Stephen Harmon: An Appreciation

In the 1960's when Stephen Harmon saw Walker Evan's 1931 photograph of Saratoga Springs' Main Street he said to himself, "Nothing will ever look like this again and thank God that guy took that photo and I'm going to be that guy who takes those photos."

It required moving to the Upper West Side in 1978 for Harmon to find a neighborhood on the cusp of change to gather the motivation. Thank God he took these photographs of Mom and Pop stores gone by and of the people of the Upper West Side that according to Steve, "walked around like they owned the place."

Originally published in the West Side Rag and Viewing.nyc

DISAPPEARING NYC: GLASER'S BAKE SHOP

In honor of Glaser's Bake Shop's final week of existence, here is a story of yet another New York City gem that is disappearing. This time the store closing is not due to the landlord or the internet or changing fashions.

Glaser's has been a family business for 116 years. Herb Glaser and his brother still run the place. After spending a lifetime making dough, painting black & white cookies, and baking jelly-filled danishes, he and his brother are saying it's closing time. Fair enough.

The Glaser's own the building so it's the rare NYC retail demise where they are the calling the shots on their own terms.

We can still mourn.

Here's a last look at the interior of Glaser's. We'll never see an authentic century-old bakery like this again.

Thank you Herb Glaser, the Glaser family and the staff for keeping the tradition alive as long as you did.

Debuted on viewing.nyc on June 26th, 2018.

Directed and Edited by Christopher Ming Ryan
Director of Photography: Evan Fairbanks

DISAPPEARING NYC: LINCOLN PLAZA CINEMAS

I'm not taking the news of the imminent demise of Lincoln Plaza Cinemas well. I know I am not alone. For over 30 years, this movie theater has been the Upper West Side neighborhood place to see quality films in a friendly warm environment. It has survived while other neighborhood theaters have vanished: The Regency, The Embassy 72nd Street, The Olympia, The New Yorker, The Metro, Cinema Studio... I can go on and on.

I want to speak to the landlord of this theater directly and tell him he's making a mistake that he can fix.

The night before the theater's closing, I found Upper West Siders and New Yorkers as angry and sad as I am.

I was struck by the passion and feelings people have for this theater. Also, somehow, I missed over the years the unique curves and beauty of the space (probably by scurrying quickly to find good seats).

We have a message to the landlord, Howard Milstein: make capital improvements on this space, but keep the people who run this theater by offering them an affordable lease. Toby Talbot deserves to stay. I want to enjoy the films they hand pick and continue to support the wonderful staff here-- for a very long time. Do the right thing.

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Alas, this movie theater disappeared on January 28th, 2018.

Originally appeared in West Side Rag and Viewing.nyc and Jeremiah's Vanishing NY.

DISAPPEARING NYC: WALTER'S WATCHES

Native Russian, Walter Dikarev, owned Walter's Antique Clock and Watch Repair on 240 West 10th Street in Greenwich Village for over 20 years.
According to Walter, his shop is no longer profitable. Rather than endure another rent increase, Walter decided to retire at the end of 2017.

But like most of us New Yorkers faced with exorbitant rents and the high cost of living, Walter remains positive. Coming to America and making it here was always his dream. He achieved it.

Originally published on Viewing.nyc and the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation's Blog Off the Grid

DISAPPEARING NYC: JOON FISH MARKET

“The landlord said, ‘You pay $3000 more or close down.’ We can’t survive.”

— Polo Rivera, Joon Manager

Originally published by  The West Side Rag and Viewing.NYC.

Screened as part of the Searching for Soul: New York City in the Age of Hyper-Gentrification event at the Museum of the City of New York (6/28/18).

PHILIP CARLSON - ON BEHALF OF TALENT

Philip Carlson was the first talent agent to sign Philip Seymour Hoffman, Claire Danes, Billy Crudup, Liev Schreiber, Idris Elba and many more talented actors. He was a manager then agent for nearly 30 years based in New York City at small agencies.

The agencies he worked for all don't exist anymore as larger agencies have overwhelmed smaller ones to the point of extinction.

Chosen as an Editor's Pick by theatlantic.com and video of the day by studiodaily.com. Official selection of The Harlem International Film Festival (2017) and winner of the Personal Stories prize at the Chain Film Festival (2017) and winner of the Emerging Documentary prize at the Bucks Fever Film Festival (2017).

I am grateful to the actors who donated their time to this project.

For more information on Philip Carlson: philipcarlson.net/
Phil's book on Acting: Breaking And Entering