Hector Elizondo at a protest in the Theater District. Photo credit: (c) Allen Urkowitz 1977.
This week, we have a special Throwback Thursday post, with a photo from longtime Upper West Side photographer Allen Urkowitz. The shot above shows actor Hector Elizondo, who grew up on the Upper West Side, at a rally protesting the impact of the porn theaters on the theater district. Allen relayed a story about Hector below.
By Allen Urkowitz
Back in the 70’s I was an UWS educator and one of my student’s had a famous actor for his father, Hector Elizondo, Hector was raised near 107th Street and continued to often talk about his UWS roots in interviews. He has appeared in numerous films and on Broadway, where he won a Tony for his portrayal of “God” in Bruce Jay Friedman’s “Steambath.
Hector related this wonderful story to me. He’s appearing on Broadway, receiving fantastic reviews and standing ovations, and during one of these ovations he’s bowing to the audience and he sees his former 7th grade shop teacher, Abe Greenspan ( who has verified this story), sitting in the second or third row applauding. When the curtain goes up a second time,Hector motions to Abe to come backstage to see him.
Abe tells me he has no idea why he was singled out from the audience to go back stage, but he
goes to meet this starring actor. When Abe arrives back stage, a very excited Hector says,
“Mr. Greenspan, it’s me Hector. You remember me right?”
Greenspan tells me he has no idea who Hector is, and what he’s talking about.
“Mr. Greenspan, remember I was in your shop class in the 7th grade.? It’s me Hector?
Greenspan, tells me he figures it out and says to Hector:
“Of course I remember you! How are you? So nice to see you.”
Hector Elizondo, smiling tells me that despite all of his successes, films, Broadway shows, numerous awards and award nominations, the only thing that mattered to him, while receiving thunderous applause on a Broadway stage, was the validation from his 7th grade shop teacher that he remembered little Hector Elizondo.
The incredible significance of the teacher student bond and a child’s validation from “a significant other’ overrides all material and celebrity value.
A great story!
Here’s Elizondo’s IMDB page with information on his film career.
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I remember the beginning of the assent to stardom for
Hector. In 1948 our 6th grade graduated, on our way to
Junior High School, all the 6th grade classes and their parents, grand parents and neighbors were gathered in the
Assembly. The festivities began with Hector singing the Star
Spangled Banner while I carried the American Flag down the
center isle to the applause of everyone. All the kids went
back to their home room at the end of the ceremony, one
of our friends, Willy Handy’s grandfather, W.C. HANDY came
up to our classroom looking for the boy who sang the national anthem . The teacher introduced Mr. Handy to us
and told us who he was (a prolific song writer best know for
The Saint Louis Blues). We were all excited and the enthusiasm generated a request to hear him play the ST. LouisBlues on his trumpet, a member of his family went out
to his car and came back upstairs with the trumpet. W.C.
HANDY played just for us, it was magical. He then signed
a check for Hector to start his singing lessons… all of this
magic was ours to remember just because Hector had great
talent. Thank you again Hector…your friend from Kindergarten thru High School….Mark
Great story! If you check out Hector’s IMDB page, he refers to this incident: “I started in 1946 in radio. I was ten years old. I was discovered singing in a school play. Someone was in the audience and it’s six degrees of separation.”
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001185/bio?ref_=nm_dyk_qt_sm#quotes
Great story, Manhattan Mark. And I’m sure that thousands of us, maybe many more, who love Hector Elizondo and appreciate your reminiscence. I’m younger than you are, and my first memory is in The Flamingo Kid. Did I get that right, fellow UWSiders? He is such a wonderful actor, and I feel happy every time I see him.
this is just too cool. I posted it for all the teachers I know and social workers. We matter and are remembered.
Lovely story. And touching remembrance by maanhattan mark. I love Hector Elizondo. He’s a fine actor. Never too heavy handed, always understated and subtle. Fond memories from Pretty Woman where he took a small part and made it memorable to other fine rolls in major films.
Did you notice that it was a shop class? These teachers, the ones who taught shop, has a huge impact on kids who eventually went on to careers in places other then ones that required college. What a HUGE shame that there are no more shop classes.
Proud to call this actor a product of the UWS.
As a transplanted native UWSer born in the early 50s, (W. 67th), Mr. Elzando is living testimony why UWSers are truly in a class all their own. Mr. Elzando bears the heart and soul of this precious community still, when an individual’s net worth was by definition determined by who the person was on the inside. Bravo Mr. Elzando.
Robert—what aves on 67 St ???
Bt CPW and Columbus. (BTW, my name is Robin!).