On this week's show we celebrate the time of the famous San Gennaro Festival in New York by exploring the two neighborhoods in Lower Manhattan where Italian immigrants settled: Little Italy and the southern part of Greenwich Village. My guests will be returning Rediscovering New York guest/expert Joyce Gold, Founder of Joyce Gold History Tours; and a member of the local business community in Little Italy.

Segment 1

Jeff introduces his first guest, Joyce Gold of Joyce Gold History Tours. Jeff then asks what Little Italy was like before Italians settled in it, and they talk about the Irish immigrants who lived there first. Joyce moves on to talk about how poor Italian immigrants began to move to New York. Jeff asks how the Italian wave of immigrants in the 1900s differed from the other types of immigrants. Jeff talks about how Ellis Island had the largest number of Italian immigrants and the neighborhoods settled by these Italians. Joyce then discusses how Italians from different parts of Italy settled into other neighborhoods. Jeff and Joyce talk about the work that male Italians would get, which Joyce describes as the “dirtiest and most dangerous jobs.” This leads to them talking about how the Italian women worked in factories and candy manufacturing stores. Jeff moves on to talking about the horrendous conditions in impoverished NY areas and some of the Italians who lived in them.     

Segment 2

Jeff asks about the Italian immigrant’s religious experience once they came to New York and how they got along with the Irish. They go on to talk about the historic Saint Patrick’s church and how it has evolved over the years. Jeff asks about the major churches still operating in Little Italy today, which leads Joyce to talk about Saint Gennaro’s church, which has been open since the 1920s. Jeff changes topics by asking why Italians had such little political control when they first came to the city. Jeff and Joyce talk about Mayor Fiorello La Guardia and why he was such a beloved mayor. They talk about how he went after gangster Lucky Luciano in an effort to change harmful stereotypes of Italians at the time and how during a newspaper strike, he would read comics over the radio to children. Jeff asks Joyce why she thinks films about Italian Americans have always been so prevalent in our culture and the significant films about the Italian experience. Jeff then asks about what displaced Italians from Little Italy as time went on.  

Segment 3

Jeff has Joyce back on to ask about Italian immigrant children’s experience in schools. Italian children were often put down by teachers who believed stereotypes that they were dirty and unintelligent. Jeff asks Joyce the origins of the San Gennaro festival, which began as a festival to honor Saint Januarius by local store owners. Lou rejoins and Jeff starts by asking if Lou lives in Little Italy and his ancestor’s experience moving there. Lou discusses how his great grandfather opened the first Di Palo’s food store and how his family still owns it today. Jeff then asks Lou about his travels to Italy for his store’s inventory and which parts of Italy he visits. 

Segment 4

Lou starts by talking about his book on Italian food and what inspired him to write it and how the story of his family and their culture informed his writing process. Jeff asks Lou what he likes about Little Italy today and its current vibe. Lou answers how today he works with the fifth generation of Italians, which include his children. He discusses how Little Italy has changed over the years and how he works to preserve the history of the neighborhood amongst gentrification. For his final question, Jeff asks Lou his advice for people wanting to open a business in Little Italy.