july 20th 1969

Ok it did It was 55 years ago and I can remember the date so clearly.
It was 1969 and only 3 weeks before I just graduated high school I had a summer job working at an amusement park Rye Beach Playland in Westchester County NY . I worked the boardwalk overlooking the Long Island Sound during the day and at night time moved into the park at the Banana Split Stand. In the afternoon I was at the banana stand when on the PA in the park they went to a CBS live radio feed of Walter Cronkite doing the space capsule landing on the moons surface. As the PA announced the lunar landing 100 feet 50 feet etc I stopped making my Banana Boat { a bigger split} and looked over to my fellow buddy Marty Marano and stopped making the split. The guy at the counter yelled at me and said " sonny where is my split"? I politicly said " sir Man just landed on the moon and we will always remember where we were years from now. " The guy looked at me and said " sonny just give me my banana split " As I put the ice cream and toppings on his split I said something to Marty like I will always remember where I was when man landed on the moon. And this guy only cares about his Boat.
That was 55 years ago. Marty has since passed away and being 18 and ready to leave NY and go to North Texas State Univ I was so excited . I had worked at Playland for 3 summers and this would be my last year working and making banana splits . Man just landed on the moon and this guy is upset because I paused making his split. But even though the Modular landed on the moon Neil Armstrong didn't take his famous walk yet They went to sleep for awhile after the landinging . Later on Neil came down from his ladder and made the famous line " one small step for mankind or one giant leap for mankind. " I look back today 55 years ago and think of those people I worked with and asked my wife who I am going to meet in another year " do your remember where you were 55 years ago today "? She answered she would be a senior in HS in Paris Texas Its funny after we met and had 3 daughters and one son and now 7 grandchildren I am back in Texas.
Robert Frost wrote a famous poem called " Birches " In it he says " I'd like to get away from Earth awhile and then often come back to it and then begin all over " I'm not sure if I agree with Frost. I don't want to start all over I have led a good life have a great family and really wouldn't change anything in my life . My youth and growing up was just a path that I was lucky to have and had unreal parental support I hopefully can pass down to my grandchildren some of that. So Mr Frost other then making a few basketball adjustments in losing 3 NY state Basketball finals I don't want to begin it all over. So 55 years ago I knew where I was and what I was doing that day Peace to all of you and stay healthy

A good friend of mine is from Harrison and always talks about Rye Playland from his childhood. They filmed the carnival scenes from the Tom Hanks movie "Big" there.

 The movie scene from Big was the boardwalk I worked at  Zoltar the machine was right in front of my stand. You can see my stand when they filmed it  But Fatal Attraction when she kidnaps Micheal Douglas child and takes him or  her to Playland for the day is my stand and the cash register is in the movie   Harrison is the next town over  from Rye . I lived in Mamaroneck between Harrison and Rye . I worked 5 summers at Rye Beach Playland   Also missed Woodstock because I wanted to make extra money that weekend All my buddies went to Woodstock but I stayed at Playland making my $1.25 an hour.  Think my boss added another 25 cents an hour because so many workers took the weekend off for Woodstock  What a fool I was and all I heard from all my friends was Woodstock stories .  Two of my buddies walk across the screen in the movie " Woodstock "  A dumb choice on my part because these guys still talk about it that weekend.  They will tell a story and include me in it  Then one of them will say " oh I forgot box wasn't there " 

@Box and one

 He talks about Mamaroneck too.

Hey Box...great story, as with all your reminisinces!

Yep, always called it "Rye Beach" for me and my friends lol.  Can still remember 7th and 8th grade our parochial school had a bus ride for us to Playland at the end of the school year.  Great memories, too, when I was older and driving...especially the dragon coaster and the bumper cars.

Thanks, buddy...and BOL for Fall sports betting!  You, too, Stump...BOL this Fall with sports betting!

Cheers 

Playland was the real name but many of us that grew up in Westchester called it Rye beach .  We hated the buses that came up because from camps or schools they were loaded with kids. I would work on the boardwalk from 10.am till about 2 or 3  Then they would move me to the park at the banana split stand.   worked there from afternoon till 10 or 11 when the park closed. I worked 7 days a week ,10-12 hours a day. Crazy days but I was a hard worker. Minimum wage was $1.20 then $1.25  Then $1.35   My boss would give me another 50 cents an hour off the books  since I opened up the boardwalk every morning.I really ended up at North Texas because a Westchester County cop who worked at Playland for the summer was in his 3rd year at North Texas and was in there education department,. He convinced me that NT had a strong Phys ed program and teacher certification program. My father wanted me to go to Manhattan College in Riverdale in the Bronx and live with my aunt and uncle on 154th St. no way.  I  was turned down by  SUNY Cortland which was the best PE school other then Springfield . So I headed south to North Texas  Strange how life works. I majored in PE- History was certified in Drivers ed 1st aid , K-12 PE and Health  My father made me get all these certifications and when I graduated NT got a teaching and coaching position in Orange County NY high  school and ,drivers ed was the deciding factor  When I retired here in Austin after 41 years in NY  my daughter who teachers here put my SS# number in the Texas Teachers certification web site. And I am still certified here in Texas except for my administration certification . That I got at New Paltz SUNY  with a masters years later. But working at Playland those summers really guided me through my entire life. I can still cut a banana in half ,split it in two put it on a plate and never ever touch the banana and the peel goes into the garbage on one motion   lol  thanks DB be safe   

Hey Box...lol...great stuff...you're the best (and your dad was a heckuva guy to have as a role model - no disrespect to your mom)!!!

I'm a Bronx Boy as well, and I stayed home and became a proud Jasper!  My brother was in Nam and my parents never drove so I guess I got the guilt thing and figured I needed to be closer to home to help them when they needed it.  No regrets!!!

