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Midwood, Brooklyn
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Midwood is a neighborhood in the south central part!! of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, New York, USA, roughly halfway between Prospect Park and Coney Island.
It is bounded on the north by the Long Island Rail Road tracks just above Avenue I and the Brooklyn College campus of the City University of New York, and on the south by Avenue P and Kings Highway.
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Encyclopedia
Midwood is a neighborhood in the south central part!! of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, New York, USA, roughly halfway between Prospect Park and Coney Island.
It is bounded on the north by the Long Island Rail Road tracks just above Avenue I and the Brooklyn College campus of the City University of New York, and on the south by Avenue P and Kings Highway. The eastern border is Nostrand Avenue or Flatbush Avenue (depending on whom you ask), and Coney Island Avenue or Ocean Parkway to the west is the other boundary (again, depending upon whom you ask).
History
The name Midwood derives from the Dutch word Midwout (middle woods), the name the settlers of New Netherland gave the area of western Long Island, between the towns of Boswijck and Brueckelen, because of its dense forests. Later, it was part of old Flatbush, situated between the towns of Gravesend and Flatlands.
Settlement was begun by the Dutch in 1652, and they later gave way to the English (who conquered it in 1664, but the area remained rural and undeveloped for the most part until its annexation as part of the City of Greater New York in 1898, and then became more developed in the 1920s, when large middle class tracts of developed houses and apartment buildings were built.
Many Midwood residents moved to the suburbs in the 1970s, and the neighborhood and its commercial districts declined. Drawn by its quiet middle class ambiance, the area underwent a resurgence in the 1980s. New immigrants to the neighborhood came from the Soviet Union (the largest group), as well as from China, Eastern Europe, Haiti, Israel, Arab Emirates,Bangladesh,Pakistan, Guyana, Jamaica, Ireland, Italy, Iran, Greece, Korea, Turkey, Poland, Mexico, South America, Syria, The Baltics, and India. Many within the overall tri-state area Orthodox Jewish Community erroneously often refer to this community as being "Flatbush." Many also consider "Fiske Terrace"/"Midwood Gardens" to be part of "Midwood".
Education
Brooklyn College, Edward R. Murrow High School, Midwood High School, James Madison High School, Shulamith School For Girls, The Three Hierachs' Greek Orthodox School. Touro College has campuses on Avenue J, and near Kings Highway. There are a host of Boys and Girls Yeshiva Schools within the Community.
Film
Midwood has long played a part in both film and television production. The film industry established itself in the neighborhood in 1907, when the Vitagraph company occupied a studio at Avenue M and East 14th Street. Scenes from films like "Hey Pop" and "Buzzin’ Around," starring Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, were filmed on streets in Midwood. Warner Bros. purchased the studio in the 1920s, using it for short subjects, and moved the studio operation to Hollywood in 1939. The building is now home to the Shulamith Yeshiva School for Girls, but a large smokestack bearing the name Vitagraph is still on the property, visible from the BMT Subway line, as are two brick walls from the original studio. Present day, many within the community have no clue that the Shulamith School building's and property were once a film studio in its heyday. The Brooklyn Historical Society and the Museum Of The Moving Image (Astoria, NY) have a collection on The Vitagraph Studios. One private present day long-time resident possess's a small but "private" collection (and wealth of history) On the Vitagraph Studios. An Old Vintage aerial photograph of The Vitagraph Complex (and it's street's) hangs today on a wall in the Offices of the 'Midwood Development Corporation.'
The Vitagraph Studios were more recently featured in a New York Times Article (2007), and in the PBS,WNET-13 TV Special 'A Walk Through Brooklyn,' hosted by David Hartman and historian Barry Lewis. Old historic photographs of the studio show that part of it also existed across the Brighton line subway tracks where Edward R. Murrow High School now stands.
