I attended St. Barbara's and I have that church etched in my heart. The school was EXCELLENT by any standards- todays' and yesterdays. The pizzeria around the corner, the bakery, my grandparents after Sunday mass. Grandmom squeezing fresh juice right from the orange. Cousins living a couple of blocks away. Other cousins living down another end. There was so much love growing up in Ridgewood, Brooklyn. Was I naive, too young to know the ills of the world? There was a teacher's strike so my mom sent us to Catholic school. Pizza on Fridays so that was GREAT. Yes many really good memories in a neighborhood where one felt safe, where people worked and ladies would know ... moms would look at you and you knew "better be good", otherwise they'd let your parents know. And parents DID discipline. The heartland of the hardworking "city" folk. Great memories!!!
in the late 50s early 60s on sunday we would visit our grandparents on wilson and halsey . across from halsey park, and saint martin de tours church. they also called it ridgewood, somehow its now bushwick. they came to america from sicily and at that time the neighborhood had many sicilian americans.
i gew up in Brooklyn. Pulaski St and Reid Ave.I had friends that lived on Madison St.I remember Louies Candy store and St.Barbaras church. Those were the days. I wish the kids today could understand how the world was back then. I got tears in my eyes watching this great video, thinking of my parents and all the rest that are now in heaven. How good those days were, but we were to anxious to grow up. I now live on Long Island. I am very lucky to belong to a large car club,The South Side Boys. I still enjoy listening to doo-wops as I drive my GTO to our local hangouts.We often talk about those days and at times my eyes tear up. Those were the days,the memories will always be there. Thankyou so much for this great video.
This broke my heart. My first true love, Juliann, passed away from cancer this week. We were together for 58 years. She is with God now. I'll never forget her, Brooklyn, or DooWop. Thanks for posting this.
If I had to condense my life in 1950's Brooklyn to a ten minute video, this is as close as I could hope to come. Have to say, I got a little choked up. Thanks for a great post.
I'm not from the area, was born 6 years after your target date, I'm net even Italian, but this is EXCELLENT. You did a wonderful job with this & this kind of heart, crosses all boundaries. Kudos!
Tom, My Poppy, Pete & his brother, Paul are the 2 boxer brothers that owned the Piccadilly Bar & Grill. What an amazing video - I have watched and shared it many times since you have posted it! Thank you!!!!
Tom Thank You this brought back wonderful memories from some of the best time of my life. I born on Greene Ave. between Central and Wilson and lived there from 1946 until I was 18. I remember The candy store and the lime rickeys that were only 3 cents when I didn't have enough for a egg cream. I went to PS75 and then to JHS162, as the song says Those Were The Days.
What a great video 👍 I grew up in Canarsie, Brooklyn and graduated Samuel J Tilden H.S. in east Flatbush. Canarsie didn’t have a high school at the time, and I was zoned to go to Tilden. Cozy corner was our candy store after school with the Breyers and the Coca Cola metal signs outside .Loved the jukebox . I still enjoy my fifties music, and so do my children. This brought tears to my eyes. TFS
everyone of us has their own candy store...you brought beautiful memories back to me....what a blessing for me and what a blessing you gave all of us.....thank you and it's coming back to you ten fold.
A great look back. It's true that when you look back, you can now "love averyone." When I get to meet former high school classmates, it gives me a thrill that I never would have imagined. Thank you, Tom, for such a nice experience.Stu Soman
Wow that was such an awesome story/video I guess those really were the good ol days Thank you for sharing those pictures-Truly amazing may God bless you
Oh My God This is my favorite UA-cam EVER. This guy is a Genius, well spoken, and well produced. It is the story of every one of us no matter what Borough you are from. Thanks Pal Bayside queens In The House
What a super video. My teenage years were spent in Bensonhurst...Our candy store was "Vinny's" & his wife Pepina right there on Avenue O off the corner of W. 5th. No music here...for that we went around the corner to "Goodies" on 65th btwn W5th & 6th where the juke box played continuously. We sang, we laughed & even cried in our egg creams sometimes. What a beautiful life...guess that's why I still feel Brooklyn is & will always be in my blood.
Loved it! Across the Hudson in Bayonne we had Betty's Sweet Shop on 21St & Ave A! Lots of memories and we sang under that Street Corner Light as well...we knew we were not that good but the Little Old Ladies that watched us out their windows enjoyed it! Thanks for putting the work into this!!! Ciao!
I lived at 294 Central....one block over.....I can still taste the pizza from Piccadilly......used get two pies on Fridays......Central And Greene was my corner......went to St Barbara's....church and school....thanks for the memories
Life is filled with memories which music stirs up and now I'm reliving through my GrandChildren's love of the Oldies but Goodies, which includes me ;-) Thank you
Beautiful...so many memories.I do not remember Louies....This my old neighborhood our candy store was on Wilson ave between George St and Troutman St...Picadilly Bar was my Joes hangout...St Leonards was my parish church and school...I wished the piece would go on and on Thank you for a wonderful trip to the past ....
