I took this photo of street drummer Gene Palma in the mid to late 1970’s. Not sure if it was before or after his appearance in “Taxi Driver.” Palma also appeared in “Hero at Large.”
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Twenty Four Frames 
Awesome photo! I have always loved that little moment in TAXI DRIVER. Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks Jeremy!!!
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Yes being a hobby drummer loved this moment also “40 years of Chick Webb”. In Taxi Driver his sideburns were long.
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Again with the memories. I feel like Forest Gump when I read your New York based posts. I used to see Gene in Times Square often back in the ’80s. During that same period, I worked at a coffee shop on 6th Avenue and 57th Street called Miss Brooks and Gene came there often; really nice guy, but that hair smelled like hell.
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Sorry for the late reply Michael. Your comment got mixed in with spam and I just found it. The photo was taken in Times Square and I do remember seeing him there a couple of times banging away. Wasn’t that coffee shop near the 57th Street Playhouse? Now I think it is the Director’s Guild of America Theater.
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You’re right, John. Miss Brook’s was right on the corner of 6th Ave; the theater was a block away. Saw Sid & Nancy there. Question: was that the old Playboy Theater?
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Yes, it went under a few names over the years. The Cinema Rendezvous, the Playboy, 57th Street Playhouse and probably a one or two others.
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I knew Gene for about 8 years during the 90s. Always had his little suitcase and sticks with him. I wonder if he is still alive and living on 8th ave in Chelsea-
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The little I have seen written about him on the web, there is nothing to indicate where his is, or if he is still with us. I recently found some old B&W photo contact sheets containing a few shots I took of Gene back in the late 70’s. Unfortunately, the negatives seem to have disappeared.
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being a commuter from staten island, i would see gene almost every day at the corner of 7th avenue and broadway and, we would sit and have lunch together. he was a great person and very talented. he was a joy to see him playing his drumsticks on any surface. he could immitate any classic drumer-even giger baker!!!
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Hi Richard,
Appreciate you sharing your memories of Gene.
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what a great memory to have, Richard! Thanks for sharing.
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I watched Taxi Driver last night and decided to look up Gene again. Love that movie and I too used to see Gene in the 80’s and probably in the mid-seventies a couple of times (before I moved to NYC). He was one of many street characters I loved seeing as I walked around. It really was a great time in NYC. Now the Times Square area is just another damn suburban mall. I used to eat lunch frequently at the Japanese lunch counter that was on 42nd, across from Hotalings News. Another favorite was the Orange Julius that was on 7th around 45th St., the only one I knew of where they’d toss in a raw egg for you.
In the scene in TD where Travis & Betsy are coming out of the ‘sexy’ film, I forgot that one of the movies next door was, “Street Gangs of Hong Kong,” which I’ve been hoping to find on dvd.
Love your pictures of Gene. Thanks so much.
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Julien,
Glad you enjoyed the photo and it brought back memories. Times Square is now just a tourist attraction. It’s cleaned up but it has lost it allure. Thanks!!
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Last time I saw Gene was in 2002-2003. He was living in a special adult home on 8th ave in Chelsea next to a Burito place called Blue Moon Cafe. I had numerous conversations with Gene over a period of 8 years. Nice man. Good drummer. Liked pastrami. Ate the middle out of pastries. Carried a small suitcase with a pressed suit and shoes inside along with coloring books given to him by Jehova’s witnesses. Any more info you wish to have, e-mail me at paulcorrigan@gmail.com
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Paul,
Thank you for this update. I still vividly remember him playing. Happily many people who commented have fond memories of Gene.
