Escalator; NYC Street Games

[Bruce Dykes]

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Sent: Friday, September 28, 2001 11:08
Subject: Escalator; NYC Street Games


> ESCALATOR
>
>    OED has 1900 and Otis.
>    From the NEW YORK HERALD TRIBUNE, 3 June 1947, pg. 22, col. 5:
>
> _Jesse W. Reno_
> _Dead; Inventor_
> _Of Escalator, 85_
> ------------------
> _Sold Company to Otis in_
>    _1910; Was President of_
>    _Marine Salavage Concern_
> (...)
>    He escalator, an inclined endless belt with cleats, was first installed
at the Third Evenue Elevated Railway station at Fifty-ninth Street in New
York.  The second was in the Bloomingdale store at the same location.
>    At the advent of the escalator more than fifty years ago, Mr. Reno
formed the Reno Inclined Elevator Company to exploit his invention and was
president of the concern fof fifteen years.  In 1910 he sold the
organization to the Otis Elevator Company.
>

In the Port Authority Bus Terminal on 42nd street, they're officially
referred to as 'motor stairs' on the signs that inform us when they've been
taken down for maintenance.


> --------------------------------------------------------
> STREET GAMES
>
>    If you listen to lamppost talk around your neighborhood you know about
Ringalieveo (DARE?  Not in OED--ed.), or Relieveo, as some call it.  West of
the Hudson this is Prisoner's Base, but native New Yorkers still use their
own quaint term.
>

I'm reminded of the Nero Wolfe novel. Was Archie Goodwin not a native New
Yorker?

bkd