Beautiful job! As we all get older, we can look back at these memories with smiles. Remembering Sid's candy store in Borough Park...Chookies was a hangout for the New Utrecht High School group. Yes, and going steady....playing Kings, stoop-ball, stickball and confraternity dances. Thanks again!
Thanks for the memories...we had Lenny's candy store on Morris Avenue and 148th street in the beautiful Bronx. Such happy times where everyone knew everyone as well as our parents and grandparents, Such cherished memories..
Having been raised by parents with a similar store in Massachusetts from the early '40's to the early '70's, having the opportunity to see this brought back many feelings of my early years. Thanks Tom for providing this emotion to so many of us.
Wow! This was my old neighborhood. I lived on the corner of Central and Suydam. It’s 7 blocks down from where Louie’s candy store was on Central & Greene. I remember Louie’s. There was always a group of guys hanging out in front that were a few years older than me. They would harass my friends and I if we walked past there. I was 11 years old in 1954. As a teenager, I hung out in other candy stores nearby. There were many similar mom & pop candy stores back then. The best one I remember was under the Myrtle Ave elevated train station. At night, we could just go upstairs and sing doo wop with an echo. A guy named Costi who sang with us, had the greatest set of pipes. Like you said Tom, there were good times and not so good times. While walking to a wedding rehearsal at St Barbara’s, my friend Charlie lost his life at 18. He was mistaken for someone else and stabbed multiple times. It was headline news in 1958/59. The media played it up as a rift some others were having with Puerto Ricans moving into the neighborhood. Aside from that, there truly were lots of good times. This outstanding video was a great reminder. Thanks for the trip down memory lane Tom.
This made me cry a little, remembering all of the songs and our Louie's (called Phillip's) on the north side in Pittsburgh. Memories of Mr. Rice barring us from the store for something or other and then relenting a few days later. How special that place was to me and my friends. It really was the good old days, the fifties. I wish I could relive just one day of that time in my life. Thanks for the memories Mr. McGlinchy.
Loved the music. I guess no matter 0where u lived back then, you listened to the same music. I was living in Providence, RI at the time. And all of those tunes were familiar and bring back memories. Thanks!
Tom, Thank you for a wonderful "look back" at a time we'll never forget. I'm sure that every New Yorker had a "Louie's Candy Store" in their neighborhood. On Fordham Rd, in the Bronx we had Murphy's and also Lujack's . Next to each we had 2 bars : Mannion's and Riordan's. Each had their jukebox full of doowops. That era was something we'll always fondly remember.
Brooklyn, New York or Norwalk, Ohio...... wherever you were in that era the video applies. Kids back then were pretty much all doing the same things and listening to the great music of the era. Good video that captured my heart!
Tom, although this walk through these unforgotten years choked me up, it is so beautiful...Life is beyond a doubt a beautiful journey...the narration is terrific! My memories of Park Slope still remains fresh in my mind. I wrote a song "POOR BOY FROM BROOKLYN" we all had our dreams that are now special memories!! THANKS!!
Not my neighborhood in Brooklyn, but certainly my world. Everything familiar. Louie's or something very much like was certainly the place for most of us Crown Heights kids. Thanks for creating and posting this moving look back, a world long gone in space but not in heart or memory.
Tom, that was excellent, brought back great and vivid memories of years gone by in old Red Hook, the only bad thing at that time was 12 years latter many of us got drafted and wound up in Vietnam.
I was born in Brooklyn..but raised on Staten Island and we had our 'go to hang out places' also~ The only things different are the names of the kids and the places we hung out at>>>>Paul's and the Sugar Shack. Your video is so on target that it brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for sharing, your hard work putting this together is appreciated..wow ♥♥♥
Tom, that was beautiful. This was sent to me by a my since retired supervisor who lived in the area. I wasn't a Brooklynite, but it brought back a lot of memories and some tears. My husband was from Brooklyn he would have loved this.
Grew up in Queens and later Long Island, same stuff, hangout was a store with lunch, juke box, etc. Got thrown out when too loud, but the owner was a good guy. Thanks, enjoyed this.
I didn't live in Brooklyn, but I remember our Candy Store very well...Especially the Juke Box. Great video and thanks for the memories. I became a cop like many I knew. Now retired and living in Florida, but at times I go back to those days.
Thank you so much for the memory I moved from Central Ave. in 1954 I was 9 yrs. old My Grandfather and Dad had their Law Office 124 Central Ave. And Tommaso Funeral Home was my dear friends Dad....Peter Tomasso Oh I miss the sounds of Central Ave..The pasteries from Palermo and Caneppa oh well Thanks againGraceann Lamberta
Strong identification, I grew up in Astoria, Queens and our candy store was named the Sugar Bowl, we had the booths and the jukebox and next store was the local bar and at a18 we graduated to Coffey's Corner Bar. I totally agree with the author, I love and miss all the guys today.
This is a great tribute and a wonderful time ours was a ice cream parlor first it was Weimanns then Prices in Glendale Queens... this brings back so many memories when I was dating my husband sounds like us, now the love of my life has passed away and am so thankful to have had all these wonderful memories...Thank you for posting this on UA-cam....
