Moe's Bar NYC location

[jimmytheweed33]

Anyone know the actual address/location of the bar that was used as Moe's Bar in Once upon a time in America?

Planning a jaunt to New York shortly and sinking a couple of pints in that bar from my favourite film would make the trip complete.

Thanks in advance for any light you can shed on this.

Jimmy
 

[cigar joe]

I think Moe's was a set but I may be wrong. The location in NYC is probably Brooklyn (Flatbush Ave area). The bridge is the Manhattan Bridge which connected to Canal St. on the Manhattan side which is the divideing line between Little Italy and Chinatown. I don't think it's ever made clear in the movie. One thing thats strange is that Moes seems to be one or two floors at best but the scene with the freight elevator makes it seem like an old warehouse or factory loft with more floors. I don't have a copy of it yet. The only other explantion is that Moe's was two buildings connected, the deli/restaurant and later legitimate bar in one, the speakeasy in the other. The connecting wall is the bathroom wall that young Noodels spys on Jennifer C.

[jimmytheweed33]

I think it is/was an actual bar. It's been a couple of years now but I recall reading Frayling's "Something to do with death". He relates how Leone met up with Harry Grey in a seedy bar in the late 60s possibly on the Lower East Side to discuss filming "The Hoods". When it eventually came round to filming in the early 80s, Leone was trying to find the same type of bar in that area. Certainly the front of the bar where Moe has to shift a couple of customers out after he gets the phone call from the returning Noodles doesn't look like a set. Though I could be wrong, having scoured the Net for this bar and came up so far with no trace. Ah well the search continues....

[Stephen Pelletier]

The (1920's) Lower East Side locations were the Williamsburg Bridge on 8th Avenue South at Bedford Avenue, in Brooklyn.

Fat Moe's Bar was a set meticulously reproduced in Rome, modeled after the Lower East Side neighborhood.

The following is an exact quote from the movie production press kit:

"You could only have shot these scenes in New York," asserts Leone. But every inch of setting had to be measured and recorded so that it could be rebuilt for additional shooting at Pietralata, about 10 miles outside Rome, where the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn rose out of the anonymity of the Roman countryside, including two blocks of storefronts, an alleyway, and uninterrupted views down streets typical of the period, complete with fire hydrants, smoking water-main lids, even period mailboxes. Along the way, shop windows heralded such establishments as "Shaprio's Used Clothes," "Altman's Luggage" and the eatery known as "Fat Moe's."

Somebody prove me wrong and I'll buy the first 5 rounds.

Stephen Pelletier
www.onceuponatimeinamerica.com

[jimmytheweed33]

I think you're probably right. (Sadly).

I'll keep looking mind as 5 pints is a pretty big incentive for me!

Guess I'll just have to take a walk down by the bridge and find a likely looking bar.

http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/o/onceamerica.html

Thanks anyway.

Jimmy

[cigar joe]

Stephen, I thought at first it was the Williamsburgh Brigde, but I checked since I know that both the Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges look similar. However each bridge has various web sites and if you go to them you will see the Williamsburg bridge's towers are slightly canted towards the center of the roadway, while the Manhattan Bridge is vertical. I've never lived in Brooklyn but the two bridges are close enough to each other that you may be able see either one from Williamsburg,  

Ps I could not open your web site a few days ago.

[Stephen Pelletier]

If you're ever headed in that area, I wouldn't mind joining you.

Stephen Pelletier

[Stephen Pelletier]

It's the Williamsburg Bridge.

The web-site should be up.  Minor redirect error on my part.

Stephen Pelletier

[cigar joe]

I'd have to see the film again to judge Stephen, you may be right.

Jimmy if you want to visit a bar that was once a speakeasy similar to Fat Moes check out Fanelli's at 94 Prince St. I've had a few there myself, let us know how you like it, here is a link to check out:

http://www.newyorkmetro.com/pages/details/4231.htm

[jimmytheweed33]

Fanelli's eh? Right I'll give it a visit and let you know what I think.

Have you ever been to Chumley's in Greenwich Village, read about it on the net sounds a similar sort of bar (used to be a  speakeasy etc.)....worth a visit???

Thanks again

Jimmy

[cigar joe]

If I remember right it has a big clock like Fat Moes. Let us know how it goes.