⁴ᴷ⁶⁰ Walking NYC (Narrated) : Nelson Sullivan's House in the Meatpacking District (July 19, 2019)

Google Maps Route: goo.gl/maps/7rR8ypUsQx3vGSDK9
Nelson's KZbin Channel: / 5ninthavenueproject
A walk in the Meatpacking District from the 14th Street (A)(C)(E)(L) Subway Station to Nelson Sullivan's House at 5 9th Avenue to the Start of the High Line at Gansevoort Street & Washington Street. The home is still there with the original door and Nelson's vine is growing taller than ever! The house is at 7:04 in this video.
From Wikipedia:
"John Nelson Sullivan (March 15, 1948 - July 4, 1989) was an American videographer. He was ubiquitous on the New York City downtown art and club scene during the 1980s.
Sullivan was born on March 15, 1948, in Kershaw, South Carolina. His family was upper-middle class, and from an early age he was given music lessons, with consideration for a career as a classical pianist. After graduating from Davidson College in North Carolina in 1970, he moved to New York, part of the post-Stonewall wave of young gay men who were then heading to either San Francisco or Manhattan. He rented a studio apartment in the West Village and soon made a decision to pursue a career as a composer. By day, Sullivan worked at Joseph Patelson Music House, the classical music store behind Carnegie Hall. He moved from apartment to apartment over the next ten years.
In 1980, he saw a building on the corner of Gansevoort and 9th Avenue in the Meat Packing District with a rental sign on the door. Sullivan purchased the duplex and soon renovated the building to be his own salon. It also became a hotel, way-station, and halfway house for people either visiting or moving to the city. Artists, musicians, and performers dropped by at all hours to hang out, the ongoing 24-hour salon gave Sullivan the idea to begin videotaping his life. Nelson's constant companion was a Flat-Coated Retriever named Blackout.
In the early 1980s, Sullivan began to make use of inexpensive handheld video cameras then coming on the market. Using first a VHS-loading camera and later upgrading to an 8mm video camera, he shot over 1,900 hours of tape over a period of seven years, filming himself and his friends in Manhattan's downtown life. He sought to tape all of New York's citizens, including its outcasts. He taped anything and everything that interested him-performances in bars and clubs, house parties, gallery openings, park and street festivals, late-night ruminations of his friends, conversations with taxi drivers, sunset walks with his dog on the west side piers, and a variety of behavior on the part of people he met on the streets of New York City.
As well as a frequenter of the galleries, clubs, and bars of the Lower East Side and Greenwich Village, Sullivan was on the periphery of the Warhol crowd's later incarnations, headquartered a further north at 17th and Broadway, and at Max's Kansas City on Park Avenue South. He counted among his friends a variety of that scene's characters, such as Andy's young friend Benjamin Liu, singer Joey Arias, fashion designer Alexis Del Lago, and actress Sylvia Miles. All of these, with the exception of Miles, were drag queens. Sullivan's films of his friends' crossdressing was to become a leitmotif of his work. That can be seen in the footage of Guy Bernotas' 1982 production of Momma Said..., entirely shot by Sullivan. In the late 1980s, Sullivan renovated a three-story former carriage house into a "factory" at 5 Ninth Ave, in New York's Meatpacking District. With a cast that included RuPaul, DJ Larry Tee, Lahoma Van Zant, Lady Bunny, Michael Musto, artist Albert Crudo.
He chronicled the rise and fall of many of his friends and peers including, Ethyl Eichelberger, John Sex, Keith Haring, Tom Rubnitz and Michael Alig.
On July 4, 1989, Sullivan died of a heart attack aged 41. He had quit his full-time job just three days prior to his death in order to produce his own cable television show of his footage."
Timestamps
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Filmed Using
GoPro HERO7 Black: amzn.to/2pA5ogz
FeiyuTech G6 Gimbal: amzn.to/2BPs1qp
Zoom H1n Handy Recorder (2018 Model): amzn.to/2G5cCAQ
Camera Equipment I used or have used
GoPro Fusion - 360 Waterproof Digital VR Camera with Spherical 5.2K HD Video 18MP Photos: amzn.to/2EdfwGd
GoPro HERO6 Black: amzn.to/2FxgnxW
GoPro HERO5 Black: amzn.to/2xuLu8d
FeiyuTech G5 Gimbal: amzn.to/2yTv4qV
Panasonic G7: amzn.to/2FqZPHY
Panasonic LUMIX G Vario Lens, 14-140MM, F3.5-5.6 ASPH: amzn.to/2EAg9VL
Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO LENS, 7-14MM, F4.0 ASPH: amzn.to/2GlQFNb

