(no subject)

If you're new to this LJ: I'm an industrial strength movie fan. Went to film school (didn't graduate, but that's another story); read the books; saw the films. Meanwhile, years ago, when a guy named Steve I knew first got me interested in movies, the very first movie reference book I read was The Illustrated Guide to Film Directors, by David Quinlan. I got it from the adult reference stacks at SUNY Potsdam, and used my dad's ID to sign it out; I still remember the odd olive binding, and the photos of various celeb directors on the front. I eventually returned it, of course, and went on to other books- but every now and then, I'd think about that book. I never, ever saw it again over the years... until yesterday afternoon, when I saw it at the local secondhand store, and nearly knocked a stack of comic books to the floor in grabbing it. Now, I'm leafing through it, and thinking of Steve, and reminiscing over the many strange steps between there and here.

Yankee Stadium

I went to Yankee Stadium today; while there, I saw about a dozen people taking pictures from as close as the fencing allowed (the uptown 4 train, which commands an excellent view, was taped off). The whole process raised some unhappy
mental associations, as did the conversations I had with people on the subject:

"It looks like an earthquake. No- a greedquake." (I thought of this several times, while looking over at the new stadium, with its shiny gold lettering.)

"My gradfather lived here in 1923, and took pictures of the whole thing being built. Now, I'm doing the same thing, but in reverse."

I remember having a discussion with a friend of mine on the subject: if I'm not a sports fan (I'm not), and had never seen a game there (I hadn't), what should I care? My response: I know many native New Yorkers who've never been up in the Empire State Building, but if word came out tomorrow that that was being torn down, to build shinier, newer office space...

Yankee Stadium was a part of this city; it had a place in the story. With the original, I never did happen to see a game there; with its successor, I never will.