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I moved to NYC in June of 1970 and began working in a small ad agency on the top of 580 5th Aveune (47th street). I was previously an amateur drummer and played some R&R in college, etc, and was the biggest Gene Krupa freak on earth (saw him perform live twice before his young death at 64 in 1973). The ad agencies in those days had dozens of deliveries back and forth from “stat” houses (long before computers). Stats were hi quality b&w copies of existing artwork needed to make new ads. Our office was on the top floor of the building and shortly after I began the job, several times a week I found myself riding the elevator with a curious delivery man from one of the stat houses. He would hold those large flat rigid stat envelopes in two hands, and endlessly play the most astounding cadences with his finger tips, right there in the elevator on the backs of those envelopes. Over and over again I was blown away, crippled by what I heard, since I actually recognized dozens of his riffs. Krupa, Belson, Hampton, Rich, you name the drummer, he was right there keeping up with them. In the two years I had that job (1970-72), I must have ridden in the elevator 40-50 times with this mystical man who never said one word to anyone, never made any eye contact and was totally oblivious to the effect he was having on the people who stood with him in those elevator cabs. Imagine how astounded I was four years later when completely out of nowhere, that wonderful guy miraculously appeared on screen as I sat idly watching Scorsese’s epic Taxi Driver! So yes, I can testify that for at least a couple years, Gene Palma delivered stats to New York ad agencies, but all the while his entire being was simultaneously consumed with breathtaking drum cadences. Bravo to Scorsese for bringing this wonderful personality a little immortality on the big screen.
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Michael,
Thank you for adding your story to the list of folks here who have crossed paths with Gene over the years.This is turning out to be a fasincating little story with pieces of a puzzle slowly being put together.
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I sometimes wonder when Gene Palma began his street appearances. During the time I rode elevators with him 1970-72, I am almost positive he was not yet on the streets, as I was all over mid town in those days and I never saw him except on the lifts. I left NY in July 1972, and stayed away for three years. Then I saw him in the movie, and realized he must have begun performing on the street while I was out of town.
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JUST THOUGHT ABOUT GENE AND GOOGLED THIS PAGE. I SAW HIM OFTEN RIDING ON SUBWAYS IN MID TO LATE 70’S WHILE WORKING 12-8 FOR NYCTA. HE EVEN HAD BUSINESS CARDS MADE UP, “GENE PALMA, STAR IN TAXI DRIVER”. HE WAS A NICE STREET PERSON WHO WOULD CONVERSE WITH US AND PERFORM ON TRAINS.
ED
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Ed, thanks for sharing you own experiences with Gene and adding to this dialogue. Appreciate it!
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I photographed Gene in my Chelsea bathtub back in 86′
/Users/bobbyfis/Desktop/Untitled-1.jpg
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Screen Presence of Gene in Taxi Driver …… most memorable moment.Thanks for the post.
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hmmmm Times Square in the old days, God I never thought I’d miss it. Gene was super cool on that corner drumming his heart out. I hope hes doing well. I remember Orange Julius and Romeos Spaghetti and of course Tads steak house ( a decent steak a huge baked patato and a salad 99 cents ) the train was 15 cents a bottle of beer was 35 cents, what in the hell has happened to this country?
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Bill,
Gene was a main stay in that area during those days. There have been quite a few sightings of him over the years. Hopefully, like you say he is doing ok. For me, the best part of Times Square in those days were the movie theaters, there were just so many. As for those prices, we for sure will not be seeing those again! Thanks for stoppong by.
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Sometime in the late 80s or early 90s I saw a small documentary on some public access station (might have been on in Los Angeles) about a young man befriending Gene Palma and attempting to get him off the streets of NYC and into a welfare hotel. I specifically recall a scene where Gene sees the squalor of the room and the bathroom that was offered – he didn’t like the residents either – and opts to go back living on the streets. Did anyone else ever see this besides me ?
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Hopefully, someone can respond. I am not familar with the film. Other folks have commented on seeing Gene over the years but no one seems to know what happened to him. Thanks!
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Any idea what Gene might be doing now ?
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I met Gene on the streets of N.Y.C.sometime in the late 70s early 80s,I bought him lunch,we ate talked,and had a very nice time! I hope he is doing well !
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We all hope he is doing well. Thanks Gordon for sharing this!
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[…] https://twentyfourframes.wordpress.com/2011/03/02/gene-palma-street-musician-from-taxi-driver/ […]
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Is Gene still around ?
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Really don’t know. One earlier commenter mentioned he knew Gene in the 90’s but that is now more than 10 years ago.
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Thanks. I used to see Gene all the time in the city back in the late 70s / early 80s. Pretty good drummer. One of those people you never forget.
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Do you mind if I post a rework of this to Deviantart with proper credit? I did a mixed media b&w drawing of this photo for an art class. I love street drumming and this was the best image I could find to use for the project.
