64. Series: Part 2: Spinning at 45 rpm’s: Bye, Bye Love
…..
family photos by the late Jack Margulies
This is a series, please read in sequence.
My father would go his way, we girls would go ours. Into the locker rooms where we kept our stash of beach chairs, suntan lotion, towels. The locker room was a dark maze lit by occasional bare light bulbs; there were rows and rows of wooden lockers secured by locks—with keys or combinations—row upon row, line after line, enough for a little kid to get lost in forever. They were painted with that same old pink or green paint that broke and peeled and was painted over like the little inhouse-outhose in the Coney Island bungalow. Occasionally some old lady would lose her key and the maintenance man would be called to come in and save her. There would be the call that would echo throughout the damp, dark cement floored room, “Man Coming!!” “Man Coming!!! That was the “to arms” to cover up. He’d scrape by kicking sand with his shoes, carrying his big bolt cutters and Mrs. Schwartz would be saved.
We’d put our suits on, we all had sunglasses, on they went, our rubber water shoes with the buckles, our robes or cover-ups, I’d pop on my sailor hat and we’d trudge off to meet my father. We’d pass under the boardwalk where It was cool and damp and then, suddenly the heat, the sun’s intensity and brightness. It was about 10:30-11:00 a.m. We’d walk through the burning sand (Jews are desert people) closer and closer to the water—but not too close, find a nice little area that wasn’t crowded and claim our terrain my marking the spot with my father’s WWII itchy green army blanket, held in place neatly with folding webbed beach chairs. My father would set up an umbrella and we were all set to bake. Mud pies. And ourselves.
“Good Humor, heah!” the ice cream man would trudge through the Brooklyn Sahara shlepping an ice chest with the Good Humor logo of a bitten into chocolate covered confection on a stick; he wore all white, had a white canvas belt from which hung a change maker. He was the white knight in pith helmet and sun glasses. He looked good for some poor high school or college kid who chose to drag popsicles around in the blasting heat in hopes of making a few bucks during the summer.
“Getcha red hots heah! Franks heah!” Now it was the hot dog man, or the ice cold soda man.
“Soda Heah! Getcher ice cold soda! SOOOODDDAAAA!” Or the Gabilla’s knish man. Knishes are my favorite delicacy. On the whole earth. Prounounced kuh-nish’ it is an eastern European Jewish fun food. The standard fare is a square pillow of dough, deep fried, filled with potato seasoned with onion and black pepper. Heaven. I used to peel off the dough save it for last and pick the filling out. Other fillings evolved—kasha, potatoes with spinach, and the shaped morphed to a fat round dome of a lighter baked crust. But if I have to have a last meal, gimme that Jewish soul food and to hell with my cholesterol. “Knishes here! Get ‘em hot! Hot Knishes!”
So we’d eat our brisket sandwiches in the poppy seed rolls from The Town Rose Bake Shop. If we hadn’t brought sodas, dad would buy some icy cans, dripping with condensation. And if by some chance there was no packed lunch, up to the Boardwalk we’d go for hot pastrami or corned beef on rye, a knish, or fries. My father loved that Dr. Brown’s Cel-Ray tonic that smelled and tasted like celery—it seemed to be a man’s drink. My sister, mom and I would stick to something more standard, like Black Cherry or Cream. We’d walk on the boardwalk towards Coney Island, the parachute jump getting taller with every step. Then after our constitutional, we’d about face and go back to the beach and probably a play in the water. By then the beach was packed with families, flirting teenagers and the elderly.
Sometimes my father and I would take a walk; I remember going up to the boardwalk, in front of the bath house. We looked down. There was concrete, probably burning hot. On the concrete were rows of chaise lounges. On the chaise lounges were women. Sunbathing.
In the nude. Caucasians as black as Africans. Oiled. Gleamy.
I just accepted that I was with my father looking down over a railing at a bunch of semi-cremated women, greased and lying nude for all to see. They were more interested in their tans than in modesty. I don’t know what my father thought. He did a lot of photography. My mother even modeled for him when he was studying at the Germaine School of Photography in the early 50’s on a G.I. bill. There were always photography magazines around, many had nudes, studies of the human form. I suppose I was used to it. But here I was standing and looking at naked women with my father. I don’t recall being embarrassed. Just thought the view was strange, and that the color of these white women was stranger.
