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Sidney Poitier and Greyhound (and buses)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Fri Jan 07, 2022 4:23 pm    Post subject: Sidney Poitier and Greyhound (and buses) Reply with quote

Today, sadly, we bid farewell to the last great "Classic Era" actor, one who was also a tremendous favorite of mine, Sidney Poitier (94)

Sidney's story was indeed a classic (and profound) example of the classic "rags to riches" fable.

Here was an actor who was, at once, dynamic, forceful, powerful, dignified, and believable.

It would seem, unseemingly, in a way, that GREYHOUND played a pivitol role in young Sidney's "journey to the Great American Experience".

As a young immigrant male, virtually alone in a strange and vast new land, Sidney boarded a GREYHOUND bus in Miami and traveled to Atlanta; he was but 16 at the time.

There, he rode the streetcars for several hours, trying to get "a feel" of the city, but nothing was there to entice him to stay.

Back at the bus station, he told the ticket clerk how much money he could spend on a ticket; he wanted to get as far away from Atlanta.

The ticket clerk then told Sidney that, for $11.35 (one way) he could travel to New York.

Once in New York, he asked a passers-by "How do I get to Harlem?"

When the gentleman pointed to a subway entrance, Sidney was flabbergasted....TRAINS....that ran by ELECTRICITY......trains running at breakneck speeds....UNDER the ground!

During his early weeks in New York, he learned his way about the city, via both subways and buses.

RIP, Sir Sidney, you, indeed, were a "larger than life legend", and a shining light for so many of us.....

"NYO"


Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Fri Jan 07, 2022 9:26 pm; edited 5 times in total
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Fri Jan 07, 2022 4:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A great man, who leaves a great legacy......

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney_Poitier
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Fri Jan 07, 2022 6:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Speaking of the late, great Sidney Poitier and buses.........

In my favorite Poitier film, "A RAISIN IN THE SUN" (1961) there is a quick scene in downtown Chicago, where Sidney, as chauffeur "Walter Lee Younger", stands by his employer's tail-finned Cadillac; in the background, you can see a number of CTA Old Looks and postwar TWINS........

"NYO"
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Fri Jan 07, 2022 7:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

In the original "RAISIN IN THE SUN" play (which opened in 1959), "Walter Lee" (Sidney) asks his young son, "Travis", what he wants to be when he grows up.

He quickly responds, "A bus driver". Wink

"NYO"
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PostPosted: Fri Jan 07, 2022 8:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Note the photo of a dapper Sidney Poitier aboard a London bus in 1967's "TO SIR, WITH LOVE".

Also, note the other interesting bus scenes from both American and foreign films....... Wink

https://www.listal.com/list/bus-scenes-ii-movies
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PostPosted: Fri Jan 07, 2022 8:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

From Sidney Poitier's made-for-TV movie, "SEPARATE BUT EQUAL" (1991)......

https://themoviedb.org/movie/128159-separate-but-equal
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PostPosted: Fri Jan 07, 2022 10:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

According to Sidney Poitier's biography, "THE LONG JOURNEY" (1969), in 1943, he alighted from the bus he had boarded in Atlanta at GREYHOUND's 50th St. Terminal (near 8th Avenue)

After his battered suitcase (along with its meager contents) was stolen, he was determined not to spend any money on rent (he was down to $1.50) until he saved enough to buy a decent suit.

If there wasn't a convenient rooftop to use for an overnight "accommodation", he'd go back to the GREYHOUND terminal, and, put a dime in the slot of a pay toilet booth.

There, he'd put down the seat, put his feet up on the wall of the booth, and he'd sleep until the following morning, working at any and all odd jobs an immigrant youth of his experience could secure.

"Rags to riches", indeed.......

"NYO"
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PostPosted: Sat Jan 08, 2022 12:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

In the 1961 film, "A RAISIN IN THE SUN", there were to be much more footage on the "Younger" family out in the "real world" of Chicago.

There were, in fact, scenes that were never filmed, including "Walter" (Poitier) and "Lena" (Claudia McNeil) riding on CTA buses and elevated trains, as well as "Beneatha" (Diana Sands) riding the CTA to and from her college classes.

Had these scenes been filmed, we would have had interesting glimpses of 4000 and 6000-series trains on the "L", as well as CTA buses (at that time, GM Fishbowls were just beginning to make an appearance, and most of the CTA's bus fleet consisted of Old Looks, TWINS, WHITES, and ACF-BRILLS.

Remember, too, that the CTA was also still operating trolley buses.

There is, besides the aforementioned downtown Chicago scene, (where a number of CTA buses can be seen in the background), a quick glimpse of a train of 6000-series cars rumbling by overhead on the "L", somewhere on the South Side.

The proud CNS&M interurban cars were also still in operation in 1961.

The many "outdoor" scenes ended up never being filmed, largely, sad to say, from subtle (and, sometimes, not-too-subtle) rumblings of racism, towards both the actors and the film company (Columbia)

There is also a short scene where the Younger family arrive by taxicab (a 1960 Dodge) to see their new (though modest) suburban home ("Clybourne Park").......

"NYO"


Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Sat Jan 08, 2022 2:32 am; edited 1 time in total
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PostPosted: Sat Jan 08, 2022 1:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I was very fortunate to come across this still from the 1961 Columbia film, "A RAISIN IN THE SUN".

Note the CTA Old Look and TWIN COACH in the background.........

https://www.listal.com/viewimage/11597175
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PostPosted: Sat Jan 08, 2022 2:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Recall, also, that when the film, "A RAISIN IN THE SUN" debuted in 1961, the CTA was then operating large fleets of postwar TWINS and Old Looks; ex-CSL WHITES, MACKS, and ACF-BRILLS were also still on the job, as were the trolley buses.

the sleek and futuristic Fishbowls were just then starting to appear on the streets of the Windy City.....

"NYO"
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PostPosted: Sat Jan 08, 2022 2:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here we see a young and dapper Sidney Poitier boarding a 1951-vintage London Transport "RT", in one of his most iconic films, "TO SIR, WITH LOVE" (1967).........

www.imcdb.org/vehicle_154228-AEC-Regent-III-1951.html

(courtesy:imcdb.org)
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PostPosted: Sat Jan 08, 2022 3:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thirteen years after "A RAISIN IN THE SUN" hit the big screen in 1961, we see a smart-looking GREYHOUND 4106 in Chicago, with a CTA Fishbowl in the background......

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/13862711337967073/
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PostPosted: Sat Jan 08, 2022 9:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

"A RAISIN IN THE SUN" was set in Chicago; here are some photos of classic-era Chicago bus stations........

www.chicagorailfan.com/greystac.html
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PostPosted: Sat Jan 08, 2022 9:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The magnificence once to be found in the Windy City......

www.connectingthewindycity.com/2014/03/chicago-greyhound-terminal-opens-march.html
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 09, 2022 1:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's 1977, and Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby are appearing in the comedy, "A PIECE OF THE ACTION" (trivia note: Sidney also directed this film)

In 1977 Chicago, sleek, classic "Hounds" like these were commonplace sights......

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/343469909085929961/
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