Being Alive in Taylor Michigan
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ก.ค. 2024
- I've always wanted to do a documentary about living in Taylor, Michigan. It's such an interesting place to live. I figured that, through this Being Alive series, I would release a little snippet of what I hope will be a part of that film in some way. I've been living here since I was around 7 or 8. The city has seen a lot of changes in those past 25 years or so. It also carries a little bit of a reputation, as does the whole downriver area that it is a part of. I thought about doing something about the downriver area itself, as I've already done some filming in Wyandotte, but I think that I'm just going to stick to Taylor with this one.
Whenever I do make this film I expect it to talk about all kinds of different things about my experience living here for a few decades and going to school here. My love hate relationship with the city, the unique people that live here, and some of its history. Ive been talking about doing this for years but hopefully this is the year I do it. I've got all kinds of footage already. Hope you enjoy! Please like and subscribe for more content like this! - เกม
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Thank you so much for this video, I grew up off of Inkster and Eureka, I am dying of Throat Cancer, and I can't really get out anymore, and this video really helped because it brought me home for a minute and helped me forget about my Cancer for a minute. Thank you.
Im so sorry to hear that. Your comment makes me reevaluate the significance of this project in a whole new light. Thank you very very much for commenting Daryl.
Praying for you Daryl
Hope your still with us and getting better. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers, Lord God Almighty EL be with you 🤍🌿🕊️
Daryl do you have a brother named Darren?
I grew up off eureka and inkster too.
Sorry
Prayers up for u man 🙏
My uncle and aunt lived on Superior Rd. in Taylor/MI until they both passed away last year. My uncle helped build up and establish Taylor Heritage Park, as a retired teacher he would hold historic school lessons there in the historic school building. Last year in summer I visited him from Germany a last time before he passed away. He spent his last 1 1/2 years in a nursing home outside of Taylor, but we were able to take him out to Taylor and to Heritage Park once again, which was very touching and precious for me. I have not been in Taylor often in my life, since I'm living in Germany. But I enjoyed coming there last year very much. Thanks for the inside stories!
Thank you for sharing your story! That's amazing! Like any small city there's all kinds of fascinating stories to go around. There's good stuff, bad stuff, hilarious stuff. I always planned on making a feature length documentary about Taylor. I might do a series instead and maybe retool it to a movie. Not sure yet. Thanks for sharing again!
Nice work!
@@sonrc thank you!
50 years old. 17 countries on 3 continents. A billion hours on TH-cam and TikTok. 16 states. All the Hollywood movies and everything in between. This film you made is by far the most honest and best thing I have seen in years. A breath of fresh air. Excellent Job. Simple. Direct. True. Thank you.
Thank you very much for the kind words!
what ????
This video is making me miss Michigan. I grew up about 15 miles south of there in Flat Rock. I have come through this area more times than I can count. I recognize every single building. I miss it more every day.
Thank you for the comment. I hope you make it back soon if that is what you want. Have a great day!
@@jeffspisak8808 actually headed back up there right now!
Wow time passes quickly. So many memories. Remember the grand opening of Southland mall. Worked at Meijer across the street when they opened. Half my relatives lived in Taylor. My cousin had a dog kennel on telegraph and got married at the church at northline and telegraph back in the 60's. Remember going to church in the elementary school on beechdaly, dining at ponderosa, red lobster, Leon's, a&w., shopping at builders square, Forrest City, rags to riches and Taylor town before the mall over on Ecorse. Every summer a carnival would set up in the parking lot. My neighbor had his wedding reception at that motel before it was seedy. One afternoon while cruising telegraph road and stopped at the light at Van born. A guy had a brand new boat on a trailer when he took off the boat slid off right in the middle of the road. Was he mad. Haven't been there in decades. Looks like a lot has changed.
Thanks for sharing all the great stories!
I lived in Taylor up until I was 5 years old. On Mayfair. Then we moved to Farmington in 1956. I'm 73 now . Great childhood memories. 👌
Thank you for sharing!