Late in the afternoon we’d pack up the chairs, shake out the blanket, fold it like a flag soon to be presented to a war widow, grab the chairs, the pails, the shovels, the sifters, shove our water shoes back on, and plod off back to the bath house.
It was the summer of 1959.
The ride is just beginning. ******
>>>An adorable, old Everly Brothers Video, Bye Bye Love
Part 3: Spinning at 45 rpm’s: Beyond The Sea
Comments from Yahoo
Yeah, I remember the ice cream guys wore those safari helmets!LOL! So you remember that sailor hat ? I don’t remember the bath house. There was a song I remember, “Under The Boardwalk”. I think it was by The Drifters. Dad would take pictures of us wading in the ocean. Mom would say, “Woo-hoo!” and wave at him like Edith Bunker! LOL! The sand was so hot to walk on, you could hardly walk on it without beach shoes. And those bathing suits !!!LOL! They were so ugly! But we thought they were gorgeous then! I hated wearing those shower caps ! Sis xoxoxo
Tuesday September 25, 2007 – 04:31pm (EDT) Remove Comment
Was dad driving that old black Studebaker yet, or was it the Oldsmobile ?
Tuesday September 25, 2007 – 04:57pm (EDT) Remove Comment
Dad could never find a parking space when we got back. He would stay in the car for hours sometimes waiting for a spot. Stuyvesant Town had a garage, didn’t they? Guess he didn’t want to pay.
Tuesday September 25, 2007 – 05:59pm (EDT) Remove Comment
Hello,I am so happy to find anew refreshing,real blog, it’s my time the 50s the Everly Brothers! I have a brother-in-law from Brooklyn, he is in his fifties I think,he might be in his early 60s he is WM T.Stillwell, he went to School with the singer who isbB.Stritsand!I love this blog!
Tuesday September 25, 2007 – 06:00pm (EDT) Remove Comment
- …
Offline
See…I’m still here reading, I’m hooked. 🙂
Tuesday September 25, 2007 – 06:33pm (PDT) Remove Comment
- Nicho…
- Offline
Seems some things are the same the world over. I have similar memories of the beach in the Greece of my childhood…
Wednesday September 26, 2007 – 11:49am (EST) Remove Comment
- Robin
- Offline
You write so wonderful. I feel like I am there when I am reading it! Thanks for inviting me over today! The food was great too and I didn’t even gain a pound!
Tuesday September 25, 2007 – 10:21pm (EDT) Remove Comment
- sugar…
- Offline
Your family did this EVERY Saturday, or EVERY Saturday and Sunday?
Tuesday September 25, 2007 – 10:45pm (CDT) Remove Comment
Thanks for bring back memories of my youth in Coney Island,,I worked as a “key boy” in the Wshington Bathouse where I opened lockers for customers and depended totally on tips but I was 12 and any money I made was a big deal..they had a roof solarium offering nude sun bathing but I found it an unpleasant place because the men seem all overweight..it was 1943.~~Papa
Tuesday September 25, 2007 – 10:21pm (PDT) Remove Comment
- DaniB…
- Offline
Although I have never visited NY or the places you describe, they feel like a déja-vu, and your times were contemporary with mine. Perhaps this is why it feels so familiar… More, more!
Wednesday September 26, 2007 – 12:14pm (CEST) Remove Comment
- Rosie S
- Offline
I’M SO FAMILIAR WITH CONEY ISLAND..SUCH MEMORIES YOU BROUGHT BACK TO ME..WHERE MY HUSBAND AND I STARTED OUR SUN HOT ROMANCE, THE LOCKER ROOMS ME AND MY GIRLFRIENDS DECORATED WITH DOILIES AT RAVEN HALL NEXT DOOR TO STEEPLECHASE AND THE FUN WE HAD ON THE BEACH GIVING OUR SAUSAGE AND PEPPER, POTATOE AND EGG AND MEATBALL SANDWICHES ON ITALIAN BREAD TO THE GUYS. THATS HOW MANY ROMANCES STARTED. AND THEN WE WOULD GO TO THE STEAM ROOM, TAKE OUR SHOWER, GET ALL DOLLED UP AND MEET THE GUYS OUTSIDE AND GO HOME IN MY BOYFRIENDS CAR (SIX OF US). THOSE WERE THE DAYS!!! I’M TALKING ABOUT 1951.
