Going to the scene of Nelson Sullivan's childhood accident

Nelson Sullivan's hobby as a child was making avalanches at the gold mine. He would stand on the edge of a large pit ( the Haile Gold mine near his home in Kershaw SC was the sight of strip mining) and kick the ground until it came loose and avalanched. One Saturday afternoon Nelson slipped while doing that, fell down onto a ledge, and broke his ankle in many places. What followed was a lengthy hospital stay and a metal pin inserted into his leg to keep it together. Despite the long recovery period, the accident benefited Nelson in the long run, as it kept him out of the draft which was sending thousands of young men his age to have their lives wasted in the Viet Nam war. Video by Nelson Sullivan

[@Akenaten1]

Nelson’s mother lived to almost a hundred years old only passing away fairly recently. Incredible!!

[@Ilianafaith_]

​​@THEcomplainingCHANNELBlanche Culvern Sullivan November 24, 1914/ June 29, 2012

[@chntl5601]

​@THEcomplainingCHANNELproject random has a video visiting and cleaning Nelson's final resting place he was buried next to his mother, according to her head stone she was Born November 24th 1914 and passed June 29th 2012

[@paulym9969]

The peacefull country life Nelson grew up in, to the wild and crazy New York life style...what a huge difference

[@mariaager1924]

There are two sides to all of us ❤️

[@BigLee93]

@@mariaager1924 he's the same in both

[@randymulder9105]

Wild. Yes.

[@kida9195]

It’s amazing, if you look at Nelson’s obituary, he has familial ties dating back to before the revolutionary war. He probably had family members who fought in both the revolution and civil wars. It’s astonishing the timeline of people’s pasts. Hell, we’re watching a man whose grandparents were born in the 19th century. Nelson was 18 when his mother’s father died in 1960. Her father was born in 1877. So Nelson must’ve had pretty clear memories of talking to him or his grandmother. Then, 20 years later, that same kid is filming his 30s and early 40s for, unbeknownst to him, youtube, a 21st century technology none of them could have imagined. Now, through Nelson, his family lives on for as long as these videos and the internet remains. Possibly for centuries.

[@LaurenOliviArt]

I love how I’m always recommended “new to me” videos that Nelson filmed and it seems that I always learn something new about his life! I would love a documentary or film about him!!!

[@RetroReminiscing]

me too!

[@CycloneCordVHS]

there is one on Apple TV called "Nelson Sullivan's World Of Wonder" originally aired I believe in 1994 for UK TV.

[@PickinNgrinin]

I love how when he goes back home he reverts back to his original accent

[@decuevas244]

I did the same. Grew up in suburbs of Chicago and in summers spent in opp Alabama and hickory flat Mississippi.

[@guydreamr]

Maybe somewhat more pronounced, but in his NYC videos his southern accent is very much evident.

[@darlingtonboobam4107]

I love Nelsons moms accent...

[@avalondreaming1433]

Dana garza These videos of Nelson back home are my favorite. Well, second only to the ones with his pets. Love those.

[@BigLee93]

@@avalondreaming1433 Me too

[@BigLee93]

But I like watching these because of how everything was back in the days. Wish I could time travel lol. He got into an accident in the past, because that happened he couldn't go to war in Vietnam which I'm not surprised about. Who would? But I know people that would say that they'll join because they love their country and they should get a mad amount of respect for that. By the way, I loved how Nelson was walking on the gravel in this video. Very satisfying noise

[@brentaudi9354]

Love these videos! Fun driving around in his Mom's now vintage Pontiac Bonneville!

[@julienbee3467]

I was just wondering what car it was

[@weshartman9925]

I'm happy that Nelson loved his life in NYC. Personally, from the moment I bought a copy of "Party Monster" and saw Nelson's videos in the extras, I decided that Nelson was a star and that I couldn't have cared less about the vapid Club Kids. While his mother was much more soft-spoken and genteel - albeit nowhere near as elegant and beautifully dressed - she reminds me of my own Southern mama who was ALWAYS free with her checkbook and behind me 100%. 😊

[@DDDD-pv7fw]

I find Nelson's videos absolutely fascinating. Also very sad when he shows his mother and aunt in the videos. They lost Nelson at such a young age, he had such a bond with his mother. 🙏🙏🙏

[@decuevas244]

I wonder is that because there isn't any other people filming or looking at phones. The camera was huge too so the selfie aspect is on point. I pray he believes in Jesus.