[@ActionKid]

Check out Nelson's KZbin Channel: kzbin.info

[@gabbax2hey77]

Nelsons videos are a real treasure ... an amazing first person account of a vibrant art and music scene in Downtown NY before the rampart gentrification.

[@gabbax2hey77]

I found one of Nelsons videos by chance here on KZbin ... after viewing that ONE i couldn't stop watching all the others. Watching them is to be magically transported back to the New York that existed before the Disneyfication of Times Square ... a NY a lot of us miss

[@bkohatl]

The torch has been handed to a new generation and I am sure he is proud of you and your work, pal.

[@thatebutuoyguy788]

Is he still alive (Nelson)? Yeah definitely very nostalgic seeing a time when I was a kid. This is great but there's just no novelty as everyone is doing it. Still enjoyed it, nonetheless.

[@reedwilliams1868]

@@thatebutuoyguy788 He died in 1989 of a heart attack, sadly. I'm sure he would have loved KZbin.

[@thatebutuoyguy788]

@@reedwilliams1868 That's sad to hear. The internet wasn't even in the wild then. Just watching a few of his videos I can already tell he was a genuine character. You could see him waffle about and trying to find his comfort zone but very entertaining to watch.

[@jesusenriquerivas5683]

That was the last street he walked on July 3-1989.... Thank you so much for recognize our Nelson

[@JoseRamos-cm5qd]

I spent a year or so of my life watching every video YT had made by Nelson. I wish someone would do a bad ass documentary on Nelson. He was awesome and his dedication to video taping his life when it must have cost him a fortune LOL. Not to mention a time that would be lost if it wasn't for his videos.

[@gabbax2hey77]

It's amazing what Nelsons neighborhood looks like now. So many of his videos feature him and his dog Blackout going in and out of his building and going for walks along deserted streets lined with industrial buildings catering to the meat packing trade.

[@hsvguy45]

Thankyou so much for recognizing Nelson, He was the first vlogger. God bless him.

[@Slickmickyoyo97]

His subway trip to Coney Island vid from summer 1987 is probably the greatest video in vlog history. I don’t know what about that video is so magical, it captures that time in NY so perfectly it’s mind boggling.

[@abbyluxemburg8968]

Nelson was ahead of his time, the very first vlogger!!!! His videos were awesome!!!!!

[@hansonel]

Great walk to pay tribute to Nelson Sullivan, one of the world's first vloggers

[@briankelly85]

I miss you Nelson. I miss our afternoon lunches at Benny's Burritos. And you listening to me complain about my room mates.

[@ActionKid]

Wow that’s amazing that you knew him in person! Nelson is surely missed.

[@SP-free]

Well done Action 👏 Nelson was one of the great and early Videographers. He would have loved what you are doing now. One day you’ll be remembered fondly for capturing street life during your lifetime. You’ve found your calling Action. Keep up the great work 👍

[@iNeverHadMercy]

EVERYBODY: " Who ARE you ??" ActionKid: " I'm Batman !!" 🔥🔥🔥🏆

[@supremebonkripper7460]

Man i worked really hard this weekend so im glad i can just lay in my bed and let someone else do the active stuff

[@b.griffin317]

especially in 90°, 80% humidity heat 🤪

[@1961RetroMIke]

Hello Actionkid, thank you so much for recognizing Nelson Sullivan and making me aware of his channel. His NYC was my NYC and so you have opened up a treasure trove of memories for me. As always you are the very best and just another reason why you are second to none.

[@yaya3025]

Definitely a Kindred spirit. I will have to look into his work. As always grateful for your work. Stay cool

[@samanthaferrari5948]

I discovered Nelson's videos by chance and got addicted to watching them all. Now I'm addicted to watching your channel. This video couldn't be more perfect! xx

[@beachycat1007]

Well done. RIP Nelson and Blackout 💕.