Wednesday September 26, 2007 – 04:47pm (EDT) Remove Comment
- Susan…
- Offline
The Good Humor man, god love him, what would we have done without him. Boy do I miss the beach. Last August I went back to NYC just so I could spend 3 days with my friend who lives in Long Beach, 5 minutes from the beach, I was there for the full three days, the sound of the ocean was heaven and the water was beautiful, it never changes always the same, wonderful.
Wednesday September 26, 2007 – 01:48pm (MST) Remove Comment
- Frida…
- Offline
Coney island… the 50s. Ehese tales of yours took me to the movies… What? Hmmm… Ron Howard… American Graffitti. Oh, I loved that movie. I laughed so much! But none of it happened at the beach, so you filled in that gap. Little Suzi, I haven’t been a lot around… work, work, work! Hugs and keep on writing! 🙂
Wednesday September 26, 2007 – 07:44pm (CDT) Remove Comment
- nobod…
- Offline
Summer of 1959 I was in a bassinet. But Good Humor i remember and tales like this of my Dad in Boston eating clams at Kelly’s landing Hanging at the beach near the L Street Bath House or walking out to Castle Island different places but similar tales
Wednesday September 26, 2007 – 09:54pm (EDT) Remove Comment
- heath…
- Offline
This is just such a fantastic read.
In the summer of 59 I was eight and definitely daddys girl when he was around, which wasn’t often. But none the less I remained his girlie until he passed at the age of 93.
Thursday September 27, 2007 – 03:16pm (EST) Remove Comment
- Janeen
- Offline
I couldn’t get my computer to type anything but Martian on the screen the last time I read this, but it’s working now! I love the Everly Brothers. My mother had several albums, and I would lay on my stomach looking dreamily at the boys on the cover of the album and wonder which one I would marry. I have never been to a nude beach. The closest I’ve come was watching Monk on TV a couple of weeks back. And now you’re really going to laugh, I thought that nude beaches had only been around for the last 25 years or so. I really need to leave Connecticut once in a while.
Thursday September 27, 2007 – 10:55pm (EDT) Remove Comment
- Sans …
- Offline
This wasn’t a nude beach, but there was this solarium;crazy women bake themselves in the nude!People could just look down and they didn’t care–how sane could they be–their brains were fried!
Thursday September 27, 2007 – 11:01pm (EDT) Remove Comment
- redhe…
- Offline
“Getcha red hots heah! Franks heah!” I love that — I felt, reading it, as if I could actually hear that! Such a vivid description. Those naked women were a bit different — can’t say I remember ever seeing anything like that at the beach. I too love knishes! Thanks for this wonderful description — it’s cold and rainy here, but for a moment I felt as if I was on the beach, and could actually hear the water. 🙂
Thursday September 27, 2007 – 11:11pm (EDT) Remove Comment
don’t worry – i did read these 2 earlier bits before part 3.
Friday September 28, 2007 – 06:28pm (EST) Remove Comment
- Jacqu…
- Offline
In my neighborhood the good humor man came around in a truck that played a tune with bells. We could hear it blocks away and would run inside and get our dimes and nickels to get a fudge bar popcicle. Such safe neighborhoods then. We all played in the streets.
Sunday September 30, 2007 – 08:33pm (MDT) Remove Comment
- Trees…
- Offline
This is delicious reading… I loved the bit about the various men coming to sell food… and they way you describe the food it fabulous.. I’ve never heard of a lot of it.. but its making my mouth water. Now dear Sue I must stop for tonight (is past midnight.. and i’ve another early start … and long day at work tomorrow)… hugs Trees
Thursday October 4, 2007 – 12:11am (BST) Remove Comment
- Mike …
- Offline
Lovely stories…but you have given me the chance to once again tell that I attended West High in Knoxville Tn…the same high school that two brothers named Everly attended in the mid-50’s. I was always ticked-off that all we had was a small plaque in the main hallway. I have a buddy who attended Billy Gibbons’ high school and they had a statue.
