Yellow Cab

Times Square, 1991:


'Tis a thing of beauty, no? A classic hard-angled, boxy Chevrolet Caprice yellow cab, probably 1989 or 90. Chevy switched to the rounded, softened edges in 1991. Some people consider Checker Cabs to be the classic NYC cab, and for many of a certain age it is. I remember when there were still Checkers roaming the streets, even into the early 90s. But nothing says street bomber more than this beauty. These and Crown Victorias were the workhorses of the service industry, be they cabs or cop cars. And dig the Carlton cigarette ad on the hood. Do they even make Carltons anymore? Maybe they should have some kind of cross-promotion with Alfonso Ribeiro...

Famous Famiglia

Pizzeria! Summer 1991:


I recently checked out this corner on Google Maps. Famiglia is still there, though it looks like the nail place had just gone out of business. Whether it was the actual same owners of the nail place I can't say. Oh, and the roof of the building is now obscured by billboards. Of course I could just hop on a subway and be up there in a few short stops and take photos to compare (and with a K1000 with a 50mm lens yet, even if it's not the same one), but that would mean having to go to Times Square in this day and age, which is something I'd much rather not do.

Come by for yourself, and you'll see what I mean.

Catching a Ride

Times Square, 1991:


So I'm looking at this photo and thinking if the kid riding the bike is maybe a little over 10 years old, and the kid on the back is a little younger than 10, today they're a little over and under 30 respectively.

Holy crap where does the time go.

Sightseeing Tours

Summer, 1991:


You see, back in the day before double decker tour buses roamed the city with impunity, this is how you had to go about seeing things. You had to find the old neon sign and make then make arrangements to see the sights.

Ooh, and the other establishment offers "Walkmans!" But shouldn't that be "Walkmen?" I wonder what Sony thought about that. I wonder what they thought about that crazy thing called the iPod and how it could never supplant it's army of Walkpeople in the hearts and minds of the consumer.

Katie

1991 or 1992:


This was after I had picked up my father's Ansco Shur-Shot from my Grandparents' house. I think it was the true beginning of my camera collecting. Of course, you can see I was a bit too close to the subject.

Katie was such a sweet dog. They were all sweet, but Katie maybe had something a bit extra. Though they were all special, and they were all great danes. Great, big, loving dogs that don't last long enough. Though Katie was the runt of her litter and lasted to age 13. Here she is at 4 or 5, catching some sun in the bay window, as every dog has before and since. And like every dog has before or since, nose spots were left on the windowpanes.

Oh, those nose spots...

Smooth Character

Wasn't he, though?


Oh bring me back the days of a cartoon camel and a staffordshire terrier to sell me cigarettes and beer.

This was 1991. A few years later, I spent 8 weeks eating lunch on the balcony of 1515 Broadway looking directly into Mark Wahlberg's crotch, which had replaced the penis-like proboscis (some have said) of Mister Joseph Camel, Esq.

Okay, I'm lying about the last part. I don't really know if Joe Camel was a lawyer.

King of Slims

TIES!


I regret to say that I never got a tie from the King.

The only mention of King of Slims ties I found on the internet was in a 2004 NY Times article about the 100th anniversary of Times Square being "Times Square," and more specifically, about the history of the stretch of Broadway between 44th and 45th (east side). I feel like I've written myself into a corner.

Get the picture up already.

Amsterdam Theater

42nd Street, Summer 1991:


Most of 42nd Street has since been razed, though the Amsterdam is still there, but I'm pretty sure it's the NEW Amsterdam, just like there are extra street signs that say the "new" 42nd street over the regular signs. As you can see, 42nd street was already in the process of change, the Amsterdam already closed. At least the Roxy (Three Theaters) and Adult Video World were still around.

Those were the days my friend, I thought they'd never end...

Circus Cinema

THE BEST PORN IN NEW YORK:


Times Square, summer 1991.

I was taking a summer session in cinematography at NYU, and we had an assignment to walk around the city and just shoot. I can't recall why I chose to go to Times Square. Maybe I went there because there because it wasn't Disneyland just yet. I wrote about this class a long time ago in one of these here blog posts. Maybe I'll find the link and throw it in this one. I wrote about how we had to take pictures and show him our "best," and how he liked a certain one of mine. Yeah, I'll be showing that one here, and boy, won't you be blown away.

I also have more thoughts now that I'm looking at all these shots I took 20 and 21 years ago, but Spartacus, Vengeance is about to start on Starz, and I'm about to pass out.

