Vanderbilt Cup Races

Dean, quite an effort , I hope you find these comments constructive and have a bit of a thick skin:
The start is a bit of a snoozer, flows like a bad Chamber of Commerce film needs heavy edits and loose the “humor” and vulgarity “. You missed two early local race events, 1901 on Coney Island and 1902 Staten Island. They ( particularly the 1902 race) play into the Cup races and VMP. I have some info and images from these two races if you are interested contact me. Music with lyrics over a narrative does not work for me. Save the “stories for another day” for another movie. Sorry, but I don’t really care about your early family history. Although I am sure it would make another lovely movie.  The parkway and the V Cup races seem to confused and conflated, need a clearer distinction between the V M P vs the course used for the V Cup races. If you want to continue the Vanderbilt auto racing thread on LI ( this time George)  you should cover the track races in Mineola in 1936 and 1937 , some good info on this in “Racing the Silver Arrows” by Chris Nixon, A bit too much on RM, with not much focus , not really clear what you are trying to communicate, what he built on LI ?, if so, show it more clearly. That he was not nice? I don’t really care about his personal life. Contact me, I have a large LI Parkway map from the 1930’s that could help to illustrate the RM parkway system. Hope you find this helpful. Warm regards ,Bob

From Screen Test Request: Film "Green Light: The Story Behind the Long Island Motor Parkway"

...a little bit James Bond… a little bit NYC 50’s taxi… a little bit Art Deco… a little bit Grandmas’s shiny, new Olds in her Brooklyn driveway… and, Voila!

From The Dream of the Tucker Torpedo Concept Car Is Becoming A Reality

Very much enjoyed this film.  I’ve lived on Long Island all my life and learned things through this film that I was totally unaware of. Mr Romano’s historical presentation is right on and very well presented.  The rich never cease to amaze me as to how they spend their money.  But what must be said in so doing, Mr. Romano shows how their money created history and at the same time preserved it for future generations.  One side story, in early 195i, I was a busboy at Shor’s in Rockville Centre, NY when Robert Moses and his group came in for frankfurters and hamburgers. It was my job to place them on his table.  Even then, I thought he was cold and a very pretentious person.  Never smiling and not cordial at all. I’ll give Mr. Romano an A.

From Screen Test Request: Film "Green Light: The Story Behind the Long Island Motor Parkway"

LOved it !!!  Can’t wait to see part IV…..

From Screen Test Request: Film "Green Light: The Story Behind the Long Island Motor Parkway"

Hi all,

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who watched the movie and for offering feedback.  A special thank you to Howard, not only for agreeing to post the movie on his excellent website but for graciously allowing me to use photos from his books and website.  He is truly the foremost authority on all things Parkway related, and the movie would not be possible if not for his exhaustive research.  I’ll keep you all posted on the progress of the movie as I bring it to completion, but your kind words have provided me with a great source of encouragement.  Thank you all, again.

From Screen Test Request: Film "Green Light: The Story Behind the Long Island Motor Parkway"

I will send sketch’s, as Dave Spencer suggested starting Tuesday or Wednesday this coming week.  I already sent Frank Femnias an overhead sketch and advised him that he can share it on this site and I also asked Howard if he can repost my walk through of the Petit Trianon that was sent up in March 2015.

Bob
____________________________________________________
Howard Kroplick

Bob, I will continue the series next week.

From Femenias' Findings:Finding Petit Trianon, the Annex & the Petit Trianon's Lake Stairway Updated 3/12

Great film, I really enjoyed it, keep it coming.  If Dean needs any information on the Petit Trianon, please ask. The Petit Trianon was my club house and the grounds my playground.

Bob DeStefani

From Screen Test Request: Film "Green Light: The Story Behind the Long Island Motor Parkway"

Identify the lodge. Provide a rationale.  Great Neck Lodge; center chimney, foliage
 
Who was the architect for the lodge? John Russell Pope
 
What is the approximate date of the photo? Provide a rationale. 1940s; toll gates removed, signs indicating lodge name removed, car shown

From Mystery Snowy Foto #10 Solved: The Great Neck Lodge in Lake Success Circa 1940 Update:3/14/17

Whatever happened to the tucker convertible that was being built from spare parts?
________________________________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

The Tucker Convertible has been a hot topic in Tucker circles over the last few years:

http://jalopnik.com/5653978/is-the-lost-tucker-convertible-a-fraud

http://www.oldcarsweekly.com/features/the_mysterious_tucker_convertible

https://www.yahoo.com/news/bp/tucker-convertible-resurfaces-along-controversy-flickr-photo-day-230143985.html

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/index.php/2012/11/09/tucker-convertible-to-cross-the-block-in-scottsdale/#comments

From The Dream of the Tucker Torpedo Concept Car Is Becoming A Reality

How many people can say I cruise in a Tucker!  Enjoy, Howard!

