Up in the Old Hotel

Guided Question: What do Joseph Mitchell’s writings tell us about New York’s underclass during the early-mid 20th century? 

New York City in the early to mid 1900’s was a place of excitement, energy, wonder, prosperity, and at times, turmoil. There was spectacular growth with huge skyscrapers beginning to dot the landscape. Buildings and structures such as the Brooklyn Bridge, Empire State Building, and Grand Central Station were helping to turn New York become into one of the most famous cities in the world. But this time period was also a time of contrasts with calamities like the Triangle Factory Fire taking the lives of over 140 mostly immigrant women workers and the Wall Street collapse of 1929 that helped to usher in the Great Depression. Most people know about the history of New York City from movies, textbooks, and popular culture. This is a history of famous people doing famous things in a famous city. But Joseph Mitchell looked at New York very differently. In his book, Up in the Old Hotel, Mitchell revels a New York that most people are unaware of. Each of the articles throughout his book uncover and examine lives of most underclass new Yorkers in early 20^th century. Each of the unique characters, most living on the fringes of society, seem to jump off the pages as a New York City that no longer exists unveils before the reader’s eyes. The compassionate and purposeful writing style revels a story of New York City created by and lived in by very unique and spirited people.

There seems to be very little “welfare” similar to what we have in America today during this time period in New York City. New York’s underclass was often forced to rely on what they could find on the streets to survive. Occasionally the good will of some other more fortunate New Yorkers helped them to survive. Mazie Phillips is one of those who never tired from helping those in need. She and her two sisters own The Venice. Located on the Bowery, it is “a seedy moving picture theatre” where for a dime customers can see “two features, a newsreel, a cartoon, a short, and a serial episode.” (pg. 23) Mazie is exceptional in the fact that she cares so much for the bums and drunks as well as countless others who struggle to survive. Mazie often passes dimes out to the drunks so that they can get a drink and stop the shakes. She has been known to let these bums into the movie theater foe comfort as long as they behave. And almost every night after closing the theater Mazie tours the Bowery with soap and “a supply of nickels, dimes, and quarters” (pg. 37) to help the bums. She helps others to “flophouses” and she even works with Catholic nuns to help those in need despite being Jewish herself.

One story that was very interesting was A Sporting Man which recounts the adventures of Commodore Dutch. This man makes his living by selling memberships into the Original Commodore Dutch Association, a club that does nothing except hold “The Annual Party, Affair, Soiree & Gala Naval Ball of the Original Commodore Dutch Association.” (pg. 118) This ball is not designed to help others. It is solely to Benefit Commodore Dutch. He will not tell his real name other than it’s long and difficult to pronounce and that he is “the only person in the world that knows it.” (pg. 127) Dutch’s first job was in 1894 on a “dray” delivering furniture where he got a good understanding of day to day life in the Bowery. He was never a real Commodore or ever in the navy. The 1^st Gala Naval Ball took place on April 30, 1901 and included an orchestra with Dutch all dressed up in an admiral’s outfit. Over the years this ball became his only source of income. He sells memberships for whatever the person wants to give. The more they gave, the higher the rank they can earn in the association. He never forces anyone to pay, most just give as a way to help out this man, a former associate or friend.

Another story of interest was that of Professor Sea Gull. He is a homelessness man named Joe Gould. He is from a branch of family that has been in New England since 1635. (pg. 52) He is from Norwood Massachusetts and “comes from a family of physicians.” (pg. 65) He earned his A. B. and then told his mother he intended to “stroll and ponder” (pg. 66) He wants to own nothing and claims to be a Bohemian. Although he chooses his lifestyle, he suffers from “homelessness, hunger, and hangovers. He sleeps on benches in subway stations, on the floor in the studios of friends, and in quarter-a-night flophouses on the Bowery.” (pg. 52) He has been working for 26 years on a book called An Oral History of our Time, which includes “only things he has seen or heard.” (pg. 57) This book is not even close to being finished and his greatest fear is dying before he can complete the first draft. It is already “eleven times as long as the Bible” with over 9,000,000 words. (pg. 56-57) He has had money yet he despises money, feels uneasy with it in his pockets and yet must beg to get some for his survival.

The story that I liked the most was the first one titled The Old House at Home. This story is about the development of McSorley’s Saloon at the end of the Bowery which has had only 4 owners since its founding in 1854. The saloon is described as changing very little throughout the years. John McSorley was the founder. Old John wanted to create a saloon that reminded him of saloons back home in Ireland. He decorated the place himself and refused service to ladies. He catered to the Irish and German laborers by selling pewter mugs of ale for five cents along with a lunch of free soda crackers, onions, and cheese. Old John also knew important men and built up a loyal following. From Old John who founded the bar to his son Old Bill things stayed the same. Bill loved and adored his Dad and his “principle concern was to keep McSorley’s exactly as it had been in his father’s time. When anything had to be changed or repaired, it appeared to pain him physically.” (pg. 8 ) Bill “hated banks, cash registers, bookkeeping, and salesmen. If the saloon became crowded, he would close up early, saying, “I’m getting too confounded much trade in here.” (pg. 9) Bill refused to open a checking account and always “paid his ale bill with currency, largely silver.” (pg. 9) Bill also didn’t have a “fixed closing hour but locked up as soon as he began to feel sleepy, which was usually around ten o’clock.” (pg. 11) In 1936 Bill surprised everyone by selling the saloon to Daniel O’Connell, a patron and newly retired policemen. When Daniel died in 1939 he left the bar to his daughter Dorothy O’Connell Kirwan. The one theme that is common throughout the story was that change only happened when it was absolutely necessary! Customers were worried that Dorothy would make changes but soon found that their fears were baseless. “I know exactly how my father felt about McSorley’s…and so long as I am owner, no changes will be made. I won’t even change the rule against women customers.” (pg. 14) Dorothy’s husband runs the saloon and he understands the importance of keeping traditions in a place like McSorley’s, the loyal customers like it that way. And even though electricity was finally installed, they still prefer to use the old, dim gas lamps.  

Most of Mitchell’s stories are filled with people of an underclass society who struggle, yet find a way to survive in this big and lonely city. Each story has at least one character that comes alive in a manner that allows the reader to seemingly take on the characteristics of the person. Each has their unique outlook and often even a personal agenda that they are striving for. The cold and impersonal city of New York City becomes a diverse world of cultures and people struggling to survive and succeed however they can often taking care of others much as they took care of themselves. The collection of stories throughout Joseph Mitchell’s book is a wonderful record of a New York that many people would like to experience but is no longer available in the hustle of our modern world.