"The Leading Male" Men's attire, which was once located at the corner of Kings Highway and East 12th Street, was the source for the disco attire that John Travolta and the other male cast members wore in the film Saturday Night Fever. A duplicate of the white suit Travolta wore in the film was at that time displayed in one of the showcase windows.
Television
NBC Television purchased part of the Vitagraph Studios in 1953, and built a large Color Studio (known as Color Studio 2) attached to an existing smaller one (Studio 1) to the rear, the location of E. 13-14th Streets, Ave. M to Locust Ave., from which the programs of Perry Como, TV's adaptation of Broadway's Peter Pan with Mary Martin, The Sammy Davis Jr. Show, Mitch Miller And His Sing-Along Gang were taped for later airing. Old NBC press releases show that two of the earliest shows to emanate from there (both then considered early NBC "Big Specials") were The Esther Williams Aqua Special (10/29/56), and Satins & Spurs (10/12/1954). The same Brooklyn studios were used in more recent decades to broadcast the soap opera Another World, the situation comedy The Cosby Show, and a few 1976 episodes of Saturday Night Live. There was also an NBC News NASA Apollo Space Mission Special taped here, and a short-lived mystery detective drama. Bill Cosby and Crew after a period of time relocated the show to their new home at The Kaufman Astoria Studios in Astoria, Queens. The "second" NBC Cosby Show that followed (co-starring the late comedic actress Madeline Kahn, most notably of Mel Brooks hit comedy films Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein) was also taped at Kaufman Astoria Studios.
From 1963-1965, Hullabaloo, a popular weekly NBC prime-time musical variety series produced by Gary Smith & Dwight Hemion, featured the Top Music Charted Bands, Singers, and other celebrity Entertainer's such as Sonny and Cher, Tina Sinatra, as well as many performers from the so-called British Invasion, like The Rolling Stones, Herman's Hermits, The Dave Clark Five, Petula Clark, Marianne Faithfull, The Moody Blues, Donovan, which was taped in larger Color Studio 2. Do You Remember The Hip 'Hullabaloo' "A-G0-GO" Dancers feauring 'Lada Edmund, Jr.'?. For The Record The earliest episodes Of Hullabaloo were taped at NBC Burbank, Ca., and during its heyday a few were taped at NBC NY Rockefeller Center Hq Studios. We note that Brian Epstein, Icon Mngr. Of The Beatles also hosted episodes of 'Hullabaloo' from London. Neither The Beatles nor Elvis Presley were ever a Guest or Host of the formentioned variety shows. The Sammy Davis, Jr. show was taped in the much smaller Studio 1 (located along Locust Ave. (the audience entrance was located on the northern most part of E. 13th, opp. the studios outdoor scenic storage yard). In the early 1970s the NBC TV variety show Kraft Music Hall was taped in Studio 2. Ed McMahon and County music singer Eddie Arnold were frequent hosts. One memorable episode of this program was hosted by comedian Don Rickles, which featured him walking off a Coney Island bound Brighton Line subway train at the Ave. M station, then he speaking about old Brooklyn memories, old childhood street games of the past while walking the Avenue, then he playing stickball, "Johnny-On-The-Pony", kick the can and "skully" (which you played with bottle caps), actually filmed on E. 15th St. between Ave. M and the old Vitagraph building on Chestnut St.