Saturday October 13, 2007 – 06:42pm (EDT) Remove Comment
- Livy
- Offline
You really had your time on the beach. And I had mine as well when I was a little girl. My parents’ house only 5 minutes away from the beach. But it must be hotter in here, cos it’s exactly on the equator line. So I kinda hate the hot sunshine. It literally burns the skin out. But the happy memories are so priceless to have. (^O^)v
|
hurricanekate wrote on Oct 1, ’08
I love your memories.
xo |
|
I love your writing, it’s so vivid it is like your there…who is the author who wrote Lake Wobegon days?? Garrison Keiler? my mind is blank, but alot like him anyway. I was I could have lived in that lifetime, or my kids for that matter, back when life was simpler and kinder and there was a good humour man…
|
 |
sanssouciblogs wrote on Oct 1, ’08
Thanks, Krysta! I am working on a poetry book now, but hope this series can be a second book. I hope it helps someone. Yes, you are thinking of Garrison Keillor. Yes, the simpler life. Well, every generation thinks their childhood was the simpler life.
|
|
philsgal7759 wrote on Oct 1, ’08, edited on Oct 1, ’08
ok got it to work. I casn see the beach and almost taste the knish though I have nerver been there or tasted one. Your descrioptiopns are superb
|
|
astranavigo08 wrote on Oct 1, ’08
You are simply the best, Sis….
|
|
Jeez it sounds like Sunnyside Park and Cherry Beach in Toronto, back in the day. The family outings, when I was not much more than a toddler. I remember it still, and I treasure those memories. As a small child, I loved the beach, and the rides, especially the Ferris Wheel. And best of all, I can remember my father showing me the bandstand on the pier, where he jitterbugged with my mama, just after he came back from the War. Before they wed.
I saw them cut up the floor a few times, when I was young. My Dad twirling my Mama around his shoulders, then tossing her through his legs, then pulling her up to jitterbug some more. They were close to 40 then. And all through it, their eyes were locked on each other, and they were smiling to beat the band. They were still in love, and they stayed that way for more than 50 years. Thanks for bringing back that memory, Sans. |
|
lauritasita wrote on Oct 1, ’08
I can’t imagine looking at all those nude woman with dad, hee, hee. I’m not sure if I remember the locker rooms. Just the beach and the knishes. Those were great memories.
|
|
|
sanssouciblogs wrote on Oct 1, ’08
What a fabulous memory, Brian.
|
|
Did you ever go to Nathan’s Famous when you visited Coney Island? I was last there 3 summers ago. I hope Nathan’s stays after they finish clearing out all the amusement park rides to make room for the condos. I have been looking for a box of knishes to bring back to Connecticut. It’s hard to describe what they are to my friends here. It’s an experience. Gabila’s is the best. I like mine sliced open with mustard and salt sprinkled inside. Sorry, but I just have to plug them http://www.searchbling.net/?c=91&q=Gabila%27s+Knishes.
|
|
Did your parents take you to Nathan’s Famous for the killer hot dogs? I’ve been under the boardwalk at Coney Island too. It was an adventure. My daycamp group brought me there.
I’ve been having a hard time finding Gabila’s Knishes the last few times I went to the Bronx. I’ve bought them by the box, but the place I used to get them from (Western Beef) hasn’t had them for a long time. I’ve only had the onion knishes and I enjoy them sliced open with mustard and salt inside. When I lived in Tacoma, Washington, a couple of my NY friends brought me Gabila’s Knishes, Tower Isles Beef Patties and Sabrett’s franks. I enjoyed giving my friends the New York experience. I would ration them for months and eat them in case of homesickness. Sorry, but I’m plugging Gabila’s (http://www.searchbling.net/?c=91&q=Gabila%27s+Knishes). Everybody in the country should have at least one in their lifetime. |
|
billatplay wrote on Oct 2, ’08
Poor Jews are much nicer than rich ones and I know that is the same for any nationality but Jews appreciate life more. When they take over the beach they are using it not sitting around moaning. Lovely memories, could be Southend on Sea.
|
|
|
sanssouciblogs wrote on Oct 2, ’08
Ha! you bring back so many memories! Nathan’s is still there, and there are chains all over the place where you can load up and clog yourself and joyously reach for the Crestor. Gabilla’s Knishes are actually available in many supermarket freezers here, but the ones hand mad and sold at the Knish Nosh on Queesn Blvd are superb, and also available in the stores.