Loved every minute. Playing over and over. Lived in east Flatbush. So true. What was especially moving is the part where you said "Sadly some of the kids that hung out at Louie's aren't here anymore." My eldest friend who we served in the army reserves passed away two years ago." We were three close friends all named Paul. I was "Glick", Paul Smith was "Smitty" and Paul Granett was "Cowboy." My wife also deceased was also from Brooklyn. Got married at Congregation Shaare Zion on Ocean Parkway in 1966.
What a great video. I grew up in Crown Heights and there was a similar candy store (a luncheonette) on Troy Avenue and Eastern Parkway. Thanks a heap for sharing your memories of a Brooklyn long gone.
We had Al and Vera's luncheonette and candy store on Montrose and Graham avenues. Great times like Louie's but like in Ridgewood we opened a club on Johnson and Humbolt streets. Club Mor-Ray. After all the people got married and moved from the neighborhood we sort of lost touch. In 2007 after not seeing each other in over 40 years I organized a club reunion at Abbracciamento's on Woodhaven blvd. It was great over 40 showed up. We toasted all our friends who were gone and since have had a reunion every year . Some came only to the first reunion and never came back but we have a group of 6 to 7 couples who still attend and we enjoy each others company, so thanks for the memories and great music. My sister dated Tom Mordente of the clusters for a while when they went to Bushwick H.S.
I've seen many an oldies video but this is the best. Having grown up in Flushing, Queens we all had our own memories of our candy stores, school's and of course girls. I was fortunate enough to have married the girl I loved from back then and after all these years we're still together and still in love. The kid's from back then all had common names, Rich, Mike, John, Don, Dave........Jill, Carol, Rose, Carmella, Evelyn. Yeah, those were the days, so many gone yet the memories cannot be taken away or forgotten. Thanks for putting this together Tom, it was great. Have you done any others ?
I graduated from North Arlington High School, Bergen County, NJ in 1952. There were 3 "Louie's in North Arlington and one just across the Bellville Pike on the corner with Kearny Ave that were the places to go. Do wop music had not gotten there yet. Eddie's had the juke box and it was a nickel a play.
Love it. There was a candy store on Green Av.and Evergreen> The owner.s were Emma and Mike. I was there everyday. We were so lucky to be a part of a wonderful time. So many great memories.
What great memories of the time and the music. Our candy store in Queens was Pete's. Very similar memories and they made the bet egg creams and where we all met after Church. They were some of the best years of our youth.
John Spano Your opening shot showing Himrod street is the street I was born on, between Knickerbocker and Irving avenue.Your video brought tears to my eyes. I went to St. Joseph's and then Cleveland High (Where Julius LaRosa went), but I had friends on Green Avenue and went to St. Barbara's many times. I live in Florida now, and am the last of the boys of my neighborhood. (all my pals are deceased now) I am 85 years old but still have pleasant memories of Brooklyn. My heart was broken when the Dodgers left Brooklyn and I swore I would never attend another major League game again, and I haven't. Thanks for the memories Tom.
I was only born in 1956 in RIdgewood, but my Mom & Dad grew up in Bushwick. I do remember the songs though. Thanks for the memories and the stroll down memory lane. My oler sister went to St. Barbara's school. She was born in 1951. I assume it is the same one as depicted in the video. Good times and easier living.
I came from canasie we had abe s on rockaway pkwy. suger bowl on ave.l .This brings back lots good times im still married the same girl for 52 yrs i still think those times i showed my grand sons the video they could not get over the clothes and hair do,s
I don't know how you did it but you captured my hangout in Philly at 30th and Berks Street in my neighborhood of Strawberry Mansion - or was it Norris Street - or was it Diamond Street - how come I can't remmemer? - it was only 70 years ago. Wonderful.
So True. we all had our candy store, whether it was louie's, Harry's or Phil's. Our life centered around the egg cream, news stand or the Do-Wops. In retrospect, remembering all those kids ,liking some, hating others, this was a great time in my life!!!
FANTASTIC VIDEO!!!! Remember the neighborhood well. Innocent times. The greatest decade ever. So thankful I grew up there in the fifties. Would not trade it for anything.
I never lived in Brooklyn but I do remember those great times that we had even living in Long Island and on a farm but the few kids that were there were great and I will ALWAYS remember those great days, Always.Too bad the kids of today do not know what they are missing out on.
Memories of simpler times. A beautiful homage to Brooklyn in the early/mid 1950's.Tugs at the heartstrings. Thank you Tom..btw my candy store was Frank & Laura's on 61 st. and 5th ave. in Bay Ridge. The owners had big hearts and the crowd was a bunch of terrific young kids.
While looking at this I keep glancing at a picture on my wall of myself and seven of my friends on Easter Sunday morning, 1957, in Bensonhurst, 18th Ave. and 67th St.and the memories flood back. Our candy store was across the street and was not much different than Louie's
I can relate to this. We didn't have a Louie's but we had a Dairy Queen (Heard's). We had Conway, Elvis, Jerry Lee, Ronnie Hawkins, etc. Great Classmates, Big Orb, Billy, Lynn, Jimmy, Jonita, Sandra, etc. Miss the ones that are gone and Cherish the ones that are still here. I love them all.
