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(Redirected from Bensonhurst)
'Bensonhurst' is a neighborhood located in the south-central part of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. Bensonhurst runs from about 14th Avenue to 25th Avenue and from Gravesend Bay to 53rd Street, encompassing Bath Beach, New Utrecht, and part of Dyker Heights and bordered by the Bath Beach, Bay Ridge, Gravesend, and Borough Park sections. For many generations of Jewish and Italian residents, Bensonhurst's geographic boundaries have been defined by the streets where the ethnic mix of Bensonhurst begins to fray. Interestingly, since about 1993, the rapid expansion of the population of Orthodox Jews in neighboring Borough Park, has encroached deeply into Bensonhurst, such that the ethnic geographic boundaries now begin from about 18th Avenue to 25th Avenue and from Gravesend Bay to 60th Street. This 1.4 square mile change represents an expansion of Borough Park and a shrinkage of Bensonhurst, as defined by traditional ethnic boundaries. It represents a historical parallel to the shrinkage of Manhattan's Little Italy as a result of the expansion and encroachment of neighboring Chinatown.
Bensonhurst derives its name from Arthur W. Benson, the former president of Brooklyn Gas, who in 1835 began buying farmland that formerly belonged to the Polhemuses family. Between 1835 and 1850 Benson divided the farmland into lots that were sold in the following decades as part of the newly created suburb of Bensonhurst[1], which was annexed into the 30th Ward of Brooklyn in the 1890s.
In the early 1900s, many Jews and Italians moved into the neighborhood, and prior to World War II the neighborhood was about equally Jewish and Italian. In the 1950s, there was an influx of immigrants from southern Italy and most of the Jewish population left the neighborhood, leaving the area predominantly Italian. In the 1990s, many Chinese and Russian immigrants began to arrive. Today, the Italian American community numbers over 50,000, or more than one-third of the population. Despite increasing diversity, Bensonhurst is still heavily Italian-American, as its Italian-speaking community remains over 20,000 strong, according to the census of 2000. Its main thoroughfare, 18th Avenue (also known as Cristoforo Columbo Boulevard) between roughly 60th Street and Bay Ridge Parkway, is lined with predominantly small, Italian family-owned businesses—many of which have remained in the same family for several generations. 86th Street is another popular thoroughfare stretching from 16th Avenue to Stillwell Avenue and lined by the arches of the elevated subway line BMT West End Line of the New York City Subway. The 86th Street elevated train was popularized in opening credits of ''Welcome Back, Kotter'', however the thoroughfare is not the icon of Italian American heritage and culture that 18th Avenue represents.
On August 23, 1989, a 16-year-old African-American named Yusef Hawkins was shot and killed in Bensonhurst, after he and three friends had been attacked by a group of white youths. At least four neighborhood residents were tried and convicted of charges related to the assault and murder. In connection with the Hawkins murder and the subsequent trials, Reverend Al Sharpton led several protest marches through the streets of Bensonhurst. On January 12, 1991, before one such march, neighborhood resident Michael Riccardi tried to kill Sharpton by stabbing him in the chest. Riccardi later said that he "thought the act would make me a hero in my community." Sharpton recovered from his wounds, and later asked the judge for leniency when Riccardi was sentenced.
Bensonhurst was stereotyped as a haven for Mafia members (Gus Farace, a reputed mob associate suspected of murdering a federal drug-enforcement agent, was found shot to death in a parked car there on November 17, 1989, and two years later the neighborhood provided the setting for the mob-themed film ''Out for Justice'' starring Steven Seagal), many of whom are believed to maintain residences in Dyker Heights, a neighborhood adjacent to Bensonhurst. Despite this old stereotype, the reality is that the overwhelming majority of Bensonhurst residents have nothing to do with crime, organized or otherwise.
Currently the neighborhood is undergoing a transformation; many of the original houses dating back over 90 years ago are being torn down and replaced by three-story brick apartment buildings and multi-family condominiums.
In 2006, Bensonhurst experienced the most violence in years. 13 murders were committed in this neighborhood, they were carried out by drive by shootings, car bombs, and a mob turf war.
