Wednesday, May 13, 2020 Our 50th Edition

By admin

Thanks to artist Ron Crawford for our 50th Edition Art (c)

WEDNESDAY

 MAY 13, 2020

RIHS’s 50th Issue of

In honor or our 50th issue we have asked the members of our Board to contribute their thoughts to this issue.

We have a great Board of Directors at the RIHS.  We asked them to contribute to this issue.. 

Arlene Bessenoff a long time member is the  person who has been our secretary and grant writer extraordinaire.

Stephen Blank is a retired professor and with his late wife Lenore love the island and our history.As you can tell Stephen is a great movie fan.

Melanie Colter came to us as a Historic Preservation intern from Cornell (in Ithaca) and she has stayed on to write for us and give preservation perspectives into our projects.

Tanya Morrisett is here with her husband and family from Ithaca.  Tanya has become an instant active member in our island and Cornell Tech community,

Thom Heyer has used his artistic talents on many projects on the island and is always ready to volunteer for a new project.

Matt Altwicker is an architect and we met when he developed an Affordable Housing exhibit at NYIT School of Architecture. When not scouting hidden sites on the island he practices at his studio in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

Lisa Fernandez is the Director of the Carter Burden Senior Center here.  When not running a very busy center, she is in the garden outside the center tending to the flowers and plants.

Lynne Shinozaki is the master caterer and coordinator of our Mae West fund raiser, we cannot wait to see what she is up to next.

Judy Connorton uses her organizational skills to help us research and gather information for our programs

Pat Schwartzberg, though not a Board Member,  she keeps us on track financially.

Deborah Dorff arrived on the island the day the tram got stuck for many hours. She was not on the tram so she and her husband stayed for years. Now in Austin, Texas Deborah gets our website and all of these articles on line every day, and she is still talking to me!

ARLENE BESSENOFF

PANDEMIC WALK COLLAGE

Stephen Blank

Confined to home these days, our thoughts turn to films. And what could be more fascinating than movies about our Island? So I dug into my archives and found several pieces on Roosevelt Island in the Movies that were published in the Almanac a while ago. So, here from the Blank archives.

A lot of filming has taken place on Roosevelt Island. But few of the films shot here were actually about our island. The one film that is really about the island wasn’t filmed here. “Blackwell’s Island,” released by Warner Brothers in 1939, was filmed at their Burbank Studios. Aside from a few stock clips early in the production, no sign of any local work shows up. Indeed, the last scenes – a boat chase on the river – are shot against a totally wrong background. But the film, a quick (71 minute) B movie and a vehicle for a young John Garfield is well worth the time. It’s based roughly on the real-life raid by the New York police on the corrupt Blackwell’s Island penitentiary. The 1934 raid took the City’s notorious penitentiary back from mob bosses who had ruled the roost, exploiting their fellow prisoners with the tacit permission or active cooperation of its warden and deputy warden. The movie focuses on a crusading reporter, Garfield, who contrives to get himself convicted by slugging a D.A. He’s sent to the island and witnesses firsthand the corruption of one Bull Bransom, a protection racketeer who rules the New York City waterfront. Bransom is “taking a leave” on the island and soon sees the possibility of using his organizational skills there.

The film includes corrupt old cops and an honest young one – whose sister Garfield falls for – and the bang-up mid-night assault on the island. Blackwell’s Island was known mainly for its prison, and while the island wasn’t mentioned by name, everyone knew what was going on.

“No Man of Her Own” is a 1932 romantic comedy starring Clark Gable and Carol Lombard. Lombard had been in films longer than the slightly older Gable and she was better known, but neither had hit the big time yet. The plot is straight forward enough. Gable plays “Babe” Stewart, a card shark who hides out to avoid the cops. He meets a lonely but slightly wild librarian named Connie Randall. There follows a certain amount of pre-code, much enjoyable grappling. They marry on the flip of a coin and the grappling, now legit, continues. Problem: how does Babe keep new bride Connie from learning that he is still in the racket? He can’t. Connie discovers Babe hasn’t reformed and demands that he lay off the cards. Gable says he can’t, and tells Lombard he’s taking off for South America. But love makes men do strange things. In fact, Babe has turned himself in and copped a plea. He agrees to spend 90 days “across the river.” This is New York City and “across the river” is nothing other than our own island jail (as opposed to “up the river” which means Sing Sing).

