midnight cowboy (1969) - john schlesinger

One of the best films of all time (IMHO), Midnight Cowboy tells the tale of Joe Buck, an innocent would be hustler (John Voight), coming to New York, where he hopes to make his fortune by being a Gigalo. Things do not go according to plan, and he then falls in with Enrico 'Ratso' Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman), an ill vagrant and streetwise hustler, who rips him off at first, before they eventually form a partnership of sorts. There are also flashback scenes which show Joe and his girlfriend being raped, which led to his girlfriend being institutionalised, Joe joining the army, and his grandmother (who raised him) dying while he was away, before he headed to New York. Times get hard (Unlike Joe in one scene) as Rizzo and Joe try to make a living, and just as Joe gets some work and is recommended to others, Rizzo's illness gets worse, so they head to Florida for a better life. Both Hoffman and Voight are excellent in this (especially Hoffman), and the soundtrack is top notch. There is the odd scene which really dates the film, but overall, it is superb. It also ends with Hoffman leaving on a bus with his partner, and the bus passengers looking at them, just as he did in 'The Graduate' (but with a different outcome).

toodle pip

dustin spagnola bush / obama grafiti

This is pretty good. It's in New York at the moment, and is by Dustin Spagnola. Obviously similar to Banksy's graffiti, but still a clever idea and well excecuted.

toodle pip

colourised times square 1943

This is an old black and white picture of Times Square which has been colourised. It still looks like it was taken years ago, but with the colour restored, you can imagine yourself walking those (used to be mean) streets now. The photo reminds me that l have not seen any colourised Laurel and Hardy films from that were done a few years ago. I will amend that and report back with my (often drunken and rambling) views later.

toodle pip

new york back in the day

These are The Flatiron Building and Bleeker Street, both in Manhatten, from 1909 and 1910. Things have certainly changed a lot since then, especially Bleeker Street. It's strange that there are hardly any cars or taxis, it certainly makes the roads look a lot bigger and wider.

toodle pii

hayley's gone off to norwich

A long day out today, as we (myself, the FPO and my sister) took my sister's daughter (Hayley) to Norwich, where she is going to be studying at the University of Eat Anglia. Even without any traffic jams, it was still over 4 hours each way, and we were pretty pleased to be back home again afterwards. The FPO drove there and back, which was a blessing, but l had trouble trying to stay awake on the way back, as l was just sitting there. Obviously l was woken every time we arrived at a roundabout, as directions would be required, but it was quite nice dropping off to the sounds from the CD player. It was a bit daunting for Hayley being left there by herself, but she met some of the other students before we left (who looked about 13), and l am sure she will be fine after a short while, as she is used to being pretty self sufficient. She will be a changed person by the time she completes her course, and l suppose l should be saving up, as l said l would pay for her to go to New York if she completed a degree (unless the sweet release of death gets to me first). As she is in the halls of residence for the first year, there is no room to crash out if we fancied a night out down there, so that may have to wait until she is sharing a house in the second and third year. She has been warned.

toodle pip

holton rower pour paintings

These are classic pieces where you think "I could have done that" as they look so good, but appear easy to do, once the idea had already formed and the colours have been chosen. By Brooklyn based Holton Rower.Then again, he thought of doing it and has cracked on, hence the results that appear above (plus a video of them being made).

(http://holtonrower.com/?page=gallery&section=painting&category=pour)

toodle pip

the new york heatwave

New York and the east coast of the USA are having a heatwave at the moment, with records matching previous highs (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14252768).

Bastards! What the hell has happened to our summer?

I shall be writing a strong letter of complaint to God in the morning.

toodle pip

some new york city photographs

I don't know who took the photos, but as they say, only in America.....

toodle pip

patti smith and robert maplethorpe

This is when they were living in New York before fame beckoned, and when they were still poor.

Just check out how skinny they were. They would not have been able to afford the rents that are charged nowadays, that's for sure, as it's all turning mightily upmarket (unfortunately). Saying that, they could have been squatting when this photo was taken, l don't have a lot of information about it (and, as usual, l am too lazy to find out).

toodle pip

the flatiron building

This is one impressive building, and there are a lot to chose from in New York. This picture of The Flatiron Building was taken in about 1903. I would have loved to have had the chance to be wandering around New York in those days (although the FPO would probably say l am so old, l could have done so). What a great place.

toodle pip.

macys 1908

This is Macy's store in 1908 at Broadway and 34th street. It all looks a bit different now.

toole pip

the demise of cbgb's and monica from friends apartment

l love the Manhattan part of New York, but it has certainly got a lot more upmarket since l first started going there. One thing l liked about it was it had lots of dodgy places that stayed open late (which were relatively cheap). Now it is getting way too gentrified and expensive, which to me is summed up by the closing of CBGB's as the rents became too high. It is now a John Varvatos fashion outlet, which makes me want to puke. Where the fuck the character of New York is going to be in the next few years is anyone's guess, it will of course still have The Empire State building, The Statue of Liberty, Central Park etc, but be inhabited by posh bastards and students (and maybe the Mexican workers sleeping 20 to a room). Everyone is getting pushed out to the suburbs, but these will suffer the same fate unless there is stronger rent controls both for shops and apartments (or lots of aggressive squatting). If l remember correctly, the only way that Monica from friends could live in her apartment was because it was rent controlled. l know it's a new country, but have a sense of history and try to think of the ordinary working man/woman. Mind you, l still don't think Monica could have lived it an apartment that size!

toodle pip.

the dakota building in 1912

The Dakota building in 1912. This is where John and Yoko lived and where John was shot. Strawberry Fields is just opposite in Central Park.

l would have loved to have been able to visit or live in New York in those days. Look at all the space. l also reckon it would have been pretty damn violent.

toodle pip

new york skyline in 1915

The New York skyline from Manhattan Bridge in 1915. It looks a bit different now.

toodle pip

new york police

Who says the police over-react to any threat of terrorism in the States? They should have tried living through the Blitz etc......

toodle pip

madison square gardens

Thinking of Mad Men (see earlier post) got me to thinking about Madison Square Gardens in New York. During the series, they were discussing the contract for demolishing Penn Station (the above ground part in the photos above), to build a sporting and office complex (which turned out to be Madison Square Gardens). I do like the gardens (and certain stores and pubs opposite), but do think that they should have kept the old building and done something with that instead. The upper station was demolished in 1963 and the Gardens were completed in 1968. The outcry regarding the demolition led to the formation of the New York Landmarks Preservation Commission, which prevented Grand Central Station going the same way. Love your history I say.

toodle pip

new york pics

new york bars

Going to New York again later in the year, here's one of my favorite bars in the Village, the Macdougal Street Ale house (down the stairs). Bound to go to the Red Lion again as Kerry loves it, the White Horse Tavern because of the Dylan (both) connection, and Toads Place (or Toads Hall, l forget), as it takes it's pool playing seriously. Might even do some other things.