Jackson Heights Life

I lived in Jackson Heights from 3rd grade at PS 69, Joseph Pulitzer JHS 145 and onto Bryant for 2 years before I moved to Long Island with my father. If I am remembering correctly, I left sometime in 1966. I have so many great memories from living in Jackson Heights and remember having a great circle of friends through the years. I missed them terribly after I had left.

Here are some of the things that I remember: Toy City on 37th Ave., PS 69, Mrs Levi who flunked me in 3rd grade....who does that to a new kid coming in mid term, geez, and my favorite teacher Eli Jacobowitz who inspired me in 5th grade, candy store right across the street from PS 69, pizza store close to school (slice for .15), Hamburger Express which was my favorite (with Al cooking the hamburgers at lunchtime), Toddle House, Fish store on Roosevelt Ave that sold the best french fries that I have ever had in my entire life, Tito Puente sign in the window of a place on 37th Ave, Jahn's where my mother and I would eat dinner after her work, JHS 145, St Joan of Arc school where some of my friends went, Record store on 82nd street where I bought my first Beatles record, Fields department store, Jackson theater, Boulevard theater where I saw the Beatles movies and James Bond movies with my favorite guy back then, Vladimir Zea, and the 77th street park where I spent a lot of my time playing handball or just meeting up with friends from all around.

Does anyone remember any of those things? Is there anyone in this community that was in Jackson Heights during the 60's that remembers going to the park on 77th street, playing handball...or just meeting friends there? It was a wonderful time. Would love to hear from someone from back then who remembers any of this.

I could probably list a lot more but maybe someone could list what they remember which would stir some other memories from back then. They were all good times and good memories.

Loved the Toddle House.  Also the pizza place; two slices and a coke for forty cents.  Most of all, the fries at the fish store were the best I ever had.  Those were the days!

I lived on 76th and 34th ave and the baseball diamond was right outside my window. I was in Mr Hartsteins class in 1964, PS 69 and used to go to the Pizza Place and Hamburger Express all the time. That park used to have sprinklers where I went as a small child. The monkey bars up the ramp and see saw too. The handball court below wasn't something I was into. Don't know if you knew that in the warm months they would have a band on occasion playing on the base ball field at night. So many friends that I can't locate. I moved to L.I. in 1965.
Vicki Unger

Budd's was still going strong when i moved here in the early '90s. i liked the vibe a lot.

Yes, I remember a LOT. We lived here on 89th st from 1948-51 and my father was the local Doctor, office in Woodside, surgeon in Physicians Hospital and almost all the other (now gone) Queens hospitals. I went to Garden School for 5th grade and PS 89 for 6th (horrible teacher) and 7th (fabulous teacher, Mr. O'Neill). He probably was the greatest influence that led me into teaching. I subsequently taught university, secondary and primary school Movement in the UK and this country.

We all played punchball in the street near our homes, hung out in vacant lots (remember those?), walked the neighbors' dogs and went to some Carnival each Spring down by Northern Blvd (ferris wheel and lots of rides). All were a dime each ride, if I recall correctly.

I have just moved back and would love to meet other long-ago residents.
Yes: Fields' dept store (small by today's standards but very posh to my immigrant family's mind). Jahn's was in Forest Hills, not here, in my day but everyone had their local corner candy store and ice cream counter. Near PS 89 was Hampton's, where they let us read the comic books for free providing we put them back nicely, while we had lunch at the counter.

We had BMT (now N,R) and IND (now E/F) and it wasn't the 32 bus but it Was the 15 double-decker bus that went from Manhattan to JH. We took it home a lot from my dancing lessons. I became a dancer and graduated from HS Performing Arts in 1956!

I have recently dissolved my animal rescue organization but am always interested in meeting like-minded people with animal concerns, or interests in the Healing Arts. I am a certified yoga, Pilates instructor and a Yoga Therapist. I hope to meet new friends here, now that I am finally (more or less) moved in.

I was born in Physicians hospital in 1950, lived on 84th Street and Roosevelt Ave till we moved to Bayside in 1969.  Went to Garden School from 1955 to 1967, and we spent a lot of time in the park across 78th Street!  Spent a lot of recesses there and remember being a crossing guard in 5th and 6th grade, and having the crossing from Garden as my post.  Do they still allow kids to climb on Monkey Bars over asphalt? Remember in High School that  Garden Varsity Home Soft Ball games we’re held in the Park. Also remember taking Driver’s Ed and starting and ending driving sessions at the park.  Anyone remember Nick’s Coffee Shop on the north side of Northern Blvd?  A long time ago!!

yes I lived in Jackson Heights for manny years, I went to PS 145 in the sixties and allso worked in Toy City in the seventy and went to Newtown  High School. I miss old Jackson Heights it's not the same anymore but I still go back for the Restraunts.
Also I have attached a picture taken in the 70s of the workers from Toy City including myself.