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T,
You have my permission to do so as long as I get the source credit. And if you would, please forward a link to your reworking. Would really like to see it.
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Thanks, John! Here it is: http://stixwitdafix.deviantart.com/art/Palma-336634140
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I remember seeing gene back in the early 80s when I use to cut out of school and go to TS . When I first saw gene he scared the daylights out of me. I found an article on gene palma in the LEDGER dating back to February 12th 1981. A reporter spotted gene in atlantic city and interviewed him. I dont have the link but if you google ” Gene palma wants to be Gene Krupa ” I guarantee you will find it
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hi Gary! Thanks for sharing this. It’s amazing how many folks have seen Gene and how he left a lasting impression. Will hunt fo the article,
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After a terrible session of OCD due to my PTSD, I finally found the Ledger article on Gene Palma. The newspaper article from Lakeland Ledger is dated Feb 10, 1981. I dedicate my find to all of us Gene Palma fans and to the memory of Gene Palma, may he rest in peace. Here’s the link and please enjoy. Peace.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19810210&id=qtMvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KfsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6965,3562874
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Thank very much for sharing this fabulous article!
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Someone on youtube said that Gene died in 2005. I remembered him well back in the 70’s. Look for the comment from bagonghithejoker
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Thanks Joe! Appreciate this update!
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I met Gene in the Early 90’s while living in Chelsea. I would see him walking around the neighborhood with his leather jacket and briefcase, head tilted down. I always wanted to photograph him and would say hello when I could. One day he invited me up to his apartment in ’95…I have a half of a contact sheet in the archives somewhere. He was always a kind fellow and a charismatic guy. We took a few photos that day.
btw Mr/ Fisher ‘s photo is exceptional, thank you for sharing that. I am so happy this post exists as well, I was too thinking about Gene and wondering is he is still around.
here’s an image I took that day:
Thank you John.
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Robert, Thanks for your input and your own photo of Gene. I continue to be amazed at how many people who seen Gene or knew him have made their way to this site. Thanks again!!!
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thanks John, sorry for the double post- feel free to delete whichever. Grateful you have this post good sir.
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Wow, what a great picture. I remember seeing Gene in NYC when I’d go into Times Square playing the drums or the spoons. What memories.
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Thanks! Yeah, it seems many people remember seeing Gene back in the day. He was a fixture in the Times Square area.
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I used to work in orange Julius while attending BMCC in 1972 or 73, the one on 7th ave. and 47th, later on 42nd street, that was some experience in gritty Times Square, lemme tell ya. I saw Gene several times around that area, I was a young immigrant, utterly fascinated by this character playing the drums on anything. I was floored when I saw him in taxi driver, then I would see him on the streets, more people around him after the movie came out. That hair, jet black, tinted, seemingly, by a gallon of dye. To me, he is the background music while I remember the TS of that time.
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Joe, thanks for adding these memories of yours about Gene, great stuff. I remember the Orange Julius stores well.
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does anyone remember a short film involving Gene that ran on Public Access channels in the mid to late 1980s? It chronicled a couple of young people who took an interest of Gene and tried to get him off the streets and into some assisted living program (unsuccessfully I might add.)
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I am not aware of this film but if anyone is please help out.
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I saw him 1980 when I was 12 years old. I went to NYC with my dad, who played drums. We came off the subway and heard him playing. Thinking back, that was such a cool experience. I’m glad I was able to cross paths with him.
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Thanks Frank for adding your experience in seeing Gene.
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Here’s an all too brief article on Gene Palm in the NYT, date is August 14, 1984. At this point, he no longer has his snare and is beating out his rhythms on a newspaper vending box according to the author of the article. http://www.nytimes.com/1984/08/14/nyregion/new-york-day-by-day-the-music-man.html
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I found this in the book, Twentieth-Century Janissary: An Orphan’s Search for Freedom… by C. Dionysios Dionou, from page 86 to 87.
Once again, while far too short, it’s pretty good in that the person gives an intimate and interesting account of Gene Palma, as the author was keen in learning drumming, and even gets some pointers from Gene in this excerpt!
The author indicates Gene Palma was using a cymbal in addition to his snare drum at this time –anyone have any photos of that or recall seeing Gene in this setup?
