Driving thru Kingston Jamaica, 1984: Half Way Tree, Hagley Park Road, Causeway Bridge, Portmore

Driving in a Chevrolet Malibu thru Kingston, Jamaica listening to reggae music on the radio. We are on our way to Hellshire beach. The year I think, is 1984.

[@LucasPearson]

The radio playing Promised Land was a nice touch

[@joemoe1219]

Denis Browns Golden Voice. Real good music. Not the crap that is in now.

[@fourq2049]

That song is that old?

[@andresoner7]

@@fourq2049 the song is from 1983 dennis brown along with aswad

[@omarlewis5925]

I love these wonderful vintage scenes of Jamaica,it's a great way of bringing back some wonderful memories of my child days ⚽🏃🤸

[@colinlyons9519]

At the beginning of the video they are on Constant Spring Road, look to the right and you see an open lot, that is now the Pavilion shopping mall.

[@DjFUSIONMIXMASTER]

Damn

[@alexshazam5482]

They are some things I see in the video that I recognize although I didn't exist in 1984. For example: The Clock Tower, The PICA Building, That plaza on the left, KG's Electronics. Those places still exist today. WOW! Amazing.

[@shaawnallen6299]

I saw the open lot too 🎉🎉

[@nicholascampbell2132]

Brings back memories. Also bring tears to my eyes to see what jamaica is now with all the uprising crime and violence. I've traveled more than 50 countries and jamaica is in my top 5 of most beautiful counties in my travel. Will forever be my home.

[@webeetunin]

man a use dashcam before dashcam even exist to rahtid dwl.

[@womblesofwimbledon]

SHUT U DUTTY RASSHOL

[@ShanaDiYardieGirl]

blackbird 55 yes stop funny 😂😂😂😃😅

[@robertcampbell9946]

@@ShanaDiYardieGirl My girl yuh neva know seh a jamaica online shopping start too cause yuh couldnt wash name brand clothing & lef dat pon clothes overnight , man gone wid dat inna de 70s & 80s a dat me a tell yuh.

[@traum640]

@@robertcampbell9946 mi a DWL! Online shoppin to rahtid!!

[@sirchristopherblair8889]

blackbird 55 lol fi real, it’s like a him invented the concept.

[@pansysgarden]

Wow. Who was really thinking about video cameras in the 80s? Not many. Brilliant move. Wish the video was longer. Born and raised in the US, my summers included going to Jamaica and staying in Kingston, especially going to Hellshire Beach. Was great to see parts of Kingston. I've seen videos on KZbin that Hellshire is ruined by beach erosion. How sad! Thanks for uploading this video.👍

[@dadsh85]

We have a long video from Hellshire from the same year!

[@movingforward2570]

What? There were video cameras even in the 70s. In 1987 my son father gave me a pocket tv you can wear in the wrists.

[@garrettroadflava8764]

A that me a say is like them did know wah them a do

[@chiefhorus5146]

From what I notice,the place look so god damn clean

[@dannyperkinstv1828]

So much memories the Voice of Winston Barnes on RJR The program name was the rock house

[@g-dub5272]

Yow if a car today ever crash inna one of them old time Lada, the car today bend up

[@robertcampbell9946]

Real thing all dem austin Cambridge escort & ford transit .mw know some ford transit that used to run may pen to Mandeville back dem time here that had in the ford capri engine hiace & nissan bus have to come good fe match up with them.Jamaica sweet sem time here.Bless up

[@narda1072]

Facts

[@shegotass240]

A tru dawg back inna dem time deh car did use to mek wid strong metal and dem nowadays car yah not even strong like di plastic cup dem even tho a plastic di car dem a mek out a nowadays one slap dat slap up inna summo dat mash up.