Visitors from throughout the New York City metropolitan area flock to the neighborhood each year in late August or early September to take part in the colorful Santa Rosalia Festival (commonly known simply as ''The Feast'' to locals), held on 18th Avenue from Bay Ridge Parkway (75th Street) to 69th Street. St. Rosalia is the patron saint of the city of Palermo and is sometimes venerated as the patron for the entire island of Sicily (a sizable portion of Bensonhurst's Italian American residents are of Sicilian heritage). The annual end-of-summer celebration attracts thousands.
Immediately after Italy's victory at the 2006 FIFA World Cup a large portion of Bensonhurst's Italian American community, as well as several thousand participants from all over the tri-state area, participated in a large victory celebration. Several local cafés and businesses paid for a city permit to close 18th Avenue from commercial traffic. It was held on the same route as the St. Rosalia Feast, but stretched from 65th street to nearly 80th Street. The celebration began as soon as the Italian team won, until about 7:00 p.m., when the permit ran out.
★ Bensonhurst was the setting for "The Honeymooners" series, featuring actor/comedian Jackie Gleason as Ralph Kramden, a bus driver in Brooklyn during the 1950s.
★ The character Captain Donald Cragen played by Dann Florek on '' lives in Bensonhurst.
★ The television series ''Welcome Back Kotter'' was set in Bensonhurst.
★ ''Saturday Night Fever'' was filmed in Bensonhurst's Philips Dance Studio.
★ The chase scene in ''The French Connection'' rolls through Bensonhurst, on 86th Street and then, New Utrecht Avenue.
★ Bensonhurst is one of the settings for the 1991 movie, ''Jungle Fever''.
★ Mirabelli's Famous Cream Soda had its roots in Bensonhurst.
★ The Sbarro salumeria first opened in 1956 on 1705 65th St corner of 17th Ave. The store has since closed and been converted to other use.
★ "Bensonhurst Blues" is written by Artie Kaplan & Artie Kornfeld, two guys from Bensonhurst.
★ Location for the film ''Spike of Bensonhurst''
★ On the daytime soap ''General Hospital'', the characters of Sonny Corinthos, Lois Cerullo, Brook Lynn Ashton, and Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri are all said to have grown up in Bensonhurst.
★ The title track of Black 47's album ''Green Suede Shoes'' features the lyric, "I just got a message from a brother of Maria/Come on out to Bensonhurst, we all want a piece of ya."
★ In the cult classic movie "The Warriors" the Jones Street Boys was the gang whose turf was Bensonhurst.
★ In the film Do the Right Thing, Sal and his two sons, Vito and Pino, live in Bensonhurst.
★ Abe Burrows, playwright, writer of ''Guys and Dolls'' and ''Can-Can'', was a graduate of New Utrecht High School
★ Kerry Butler, actress, grew up in Bensonhurst.
★ Peter D'Adamo, author of 'Eat Right For Your Type', grew up in Bensonhurst.
★ Vincent D'Onofrio, star of '', was born in Bensonhurst.
★ Joey Fatone from 'N Sync fame was born and spent his first 13 years here.
★ Jerry Ferrara from HBO's ''Entourage'', raised in Bensonhurst
★ Daniel Franzese, actor from ''Mean Girls'', raised in Bensonhurst.
★ Harvey Fierstein, grew up in Bensonhurst.
★ Daniel Glass, music industry producer
★ Elliot Gould, grew up in Bensonhurst.
★ Philip Habib the diplomat grew up in Bensonhurst.
★ Buddy Hackett grew up in the neighborhood and attended New Utrecht High School.
★ Kenny Hickey, is one of three musicians in the rock band Type O negative who are from Bensonhurst
★ The Howard brothers (Moe, Shemp, and Curly) of The Three Stooges fame were all from Bensonhurst.
★ Richard Jeni, grew up in Bensonhurst.
★ Gabe Kaplan
★ Johnny Kelly, is one of three musicians in the rock band Type O negative who are from Bensonhurst
★ Larry King, the talk show host, lived in Bensonhurst and graduated from Lafayette High School in 1951.
★ Sandy Koufax, Major League Baseball pitcher and member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, attended Lafayette High School
★ Adam Lazzara lead singer of Taking Back Sunday used to live in Bensonhurst before recently moving to Texas.