Many of the noted variety shows (with the exception of Mitch Miller) had a live studio audience for both rehearsals and/or actual show recording. Often NBC Guest Relations staff could be found standing on the street outside the studio offering Free tickets to the Dress rehearsals and/or the actual tapeing Of those 60's Programs, and sometimes even 'The Cosby Show.' Only exception to that was the brief Saturday Night Live stint at the studio (which was pre-filled to capacity) as well as "Big name" guest or host show taping's (e.g., Rolling Stones, Desi Arnaz). NBC Guest Relations operated a charter bus to/from their Rockefeller Center HQ to the Brooklyn studio for pre-ticketed 60's audience members, so that they did not have to travel by car or subway. They also did so for 'The Cosby Show.' Fans in-the-know could always be found outside the studio entrance waiting to greet their favorite celebrity, whom many in turn were happy to stop and chat, sign an autograph, pose for a photo, all without the hassle of present day out-of-control paparazzi. From the 1950s through the original Cosby Show years, the NBC Bklyn. studio presence in Midwood basically transformed Avenue M into Brooklyn's own version of Hollywood. Fond memories of the great many then "A-List" celebrities that had performed inside the former NBC Studios still exist today. Present day, many within the community, and community visitors alike, do not even know that a Tv Production Studio exists at the location. Nor That the adjacent present day 'Shulamith School' Property was once An Early Major Silent Film Studio. A few old classic episodes of Perry Como, Hullabaloo, and Kraft Music Hall (taped at the studio) can be found on VHS and DVD, as well as on You Tube. The Museum of Television and Radio (NY, Los Angeles) has a collection on the noted television programs.
NBC sold the studio in 2000. The facility is now known as JC Studios. The CBS soap As the World Turns is currently taped in the studio.
When NBC Brooklyn Color Studio 2 was built, the studio was at the time said to be "the largest color TV production studio in America", large in comparison to the Pinewood Studios just south of London, England (i.e., segments of The Beatles film A Hard Days Night were filmed there (they wildly running in an open field), as well as recent major films Batman, James Bond, and Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, to name a few of the many filmed there.
According to the NYC Mayor's Office Of Film, Television and Theater, the present JC Studios building consists of Stage 1 which is 11,200 sq ft. (163'x 70', w/a 24' ceiling height), and Stage 2 which is 9,700 sq ft. (13'x 75',w/a 38'-10" ceiling height). There are 31 dressing rooms, two control rooms, hair, makeup and dressing areas, and one edit suite. Funny, but two very large and visible NBC 'N' logo signs were not placed on the East 13th & 14th St. upper parts of that big Red Brick Studio 2 Building On Ave. M till the Cosby Show years. To the dismay of many remaining long-time residents both were sadly taken down when NBC vacated the premises, prior to the studios being sold to JC Studios. We should note that nearby Edward R. Murrow High School offers its students classes in "Television Production", and had its own student produced local cable-tv program on BCAT called "T.E.R.M.". Many of its former students are currently employed in some form of television production, including Television News at NBC, WNBC, and FOX 5WNYW. The school also has a Multi-Championship winning Chess Team.
Among movies and TV shows that have been filmed in Midwood are:
Bus and subway
The area is served by the New York City Subway's BMT Brighton Line at Avenue H, Avenue J, Avenue M, and Kings Highway, and to the West the (F) IND Culver Line with stations at Avenue I, Bay Pkwy, Ave. N, and Kings Highway. There are also the 2 (NYCS)& 5 (NYCS) trains [ Brooklyn College - Flatbush Ave. ]
NYC bus lines serving the community include the B2, B6, B7, B9, B11, B31, B41, B44, B49, B68, B82, B100 Local buses, B6, B41, B44, B49 (southbound AM rush only), B103 Limited-Stop Buses and the BM2, BM3, BM4 and X29 Express Buses. The X29 travels along Coney Island Avenue. You can board the Mn. Bound BM 2,3,4 Bus at Ocean Ave. & Ave. K. There is No Express Bus Service On Sunday.
Shopping
The main shopping streets in the area are Kings Highway, Avenue J, Avenue M, Flatbush Avenue, Nostrand Avenue, and Coney Island Avenue.
In the 1960s and the early 1970s, Nostrand Avenue between Avenues M and N was considered one of New York's best streets for shopping by New York magazine. The street was known for fashionable boutiques such as "Edna Nelkin's Jewelry," America's finest children's wear boutique, "Greenstone's" (now located on both Columbus and Madison Avenues in Manhattan), "Burton's," "Shirtland," and "The Shoe Box." As retailers retired, the street changed and became known for its automobile showrooms, including Plaza Honda. A U.S. Postal Service Facility (Zip Code 11210) can be found on Nostrand Ave. between Ave. I-J.