[@mstash8074]

I am amazed of how my beautiful country was in the 1980s. I wasn't even born then this bring tears to my eyes to see areas of Jamaica before I was born. Today 2020 it makes me sat a wonder deeply about my great grandparents, and my grandparents today. Danm what a life they had in their days. I wish my great grandparents was here today so I could hear them speak of their life history.😥

[@flexx7611]

Damn!!! You looking at 1980s is like me looking back in the 1950s when I wasn't born. Thats scary 😨

[@alexshazam5482]

@@flexx7611 Scary?! Lol 😆

[@elainecampbell6134]

I'm in my 30s but remembered when Jamaica was so peaceful and calm. I miss those days to the point where I have to come look for videos back then to renew my hope for Jamaica land I love.What can we do to get back our Country 🥺😥😢

[@nates205]

the roads were so good back then. i was born only to see nuff potholes and patches.

[@Tyrapalmer127]

Blc 💀💀

[@kenoihall48]

And the trash

[@DaleC.]

Who build them so? China or Russia?

[@ryanwallace8741]

Ahh this is not downtown.. this is Halway tree area in the parish of St Andrew. going to Portmore

[@seagal84]

I remember the road like that before they made the toll to portmore

[@mijaroprime9509]

@@womblesofwimbledon wtf is your problem?

[@alexshazam5482]

@@mijaroprime9509 What did the person say?

[@mijaroprime9509]

@@alexshazam5482 I don't even remember it's been 2 years.

[@alexshazam5482]

@@mijaroprime9509 Lol I figured

[@coreyevans5087]

Really wish that this video was longer,wanted to see the old portmore, independence city, Waterford, Gregory park.

[@rictenwheel25]

Felt like i went into a time capsule...and time travelled back to my childhood....the footage really shows...Constant spring road, Half Way tree, Hagley Park Road ( i assume since i can't really identify any landmarks) and the old Causeway bridge and fish market........this is really a gem....thanks fixasmurf.

[@JoyHarrison]

Seeing a big, mad man walking the streets is a must.

[@garrettroadflava8764]

I don't think that's a mad man that's how people cross the street up to now

[@kurzeful]

Dwrcl 🤣

[@martytrain]

At that time I remember the naked people who lived on the road living out of garbage cans.

[@JoyHarrison]

@@martytrain yep, that was/is common to see.

[@mariisosa7247]

Fr 😂😂😂

[@peaceandlove.2932]

Who still watching 2022. I was like 1 at the time ..really amazing to see what life was like when I knew nothing of the world I was in ..

[@MegaSexyGG]

One year before I was born.. thank you for this view!!

[@Grogu-485]

That was the year I was born 1984

[@alexshazam5482]

I never exist until 16 years later

[@lil_brat_j9130]

Tears jah know this bring back some memories ..

[@tonytee2107]

Winston Barnes is still on radio here in south Florida on WAVS 1170 AM.

[@jamaicanprincess87630]

This is the Jamaica or my childhood. What a time💛💛🥹🥲🇯🇲

[@devongaynor5019]

Yes sar, back in Dem days a live at at age 10, live at Maxfield, student at Rousseau Primary School, walk up at HWT, went to Hellshire beach trips every summer. Can't say those were the good old days because it really wasn't. But hey it was my childhood days and the only one l have so l did have to enjoy the good that comes. Glad mi make it through. Nuff youths my days never made it to adulthood. As what is still happening same way in the Maxfield area and other areas in Kingston, as a matter of fact, the whole Jamaica. So let each one of us enjoy our own history as it comes by. Because that's life and it's all we have, some for a short time, some for a long time. But who cares, as long as we have the moment. Because really, that's all we need, the moment for our precious memories.

[@sharonrobinson9284]

Went to Rousseau Primary between 1972 - 75 who can remember Champion House or buy butterfly pastry at Johnson's Drive- inn or Mr chin shop at the corner of Ricketts crescent to buy eggnog, cherry and chocolate milk in boxes shaped like pyramid, lol those were some nice days.

[@shersmitt391]

@devongaynor5019: Amen to your words brother..the same with Waltham pk Rd.

[@contemporaryaquarium]

Look at Causeway Bridge Mon... Independent City, Waterford, Portmore.... Damn I would Drive across this bridge with my Aunt in Her Blue 1960's BMC....Damn I love Jamaica...

