The Old Neighborhood
While sitting at a table of strangers during a shiva (mourning period) call, each person spoke of the famous people that came from their old neighborhood. It was as if these celebrities gave weight and credence to their own lives.
It seemed that we were only “mere people” that magnified the “stars” that made it in Hollywood or on the field of sport. These lovely folks were all accomplished and highly educated. Yet they fawned on these notables and somehow associated their success with their own worth, because of adjacent neighborhoods.
It seemed kind of silly, but I found myself being drawn into this childish exercise. Celebrities in my own East Bronx locality. Hmm! How about Al Pacino?
The star of Merchant of Venice played Shylock with such depth and feeling that you felt he had grown up in the East Bronx. He lived on Bryant Avenue near 173rd Street. He is a method actor; his greatest role was that of Michael Corleone in The Godfather, I, II and III. He also starred in Scarface, Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon and Glengarry Glen Ross.
How about Danny Aiello?
Danny was always an intimidating guy, especially in Pops Pool Room, which he always frequented. Recently, he has become a singer and is quite good.
His greatest role was that of the pizza shop owner in Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing. He also appeared in The Godfather II, Moonstruck and my baseball favorite, Bang the Drum Slowly. I remember his beautiful wife Sandy from the old neighborhood.
How about Ellen Barkin?
She also lived on Bryant Avenue and her mother and aunt were customers in my father’s store, Greenberg’s Dry Goods. She played a sexy role with Al Pacino in Sea of Love and is currently starring on Broadway in A Normal Heart, for which she received a Tony Award.
How about Ed Kranepool? He lives in Jericho, and he played first base for the New York Mets.
How about Hank Greenberg? He played first base for the Detroit Tigers and Pittsburgh Pirates.
How about Tony Curtis (Berny Schwartz), another Bryant Avenue protégé?
I think I have “dropped” enough names from my old neighborhood. If any of my readers feel like dropping some names, e-mail me at shgreenbug@aol.com.