In its heyday Kings Highway had Dubrow's Cafeteria, a classic cafeteria where holes would be punched in patrons' printed tickets, which would total the cost of the meal. It was a popular place to eat and "schmooze." Also "Levine's" was the king of the bar mitzvah suit trade, and "Jimmy's" catered to high fashion customers. Kings Hwy. was "Home" to the now famed Crazy Eddie Electronics Empire. The first Original Crazy Eddie store was located on Kings Hwy., then moved to larger quarters just South Of Kings Hwy. On Coney Island Ave. A branch of the Brooklyn Public Library (presently under renovation) can be found on the eastside of Ocean Avenue just south of Kings Highway. In its heyday there were also two popular movie theaters on Kings Hwy. and they were the "RKO Kingsway", and the "Avalon" (it closed in 1982). Visitors to Kings Hwy. are amused by the pro-colored holiday-style lights that are strung across above the street and feature a lighted gold "Kings Crown" at a few intersections. In the fall of 2008, NYC DOT plans to implement an experimental "Congestion Parking Plan" along the Kings Hwy. Biz District, which may raise parking meter rates from 75 Cents, to as much as $2.50 an hour. Specific streets not designated yet.
Avenue M, which is "The Heart of Midwood", was home to "Cookie's," one of Brooklyn's best known restaurants and "hang-outs" (Also Popular With The NBC Studio crowd) Back in the 1920s through the 1940s, the "Dorman Square Restaurant" was popular with the Vitagraph studios crowd, as well as played a role in a vitagraph film or two. And one of Brooklyn's most legendary Italian restaurants, "Restaurant Bonaparte," and it as well catered to the actors and actresses working on Avenue M in the NBC studio at that time. Restaurant Bonaparte was known for its "Three Musketeers." It also had a wishing well fountain in its lobby entrance, filled with customers coins. The Avenue has an elevated subway station. Up until the 1970s, Avenue M had its own movie theater, The Century "Elm" (now the "Emigrant Savings Bank"). Nearest the end of each June, the 'Midwood Development Corporation' Hosts the Popular 'Midwood Mardi Gras' Street Fair Along The Avenue, from East 12th St. to Ocean Avenue. Shoppers can find a municipal muni-meter parking lot on East 17th Street at Chestnut St. just north of Avenue M. The avenue is a virtual Ghost Town on the Jewish Sabbath and Higher Holy Days.
Avenue J is a low-key commercial strip, with many kosher restaurants, deli, pizzerias, and butchers. DiFara's Pizza (at E. 15th St.) is cited by the recently released 2008 Zagat Survey as "The Best Pizza in NYC." DiFara's Pizza is the only non-Kosher pizzeria on Ave J, likely only thriving due to its high quality pizza. Others specialize more narrowly, such as one bakery concentrating on Russian bread. Ostrovitsky's Bakery sells gourmet cookies and cakes. A number of large fruit grocers such as Fruit Palace and Blue Ribbon offer high quality produce at competitive prices. A large selection of exotic dried fruits and nuts can be found at "Oh Nuts!" There was also once a "Cookie's" restaurant on the corner of East 16th St. & Ave. J (and even Ave. U as well). The Avenue had its own movie theater simply named The "Midwood" Theater (closed in the early 1980s). But Avenue J can also be hectic during weekdays. Much foot and vehicle traffic, and finding a parking spot is a big problem. A branch of the Brooklyn Public Library is located on E. 16th St. just north Of Ave. J. The Avenue is a virtual ghost town on the Jewish Sabbath and Higher Holy Days.
On Coney Island Avenue in Midwood, primarily between Avenue H and Avenue P, are the U.S. Postal Service Midwood station (Zip Code 11230), The "Kent Triplex Movie Theater", and other assorted retailers. Near Avenue L what was believed to be the largest all-kosher supermarket in the United States opened in August 2008. The Pomegranate was "also hoping to lure customers who don't keep kosher with its array of organic meats and chemical-free produce."
