“BROOKLYN…I’VE GOT “BROOKLYNS-ITIS” …MAN”! ©2022

(Part One)

H-how, w-hen did THE SHABBY BROOKLYN, (never shabby chic…), change into THE EPITOME OF YUPPIE ELEGANCE?

BROOKLYN now a name for CELEBRITY'S BABIES, BOOZE, ETC. TICKLES ME!

“I LOVE BROOKLYN” abounds on T-SHIRTS, & PUNKS ALIKE attest to its glory…KILLS ME!

In my day, it was known for its Bridge, Museum & Coney Island…& sooo sadly… The Dodgers. We, of that special place, called them affectionately, “The Bums”. So, when they deserted our Ebbits Field, (for California), they really proved ARE BUMS. That broke our hearts & spirit. 😭

Some of America's greatest stars were born in my old😍 Brooklyn, notably Danny Kaye, Shelley Winters, Steve Lawrence, Barbara Streisand, Lanie Kaizan, Spike Lee, Bernie Kovaks, Woody Allen, Barry Manilow, Neil Diamond, “Legs” Diamond (no relations)!

A HOITY-TOITY BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, PARK SLOPE, & WILLIAMSBURG SECTIONS ARE NOT THE BROOKLYN I REMEMBER!

I RECALL IF YOU HAD A BROOKLYN ACCENT “UH-OH” 💥THAT MEANT YOU WERE OF AN INFERIOR BREED…” A GREENHORN “, AN UNEDUCATED IMMIGRANT FROM THE OLD COUNTRY…HOW TERRIBLE!

Lotsa “ dems” & “disses” (thems & this’) peppered distinct Brooklynese speech. It had its own nasal, guttural, (dare I say… rhythm). Not that different from its “raspy cousin borough…The Bronx”.

Want to hear The Bronx listen to Tony Curtis speech in the movies.

Want to hear Brooklyn watch the movie “My Cousin Vinny” Pesci & Marisa Torme …. tawk.

Got it now?

It was our public-school teachers who drilled into our heads…its “ask" instead of “assed”, library not lie-berry, jewel-ry not jew-el-reeeee, no ain’t…Heaven Forbid! 😄

Our accent was strong, and class defined, (I guess like cockney), in the UK…until “The Beatles” made it hip!

Even our diva, Miss Streisand was reluctant to elaborate about her lowly Brooklyn childhood…now she’s honored to perform at Barkley Center & accept the applause that she is from our Brooklyn.

And you thought only a Politian can do an about face!