You too, box...be safe!

Cheers bud  

DB51 probably the hardest thing I ever did was tell my father I didn't want to be a Jasper.I understood the reason why but they didn't have a great PE program didn't want to live with my mothers sister on 154th street and my father did understand that but his pride in Manhattan College was unreal. He was a member of the "tip in club" [ basketball club} and was the 1st member of the Bronx neighborhood { 187th street, Fordham rd to be offered a full scholarship  He was number 1 in his graduating class at Teddy Roosevelt HS, was offered a full academic ride to Fordham but Fordham gave his scholarship away to the No 2  Roosevelt . He  lived  about 2 blocks from the University and they gave his scholarship away to the No 2 Irish graduate. The Italian Mt Carmel Community was up in arms and Bishop Perricone met with the Jesuits at Fordham and were forced to offer my father the scholarship . But Manhattan College heard of the problem and offered the full scholarship . My grandfather and many others thought it was racial offering it to an Irishmen over an Italian . My father never ever talked about the mafia and he hated that  because many thought most italian immigrants were associated with them but he did say to me once that it took the Jesuits more then Bishop Perricone  talk to convince Fordham to change their minds and offer him the full ride  Anyway my grandfather was thick headed and made him go to Manhattan College / He graduated in the class of 1936 got a teaching job at Teddy R as a Italian- Spanish  Teacher and then when WW 2 came he went to officers training school and became a member of AMG [allied Military Government] and served in North Africa and Italy during the war. When the war was over in 1945 he stayed in Italy with AMG and investigated the Andratine  Cave Massacre and was involved changing the Italian education system from Fascism to Democracy . When he came back to the Bronx something called the UN[ United nations } was forming.  He was hired for the UN and for the next 31 years worked for the UN. He was assigned to UNEF and headquarters was Naples and Pisa Italy  He served in the Gaza Strip  Congo  Cuba . I grew up at camp Darby a US army base in Livorno and went to school there for 10 years. After he retired from the UN Albany NY sent his his teaching certification from 1936  He was a permanent sub at Oradell HS in NJ for the next 10 years. At the age of 89 he had a stroke and passed away. He wore his Manhattan College ring his whole life and at the wake my mother and I argued over to bury him with the ring. I won and everyday since he passed away touch his Manhattan green stone ring and think of him. I wish he got to see me become a HS principal and see my career  but he was a part of it with his dna. I tell my grandkids stories about my career,teaching coaching etc but my fathers doesn't compare to his legacy..   But my 4 children got to be a part of his life and hopefully they can pass on some of that to my grandchildren . 

Hey Box,

I remember you retelling those stories about your dad and his life and times...just amazing stuff, including the whole Manhattan/Fordham craziness.  I can imagine back in the day with the Church and the whole cultural rivalry.  Screw Fordham, I always say lol.  My twins went to Villanova and Loyola (Md), and my son at Loyola one day says, "Dad...why didn't you tell me this is a Jesuit school"...he was a B student lol.  His brother wanted Penn/Wharton but just missed being accepted so he went to Nova...worked out fine for both.  My youngest was in the Navy (tin can sailor) for 4 years out in the Pacific all over and stationed at Pearl after basic at Great Lakes.  He's home now and doing fine.

I might have mentioned in the past that Bishop Perricone actually confirmed me at St. Benedict's Parish lol.  I can still remember to this day the love tap on my cheek with HIS ring.  Your family and grandchildren have some amazing stories to hear and remember all throughout their lives!

I lost my Manhattan College ring (silver w/the emerald...never liked the gold ring) three times.  First two times lucky i got it back...last time...unfortunately not and so I never replaced it.  I had a bad habit of taking my ring off whenever I washed my hands at work, and someone found it in the men's room at my first employer (CPA firm on Lexington Av) and next day I got it back.  Second time I was doing an audit at Victory Memorial Hospital on Staten Island in the winter, and one day got home and "damn...what the heck...where'd it go?!!  Two/three months later...March...I get a call from a person at Victory...am I so and so? Yes.  We found your ring outside near the walkway, must have been in the snow all winter and when the snow melted someone saw the green stone in the sunlight.  Amazing...so happy!!!  Third time I still don't recall how or where.

Cheers buddy...take care, and BOL this Fall with wagering...and with Mean Green athletics!!!

dabear  I never even bought a college ring when I graduated  in the early 70's no one bought one  But my father wore that ring ever since the day he graduated all through ww 2 in italy  And at night he would take it off and in the morning it was back on . He lived and died about the jaspers. My mother and I had such an argument at the basement of the funeral home when he died. She wanted him buried with it on  My wife was upstairs and went and got my aunt to be the middle person  Sounds crazy but my aunt[ my mothers sisters] told my mother let me have  it .  I put a Manhattan college green pennant on his suit and my mother finally gave in. And I touch it everyday and his yankee baseball cap and ring.  

 And when my father was in Italy during the war Bishop Perricone's family in Calabria s had a US Army truck dropped off blankets, flour ,eggs and other rations that the Italians needed. His family wrote the Bishop and thanked him and said some US officer from your precinct in NYC hooked us up with goods. When the war was over Bishop Perricone  blessed 651 Cresent ave apartment building  Everyone in the neighborhood thought maybe  saint lived there.  That is so funny he baptized you .. Think your going straight to heaven  lol 

Hey Box,

SO NICE that you were able to keep your dad's MC ring!!!  How cool was that Bishop Perricone's family during the War, and wow...he blessed your family home.  Like you said, the whole neighborhood must have been awe struck!

PS - Bishop Perricone confirmed me, Box...not baptism lol.  And your dad's NYY baseball cap, too...very cool.  Yankee fan all my life (as you can imagine).

Cheers buddy...all the best!!!

MEAN GREEN ...LET'S GO!!!