[@MrBebro2]

They use to call LADA Life And Death Association 😂😂

[@bakedinspiration]

dennis brown coming threw hot on the radio gotta love this.

[@annmarielindsay5621]

Jamaica was gud less pothole less crimes.

[@Lando-kx6so]

The late 70s & 80s was our bloodiest time & when most Jamaicans went to the states specifically. Potholes have always been in our roads but mostly local roads not as much with main roads & it's like that today.

[@jamaicanice1522]

This is a video bro

[@newproduct8107]

Less crime wah ? the 80s was bloody

[@matthewpowell4569]

@@newproduct8107 them time deh copper usually guh run guh kill the police them and rob although the money use to go to good father did know him in person copper never kill harmless people like them nowadays coward wait no copper was around in the 70s

[@dennisbrooks6892]

Jamaica been a violent country from 1920s do your homework foooooool

[@fallenangel4830]

Dennis Brown jamming.

[@TemeculaValleyLapse]

Lot of nice cars were still on the roads back then

[@dancingbabymadda]

Wow, this brought back memories for me of travelling home from school!

[@psykloneja]

The roads had less potholes!! o_o

[@devertonpasley4942]

Roads were built properly.

[@yogiefortis8387]

This video started on Constant Spring Road right by Tropical Plaza, then Hagley Park road and continue straight to Portmore.

[@deandresmall2510]

Yea because it said downtown to portmore me is saying to myself this is not Marcus Garvey Drive

[@robertcampbell9946]

@@deandresmall2510 They took three mile to Marcud Garvey Dtive onto causeway into Portmote.

[@sinaolowoake8142]

Thanks for this video but most of all for the comments. For us friends of Jamaica who have never had the privilege to visit that wonderful island, the comments help us to visualise some of the names we only hear from dancehall artistes...From Yellowman i heard about Constant Springs. A lot of DJs mentioned Half Way Tree, Gregory Park, Skateland, Trelawny, Westmoreland, Ochi, MoBay and of course Kingston. So thus videos really help us to see and keep loving JA.

[@dawgyblack]

roads were in better condition then than now I see

[@SuzukiT]

California NewYork that's what I was thinking

[@pansysgarden]

That's true

[@peaceandlove.2932]

Amazing classic automobiles..lada..ford escort many more that I don't remember..

[@Cl4rendon]

Imagine this 10 years earlier - It would have been my Dad driving his Buick Skylark with little me sitting next to him on our way back from school. RJR & JBC still existed - TV was still in black & white and Manley was Primeminister.

[@davidmcfarlane9185]

After watching this video many times i find myself coming back, we have to preserve this video, nothing but pure vibes and a lot of nostalgia

[@nicolescott1354]

Wow, the old causeway bridge I use to be so scared to cross. It look so small now.

[@purplestormmedia1773]

That's not downtown Kingston,it's Half Way Tree,Hagley Park Road,Three Miles,Causeway way heading into Portmore.

[@michikeypoo]

Thank you!!

[@alexshazam5482]

Finally someone said it.

[@shannonlawrence3599]

Samething I was saying n I am in my 20s lol

[@REGGAEDUBSCENE]

nice Footage But This is not DOWN TOWN KINGSTON, You drive on CONSTANT Spring Road - then take the right at the HALF WAY TREE CLOCK on to Hagley park Road, then straight down to 3 miles on to Marcus Garvy Drive , then u turn right at zink Factory on to the Causeway main road - then drive over the Bridge and reach at the old fish village, all that is gone, now, so this is a good vintage footage, but in this footage, you still a for way from Hell shire Beach , around 12 miles away.

[@user-mh5ib3vy4r]

I wud love to go back to dem days here😊

[@darelbvcr687]

What a cool feeling listenig to this track and watching streets of Kingston

[@kerethat1683]

Mi love it 🤣🤣🤣🤣 , my beautiful Jamaica 👍👍👍🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼♥️♥️♥️ one love everytime ,

[@Andrew-cv8gv]

The music still good/gold today

[@PermittedToSpeak876]

All the roads were way better back then than now its a shame on our government....

