Family Nights On a Yorkville Roof

83rd Street Sunset

The roof was our oasis from the heat, we had many extension cords and hose extensions to get our stuff from fourth floor to roof, for water (had a baby pool), radio and black & white TV. Dad brought up a standing lamp once so he could see while he sketched at twilight. Mom wanted to kill him. She loved her lamps.

Before air-conditioning, I spent entire Yorkville summers with the lights out in our 517 East 83rd Street apartment until it was pitch dark.

Mom could page a calendar in the winter and start sweating when June, July, August flipped by. Dad loved heat. He slept under a pipe in the Navy. Made for nice conversation.

Rory Pryor on 517 E 83 St. roof @ 1961

One afternoon, I said "I'm going blind here!" I couldn't read my comic. Mom told me to go to the back window and use the sun light. This was one of my first openings to get her to let me play out on our fourth floor fire escape facing the backyard and 84th Street. I'd bring most of my stuff out there with me to play with. Eventually, Rory got out there to. I was afraid of heights and kept my butt glued to the stairs. Rory was not afraid of heights. He'd torture me by climbing over the fire escape to the outside, hang off putting his body in mid-air 40 feet over the concrete below and then he'd twist the knife, " Hey Tommy, look, I'm gonna fall and Mom is gonna kill you." I was frozen and he was right.

83 St Sunset

Tommy on roof @ 1961

Rory on roof @ 1961

view from 4R fire escape @ 517 E 83St. @ 1962

I received a "It happened in Yorkville," video from a neighbor, Janet Silverman. I like it, you might, too. Here is Janet's note and a link to her video.

Dear Tommy. This is a true story and stories like this only happen in New York City (and this one happened right here in our neighborhood)! New York is too small, the Upper East Side is too small! Hopefully people can really relate to this experience, laugh at my insecurities, and spread the word so that I can find my Prince Charming and/or future murderer!
Thank you!
Janet Silverman

"Janet's Missed Connection"