I too lived in this neighborhood and have great memories. I lived on Grove and Knickerbocker while my future wife Emilie live on Green and Cypress. Her fathers (Louie) store was a delicatessen. Time has gone by too fast.
Tom, this was a remarkable and wonderful glimpse of the sounds and sites when the world was so much younger than the years that passed us by. The things we took for granted (an A cream, a juke box full of our favorite music) are now just remnants of reflections of our faded recollections of the past. Thanks for bringing those wonderful memories back alive.This and a wonderful song called Just over the Brooklyn Bridge by Lola and the Saints encapsulate much of the youthful memories I have of Brooklyn, and of course a slice of Juniors' cheese cake would help incur a taste of it as well!
Tom, this is a great memory for you and I can relate even though I lived in New Jersey. We also had places like this to hang out and I remember them fondly. Thanks for posting it.
This is a beautiful,sentimental little video, that I truly wish could be made into a full length feature film. Very professionally done and definitely brings tears to the eyes. There are a few inaccuracies..such as the fact that is is supposed to be 1954 and a 55 Chevvy is shown and many of the songs played- like Speedo by the Cadillacs, came out a year later- but, who cares, this is wonderful and my congratulations to Tom McGlinchy for making it.
An excellent look back at a snapshot beyond recall. Happy days for many, but also laced with the sad absence of non-whites. I lived in Forest Hills for close to three years as a WWII pre-teen and never saw a black person. Asians? Yes, but only at the Chinese take-out on Queens Boulevard and the hand laundry on Continental Avenue. I was from Iceland, where everybody was white and nobody was Jewish. From Iceland, you had to sail far to see someone who didn't look like you, but from Forest Hills, a 5¢ subway ride solved that problem. That said, your beautifully crafted video captures it like it was-memorable.
Rock around the clock took me back to Oxford High School auditorium back in the late 50's when Bill Haley came for special afternoon show for entire school.
Great story - this is a story that, while the street and store names were different, was about growing up in an East Coast city - for me that was South Philly and the streets were 16th and Wolf.
Most cool. I grew up in Queens Elmhurst-Jackson Heights and juke boxes cost a nickel per song 6 for a quarter in 1954 as I recall. We had an array of such candy stores available to us The Bunny Hug, The Sweet shop & Madelynn's & The Hampton Luncheonette. These were territorial and when guys from other neighborhood would arrive it was heads up for possible war! Still nice memories! BTW when we turned 18 we graduated to a number of bars. ;-)
Awesome! Amazing that you had taken and collected all those photos Tom. My hangout was Joe's in Flatbush-near Ocean Parkway. I went to Erasmus Hall. Listen to "Looking For An Echo" by Kenny Vance."
I attended St. Barbara's and I have that church etched in my heart. The school was EXCELLENT by any standards- todays' and yesterdays. The pizzeria around the corner, the bakery, my grandparents after Sunday mass. Grandmom squeezing fresh juice right from the orange. Cousins living a couple of blocks away. Other cousins living down another end. There was so much love growing up in Ridgewood, Brooklyn. Was I naive, too young to know the ills of the world? There was a teacher's strike so my mom sent us to Catholic school. Pizza on Fridays so that was GREAT. Yes many really good memories in a neighborhood where one felt safe, where people worked and ladies would know ... moms would look at you and you knew "better be good", otherwise they'd let your parents know. And parents DID discipline. The heartland of the hardworking "city" folk. Great memories!!!
in the late 50s early 60s on sunday we would visit our grandparents on wilson and halsey . across from halsey park, and saint martin de tours church.
they also called it ridgewood, somehow its now bushwick. they came to america from sicily and at that time the neighborhood had many sicilian americans.
My dad just showed me this in tears !! My parents grew up there in the 50’s. 14th Ave 67-68th street. Still together today. Great video 👍🏻👍🏻
i gew up in Brooklyn. Pulaski St and Reid Ave.I had friends that lived on Madison St.I remember Louies Candy store and St.Barbaras church. Those were the days. I wish the kids today could understand how the world was back then.
I got tears in my eyes watching this great video, thinking of my parents and all the rest that are now in heaven.
How good those days were, but we were to anxious to grow up. I now live on Long Island. I am very lucky to belong to a large car club,The South Side Boys. I still enjoy listening to doo-wops as I drive my GTO to our local hangouts.We often talk about those days and at times my eyes tear up. Those were the days,the memories will always be there.
Thankyou so much for this great video.
This broke my heart. My first true love, Juliann, passed away from cancer this week. We were together for 58 years. She is with God now. I'll never forget her, Brooklyn, or DooWop. Thanks for posting this.
I'm very sorry for your loss Bob.
If I had to condense my life in 1950's Brooklyn to a ten minute video, this is as close as I could hope to come. Have to say, I got a little choked up. Thanks for a great post.