★ Tony Mamaluke, ECW Superstar, was born in Bensonhurst.
★ Robert Merrill, operatic baritone, grew up in Bensonhurst.
★ Rhea Perlman, grew up in Bensonhurst.
★ Leah Remini, actress, grew up in Bensonhurst.
★ Carl Sagan, astronomer/teacher/author, grew up in Bensonhurst.
★ Steve Schirripa, actor of ''The Sopranos'' was born in Bensonhurst.
★ Tony Sirico, actor of ''The Sopranos,'' used to live in Bensonhurst.
★ Peter Steele, is one of three musicians in the rock band Type O negative who are from Bensonhurst
★ Ray Suarez grew up in Bensonhurst.
★ Marisa Tomei grew up in Bensonhurst and her family owns an electrical repair store today on Kings Highway near Avenue P.
★ Frank Abbandando, Murder Inc. hitman and father of mobster Frank "Fingers" Jr.
★ Jimmy Burke, Irish mobster associate
★ Frank Costello
★ Thomas DeSimone, one of five brothers of the DeSimone mobster family clan
★ Vito Genovese
★ Sammy "The Bull" Gravano, ex-Gambino underboss/informant was from Bensonhurst
★ John Gotti owned an apartment
★ Henry Hill, a mob associate and informant was born there
★ Gaetano Lucchese
★ Benjamin "Bugsy" Seigel
★ Paul Vario lived and operated his crew in the neighborhood
1. Brooklyn's Large Estates: What Has Become of the Old Farm Lands of the City of Brooklyn?, accessed July 31, 2006
★ NYCfoto.com - Photos of Bensonhurst
★ Air visit of 'Bensonhurst' in Photographs
★ A History of Bensonhurst - A History of the Neighborhood
★ Brooklyn's Ethnic Neighborhoods - An ethnic picture of New York
★ Bayridgetalk.com - Bay Ridge Community Message Board
Bensonhurst Embankment is a popular walkway in Bensonhurst
'Bensonhurst' is a neighborhood located in the south-central part of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. Bensonhurst runs from about 14th Avenue to 25th Avenue and from Gravesend Bay to 53rd Street, encompassing Bath Beach, New Utrecht, and part of Dyker Heights and bordered by the Bath Beach, Bay Ridge, Gravesend, and Borough Park sections. For many generations of Jewish and Italian residents, Bensonhurst's geographic boundaries have been defined by the streets where the ethnic mix of Bensonhurst begins to fray. Interestingly, since about 1993, the rapid expansion of the population of Orthodox Jews in neighboring Borough Park, has encroached deeply into Bensonhurst, such that the ethnic geographic boundaries now begin from about 18th Avenue to 25th Avenue and from Gravesend Bay to 60th Street. This 1.4 square mile change represents an expansion of Borough Park and a shrinkage of Bensonhurst, as defined by traditional ethnic boundaries. It represents a historical parallel to the shrinkage of Manhattan's Little Italy as a result of the expansion and encroachment of neighboring Chinatown.
| Contents |
| History |
| Brooklyn's "Little Italy" |
| Popular culture references |
| Famous people |
| Mobsters |
| References |
| External links |
History
A view of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge (Brooklyn College)
Bensonhurst derives its name from Arthur W. Benson, the former president of Brooklyn Gas, who in 1835 began buying farmland that formerly belonged to the Polhemuses family. Between 1835 and 1850 Benson divided the farmland into lots that were sold in the following decades as part of the newly created suburb of Bensonhurst[1], which was annexed into the 30th Ward of Brooklyn in the 1890s.
In the early 1900s, many Jews and Italians moved into the neighborhood, and prior to World War II the neighborhood was about equally Jewish and Italian. In the 1950s, there was an influx of immigrants from southern Italy and most of the Jewish population left the neighborhood, leaving the area predominantly Italian. In the 1990s, many Chinese and Russian immigrants began to arrive. Today, the Italian American community numbers over 50,000, or more than one-third of the population. Despite increasing diversity, Bensonhurst is still heavily Italian-American, as its Italian-speaking community remains over 20,000 strong, according to the census of 2000. Its main thoroughfare, 18th Avenue (also known as Cristoforo Columbo Boulevard) between roughly 60th Street and Bay Ridge Parkway, is lined with predominantly small, Italian family-owned businesses—many of which have remained in the same family for several generations. 86th Street is another popular thoroughfare stretching from 16th Avenue to Stillwell Avenue and lined by the arches of the elevated subway line BMT West End Line of the New York City Subway. The 86th Street elevated train was popularized in opening credits of ''Welcome Back, Kotter'', however the thoroughfare is not the icon of Italian American heritage and culture that 18th Avenue represents.
