Author Archives: Streetplay Discussions

Growing up in the East New…

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Growing up in the East New York section of Brooklyn in the ’50s and ’60s meant being out on the sidewalk after school and during the summer. One of the games that we girls played with a bouncing pink rubber ball; either a Spauldeen or Pensy Pinky, entailed crossing your leg over the ball as you “sang” verses that had changed names, places and products based on the letters of the alphabet. We started with: A my name is…….. And my husband’s name is……… We come from………… And we sell………… It went on as long as you didn’t miss crossing over the ball. We competed to see who could go through the whole alphabet with a mistake or repeating someone else’s choices. Lots of giggles accompanied this game as the choices narrowed and became more difficult. The letter “Q” was always a tough one. Ellen Grove

Out on LI, just off Hempstead…

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Out on LI, just off Hempstead Turnpike in W. Hempstead, there was a long red brick supermarket wall, and concrete paving all the way to the street. This became known as “The Office.” Games of ‘Chinese’ Handball went on all day long in the late 50s and early 60s. Chinese handball was played in a ‘court’ usually two pavers square and was distinguished by one rule: You had to bounce the ball once before it hit the wall. “The Office” was well equipped: Across the street was “Three Finger Jack” McGinn’s candy store, and there was a staircase next to the handball wall where you could climb down and have more ‘private’ conversation, or hide if your mom came looking for you and your cigarette-smoking hooligan friends.

One-zees! Two-zees! Three-zies!…

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One-zees! Two-zees! Three-zies! Jacks was a game that could go on for hours. Ten Jacks came in a little net bag with a red rubber ball. The Jacks were different colors, and either metal or plastic. Holding the Jacks and the ball in the same hand, the person chosen to start the game,would shout “One-zees!”, and in one swift move, she had to throw the ball up in the air, place the jacks on the floor, and catch the ball on it’s downward spiral with the same hand. The next step was to throw the ball up into the air, but this time pick up one jack at a time while catching the ball too … If you dropped a jack, dropped the ball, or moved a jack while “picking up” another, you lost your turn. The pattern continued all the way up to “Ten-zees” … The person who picked up all ten jacks, won the game … 😉

Ever play Hit the Stick…

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Ever play Hit the Stick We would take a stick from an ice cream bar and put it on a crack between two cement pads on the sidewalk. Standing at the end of the cement pads each player(2 players)on opposite sides, would try to hit the stick with a spauldeen. Bounceing it back and forth.. I don’t remember how the game was won.. Anyone??

The Actual verse went like…

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The Actual verse went like this: Bang Bang LuLu She’s the girl for me Who’s going to Bang Bang LuLu When I go out to sea Lulu had a boyfriend His name was Diamond Dick She never saw a Diamond She always saw his So who’s going to Bang Bang LuLu When I go out to sea LuLu had a Bicycle It’s seat was made of glass Every time she hit a bump The seat went up her Oh well, Might as well get it right.. Am still LMAO on how I confused the two

HA HA HA HA!!! NOW…

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HA HA HA HA!!! NOW these verses I never heard!!!!! Why don’t we make up our own little ditty? MicknPez started Streetplay o/ It’s alot of fun! La La La La La La La o/ Dum tee dum tee dum … Anyone else wanna have a go???? 😉