I randomly Came across your channel and my friends visiting today are from Taylor Michigan and I’m gonna share this with them as well! Thank you and I just loved it❤
Thank you very much! I hope they enjoy as well!
Dude this was amazing. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you! I want to do a whole feature like this hopefully shoot all year random stuff and interview Taylor people, weirdos and all. Go to the historical society and just do like an hour and a half documentary.
Thank you for this video, encapsulates my childhood well. I'm 20 and I've been in Taylor my entire life
I'm glad. Thanks for the comment!
What you did is very interesting at some points. I'm from France (and French btw) and we could all do this with our own neighborhood and show its soul and its living part. Good job
Thanks for the comment
Brilliant video, really enjoyed watching. I will subscribe in the hope that you do more- I love the simplicity of the presentation, and how expressive you make mundane things come across. Well done!
Thank you so much! I appreciate the kind words.
My family came from that area. We moved to Ohio but visited a lot. I remember the residential streets were gravel sprayed with oil. It was early 70s. A lot of people had Gardens in their backyard. I grew up in the country in Ohio but we still had family we visited there. Wasn't much to do in the country and it was nice to go visit. I Remember chasing ice cream truck around on our bicycles. Thanks for showing the video. Going to send it to my brother
Thanks for sharing your story! I appreciate it!
Thank you, I'm from Allen Park, but I found this very nice to watch.
Thank you very much! Maybe ill do something over there one day!
That was amazing. One of the best short films I've seen in years. The line delivery was right up my alley and I love the way it ended. Great music too!
Thank you very much! I'm either going to make this an episodic thing or a longer work. This is more of a proof of concept. More to come basically!
its a bit unsettling when the streets you grew up in become strange to you
VERY well done and THANK You for sharing a small part of your live! I use to live near the north end of Telegraph but that eas along time ago!
I appreciate it! There will be more to come in a few months.
I love these . Good stories about your town .
Thank you so much! More coming soon.
I have always wanted to live in the Northern part of the US. Born Oklahoma but Air force took me to Georgia, California Missouri England and West Germany. Currently living in Kansas City. When I go to Northern states in the summer time everything is so green and lush and I love the pine trees. Thanks for the video of your town.
Thanks for the comment! I hope you get up here this summer! If you want to see some nice greenery in michigan check out my copper harbor video. It's like another world up there. Thanks again!
@@jeffspisak8808 I certainly will. Thanks!
Lifelong (50+yr) Taylor resident until 2 yr ago when we moved about 30 minutes south (biggest regret of my life). This is a cool video, but maybe a bit more history with some of the locations would be nice. I'm 61 yr and Marina's Pizza was where we got pizza when I was a kid, so I'll bet there is a story there. Also, the Metro PCS on the corner of Whofiel was a wedding chapel for many years. And the Taylor Kitchen went from a ratty hole-in-the-wall diner to one of the busiest diners in Taylor when Jeff bought it and brought it back to life. So much history in Taylor and many stories you could tell. Good job and Good Luck.
Thank you! I'm going to make a whole series out of this eventually.
I got married at the little wedding chapel in 2012 August 31st and just a little while later its metro 😔 wow . My parents moved to Taylor when I was just 5 years old , we drove past it when i was 7 and I told them ' im gonna get married there some day and i forgot all about it a week after I was married i remembered it 😂 now its forever gone 😔
Im 57 yrs now
Monroe?
Thanks for doing this. I grew up in Taylor but went to SF in '84, a lot has changed.
I appreciate it thanks for the comment! We've lived in two of the same places then. How are things out there now? It's been about 15 years since I was out that way.
