TOD
This is interesting, because as I try to flip back through the years, there are many NYEs I simply don't remember. In early years with the family, we didn't do anything too special. I sort of recall being excited to stay up late and watch whatever festivities were shown on TV. In college years, I remember nothing-- whether at home for the holidays or, later, staying in my own place there, I have no recollection of doing anything at all special on those NYEs.
For my first couple of years in L.A., still nothing comes to mind, but then the first really "nice" NYE happened in 1974 when my roommate and I were invited to spend the evening and stay over at his boss's (at the Hollywood Hamburger Hamlet) and his wife's nice apartment in Brentwood. We'd all become good friends in the past couple of years, and they hosted the loveliest NYE dinner we'd ever been exposed to. It was just the four of us enjoying a quiet but (to us, then) elegant evening and following day. Interestingly, I strongly associate that memory with the then-just-released YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN that we were all very excited about.
Skipping ahead a bunch of years, I have to fondly recall two consecutive and unique NYEs spent in -- get ready for it -- Grand Central Terminal. They were hosting huge NYE dances on the main floor, but that isn't why I was there. This was pre-restoration, and up in the southeast quadrant of the mezzanine I was part of a gathering of BBS and early Internet users who were members of "ECHO", a text-based BBS based in the West Village. ECHO got to set up some terminals and modems (it was still dial-up) to demonstrate for anyone interested in walking up the stairs what online communications were all about. So, I'd take the train in and walk right up the stairs to my par-tay. Nothing wild and crazy about it, just the excitement of being in one of the hearts of NYC with these people in elegant gowns, etc., dancing on the main floor. I don't even know if they still do that. The trains both ways were packed to the gills, and what was memorable about the trips back out to the 'burbs were the hundreds of partying kids. It wasn't too unpleasant, but it was totally crazy and the conductors didn't even try to come through and collect tickets. Whoever was on those trains could have been riding for free for all anyone knew.