Be forewarned, though, at the end of the excerpt, the author has a last encounter with Gene Palma that has an unexpected and not so happy ending–
http://books.google.com/books?id=geiY78Jel4MC&pg=PA87&lpg=PA87&dq=%22gene+palma%22+drummer+life+story&source=bl&ots=kf9Bwa-KEB&sig=kv32JXeJPx82ts0qxzo_4HEdims&hl=en&sa=X&ei=aWdEVLCUAub2iQLSzYH4BA&ved=0CFUQ6AEwDA#v=onepage&q=%22gene%20palma%22%20drummer%20life%20story&f=false
Okay, forgive me, that’s enough for now, I have to go rest.
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super thank you.
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make sure this page stays around for anyone who googles the busker street performer drummer from taxi driver. That’s how I found it anyway. Ready every word here.
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http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/famous-drumsets.221683/page-3
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I”m watching Taxi Driver now, and it brought me to this page. Thanks to all. Here’s my contribution, but not my content. Found online:
http://www.scriptgodsmustdie.com/2014/10/screenwriting-mortality/
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Saw Gene in June ’77, after having watched Taxi Driver six times (in the theater). Was really thrilled to see the featured drummer on a Manhattan street corner during my first visit to NYC! He had a hand-written sign saying, “as featured in the movie, Taxi Driver. My traveling companion, Ray, and I wondered about his life so we actually followed him one night during our seven day stay.
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I remember that sign myself. Gene was all over the Times Square area back in those days. Thanks for sharing you memories.
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Saw Gene during my first trip to NYC in the summer of ’77, a year after his appearance in Taxi Driver. Matter of fact, Gene displayed a hand painted sign that read, “As seen in the movie, Taxi Driver. Saw him
A couple of times during that and I sort of became obsessed with him, so much that my friend and I began following him home, curious to see where a guy like that would live. We gave up when he boarded a subway after following him several blocks.
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I was also intrigued by him. I would often see him on the street when I lived on 23rd Street. I once passed him leaving his apartment and approached him. the rest is above. He lived in an assisted living home on 8th avenue and had large plastic paint bucket overturned where he did his hair daily.
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[…] There are more comments and a few more links on the original post which you can find here. […]
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I met gene in the street and ask him to come to my apt. in the bronx he did i made him some spaghetti he told me its been a long time since he ate at a table in a kitchen. He also played my set of drums which later i gave him as he told me he has a chance to play someplace he told me later someone sole them he didn’t play them anywhere.
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I am amazed by how many people continue to find this post who have interacted with Gene. Thanks for sharing. Very cool!
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I worked with Gene at a photostat house back then, I think it was called Compo it was at 51 east 51st street between Madison and Park. Gene delivered stats for a time when I worked there. I remember how shocked I was to see him in Taxi Driver. I’m pretty sure my boss let him go as he bumped into a client at a delivery who was wearing a light raincoat and the mascara or shoe polish in his hair ruined the raincoat.
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Thanks Stan for sharing this. I am amazed by how how folks have found this post who met or knew Gene.
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I’m so glad I found this site! . I was reminiscing about my work as a messenger in my youth and told my family about the many characters I met during this time. Of course Gene came up. I did not remember his name but googled” Taxi Driver street drummer” and bingo he came up on multiple sites. I’m glad he’s remembered so fondly. He’s a true New York treasure.
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Thanks Stan. Glad you from the site.
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I’ve been looking forward to adding a comment here for awhile, and hoping that the thread would still be active, so I’m glad to see that it is. I’m a film preservationist, and back in 2015, our institution took on a collection of film elements from the filmmaker Nick Doob, including a film he made called “Street Music” (1979). The film, a documentary that gathers performances by street musicians across the United States, includes a five-minute section of Gene Palma performing. While researching the film, I was grateful to stumble across this thread, which gave me some very useful background on his story. We preserved the film in 2018, and today, we’re releasing the film online, and I’d like to share a link to our transfer. The film as a whole is great to watch, but if you’re interested in getting to Gene’s performance, it begins at 35:14 and ends at 40:10. You can spot a sign referring to his appearance in “Taxi Driver” at one point. Enjoy!
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Thanks so much for sharing this Brian. Definitely will check out the film and spread the word.
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Amazing early footage of a legendary New Yorker.
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