[@telicagordon6799]

Back in time I was living in jamaica in 1984

[@evansmith2301]

This is the greatest drive through kingston video with lada ford and american cars ! $uperb video !!

[@adrianphillips4099]

I got to know how Half Way Tree and Hagley Park Road look in the year of my birth.Thanks for the video.

[@TakingShapeCreations]

Damn, 1986 is my year, Half Way Tree/Constant Spring Road in the start of the video looks the same way. Except for the Odeon Complex and the Pavilion buildings not present. Even the Passport office is still there and The Mall.

[@jamaicankritik]

Back in the glory days. Some places look the same.

[@landokalrisian4276]

I get goosbumps seeing the old causeway bridge

[@Don-cn6eo]

Wow...at first i could recognize the location but further down it a whole different story...wow. The power of time.

[@trdpowered]

yup to Hagley Park Rd. I cant remember what it was like back then, but I can see some semblance of it. This was awsome, I'm gonna show my pops this. Thanks uploader.

[@mikhailsutherland3201]

Thank you for this memory 😊

[@hearfan]

the old causeway bridge and fishing village.

[@tineyconerwillians4758]

This the JA I know n grow up till 24 can't wait to Visit home soonnnnn I was 6yrs old at this time

[@Jahwarrior91]

I really enjoy these videos

[@MrMwb49]

Wow ! I think you should make a video with this clip and the present driving video circulating of these areas on a split screen …👌🏼.

[@Jovelle876]

I WAS NOT EVEN BORN YET, LOLS. JAMAICA IS THE BEST BACK IN THE DAYS AND ESPECIALLY NOW. WE TRULY CAME ALONG WAY. #PROUD JAMAICAN

[@marymary-vg2ts]

I was being conceived at this time. Love jamaica

[@devertonpasley4942]

Same here.

[@britneyfoster6464]

I enjoy watching this video

[@hopetee9739]

Really appreciate this....nice nice❤👍

[@azimuthenigma6621]

If I could time travel there, I'd buy all my favourite tunes on 45 !!!

[@nataliecousins1808]

The good ole days of Kingston Ja🙏✨✨✨

[@elsabordelacumbia6961]

Yes

[@mrplumtreeandfamily9899]

I am watching nice content keep showing us more

[@hutchinsonjohnson2909]

I remember them day wow me came to USA 1984

[@laja82]

Wow!! No potholes!!!

[@marciaelliott2836]

So nice hearing Promised land.. But i notice the chaka chaka in some areas same way as today 2022...

[@Its_I_Ziggyman]

I enjoyed watching this. Thanks for posting. Only thing is that this was not Downtown Kingston. It was uptown - Half-Way-Tree, then down Hagley Park Road, and onto the Causeway Bridge to Portmore

[@fixarsmurf]

OK, thanks. I finally got around to renaming this old video. It's now titled: "Driving thru Kingston Jamaica, 1984: Half Way Tree, Hagley Park Road, Causeway Bridge, Portmore". I initially named it "Driving thru Downtown Kingston Jamaica, 1984" because I didn't know the area. I haven't lived there since I was a child. Thanks for commenting.

[@Rickscorpio4]

...That's the Jamaica I left as a boy in 1984. Today, the place looks so much different and people are not as friendly as they used to be. Still love JA though!!!

[@peterjamieson2441]

I really appreciate this video...i'm an 80s child. I doubt i saw Downtown in this though

[@fixarsmurf]

Yes, many have pointed out that it's not Downtown. I didn't know that Downtown was a specific area in Kingston when I posted this video. I just thought that it meant the central parts of the city.

[@peterjamieson2441]

@@fixarsmurf :)

[@buttyscott1]

This is NOT Downtown..This is Uptown ..Constant spring Mall ..going towards HWT

[@reggaefilms]

no potholes back then i see!!lol nice video

[@JamieDPS]

Place looks much better now. Streets are filthy in this video.