@@jeffspisak8808 Oh. I got sick & came back to MI. I now live in Adrian. The SF I moved to (for art school) in '84 was a very vibrent & creative city. Now we have nothing but tech companies. Instead of punks, artists & queers SF is all about the career & networking. BTW, your narration was really done well. It hooked me good. I hear that there is a lot of cool stuff happening in DeTwat? -Steve
@@showyourvidz thanks for the compliment! I always used to do more cinema verite/observational types of videos with no talking or music but i also always really liked writing. Poetry, monologues, yadda yadda. Ive recorded a bunch of albums in my basement as well, that's my first love basically. Before video. So I'm trying to mix everything. Its a hodge podge 😂. I'm trying to satisfy all of my creative urges with these kinds of videos. What art school did you go to SFAI?
@@jeffspisak8808 Hi Jeff, No. I graduated from CCA (AKA CCAC) with a degree in fine arts. After school I mostly put together exhibitions at various galleries & helped put together an on-line art magazine. Currently, I am on the exhibition comity for the Adrian Center for the arts & I am, also, painting. You say your work has been a "hodge podge." I think that's the best way to proceed. An interdisciplinary approach allows an artist to expand their ability to express themselves. So, I say keep on mixing. =)
@@showyourvidz That's awesome! I used to hang out around SFAI that's what I was asking never checked out CCA but I've definitely heard about it. I don't know if you can dm here but I'd love to check out some of your work. Thanks again for the words of encouragement.
Stellar video. We live in a funky corner of Earth, you have to learn to love it.
Great job! I lived at Champaign and Gulley in the 80's when we were starting a family. Recognize all of the businesses and streets that you talked about. It was a nice neighborhood then. Still visit Dairy Queen once in a while.
Your presentation really resonated with me Jeff.
Simple small town America with a shrinking populace giving me a feeling of prolonged expiration.
The music you selected added to that feeling of low grade doom.
The rust belt sky of gray seems to promote the feeling of "another day here" with nowhere to go; I gotta get out of this place!
Your thoughts of time elapsed attached with memories of once upon a time rang true to me...always on my mind too when I think of my home town, like you.
Thank you so much for the comment. I'm glad that you got it!
only here in taylor since 1984 but boy can i tell some stories of the places you have shown!!!
great showcase- it came across as a down to earth expose. youve got a soothing, even-toned voice that complemented the music.
Thank you!
This is great. Excellent commentary, good music. You really captured a moment of true suburban Michigan living, replete with the dreariness of winter. Well done.
I appreciate the comment thank you! There will be more to come soon in this series. Thanks again!
I moved from Taylor in 1982. Fairlane Elementary, Taylor Jr. High & Taylor Center High School. Lived on the same street as the Lombardi's bar owner in the video. I had more than a few beers in the place when it was Drinks Saloon. Taylor looks different today with all the Telegraph Rd. businesses not what I remember. But Taylor also looks the same as it was 40 years ago if this make any sense. Really enjoyed your video. Thanks dude and keep up the good work!
I had many good times myself at drinks saloon. More than I'd like to admit! Thanks for sharing. I'm glad you enjoyed it, there will be more to come in the following months!
yes it makes sense , i can look at a place and still see what it was alot of times even tho its new or changed
I used to work for my uncle in the summers and live on Michael street. We’d go to the drive in theater. Very fond memories. One thing that always stood out is you can’t make a left turn.. you have to go thru the light and to a return lane. Confusing as I had my temp license and in Ohio it isn’t that way… again very fond memories of summers there. Thanks for posting
The michigan u yes! Thanks for sharing your story. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for sharing ❤
I grew up in Taylor second graduating glass from Truman High School . I used to race telegraph back in the mid seventies. We used to go down to the Joy Rd and telegraph area on Friday nights at the korvettes parking lot and do some racing
Thanks for sharing!
I was at Korvettes one Friday night back in the early 80s and the cops blocked off all of the exits and gave everybody a loitering ticket on their way out.
I've been going in the Cordial Shop since the mid eighties, same owners, great guys. Taylor Kitchen is awesome, love that place. Best breakfast in Taylor is Sunrise Coney though. Awesome video.
Thank you! Is that the one over by ace?
I didn’t even look this up it popped in my recondations and I’m from southgate. That’s really crazy. Good video
Thank you very much!
