OT Current and Former New Yorkers, I'm Curious

[Jingo]

Yes, I listened to your website. There are a lot of my favorite songs on there and some I liked that I had never heard. I enjoyed years ago listening to and reading about some white guys talk about how they responded when they first heard Doo Wop and how excited it made them to discover this new music. Of course for us it was not new. One guy said his friends were playing ball in the street below his window and wondered why he was not coming out. His response was something to the effect "I won't be playing today, I'm listening to this exciting new sound, this new music." How old were you when you first heard Doo Wop and what was your reaction?

I was in the 8th grade in 1954-55. Alan Freed had just come to town and was playing doo wop and his brand of rock-n-roll every night on radio station WINS. His music took over my Queens neighborhood and the rest of the City.
In those days, the neighborhood girls frequently had dance parties down their basements and played Alan Freed's doo wop on 45 rpm vinyl records. I'll never forget my first slooow dance with a girl! Her name was Gloria. [I still have her photo]. We danced to "Story Untold" by The Nutmegs. She pressed her chest up against mine as we were dancing and had me sweating! She eventually became my girlfriend because I couldn't resist her. I was an easy conquest, eh?
Other popular groups in 1955 were The Moonglows, The Penguins, and The Heartbeats et al.
Lead singer for The Hearbeats - James 'Shep' Sheppard - started another well-known group, Shep and the Limelights. Tragically, he was murdered on the street [Van Wyck Expressway] after flashing a wad of cash at a bar in his hometown of Jamaica, Queens.
I consider Shep to be the top lead singer of the doo wop era alongside Richard Blandon (Dubs), Willie Winfield (Harptones), Rudy West (Five Keys), Bobby Lester (Moonglows) and Jimmy Beaumont (Skyliners)
Top Girls' group(s): Chantels and The Angels

 

[donalddoowop]

I grew up in North Jersey in the 40's and 50's , an avid Dodgers' fan starting in 1947. Of course, Jackie was my favorite player. Went to my first game in 1947, at the Polo Grounds. Watched Ewell "The Whip" Blackwell pitch for the Reds. Saw my first World Series game in 1951. For some reason very clearly remember Eddie Stanky stealing second for the Giants, kicking the ball out of Rizzuto's glove. But my highlight Series game was in 1953, as Erskine struck out 14 Yankees, and Campanella hit a home run that I almost caught in the left field stands. I'm still a Dodgers' fan; never understood how fans could stop rooting for the players just because they were in Los Angeles. And earlier this week I was thrilled to get a look at the Dodgers' Series ring. A friend who I play golf with , was showing a photo of the ring that was presented to his son. His son played in the majors, and is now an advance scout for the Dodgers. Quite the piece of jewelry; not meant to be worn.
Someone mentioned Alcindor, and I actually saw him playing for Power Memorial at the Garden. They were playing DeMatha from Maryland, coached by the legendary Morgan Wootton.
And someone else mentioned Bobby Knight. He spoke at the athletic awards banquet at the Ct. school where I was teaching, while he was coaching at West Point. Very forgettable speech. On the other hand, Jack Donahue ,Alcindor's coach from Power Memorial, also spoke one year, and was very entertaining. Oh, and we also had that old Yankee Lefty Gomez one year, and we were rolling in the aisles for an hour. Great story about getting a guy in a run-down between home plate and the dugout.

I definitely remember "The Whip" Blackwell. Did you see the game in which DeMatha ended Power Memorial's long winning streak?

 

[donalddoowop]

I was in the 8th grade in 1954-55. Alan Freed had just come to town and was playing doo wop and his brand of rock-n-roll every night on radio station WINS. His music took over my Queens neighborhood and the rest of the City.
In those days, the neighborhood girls frequently had dance parties down their basements and played Alan Freed's doo wop on 45 rpm vinyl records. I'll never forget my first slooow dance with a girl! Her name was Gloria. [I still have her photo]. We danced to "Story Untold" by The Nutmegs. She pressed her chest up against mine as we were dancing and had me sweating! She eventually became my girlfriend because I couldn't resist her. I was an easy conquest, eh?
Other popular groups in 1955 were The Moonglows, The Penguins, and The Heartbeats et al.
Lead singer for The Hearbeats - James 'Shep' Sheppard - started another well-known group, Shep and the Limelights. Tragically, he was murdered on the street [Van Wyck Expressway] after flashing a wad of cash at a bar in his hometown of Jamaica, Queens.
I consider Shep to be the top lead singer of the doo wop era alongside Richard Blandon (Dubs), Willie Winfield (Harptones), Rudy West (Five Keys), Bobby Lester (Moonglows) and Jimmy Beaumont (Skyliners)
Top Girls' group(s): Chantels and The Angels

How could you leave out James "Pookie" Hudson of
the Spaniels, Nate Nelson of the Flamingos and Bill Baker of the second version of the 5 Satins? In my opinion the best bass was Gerald Gregory of the Spaniels and the smoothest bass was Wally Roker of the Heartbeats. Pookie was the first lead singer to start singing on a mic by himself while the other members of the group gathered around one mic. He was very innovative. How could you leave him out? The ones you named were also favorites of mine. From what I read about Shep and his ego, he also thought he was the top lead singer of the era.