On August 23, 1989, a 16-year-old African-American named Yusef Hawkins was shot and killed in Bensonhurst, after he and three friends had been attacked by a group of white youths. At least four neighborhood residents were tried and convicted of charges related to the assault and murder. In connection with the Hawkins murder and the subsequent trials, Reverend Al Sharpton led several protest marches through the streets of Bensonhurst. On January 12, 1991, before one such march, neighborhood resident Michael Riccardi tried to kill Sharpton by stabbing him in the chest. Riccardi later said that he "thought the act would make me a hero in my community." Sharpton recovered from his wounds, and later asked the judge for leniency when Riccardi was sentenced.
Brooklyn's "Little Italy"
Apparent architectural example of Bensonhurst as a Little Italy
Bensonhurst was stereotyped as a haven for Mafia members (Gus Farace, a reputed mob associate suspected of murdering a federal drug-enforcement agent, was found shot to death in a parked car there on November 17, 1989, and two years later the neighborhood provided the setting for the mob-themed film ''Out for Justice'' starring Steven Seagal), many of whom are believed to maintain residences in Dyker Heights, a neighborhood adjacent to Bensonhurst. Despite this old stereotype, the reality is that the overwhelming majority of Bensonhurst residents have nothing to do with crime, organized or otherwise.
Currently the neighborhood is undergoing a transformation; many of the original houses dating back over 90 years ago are being torn down and replaced by three-story brick apartment buildings and multi-family condominiums.
In 2006, Bensonhurst experienced the most violence in years. 13 murders were committed in this neighborhood, they were carried out by drive by shootings, car bombs, and a mob turf war.
Visitors from throughout the New York City metropolitan area flock to the neighborhood each year in late August or early September to take part in the colorful Santa Rosalia Festival (commonly known simply as ''The Feast'' to locals), held on 18th Avenue from Bay Ridge Parkway (75th Street) to 69th Street. St. Rosalia is the patron saint of the city of Palermo and is sometimes venerated as the patron for the entire island of Sicily (a sizable portion of Bensonhurst's Italian American residents are of Sicilian heritage). The annual end-of-summer celebration attracts thousands.
Immediately after Italy's victory at the 2006 FIFA World Cup a large portion of Bensonhurst's Italian American community, as well as several thousand participants from all over the tri-state area, participated in a large victory celebration. Several local cafés and businesses paid for a city permit to close 18th Avenue from commercial traffic. It was held on the same route as the St. Rosalia Feast, but stretched from 65th street to nearly 80th Street. The celebration began as soon as the Italian team won, until about 7:00 p.m., when the permit ran out.
Popular culture references
★ Bensonhurst was the setting for "The Honeymooners" series, featuring actor/comedian Jackie Gleason as Ralph Kramden, a bus driver in Brooklyn during the 1950s.
★ The character Captain Donald Cragen played by Dann Florek on '' lives in Bensonhurst.
★ The television series ''Welcome Back Kotter'' was set in Bensonhurst.
★ ''Saturday Night Fever'' was filmed in Bensonhurst's Philips Dance Studio.
★ The chase scene in ''The French Connection'' rolls through Bensonhurst, on 86th Street and then, New Utrecht Avenue.
★ Bensonhurst is one of the settings for the 1991 movie, ''Jungle Fever''.
★ Mirabelli's Famous Cream Soda had its roots in Bensonhurst.
★ The Sbarro salumeria first opened in 1956 on 1705 65th St corner of 17th Ave. The store has since closed and been converted to other use.
★ "Bensonhurst Blues" is written by Artie Kaplan & Artie Kornfeld, two guys from Bensonhurst.
