This is a video featuring the highlights of a 1970’s documentary of the North End produced by Abraham Ravett in 1977 and 1978 with other teenagers for the North End Teen Collaborative.
The film starts out with kids playing at the St. Anthony’s Playground adjacent to the Bathhouse (now the Nazzaro Community Center) and Christopher Columbus High School. Scenes of teens hanging out are followed by a visit to Johnny’s Barbershop at 181 Salem St. (later moved to Hanover St. as Johnny & Gino’s Barber Shop). A narrated section talks about putting up Christmas decorations in Sonny Mirabella’s yard on Salem Street. A highlight are scenes from Pal’s Lunch, a neighborhood luncheon gathering spot. Next, a local produce shop is visited with a stop at Polcari’s. The video ends with neighbors packing bags of food for the elderly and disabled after a snowstorm.
Thank you to Janet Gilardi for sharing the original footage.
“Greetings from Boston” Postcard Exhibition Now Open Boston Public Library displays classic postcards
BOSTON — August 17, 2010 – Greetings from Boston is a new Boston Public Library exhibition of vintage postcards that colorfully captures the unique feel, important architecture, and cultural history of early twentieth-century Boston. The city’s thriving neighborhoods are on display, as is the story of America’s long-standing passion for postcards.
Souvenir picture postcards made their American debut in 1893. By the early 1900s, the United States was in the throes of a postcard craze. In 1908 alone, Americans mailed more than 677 million cards. These new cards generated immediate appeal as inexpensive keepsakes and an economical means of communication. Although the “Golden Age” of postcards ended with World War I, postcard collecting is still one of the most popular hobbies in the world.
Dr. Phil Budden Her Britannic Majesty’s Consul General, Boston, invites you to join him in celebrating Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee on Sunday 3rd June at a British-style Jubilee service at the Old North Church, followed by a free, public British Street Party at the Old State House. Date: Sunday 3rd June Time: Read More…
Dr. Carlo Cipollone, the Educational Director of the Italian Consulate, presented the following article, Galileo’s Educational Legacy, at a recent symposium at Harvard University. The event was in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the invention of the telescope. Many thanks to the author for his permission to republish it and North End resident, Nancy Caruso, for the submission.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In occasion of the Week of Celebration of the Italian Language in the World, the Consulate General of Italy in Boston in collaboration with Harvard University and the Italian Space Agency present a symposium. Galileo’s Telescope and the Beginning of the Scientific Revolution and Space Exploration ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Galileo’s Educational Legacy by Dr. Carlo Cipollone Educational Director of the Italian Consulate
As an educator, I can confirm that Galileo continues to generate great curiosity today, even among the youngest members of our society. A few days ago I received an email from a nine year-old student. With her mother’s help, young Ashley asked to address some simple questions to scientists and experts on Galileo. She also requested to meet with me for a chat about this icon of scientific discovery. While reviewing Ashley’s questions I realized that children, in their ingenuity, manage to raise complex topics and queries – challenging most adults to give a suitable answer.
The question that struck me the most was probably the most difficult to answer: “Why is Galileo so important today”?
I hope that I can give an answer to Ashley’s question. I will aim to give the best response I can, trying to offer a perspective based on the man behind the telescope, the man who influenced countless disciplines.
Galileo’s ideas not only sparked a scientific revolution, they initiated a large-scale revolution in human thinking. He changed the way we see the world and more importantly, how we perceive ourselves within it.
Everything began four hundred years ago…
15 Replies to “North End Flashback: 1970’s Teen Documentary [Video]”
That was the original location of Johnny’s Barbershop at 181 Salem St.
Thank you for posting this. I didn’t know it existed. Seeing it brings back so many fond memories of a time (and a place) so dear to my heart. Those were the times of our lives.
Good memories …. How wonderful for Janet to share with all of us. Eddie Pal was the best for lunch. Keep up the good memories.
AAH, Pal’s Lunch – now part of Pagliuca’s restaurant. What a great place for breakfast and linch. Eddie “Pal” Ianacco was the owner: the short order cook was “Chi Chi” Demartino: and the woman serving coffee, is that Rose Ruggiero the mother of Henry, Ritchie, and Roger.???
The Christmas decorations, it looks like Sonny Mirabella’s yard on Salem St.
H Uncle:
That was Sonny’s son Gino talking in the video about the decorations. The place where the kids were playing pool, wasn’t that the old Shaw House in the North Bennett Street School?
It’s Teen Lounge. When we were kids we couldn’t wait to move from Shaw House to there.
This is so great to see the old times. I think I saw Robert LaRocca bagging the grocery for the elderly… Great video. Thank you so much for sharing. Looking forward for part 2 and 3. Great job to everyone that put this video together…
Vito,that is indeed Rose Ruggiero .A lovely woman, the family lived next to the Paul Revere house in NO.Square.This video is priceless for many of us & cant wait for more.
Thanks for the help with the references. I updated the description.
There’s more footage coming when I get it edited.
Ohmygod I cried while I watched this. Thanks for the memories…that was SO COOL!
