Incredible story! I loved "Gypsy," anything related to Gypsy's story, and I was a stripper, on-and-off for two decades... This was so fun to read and discover! Thanks for the laugh. Brilliant ending. I hope you read some of my "Stripper Stories" on my page :)
I've been reading the freebies for several weeks. I just subscribed. I'm one of those deplorable conservatives who doesn't read The New York Times, but, I gotta say, I've not read one single piece that I didn't love. Thank you and onward!
Thank you, my friend. You remain the reporter, whose Newsday stories on the Mary Evans case and the lives of circus people who were not stars, dazzled me. We need to have that lunch.
Thank you. This is wonderful fun. I loved not only Faith Dane’s story, but also the list of words that “pull ‘em in!” Pigeon, huh? A rat with wings compels people to read a column? Somehow I thought those of us reading the Times since our days in the crib, were more sophisticated. Yeah, in my dreams!
Thank you, I'm delighted you enjoyed it. But you should know, I worked for lots of outfits before the Times; The New York Post, The New York Daily News, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, Rolling Stone...believe me, it's a really long list. And somehow, wherever I was, the circus people and show people and artists and I managed to find one another.
I hope you didn’t think I was being dismissive of you. Your august background certainly explains how certain words could “catch” a reader. And...I am so impressed with your CV. Wow!
No, no, not at all! I played around with pigeons for comic effect. But I did do a story about a newspaper photographer who had started out in, hmmm, late '30s I think and his first job was handling the carrier pigeons who delivered the film taken at the ballpark back to the office. If I can find the link, I'll add it. And another, in the '70s, about kids in the Bronx who raised pigeons on their roof. It was like a scene out of "Out of The Waterfront". Pigeons seem to add a sort of New York City spice to a story, although I know they're not exclusive to the town.
Ah yes “On The Waterfront” where Hoboken, NJ was the NYC stand in! I do not know exactly where the pigeon coops were located, however. I’m sure with proper research, I could find that out. I surmise in 2023, they would be added post-production with CGI! We have to be advised that it isn’t CGI ---“REAL”---nowadays. Life is passing me by. I can hardly keep up!
how the fuck am i NOT subscribed to this? got it in the email just now and halfway thru this piece somehow hit your notes and kept scrolling thru delighted...ok maybe i AM subscribed and just forgot
substack is like quicksand at any rate and thats at its worst at its best mmmmmmmmmm morphine ha ok im gonna finish this and get on that barbie thing you wrote
this is professional writing its almost like youve done it before
Thank you, A.K. I admit, I had many years of practice. Though my old New York Times editor, a minute after I posted, called me to tell me I'd made a mistake.
haha i have had extremely minor experience with journalism when younger as it was always the goal but realised soon enough i had neither the discipline or thick skin....a few of my friends stuck it out and had fine careers and i have for years absorbed their war stories so reading you was like bein home
One of the high points of my life was watching "A Little Night Music" on Broadway and hearing "Send in the Clowns," for the very first time, sung by Glynis Johns. Experiences like that come along once in a decade, if you're lucky...
It was kind of like the scene in Oppenheimer, when first they see the light from the blast, and then 45 seconds later the sound and concussion hit them like a tidal wave...
This is WONDERFUL, Joyce! I laughed, I felt so for you, for Faith, for Herb, and for all those in the audience who wanted Faith to be quiet. I could see her through your words -- and your words are so perfect -- all of them, in the order you placed them. BRAVA!
Irna, Thank you! The scene in Sardis was almost out of Sunset Boulevard -- but Faith lived another 17 years, ran for mayor of Washington, D.C., where she lived, and seemed to have a lot of fun shaking things up. And Marlon Brando -- a pal from her early days in New York -- was a lifelong friend.
Thank you, Joyce! I appreciate that. I'm finishing a poetry manuscript. Next— maybe the Stripper Stories?
Incredible story! I loved "Gypsy," anything related to Gypsy's story, and I was a stripper, on-and-off for two decades... This was so fun to read and discover! Thanks for the laugh. Brilliant ending. I hope you read some of my "Stripper Stories" on my page :)
I just found this and read two stories. Powerful. I have a feeling there is a novel there.
How can I send you something for your eyes only? It's about our mutual love--and Herb's--for musical theater. And yes. Lunch is a yes!
Is "narcissistic loon" in the DSM?
Roz, I wrote that entry in the DSM.