But the ones from the ’50’s were soooooo goood. |
|
|
sanssouciblogs wrote on Oct 2, ’08
New photos added!
|
|
lunarechoes wrote on Oct 2, ’08
Astra said it: You’re simply the best.
|
|
sanssouciblogs said
I was conceived in 1961, so unfortunately, I missed the 1950’s. Sometimes I wish I could go back in time and travel through the decades when people took pride in their neighborhoods and respected each other.
My sister used to talk so fondly of The Howdy Doody Show and others as well. She is fifty-three now. My neighborhood had the best pizza by the slice, and who didn’t love the icee man. I’m talking about the guy who sold piraguas (shaved ice in pointed paper cups with fruit-flavored syrup drizzled on top). There was old Annie who owned the penny candy store that had everything a kid could want, including huge pretzel rods and fat dill pickles that were stored in a jar on the counter. We had a soda fountain place called The Luncheonette where we’d get chocolate egg creams, 3 Brothers Dry Cleaners – they remembered every family’s name and how you wanted your clothes done, Henry Meyer’s Meat Market – where you could buy foot long hot dogs tied together and Mr. Henry would give all the customers’ kids a slice of cheese or cold cuts. There was an Irish owned bar across the street from the police station and the Catholic church. Cops hung out there all the time. Their bathrooms had hexagon shaped tiles on the floor and toilets with flush boxes way up high on the wall. It’s funny how I remember all these details with ease. Those were the good old days. |
Ha! you bring back so many memories! Nathan’s is still there, and there are chains all over the place where you can load up and clog yourself and joyously reach for the Crestor. Gabilla’s Knishes are actually available in many supermarket freezers here, but the ones hand mad and sold at the Knish Nosh on Queesn Blvd are superb, and also available in the stores.
|
|
sanssouciblogs wrote on Oct 3, ’08
lunarechoes said
Karen, you make my heart sing. Thank you, thank you.
|
|
danceinsilence wrote on Oct 12, ’08
Some of the little things here grabbed me …
“find a nice little area that wasn’t crowded and claim our terrain my marking the spot with my father’s WWII itchy green army blanket” “dad would buy some icy cans, dripping with condensation” “Getcha red hots heah! Franks heah!” It’s the minute little things that come to mind when looking back and seriously contemplating a writing such as this. Under normal circumstances, normal conversations, things like this would rarely enter the verbiage. 1959: New Year’s Day, Castro takes over Cuba The Kitchen Debate: The 1959 meeting of Vice President Nixon and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev in Moscow turned into a verbal slugfest. Okalahoma legalizes alcohol after 51 years. The Antarctic Treaty was signed on December 1, 1959 Panty Hose was patented and sold. Alaska and Hawaii become 49th and 50th states. First submarine with ballistic missile lauched by our military. Frank Lloyd Wright dies. April, 1959, first seven US astronauts picked Ben Hur wins Best Picture and 11 Oscars In Sports Vince Lombardi leads the losing (1-12 the previous year) Green Bay Packers to seven wins. He also promotes the second string quarterback, Bart Starr In Music Top 5 songs for 1959: Mack The Knife … Bobby Darin Battle of New Orleans … Johnny Horton Personality … Lloyd Price Venus … Frankie Avalon … but none of this entered into your thoughts as then you were really more interested in “The standard fare is a square pillow of dough, deep fried, filled with potato seasoned with onion and black pepper. Heaven. I used to peel off the dough save it for last and pick the filling out.” … that and naked women burning like a Porterhouse steak at high noon! … and the beat goes on. |
|
|
sanssouciblogs wrote on Oct 12, ’08
danceinsilence said
Bill these comments are so very well done and much appreciated! Thank you!
|
Loved the memories. Substitute cream for Celray. (And Italians are desert nomads too).