[@khadineevita]

I was two years old then I didn't start going to Kingston until I was 11 years old

[@detta4988]

Feel like im time traveling

[@fourq2049]

Yeah bro real ting. It's like my mind went to the 80s

[@Louisdegalfilla7]

Memories

[@javarienewsome8873]

1984-2021 nothing has changed in Jamaica except for the vehicles and the video quality

[@Cl4rendon]

Infrastructure has improved massively and a whole heap of new roads have been constructed.

[@dannyc.jewell8788]

In 84 I took the train from MoBay to Kingston, culture shock,what the guide books don't tell you

[@BREADBOSS4KTV]

This is the year I born lol..

[@resetmyzen1585]

Thank you 🥰

[@ultratrump8189]

KGs LTD @ HWT skate land is the same nothing changes 💯👍😎

[@dadsh85]

Unique material! Check out the zombie at 1:11. Scary shit! Song on radio: Dennis Brown - Promised Land

[@BLACKCOOLIE1]

thank you

[@luinomrkt2111]

Ok. I always enjoy these track promise land. But I didn't know even the year I was Born people where listening to the song

[@kerrod84]

Yo tata encava lada, the year i was born really cool

[@strydah8971]

di road look much smoother than now

[@dellendinho]

Wow when Hagley Park was smooth

[@fourq2049]

So down town always dutty. Ok

[@jlinb7783]

hagley park full of car marts now and yes these look like perfect roads. boy now craters exist guess auto parts place can be in business smh

[@queensass93]

Better governance in these times. Could you imagine the traffic if these roads weren't widened?

[@queensass93]

@Ras K but the population of Singapore is high for its size (size of Mobay) and it’s one of the richest countries in the world. China is over populated and is also a wealthy country. Many countries implement things to boost their population so idk why Jamaicans keep convincing themselves that having a sort of high population is a bad thing. A matter of fact Jamaica is vastly underpopulated!

[@queensass93]

@Ras K so what I guess you’re getting at is there is no structure for the population. I see many areas with 3 floor houses and 1or zero inhabitants and they’re probably not paying any taxes. The country has no proper address system which has been one reason crime is difficult to control. I see the implementation of gas tax that should be allocated to fixing roads. What ever happened to that 🤔

[@queensass93]

@Ras K this is true. It’s a huge issue. Recently it has become popular where all 4 houses are on 1/4 acres of land. Because them family leave it for them. All that has a little resale value.

[@echostrail181]

Klatt Klatt bro bro d brown in 1984 promise land 1 one yr after my birthday

[@xboxice2005]

yeah i have been back in time thanks :)

[@TinyBubbleExtreme]

were u sent back in time

[@DajiggaNatnice]

LAND WE LOVE OUT OF MANY ONE PEOPLE

[@contemporaryaquarium]

I need to know the name of the Song at 3:00, Song mad a Road...

[@trdpowered]

Constant Spring Road to Hagley Park Road to the Cause Way.

[@12donda]

daaaam is contant spring half way tree that ?? -- wow the place was absolutely run down and dirty what a difference now !!!!

[@ud777]

@REGGAEDUBSCENE respect boss your comment was very valuable to help me better identify the places in the video

[@johnm84]

I was born in 1984.

[@clivethomas2275]

I can see two pot holes, not that many. Also vintage cars……Austin Cambridge, Lada , Volvo, VW minivan from the 60s, Ford Escort, Toyota‘Dutty Gal’ Corolla, Ford Cortina. Yellowman was on top and the various sound systems ruled dancehall parties.

[@taylormadevacationrental8802]

Wow I was only 6. No traffic

[@JayneTenn]

I've always regretted that my parents wouldn't take pictures or let me do it, during our annual family trips back then, that ended in '83. I'm tempted to joke that after our constantly overweight luggage maybe there was no more in the budget, LoL!