Great video! I am from Wayne. So many memories...
Thank you!
Nice video, it inspired me to do one about my hometown.
Awesome let me know when it's completed!
Saw your excellent video and I had to let Taylor's Kitchen know about it! They were very greatful.
Thank you! Pretty sure they told me about you as well. I’m glad you liked it!
Cherish what you have there. There are loads of people in large cities who would give their right arm for a quiet ,peaceful town like that.
Definitely pros and cons. Thanks for commenting!
Quiet town ?? Taylor has a lot of crime and drugs not to mention a crooked police force. Taylor has seen better days trust me.
I am 69 and like where I live but if I were younger looking to relocate I would consider Taylor if I were in the market. It looks like a really nice place.
Thanks for sharing, greetings from Canada.
wow. the visual spendor, oh, the aesthetic beauty.
😂
I liked your video. How many of your high school classmates stay in Taylor. Unlike a lot of video's of small towns it looks like Taylor is still going strong in it's own way. Most times when the kids grow up, they leave for greener pastures.
I would say the vast majority of them are still here or within 20 minutes. Thanks for commenting!
You really showed us the life just beneath the surface that would have been unseen by outsiders like me. Good to see what an ostensibly monotonous appearing place means to someone in their heart.
Thanks for the comment!
Thanks, Jeff
Thank you for watching!
Awesome, on many levels.
Great video! I’m a former Michigander. Nice to see Taylor.
Thank you!
The music made me feel like aliens had landed and taken over the town and were about to be discovered. There was a very David Lynch vibe going on, but I really liked it.
😂😂😂 Thank you!
I came up on Duncan St., near Beech Daly and Van Born, back when it was woods and a branch of the Huron river running into Dearborn Heights. 1962
Thanks for sharing!
At 4:48, that's where the Handy Andy's hardware store used to be. When I used to live in Taylor, I used to buy all my pizza from Marina's. But that was back in the 90's when the sign said $4.75 for a large two topping pizza. 🍕🍕 Though I still have family that live in Taylor, I rarely go there anymore. Very nice video!! Keep up the excellent work.
I appreciate it! Thanks for sharing!
Dearborn born & raised here and spent much of my first 30 years in/around Taylor-Tucky. Good ole' Telegraph Rd. MANY fond memories there and I at least pass through when I visit family back in Mich. :-)
Thanks for sharing!
Taylortucky
Cool video,excellent narration.
Waving a hand from Warren Michogan
"What can I say, I've always been a big chocolate shake man" A profound declaration of identity
What an amazing and touching time capsule for your community
Yup, that's just how I remember Michigan, dreary and depressing. Probably why I haven't gone back in 40+ years.
I HATE it SOOOO much terrible!😕
It’s all in your perspective, my friend.✌🏼
You must have lived in the wrong part. The place I live in Michigan is absolutely gorgeous.
@@Frannieville Don't tell him where you are. He may want to come back!
nice work; have a few new mom and pops restaurants to try.
i grew up in taylor and im back , its still a pretty good place to live
What an enjoyable video.
Thank you!
I lived round Westlake and Wick and that Leon's was my first job when it was a Red Lobster...damn I'm old
Very nice video!
Thank you! I appreciate it!
My great aunt and cousins lived in Taylor and St, John’s was our family parish. Back then, Taylor was majorly empty…
Good job, Jeff. You have a nice narrator voice. You need to make another, longer video.
Thats the plan for sure thanks! This video is just a test to see if there was any interest and such. I'll have something bigger or a series in the fall! Thanks again!
i agree; jeff really does have a nice narrator voice.
@@misterchrissy thank you!
Lived behind the Cordial Shoppe since 1996...have never been in it yet. Your video might change that. Haven't been in that restaurant in the strip mall either...will try it maybe...
Wow! I can't believe you've never been in there. They have great pizza. Maybe get yourself a slice first and see if you like it. Definitely worth a try!
Sorry to hear about your cancer Daryl. If is a horrible disease. Again, sorry I hope you beat it this time.
