Stoops Of Atlantis

The movie bug bit me at the age of five when The Godfather was shot on my street. And throughout my life movies were made around me...and by me!MUSIC:Brand New Key  - MelanieThe Godfather Theme I Love Lucy ThemeDark Places - Donna DiCerto

Being a kid meant battling the forces of fashion peer pressure and the desire to be yourself. Back in the days of the Stoops of Atlantis, sneakers and hair length were the yardsticks you were measured by.MUSIC:James Bond Theme by City of PragueChariots of Fire by MegarapterWhat are We Fighting For by Country Joe and the FishMy Adidas by RUN-DMCHair by The CowsillsSatisfaction by DEVO

Bizarre was par for the course in East Harlem in the 70s. But some of these events stood out- for whatever reason - from the rest. Here are the final TWO of the TOP FIVE MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS OF BIZARRENESS of those Stoops of Atlantis. Music:Swamp Blues Rock - Royalty Free Background MusicTheCherokee63

Bizarre was par for the course in East Harlem in the 70s. But some of these events stood out- for whatever reason - from the rest. I give you my TOP FIVE MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS OF BIZARRENESS of those Stoops of Atlantis. 

Take a trip back to that NYC Summer of 1977. Troubles with Con Ed, anti social postal workers and the politics of back yard clubhouses made it a summer to remember again and again.

Showbiz was in our blood and the interior Stoop of my hallway was the perfect venue to practice my comedy musical extravaganza - THE FUNNY BUNNY SHOW! But it was time to take this comedy masterpiece out on the road to a real audience! How would critics and audiences react? Music by:Love Story by Jonny EastonRun Amok by Meus RexSneaky Comedy Fun by Our Music Box

The Ketchup philosophy changed sometime around 1980. Digital Ketchup. It effected everything. We went from Street players to Video Game players...and much more... 

Comic books were the commodity and were often used to trade for illicit and black market items! Like a treasure trove of Hardy Boys books! Classroom embarrassment, high intrigue and an actual time travel back to 1978 makes this episode a CAN'T MISS!!

On those long summer days the call of gold sent on us adventures digging in our yards for lost treasure. But sometimes a bit of April Foolery was called for - even in August. Music by:Adam MonroeSoul CandleAlexander HoffHui Bernard

Do you remember YOUR first time....seeing STAR WARS that is! SO many people have amazing memories of that day. For me- well- it was an adventure that led me to a life transforming event and made me a proud Star Wars Geek!

In the 1970s we browsed for information in magazines. They were the original laptops and were filled with the fun of celebrities, jokes, comics, 3D posters etc. But they were also the den for those lurking ads for wild and fiendish devices and objects. And sometimes you could not resist their siren song...Music by:AShamaluevMusicSonnybooMusic for VideoMattia Cupelli

He came to East Harlem in '71. He was a rat. He hadda get whacked. I was 6 and the job was mine. Music by: Kiarash-BeatsAlchemyStudioPond5Lion Free Music

On those cool Autumn evenings, when the street is company to few shadows one must watch for the havoc of young pranksters...Music  by The Overlord Of Procrastination

Blood can be fun on street where blood can be scary. You just need an imagination, boredom and the Blood Master!

We played with dangerous toys in those ancient days! Liquid metal? It wasn't just for the Terminator!

On hot days in those ancient summers there were no brooks or lakes on 118. So we skirted the law a bit and raised that watery monster from the deep to the streets of Atlantis. 

In those ancient days secret knowledge was passed on to the worthy initiates. Strange games, rituals and spaldeens. 

The Nanny State (and my parents if they knew!) would quake in their boots if they had known we were toying with found explosives and summoning fire demons on 118th street!

There were characters galore on the streets of East Harlem and bright stars over them and I was a proud geek that gazed up. And that one crazy night..could we get the Goodfellas follow my gaze?