2015.007

Whittle, Laurette

Gift

Gift in memory of Helen Nitschke by Laurette Whittle.

1971 - 1971

Date(s) Created: 1971 Date(s): 1971

Fair

Notes: Hoboken Historical Museum Archives 2014.018.0040 ==== page [1] The Hoboken Herald. Vol. 1 No. 1, September 8, 1971 HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY 25 cents per copy [photo Marlon Brando during filming of scene of "On The Waterfront"] ON THE WATERFRONT P. 3 MARINEVIEW PLAZA ? P. 4 THE HOROKEN FERRY P. 5 CLAM BAR HOLDS OUT P. 7 ==== Page 2 THE HOBOKEN HERALD September 8, 1971 Non-Editorial It would seem appropriate in this, the first issue of The Hoboken Herald, to state our editorial policy - pro or con on city government, on county officials, the educational system, etc. Of course, these views would reflect our editorial feeling on the subject, something which we lack. Like the City of Hoboken, we have not a feeling, rather many feelings, each as different as the member of our staff who expresses them. We come from different backgrounds; we have different goals; but this we share - our desire to see everyone's opinions expressed frankly and openly in a free press. The Hoboken Herald will never endorse a candidate for office. Yet, are we blind to the issues of our city? No, issues will be brought up, brought out and presented for your analysis. Issues, yes! Politics, no. In effect, our emphasis in the Herald will be to give a fair balance of opinion in both the selection of contributed articles as well as personal opinions of issues affecting Hoboken. To idealistically believe that we will be constantly and unswervingly unprejudiced would be naive. We only hope that we can remain as objective as our prejudices will allow. We're Sorry This is our first issue. Unfortunately, we couldn't fit all that we'd have liked to into it. Some sports, some poetry, an article on the mystery of the Hoboken monument,a few news stories - all had to be omitted. We apologize to those whose pictures we took but could not print and to those who wanted their contributions to appear in the first issue. We will be printing many of these items in future issues and hope you will continue to read and contribute to The Hoboken Herald. Next Week . . . The Hoboken Herald The Hoboken Herald is published every Wednesday by The Hoboken Herald Corporation. Editorial and advertising offices located at 52 Newark Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030; Tel. (201) 659-1213. Subscription $6.00/yr. Editorial Board: Sami Fiedler James Hans Russ Nevins Mark Schubin Joseph Schulman ----- International Bulletin Board [illustration] ---- How Well Do You Know Hoboken? Check the most appropriate answer. 1. Hoboken is noted for its: a. Tall Buildings b. Super Highways c. Famous History 2 Which street in Hoboken was once called Ferry Street? a. Hudson Place b. River Street c. Washington Street d. Observer Highway 3. The composer Steven Foster, while a resident of Hoboken, published his famous song: a. "The Old Hoboken Bucket" b. "Heaven, Hell or Hoboken" c. "Jeannie With The Light Brown Hair" d. "Mammy" 4. Two talented young men, who rented a house on Tenth Street in Hoboken, wrote: a. The Music Man b. Hello, Dolly! c. Funny Girl 5 d. Hair (Answers to the questions appear on page 15) ---- Aqui Hoboken por Julio E. Cardenas El programa de Ciudad Modelo de Hoboken, si que con su programa maravilloso, si Usted quiere aprender un curso de secretariado no vacile y dirijase a T.O.P.S. que es donde Ciudad Modelo ofrece su programa de entrenamiento 506 Park Ave. 0 llame al Inter-American Spanish Club para mayor Informacion Tel. 656-5505 de 5:00 a 10:30 P.M. Marquito Abreu sique buscando una casa adecuada para poner una funeraria en Hoboken. Se dice tambien que el dinamico Empresario de los muertos hiso negocios con el Espiritista Turco Trokacheres para que sus mertos lleguen al cielo con luz verde. De unas merecidas Vacaciones por Europa regreso el buen Amigo Victor Berrios, nos cuenta el amigo Berrios maravillas de Espana. El Inter-American Spanish Club de North Hudson County tiene un tema Verdad, Justica, Democracia; es una organisacion que cumplira con los propositos de su tema, por eso es que hemos escojido al eminente Medico Antonio Martinez, se dice Verdad, se hace Justicia y Democracia; por eso es que el 12 de Septiembre de 1971 se le brindara un banquete de Honor en el Union Club, 600 Hudson St., Hoboken. Para mas informacion llamen al 656-5505 tel de la organizacion. Lo que tiene Josefina alii es asombroso, nos referimos a Manolo el peluguero estrella del Venus Beauty Salon, de la Wash, y la calle 2 en Hoboken, dicen que las Viudas, casadas, solteras y viejas lo prefieren a el para estar en algo con sus bonitos peinados. El profesor Don quien fue' estara precente en la comida de honor que se le brindara al Dr. Antonio Martinez el 12 de Septiembre proximo. Mario Ciria Jr. no sabe cantar, pero escribe unos versos sencillos