Just off of Nostrand Avenue, along Avenue's J, K, L, M, N are a number of business establishments, many that also offer goods and services to the local Jewish community.
In the 1980s and 1990s a wave of Orthodox Jews moved into the area from Borough Park, attracted by Midwood's large homes and tree-lined streets. Today, in addition to European Orthodox Jews, the area is home to a burgeoning Sephardic population. Along Kings Highway from Coney Island to McDonald Avenues you will find Middle Eastern restaurants and take-out food shops.
A number of residential blocks within the community are patrolled by volunteers from groups such as the Nottingham Assn. Patrol, the Flatbush Shomrim Safety Patrol, and 24/7/365 private armed security response personnel on some streets. Officers from the 61st, 66th, and 70th NYPD Precincts patrol the community routinely. Alternate side parking rules(for street cleaning) exist within the community on designated days, so do read the signs. Midwood is located within Brooklyn Community Board 14. Two volunteer ambulance services serve Midwood, and they are Flatbush Hatzoloh, and the East Midwood Volunteer Ambulance Corps. The nearest hospital's are New York Presbyterian Community Hospital, and 'Beth Israel King Highway.' Both are certified "9-1-1 FDNY-EMS" Receiving emergency facilities. Presently many residential homes within the community are valued at about $500,000.00 to a million plus. One of Brooklyn's last remaining (then intact) old Farms was located on the site of a present day apartment complex at 1279 East 17th St. (just north of Ave. M) up until the mid 1960's.
In his run for the White House, Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kennedy held a massive campaign rally just outside Dubrow's Cafeteria. A massive crowd of people turned out to hear this popular political icon speak. The crowd he drew stretched for blocks in all directions. Years later his brother Senator Robert F. Kennedy ("Bobby") held a similar campaign rally there for his run for President, with a similarly large audience. The community has long been known for being a Democratic stronghold.
Cablevision (subscription) Cable TV/Optimum Online Internet is available within the community.
Parks
Parks consist of Kolbert Park and the Rachel Haber Cohen Playground and adjacent handball and basketball courts, near Edward R. Murrow High School, and the track and playing fields of Brooklyn College and Midwood High School. Another interesting park is Friends Field near McDonald Avenue. The park is popular with baseball-playing Yeshiva boys on Friday afternoons. These parks are generally open to the public when the schools are not using them. Just opposite Friends Field along McDonald Ave. is the Erasmus Hall High School Football Field. The Midwood High School Field features Handball Courts, Tennis Courts, a Runners Track and a football/soccer field, located at E. 17th St., Ave.'s K-L. NYPD-FDNY Charity Sporting Games are often held there. Annual NYC Public School JV Varsity Football Championship and Playoff Games are held there as well. Back in the 1970s-80's, Borough President Marty Markowitz's Original Annual,very Popular and well attended (now named)'Seaside Summer Concert Series' (now At Asser Levy Park in Brighton Beach), (Then know as The 'Midwood Field Concerts') originated at the Midwood High School Field. As a result once again here in Midwood another group of named "A-List" entertainer's (that had graced the stage of the 'Midwood Field Concerts') helped to make the Community become Nationally known as "Brooklyn's Hollywood!."
Pedestrian Rest Area
There are two popular public pedestrian "rest" spots within the community. The first is located at the intersection of Ocean Avenue where it merges with Ave. 'P' and Kings Highway. The other is located at the crossroads of Kings Highway and Quentin Road (E. 12th-13th Streets), and is called 'Sgt. Joyce Kilmer Square', named in honor of American journalist and poet Sgt. Joyce Kilmer (1866-1918). Both a lighted menorah and Christmas tree are in place at 'Kilmer Square' during the winter holiday season.