What’s cool is that Lombard is wise to the action and gazes out of her hotel window at Blackwell’s Island Penitentiary. Granted, there’s never been a hotel with that view, but it’s still cool. This excellent Paramount film was directed by Wesley Ruggles and it launched him into several fairly well regarded comedies, including Mae West’s 1933 “I’m No Angel.” (Another Blackwell link: In 1927, Mae West served eight days in our prison on an obscenity charge for her play Sex.)

In two really important (my view) films, Roosevelt Island plays no leading role, but is the background for important action. Critics see “My Man Godfrey” as the definitive “screwball comedy.” In this 1936 film, a depression-downed “forgotten man,” William Powell, tangles with (his real-life ex-wife) Carol Lombard and a grand supporting cast in a story with very strong class overtones. Bill Powell is not a “bum,” but educated, sophisticated and down on his heels. Lombard’s wealthy family is— a typical plot line in these films—rich, crass and dumb. Lombard drags Powell in as a butler, but he has entrepreneurial ideas of his own. This is great fun and really good cinema: “My Man Godfrey” got Oscar nominations for writing, directing and all four acting awards (though not for Best Picture). Blackwell’s Island? Well, it’s there even if you don’t see it. In the opening credits, the background is the Queensboro Bridge and Blackwell’s Island. Why? Because the story line develops around Powell’s plan to open a night club on the shore of the East River, basically where Sutton Place is now.

The background to all of the scenes that deal with his plan is Blackwell’s Island. The film was shot in Universal Studios in California, so none of this is live. The scenes are filmed against a rear projection of the island. Look carefully and you will see that, in one scene, there’s a slip-up and the image is reversed, so that the old elevator (“upside-down”) building is suddenly on the south side of the bridge. Never named. But we know what we’re seeing.

And even more, of course, the romantic scene in Woody Allen’s “Manhattan” (1979) when he and Diane Keaton sit on a bench in Sutton Place, looking at a softly focused Queensboro Bridge. The moment is framed by the background music of Gershwin’s “Someone to Watch Over Me”. We Islanders knew the film was an ode to New York City, but knew, too, our island was never so dreamy. The Queensboro Bridge itself played a major role several times on the big screen.

When the tram was held hostage in “Nighthawks” (1981) with Sylvester Stallone, we worried that this might give some idiot an idea. We were tickled when we saw that Billy Crystal’s character Mitch Robbins in “City Slickers” (1991) lived on the island and commuted to work on the tram like the rest of us. And who could forget when, in the 2002 “Spider-Man,” the Green Goblin threw Mary Jane Watson from the bridge, and Spider-Man had to decide between saving her or passengers on the Roosevelt Island tram. Always a good night at the Roosevelt Island flicks.

Stephen Blank May 11, 2020

MELANIE COLTER

TANYA MORRISETT

Roosevelt Island from a newcomers perspective

Tanya Morrisett

Almost every single day, people ask me the following question, “So, I bet you’re upset that you moved to New York City from Ithaca last summer with all this virus business?” Almost every single day, I shake my head and give the same, short answer. “No.” Yes, I’m now living in the heart of the pandemic – one that has forever changed our world.

Sadly, it has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of New Yorkers. It would be safer to be living in Ithaca. And like so many, I spend almost all my time in a small apartment trying to find some type of normalcy. But, I would move here again if given the choice. I adore this city and I love Roosevelt Island. I’m not happy until I see the sunrise over LaGuardia in the morning and look down on the powerful steel bridge with its never-ending stream of cars going between Manhattan and Queens.

I love to watch the tram glide over the water carrying people back and forth across the East River. The ruins of the Smallpox Hospital are enchanting and the Chapel is peaceful. Most of all, I love the people. New Yorkers are incredibly friendly and the people who live on Roosevelt Island are even more lovely. It is a wonderful community of people. So, tomorrow, when I’m asked again, I’m going to give the same, short answer, “No,” and I’m going to smile. This beautiful, little island has welcomed me. I’m going to ride out this pandemic here in my new city on my little island. We’ll all get through this together.