pero salidos del Alma que sabe poner el dedo en el mismo centro de la llaga. Calguier persona que este interesada en enviar cualquier informacion o algun comentario de law comunidad puede hacerlo personalmente a las oficinas del periodico local de Hoboken, el Hoboken Herald. Llame a Rudy Rosario 659-9121. El Sr. Victor Berrios que se comunique con las oficinas de este periodico immediamente o que llame al tel. 656-5505, pregunte por Julio. El buen borrincano el mejor lugar para comer mondongo y carne frita en Nueva Jersey. Valla pruere y conpare. El profesor "Don quien fue'" Comera alli proximamente. ==== ==== September 8, 1971 THE HOBOKEN HERALD Page 3 On The Waterfront by Peter Filancia On a bitterly cold night in mid-winter of 1953, a lone figure ran desperately down River Street and around the corner to Hudson Place. Pursued by four burly men, he darted into an alley and waited. The time was 3 a.m. and the temperature hovered just above zero. "Okay. It's a take," a voice called over the bullhorn. A shivering Marlon Brando emerged from the shadows of the Hoboken alley and shielded his eyes against the blinding flood lights. The photographers covered their cameras to keep them from freezing. Two of Brando's pursuers approached him - Rod Steiger and Lee J. Cobb - and were joined in a huddle by film director Elia Kazan. "I've got what I want," he said. "We can call it a night." So went the filming of "On the Waterfront," winner of eight Academy Awards. To the movie-going public, it has become one of the all-time classics. But to many Hoboken citizens, it is a vivid, personal memory. Perhaps no one remembers it better than Anthony Damato, Hoboken's Director of Health and Welfare. "We were out there at three in the morning to avoid the crowds," he said. "Everywhere they shot a scene outdoors, there was always a big crowd watching. Even in the extremely cold weather. That night, we had to have empty streets and that meant working at three a.m." Director Damato served as Elia Kazan's local casting director, using Hoboken residents in scenes with the famous stars. "They wanted the real thing," Damato said, "originals. And that's what Hoboken has. Real people who fitted right into the story they were filming. Sometimes Kazan would call me the day before and tell me he needed as many as 200 people on a certain location early the next day. It was my job to get them to be there. Sometimes, after a day's shooting I would pay off more than 3,000 - and that was in 1953, before today's inflation. Some guys would make $75 a day for a special bit part they did." Local Men Start Film Careers Several local citizens broke into acting careers with "On the Waterfront." Among them were Johnny Sanducci, Matty Russo and Tony Amato. Recently all three of them completed work on the filming of "The Godfather" in New York. Among a number of other Hoboken residents participating in the movie were Mike Rubino, Andrew Auriegemma and Tony Petrozelli, proprietor of Tony Martin's Sandwich King on Newark Street. Praised For Realism The movie has been applauded by critics for its unflinching realism, and the city of Hoboken and its citizens can take a large share of credit for the realistic atmosphere that was captured on film. "There was a bar scene - a fight - " Director Damato recalls, "that took place on 14th Street in the Bank Tavern, as it was called at that time. During the fight they made a shambles of the place. Furniture splintered all over, glasses broken, bottles smashed. At the end of the fight, they paid the owner $1400 for the damage they did." Sometimes Damato provided a little too much realism for Kazan's comfort. "One day he asked me to get him a guy who was half-loaded, so I sent two guys out to get somebody off the street. They came back in a little while holding a third guy between them and you would swear they were all three drunk because they staggered around so much trying to get the guy to us. It was a little more than they could film," Damato chuckled. An accidental touch of realism came during the filming of one of the pier scenes. Karl Malden, who played a priest, was acting before the cameras in one of the holds when a genuine workman above, unaware they were filming there, threw an empty beer can into the hold. It hit Malden on the head and he looked up, startled and angry. It was so real, Kazan decided to leave it in the picture. Lee J. Cobb is unlikely to forget the realism of one scene. Director Damato recalls the incident. "We were down on the floating dock at Fifth Street and there was supposed to be this big fight between Brando and Lee J. Cobb. It was the climax of the picture. ---- [photo with caption] Columbia Pictures Accidental Realism - A startled & angry Karl Malden (see story). ---- "In the fight, Brando had a stand-in - Joe Luciglini, from Hoboken - and he took Brando's part in the fight scenes. Well, when they got into the fight, Kazan .kept urging