Religious groups
Midwood is a heavily Jewish neighborhood. There are several branches of Touro College there, and Midwood is also home to the East Midwood Jewish Center, at 1625 Ocean Avenue, a Renaissance revival Conservative synagogue on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as several Syrian Orthodox synagogues.
St. Brendan's Parish, and Our Lady Help Of Christians are two Roman Catholic Church congregations located in Midwood. The Church Of 'The Three Hierachs' Greek Orthodox serves the Greek residents of the community. The Episcopal 'Church Of The Epiphany' also serves the community.
Notable residents
Famous people who grew up or formerly lived in Midwood include:
Woody Allen (1935-), writer & director, graduated from Midwood High School.
- Darren Aronofsky, director, attended Edward R. Murrow High School (though he grew up in Manhattan Beach)
- Yisroel Baumann, Judge, Supreme Court
- Norm Coleman, Senator (Republican of Minnesota, graduated from James Madison High School
- Didi Conn, actress, graduated Midwood High School
- Patrick Fitzgerald, Special prosecutor
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Supreme Court Justice, attended East Midwood Jewish Center and James Madison High School
- Yosef Goldman, author
- Morty Gunty, comedian, Host 'The Funny Co.'/'Morty Gunty Show' WWOR-TV Kids Show (1963-1965), graduated Midwood High School
- Gil Hodges, baseball player. in Midwood and a bowling alley in Mill Basin is named after Hodges, and on April 4, 2001 a portion of Bedford Avenue from Ave's. 'L' To 'N' (near his home) was renamed Gil Hodges Way.
- Lainie Kazan, singer,actress ('My Big Fat Greek Wedding'), (1940-)
- Arthur Miller (1915-2005), playwright, Death of a Salesman.
- Bernard Sanders, Senator, (Independent of Vermont), graduated from James Madison High School
- Chuck Schumer, Senator, (Democrat of New York), graduated from James Madison High School
- Erich Segal, novelist, graduated from Midwood High School
- Marisa Tomei, actress, attended and graduated from Edward R. Murrow High School.
- Adam Yauch, singer, attended Edward R. Murrow High School member of the Beastie Boys
- Tony Sirico (1942-) Actor, "Paulie Walnuts" Of HBO's "The Sopranos" was born in Midwood.
- Israel "Izzy" Waldbaum (1893-1948); Julia Waldbaum (1906-1996); their son Ira Waldbaum (1933-2007), founders of the Waldbaum's Supermarket Stores, Ira attended and graduated from Midwood High School
- Phillip J. Fry: Fictional, but elaborations on his origin in the television series Futurama prove this as his origin point (e.g. the stop on the Q he used to go home).
Sources
- Consulted December 14, 2004
- Interview (with resident) Michael T. Wright- News 12 Networks 'News 12 Bklyn.' 'On The Road In Midwood' Live Broadcast Re: Midwood Celebrities, Vitagraph and NBC Bklyn. History Consulted August 16th,2007, and Sept.- Nov., 2007.
- www.Tv.com/Kraft/Kraft Music Hall Consulted October,2007.
- IMBd/Hullabaloo Consulted October,2007.
- Hullabaloo Tv Show
- NBC Brooklyn Studios Camera- www.kingoftheroad.net/colorTV/TVcams-in-action.html Consulted Nov.,2007
- JC Studios- NYC Mayor's Office Of Film, Television and Theater Consulted November 2 2007.
- Morty Gunty- www.tvparty.com/lostny2funnyco.html Consulted 11/13/2007.
- Dubrow's Cafeteria- www.dubrows.blogspot.com Consulted Nov.,2007.
- NY Times May 2 1999 Article 'Neighborhood Report:Midwood; Soap Opera Leaves A Ring' Consulted Dec. 6, 2007.
- Fall 2008 Kings Hwy. Expiremental "Parking Congestion Plan"- NYCDOT; News 12 Bklyn. Consulted July 10th, 2008.
External links
- List of stores, community services, etc. by category.
- List of stores, community services, etc. by
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