 

[mudcat]

5. Did any of you attend Christ the King of Boys and Girls High

I have always wondered what life was like in New York for teenagers during the forties and fifties.

I attended Boys HS (there was a separate Girls HS, they merged some years after I graduated). I graduated in 1964 and Boys HS was of course all boys. It was a rough neighborhood (I remember being mugged on the way to school and having to walk home because I didn't have the nickel required for the bus). We were City Champs for two of the four years I attended in both basketball and track (I ran track and cross country). Was not (and am not) especially interested in baseball so no memories there. Interestingly, my younger brother became the vice principal of Boys and Girls High before retiring.

 

[Jingo]

How could you leave out James "Pookie" Hudson of
the Spaniels, Nate Nelson of the Flamingos and Bill Baker of the second version of the 5 Satins? In my opinion the best bass was Gerald Gregory of the Spaniels and the smoothest bass was Wally Roker of the Heartbeats. Pookie was the first lead singer to start singing on a mic by himself while the other members of the group gathered around one mic. He was very innovative. How could you leave him out? The ones you named were also favorites of mine. From what I read about Shep and his ego, he also thought he was the top lead singer of the era.

WOW Don, you really know your doo wop [hence your moniker?] .. yes, I left out some notable lead singers, especially Arlene Smith of the Chantels who wrote and sang lead on her [long list of] hits. Her creation, "Whoever You Are" is my favourite ballad by a girls' group.
Then there's Bill Baker who was outstanding singing lead for the Five Satins on the mega-hit, "To the Aisle" but Fred Parris was the heart-and-soul of the Satins singing & writing, "In the Still of the Night" & "Wonderful Girl" .. eh?
Besides the Five Satins, there are well-known doo wop groups that had several outstanding lead singers: The Drifters [McPhatter&BenE_King], The Impressions [Butler&Mayfield] and so on...
Best bass lead: The Drifters - "White Christmas [McPhatter falsetto]

 

[Stymie]

Big Giant fan in 1940's. We lived in Queens until we moved to LI in late 1949. Attended a number of Polo Grounds games in those days, and one each in Ebbetts & Yankee Stadium, but not for any of the historical events.

We got the first TV in the neighborhood in 1947. About a 10" B&W. I remember a big Giant-Dodger game when my father invited a bunch of guys from the 'hood to watch the game on TV. Chairs lined up theater style in the living room. Evenly divided between Giant & Dodger fans (no such thing as a Yankee fan in that area). Keg of beer iced down in the kitchen sink. Great stuff. I remember Johnny Mize hitting a huge home run over the bullpen in right-center field in the Polo Grounds, which made him my Giant hero until Monte Irvin and then Willie Mays came along.

Devastated when the Giants left NY. I still think moving Willie Mays out of the Polo Grounds was a Crime Against Nature.

Great Story!

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

I was born and raised in the Bronx, on the Grand Concourse. About 2 miles from Yankee Stadium.
Echo Place and Tremont Ave. were nearby.
Between 1962 and 1965 I had season tickets to the New York Football Giants in Yankee Stadium in the first base seats (end zone seats) 7 games $7.00 a game, $49.00 a season! You can't get a beer for that in the current Giant Stadium in NJ!
I left to go to William Jewell College in Liberty, MO in September 1965 and my NYC days were basically over!

Anywhere near the Loews Paradise Theatre? I worked for Loews, originally as a Manager and later an auditor. I visited the theatre when I was still managing with a security guard named "Rhino" who worked both there and the theatre I managed in NJ. Later, I audited it a couple times before it was closed. Beautiful theatre, at least originally. You could still see the beauty even in the 1980's when I saw it.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Ahhh... I remember my father taking me out to the area behind center field to see the monuments of the most magnificent Yankees, Babe Ruth and Lou Gerhig. (I can't remember if Joe DiMaggio was the 3d monument at that time.) I was a kid of the late 40s and early 50s and a huge Yankee fan. I played catcher and my nickname was Yogi for obvious reasons. I lived right outside of Fort Monmouth in New Jersey and when Whitey Ford was stationed there, he played for the Special Services baseball team. I went to all their games during that period just to watch him pitch and to see how the catcher caught him...

