At the end of a busy birthday for Nelson, he returns to the vast solitude of his townhome at 5 Ninth Avenue, welcomed by his loving pets and a special birthday song by The PopTarts. Video by Nelson Sullivan
Guys I just heard that Dick Richards passed away and that is why there has been no posts on this channel. He did such an awesome work in bringing out Nelson’s content and now the great man has joined his friend. Please say a prayer for Dick Richards. May his soul Rest In Peace.
@RYKERS DAD 420 AKA FATDABZ yes he is the one who held onto all of Nelson’s tape but Larry Tee said someone else has been posting them so hopefully we see more of it
Is that what happened bro that's messed up I love Nelson's videos even though I was born in 1980 it takes me so far back even though I'm straight I would love to hang out with him and his friends
@@DannyOvox3 no. Dick was his Best friend for many, many years. He and a few others but mainly Dick started the 5 ninth ave. Project and held the viewings and started having the VHS tapes switched to digital format to give us all these wonderful gems of memories!💚💜😭
Sadly since Dick passed no one took over the treasure trove of Nelson's videos to post...he should have left a caretaker of them to continue Nelson's legacy. Very sad indeed the magic stopped.
Ah I didn't realise Dick had passed, I'm sure Nelson and Dick will be honoured again by whoever chances upon their legacy. Thanks for letting us know what happened :)
It was his birthday. I don't think he ever thought his personal videos would on something called RU-vid. He probably thought it wouldn't be interesting for anybody outside his circle.
Admire Kennie dude I was thinking that but then I was like noooo he couldn't possible that's just my conspiracist side coming out... but now that I think about it.. the way he describes everything is exactly like he is a time traveler.
It would be great if a student at NYU would continue the Late Mr. Richard's work since his passing. NYU has Nelson's entire tape collection, they should make it a class project and whatever revenue the channel could be donated to a cause that Nelson might have supported.
Crazy to imagine deciding to document your birthday for the hell of it, and decades later, after you’ve passed on, a hundred thousand people watched it.
I don't know why, but this is so absolutely gut wrenching to me. Solitude, with your pets, checking an answering machine in the dark of night on your birthday. Just so melancholy. I mean...who knows. Maybe he had a wild night spent with wild friends. But this video...there's something so sad about it. The happy birthday song. The clicks of pushing in buttons and fast forwarding instead of using a touch screen on a smart phone. Considering also it's the last upload on this channel. Why am I getting so bummed out over this?
It's a certain kind of sadness, one permeated by every sight and sound and feeling. The meat packing trucks are gearing up, it's almost daybreak. The clacking shoes mark the last act of the night, walking the last stretch home. Maybe there's someone to meet on that late walk home. No, not tonight. Nelson enters the apartment. Only the pets are there. He plays the messages on his ailing machine. There are only a few. A friend with regrets, a doctor, Mrs. Trumbull singing Happy Birthday. The messages had no magic. Happy Birthdays do come. I am sure Nelson had some. But they don't come on command, and one didn't come this year. . . . Not the kind of sadness where you break down and sob loudly, but a quiet, deep-down solitude brand of sadness, where you can hear every clack of your shoes. "I walk this empty street on the Boulevard of Broken Dreams." [Green Day] [Something like that] Happy Birthday, Nelson.
I think it's just reality. We've lost touch with it with our access to social media. This is what people came home to when they said goodbye to their friends. But I totally understand what you mean. It's very melancholy.
The sound of Nelsons shoes as he walks is soo relaxing, along with the soothing sounds of the city night life. Nelson was such an artist lol. for real tho
I'm lying in bed bored on a Friday night too exhausted from work to even think about going out, so I get on RU-vid and see where it takes me. Not sure how stumbled across these videos, but I can honestly say I'm hooked now. I had to Google Nelson Sullivan because I've never heard of him before today. This man was a genius. I'm not sure I'll ever make it out to NYC, but as I rest here in my bed in CA, Mr. Sullivan has provided me with a glimpse of what life once was back in one of the greatest cities in the world. 👏🏼 Bravo, to whoever took the time to upload these. 👍
I keep coming back to this channel, hoping that someone may have picked up where Dick left off. So sad to see it end like this. May Dick and Nelson both rest in peace.
I was born in 1999. Wish I had a time machine to go back in time and experience the 80s and 90s. People seemed much more connected and loving back then.
Bye Felicia No not really, the Cold War was still going on and afterwards the Gulf War erupted and 1990 to 2001 was hell. Even after that. Not worth going back and never should, just keep going forward.