I'm not from the area, was born 6 years after your target date, I'm net even Italian, but this is EXCELLENT. You did a wonderful job with this & this kind of heart, crosses all boundaries. Kudos!
Tom, My Poppy, Pete & his brother, Paul are the 2 boxer brothers that owned the Piccadilly Bar & Grill. What an amazing video - I have watched and shared it many times since you have posted it! Thank you!!!!
Love this story, I was born in the late 60's and know the neighborhood, thank you for sharing Mr. McGlinchy!
Tom Thank You this brought back wonderful memories from some of the best time of my life. I born on Greene Ave. between Central and Wilson and lived there from 1946 until I was 18. I remember The candy store and the lime rickeys that were only 3 cents when I didn't have enough for a egg cream. I went to PS75 and then to JHS162, as the song says Those Were The Days.
Nice tribute to the Brooklyn neighborhoods of our youth. Well done, Tom.
What a great video 👍 I grew up in Canarsie, Brooklyn and graduated Samuel J Tilden H.S. in east Flatbush. Canarsie didn’t have a high school at the time, and I was zoned to go to Tilden. Cozy corner was our candy store after school with the Breyers and the Coca Cola metal signs outside .Loved the jukebox . I still enjoy my fifties music, and so do my children. This brought tears to my eyes. TFS
Wonderful memories. We hung out at Lefty's candy store in the Bronx. Thank you for posting.
everyone of us has their own candy store...you brought beautiful memories back to me....what a blessing for me and what a blessing you gave all of us.....thank you and it's coming back to you ten fold.
Thank you
I lived on Palmetto Central to Wilson and then Bleecker Central to Wilson during the 60s. I truly enjoyed your video, it was tremendous. Thank you.
A great look back. It's true that when you look back, you can now "love averyone." When I get to meet former high school classmates, it gives me a thrill that I never would have imagined. Thank you, Tom, for such a nice experience.Stu Soman
Wow that was such an awesome story/video
I guess those really were the good ol days
Thank you for sharing those pictures-Truly amazing may God bless you
To me this was the greatest era of the last century!! Very well done & brought a tears to my eyes
This was so wonderful. Nearing "80" and these days are etched in my heart and mind. Thank you for renewing loving memories.
This was so beautiful thank you so much. I grew up in Sheepshead Bay at the same time. Thanks for the memories.
Oh My God This is my favorite UA-cam EVER. This guy is a Genius, well spoken, and well produced. It is the story of every one of us no matter what Borough you are from. Thanks Pal Bayside queens In The House
What a super video. My teenage years were spent in Bensonhurst...Our candy store was "Vinny's" & his wife Pepina right there on Avenue O off the corner of W. 5th. No music here...for that we went around the corner to "Goodies" on 65th btwn W5th & 6th where the juke box played continuously. We sang, we laughed & even cried in our egg creams sometimes. What a beautiful life...guess that's why I still feel Brooklyn is & will always be in my blood.
Thank you
I worked in the 83 Pct during the early 1980's A lot different I grew up in Queens It was Joe's candy store Thank you for the walk down memory lane
Dave Conrad A Policeman At The 83rd Delivered My Nephew, Albert Rall, Right Across The Street From The 83rd.
I live on LI during that era and have the very same memories! Thank you. 😎
Loved it! Across the Hudson in Bayonne we had Betty's Sweet Shop on 21St & Ave A! Lots of memories and we sang under that Street Corner Light as well...we knew we were not that good but the Little Old Ladies that watched us out their windows enjoyed it! Thanks for putting the work into this!!! Ciao!
Fantastic post. Made me get choked up. Thanks for sharing.
I lived at 294 Central....one block over.....I can still taste the pizza from Piccadilly......used get two pies on Fridays......Central And Greene was my corner......went to St Barbara's....church and school....thanks for the memories
Life is filled with memories which music stirs up and now I'm reliving through my GrandChildren's love of the Oldies but Goodies, which includes me ;-) Thank you
Beautiful...so many memories.I do not remember Louies....This my old neighborhood our candy store was on Wilson ave between George St and Troutman St...Picadilly Bar was my Joes hangout...St Leonards was my parish church and school...I wished the piece would go on and on Thank you for a wonderful trip to the past ....
My Poppy and his brother are the boxers who owned the Piccadilly :)
Beautiful job! As we all get older, we can look back at these memories with smiles. Remembering Sid's candy store in Borough Park...Chookies was a hangout for the New Utrecht High School group. Yes, and going steady....playing Kings, stoop-ball, stickball and confraternity dances. Thanks again!
Thanks for the memories...we had Lenny's candy store on Morris Avenue and 148th street in the beautiful Bronx. Such happy times where everyone knew everyone as well as our parents and grandparents, Such cherished memories..
Having been raised by parents with a similar store in Massachusetts from the early '40's to the early '70's, having the opportunity to see this brought back many feelings of my early
years. Thanks Tom for providing this emotion to so many of us.
