Tag Archives: Summer
Hi…this is Barbara. Just…
Hi…this is Barbara. Just got a chance to review the letters….seems to me I recognize plenty of the information and the players. I surely remember the days of the 50’s and the days of betting on games. Bouncer and I bought our first new car with stickball winnings one summer (1966). Bennie, I hope to make the 2001 Old Timers game in Miami. Jay…the winner of the world series is really “up for grabs” since it was not played out as it should have been. Originally the fourth day of the series was to be used for “rained out” games..but that was changed (along with many other “rules”)so it did not happen. Sadly, that added to putting a damper on the series.Both the Youngbloods and the Repo Men were playing great ball.
I remember Catholic Summer…
I used to play skully in…
I used to play skully in Staten Island during the 70s. It was the perfect game to play on a hot summer’s day. Every neighborhood had it’s own skully board either chalked or painted on the street. I can still hear someone yelling, “Car!” That would make us grab our skully caps and run to the sidewalk for safety. We made our skully caps by melting Crayola crayons with matches…
Under the boardwalk or on…
Under the boardwalk or on the beach late at night. A blanket would provide protection from the sand and hide us at the same time. The stairwells were also great. Actually if you went up to the top floor, there was a ledge (about 5′ x 5′ ) that you could climb up onto and stay out of sight. I used to spend my summers in Monroe, NY. Alot of time was spent in the woods. We would hide in the bushes behind a shed that housed the electric boxes. I caught poison ivy many a time.
We played all the Philly…
We played all the Philly street games in Strawberry Mansion(North Philly). Drain pipe climbing was a necessary skill that was developed as a result of “roofing” half balls hit up there or the whole pimples gone there in ledgeball or “ledgies”. The roof contained a renewable resource for halfball as I recall. I now live in Arizona where summer temperatures in the full sun can go over 150 degrees at 6 feet above the ground. Lucky that we’re are next to the Colorado River at the Mexican and Calif. borders- but no street games here in the summer. The winters are ok about 70, no rain and sunny with our visitors playing golf. Too bad for them not to play halfball instead. regards to all- Fred in Yuma
I had been to the roller…
I had been to the roller rinks in Brooklyn and Queens all of my life, folks showing off their savoire faire and the derby types that pluck you off like hockey players. But it was not until summer in the 80’s that I found sheer beauty in dance skating in Central Park. A girl from Michigan, Zee was very much like Madonna and was the first to befriend me at the park. I was in excellent shape due to bike messengering, and although I could always skate, skate, my move lacked finesse until she taught me how to define my moves in a small confine and express myself on wheels. The other regulars met after work and we were of all ages. My regular dance partner was Eddie, a smooth Latino who taught me the crazy 8’s around the cans and hustle turns all around him and the circle that we all flew around. It was the greatest release to flow with the music and the bodies. The guys demonstrating their strength by lifting and turning the ladies without missing beat, and the ladies showing their svelte physiques and grace. Water was the most important commodity in the park. I remember how we used to say to one another as we danced and sweated around the circle…”I’m sitting out the next one” but inevitably the next song would be a more crucial jam than the last. And we would keep on movin’. An older Italian gentleman was my slow jam partner. He saved my life once when he spotted me flying around the corner of 59th and 5th with a broken axle, he snatched me right out of the street into his arms and the safety of the corner. I did not realize I was so close to being history. I thanked and hugged the hero. I tried to get the beauty of a man and woman skating together to music across to a young Irish speed street hockey player. He lived for flying down 5th avenue backwards on skates. He could only relate to slolums and speed.
I know the game originated…
I know the game originated in one or all of the 5 boroughs, but I learned the game from friends in my neighborhood on Long Island. I have fond memories of hot summer days playing ‘skelly’. I wish I could have had this information 20 years ago when my own kids were growing up – I guess I’m going to have to teach my grandchildren! Thanks for the site.
Hi, Until I was…
Hi, Until I was 7, my family lived at 3211 Park Avenue, on the corner of E. 161st. I started school at Sacred Heart in Highbridge (actually I went to the annex of Sacred Heart, St. Eugene’s) because I was too young to go to St. Angela Merici (our parish). In 1961 we moved to Pelham Bay where I lived in the “Co-op” on Hutchinson River Parkway. High School: St. Catharine Academy, Class of 71 and Lehman College, class of 75. The Bronx was a great place to grow up. We played Punchball (I was VERY good for a GIRL!) and Ring-a-levio. My brothers played stickball all the time around the corner on 163rd Street. Does anyone remember the rides that came around in the summer? My favorite was the Half Moon which rocked back and forth, higher and higher. I distinctly remember being on that ride and hearing the song “Shimmy Shimmy Coco Bop” Strange!!! When I moved to Pelham Bay, my friends and I hung out on “the corner” (Buhre and Pilgrim Avenue) outside of Joe’s Candy Store. Basically, we did nothing but hang around and drink egg creams (with a pretzel!) My friends from the corner are still my best friends although we’re scattered all over the country now. It’s fun looking back.
In the 60`s and 70`s I “hung…
In the 60`s and 70`s I “hung out” at Mitchell`s drive in restaurant on 86 st. and 7th ave in Bensonhurst. All the hot rodders hung out there. I remember racing our cars on 7th ave down to the traffic light from 86th st. to 92nd. st by victory memorial hospital. Also remember racing on 1st ave by the Bush Terminal buildings. The cops used to chase us constantly. We had more fun than anyone would ever believe. I tell people stories about what went on at the drive in and nobody believes me. The crowd I hung out with was the biggest bunch of screwballs on the face of the earth. One summer night, the motorcycle crew, rode thru wearing nothing but their helmets { no kidding }. Waitresses dropped their trays and ran inside screaming and laughing at the same time. Except for one “particular” waitress. She hopped on the back of one of the bikes and rode away with him, food tray and all. Somebody didn`t get their order that night?