THOM HEYER

I started an artistic endeavor on the subject of the singer Alberta Hunter & the entertainer Mae West a year ago. It was for FIGMENT when that Arts celebration came to the island last June. Both women were contemporaries in the entertainment industry & both had ties to Roosevelt Island, but never met. My premise was what if they HAD met. What might that moment have been like? Because of the current COVID-19 shut-down, FIGMENT is one of the many events that have had to be cancelled. Though I’m still working on the Alberta/Mae Project, I am happy to share this unfinished set of portraits–each is 8.5″ X 11″.

Thom’s version of Edward Hopper’s NIGHTHAWKS

MATT ALTWICKER

Secret Places

I have learned a lot about the Island in the last 49 days of Judy’s daily reports. We moved here in 2006 and my daughter Zechine was born here in 2008. Like all kids and parents, we think we have probably covered every inch of the island in that time.

Over the almost 12 years since Zechine’s birth there have been two places that we have always called our secret places. They have been called that because we have never seen anyone else there. I was reminded of the space and stairs under the Helix reading about the recent death of the architect of Motorgate and the adjacent helix, Michael McKinnell. It is a strange place where RIOC and DOT store various items as they wish, but where they always seem to leave a walking path free for us to leave the Promenade and go up to the intersection without meeting anyone, along the way finding all the mundane items of the everyday island – the lampposts, the Z bricks, the barriers, etc. In this photo an impromptu desk was set up. (Under the Helix, 2016)

The discussion of the Island’s landscape architects reminded me of the Island House playground. It is a playground design from another era, although it is itself not an original. Maybe it is the rusty metal, the fading paint, or the non-compliance with current playground safety, but over all the years, we have never encountered another child on the playground.

That has made it all the more attractive to visit in the late afternoon sun coming from the west. (Empty Playground, 2020) It is hard to believe that in places so public and so central to the island, one can find this kind of solitude, but maybe this is one of those mysterious qualities of the Island that one cannot fully grasp but one can simply enjoy.

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LISA FERNANDEZ

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LYNNE SHINOZAKI

JUDY CONNORTON
PAT SCHWARTZBERG
DEBORAH DORFF

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EDITORIAL

Neighbors, friends and strangers have been asking me why I have been publishing FROM THE ARCHIVE.  Why not?  I have little else to do and I will do anything not to do filing.  Our kiosk is closed, the staff cannot work, there are no visitors. I can go to our office in the Octagon, but there are no persons on our floor and what fun is it to sit alone all day looking out at unused sports equipment. I could unload 30 boxes of RIHS records stored in the Octagon, but there is no one to assist. 

I could complain, kvetch, decry the government, though I do express opinions to certain politicians.  At this time of year I train election workers, work the primary  election and early voting. This year I taught 3 classes and then all was canceled. 

I have mastered the art of watching oil deliveries to the power plant. The tugs gently nudge the barges parallel to the pier where they will stay about 2 weeks, getting lighter every day.  They will be replaced and the cycle start again.  Queensbridge Park has a lovely new promenade and seawall. It is hardly used, even on lovely spring days.  At night the 4 baseball diamonds are lit, though empty. See views from my window below.

The construction at Queens Plaza has stopped midstream. The 70+ story building sits there with orange construction tape on what will be the next 20 floors to be closed in.  Citicorp, the monument and first building is now half obscured from my window.   The cars speed over the Queensboro Bridge, no traffic jams now. Silvercup shines red every night.

I continue my work at Coler Community Advisory Board and Coler Auxiliary.  We will be raising funds for our nursing home residents as soon as we can be allowed into the building again.  The support of Coler has been excellent and we will continue with your assistance.

Judith  Berdy212 688 4836

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PHOTO OF THE DAY

IDENTIFY AND LOCATE THE PHOTO OF THE DAY
E-MAIL YOUR SUBMISSION TO JBIRD134@AOL.COM
FIRST CORRECT ANSWER GETS A BOOK FROM RIHS VISITOR KIOSK,

Regina Avner is the winner of yesterday’s photo contest. It is the old Breyer’s Ice Cream Plant on Queens Blvd. The logo leaf design sign is still on the roof.

Text by Judith Berdy
Thanks to Bobbie Slonevsky for her dedication to Blackwell’s Almanac and the RIHS
Thanks to Deborah Dorff for maintaining our website
Edited by Melanie Colter and Dottie Jeffries