Vanderbilt Cup Races

In the W.C. Fieds Movie, Is that the door or the big window on the building, Because I can not make it out from that picture and it will make a differents in north and south east and west and I don’t see a little piece of the port-cochere sticking out when he crashes threw the fence also.  Keep up the good work   Joseph(motorpky)DeBono

From Mystery Photo #4 Solved: A 1928 Aerial of Old Bethpage and Melville Looking North

Tough one! My best guess for #4 mystery photo is Old Bethpage Village in the center and under construction. Not sure which year that happened. Photo is facing NW. The road at the bottom if correct would be the original Spagnoli Rd. Broad Hollow Rd 110 would be off the photo at the bottom right and the Melville sand pits at bottom right. I can’t see the motor pkwy bridge but would have to be Old Bethpage parkway br that was wonderfully restored by Howard and the LIMPPS and others. What is that structure in the center?

From Mystery Photo #4 Solved: A 1928 Aerial of Old Bethpage and Melville Looking North

Watching the film again and looking at the pictures I noticed alot more than what I did’nt see the first time and agree to what you all are saying. You guys are great,and thanks for letting us all know about it

From Documenting W.C. Fields on the Long Island Motor Parkway in 1925

Not surprising that W.C. Fields was in a movie on the LIMP, as L.I. at the time was a film producing mecca, with Studios located in Astoria, “on location” filming all over the island, and W.C. Fields living on L.I. (I believe Bayside at the time).  California would later become the filming industry’s headquarters due to the weather, allowing year round filming.

From Documenting W.C. Fields on the Long Island Motor Parkway in 1925

I’m glad that you created photo stills of the car   vs.    Fence scene, Howard.  I guess at that point,  the car was traveling. East on the limp; with. h the Lakeville Rd bridge in the background.  Seeing the car bounce all over the farm. Field. Was comical.

From Documenting W.C. Fields on the Long Island Motor Parkway in 1925

It clearly does not match other 1928 & 1950 aerials of the Melville area you’ve posted, but I keep going back to it possibly being the Melville sand pits. Even Spagnoli Rd has a similar bend in the road, but again, other landmarks, dates for the pits and other things in the photo are wrong for that area. Darn it! I’m stumped!

From Mystery Photo #4 Solved: A 1928 Aerial of Old Bethpage and Melville Looking North

Howard, Great detective work on the Motor Parkway’s part in the W. C. Fields movie, especially regarding the Great Neck Lodge. With regard to the bridge in question in Queens, it is the bridge over Commonwealth Blvd., not the Marcus Ave,, bridge. Keep up the great work. Al.

From Documenting W.C. Fields on the Long Island Motor Parkway in 1925

James, I believe that segment was filmed at a different location. Note the posters on the fence before and after the crash do not line up. Moreover, the fence near the lodge was likely a movie prop.

From Documenting W.C. Fields on the Long Island Motor Parkway in 1925

I waited with bated breath to see when an if and to what extent restoration would be done to this piece of art. Now I’m just as anxious to follow the progress.
Personally I think your decision to restore is the right way to go.
Thank you.

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle I: Restoration Begins

Thanks Robert Miller for all of your efforts and thanks Howard for providing this video on your site !!

From "Champion of the Parkway" Presented at the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society Meeting

someone asked back awhile where there was a 1905 curved dash olds,it is in the riverhead historical museum, in the basement on west main st.the curator told me it is going to be restored in the future,when??? This is a great place to see if your interested in Long Island history

From Documenting W.C. Fields on the Long Island Motor Parkway in 1925

Any thoughts on the ridged field after he makes his escape? Or is that segment likely filmed elsewhere?

From Documenting W.C. Fields on the Long Island Motor Parkway in 1925

Okay. This 1930 something photo is in Bethpage. The road extending from the bottom right towards the middle left is Round Swamp Rd. (The brick yard is east of the curve ).  The LIMP is in the upper part of the photo,  with the bridge over Claremont Rd in the near distance.

From Mystery Photo #4 Solved: A 1928 Aerial of Old Bethpage and Melville Looking North

What a presentation that was,so much to know and yet to find out about,if it’s not too late already and to try to preserve it

From "Champion of the Parkway" Presented at the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society Meeting

Hi Howard   I was reading an article in Newsday today,Classic Car Doctor by Steve Linden and was thinking about you and your Chriysler being restored,about the things that can go wrong in the process of it,that it would cost more than it’s worth and the car will not be original,like what you were saying last nite. So what it boils down to,don’t piece meal it together and have it come out wrong after paying for it,get the whole thing done the right way and have piece of mind and the car will be be back to it’s original condition again. Some people don’t find out until It’s too late,but luckily you found out at the very start

From Chrysler’s Chrysler Chronicle I: Restoration Begins

From Jim Barnes:

“Great program last night.”

From "Champion of the Parkway" Presented at the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society Meeting

Thanks so much for your work here. I teach Gatsby every year and giving this great novel this context is priceless. What an overwhelming house!

From Willie K's Mother's "Beacon Towers" Castle in Sands Point

Just watched that 21 minute film,very good coverage,as usual,thanks alot

From "Champion of the Parkway" Presented at the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society Meeting

Looking forward to tomorrows presentation to hear the answers to those questions and probably a few more.

From "Champion of the Parkway" Presented at the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society Meeting

As always,great pictures and explanatoin of them. As I saw there wasn’t much change from 1908 till now,except for sidewalks and houses. That was some sharp turn. By the way Howard,I’ll be at the Old Bethpage Restoration on Thursday nite.hope to see you for another nite of histoy in the making

From Mystery Photo Solved #3: The 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race on Ellison Road (Avenue) in Westbury