I worked in haymarket when I was a kid back in the 70’s. Corner of North and Blackstone st. I know it isn’t exactly the North End but I’m always hoping and wishing that I can find something. I sold shopping bags in front of my parents restaurant named Sylvia & Charlies. That was under the Italian Coliseum.Thanks
It was so greeat seeing Janet Girlardis dad and Maria Bovas aunt Rose, they were great days, and the food was great also.
Bobby Church
awesome filming.. the saint store.. the Mirabella house ..great memories..
Hey Hey Hey Matt~~~~I was so busy yesterday, that I didn’t pay attention to my Computer !! Of all days !!
I am thrilled that you found the time to post the Time Capsule~~~it seems to please a lot of Young and older North End People !!! That makes me so happy !!! It has been spreading like Wildfire!!! I didn’t even recognize myself !! So long ago! Seeing my dad and his Lunch Room~~~~WOW !! It is such a Happy Sadness !!! If there is such a feeling? I can’t thank you enough for posting this tape~~for myself, my family, friends, folks that were in the film and those people and places no longer with us !!! Like I ALWAYS SAY~~~~MATT~~~~YOU ARE THE BEST!!!!!!
Thank you for posting. Many of us didn’t have video cameras back then so this is amazing. Brings you back to a time when everyone knew everyone. A time of no cell phones, instead you often heard your name being screamed out down the streets and if you didn’t hear your mother calling, a friend was always there to tell you that your mother was looking for you. Buildings housed residents that were more like big families. In and out of everyone’s home at all hours was the norm. I could write a book. Great memories. It would be nice to have a North End Family Reunion but in the meantime I hope you keep those videos coming. Thank you for all your hard work!
![Old North (Christ) Church, Copps Hill, Boston, Mass. [front]](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4075/4898970755_e5b6b2c46d.jpg)
That was the original location of Johnny’s Barbershop at 181 Salem St.
Thank you for posting this. I didn’t know it existed. Seeing it brings back so many fond memories of a time (and a place) so dear to my heart. Those were the times of our lives.
Good memories …. How wonderful for Janet to share with all of us. Eddie Pal was the best for lunch. Keep up the good memories.
AAH, Pal’s Lunch – now part of Pagliuca’s restaurant. What a great place for breakfast and linch. Eddie “Pal” Ianacco was the owner: the short order cook was “Chi Chi” Demartino: and the woman serving coffee, is that Rose Ruggiero the mother of Henry, Ritchie, and Roger.???
The Christmas decorations, it looks like Sonny Mirabella’s yard on Salem St.
H Uncle:
That was Sonny’s son Gino talking in the video about the decorations. The place where the kids were playing pool, wasn’t that the old Shaw House in the North Bennett Street School?
It’s Teen Lounge. When we were kids we couldn’t wait to move from Shaw House to there.
This is so great to see the old times. I think I saw Robert LaRocca bagging the grocery for the elderly… Great video. Thank you so much for sharing. Looking forward for part 2 and 3. Great job to everyone that put this video together…
Vito,that is indeed Rose Ruggiero .A lovely woman, the family lived next to the Paul Revere house in NO.Square.This video is priceless for many of us & cant wait for more.
Thanks for the help with the references. I updated the description.
There’s more footage coming when I get it edited.
Ohmygod I cried while I watched this. Thanks for the memories…that was SO COOL!
I worked in haymarket when I was a kid back in the 70’s. Corner of North and Blackstone st. I know it isn’t exactly the North End but I’m always hoping and wishing that I can find something. I sold shopping bags in front of my parents restaurant named Sylvia & Charlies. That was under the Italian Coliseum.Thanks
It was so greeat seeing Janet Girlardis dad and Maria Bovas aunt Rose, they were great days, and the food was great also.
Bobby Church
awesome filming.. the saint store.. the Mirabella house ..great memories..
Hey Hey Hey Matt~~~~I was so busy yesterday, that I didn’t pay attention to my Computer !! Of all days !!
I am thrilled that you found the time to post the Time Capsule~~~it seems to please a lot of Young and older North End People !!! That makes me so happy !!! It has been spreading like Wildfire!!! I didn’t even recognize myself !! So long ago! Seeing my dad and his Lunch Room~~~~WOW !! It is such a Happy Sadness !!! If there is such a feeling? I can’t thank you enough for posting this tape~~for myself, my family, friends, folks that were in the film and those people and places no longer with us !!! Like I ALWAYS SAY~~~~MATT~~~~YOU ARE THE BEST!!!!!!
Thank you for posting. Many of us didn’t have video cameras back then so this is amazing. Brings you back to a time when everyone knew everyone. A time of no cell phones, instead you often heard your name being screamed out down the streets and if you didn’t hear your mother calling, a friend was always there to tell you that your mother was looking for you. Buildings housed residents that were more like big families. In and out of everyone’s home at all hours was the norm. I could write a book. Great memories. It would be nice to have a North End Family Reunion but in the meantime I hope you keep those videos coming. Thank you for all your hard work!