Bronx Re-Visited

The Bronx neighborhood I grew up in is only about an hour's subway ride away from where I now live, but it has been decades since I was there. I have very few warm memories about the place. The last time I made that trip, a subway token cost .20 and the Automat was still in business. The subway was my magic carpet out of that place into the rest of New York City. So began my exploration of the City.  I also discovered could eat at the Automat for about the same price as that subway token.  That was probably around my 12th year and life suddenly became lots more interesting. It was another time.

Anyway, for a few hours a few days ago I was back. My subway stop used to be called “177 Street.” Now it has a different name. A subway token now costs $2.50 and there are no more Automats. That station is still one of the ugliest structures in the City. That has not changed.

I could see my old elementary school, PS 6, up the street from the station; no reason for a closer look. There was a fence around the vacant lot where my apartment building once stood.

A sign on the fence proclaimed that this was now a 'Garden.' Sure. The Bronx River still runs past it. Maybe it'll all look better when the snow melts, but I kind of doubt it.

A retired bus driver was working on his car down the street. We chatted about old times. He did not remember my building. I shot a few snapshots.

At West Farms Square, another neatly fenced vacant lot, but once upon a time there was an auto supply store and a movie theater there. The auto supply store wasn't particularly important in my world. The movie theater was. The RKO Chester.

On Saturday you got a double feature, an installment of an adventure serial and a dozen cartoons. Smoked my first cigarette in the balcony – they had a 'smoking section' then - and on one memorable afternoon, I cut school to see Marilyn Monroe there in 'River Of No Return.' Above the auto supply store was a place called The Stardust Ballroom.

 Remember that scene from “Marty”? Yeah. There.

On my way back, a quick glimpse from the #2 Train of my old junior high school and the block where I think Ellen and Connie lived. And I wondered what ever became of Phyllis.  


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