[@ryanpoggioli8602]

Your work carries on the legacy of Nelson's by documenting the city around you. Such a shame he was taken from us at such a young age!

[@epipd5712]

So happy you did this video. I love Nelson's videos from the 80's and enjoy his vlogs. You do a wonderful job yourself, and thanks for sharing all you do. Best to you. I know Nelson would admire you.

[@abdhfhhffh]

Thank you so much actionkid... This is truly incredible... Nelson's 80s era NYC videos are virtual time machine.

[@dianadowning7992]

I always learn something new about NYC with your videos.I read your bio of Nelson Sullivan and what an interesting life he had! My eldest son is gay (born in 1988),but not sure if he knows who he was.I'm a major supporter of gay rights and always glad to see people in the movement being recognized.Thank you again for a wonderful video! Take care,ActionKid.

[@urbanviii6557]

Totally unrecognizable from when I knew it back in the 80s with all those wild bars, Florent restaurant. Now, the g-d Whitney moved down there. I can't believe it. The Whitney should sell it, and move back to the Breuer concrete mausoleum on Madison Avenue, from whence they came, and where they used to live. Leave Gansevoort Street alone! It was more interesting 30 to 40 years ago.

[@visionist7]

Gentrification has eaten this city alive. I love all the mega skyscrapers going up but they're a symptom of this Disneyfication sickness. Especially I can't stand local stores closing and chains moving in, ugh. You can still find the real New York everywhere you look though. Just watch some of Actionkid's videos of drivers reacting to each other in traffic >:-)

[@BreakerOneNine07]

Right?! I mean there is a freakin Hermes store across the street from his house!! No originality there anymore.

[@urbanviii6557]

@@BreakerOneNine07Absolutely incredible.

[@frankietorres8596]

Such a shame Nelson passed away so young. He brought such great footage and history of the 1980s. I’m shure he would have continued recording with the fantastic Technology we have today. RIP Nelson 😔

[@ActionKid]

Such a shame, I just wonder what he would be doing today.

[@brucebacklund9138]

Great video of the former meatpacking district. Remember it from the 80's and yes, major changes. Congrats. on your 60K subscribers.

[@b.griffin317]

saint nelson, patron saint of vloggers.

[@streetsofasia8895]

When I see the lovely video contents of ActionKid I always don't have to press on the thumb image to already know the success of the video that will have highest quality and tallest value as its main features.

[@shrineheart87]

seriously there needs to be a movie about this guy!!!!!!

[@cassielengel00]

Thanks again! I’ve spent hours watching his videos and discovered him through RuPaul... so awesome the same door is there but wow has the area changed!!!! Wow such a contrast! Glad you did this 🙏🏼

[@blahblah1438]

I love Nelson and watching all of his videos from the 80s which was my time. Thank you for doing this video

[@davidellis5141]

Check out Nelson Sullivan's vlogs from the 80's ! You can 👀 his influence on the action Kid ! 😎

[@Heramitep]

Fantastic video! I’m a big Nelson fan from the UK and have been fortunate to visit 5 Ninth in August 2017 & February of 2019

[@silentowl92]

I was really waiting this video, I swear. Thank you so much for making this video!!

[@pasqualeabarno]

Compliment... Excellent video... Many thanks... 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@nathanc5789]

I was fortunate enough to make a stop by his home in 2018. He was a man before his own time.

[@louisea6109]

Love it😊 lived at Gansevoort street 1984-85 Nelson was my neighbour Remember the meet trucks The High Line was still in silence - today an amazing place to walk - join the High Line group - Such a different envoirement today 😌 Love these citywalks 🚶🏻‍♀️🚶🏽‍♂️ Have a good one says Louise from Stockholm 🇸🇪🇺🇸

[@harrymonk6]

Where did you live?

[@aviratica6370]

Nelson Sullivan is my hero!

[@roryonabike5863]

You didn’t mention the KZbin channel for his work: 5ninthavenueproject As far as I know, he’s the earliest “vlogger”, except for the fictional David Holzman’s Diary in 1967.

[@ActionKid]

I have a link to the channel in the description and put a card to his channel in the video.

[@YouTobeHD1]

Oh, thank you Man for this! I love Nelson videos, evoke memories .

