Chinatown in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Man Survives Leap From Brooklyn Bridge!
Steve Brodies Saloon
| | 114 Bowery | |
Photographed by Larry Gertner, July 22, 2016
1. Man Survives Leap From Brooklyn Bridge! Marker
You are standing in front of the former site of bridge jumper Steve Brodies Saloon. A fast-talking former Five Points street tough turned con man and gambler who had fallen into debt, Brodie took a dare to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge just months after another daredevil perished performing the same stunt.
Whether or not he actually made the July 23, 1886 jump (accounts vary), he became an overnight celebrity, opened up the sensationally popular bar, and recreated his bridge jumping feat at the peoples Theatre (199 Bowery) and in theaters across the country. Referenced in novels and depicted in the George Raft film The Bowery and the Bugs Bunny cartoon, Bowery Bugs. Brodie also inspired a long-time saying “Pulling a Brodie,” which meant doing a death-defying stunt.
In addition to being a museum of the famous stunt, the saloons back room was a hangout for sporting men and boxing champs like Tom Sharkey, Terry McGovern and “Gentleman Jim” Corbett.
Asked by legions of sightseers why he had not attempted the jump again, he always answered, “I done it oncet.” Brodie died at around age
this page online
- Eric Ferrera, author of The Bowery and founder of the L.E.S. History Project (leshp.org)
Erected 2016 by Bowery Alliance of Neighbors.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Industry & Commerce • Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is July 23, 1886.
Location. 40° 43.092′ N, 73° 59.707′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is in Chinatown. It is on Bowery near Grand Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 114 Bowery, New York NY 10013, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in New York City. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Ghosts And Occasional Mayhem (within
Photographed by Larry Gertner, July 22, 2016
2. Inset
Steve Brodie (straw hat) in his saloon, 1890
Another marker is no longer nearby. A Carnival Of Debauchery! (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).
More about this marker. One of more than sixty entries in the “Windows on the Bowery” series.
Also see . . . Steve Brodie (bridge jumper). Wikipedia biography. (Submitted on April 11, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed by Larry Gertner, July 22, 2016
3. Man Survives Leap From Brooklyn Bridge! Marker site
114 Bowery
Photographed by Larry Gertner, July 22, 2016
4. Inset
Steve Brodies Saloon, 1890
Photographed by Larry Gertner, July 22, 2016
5. Inset
Brodie from time of jump
Photographed by Larry Gertner, July 22, 2016
6. Inset
Boxers “Gentleman Jim” Corbett (1866-1933) & Irish-born Tom Sharkey (1873-1953)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 21, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 1,046 times since then and 55 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on April 21, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
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