[@JJTMStudio]

@@decuevas244 Don't you worry about Nelson. Whatever he did or didn't believe in, he's a-ok. Energy cannot be destroyed. Look it up.

[@jaylew8408]

It's sobering to think how if he didn't break his leg that we might never of been blessed with these videos or we might of gotten the videos, but we might of had a different Nelson. One that wasn't as golden and precious we were blessed to watch

[@jamiecraig4826]

Since comin across Nelson an his amazing video documentarys on his an all the club kids/Ru Paul, Lahoma, very early Lady Bunny an the rest of their amazingly awesome family, I've become obsessed with both Nelson an his crew, to the point that I feel sad when it comes time to switch off, it's just such a shame Nelson left us soo soon as goin by his previous vids ect I'm 1000% positive that he'd b a big time film makers of sum sort or another an I for one would have loved to see how he'd have flourished given the chance!!! The first og of the blog/vlog an sooo much more, Nelson u truly were the first an best pioneer of the camera, blog/vlogging, even if u didn't get the chance to know him I just know it would have been a honor to b able to just watch him at his craft, thank u for the amazing memories of how NYC truly was in the clubscene days!!! Would loved to have had the honour of bein ur friend, or to have ev n been part of ur circle!!! RIP Nelson, u'll never truly know just how much an how many ppl came to know u thru ur camera lense!!! Thank you so much xxxxxx

[@Kerousmac]

That's really mind blowing when you think about it. Almost as if God was pointing to a then 13 yr old Nelson, "This may hurt a bit today...but ultimately save you from worse later". Fate, God's plan, luck, or whatever you want to call it, is definitely an intriguing thing to think about. Here's to you, Nelson (and Blackout too). You'll live on forever within your footage.

[@SmithMrCorona]

I'm sure God would have told the draft board that he was gay, and he still wouldn't have had to go fight that fucked up war. Also, God? Seriously? How is it people still believe that hocus pocus in 2020?

[@salexo9]

@@SmithMrCorona Let people believe what they want to believe in peace.

[@stevengallant6363]

@@SmithMrCorona there are no atheists in foxholes... I forget who said that but it is a good quote

[@RetroReminiscing]

So true....makes us think doesnt it! Llike you say, gods plan or fate..whatever...life is strange and you never know what it instore for you from one minute to the next

[@towerofresonance4877]

The film quality is so great that you can actually hear the whirring of the transmission in that car. I have a still mint condition 1987 Chrysler 5th Avenue and it makes that same exact sound when you come to a stop.

[@JohnS-il1dr]

So glad his mother and aunt accepted Nelson's choices. Some parents would disown their kids for that

[@ColdSid]

Very true … especially in those days his lifestyle just wasn’t accepted and for his family being from the south puts even more respect on their names

[@BMarie774]

I love how his accent comes back 😂 I barely recognized his voice at first

[@stevengallant6363]

Nowadays the landowners would have been sued... my uncle died at 19 years old in the Vietnam War... I wonder what he died for?

[@Seekyourtruth777]

Unfortunately a rich mans war

[@guydreamr]

He died for mistaken assumptions and groupthink, unfortunately.

[@ajecks]

That southern drawl accent is the most soothing and comforting US accent by far

[@jasonbontrager6129]

Man, Nelson as a devout Christian and MAGA Republican I am SO GRACED by your video archives as it takes me back to the chenille lace of American 🇺🇸 decorum and Southern gentleman respect to one another. God Bless Y’all Mr Sullivan 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸

[@TS-qq7vr]

In 1966 that's not the only thing that would've kept Nelson from the draft.

[@weshartman9925]

I'm glad I wasn't the only one thinking it...

[@Remo1147]

Sad so many lost to pointless war

[@redcomic619]

Being gay?

[@LisaMarie-xp4ym]

Why??

[@ashfrancine5901]

It’s not like there’s a damn blood test or something that says “gay” when you get a physical. In the south it’s not likely he was “out” at the time or even when he visited home at all. That’s probably why he moved to NYC to be able to live more openly.

[@arrowcrusher]

These are not earthlings.... it’s something else... I’m not sure what, but these beings have a different type of awareness and resinate and a different frequency..

[@mrj-charles6383]

Thankfully Nelson did not fall again when revisiting the site.

[@slipknotmascaras250]

Legal muita emoção....