Today is March 15, 2020 and Nelson would have been 72 years old. Happy Birthday Nelson! I discovered Nelson’s videos little over a year ago. I have watched many of them and I got plenty more to watch. I have gotten to know you and your friends especially Dick Richards. I know both of you are together as friends in Heaven. Rest In Peace guys.
When this channel stopped uploading I thought (perhaps naively) that it was taking a break or maybe Dick had just uploaded all the tapes. I'm only just realising that Dick had also passed. I really hope that the rest of Nelson's tapes can be preserved in some form. As a volunteer archivist I believe these videos deserve to be part of the US library of congress for giving all of us a human look into the world of the LGBTQ+ community during the 1980s. I'm so eternally thankful for the work Dick Richards has done.
I absolutely agree. Also, CAN ANYONE confirm if this collection has been turned over to an archive or a museum or film depository of some kind after the passing of Dick Richards? I would hate for the videos to be lost forever or just discarded. Anyone have any info on the whereabouts of the videos today? There must be more that was not uploaded to RU-vid.
@@mjg239 Nelson Sullivan (March 15, 1948 - July 4, 1989 [aged 41]) was an American videographer. He is regarded as one of the first people to pioneer vlogging. Nelson had started recording videos of his life sometime in May 1983, and documenting New York City as it was in the mid-to-late 1980's. His most famous video is his McDonalds tape, which was recorded in 1989. Nelson continued to recorded videos until his final one, which he had made on the day before his death on July 3, 1989. On July 4, 1989, Nelson died in the early hours of the morning due to a heart attack. Before Nelson died, he planned to have a TV show dedicated for his personal home videos. In 2008, Dick Richards and many other people had wanted to preserve Nelson's tapes and share to upload them onto RU-vid. On December 4, 2008, Dick and his friends had created a channel dedicated to Nelson's recordings, for all users on RU-vid to see. Legacy Regarded as one of the first vloggers by many people, he has been praised by many because of the well-thought documentation of his life in the 1980's, which was extremely uncommon back then among other people. Nelson's style of videos were very reminiscent of how people vlog today in the modern world.
A normal man living a normal life. A life that is only truly important to only a handful of people and a life that meant the world to himself... Respect. Thank you for these videos. They are truly humbling.
Goodbye Dick...thank you for these treasures. I hope you are living in a wonderful new world now that we can't begin to imagine. With Nelson and all your other friends.
The voicemails!! ❤️ like omg so REAL!! Genuine communication... people just send text now days to wish you a good day ... 😂 lmao so amazing to me to watch his videos
Maybe because he is genuine in his vlogs and doesn't need to hype shit up every 2 seconds by doing abnormal stuff. It makes you appreciate the vlog as it is, simple yet interesting
If only Nelson knew how much, and how many, people love him. He was beautiful inside and out. I hate RU-vidrs & bloggers because they're so shallow and fake. Despite being surrounded by vain, shallow, fake people, Nelson was (or at least seemed to be) so real. So warm and personable. I wonder if he had friends that were real like he was. I would have loved to have known someone like him, who knew where the party was but did it responsibly and still worked hard. Who was still caring and kind even when surrounded by fakes. I may get hate for this, but I hope he had real friends who didn't just care about the parties. Beautiful people like himself. I'm so sad right now, but watching Nelson and hearing his beautiful, soothing, comforting voice gives me a brief escape from my tragedies.
Amen. I much prefer Nelson's videos by himself or back home in Kershaw, South Carolina. He wasn't interacting with all the blowhards he did in the drag queen scene.
This is where I grew up, I was a toddler when he filmed this. I remember how the area used to look, I miss it so much. It's nothing like it was and will never be the same. That quiet little area in the meat packing district, is now for the insanely rich. Tons of clubs and designer shops, more resident buildings are up... Tourist flock to the area like crazy... The charm is gone. I miss when everyone knew one another in the area, this is the NYC I knew so well. Not like today... Nelson's place still has the original door and the vine he planted, it's a beautiful piece of our city's history. People take photos of the outside not even knowing about Nelson or the club kids stories. It's just a beautiful old sight. I fell in love with the man a year back and often come back to watch the things I used to see growing up. I live on 9th Ave now and am only a few blocks away from his old home. My family used to live on 17th between 9th and 10th Ave. We used to see the club and drag kids hanging out all the time. Some were family friends. They are what made me feel good about growing up and expressing myself in a way the not so normal person would. Rest in peace to dick. I hope someone can continue posting these. I feel like I am watching a good friend's home videos, I never want them to end.