Thank you so much for this video I am an old lady now but way back in the day maybe thirty years ago my girlfriend and her husband bought a house and Taylor and my girlfriend and I used to hang out we used to go to Ram's Horn and different restaurants we should go to Gibraltar Trade Center anyways it's so wonderful to see that neighborhood again even if it's on video thank you so much for this video I miss my friend she's been divorced and married again she was in Cadillac now thank you so much it brings back memories🥰👍
I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for sharing your story!
Where's the Gardner white cop?
Well get him eventually!
Still there. LOL
OMG....... Cordial pizza❤❤❤❤❤❤ THE BEST!!! How I miss it! Good ole Taylor Michigan 🥲
Thanks for the memories I grew up there and miss it. Wow, they got a D.Q there now.
Thank you!
The best and cheap breakfast is at sunrise in Taylor over by ecorse and pardee…in the strip mall there..old guy owners it and goes to work everyday. Everything your showing here is on telegraph between wick and Goddard area
I found this video strangely moving in its simplicity…the stark images of a desolate town and the resigned tone of the narrator…he’s not judging what he sees but the tone is sad like he’d love to be somewhere-anywhere-else if he could😢
San Francisco is still a great place , Dude…we’d love to have you back😂😂😂
Thank you so much for the comment. I'm glad you liked it! There's going to be a lot more to come and im going to get a lot more personal about my story and everything. I just have to shoot the whole thing over the summer. Im still deciding if it should be a film or a youtube series. I may do both somehow but for now I'm just collecting footage and writing everything out. I absolutely loved it out and San Francisco and have always wanted to come visit again. I used to fantasize about getting back out there for years! I'll be back to visit one day for sure. Sooner than later I hope! When I came back home, almost 15 years ago I figured I should put some effort into making the arts a little more prominent here. Now I'm trying to make good on that in some way. I feel like you see so many beautiful stories and images about life in the city or life in the country. I thought that I'd make a document of living in the suburban world of strip malls and dive bars. I'm so glad you enjoyed. If you liked this video im sure you'll like what's coming, hopefully, even more! Have a great day!
Since this was filmed Amazon is expanding. Taylor is so busy for me, gotta drive carefully
Very nice - take a simple topic and do something with it. Do some more of this.
Thanks for the comment. Definitely more coming. There’s another one about the telegraph cruise on my channel too.
I’m a steel hauler and work for Eaton Steel Bar on Trolley Industrial
Awesome! I've seen the logo around. Thanks for sharing!
I lived on Hazel St. in Taylor , I thing Van Born & Meriman rd. , 55 years ago. Sure has changed. Haven't been there for 50 years.
It’s pretty busy now! Thanks for sharing!
Looks better now than what I remember.
lol just a couple of blocks from me by Mr. Fresh on Wick. PLEASE tell me if you film over here so I can clean up the yard :)
I will lol
Give you ONE MORE CHANCE. IT ISN'T IMPOSSIBLE. MY MOTHER IN LAW WAS STRICKEN 4 TIMES WITH C. SHE HAD AT ONE TIME 3 DIFFERENT KINDS, INCLUDING THROAT AT THAT TIME. WE THOUGHT SHE WASN'T GOING TO BEAT IT, BUT AS MIRACLES CAN BE, WE SAW ONE. HOPE THIS IS ANOTHER DARYL. GOD BLESS
Lived on Cornell off wick for almost 15 years then moved away. 60 now and wish my mom would have never taken us away from there. Love watching videos from there. But would love it even more if someone my age had some old photos. Went to Taylor center elementary, brake Jr. High and then moved.
Thanks for sharing your story! I'm glad you liked it. Theres a group on Facebook I believe that shows old photographs, several I'm thinking. It might be worth your time to take a look if you're on that platform.
Bob in Michigan Was Detroit Dragway in Taylor? I know there's nothing left of DD any more -- it's all big warehouses now. You used to be able to see cars going by on I-75 from the track.
Not positive. I’m sure somebody here can answer that for you though.