Either pass out, or dangerously close to ranting uncontrollably here in a overtired state (though there really is no such thing as "overtired" as someone once pointed out to me).

Okay, enough already. On with the show.

Me in 1992

Believe it:


I'm not sure what I was trying to do with the hair in front of the face there. Maybe I thought it was "cool." Now it looks like I was trying to do some sort of Fabio cover or something.

Oh, and at this point I had never heard the word "grunge." Once people started asking me if I was doing the grunge thing, I shaved it all off in the spring of 1993. I don't know what camera I took this with. It's a 35mm negative, so maybe it's that K1000 I was borrowing at the time. Though I borrowed that camera in 1991, so I don't know what's going on here.

I'm too sexy for this photo.
I'm sexy and I know it.

wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle
YEAH!!!!!!!!!!

On the Couch

East Village, circa 1999-2001:


I'm sure his shrink was just out of frame. You know, because that's what they call being "on the couch?" Well, at least that's what they used to call it. Or what I think they used to call it.

Almost missed this one. All of this crazy business is coming to a head. But stay tuned here, since I just acquired some very interesting stuff. That's all I'm going to say. At least I think it's interesting. Who knows, your experience may differ.

Vacant Lot

In the East Village, circa 1999-2001:


I don't know where this was exactly, but I'm sure it's been filled in by now, probably by a cupcake shop or maybe some kind of "craft" hot-dog eatery (I hate that word, "craft" when it's used in conjunction with food, like you're building it from scratch in your garage or something. Shove your craft up your fucking ass and go to the grocery store like a normal person).

So where was I...And I forgot a second time. I just took a shower. This is my cleanest post ever.

Boooooo.

Dark Dress,

Hot day:


That day being the day they had the Gay Pride Parade in 2009.

Okay, we're all caught up now.

Across the River

Looking at Manhattan from Kent Avenue, circa 1999-2000:


I owe you a shot from yesterday. It seems like the past few weeks have been the big vintage photo dump of 2012, but don't worry. Soon enough I'll be bringing new and mildly interesting photos here.

Just you wait.

Did you take that as a threat? I hope so.

Flesh Wound

It's not like his arm's off or anything:


Yeah, softball can be a rough game, but if you're sporting a skull tattoo already, you can take a scrape or two.

Times Square Station

From 1999-2001:



It seemed like forever they kept these things all uncovered, but now they're long gone, including the sign for Canarsie. I took a picture of that knowing that it probably wouldn't be exposed for long. The last time I heard anybody mention Canarsie I was watching The Honeymooners. But I guess it's comforting to know that underneath all the new veneer (well, "new" since the picture was taken), that the Canarsie sign is still there. Our whole history is just a layer underneath the surface.

Wow. What a shitty, pandering, cloying attempt at being "profound."

I stink. In other news, I got some sleep last night. I'm sure you were wondering. I'm feeling pretty tired right now as a matter of fact.

I'll shut up while the shutting's good.

Tower, Lines, Building

In Williamsburg, 1999-2000:


As with other shots, this was somewhere along Kent Avenue, and I have no idea if it's still extant.

Okay, I am fucking looped here. Whacked out of my brain. I haven't gone to bed yet. Like since last night. No sleep. And I know what you might be thinking. I'm not on speed, blow, uppers, little white pills, diet aids, AYDS pills, or the like. I'm not trying to brag in some veiled way that I was up all night "banging some chick, dude, and I kicked the bitch out this morning. Say, here's a joke — How do you make a woman have an orgasm? WHO CARES!!!! Dude, it was fucking AWESOME!!!"

So yeah, it wasn't the latter situation either (though that is an accurate portrayal of how I operate in the interpersonal arena).

Some nights you just don't feel like sleeping. Tonight however, I'm going to sleep. I have to sleep. I have no choice. Dear God I hope I sleep tonight.

Three, Count 'em,

Yes, three of these land bridges in Williamsburg, circa 1999-2000:


I have no idea is this building is still standing or not, or if those land bridges now have artists in them. No, I think Williamsburg is past the artists living in dumpy lofts era. Now yuppies will be living in those land bridges. I think the dirty lofts are in Bushwick now (or "East Williamsburg" as it's been coined since "Bushwick" doesn't connote anything good. Then again, for a long time, neither did "Williamsburg").

Rawl (l) and "Friend" (r)

On tour, 1999:


Man, dig those crazy shorts. They cannot be contained!

And yes, that is me on the right, a mere 13 years ago!

