On 4/23/19, sandwiched between school visits, I had half a day to tool around New York City. My primary destinations were Bill Finger-related.
Second, I went to Bill Finger Way alongside Poe Park in the Bronx. It was the first time I’d been there since the sign unveiling ceremony in December 2017.
The only difference: now a pair of sneakers hangs from the adjoining streetlight. (This is not, as sometimes said, automatically a sign that drugs are sold nearby. Search it.)
And first, I went to one of the twelve addresses I found (oh those many years ago) for Bill, and perhaps the most storied (for reasons beyond Bill). He lived at 45 Grove Street in Greenwich Village from late 1943 or 1944 to 1950. While living in that building, he co-created the Riddler.
A previous time I was there with Don Argott and Sheena Joyce, directors of Batman & Bill, when, mere moments after (or before?) the camera was rolling, a mother and child walked by. What makes that memorable: the child was wearing a Batman shirt. Would have made a wonderful little moment on film.
This time, another fortuitous occurrence happened during the few minutes I was in the vicinity. A tour group stopped in front of the building.
I lingered and eavesdropped. The tour guide didn’t mention Bill/Batman, so when she asked if anyone had questions, I raised my hand...with a comment.
(She didn’t seem to appreciate it, but some members of the tour did.)
Second, I went to Bill Finger Way alongside Poe Park in the Bronx. It was the first time I’d been there since the sign unveiling ceremony in December 2017.
And first, I went to one of the twelve addresses I found (oh those many years ago) for Bill, and perhaps the most storied (for reasons beyond Bill). He lived at 45 Grove Street in Greenwich Village from late 1943 or 1944 to 1950. While living in that building, he co-created the Riddler.
This time, another fortuitous occurrence happened during the few minutes I was in the vicinity. A tour group stopped in front of the building.
(She didn’t seem to appreciate it, but some members of the tour did.)
1 comment:
I'm with you on the sneaker reference. It's a thing in certain neighborhoods, and in one particular area near my home, it has zero to do with drugs, either. I forget the explanation given to me by a friend more than 30 years ago, but it seems to be some sort of tradition with kids.
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