Pin Boys

In the 1940s into the early 50s', there was a bar on the northeast corner of 84th Street and York Avenue called, Gene's Tavern.

Above to the right, my Dad, standing in front of the tavern's window. To the left, is my Uncle Tom (20yrs old), in 1945, in front of the Pryor's building, 1582 York Avenue. In the background, on the other side of street is Gene's.

.

The two pictures on top, are Dad, (16 yrs old), on the same day in 1945. You can see the tavern in the background.

.

Gene's Tavern had a two lane bowling alley in the cellar. Tom was the weekend pin boy for the place. Good tips. When Tom got too old for the job he passed it onto his younger brother, Bob. There was a controversy over the changing of the guard on this pin boy position in 1940. They were 15 and 11 at the time, their father was in a TB hospital upstate, their mom worked two jobs, six days a week. Tom & Bob liked to settle things quickly. I'm saving that one for a longer story. It's a doozy.

.

.