Archived Video: Wigstock, 1991
From the video description: "Super-8 footage from the 1991 Wigstock in Union Square after the riots closed Tompkins Square Park. Onstage - RuPaul (as Star Booty!) and Dee Lite! Set to The Smiths' "This Night Has Opened My Eyes"
Archived Video: LES Squatters, 1991
Here is some compelling footage of squatters on the Lower East Side --- looks to be some Tompkins Square Riot footage edited in. (Sorry, not in English)
Archived Video: The Hells Angels 1970s
This is a montage from the documentary "Hells Angels Forever," featuring a few NYC Hells Angels members and a scene from E.3rd Street headquarters (8:43). I think I recognize president Sandy Alexander (:30, 9:12, etc.) and "Big" Vinnie Giorlamo (:07, :26, etc.) -- can anyone confirm if that is indeed them? UPDATE: The original video was taken down, so the times cited above are not accurate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXL4ymdGi2o
Archived Video: Police Disperse Street Vendors, 1903
Archival footage of a police officer encouraging Lower East Side street vendors to move on in 1903. [iframe src="https://archive.org/embed/move_on_1903" width="640" height="480"]
Archived Audio: Grateful Deal Live at the Filmore East, 1970
Of course the Filmore East, formerly located at 105 Second Avenue, was one of the most popular music venues in America in the late 60s and early 70s. Though relatively short lived, it played host to music giants such as The Who, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and many more. This archival performance is of one of many Grateful Dead performances at the Filmore, recorded February 11,...
Archived Video: Lower East Side Fish Market, 1903
Archival footage of a Lower East Side fish market on the morning of May 1, 1903:
Inside a Turkish Night Club on Allen Street: 1942
Turkish Night Club 2 Image descriptions:New York, New York. Turkish nightclub on Allen StreetJoe Levy, Jewish-Turkish-American owner of a nightclub on Allen StreetTurkish-American and his wife who own a nightclub on Allen Street. Their son is in the United States ArmyOrchestra at a Turkish nightclub on Allen StreetThe girl plays a tambourine between dances.Guests get up and dance to the Oriental music whenever they pleaseHabitues of a Turkish nightclub on...
More Recent Chinatown History
from the VillagerPreserving Chinatown’s doo-wop era The web site of Lonnie's Coffee Shop
The story of Thomas “Blind Tom” Wiggins, former slave and musical genius
Thomas Greene Wiggins (1849-1908) was a former slave and indentured servant who began playing piano by the age of four and became one of the most celebrated musicians of the Civil War era.Thomas was born autistic and without sight on May 25, 1849 to Mungo and Charity Wiggins, two Georgia plantation slaves owned by Wiley Edward Jones. His family was sold soon after to Colonel James Neil Bethune, and Tom...