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A Village Tradition
Growing up in Greenwich Village during the 1950s and 1960s allowed me to be exposed to the melting pot of historical writers. Thomas Paine, William Sydney Porter. [O’Henry] Mark Twain and James Baldwin, just to name a few. They all lived in The Village and embraced the Bohemin life style. For many years aspiring writers have flocked there. However, there are also locally born writers plying their craft. Charles Messina, Alfred Caneccchia, Dom Perruccio and myself. I can say I have know Charles Messina since he was born on Thompson Street. Charles has written many screen plays and plays, his latest musical play soon to be on Broadway, “The Wanderer.” Based on the life of Dion DiMucci, Dion and The Belmonts. Al Caneechia has written many books, “Greenwich Village Vignettes,” the Village seen through his eyes. “When Greenwich Village Was Ours,” which I contributed a short story. My buddy Dom Perruccio, he and Charles wrote, “Stomping Ground, Growing Up On The Streets of Greenwich Village,” His latest work is a beautifully illustrated book, “The Adventures of Miss Canoli The Scamp,” a wonderful tribute to his dog.
We will never be as famous as the afore mentioned writers, their creativity has cemented a place in Greenwich Village for current writers and writers of the future. Growing up in Greenwich Village during the 1950s and 1960s allowed me to be exposed to the melting pot of historical writers. Thomas Paine, William Sydney Porter. [O’Henry] Mark Twain and James Baldwin, just to name a few. They all lived in The Village and embraced the Bohemin life style. For many years aspiring writers have flocked there. However, there are also locally born writers plying their craft. Charles Messina, Alfred Caneccchia, Dom Perruccio and myself. I can say I have know Charles Messina since he was born on Thompson Street. Charles has written many screen plays and plays, his latest musical play soon to be on Broadway, “The Wanderer.” Based on the life of Dion DiMucci, Dion and The Belmonts. Al Caneechia has written many books, “Greenwich Village Vignettes,” the Village seen through his eyes. “When Greenwich Village Was Ours,” which I contributed a short story. My buddy Dom Perruccio, he and Charles wrote, “Stomping Ground, Growing Up On The Streets of Greenwich Village,” His latest work is a beautifully illustrated book, “The Adventures of Miss Canoli The Scamp,” a wonderful tribute to his dog.
We will never be as famous as the afore mentioned writers, their creativity has cemented a place in Greenwich Village for current writers and writers of the future. Growing up in Greenwich Village during the 1950s and 1960s allowed me to be exposed to the melting pot of historical writers. Thomas Paine, William Sydney Porter. [O’Henry] Mark Twain and James Baldwin, just to name a few. They all lived in The Village and embraced the Bohemin life style. For many years aspiring writers have flocked there. However, there are also locally born writers plying their craft. Charles Messina, Alfred Caneccchia, Dom Perruccio and myself. I can say I have know Charles Messina since he was born on Thompson Street. Charles has written many screen plays and plays, his latest musical play soon to be on Broadway, “The Wanderer.” Based on the life of Dion DiMucci, Dion and The Belmonts. Al Caneechia has written many books, “Greenwich Village Vignettes,” the Village seen through his eyes. “When Greenwich Village Was Ours,” which I contributed a short story. My buddy Dom Perruccio, he and Charles wrote, “Stomping Ground, Growing Up On The Streets of Greenwich Village,” His latest work is a beautifully illustrated book, “The Adventures of Miss Canoli The Scamp,” a wonderful tribute to his dog.
We will never be as famous as the afore mentioned writers, their creativity has cemented a place in Greenwich Village for current writers and writers of the future.
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3 Replies
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Thank you for sharing those rich details about the literary history and writing community in Greenwich Village. It’s fascinating to learn about the legacy of famous authors like Thomas Paine, O’Henry, Mark Twain and James Baldwin who lived and embraced the bohemian lifestyle in that iconic New York neighborhood.
It’s also really interesting to hear about the locally-born contemporary writers you mentioned – Charles Messina, Alfred Canecchia, Dom Perruccio and yourself – who are carrying on the Village’s literary tradition. The creative works you highlighted, from Messina’s upcoming Broadway musical “The Wanderer” about Dion DiMucci, to Canecchia’s vignettes capturing Village life, to Perruccio’s illustrated children’s book adventures of Miss Canoli, sound like wonderful contributions.
Neighborhoods with such an artistic pedigree often foster new generations of writers, artists and creatives drawn to the same romantic, bohemian spirit. It’s great that you were able to grow up surrounded by that cultural milieu and literary influences in Greenwich Village during your formative years in the 1950s and 60s. Having lifelong connections to authors in your community must have been very inspiring.
Please share any other interesting insights you have about the writers and creative scene, past or present, in that iconic New York setting. First-hand perspectives on cultural hubs like Greenwich Village are so valuable.
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You make an excellent point. The iconic writers of the past like Thomas Paine, O’Henry, Mark Twain, and James Baldwin who lived and created in Greenwich Village have left an indelible legacy that has shaped the neighborhood’s identity as a literary and artistic haven.
While contemporary local writers like yourself, Charles Messina, Alfred Canecchia, and Dom Perruccio may never achieve the same level of fame and lasting impact as those literary giants, you are continuing an important tradition. Your works capturing the spirit, stories and creative energy of Greenwich Village ensure that its bohemian, intellectual culture endures and is passed down to future generations of writers.
Having grown up steeped in that one-of-a-kind Village atmosphere in the 1950s and 60s clearly instilled in you a deep appreciation for its artistic history. Now you and your fellow writers are adding your own unique perspectives and tales to the rich tapestry of Greenwich Village’s narratives.
So while global fame may elude most, your contributions in chronicling modern Village life through plays, books, vignettes and stories preserve its essence. You are keeping that creative flame alive for the neighborhood and inspiring those who will follow in your footsteps as future Village writers and artists. That is an incredibly valuable legacy in itself.
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Thank you Angela, I miss the old Village. Like everything else there is change.
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