New York Street Games - Trailer

[ninjastar404]

This was a great movie! I live in arizona and its hot so no one plays games. But in my neighborhood i get them playing stickball and punchball and they love it and i just really want to keep people active!!

[datfrekinrikan]

wow!skelli,i loved that game.just talked to my boys not to long ago about making skelli board in front of my house.good times!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sondun2001]

@datfrekinrikan you can download a skelly game on android! It's on facebook too

[mroziuklukas11]

Whats the name of this song..??? And who`s song is it..????

[yankkee315]

The Best!!!

[1952kid]

I guess someone will make a movie called 'Home Games' , for the next generation . Thats sad .

[ChuloBadGuy]

So sad how times have changed. I'm only 27 & I always say NY streets just aren't the same, kids hardly outside playing. I remember playing "Taps", Skelly, Kill the man with the ball, Suicide, Stick ball, Football, Man Hunt, Water balloon/gun fights. OH MAN I MISS THOSE DAYS!!!! Nowadays if kids seen a group of other kids playing "Johnny on the pony", they'd call them gay. That game isn't from my era, but still I can appreciate the history of it & what it represents.

[1952kid]

At the city park we had yoyo and top exibitions from Duncan Yoyo . Played shuffle board , skully ,dodgeball,chinese handball , the swings , seesaws , monkeybars, knockhockey . they had classes on making keychains and braclets from long stips of colored plastic too. The pool was cement with sprinklers,it never filled up . On hot days we sat on the benches in the shade and played checkers . 1950's and 1960's.

[kkay1963]

It's not just New York, Y'all! We feel the "void" down south too. Get out there and Play, kids!

[wc516]

Just saw the Premier last night and it was amazing. I saw the trailer and thought this would be good and I was still blown away. Everyone in the theater kept saying so true, oh my god I remember that. Some of the guys even started playing boxball outside the theater after the movie. I recommend the movie to all ages everyone enjoyed it.

[arniedeljudis]

Anybody remember mumfreeze or playing for moons?

[THUNDEROUS122]

Queens NY, Loved stick ball. We didn't need parks to play in the streets or school yards were there

[shkrieg]

shelly K

all you kids don't reaize that we played ringaleevio and immies 80 years ago in Far Rockaway and roasted mikeys (potatoes) in open camp fires in vacant neighborhood lots at night.

[statik811]

growing up in the Bronx on 202nd & the concourse we were big on playing box baseball, off the stoop, off the wall......how could they not be included here

[elle2125]

@statik811 all of that was included as well. Did you watch it? Box ball, off the wall, off the stoop it was all on the show.

[KenLattari]

Growing up in Brooklyn we played all the street games, and I'm still alive to talk about it-Ha! Prospect Park was my woods, my country. Fort Greene & Windsor Terrace were my neighborhoods. The flavor of Brooklyn has changed dramatically-I have since moved away. I was born in Fort Greene in 1956 & lived in Brooklyn until 1995. I do miss the people, and a culture I'm in tune with & the excitement of the greatest city in the world. AAHHHH Brooklyn.

[1952kid]

Did you use Spaldeens or Pensie Pinkies? Oh yea, SALUGEE!

[1952kid]

I drove through some ruff parts in Albany NY, that look like some of these old pictures, kids all playing in the streets , even a plastic swimming pool on the sidewalk. We call this Ghetto look now, but i think some of these old photos have that kinda look too. We just didnt know any better when we were kids. Back in the 1960's we called it inner city kids.

[AKhellbindeR]

Lol those times were the best. I kinda miss the times where consoles and computer games werent that common. Played basketball and soccer pretty much 24/7 on the block for like 7 or 8 years.

Then ofcourse you get older, and get to see alot of kids these days just sit on their ass all day. Only exercise being riding their bike to school, if even that. Then its straight home and talk shit on Xbox live.

[Lefty180USA]

those were the days !! what times we had in the p.s.67 schoolyard !!

[langgen2]

How about the weekend stickball games on Crotona Pkwy outside of PS67? Or immie season (cheeseboxes with holes for marbles) on Marmion Ave?

[Lefty180USA]

our games were always in the schoolyard...good to hear from a neighborhood guy.. (867 e. 179th- near mohegan ave.)

[langgen2]

855 E. 178th, corner of Marmion Ave. Those were very good times. Try to explain to kids nowadays how great it was to grow up as an "inner-city" kid.