them to go at it, and before they were finished, Joe threw a punch at Cobb that knocked out one of his teeth." Cobb took this, and some of the other treatment he received during the shooting, bravely. On one of the warmer days when the thermometer stood at 23 degrees, Cobb took a dive in the river. He was insulated in advance by rubber underclothing and partially wet down to keep the ---- [photo with caption] Columbia Pictures Marlon Brando wearing Johnny Sanducci's jacket. Not all of the blood on the jacket was make-up. Some of it was Lee J. Cobb's. ---- shock from being too great. When he was lifted out of the river, he commented that it was "a little uncomfortable." What he said when his tooth got knocked out was not recorded. In an interesting sidelight on the picture featured on the cover of this issue of THE HOBOKEN HERALD, Johnny Sanducci, who is shown on the extreme left of the photograph, tells of a jacket switching incident. "You'll notice I'm wearing a jacket that was identical to Brando's. During the fight scene, Joe wore my jacket and it ended up with blood all over it." ---- [photo with caption] Columbia Pictures Elia Kazan (right) directing Eva Marie Saint and Marlon Brando in a scene overlooking Hoboken rooftops. Outdoor scenes were often filmed in freezing cold.. A quick look at Miss Saint's costume will explain why she wore longhandle underware [sic - underwear]. ---- Brando, said Damato, was a nice guy although he was moody and temperamental at times. Once during the filming, when he forgot his lines, he cursed and walked off the location. He disappeared into New York for three days before he came back and resumed working. "But he had his joking moments. The night they made the scene where Brando was hung up on the hook, we were all eating ravioli together on Fifth Street and were lingering over the meal. 'Come on, you guys,' he kept urging us. 'I've got to die tonight and I want to get it over with.' " About Karl Malden, Damato said, "A lot of guys didn't take to him. Called him an 'odd-ball,' but once you knew him he was okay. Before they finished the movie, he got so he would come into my club just to shoot pool with some of the fellows. He was a fine actor, a pleasure to watch on the set." Frank Sinatra was, in fact, offered the priest's role played by Malden, but turned it down because he felt it was not the right kind of role for him. Director Damato remembers the impression Sam Spiegel, the famous Hollywood figure who produced "On the Waterfront," made on Hoboken residents. "One night he pulled up to my club in an enormous maroon limousine. His chauffeur opened the door for him and he got out - a big, heavy-set fellow with a cigar in his mouth - and came into the club. None of us had ever seen anything quite like that. He brought a real touch of Hollywood glamour to Hoboken when he arrived." About six months ago Director Damato saw Elia Kazan, the film's director, in a New York Restaurant. "It had been so long since I had seen him that I didn't know whether he would recognize me or not. But he spotted me and came over to my table to chat for a while. In fact, he invited me over to the table where Sidney Poitier was eating to introduce me to him." Some of the movie's scenes were filmed on locations that no longer exist. Most of the interiors were shot in the Continental Hotel. It was there that the picture's version of Eva Marie Saint's apartment was set up and there many of the scenes of the rooftop pidgeon coops were taken. One of the scenes took place at the corner near City Hall on the ramp of the old A Z Motor Company building. The cast often ate at Myers [sic - Meyers] Hotel, where Kazan maintained his offices during the shooting. It was at Myers Hotel that the wedding scene, which showed many Hoboken residents, took place. Asked what it was like to work so closely for six months with three famous actors and a hauntingly beautiful actress, Director Damato said simply, "Unforgettable." Nattily dressed in a flowered yellow shirt, wide tie and stylish suit, an athletic looking Damato showed a visitor a photograph of a rather stout young man in a thick overcoat and hat with an upturned brim standing beside an equally bundled up woman who was immediately recognizable. "That's me before I lost weight, and Eva Marie Saint. You know, she wore red longhandle underwear for all the outdoor rehearsals. When they got ready to start the cameras rolling, she would push the longhandles up out of sight and go on with the scene. Right after they took this picture of us I asked her why a beautiful woman like her would wear longhandles that were red. She said she didn't care what color they were so long as they were warm. "She was a very sweet and natural girl. It was a great thrill to watch her on television the night she won the Oscar for her part in 'On the Waterfront.' Standing there with the Oscar in her hand in front of the television cameras and