The 3rd monument was to Miller Huggins, the first great manager of the Yankees (1920's) who died while still the Manager. Those were the only 3 that were originally in the field and later formed the basis of monument park.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

Anywhere near the Loews Paradise Theatre? I worked for Loews, originally as a Manager and later an auditor. I visited the theatre when I was still managing with a security guard named "Rhino" who worked both there and the theatre I managed in NJ. Later, I audited it a couple times before it was closed. Beautiful theatre, at least originally. You could still see the beauty even in the 1980's when I saw it.

Hi KB! I was a mile or so from the Loew's Paradise on the way to Fordham Rd. I go back to 1960's and up to the 1980's!
Yes it was an art deco theater that I went to often!
What wonderful memories!

 

[donalddoowop]

Hi KB! I was a mile or so from the Loew's Paradise on the way to Fordham Rd. I go back to 1960's and up to the 1980's!
Yes it was an art deco theater that I went to often!
What wonderful memories!

Art Deco? One of the most beautiful and fascinating types of architecture ever.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Art Deco? One of the most beautiful and fascinating types of architecture ever.

I agree about Art Deco, that and Frank Lloyd Wright work are my favorite. While I am sure there were elements, the style of the theatre is called "atmospheric". The original full size auditorium was supposed to make you think you were in a Venetian Garden and featured lit stars and moving clouds on the ceiling. Even after division into 4 smaller movie theatres, the upper one(s) still had the working ceiling.

It was one of the original "million dollar" theatres, I actually managed the Loews Jersey for a while, which was another one of them (opened in the late 1920's). It was called the Loews Jersey City Triplex when I managed it. Completely different style (Baroque / Rococo). That's what made visiting the Paradise so interesting.

 

[Jingo]

The theatres that were built in the 20s and 30s when Art Deco was in vogue [think Chrysler Building] were beautiful beyond compare. The Brooklyn Paramount was home to doo wop artists in the 50s and many jazz greats. Indeed, the Wurlitzer organ in the Brooklyn Paramount is a four manual, 26 rank instrument with 1,838 pipes and continues to be used at at various events.

 

[Ozimoto]

Wow. Power Memorial and Dematha. I remember listening to epic games between those two when the played each other at the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament in Cumberland, Maryland back in the 1960's. The ACIT used to have teams from all over the country come to play with the first tournament being held in 1961 through today with teams from Baltimore, DC, New York, Philly, Chicago and other cities across the country.

More here.

Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament 2023

While the A.C.I.T . has for many years been known for inviting some of the best Catholic high school teams in the United States and Canada to the annual tournament, it began in 1961 on a much more modest scale.

www.alhambratournament.com

 

[Ozimoto]

Going back through the website, both Power Memorial Academy and Christ the King played in the ACIT, but not at the same time. Power Memorial was in the tournament with DeMatha in 1973.

 

[boontonbomber]

I definitely remember "The Whip" Blackwell. Did you see the game in which DeMatha ended Power Memorial's long winning streak?

did not see that game.

 

[BBallF]

Wow. Power Memorial and Dematha. I remember listening to epic games between those two when the played each other at the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament in Cumberland, Maryland back in the 1960's. The ACIT used to have teams from all over the country come to play with the first tournament being held in 1961 through today with teams from Baltimore, DC, New York, Philly, Chicago and other cities across the country.

More here.

Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament 2023

While the A.C.I.T . has for many years been known for inviting some of the best Catholic high school teams in the United States and Canada to the annual tournament, it began in 1961 on a much more modest scale.

www.alhambratournament.com

I played at St. Benedict's in Newark, New Jersey, where Danny Hurley began coaching many moons later. In 1968 we were invited to that tourney but because it started so long after our season had ended the school declined to go. We were heartbroken . We had an All State center by the name of Mike Laughna that year who played at Georgetown and we had beaten a nationally ranked team a few games before the season ended. We had played them in a Holiday tourney earlier that also had Boys High who had Mel Davis and Ernie Green. We tied the game when my backcourt mate made 2 free throws with a second remaining. His Dad had a heart attack in the stands during the second shot and died on the other side of the court. We lost in overtime. When we played them again at home at the end of the season it felt like our gym was about to collapse. We pulled away in the 4th quarter. It was the greatest game of any kind I ever played in. Often wondered what that experience at the Alhambra would have been like that year. We were pretty big for a high school team back then at 6'9", 6'6",and 6'4" up front. I was the PG.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

FYI: Real New Yorkers refuse to believe Brooklyn and Queens are on Long Island.

I found that out many years ago. That said, when you are talking geography, it is an unavoidable fact.