From Video: Going for a Ride in Tucker 1044

I own one of the original Rhodes (George, A.D., Benjamin) homes on Little Neck Parkway, the last remaining one of 5 homes built in the 1800s on Little Neck Road, between Union Tpke. and Jericho Tpke. Aside from the Wesnofski farm on the Union Tpke./Little Neck Parkway intersection, not much at all is written about or has been photographed, as far as what I can find online, on this southern stretch of Little Neck Parkway. What I have been able to learn was gotten by studying old maps, from 1859, 1873, 1891, 1901/9, 1928. My mother bought the home in 1954, so I was interested in any info anyone might be able to provide in this lower, very little written about stretch of Little Neck Parkway, then called Little Neck Road in the 19th and early 20th c.

From Mystery Foto #7 Solved: Jericho Turnpike in Floral Park Looking Towards the LIRR Bridge

Mystery Foto #10… This is the Great Neck Toll Lodge and this photo shows it after it became a private home in 1938. The photo was shot around 1940 based on the car shown in the driveway. John Russel Pope was the famous architect who designed this and five other LIMP toll lodges. Pope’s spectacular building designs included the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC

From Mystery Snowy Foto #10 Solved: The Great Neck Lodge in Lake Success Circa 1940 Update:3/14/17

Hi Howard. I viewed Mr. Romano’s film again. In response to Gerry’s comment, the wording was expressed at 2:43 and 11:58. Nothing against Dean, I use words in vain in times of stress. Thought I just let you know in case Gerry didn’t respond back.

From Screen Test Request: Film "Green Light: The Story Behind the Long Island Motor Parkway"

One of the original John Pope Russell designs.  It appears to be Bethpage, at Round Swamp Road.

From Mystery Snowy Foto #10 Solved: The Great Neck Lodge in Lake Success Circa 1940 Update:3/14/17

Tough mystery, with the help of Old Man Winter himself. Definitely a John Russell Pope design lodge. So I have 6 choices with one other clue. The black/brown painted stripes under the porte cochere may give it away as the Bethpage Lodge. If true, we’re facing east and the Motor Parkway is off the photo just to the right. Also unseen to the right is the utility pole that once powered the lodge, and the Round Swamp Road parkway bridge. The lodge’s driveway for toll collector’s use should be directly behind the lodge in thIs view, also unseen and blanketed by the snow.  Photo taken in the early ‘40s based on the parked car. This is just after the LIMP closed in ‘38, as all the lodge’s signs have been removed from the bricks holding up the porte cochere.  Toll collectors Ida and Louis Damiano are inside hugging, trying to keep each other warm.  Waiting veeery patiently for this week’s answer. LET’S GO, HURRY UP!!

From Mystery Snowy Foto #10 Solved: The Great Neck Lodge in Lake Success Circa 1940 Update:3/14/17

I think that’s one of John Russell Pope’s second group of three “sister” lodges (Great Neck, Roslyn, & Garden City) since it has a center chimney. The design of the porte-cochere is different from Roslyn & G.C. so this must be Great Neck. The date is after 1938 since the “Great Neck” sign is absent yet the lodge is still in great shape and the car looks somewhat like a late 1930’s model so I’ll go with a date of 1940.

From Mystery Snowy Foto #10 Solved: The Great Neck Lodge in Lake Success Circa 1940 Update:3/14/17

I think it’s the Great Neck Lodge at Lake Success sometime after LIMP closed, swinging post barricades don’t seem to be in place & parked car, 1940s?  If so, the camera would be looking northeast from on or near LIMP across from the kiosk east of the Lakeville Rd bridge. The main clue for me is the steep upward hill behind (pic left) the lodge.
If it is the Great Neck Lodge, then it’s 1 of the half dozen or so designed by architect John Russell Pope.

From Mystery Snowy Foto #10 Solved: The Great Neck Lodge in Lake Success Circa 1940 Update:3/14/17

My guess is the Great Neck Lodge, designed by John Russell Pope. The chimney is thru the center of the roof and has a nice brick portico, unlike Massapequa, Meadowbrook and Bethpage where the chimneys are on the side. Garden city has a center chimney but it has a wood portico. The year looks like the early to late 40’ s, due to the modern looking car in the driveway, and the overgrowth of nature overtaking the roadway.

From Mystery Snowy Foto #10 Solved: The Great Neck Lodge in Lake Success Circa 1940 Update:3/14/17

I just lived watching this..and the history of Long Island…until I heard then came of Jesus and God being degraded into curses…PLEASE don’t do this…this is much needed history of our Island…but please let us respect the name so many people hold so dearly….
______________________________________________________________
Howard Kroplick
Gerry, I must have missed this section. Where is it in the film?

From Screen Test Request: Film "Green Light: The Story Behind the Long Island Motor Parkway"

just got finished watching this, enjoyed it very much, very well done and to the point, covered just about everything, even more than what I heard from you Howard, not saying that you didn’t do a good job, this was a little more detailed to the upcoming of the LIMP and what Robert Mosses did at the end of the story.

From Screen Test Request: Film "Green Light: The Story Behind the Long Island Motor Parkway"