★ Location for the film ''Spike of Bensonhurst''
★ On the daytime soap ''General Hospital'', the characters of Sonny Corinthos, Lois Cerullo, Brook Lynn Ashton, and Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri are all said to have grown up in Bensonhurst.
★ The title track of Black 47's album ''Green Suede Shoes'' features the lyric, "I just got a message from a brother of Maria/Come on out to Bensonhurst, we all want a piece of ya."
★ In the cult classic movie "The Warriors" the Jones Street Boys was the gang whose turf was Bensonhurst.
★ In the film Do the Right Thing, Sal and his two sons, Vito and Pino, live in Bensonhurst.
Famous people
★ Abe Burrows, playwright, writer of ''Guys and Dolls'' and ''Can-Can'', was a graduate of New Utrecht High School
★ Kerry Butler, actress, grew up in Bensonhurst.
★ Peter D'Adamo, author of 'Eat Right For Your Type', grew up in Bensonhurst.
★ Vincent D'Onofrio, star of '', was born in Bensonhurst.
★ Joey Fatone from 'N Sync fame was born and spent his first 13 years here.
★ Jerry Ferrara from HBO's ''Entourage'', raised in Bensonhurst
★ Daniel Franzese, actor from ''Mean Girls'', raised in Bensonhurst.
★ Harvey Fierstein, grew up in Bensonhurst.
★ Daniel Glass, music industry producer
★ Elliot Gould, grew up in Bensonhurst.
★ Philip Habib the diplomat grew up in Bensonhurst.
★ Buddy Hackett grew up in the neighborhood and attended New Utrecht High School.
★ Kenny Hickey, is one of three musicians in the rock band Type O negative who are from Bensonhurst
★ The Howard brothers (Moe, Shemp, and Curly) of The Three Stooges fame were all from Bensonhurst.
★ Richard Jeni, grew up in Bensonhurst.
★ Gabe Kaplan
★ Johnny Kelly, is one of three musicians in the rock band Type O negative who are from Bensonhurst
★ Larry King, the talk show host, lived in Bensonhurst and graduated from Lafayette High School in 1951.
★ Sandy Koufax, Major League Baseball pitcher and member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, attended Lafayette High School
★ Adam Lazzara lead singer of Taking Back Sunday used to live in Bensonhurst before recently moving to Texas.
★ Tony Mamaluke, ECW Superstar, was born in Bensonhurst.
★ Robert Merrill, operatic baritone, grew up in Bensonhurst.
★ Rhea Perlman, grew up in Bensonhurst.
★ Leah Remini, actress, grew up in Bensonhurst.
★ Carl Sagan, astronomer/teacher/author, grew up in Bensonhurst.
★ Steve Schirripa, actor of ''The Sopranos'' was born in Bensonhurst.
★ Tony Sirico, actor of ''The Sopranos,'' used to live in Bensonhurst.
★ Peter Steele, is one of three musicians in the rock band Type O negative who are from Bensonhurst
★ Ray Suarez grew up in Bensonhurst.
★ Marisa Tomei grew up in Bensonhurst and her family owns an electrical repair store today on Kings Highway near Avenue P.
Mobsters
★ Frank Abbandando, Murder Inc. hitman and father of mobster Frank "Fingers" Jr.
★ Jimmy Burke, Irish mobster associate
★ Frank Costello
★ Thomas DeSimone, one of five brothers of the DeSimone mobster family clan
★ Vito Genovese
★ Sammy "The Bull" Gravano, ex-Gambino underboss/informant was from Bensonhurst
★ John Gotti owned an apartment
★ Henry Hill, a mob associate and informant was born there
★ Gaetano Lucchese
★ Benjamin "Bugsy" Seigel
★ Paul Vario lived and operated his crew in the neighborhood
References
1. Brooklyn's Large Estates: What Has Become of the Old Farm Lands of the City of Brooklyn?, accessed July 31, 2006
External links
★ NYCfoto.com - Photos of Bensonhurst
★ Air visit of 'Bensonhurst' in Photographs
★ A History of Bensonhurst - A History of the Neighborhood
★ Brooklyn's Ethnic Neighborhoods - An ethnic picture of New York
★ Bayridgetalk.com - Bay Ridge Community Message Board
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