I mean, on the right in the reflection wearing my blue and white flowery shorts, not the one in a state of repose in the van.

No Walls and Giant Balls

In Williamsburg, Circa 1999-2000:


According to a source on the internet, this building was formerly a brewery on Kent Avenue that closed in the 70s. Also according to this source, it has since been torn down and is now the site of a high rise.

High rises in Williamsburg. It still seems all so unbelievable.

Yeah, okay grandpa...now someone get me my warm milk. It's nearly bedtime.

State Palace Theatre

1999, New Orleans:


You've seen all these pics from the Summer 1999 Recess Records Tour, here was the lineup. Well, Les Turds and Ginger Quail weren't along, but everybody else toured together like one big somewhat tolerant family. Yes. Them all, and me.

"Them all," is proper English. I Keats it real, remember?

No Odes on This Urn

Heck, I don't even know if it's Grecian:


I can admit when I don't know these things, that's because I Keats it real!

Get it?

There's got to be at least one English major reading this thing.

PS: We're all square with pics now. Well, until I start skipping again...

No Fancy Floats Here

Just a bunch of guys in search of a hot tub. Gay Pride Parade, 1999 or 2000.


Yes, back before the parade was co-opted by corporations and giant lavish floats and everybody in shape and no bears or any other people you won't find hawking Diet Pepsi. I already did a long entry on this when I first put up a photo from this roll.

Yes, corporations have even take the innocence of homosexuality away from us.

I owe you one picture.

Rocky Horror Contingent

At the Gay Pride Parade, circa 1999-2000:


Yeah, I've been dipping into the archives a lot lately. Though to tell you a truth in a vague way, I've been so gosh darn busy, I haven't even had the time to develop film. And of course, I'm not bringing the film in to be developed (which would be no problem). So yeah, this archive thing might continue for a little while longer until I can get some decent time for myself to attend to the important things in life, and maybe get some peace of mind and maybe even have a regular sleep, maybe perchance to dream even. Though that speech was about killing yourself, and I'm not quite at that point just yet.

I owe you two pictures.

The Rear View

From the seat of a limo, circa 1999-2000:


That was an attempt at being arty. They're all just "attempts."

So wow, I missed two days here. So what happened...the other night I legitimately slipped. Last night...well, the spirit was willing but the flesh couldn't back it up. I mean, the computer was on, but I had no internet access. The little light on the modem was blinking. I plugged and unplugged, started and restarted...but no luck. But today, I'm once again thriving with internet service coursing through my turgid wires.

I have no idea what I'm talking about, and I owe you two pictures.

Flipy

Remember Flipy from a while back? Well this is also Flipy, but in color:


It looks like he brought along a "performance enhancer" for the big game. The last I heard, he may or may not have been searching for Bigfoot (not the monster truck). It's been a long time since I've gotten any real info on the people I knew from San Pedro, California. I chose to let those friendships lapse — and I really liked those people. Who am I kidding. I've let most of my friendships right here in NYC lapse (and they continue lapsing all along the way...).

Some friend I am. Aren't I appealing?

I don't owe you a picture any more. We're square.

Julie

At the ballfield in Rancho Palos Verdes, California (I think it was Rancho Palos Verdes):


Remember Hal from a while back? This is his cousin. Or should I say he's her cousin. Or maybe I'll just say that they're cousins. I think I vaguely remember that since I took this shot in 1999, she's gotten married and had a kid. Or maybe not. Maybe I dreamed that. Or dreamt that. Or Dremeled that.

I owe you guys a picture.

Feathery

I think they're feathers. Or heathers? Whatever they are, they're colorful:


NYC, circa 1999-2001. I owe you a picture.

Mandy

From Berzerk, from Portland Oregon, from the Summer 1999 Recess Records Tour:


Yes, from the archives. I owe you a picture.

Embrace

Well, one of them is embracing:


Yeah, there's all sorts of dirt and hair on this one. That's how things have been lately — dirty and hairy. No, that's not true. I don't know why I said that. I don't even know what that means.

I owe you a picture.

Rooftop Pool Aerobics II

Another view:


Been more busy and hectic and harried than ever before. This is some draining shit I'm doing. I'm not talking in depth about it here, but it's draining. It also has to do with photography, which is good, but wow....

And I owe you another picture.

Valves

Pool valves!


Yeah I know, I missed yesterday. I mean, Leap Day only comes but once every four years, so why not take the day off?

Okay, I owe you a shot. I'll get on that.