[@deepandhard803]

That's highway 601 just outside of Kershaw

[@TravisBickle0312]

DangerRobinson Still look the same?

[@caplinGrey]

Yeah..whats changed. Take a video.

[@nilbogllort6994]

I love his videos 😎

[@epeter85]

I wish Blackout could have come along.

[@randymulder9105]

That could be a great name for his documentary BLACKOUT. Could mean so many things ....and not just the dog's name. I've been watching these a lot lately and the name that echoes in the background of many videos is BLACKOUT. He's like a country dog living in the city. New York City Blackout. Nelson and Blackout are kind of from the same place I think. I'm from a small town/country side. I felt the most comfortable owning a dog in the big city. I mean, it makes me a dog person anywhere really. But downtown, and owning a dog...I felt a little more at home and more at ease. I love the big city, the country, and the small town. They all have something to offer especially if your gay and creative. Having a dog keeps me more grounded. Somehow. Anywhere I live...but especially the big city. It can make you feel really lonely and out of place just like the country but more lonely when knowing you are surrounded by 1000s of people and barely any of them want to know anything about you just because it's "seemingly" more fast paced. Interesting. Can't wait to know more about him and his life. A lot of us get him. Nelson and Blackout. A New York City Country Bumpkin and His Canine Pal. Lovely. Paints a wonderful picture. Seems he has zero judgement, very keen observation skills, a sense of self and others, great sounding voice and vibe, and funny/serious and seriously funny. Wow. Nothing I want to watch more than this....these days. Cool clips.

[@grigorirasputin5020]

Back in the early 1980's, nobody really claimed that area. Lots of blue water, I was told was due to arsenic the old mine company from late 1800's or early 1900's used to extract gold from the soil. Friends and I used to go out there and shoot across those deep canyons at banks on the other side. It was amazing how long it took a bullet to reach the other side.

[@clemsonbloke]

The reason of blue? Quarries like that have loads of limestone, that is the white stuff you see. It is the Limestone of the quarry remains that makes the water look super turquoise blue.

[@simonevillafane3781]

This is the quietest Nelson has ever been in one of his videos.

[@billhughes8726]

You need therapy...or something.

[@sint5990]

Back in the days when kids had access to play in strip mines 😮

[@darthdennis6681]

And...what about his dad??? I dont think I've ever even heard Nelson mention him before...

[@Pengquy]

Dennis Shafer he died at the same age of Nelson, sadly...

[@Thomas-fu8vp]

His dad died @62years. Nelson was 41

[@Thomas-fu8vp]

Check out FIND A GRAVE FOR NELSON

[@jmc7504]

nelson came from a cotton fortune, passed down from generations

[@Transformational_change]

Thank god for that accident! Reminds me of that Zen story.

[@goldleaf889]

Love love love!!!!

[@Heramitep]

Brilliant!!!

[@jessicah3450]

Maroon cars make me nostalgic 😟😂 anyone else?

[@SmithMrCorona]

ha! I was just thinking that! I can almost feel that weird carpet in those cars.

[@redcomic619]

Maroon. And like Hank Hill said “why don’t they make brown cars anymore?”

[@SmithMrCorona]

@@redcomic619 I've seen a few in recent years. I think some Mini models come in that color.

[@micmac99]

Maroon is the official color of the mid-1980s

[@golden6566]

Aunt nancyyyyy hey sissssss 😍✨

[@malikl3643]

Unfortunately that’s the price some people will pay pay for cosmetic procedures. So sad and tragic.

[@kleve_1143]

wow!

[@donpace6405]

Looks like salt rocks really strange rock formations !!!!

[@BMarie774]

It’s mica.

[@icecreamforcrowhurst]

In all fairness he probably would’ve been exempt on other grounds. I learnt about that from Alice’s Restaurant ;)

[@LisaMarie-xp4ym]

?? They were dishing out drugs in Vietnam, so win, win! Everyone know’s that!!

[@decuevas244]

When they said colored water it made me think of oh now with the chernobyl they just did in usa. Plenty of gay pride puddles.

[@Walkthedogtoday]

I wonder if his mom knew he was gay

[@wantsomecoffee]

eveluvsu I’d say yes. She was in NYC with him in other videos.

[@mariaager1924]

I’m sure she did.

[@b.abrackus6403]

I highly doubt she did at this point...

[@jameslaumand3686]

You tube is boring now