[samirtam]

I rocked @ stoppball and ring-o-levio, but was only a 2 sewar stickball player. Oh, and I remember when I finally learned how to 'can' an open fire hydrant! I was about 7 and I canned some water right across the street into an open car window... and ran like hell! Miss those days!

[MrTricoman]

hey what about off the wall...ring a leevio..

freeze tag...and later we graduated to paddle ball...

football between the cars..lol...

to the boys of sterling street ....and ps91 in bklyn...what great days...

[my3dogs12801]

1963,1964 I Patty Fitz From P.S.205 BKLYN N.Y. WAS THE BEST PUNCHBALL PLAYER I COULD HIT A BALL FURTHER THAN ANYONE EVERYONE WANTED ME ON THEIR TEAM I LOVED THE GAME ONE OF MY FAVORITE. IWAS THE BEST FEMALE AND REALLY PRETTY CLOSE TO BEING ONE OF THE BEST MALE PLAYERS AS WELL!!!!! EXCEPT FOR ROBERT SPENCER!! ANYONE REMEMBER THOSE DAYS

[CitiboyzMusic]

wow the good old days where Kids and teenagers got their fair share of exercise: and were in some sort of descent shape.

[kopper]

This looks great!! I'm from St. Louis where we play corkball, fuzzball, and bottle caps, but we're all stickballers at heart. Kudos! Can't wait to see this.

[1952kid]

ITS at 0;11  SORRY,.

[1952kid]

One section at 2;32 in b/w , with the kids on a city street playing punchball or maybe stickball is all you need to see and feel real NY streetgames, that few seconds of film is the real thing. Thats how it really was. Pause it ,and take a good look.

[1952kid]

Those old Keds or PF Flyers would last one summer maybe. If you played alot of Chinese hand ball they would last a month or less, one side would wear out. They still sell these,and they look and feel like the old ones. I got a pair of white PF Flyers hightops. When i opened the box i got a 1963 blast of that new sneaker smell. And one thing i forgot, you can really feel the hot asphalt through the soles. And dont forget to show your kids or grandkids what Saloogie was.

[10rasmith]

"Saloogie" now you are a guy with a real memory!! Only an authentic New York kid from the 1950s would know that game.

[eddyvibe]

I was the best punch ball hitter on my block.

[CrazDog1]

I remember Claude Kirshner and Clownie too.

You made a name for yourself playing stickball & street basketball.

My knees are paying the price for it now.

[allmusic33]

I still remember playing Hot Peas and Butter, kick the can, kick the box, johnny and the pony, always a good stickball game, slugs, skullsies, punch ball, wow !!!!! What memories of the South Bronx.....

[1952kid]

You can still buy the pink Spauldeen at Modells sporting goods, i got 6 of them. Still the same ball !

[1952kid]

We played army in a wooded area alot, but one time the girls wanted to play nurses,we said ,ok. That was the day,the world looked different,and games seemed childish. We never played army again. Those nurses really changed the game! i guess everyone had that one magic summer ,when things would never be the same.

[1952kid]

Any word on when the movie is comming out ? There is a movie comming out ,isnt there?

[matt1933]

Spring 2010

[matt1933]

Spring 2010

[1952kid]

Anyone remember a show on TV called Terrytoon Circus,with Claude Kirchner and Clownie ? The end of the show he would say'' and now its time for most of you to go to bed''. Early 1960's 7;pm WOR 9 nyc.

[jimh23]

How about; A piece of string or a long stick? We used to go out looking down the subway grates for coins. We would get some gum and if we saw a coin through the grate, we would try to pick it up with the stick or string. Oh yeah, you'd need something heavy on the end of the string to attach the gum. Yes, they were great days! The game season just changed, I never knew how that happened, it just did!

[tonybenti]

memories the good old days

[1952kid]

I used to get a metal coat hanger and go out for the day alone,and fish for sewer balls. Just think about seeing a little kid today laying in the street on top of a sewer . The dept of child welfare would take you away, but in the late 1950's and 1960's it was a common sight.everyone knew you what you were doing.

[joeciccone]

I'm last 'horse' on pony, that position would'call out' the name of the player who was about to run and jump on us. Well here comes Chernoff who wore those 'coke bottle' glasses...but not wearing them. I see Chernoff coming towards us, 'almost coming towards us'.. just as he's getting real close I realize Chernoff's off to one side, and is going to completely miss the 'pony'....we all fall down from the laughing so hard,he explains later that he 'saw 2 ponys' and jumped on the 'wrong one'.