Wow! This was my old neighborhood. I lived on the corner of Central and Suydam. It’s 7 blocks down from where Louie’s candy store was on Central & Greene. I remember Louie’s. There was always a group of guys hanging out in front that were a few years older than me. They would harass my friends and I if we walked past there. I was 11 years old in 1954. As a teenager, I hung out in other candy stores nearby. There were many similar mom & pop candy stores back then. The best one I remember was under the Myrtle Ave elevated train station. At night, we could just go upstairs and sing doo wop with an echo. A guy named Costi who sang with us, had the greatest set of pipes. Like you said Tom, there were good times and not so good times. While walking to a wedding rehearsal at St Barbara’s, my friend Charlie lost his life at 18. He was mistaken for someone else and stabbed multiple times. It was headline news in 1958/59. The media played it up as a rift some others were having with Puerto Ricans moving into the neighborhood. Aside from that, there truly were lots of good times. This outstanding video was a great reminder. Thanks for the trip down memory lane Tom.
Exceptional - Best nostalgia entry I have ever viewed.
Thank you Tom
Thanks! But there is no one left for me to share it with but such a beautiful memory.
This made me cry a little, remembering all of the songs and our Louie's (called Phillip's) on the north side in Pittsburgh. Memories of Mr. Rice barring us from the store for something or other and then relenting a few days later. How special that place was to me and my friends. It really was the good old days, the fifties. I wish I could relive just one day of that time in my life. Thanks for the memories Mr. McGlinchy.
I also got married in 1964 at St. Barbara's and still married today
So comforting to dream about the many yesterdays....thanks for sharing.
Loved the music. I guess no matter 0where u lived back then, you listened to the same music. I was living in Providence, RI at the time. And all of those tunes were familiar and bring back memories. Thanks!
Tom, Thank you for a wonderful "look back" at a time we'll never forget. I'm sure that every New Yorker had a "Louie's Candy Store" in their neighborhood. On Fordham Rd, in the Bronx we had Murphy's and also Lujack's . Next to each we had 2 bars : Mannion's and Riordan's. Each had their jukebox full of doowops. That era was something we'll always fondly remember.
And Jay, we had Arthur Ave, Alexanders, Lowes Paridise, Grand Concourse.
Brooklyn, New York or Norwalk, Ohio...... wherever you were in that era the video applies. Kids back then were pretty much all doing the same things and listening to the great music of the era. Good video that captured my heart!
Tom, although this walk through these unforgotten years choked me up, it is so beautiful...Life is beyond a doubt a beautiful journey...the narration is terrific! My memories of Park Slope still remains fresh in my mind. I wrote a song "POOR BOY FROM BROOKLYN" we all had our dreams that are now special memories!! THANKS!!
Not my neighborhood in Brooklyn, but certainly my world. Everything familiar. Louie's or something very much like was certainly the place for most of us Crown Heights kids. Thanks for creating and posting this moving look back, a world long gone in space but not in heart or memory.
Tom, that was excellent, brought back great and vivid memories of years gone by in old Red Hook, the only bad thing at that time was 12 years latter many of us got drafted and wound up in Vietnam.
I was born in Brooklyn..but raised on Staten Island and we had our 'go to hang out places' also~ The only things different are the names of the kids and the places we hung out at>>>>Paul's and the Sugar Shack. Your video is so on target that it brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for sharing, your hard work putting this together is appreciated..wow ♥♥♥
Tom, that was beautiful. This was sent to me by a my since retired supervisor who lived in the area. I wasn't a Brooklynite, but it brought back a lot of memories and some tears. My husband was from Brooklyn he would have loved this.
Grew up in Queens and later Long Island, same stuff, hangout was a store with lunch, juke box, etc. Got thrown out when too loud, but the owner was a good guy. Thanks, enjoyed this.
I didn't live in Brooklyn, but I remember our Candy Store very well...Especially the Juke Box. Great video and thanks for the memories. I became a cop like many I knew. Now retired and living in Florida, but at times I go back to those days.
I live on L.I and remember those times at Garfield's where we hung out. So many memories. Thanks for your video.
Thank you so much for the memory I moved from Central Ave. in 1954 I was 9 yrs. old
My Grandfather and Dad had their Law Office 124 Central Ave. And Tommaso Funeral Home was my dear friends Dad....Peter Tomasso Oh I miss the sounds of Central Ave..The pasteries from Palermo and Caneppa oh well Thanks againGraceann Lamberta
Strong identification, I grew up in Astoria, Queens and our candy store was named the Sugar Bowl, we had the booths and the jukebox and next store was the local bar and at a18 we graduated to Coffey's Corner Bar. I totally agree with the author, I love and miss all the guys today.
This is a great tribute and a wonderful time ours was a ice cream parlor first it was Weimanns then Prices in Glendale Queens... this brings back so many memories when I was dating my husband sounds like us, now the love of my life has passed away and am so thankful to have had all these wonderful memories...Thank you for posting this on UA-cam....
Loved every minute. Playing over and over. Lived in east Flatbush. So true. What was especially moving is the part where you said "Sadly some of the kids that hung out at Louie's aren't here anymore." My eldest friend who we served in the army reserves passed away two years ago." We were three close friends all named Paul. I was "Glick", Paul Smith was "Smitty" and Paul Granett was "Cowboy." My wife also deceased was also from Brooklyn. Got married at Congregation Shaare Zion on Ocean Parkway in 1966.