[@nasdaqua]

AWESOME video ... thanks for posting and KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK.

[@diannefaith7866]

I always wait for your videos !!💕❤️

[@becausegang7266]

I can picture Nelson and Blackout going in through that door. I’m going to visit on my next trip to NYC

[@regmcg4171]

I'm a native New Yorker who really enjoys taking these virtual tours with you.

[@ActionKid]

👍

[@roryonabike5863]

Cool. Must say I’m surprised to see this. Of the people in his videos, some people will know who RuPaul is, maybe Michael Musto, probably not the others. If I recall, Michael Alig is in some of the videos before he was charged with murder.

[@abbyluxemburg8968]

Yes he was in many of the videos

[@vintagecoachcollector]

THIS is really great!!!!! For those who know, one of Nelson's great friends made a doc project, the KZbin channel is "5nithavenueproject". It's totally amazing!!!

[@jeahavvalentin980]

Another excellent video right there

[@mrmiguelitoronto]

Wonderful!!!! In fact I subscribed to your channel for the narrated ones, thanks again! Miguel from Argentina!

[@jannyj9850]

Thanks AK for another great video, I've just watched one of Nelson's videos and I think the area looks much nicer today.

[@jamesstark7251]

AK, thanks for all of your awesome videos. As a native NY'er (currently residing on E. 88th Street), I thoroughly enjoy your walks around the City and I'm reminded of how much it has changed (mostly for the good) since I was a teenager in the 60's. In regard to referring to the pavements as "cobblestone"; they are actually Belgian pavers made out of squared-off granite blocks. Cobblestones are naturally rounded riverbed stones. I don't recall seeing any still in use in the City. I realize the term "cobblestone" has been appropriated to describe any stone pavement but thought I'd add to the discourse. Again, thanks for the fantastic videos.

[@ActionKid]

Thanks for the memories and the explanation of the street 😊

[@Denis-jd6dd]

What a great video!!!

[@taral6414]

OMG ActionKID you are AWESOME, like 100x More awesome than you were before, THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO! This is one of my "Want to see's" In NYC

[@ActionKid]

I’m glad I captured this video for everybody 😎

[@rentintin1427]

Great History lesson. Enjoyed the video very much.

[@claudiahansen4938]

Lived five blocks south of his house 1970's til 1981. Bought meat and bulk supplies in the meatpacking district..cannot remember name, Acme Meat? Was mostly deserted evenings, great video showcasing district's transformation, and covering Nelson's house. Watched his time capsule videos last year with fascination because it was my old neighborhood, though we didn't run in the same circle.

[@ActionKid]

Wow that’s amazing! There are some meat places now. I should go back to record it!

[@seand67]

Awesome tour

[@MyWalkAround]

Nice! Good stuff man

[@harrymonk6]

Recreate Nelson Sullivan videos to see the change of times! People could watch your videos in 30 years time to see how it all changes again lol

[@s.a.r.konning8164]

ActionKid please make a tutorial about filmaking on street, and footage, would be very useful for many people. Thanks

[@ActionKid]

I’m still planning it!

[@allaroundamsterdam3352]

ActionKid Yay, awesome!

[@dereknewbury163]

I love your idiosyncratic take on your milieu. Keep it up and thank you

[@sunniertimer598]

Thank you for your videos! I have not been to New York and it is so nice to be able to see it. I appreciate what you are doing, it is like taking a walk with you. :)

[@seguelquispe932]

Gracias por hacer esto!!! Sigo el trabajo de Nelson hace tiempo y quería saber como está su casa.hoy en día, lástima que no pudiste entrar :(

[@keet3028]

Nelson is smiling down at this video, you and him would be great friends if he was still alive. What he did was historic just like what your're doing now. Film everything...The Power of a camera

[@userid579]

Thank you for the great video.

[@timfaracy754]

The place you said looked like a restaurant but now is a clothing store was a popular restaurant called Florent, named after its owner who was from France. Nelson filmed there sometimes. It's funny you didn't realize his house was now open publicly as an art gallery. They should have a sign outside. You also walked by a Transit training center as you left the subway. You were thoughtful about not opening the service exit to leave to aid fare evaders, not many think of that.