a nationwide audience, she said the best time she ever had was working on the movie and how nice it was to meet and work with the people of Hoboken. I'm sure that made us all feel good." Finally, The Preview "Waiting for the picture to open was like a kid waiting for Christmas," said Damato. "A lot of us who worked on the picture were invited to the premiere. After six months of watching a scene being taken and retaken and retaken again, and skipping around from one location to another with no apparent rhyme or reason, it was quite an experience to see the whole thing pulled together. (Continued on Page 18) ==== Page 4 THE HOBOKEN HERALD September 8, 1971 [photo, no caption: view of site for Marineview Towers with painted sign: John J. Grogan's Marineview Towers] ---- Marineview Plaza ??? by Don Singleton When you stand at the corner of Fourth and Hudson Streets and look southwest, across those 11.91 acres of bricks and rusty cans and illegally parked cars, there are a few things which cannot be seen. You can't see a cluster of modernistic skyscrapers, for instance. You can't see vast shopping malls. You can't see enough housing for several thousands of people. You can't see public parking garages. So far, those things have been seen only in architect's drawings and campaign literature. In the drawings and the pamphlets, Grogan Marine View Plaza looks as real as the Yellow Flats. The only actual construction that took place on the site over the past three years was the erection of a sign, which stood as a cynical, mute watchman standing guard over the rust and the rubble, waiting for the day when the plans drawn up by the firm of Comparetto and Kenny would become a reality. The sign stood and waited, while its lettering faded and cracked and peeled. One never would have inferred any doubt about the future of Grogan Marine View Plaza from the statements of Mayor Louis DePascale and other public officials, who issued a series of optimistic reports over the course of the past few years. According to these statements, which usually came immediately prior to elections, the final approval was always just around the corner. Somehow, however, around each corner there was always another corner. Usually, the people who knew the inside story were not quite as optimistic. For example, consider the following two statements, both made on the same day early last month, when two men were asked to comment on the current status of the application by the developers for an FHA mortgage to finance construction of the plaza. The two men were Mayor DePascale and William Rose, Chief Public Information Officer for the New York - New Jersey Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Here is how each answered: DePascale. "Oh, there's nothing wrong with this application. The only problem is that the developer must get assurance from the FHA that they have insured a mortgage. And before you can get that assurance from them - because this is involving more than $20 million - you have to go through these feasibility reports and all . . . and that's where we have an indication that it's going to be okay. . .. The developer has been selected, the plans have been completed, everything's set to go. The only thing they need is for the FHA to say, 'Yes, go ahead, we'll guarantee your money,' and that's where we understand the approval is coming any day now...." Rose: "The application was made on June 23 - it hasn't been hanging around for a long time - for $11,615,700 in HUD-FHA mortgage insurance, for 386 units of housing on this urban renewal site. In order to get the insurance, the applicants have to prove their feasibility, and they have to have a meeting with FHA and go over what they propose to do - what the market is, what rents they're going to charge, and how they're going to carry the thing - and then they get a letter of feasibility, which invites them to submit formal documents putting everything in writing, especially as to their financing. And if that is finally approved, then they get a firm commitment. But this application we're talking about has not yet reached the stage where they have even scheduled a feasibility conference. They haven't even taken the first step. This application is in a highly preliminary stage." Another high official in HUD, speaking under the promise that his name would not be published, was even more gloomy: "During the feasibility stage of an application like this, the developers have to provide us with evidence of their characteristics and qualifications. Now, it is no secret that Bernard F. Kenny, who is a partner in the firm of Comparetto and Kenny and who is listed as one of the sponsors, has had some trouble lately. Now, that gives us a certain amount of concern. There is a lot of money involved here. And, frankly, some of us wonder how we can be optimistic about a sponsor with the characteristics and qualifications of Mr. Kenny. Now, that's