Category Archives: Locales

I’m from Boston and learned…

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I’m from Boston and learned some of these song from my grandmother when we went camping and some from school. It’s funny how we all learn different versions (some are much better). This is one that I saw many different ways. This is how I learned it: In the land of mars, where the ladies smoke cigars Every breath they take, its enough to kill a snake When the snakes are dead, they put roses in their head When the roses die they put diamonds in their eye. When the diamonds break then it’s 1968

What an incredible site!!…

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What an incredible site!! I was born in and lived in the Bronx from ’39 to ’51, near Fordham and Grand Concourse, across the street from what was then the Bronx High School of Science (I think it’s an intermediate school now, I was back there 2-3 years ago.). Reading about the games, environment, and culture is like taking a visit back to my childhood. I’m a grad of PS 33. Since I left, I

I went to Erasmus Hall High…

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I went to Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn. One girl in my graduating class, and at least in a couple of my daily classes later played Jimmy “JJ” Walker’s Kid Sister on Good Times. Bernadette Stanis(she shortened her name). Another kid who was in some of my gym classes became a midget professional Wrestler called the Jamaica Kid/Haiti Kid. Although I didn’t know him, Gabe Kaplan was about 2 years ahead of me at school, and I knew a guy who I think he created Welcome Back Kotter with years later, Alan Sacks(Who’s kid sister I had a mad crush on.). He’s listed in the show credits, and I wish I knew if it was the same Alan Sacks, but I think it was, based on age and location. Welcome Back Kotter was based on Erasmus, not “Buchannon” high.

The Frogs legs at Nathans…

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The Frogs legs at Nathans REALLY did taste like Chicken. I loved the B-B-Q on a Bun, and the Chow Mein on a bun. And I just about lived on the Bumper Car Ride right next door, Nickle a ride, then a dime, then a quarter. Would stay on it for hours And playing Skee Ball, which I sucked at, but would still get enough “points” to win an occassional back scratcher.

I went there for 2 or 3…

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I went there for 2 or 3 summers in the mid 60’s. I do remember the Green Coke Bottles, I believe for a dime. I remember taking fencing class there, and playing dodgeball. The younger kids were in Indian tribes, I was in Iriquois and in Comanche, and then my last year I was in a Cowboy Group, Dodge City if I remember,but not sure of that. Fun time.

Ginger, the game you’re…

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Ginger, the game you’re describing was called “Spud(d)”, at least in my Neighborhood of Kensington, Brooklyn. It was as you described, and if you hit a player, they got a letter, S, then P, then then U, etc, and sometimes we played it with double D if we wanted it to go on longer. First player to get Spud(d), lost, last one who survived won. We also played it with a volleyball/soccer ball.

Cypress Hills Projects,…

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Cypress Hills Projects, East New York Brooklyn. Born there in ’60 and left for the Rockaways in ’82. Used to go to 214, then 260 in Canarsie due to my art talent. Then back again to 218 for JHS. Memories were bittersweet, like most here. The days of penny candy were soon replaced with gang fights, then social unrest, then the drug wars. My kudos to any and all who survived it to relate it here.