Were You a older teenager or young adult in the 50's 60's 70's who Lived, Worked, or Socialized In the Village. (Greenwich: crime rate, buying)
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I graduated 30 yrs ago 82 from St. Tony's on Macdougal street and it was a awesome place back then. But I was either not born or too young to enjoy the city in the 50's, 60's 70's in the village. So I really like if you can share stories and if possible photos. If you know of any books that cover this area during this time frame I like for you to also share.
i used to visit a friend who had moved to the Village(100 W 12th street) in the summer of 78 when i was 16. his family stayed for a year then they moved to the upper E side. tho i didn't drink much, i do remember getting served alcohol in one or two of the bars. I remember one or two violent encounters between others in the streets around Mc Dougal St. having grown up in Rockland County I wasn't a part of the scene but i did visit and hang out a lot. it hasn't changed that much except the crime rate was higher and i didn't feel as safe back then. Washington Sq Park was not safe.
i remember seeing a gross movie called "Pink Flamingoes" at a small theater in the area in 1978 or 1979. i remember buying a pair of green John Lennon style sunglasses from a cool store on 8th street maybe a year or two later. I think Balducci's on 6th Avenue was there at the time and is still there now.
rlrl,
Balducci's left several years ago and is now a CITARELLA.
I am very much a West Villager of the 1970's. It was a time that can never be again. The area was a Gay Mecca and unlike anything that could be imagined by someone not there. Think of a Q UEER Camelot, or a profligate Gay Rennaissance.
Words can't do it justice.
There was a great documentary (Netflix) that got the mood right, but the name escapes me. If I think of it I'll be back.
Aha, it was called Gay Sex in the '70's.
Of course the era of the 50's saw the BEAT GENERATION of the 50's but that was before my time.
Last edited by Kefir King; 07-01-2012 at 05:42 PM..
tho i hung out in the village, i'm not of the gay orientation. but i did find the area interesting. i remember seeing "The Chosen" at The Greenwich Theater. I saw a musical "One Mo TIme" at a playhouse on Bleecker St back in the early 80's. I always bought lp's at the Revolver (now rebound) records at 8th street between 5th and 6th(walk up a steep staircase)
C'mon we had the Rocky Horror crowd every Fri/Sat night in the mid to late 70's. We could enjoy the park at any hour of the night without an issue. And the Halloween Parade down 5th Ave beat out any other parade in NYC for uniqueness (the mermaid parade in Bklyn is now a close second).
tho i would take the bus in to the Port Authority at night as a teen and take the subway down to the Village in 1978 and nothing bad ever happened to me, i still experienced the city as dangerous. if someone told me Wash Sq Park was dangerous i would believe it tho i still went in. but i wouldn't stay long.
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