BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Good points.

In "RAPID TRANSIT BUSES" (McCausland) it was noted that it was not uncommon that most RTS buses went through through two or three wheelchair lifts during their life spans.

I wonder now at just how "labor intensive" the kneeling feature was on the "Dangerfields"?

"NYO"

["RTS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Also from the aforementioned book.....

"........compared to the Transbus, the high floor of the RTS didn't allow for easy access for those with limited mobility. In order to meet accessibility requirements, GM developed a rear-door wheelchair lift as an option with the Series 03 buses......"

".......GM continued to believe that rear-door lifts were the way to go. Drivers wasted a considerable amount of time walking to the back of the bus, to operate the lift, but it also saved wheelchair-bound passengers the struggle of moving down the bus aisle from the front door........"

"NYO"

["SERIES 03"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

I did not know this; thanks for the info.

In her later years, when Mom still could get out on her own (and we lived a stone's throw from the "22 HILLSIDE" stop), she MORE than appreciated the kneeling feature (last time she rode the buses was 1993)

Recall, nowadays, all transit buses are low-floor, and the exceptions (in our area, would be the "big boy" MCI (aka "Jersey Hounds) used on NJT's commuter runs (also "Em-Tee-Yay" and LAKELAND)......

"NYO"

["22 HILLSIDE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

I just came across this; thought you might be interested in the pics (note ads and subway map)......

https://www.50slucy.com/lucy-and-the-loving-cup-on-the-subway.html

["LEXINGTON AVENUE EXPRESS"]

[X-Astorian]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

X-Astorian:

Right on all counts!

Yes, the interior of the car Lucy and Ethel (heading to Bleeker St.) were aboard clearly had seating patterned after BMT/IND equipment; indeed, the overall "look" recalled an "Arnine"-type.

The sequences of the prewar "AA" train were used in numerous movies and tv shows, back in the day; it was used a few times in the early 1950's Richard Widmark film, "PICKUP ON SOUTH STREET", as well as the 1950's "Superman" episode, "A SHOT IN THE DARK".

Recall, too, the "Lucy" episode from 1956, "STATEN ISLAND FERRY"; when we see Lucy and Fred Mertz embarking for St. George, we see the "GOLD STAR MOTHER" ("MISS NEW YORK"-class) pulling out of Whitehall Street.

Then, after they were seen fast asleep on the open upper deck (and making several round trips to St. George!), we now see footage of one of the "MERRELL"-class boats (then the newest in the fleet) shuttling back and forth (a twin-stacked "DONGAN HILLS"-boat can also be seen in the background)

The intro footage to the ferry sequence shows autos (first car is a '55 Buick) leaving a boat at the Whitehall Terminal (Slip #5); the building is clearly the old Battery Maritime Building (Governor's Island Ferry slips, previously used by Brooklyn boats until 1942), adjacent to the SI slips; the SI Terminal had a similar facade, but was remodeled and modernized in 1956, the year of this episode.

Interesting to note that, before the schedule reductions of the early 1980's, one of the "MERRELL"-class steamers would lay up overnight at one of the Battery Maritime building's slips, before the new four-boat schedule ended this practice.........

"NYO"

["FLATBUSH AVENUE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Regarding the "Lucy"episode, "STATEN ISLAND FERRY"........

In this episode, note the "NO SMOKING ALLOWED ON THIS DECK" signs, as well as the authentic railings/fencing and cabin panel work; as AMERICAN EXPORT LINES supplied Desilu Studios with a number of furnishings for the "BON VOYAGE" episode (1956) to re-create the pier and the decks/cabins for the "USS CONSTITUTION", it would not surprise me at all if the ferry set props for the "STATEN ISLAND FERRY"episode were supplied by the Department Of Marine and Aviation, from their vast storehouse of parts at the ferry's (now demolished) maintenance base at Tompkinsville (Pier 7)

The life preserver on the ferry simply was lettered "STATEN ISLAND NY", instead of carrying the full name of the ferry..........

"NYO"

["MARINE & AVIATION"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

In the "I LOVE LUCY"episode "CALIFORNIA, HERE WE COME"(1955), Lucy's mother, upon her arrival, tells Lucy that "the bus let me off right at their front door."

Lucy:

"Wait a minute, the bus doesn't come down this street."

Yet, in the 1957 "LUCY AND SUPERMAN"episode, we see Lucy out on the ledge of her apartment building, looking down several stories, and we see stock footage of a "Sherman" pulling up to a stop right in front of the apartment building!*

(screen shot of this bus on imcdb.org!)

The distinct sound of a "Sherman" horn (beeping three times) can clearly be heard as a bonus!

(interestingly, the "stock" traffic sound effects can also clearly be heard in the background (intermixed with actual set sounds) during the Borough Hall scene in 1974's Striesand comedy flick, "FOR PETE'S SAKE")

"NYO"

["DESILU"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Further:

I have never seen the movie all the way through, but I seem to recall a scene in "MARTY" (Ernest Borngnine) involving a SURFACE bus.

Going back to "LUCY AND THE LOVING CUP" (1957); take notice that all of the stock footage of the subway trains were IRT and BMT (no BMT)!

In one early "LUCY"episode, I remember Ricky trying to define the word "local" (he pronounced it "LACKAL"!

He defines it thus:

"....it's like a Fifth Avenue bus; it's either a 'lackal' or a ' 'spress'!"

"NYO"

["MUrray Hill 5-2099"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Ricky (in Hollywood) trying to "splain" the time zone differences to the Mertzes:

"......look, the sun opens in the east and closes in the west......."

In the "Brown Derby" episode, we see a VERY QUICK glimpse of a MTA TDH-4801 (aka "California bus") passing by the Derby.

And recalling our in-depth baseball discussions this season in another topic, in the "Palm Springs" episode, Fred grouses to Ricky that he won't be able to see the Hollywood Stars play, due to rain.............

"NYO"

["TDH-4801"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Speaking of "bit players"......

How about the oft-forgotten bell/buzzer cords on the buses of yore?

FACCo buses originally had doorbell-type push buttons (through the 1980's, the old P&W "Bullet"and "Strafford" cars in Philly were still equipped with these push-button passenger bells)

First and foremost, Your's Truly remembers the sharp "BRACCCCKK!" that sounded when you pulled the signal cord; then, there was the single-note "Avon" chime, and then, there was the signal that had the "clinky" sound of an out-of-tune piano key (you can hear this on the "Sherman" in "A BRONX TALE")

I first recall "push strips" with the "Bombers", and later, the RTS.

Right up until the end, the NJDOT "Dangerfields" were all still using traditional bell cords.

A long, long time ago..........

"NYO"

["NJDOT"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

"Milk Carton"/"Slinky" retro?

T'aint the same, pal.............

"NYO"

["PULL CORD TO SIGNAL OPERATOR"]