[1952kid]

I just remembered something i heard almost everyday , '' You got the coodies.you got the coodies,you got the coodies!''

[MultiDKenny]

Notice also that all the kids playing are thin.

You don't get that way sitting in front of the

computer while you're growing up!!

[712bruno]

I'm from the Bronx and every 3rd Saturday in July we have the Hoe Avenue Old-Timers Stickball Reunion. Street games?, Kick-the-can, Round-up tag, Hot peas and butter, Slugs w/ bootys up, 1-2-3 Mumphries, Box Ball, Errors(throwing the ball against the wall and trying to field the grounder), 2 Hand touch football w/ rushing after 10 Mississippi, GOD BLESS THE STREET GAMES OF NYC. I'm 53 years old and live in Washington DC. Today's kids are soft, Oldtimers Rock! Hoe Ave. & 167th St. Pa' Siempre!

[micmaris]

I was born on 914 Hoe. Loved the Bronx till the animals came!

[BrooklynSal]

You are correct sir.

I remember a game that we made up called "tagging up" where you had to try and steel a base. We played it where an old tree was cut down and we played it in the dirt they left behind.

[1952kid]

I remember everyones mom was home everyday,they didnt want us kids messing up the house,so,go outside and play! I think alot of kids had to go outside to play.And no friends allowed inside. Now that i give it some thought, we were kicked out of the house after school! But we got even,most of the winter we watched cartoons after school. SALOOGIE!

[joeasmythe]

Baseball cards ringed by rubber bands; who could throw it closest to the sidewalk crack////// Stoopball /// Stickball // What days those were, traditional values, sadly all of that is gone.

[gammondog]

Some of my favorites were Skully-no baby stuff allowed-and Crack The Top. If I was to return to the old neighborhood and chaulk a board on the sidewalk, they would tase me,throw me into the back of a squad car, and book me at the 34th precint!

[chu69007]

Thank you. Those were the dayssssss

[1952kid]

Anyone know when this movie is comming out,it says 2009 but when?????

[matt1933]

im just finishing the film now. putting on all the final touches.

Matt

[traveleverymonth]

interesting thing is that all the kids were skinny in the video...no overweight lazy kids on the street...Not like today when they spend hours watching stupid shows and eating chips with soda...

[1952kid]

The late 1950's and 1960's , a very,very different world from now. The b/w parts of this film really catch the feel of the times. The closest ive ever come to seeing anything like those days are in the poor sections of cities,poor kids play outside alot more and use what they have to play games. I remember as a kid back in the early 1960's thinking we were poor,just like everyone else in our area. I wouldnt change a thing, i had a happy long childhood playing all those games in NY. Saloogie!

[baiavowel]

I played and enjoyed all of these games back in the 50's and early 60's, but I think the kids today will look back just as fondly on their xbox, youtube, and facebook days when they become middle-aged. Also, there was a downside to these games - kids were cruel and demeaning to any kid who showed weakness or lack of skill in these endevors. I don't see that attitude now in my suburban town.

[margiieebabiiee]

I played manhunt, stickball, & stoopball in Queens! Good Times! Can't wait to see the full movie!

[1952kid]

1960 a hot night and Mr Softee turns the corner, it doesnt get any better than that. Sitting on the curb, under the street light with my double cone with sprinkles. Then go home and watch Ed Sullivan.

[joeydego]

No wiffle ball? its true, these kids today dont play games anymore outside, its a shame.

[BevDaBxBabe]

Thanks for all your kind comments. I am the producer/directors Mom and also listed as a producer. I'm also in this fantastic film and am very proud of my Son's expertise and effort putting this all together. You rock Matt!

Bev Da Bronxbabe

[doowopkid]

These were the times we will never forget. The street games was a big part of life growing up and I remember it all like it was yesterday ...

Tony Castro

[beatlehop]

Ring a ring a rosie.

[feeney57]

Ring A Lee Vee O

[jimbronxny]

Those were the days I lived on Bronx River Avenue for many years. Skulsy (spelling?) was the game you played with bottle caps filled with melted crayons to make them heavier. Oh to return back...

