Sunday, January 11, 2015

Downtown Flushing in 1994


"Fly on the wall video of Main Street, Kissena Blvd, Roosevelt Avenue
Buses, cars, people, local businesses, game arcade."

28 comments:

Scott68 said...

Amazing, simply amazing. I grew up a few blocks East of Roosevelt and Main. I remember this like yesterday even if I'm still in the neighborhood a few times a week. How a simple video camera can bring back so many memories. Just amazing. I was 16 at that time.

JQ suis charlie said...

it's like bizarro world.the only way the streets up there today would compare to 94 if you filmed it at 3 AM.

if there is a pizzeria around there today it's probably a gross 99 cent one or a 2 bros.

Jerry Rotondi said...

This video depicts a more varied ethnic population and a bigger variety of goods and services being offered. It looks like less pedestrian and vehicular overcrowding too. I make no judgement here. Some of the older buildings and businesses look a trifle shabby. But...today...I plan a walk down Main Steet (shudder) to visit a friend. Will I be swallowed up in a sea of humanity on the most crowded sidewalk day of the week? I wish everyone at CB7, the Flushing BID, the Flushing Chamber of Commerce, and our elected officials good luck. Some form of order has got to be put on Flushing's chaotic landscape.

The Flushing Phantom said...

I like the toilet video. I suggest that the newly resurrected Flushing Chamber Pot of Commerce use it as a commercial to promote tourism.

Unknown said...

The last remnants of a once great civilization.

Anonymous said...

This was long before the metamorphosis into an Asian colony was complete as it is today.

Anonymous said...

Those Flushing down the toilet videos should be submitted to the Queens Museum as performance art pieces. They are reminiscent of "art happenings" of the 1960s. Dontchaluvit?

Anonymous said...

Crappy , you have outdone yourself with the commode flushes. I wipe my ass to you in respect for imaging Flushing the way it ought to be. Take note, John Choe. The Flushing Chamber Pot has a lotta work to do. Are you collecting 2 salaries...one for One Flushing and another for the Flushing Chamber? Good work if you can get it.

Anonymous said...

Those flush spots are going to go viral. We need a new dance to be called the Flushing Flush. Any gifted correographers out there?

Anonymous said...

LOL! Unfortunately most of the crap on the streets are not being flushed. It's a good thing we have sub zero weather. When August comes Flushing will be its own fragrant self again.

Anonymous said...

Really great! Thanks for posting. Watched the full video.

Anonymous said...

Omg I remember flushing like this.....It was the last time I remember flushing being close to regular and normal.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Donald Manas

Anonymous said...

What 3rd world country is that?

Anonymous said...

Crapper, as an outsider to NY, I'm curious how and when you would say that Flushing first began its transition into an Asian neighborhood.

Unknown said...

Way, way less sputum on the streets and sidewalks! People--well most of them, actually walking on the right and giving some right of way and common courtesy. A video, likely considered mundane, even pointless, back then, has morphed into something interesting and historical---thanks for posting!

Scott68 said...

An answer to the Asian question,. Prior to the Chinese immigrants from mainland China, a small group of Cantonese speaking immigrants from Hong Kong and Taiwanese immigrants made up the bulk of Asian immigrants. That was the mid to late 70's. In the early 80's, Korean immigrants flooded Flushing. It wasn't until the mid to late 90's that Mainland Chinese started to gain a foothold in Flushing.

Anonymous said...

I miss those days. I miss that grungy real New York City. There are no problems parking or driving down main street either. What damage has been done in the past 20 years.

Anonymous said...

Scott68.....the mainland chinese are the ones that made flushing look like shit like it does now. I even seen one chinese girl who got out of a car and squatted in the street to piss!! It was so disgusting!! This is what happens when third worlders are allowed to come into our country. ...I can't stand it!! Nyc is a disgusting place full of disgusting third worlders! !

Anonymous said...

Scott68, so is it a thing where poor Chinese are being exploited by rich Chinese and Koreans/Taiwainese, basically perpetuating the same shit back there, here?

Anonymous said...

The old, worn out storefronts was a telltale sign that something bad was about to happen to the area.

Anonymous said...

It was shady opportunistic Taiwanese like Tommy Huang destroyer of the Keith's theater that was buying politicians like candy. He bought Donald Manes and probably the Stavisky mob. Oh Stavisky always railed against Huang...feigning outrage. But how did Tommy the terrible gain such a strong foothold in Flushing? He bought his turf. Claire Shulman was most likely on his pad too. Flushing was sold out by CB7, various phony development corporations and crooked politicians. There is your Cliffs notes short history of Floo-shing. RIP civilization. Hello 3rd world shit hole.

Anonymous said...

It was shady opportunistic Taiwanese like Tommy Huang destroyer of the Keith's theater that was buying politicians like candy. He bought Donald Manes and probably the Stavisky mob. Oh Stavisky always railed against Huang...feigning outrage. But how did Tommy the terrible gain such a strong foothold in Flushing? He bought his turf. Claire Shulman was most likely on his pad too. Flushing was sold out by CB7, various phony development corporations and crooked politicians. There is your Cliffs notes short history of Floo-shing. RIP civilization. Hello 3rd world shit hole.

Anonymous said...

Glad I moved from the downtown hub further east before the Eastern hordes squatted there to do their business and plant their unsanitary life styles. Whore houses, gambling dens, human trafficking...Flooshing has made a name for itself. If you want to encourage tourism there make it a sister colony of Bangkok. Sex and gambling junkets will draw a crowd.

Anonymous said...

NYC has SoHo and TriBeca . Queens has the Toilet.

Anonymous said...

Yes...Flushing is Queens' toilet. Bawooosh! There goes another turd down the drain...or was it a potential landmark?

Anonymous said...

Let us count how many groups are around whose job is to "improve" Flushing.
#1.
Flushing Business Improvement District
#2.
Flushing Chamber of Commerce
#3.
Community Board 7
#4.
Various Chinese business associations, benevolent associations, tongs, etc.
#5.
Let us not forget our elected representatives and officials

So how come Flushing still looks like crap?

Anonymous said...

Hey, Flushing is not that bad. Look at the crime rates at http://maps.nyc.gov/crime/ or the infectious disease rates at http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/epi/datatable20.pdf or school test scores at http://projects.nytimes.com/new-york-schools-test-scores/counties/queens/districts/new-york-city-district-25. The neighborhood is doing ok considering the number of poor immigrants in it.

The Chinese are certainly different, and parts of their culture abhorrent by European standards, but there are many good, striving people among them. Let's not forget that along with the pizza came the mafia. Today's Italian-Americans were yesterday's "Guineas". Have some perspective please. In the meantime, for a more generous view of Flushing today see: https://flushingstreets.wordpress.com/