all off the record, and I'm not going to say any more for the record. For the record, all I'll say is that this thing is still under review. Period." Bernard F. Kenny's troubles, as the spokesman said, are no secret. Early this year he was named as a co-conspirator in the federal extortion-conspiracy case involving Hudson County officials. And on Aug. 12, Bernard Kenny was again named as a co-conspirator in an extortion and fraud case, this time involving John V. Kenny and Angelo J. Sarubbi. Kenny's firm, Comparetto and Kenny, has been identified by former U.S. Attorney Frederick B. Lacey as being associated with "a web, finely spun and highly intricate, of public contracts in Hudson County and certain of its cities, conceived by certain political leaders, and woven by certain contractors, architects and engineers. Repeatedly, the name of Comparetto and Kenny turns up as architect or consulting engineer...." Much earlier, in 1955, Bernard Kenny served five months of a two-year federal prison term on a charge of illegally concealing the fact of his association with the architectural firm of Mascolo and Masumian while he was a director of a Jersey City Redevelopment Agency. So it was under the sponsorship of Kenny that Grogan Marine View Plaza remained unbuilt, unbegun, even unapproved. Under that sponsorship, an earlier application for an FHA mortgage languished, an application for state mortgage insurance came to nothing and the most recent application was rejected on Aug. 30. All that time, of course, it was the official policy to express confidence, optimism and self-assuredness, even as the size of the proposal was shrinking - from an original $45-million project, to a $30-million project, to the most recent proposal, of which only $11.6 million was for housing. At the same time, the number of housing units shrank from 775 to 386. Yet, through all the inaction, the official attitude has not changed. Always, the ground-breaking was right around the corner. As Mayor DePascale said last July 26, "I'm more anxious than any other present city official to realize the actuality of Grogan Marine Plaza. I feel Mr. Mongiello and others realize my feelings in pursuit of such a realization. I feel the needed mortgage funds will be approved this week by HUD, (Continued on Page 12) ==== September 8, 1971 THE HOBOKEN HERALD Page 5 The Hoboken Ferry by Mark Schubin No single aspect in Hoboken's history is as vast or as well known as the Hoboken Ferry. This is by no means accidental - the ferryboat was born in Hoboken and its regular operation predates even the United States. Yet, even the many thousands of devoted commuters who lined icy decks during mid-winter crossings, who endured the spray and the stench of the now polluted Hudson, who opted for the ferry over the comfort of PATH, even these faithful souls knew little of the role which Hoboken's own riverboats played in the shaping of American history. In this issue, The Hoboken Herald begins a series of articles about the Hoboken Ferry, its history and its devotees. This week: The First Ferries. In September of 1609, Henry Hudson's ship. The Half Moon, pulled into a cove between Weehawken and Hoboken and was promptly showered with arrows and rocks by some inhospitable Indians. The ship found safety on the New York side, but returned the next day to inspect a strange white green rock formation (Castle Point), thus making what was probably the first round trip ferry crossing to Hoboken. Of course, even before Hudson came to the New World, Indians had been crossing the river in canoes and rafts, but neither they nor 1 Hudson can really claim the first established ferry service. The exact beginnings of regular ferry service are somewhat obscure, but it is clear that once there was a reason to get to Hoboken, boats were quickly available. In 1642, the first Brew House in New Jersey was constructed in Hoboken. Sure enough, ferries began to flourish, ostensibly to promote trade and communications between New York and the continent, but also to quench a thirst or two. Two types of boats were in use at this time and did not really change through the start of the nineteenth century. Twin-masted canal boats with leeboards (called periaguas) were used when there was wind enough to make the trip and rowboats were used at all other times. A typical river crossing at that time would take hours at best, days at worst and could even cost the traveller his life in the choppy waters. To the river's dangers and delays were added the price wars and bickering of the ferrymen, which could keep the traveller for days on shore. The situation grew so bad by 1684 that the Director of the Council of New York had to step in with a schedule of rates for the ferry and an order that the boats "must carry savage, male or female." New Line Advertised One of the first recognizable aspects of the Hoboken Ferry came in 1771, when an advertisement in the