NYC History: Avery Corman: “My Old Neighborhood”
Author, Avery Corman’s video is a touching look at growing up in the Bronx. Although I grew up in Lower Manhattan, I did live in the Bronx for about seven years. The denizens of each borough have borough-specific memories, yet somehow, the memories are the same. The food, the smells, the buildings, the sounds all echo from place to place. They will forever be different and forever the same.
I am drawn to this video even though is is “before my time” and slightly out of phase with my life, but I know the Bronx. I remember the grand movie palaces, the department stores. I also know the allusions made to Corman’s “deaf-mute” aunt and uncle whom he lived with. I know the deaf as well; I taught them for most of my career–the phrase deaf-mute is a no-no phrase. No deaf person is mute.
This is a long visit to a time long-gone. Wherever you are from you will see yourself in some form. It is worth it.
Avery Corman’s writing was very interesting. Although I never lived in the Bronx, I had a grandmother that did. My parents had also lived in the Bronx at one time. It stirred up some pleasant old memories for me. Lol one of my favorite memories was of hot fudge sundaes at Krum,s!