It was at Sibley and Dix (just down the road from the intersection of those two). @@jeffspisak8808
Brownstown.
Looks like a nice place. Certainly better than Detroit.
Leon's was once a very busy Red Lobster for many many years. That open lot near Taylor Kitchen was Handy Andy, much like today's Home Depot.
I remember the red lobster 🙂
Looks like a nice place.
Opened the Target Store in Taylor in 1987. Initially had over 300 employees and out of that group there was only only black kid. He told me later that blacks were afraid to go to Taylor. Later, while getting gas at a Taylor gas station, there was a black man with his family getting gas, and a pickup truck with young guys pulled up and started yelling the most disgusting stuff at this man and his family. Hadn't seen anything like that before or since. Wondering if it ever changed, as I was only there for about a year before opening another Target in Madison Heights.
That sounds horrible! I've never seen anything like that but then again Im a white guy. This was a bit before I was born. I don't think I came here until around 96. Thanks for the comment!
Taylor Center had black students. There were few racial problems - if any - when I attended school there from 1975 thru 1978. I don't remember any racial slurs from black or white kids.
That cutout security guard, lmao
My house in Taylor was on telegraph before Pennsylvania across the street from wm.F.sell and son tractor dealership last big farm house left in the city
Thanks for sharing!
Strip malls , gas stations , fast food joints ; this town has no soul . What a dreary vid dude.
Partially the inspiration behind making it. I always jokingly call this place a truck stop. There are some nice places that im going to touch on when I actually make the film. A lot of interesting types of people live here. Most of its going to be about growing up here, barely having anything to do, especially as a younger person, definitely plays a large part of it. I might do it as a youtube series not sure yet. Thanks for commenting!
It has plenty of soul. The video just shows a lot of businesses in a busy high traffic area.
Lived in Taylor way back in the day 😊
Like every one eles I grew up in Taylor been gone along time but I miss my home it sad wishing I was home
art
Good old Taylor tucky
i went to randall elementary school in the 90s i remember when they had two Leon’s. when the mobil was there and the little white wedding chapel
Thanks for commenting! Your name sounds familiar we might have gone to Randall together
That was short and sweet. ❤️🇺🇸😇🇺🇸❤️
Nice video! Can’t forget about the Gardner White Cop as well. Lol
Well get him one of these days
I was raised in Warren right next to the Detroit Arsenal ( the tank plant)
We live in Dearborn Heights but we see so many of these places driving through Taylor to go to Walmart or other places and from what I've heard Luck Buffet was closed down due to failing a health inspection and getting new ownership I would go in there on occasion now it's like a somewhat mexican/chinese buffet and I've been wanting to try yum yum
I like Sami's coney island. There was no walmart when I was growing up and Ecorse rd was only 2 lanes.Ever hear about that old farm house on Pardee being haunted (imbetween Hayes and wick on the east side of the road)?
I know the place I'm pretty sure. Never heard anything supernatural about it but I definitely wouldnt be surprised by the looks of it!
I grew up on Mary St. & telegraph. 3 doors down from your opening. That was 1970. It was cool seeing our corner where I to bought .y moms cigarettes. My dad owned a bar on Eureka. Cool blast from the past.
Thanks for sharing!
My friends and I would get dropped off at the mall or, better yet, the Gibraltar Trade Center and loiter, shoplift, try and meet girls, look at 5,000 watt car stereo amps. The salad days. Every city has a Taylor for a suburb. Some towns are just Taylors on their own.
Thanks for sharing! I miss Gibraltar big time.
How much is a tour? Do you offer group discounts?
Free for you sir
You just have to come to Taylor
Greetings from a faraway place. Keep your community alive.
I appreciate the comment!
No trip to Taylor is complete without a visit to Sin City.
Your narration reminds me of Joe Pera Talks with You.
That’s a high compliment thank you!
Did you live in Taylor back in the 80s ? The name Spisak kind of rings a bell.
Probably a relative you're thinking of!