How to Take a Walk—in Buffalo, and Beyond (4th in the series)

October 4, 2022 Abraham Smith

We continue the series on Walking Buffalo, from the intrepid couple who went for a walk every day – no matter the weather – during the first 30 months of Covid. They believe (without being systematic) that they walked down every street in Buffalo and many in other cities and towns and took about 20,000 photos, some of which are shared in this series. While not itineraries, we hope to encourage others to “walk the path,” to see, observe, and appreciate Buffalo—and beyond. William Graebner and Dianne Bennett are also film critics here for 5 Cent Cine.

Today’s photo essay: street humor

If you really want a laugh, join a comedy club or sign up for TikTok. But if you’re just looking for a bit of entertainment, a chuckle to liven up a long walk, you’ll find it here and there on the streets. Some street humor is intentional, some is not, and some takes time to acquire a humorous sheen. There’s the humor of advertising and the humor of a 15-year-old with a spray can – and more. Below I have used labels primarily to identify a location or when otherwise required. Here we go.

At the King Sewing Machine Factory, Rano Street and Crowley Avenue, Riverside. The factory, which dates back to 1907 when it started making sewing machines, has been closed for many years. The photo was taken in 2020 when the interior was accessible; it is not anymore.

Big Basha, on Jefferson Avenue, is a combination convenience store, beauty salon and who knows what else. It looks like an East Side institution and has a name that’s hard to forget. This aging sign on the side of the building saying “Walkmans” raised a smile, in part because the product can now be found in Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry. Production of the Walkman, a portable audio player, ended in 2010 and the original version was launched in 1979.