traffic, I learned first-hand...or actually first-head...the dangers of going that fast and cracking your melon on the hard wood surface.

THE HUMAN ROULETTE WHEEL - I don't remember this one but I read about on Wikipedia. Try to imagine a round tilted platform spin with its unsecured riders spilling into one another. The gauze, splints and band-aid concession must have made a fortune.

To research more about Coney Island or more specifically the individual parks there you can Google photos or use wikipedia for more in-depth history. But if you really want to get a great taste of what the Coney Island experience was, rent an obscure 3-STAR movie from 1953, "THE LITTLE FUGITIVE." This movie features a no-name cast of little boys and an unimportant plot--what is truly wonderful is that a little kid is fooled into believing that he killed his brother's friend and he runs away to Coney Island. Once he arrives, it's like watching another family's home movies with Coney Island, in its prime, as the star.

Yes Astroland is closing but the Coney Island I knew; with its actually scary haunted house, its indoor bob-sled simulator, the freak shows, the infamous Half-Moon Hotel and a boardwalk juice store featuring about 100 different tropical juices has long since vanished. Luckily the great Coney Island landmarks will remain for posterity--to see from the distance or use when our sense for nostalgia lures us in.

CALLING ALL BEATLES FANS

My "love" for the "ED SULLIVAN SHOW" was usually limited to comedians like Jackie Mason and Rodney Dangerfield. But my single indelible memory of the show was THE BEATLES first appearance in 1964. I was nine and it seemed awfully odd that the teeny-bopper girls in the audience were going berserk over a bunch of singers--but what was even stranger was, on the sofa next to me, my sister was going nuts too.

From that day, the Beatles formulated my taste for Rock 'N Roll and although I have gathered other favorites down through the years, claiming the Beatles as the greatest...seems right to me.

I was about twelve the first time I used stereo head-phones. It was the SERGEANT PEPPER album and with it, I felt a profound sense of musical importance. Soon I would realize that the Beatles transcended their music and created their own culture, complete with new definitions of art, distinctive haircuts, clothes fashions, religious awakenings, recreational drug use and so much more. Although I was always a "meat and potatoes" kind of fan...their trendy influence pushed countless people into a mop-top hair-cuts, Nehru jackets, Hari Krishna and LSD.
My favorite aspect of the Beatle experience, (even if I was rarely successful and usually relied on other people's interpretations) was trying to unravel the hidden messages in their lyrics. In 1969, this was especially true when the rumor of Paul McCartney's "death"...supported by oodles of cool clues in songs and album covers etc., were discovered.

Its hard to imagine, that John Lennon is dead nearly 28 years and that George Harrison is gone too. Today, Beatle songs are tragically heaped onto the "Classic-Rock" pile or even worse, lowered to the "oldie" classification. However, you loyal Beatle can now rejoice.

In 2007 a smart movie came out called, "ACROSS THE UNIVERSE." Across the Universe got mixed revues (Roger Ebert loved it), but this is an unusual case because...you probably NEED to be an ardent Beatle fan to appreciate it. The movie has a no-name cast, (supported by several cameo appearances by; Bono, Eddie Izzard, Joe Cocker, Salma Hayek and Edwin Freeman) and the love-story plot while far from idiotic...is nonetheless unimpressive.

What makes the movie work, is the music...and how, almost like a Rock-Opera, they lovingly pieced together a mosaic of so many Beatle songs into the story. Then to add more flavor, the time-frame of the film is fit into the era of the "FAB FOUR'S success to include: a social commentary of the early sixties, i. e. the Civil Rights Movement through to the early seventies

i. e. the Anti-Vietnam Movement.

The true beauty of "Across the Universe" is, as a fan you pick-out dozens of references as the movie moves along. Then afterwards, you research it on Wikipedia and find out you missed a hundred others. The reality is, everything you see, hear and feel in the movie are references to the Beatles in one way or another.

When you realize what you missed, you'll feel a need to see the movie again to fill in the blanks.

Rent it with a non-Beatle lover and educate them to the seeds of contemporary culture. Then try to explain why the "butcher" album cover was banned.