[KAY912]

1952 kid , you're chucked, C.B.O. manhunt, red rover, egg ball

[jeffm1962]

My parents who are retired in Florida. Every Sunday, my Dad plays stick ball with a group of his freinds all of which grew up in the NYC area (Bronx, etc) and all still love to play stick ball.

[UNSHULDIG]

Life was simple, no video, no ipods no boom boxes, just us kids, our imaginations, 25cent movies, pensie pinkes, 2 cent preztles, 10 ice cream cones and as many street games as there were ideas.... See what our kids are missing.....

[fubaglady]

No wonder kids are obese today. Instead of getting outside and playing all day with their friends, they sit on their ass in front of a video game by themselves. It's really sad.

[1952kid]

SALOOGIE, chips on the ball, fongo,hindu, once twice three...shoot., do over, interferance,monkey in the middle,automatics,anyone remember anymore nyc 1960's streetgame talk?

[djsanto1]

Grew up in the streets of Brooklyn playing all these games. They werent games, they were a way of life. I would give anything to have those days back. Thats why NY is the greatest state in the world. Theres a special bond that NYers share which is hard to describe, yet instilled in us all.

[bear1989s]

We did all of these on the Island, too..and I'd guess that across the country, every town did too.

No one feels safe about letting their children out of their sight--or even out of their reach now. What happened?

Kids today can't even ride bikes--because unless they are "right in front"--like 100 ft. to ride--they aren't "safe"...Sad commentary, but GREAT GREAT video.

Thank you. Memory lane.

[ZeeVue]

Wow, this is fantastic. My husband and I just opened a retro 50's restaurant called Nyack Burger Hop, in Nyack NY. I am researching street games from that time and found this fabulous video. Thank you for such a visual explanation. Come visit us. Open now with Car Hop service beginning in the spring.

Nyack Burger Hop

28 Rt.59

Nyack On Hudson, NY

[pauline42355]

You may remember trading card flipping. Or putting the trading cards on the spokes of your bicycle with a clothes pin -- to make a flipping sound.

[toecutterr6]

The precedent has been set.This way of life is long gone and it won't ever come back.America has a short shelf life it seems.

[jcbaburcha]

OMG! I am 51 yrs old &we did all of the above in Staten Island growing up...we especially luvd manhunt, stickball, kickball & "buck buck" as we called it...thanx for the memories! did u say this will be a movie coming out soon?

[arniea818]

Hi Matt, I grew up in THE BRONX and I'm 47 now. I played ALL the street games growing up...I sent this to my girlfriends father who grew up in Brooklyn and we just started talking about Spauldeens and stickball and everything...We decided we were going to go see the movie together and leave my g/f and her mother home while we talked about our memories growing up,(at least for the first viewing) WHEN is it coming out and will it be a wide release..Dieing to see it.....Thanks..

[jmccal99]

im 16 from staten island....im one of the few kids from the south shore who grewn up in a neighborhood where we were out in the streets everyday playingg stickball,handball,boxball,and wiffleball.....our favorite game of all time was manhunt....we wuld wait until i gets dark and we wuld play from 8-12 every summer nightt

[papo45]

P.S. 75 , the play ground now has trailers , so were are the children to play, ON THE STREET ! stoop ball, stick ball, and hand ball, just where does one fine a 'spaldine' or 'pinskey-pinkey' any more?

thanks for the memory there matt1933 , , ,

[matt1933]

My pleasure, The film will be released in 2009.

Thanks for the compliments!!!!

[askmeaboutmypresidnt]

That's PENNSY Pinkie! With the keystone design. They bounced higher.

[xxBRUNOxx18]

ahaha i m 13 and i still play some of these games like wiffle ball stick ball and handball to name a few but i hav me dad telling me tht they used to say tht they played things like snuff and flippin baseball cards even my dad played some of the street games and he grew up in italy

Regis is true cuz he grew up in morris park which is where i live and it is getting quiter every year as all the kids are moving out of new york well shout out to morris park bronx!

[couchsassy]

WOW.....look at how thin the kids were!

[vlessinger]

long live PS 95 in the bronx and stickball. HoW many windows did we break hitting the ball across the street. Roofing it was a home run

[JM0x94]

well im a 14 year old girl who loves video games and my dad showed me this video..i would love to play out stide and stuff..and im pretty sure all kids deep down inside doo..i mean i still sometimesss play with my ffriends once in a blue moon at the park lol or ridee my bikee around the block..:\but the problem is is that there are no other kids to play outside with...