What a great video. I grew up in Crown Heights and there was a similar candy store (a luncheonette) on Troy Avenue and Eastern Parkway. Thanks a heap for sharing your memories of a Brooklyn long gone.
This was the BEST TIMES of our lives. I came from Jefferson Ave. near Evergreen and Central Avenues. Went to 14 Holy Martyrs and knew the Halsey Bops.
We had Al and Vera's luncheonette and candy store on Montrose and Graham avenues. Great times like Louie's but
like in Ridgewood we opened a club on Johnson and Humbolt streets. Club Mor-Ray. After all the people got married
and moved from the neighborhood we sort of lost touch. In 2007 after not seeing each other in over 40 years I organized
a club reunion at Abbracciamento's on Woodhaven blvd. It was great over 40 showed up. We toasted all our friends
who were gone and since have had a reunion every year . Some came only to the first reunion and never came back
but we have a group of 6 to 7 couples who still attend and we enjoy each others company, so thanks for the memories
and great music. My sister dated Tom Mordente of the clusters for a while when they went to Bushwick H.S.
Tom, You have made my day !! Thanks alot !
I've seen many an oldies video but this is the best. Having grown up in Flushing, Queens we all had our own memories of our candy stores, school's and of course girls. I was fortunate enough to have married the girl I loved from back then and after all these years we're still together and still in love. The kid's from back then all had common names, Rich, Mike, John, Don, Dave........Jill, Carol, Rose, Carmella, Evelyn. Yeah, those were the days, so many gone yet the memories cannot be taken away or forgotten. Thanks for putting this together Tom, it was great. Have you done any others ?
"1950s Cars Had Style" and "Bushwick Movie Theaters"
TOM......THANKS FOR THIS. My candy store was "Harry & Irv's" on Coney Island Ave/ & Ave. P. Like you, so many great memories there!!
I graduated from North Arlington High School, Bergen County, NJ in 1952. There were 3 "Louie's in North Arlington and one just across the Bellville Pike on the corner with Kearny Ave that were the places to go. Do wop music had not gotten there yet. Eddie's had the juke box and it was a nickel a play.
Love it. There was a candy store on Green Av.and Evergreen> The owner.s were Emma and Mike. I was there everyday. We were so lucky to be a part of a wonderful time. So many great memories.
I lived on Harmon St Bet. Central and Evergreen Ave's. Visited Emma and Mike's many times.
SUCH A GREAT MEMORY OF THE GOOD LIFE,THANKS FOR POSTING
You're welcome. Glad you liked it.
wonderful... thanks for sharing... those were the days, all right
Loved this video. Brought back my own memories. Thank you for sharing it.
I remember Barbara Ann's on Central Ave too Was a great neighborhood and a great place to grow up .
Beatiful memories, our hangout was in Williamsburg Brooklyn NY, Medfords on Metropolitan & Bedford Avenues.
Great tribute to all of us who Lived in Bushwick what a beautiful video great loved it well done tom.
What great memories of the time and the music. Our candy store in Queens was Pete's. Very similar memories and they made the bet egg creams and where we all met after Church. They were some of the best years of our youth.
John Spano
Your opening shot showing Himrod street is the street I was born on, between Knickerbocker and Irving avenue.Your video brought tears to my eyes. I went to St. Joseph's and then Cleveland High (Where Julius LaRosa went), but I had friends on Green Avenue and went to St. Barbara's many times. I live in Florida now, and am the last of the boys of my neighborhood. (all my pals are deceased now) I am 85 years old but still have pleasant memories of Brooklyn. My heart was broken when the Dodgers left Brooklyn and I swore I would never attend another major League game again, and I haven't.
Thanks for the memories Tom.
Awesome video. Thank you. Louie’s was bigger than Bobs candy store in Woodhaven Queens though. Bobs didn’t have tables. Just a counter.
I was only born in 1956 in RIdgewood, but my Mom & Dad grew up in Bushwick. I do remember the songs though. Thanks for the memories and the stroll down memory lane. My oler sister went to St. Barbara's school. She was born in 1951. I assume it is the same one as depicted in the video. Good times and easier living.
I came from canasie we had abe s on rockaway pkwy. suger bowl on ave.l .This brings back lots good times im still married the same girl for 52 yrs i still think those times i showed my grand sons the video they could not get over the clothes and hair do,s
WOW, TIMES HAVE CHANGED SOOOOO MUCH. I WONDER WHAT KIND OF MEMORIES TODAY'S KIDS WILL HAVE. GOD WATCH OVER THIS WORLD - PLEASE.
this was my neighborhood growing up thanks so much
I don't know how you did it but you captured my hangout in Philly at 30th and Berks Street in my neighborhood of Strawberry Mansion - or was it Norris Street - or was it Diamond Street - how come I can't remmemer? - it was only 70 years ago. Wonderful.
Back in East Meadow, NY we had a Louie's though I don't remember the name of it....and we had Dave Shaw's Drive-in. Two great hang outs.