[@ZMAN_420]

Nelson content is always 🔥 👌 👍🏻

[@ginnymullins2477]

the dogs name could not be more relevant. blackout. great vid please stay safe love in this latest outage,

[@jimcrovatt6988]

A nice and very fitting homage!

[@FEEAR1000]

Another well done video. I can't wait to visit NYC one day before it goes under

[@nasdaqua]

NYC isn't going under....maybe sign up at www.bigapplegreeter.org for gratis walking greets of the city,...

[@FEEAR1000]

@@nasdaqua I don't mean going under money wise I meant like the oceans are rising fast and lower Manhattan is doomed. It has risen 5 to 8 inches and fast.

[@nasdaqua]

@@FEEAR1000 OK..i get it...maybe you're right although the city has promulgated barriers in lower Manhattan to help thwart rising water levels...Super storm, Sandy, was the precursor to impending similar threats ...time will tell how this area fares against it.

[@centreantipoison2587]

Je venais juste de m’abonner et j’ai eu la notif 😂

[@bearclawgirl6866]

Thank you 🙏

[@Livingmydreammm]

Thank you❤❤❤❤

[@mikioni]

Excellent clip 🙂

[@tangledshoelace4726]

Very interesting!! Thanks!!😀💙💚

[@phelipesilva8806]

Beautiful.

[@divabrowndiva1025]

Thank you.

[@nenecuty]

Thank you

[@NYC_Urbanista]

Well done!!!

[@aahanamalani]

Action Kid back at it again with a live narration

[@rabahbelmiloud3018]

So beautiful

[@PrismApplied]

Who knew? Enlightening as always. I’m still laughing about you exclaiming, “This is freaky as hell” in the power outage video. Thank you, ActionKid.

[@sherj63w46]

Awesome video😇😇😇😇

[@jonathancr7587]

La próxima vez que visite New York iré a buscar esa casa

[@JMACFANPAGE]

Brooklyn had a major power outage and I immediately thought about the actionkid walking and doing a video for us in the dark/heat. 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@ActionKid]

Unfortunately I wasn’t in Brooklyn but I really hope everyone affected got their power back soon!

[@harrymonk6]

Cheers dude :) you should recreate his last video to see how its all changed

[@chaoshund1768]

Thx ! 👍👍👍

[@Antny.25]

Thanks for the video It's awesome!! I fucking LOVE Nelson !!

[@robertovinicius690]

Ótimo vídeo

[@johnniejohnson2329]

I bet he got the vine seed from Kershaw South Carolina God bless you nelson my homeboy

[@damiaanspatrick2050]

I believe the stones on that square that is Belgian block Gelgian pavement.

[@51StPi]

Thanks, take it easy✌️

[@carld6410]

This is sort of off topic of this particular video. I have just discovered your channel and LOVE it!! I live in upstate NY and myself, my mother and aunts try to go to the city once a month on bus trips for the day. We usually stay between 34th and 54th streets. I was wondering if you could suggest the best place for pizza, discount shopping, hidden gems etc lol. I would appreciate and advice 😀. Keep the videos coming I love all of them so far (I'm still catching up).

[@ActionKid]

Thank you so much! 😊

[@carld6410]

Any suggestions?

[@iamfirst8311]

Avenue A Tompkins square park would be awesome too

[@b.griffin317]

nice area. from the end of the video just take greenwich avenue to west 8th, cooper square and saint marks.

[@meetmeinva]

It was not functioning with active railways in the 80s. In fact a portion of it was unfortunately demolished in 1991.

[@Mike-iv2bl]

Nelson Sullivan's footage is used in the HBO documentary "Wig"

[@mikhailvladimirovich]

I'm from Russia, St-Petersburg. I like your videos

[@tedted5431]

👍🗽Thx!

[@paulym9969]

Notice noone pays attention to you recording now like they used to look at Nelson carrying his camera back then. I started watching Nelsons videos about 2 years ago. Great video 👍

[@kekwayblaze3176]

Did Nelson own the entire building or was that bar/restaurant added on later when the house was sold?

[@robsonrodrigues805]

Que video legal!

[@Tortomus]

That's crazy its the original door

[@JB-zo7ln]

Where was the infamous Florent? I couldn't tell from how new everything looks around there.

[@sunchyme59]

Love Nelson ❤