[1987pg]

funny video lets chat

CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TALK TO ME mx

[matt1933]

Hi, I directed this film. What would you like to know??

Matt

[roenrich]

What about king, queen, jack. I was the queen of 73rd Street in Bensonhurst. Those were the days!!!

[jpreeezy]

ahhh uncle vinny vella! where's skully and stoop ball?

[jpreeezy]

ahhhh uncle vinny vella! where's skully and stoop ball?

[BullrunOlds]

Nice job, 5 stars Matt

[adjustable4]

reminds me when i was a kid in brooklyn playing these street games.

[nickyjukebox43]

We always played on our block De Graw St. Brooklyn, USA, What a life we had best time of my life, Hey Vinny You Look Good on Youtube.

[Leftyduke]

I was lucky as a kid in the Bronx because I lived directly across the street from the schoolyard P.S. 67 . It was my second home .Stickball , softball , punchball , curb ball .I still have my Al Kaline baseball glove ! (50 years later)

[mjnkmj]

@Leftyduke  my ist glove al kaline ,then i got rawlings big 8

[vjb007]

Excellent. "Life was once as simple as a stick and a ball." I think it can be that way again---it's up to US.

[cbklyn4u]

This just reflects how much fun we had growing up. We didn't need much money to have fun all day long.  This is definitely part of my past growing up in Brooklyn. Unfortunately, it is sad to say that children today do not know how to play anymore. I have taught for over 20 years and each time I intoduced one of these ole school games to my students during gym- they were just facinated by them. Kids need to learn that there is more than just basketball and doubledutch. Bring the old games on

[onemanband613]

Well with too many cars in the streets these days, how on earth can you play "Street Games"? Besides, more kids, unfortunately, have turned to TV, video games, etc.

[Slaynyc]

Awesome!! My Dad and Uncles are part of the Old Timers Stick Ball reunion every year. Gotta get em this video they will love it.

[prausch65]

New York IS the most diverse city in America, and these street games are just a very small piece of it.

[KentuckyJet]

I grew up on 76th Stree in GREAT OLE Brooklyn. This brought back so many memories! Now we need one for the BROOKLYN DODGERS and lasting friendships of the kids from BROOKLYN! Great POST! Thanks!

[jmdorst]

My dad loved seeing this.... Great for anyone who grew up in urban NY and those like me who have heard the stories from their parents

[gopictures]

great piece!  thanks for sharing. look forward to the feature length version.

[bxny1975]

Nice Work! Brought back many memories for me! Looking forward to seeing the full length...Good luck!

[77WABC]

l still hold the Record , 5 home runs in the Garden in One Game on Bay 34th & Cropsey , in July 1973. no one had hit more then 3 until then !

[Karmelamusic]

Amazing job! SUNDANCE all the way! Really looking forward to seeing this. I love stories from those days in NY.

[4DIDDY29]

Congratulations!!!! Well done, what memories you have brought back. We're trying to teach our grandson how to play Skully now ... Can't wait to see the whole film

[Tevicuban]

Wow great! well done. and So true!

congratulations, cant wait to see it

[horarwgt]

Nicely done -- well shot, scored and edited. This should certainly resonate deeply among all who grew up on New York City streets during a now-lost era playing those kinds of street games. Those who did not share that experience will, of course, NOT relate to this much at all but still get a good sense of what that distinctly New York experience was all about. Good mix of newly shot interview footsge and vintage B&W material.

[terrier62]

Well done...looks wonderful!

[NQEG]

Well done everyone....clip is great....film is going to fantastic.....

Quinnie

[Pickinbuddy]

God Bless those days...I miss 'em. I can't play stickball on Highway 34!

Bill T.

PS: Hiya Bev!

[UPdrafter906]

awesome! very well done. cant wait for the rest. +1

[LALJPR]

awesome... can't wait

[rstrell]

Great! I was just yesterday trying to describe stickball and punchball to my 11 year old. She didn't get it but now she can see it!

Richie

[BevDaBxBabe]

Hey Ritchie..Who would ever have thought my kid would be turn out to be such a great filmmaker! I am so darn proud of him. See ya Christmas week!

[BevDaBxBabe]

Wow! Great documentary!

Bev Da Bronxbabe