So True. we all had our candy store, whether it was louie's, Harry's or Phil's. Our life centered around the egg cream, news stand or the Do-Wops. In retrospect, remembering all those kids ,liking some, hating others, this was a great time in my life!!!
FANTASTIC VIDEO!!!! Remember the neighborhood well. Innocent times. The greatest decade ever. So thankful I grew up there in the fifties. Would not trade it for anything.
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.
I never lived in Brooklyn but I do remember those great times that we had even living in Long Island and on a farm but the few kids that were there were great and I will ALWAYS remember those great days, Always.Too bad the kids of today do not know what they are missing out on.
Memories of simpler times. A beautiful homage to Brooklyn in the early/mid 1950's.Tugs at the heartstrings. Thank you Tom..btw my candy store was Frank & Laura's on 61 st. and 5th ave. in Bay Ridge. The owners had big hearts and the crowd was a bunch of terrific young kids.
This was wonderful! Made me cry towards the end. Thank you so much for sharing these memories in such a beautiful way.
While looking at this I keep glancing at a picture on my wall of myself and seven of my friends on Easter Sunday morning, 1957, in Bensonhurst, 18th Ave. and 67th St.and the memories flood back. Our candy store was across the street and was not much different than Louie's
I can relate to this. We didn't have a Louie's but we had a Dairy Queen (Heard's).
We had Conway, Elvis, Jerry Lee, Ronnie Hawkins, etc.
Great Classmates, Big Orb, Billy, Lynn, Jimmy, Jonita, Sandra, etc.
Miss the ones that are gone and Cherish the ones that are still here. I love them all.
I too lived in this neighborhood and have great memories. I lived on Grove and Knickerbocker while my future wife Emilie live on Green and Cypress. Her fathers (Louie) store was a delicatessen. Time has gone by too fast.
God Bless you,
Tommy,
you brought back too many memories to a lot's of us
Tom, this was a remarkable and wonderful glimpse of the sounds and sites when the world was so much younger than the years that passed us by. The things we took for granted (an A cream, a juke box full of our favorite music) are now just remnants of reflections of our faded recollections of the past. Thanks for bringing those wonderful memories back alive.This and a wonderful song called Just over the Brooklyn Bridge by Lola and the Saints encapsulate much of the youthful memories I have of Brooklyn, and of course a slice of Juniors' cheese cake would help incur a taste of it as well!
Tom, this is a great memory for you and I can relate even though I lived in New Jersey. We also had places like this to hang out and I remember them fondly. Thanks for posting it.
All I can say is, WOW! What memories, can't wait to share. Thanks so much for your effort in creating this
There surely couldn’t have been a better place to be in the world than 1950’s America
Great job, live on Hancock&Wilson ,Rose's Candy store ,Bushwick High
This is a beautiful,sentimental little video, that I truly wish could be made into a full length feature film. Very professionally done and definitely brings tears to the eyes. There are a few inaccuracies..such as the fact that is is supposed to be 1954 and a 55 Chevvy is shown and many of the songs played- like Speedo by the Cadillacs, came out a year later- but, who cares, this is wonderful and my congratulations to Tom McGlinchy for making it.
This was a story that spanned 1954 to 1962.
An excellent look back at a snapshot beyond recall. Happy days for many, but also laced with the sad absence of non-whites. I lived in Forest Hills for close to three years as a WWII pre-teen and never saw a black person. Asians? Yes, but only at the Chinese take-out on Queens Boulevard and the hand laundry on Continental Avenue. I was from Iceland, where everybody was white and nobody was Jewish. From Iceland, you had to sail far to see someone who didn't look like you, but from Forest Hills, a 5¢ subway ride solved that problem. That said, your beautifully crafted video captures it like it was-memorable.
Thanks for posting this,it brought back such wonderful memories for me. Just when I needed them most.
Fab video......enjoyed it very much. Alsao married in 1962.
Rock around the clock took me back to Oxford High School auditorium back in the late 50's when Bill Haley came for special afternoon show for entire school.
We had the Goody Shop . Mt Kisco,NY Westchester County Many great memories.
memories that could never be replaced.
Great story - this is a story that, while the street and store names were different, was about growing up in an East Coast city - for me that was South Philly and the streets were 16th and Wolf.
Wow, what a great video. Thank you so very, very much.
Wasn't my neighborhood but easily could have been. Great job. Thanks
Most cool. I grew up in Queens Elmhurst-Jackson Heights and juke boxes cost a nickel per song 6 for a quarter in 1954 as I recall. We had an array of such candy stores available to us The Bunny Hug, The Sweet shop & Madelynn's & The Hampton Luncheonette. These were territorial and when guys from other neighborhood would arrive it was heads up for possible war! Still nice memories! BTW when we turned 18 we graduated to a number of bars. ;-)
Awesome! Amazing that you had taken and collected all those photos Tom. My hangout was Joe's in Flatbush-near Ocean Parkway. I went to Erasmus Hall. Listen to "Looking For An Echo" by Kenny Vance."