New York newspapers heralded the arrival of a new line of boats which the ferry company said could be recognized by the name "The Hobook Ferry" painted on the stern. Since Hoboken's name was not yet finalized, this may have been the first use of the term "Hoboken Ferry." It was not until four years later, however, that New York City granted the first lease for "a ferry from the dock belonging to this Corporation, at the Bear Barket at the North (Hudson) River to Hoboock," on May 8, 1775, to Harmanus Talman. The ferry opened seven days earlier on May 1st, demonstrating that New York's government was not much better at running things then than it is today. Designed to add a touch of excitement to this period, the Revolutionary War broke out (many historians feel that taxation, representation, independence and freedom had something to do with the war but that doesn't make them right). When the Continental Army occupied New York on August 7, 1775, they also took over the ferry, using it for troop transport (the Brew House was still operating) and for harassing citizens while looking for spies. On September 15th, 1776, Washington fled to King's Bridge, the British took over New York and began doing their own transporting and harassing. The British apparently had so much fun with the ferry, that they remained in control of it till November 25, 1783, over seven years after the Declaration of Independence. On October 8, 1784, New York got the ferry back and immediately leased it to John Van Allen for 20 shillings a year. Van Allen was not a ferry devotee, however, and soon pleaded with the City Council to be released from his lease. The Council agreed on August 10, 1785 and only three weeks later sold the lease to Sylvanus Lawrence for thirty-seven pounds per annum. Lawrence was given a discount and incentives but still didn't keep the ferry, which was tossed about until John Stevens, owner of Hoboken since 1784, purchased the lease on Wednesday, April 15, 1789. On December 12, 1791, he lost the lease but was not yet out of the running. Rates Established In 1796, there were four boats in service, operated by Elis Haynes on the New York side and John Town (after whom the Town of Hoboken was later named) on the New Jersey side. While Town boasted of the finest service from his two rowboats and two sailboats, for a long time the crew of one of the periaugers consisted of an old man and his dog. The 1799 rates for ferriage were firmly established and ranged from one penny for a "common chair," to tupence for a mahogany chair, a side of leather or a plant, nine pence for a passenger, and a maximum of eight shillings and sixpence for a coach, chariot or covered wagon. At about this time, John Fitch, close friend of John Stevens, suggested that a circular platform for horses might make the Hoboken Ferry much more efficient. The platform would be suspended between two boats and would operate paddles to push the boat forward. Stevens, very hot about the idea of steam, rejected the idea, claiming that he could bring steam power to water vessels. On December 11, 1809, Stevens presented the following demand to the New York City Council: "I, John Stevens, have been for a considerable time engaged in endeavors to apply the force of steam to navigation and claim to be the first in the country who made efforts for the desirable ends. I am the Proprietor of the right of ferrying from Hoboken to New York." Stevens went on to deny the exclusive rights of others to this privilege and, one year later, on December 10, 1810, the Council agreed to lease the ferry to Stevens. At about this time, a gentleman by the name of Robert Fulton appeared on the scene. On February 9, 1811, Fulton was granted a patent on what was generally agreed to be the first steamboat. Yet, fully seven years earlier, in May of 1804, three students of King's College in New York witnessed the following sight: "We were informed that "Jack" Stevens was going over to Hoboken in a queer sort of boat," wrote James Renwick, later to become a famed professor of natural and experimental philosophy at Columbia University. "On reaching the bulkhead by which the Battery was then bounded, we saw lying against it a vessel about the size of a Whitehall rowboat, in which there was a small engine but no visible means of propulsion. The vessel was speedily underway . . Was this the first steam boat? No, Stevens had built steamboats years before that. What baffled the crowd was the fact that the Little Juliana, as the vessel was called, was powered by the first set of twin screw propellers. On September 10, 1811, the first steam ferryboat, called the Juliana after its smaller predecessor, was placed into regular service on the line, between Hoboken and Vesey Street in New York. By September 23, the little boat was (Continued on Page 12) ---- [three illustrations] Hobook Ferry - 1775 A Ferryboat of 1825 Fairy Que... [truncated due to length]