And it's illustrated with a photo of my ex boyfriend?
Roz, You ever notice, we get no material at all out of the good guys?
I've been reading the freebies for several weeks. I just subscribed. I'm one of those deplorable conservatives who doesn't read The New York Times, but, I gotta say, I've not read one single piece that I didn't love. Thank you and onward!
Tom,
Thank you so much! Very happy to have you here.
-- Joyce
No matter the moment, no matter the subject, Wadler's writing is breathtaking.
Carole,
Thank you, my friend. You remain the reporter, whose Newsday stories on the Mary Evans case and the lives of circus people who were not stars, dazzled me. We need to have that lunch.
-- Joyce
With all due respect to Faith, a great story is only as good as the way it's told; she had nothing on you Joycie.
Reminds me of a Damon Runyon story. So funny. So quintessentially New York.
Joyce, you light up my life.
Thank you. This is wonderful fun. I loved not only Faith Dane’s story, but also the list of words that “pull ‘em in!” Pigeon, huh? A rat with wings compels people to read a column? Somehow I thought those of us reading the Times since our days in the crib, were more sophisticated. Yeah, in my dreams!
Christina,
Thank you, I'm delighted you enjoyed it. But you should know, I worked for lots of outfits before the Times; The New York Post, The New York Daily News, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, Rolling Stone...believe me, it's a really long list. And somehow, wherever I was, the circus people and show people and artists and I managed to find one another.
I hope you didn’t think I was being dismissive of you. Your august background certainly explains how certain words could “catch” a reader. And...I am so impressed with your CV. Wow!
Christina,
No, no, not at all! I played around with pigeons for comic effect. But I did do a story about a newspaper photographer who had started out in, hmmm, late '30s I think and his first job was handling the carrier pigeons who delivered the film taken at the ballpark back to the office. If I can find the link, I'll add it. And another, in the '70s, about kids in the Bronx who raised pigeons on their roof. It was like a scene out of "Out of The Waterfront". Pigeons seem to add a sort of New York City spice to a story, although I know they're not exclusive to the town.
- J.W.
Ah yes “On The Waterfront” where Hoboken, NJ was the NYC stand in! I do not know exactly where the pigeon coops were located, however. I’m sure with proper research, I could find that out. I surmise in 2023, they would be added post-production with CGI! We have to be advised that it isn’t CGI ---“REAL”---nowadays. Life is passing me by. I can hardly keep up!
How splendid for you!
omg finished it so damn good think i crashed into a paywall tho shit
No paywall. Paying is voluntary. read a bunch of the old posts and see if you connect with them.
how the fuck am i NOT subscribed to this? got it in the email just now and halfway thru this piece somehow hit your notes and kept scrolling thru delighted...ok maybe i AM subscribed and just forgot
substack is like quicksand at any rate and thats at its worst at its best mmmmmmmmmm morphine ha ok im gonna finish this and get on that barbie thing you wrote
this is professional writing its almost like youve done it before
Thank you, A.K. I admit, I had many years of practice. Though my old New York Times editor, a minute after I posted, called me to tell me I'd made a mistake.
haha i have had extremely minor experience with journalism when younger as it was always the goal but realised soon enough i had neither the discipline or thick skin....a few of my friends stuck it out and had fine careers and i have for years absorbed their war stories so reading you was like bein home
One of the high points of my life was watching "A Little Night Music" on Broadway and hearing "Send in the Clowns," for the very first time, sung by Glynis Johns. Experiences like that come along once in a decade, if you're lucky...
You are SO DAMN LUCKY.
Wish I'd been there.
Robert, Yes. Glynis Johns -- she must have brought down the house.
It was kind of like the scene in Oppenheimer, when first they see the light from the blast, and then 45 seconds later the sound and concussion hit them like a tidal wave...
Whoa! Write that story, Robert!
This is WONDERFUL, Joyce! I laughed, I felt so for you, for Faith, for Herb, and for all those in the audience who wanted Faith to be quiet. I could see her through your words -- and your words are so perfect -- all of them, in the order you placed them. BRAVA!
Irna, Thank you! The scene in Sardis was almost out of Sunset Boulevard -- but Faith lived another 17 years, ran for mayor of Washington, D.C., where she lived, and seemed to have a lot of fun shaking things up. And Marlon Brando -- a pal from her early days in New York -- was a lifelong friend.