For those who don't know yet, the friend that uploaded these videos was Nelsons friend Dick Richards, he sadly passed away recently from leukemia, Dick is in many of these videos, he lived in Atlanta at the time, feeling really sad for his Husband and the rest of his family & friends, he was a great friend to Nelson until the end, it would be wonderful if we could all keep his family & friends in our prayers or send good thoughts, or perhaps leave a comment, maybe they will see it, and bring some comfort knowing we care and appreciated what Dick did for us, without him most of us would of never found Nelson or Dick for that matter, he was a gentle soul ... rip Dick Richards.
thank you for posting this. i was wondering why the uploads stopped. so sad to hear of dick's passing. what a key contributor to not just celebrating nelson's life, but documenting nyc in the 80s. much love to his family during this time. perhaps dick and nelson are off together in heaven now frolicking in the clouds.
I love Nelson’s videos. They are comforting in a weird way. It’s fun to just watch a random one every now and then and feel like you’re in another place, another time.
The reason why Nelsons videos aren't being uploaded anymore is because Dick Richards (Nelsons best friend since childhood until Nelson passed) died. He owned the rights to Five Ninth Avenue which converts and uploads Nelsons home videos. He died 9 months ago from Luekemia.
Michael I think he might have them. He was very close to Nelson...it’s just up to him if he wants to continue uploading them but he probably doesn’t have time
Midnight tonight will be July 4th 2021. Marking 32 years that Nelson died to the day. 32 years ago on July 4th 1989, I was a 12 year old kid, and happened to be in NYC the day Nelson died . I want to thank him for these wonderful videos that take me back to a precious time that will never return. See you soon! Nelson the original vloger!!!
Nelson had masses of friends..he was NEVER short of calling someone to hang with IF he felt like it...he's here at home on his own because he chose that , not because no one wants to hang with him.
This video is kind of the perfect bittersweet end to the series of his life encapsulated in time. I mean it's seriously poetic. The ending of his day listening to the answering machine, a relic of the past, as he bids us adieu before the rising of dawn. Anyone who has ever walked around LAAAATE night in NYC in the village or meat packing district particularly back in those days or even to the late 90s early 00s as I remember it, knows this eerie cold silence that falls upon the city before the buzz of morning begins. It feels lonely and otherworldly in the city that never sleeps. His life was a party. And in the end, there is always silence and the walk home to your own little quiet corner of the world. Brilliant.
I am enamored with this man. He captures the beauty of everyday life and glimpses of an era that has passed. I was so saddened to hear he passed away so young. I hope he knows that he has so many fans that love his videos.
I am so happy to have found Nelsons videos, I originally was scouting RU-vid for any info about 80's NYC and came across Nelson. Being a native New Yorker my parents told me about how dangerous and scary the 80's were, but Nelson showed me a whole new side to that decade. He seemed like such a down to earth, genuine and warm human being. He gave me the historical glimpse I was looking for and much more. I am so happy I came across him and his real content, this inspires me to create and increases the love I have for my city. Now when I go to his house in the Meatpacking District I feel a little choked up knowing the history that took place at that house.
Discovered this channel around a year and a half ago and I have to say when I found this it was lockdown, despite their being so much other content on the internet I found that Nelson's video was more entertaining and calming to watch it's so interesting to see America in the 80s, I'm from the uk and I'm a 2000s kid, Nelson may've spent the night of his 39th birthday alone but we're all here now RIP
Comes July the 4th and I always remember you. You left this world too soon, Nelson. Such an inspirational and creative human being. Wish you had lived to see how ahead of your time you were.
Nelson was born way before his time. He would have loved SM. To share all he could. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this channel. It’s a glimpse into the 80’s and 90’s. I wonder who lives in his home now.
This guy is a time traveler! Doing Vlogs like this in the late 80s ! It's crazy to see how much of a change we have had in so little time!! Imagine how the future will look like
Thank you for sharing. Sharing is caring ♡ Blackout was happy to greet Nelson with a birthday greeting. One of the reasons why I celebrate my birthday all month long. I get to see those that wanna be with me but can't at that moment.
I actually saw a video recently that a guy from UK, I think UK, put up. He is a huge fan of Nelson's and he took pictures of the outside Nelson's old house. To me it looked very much the same..even the vine is there! The guy from UK got permission to go inside in another video and now the 3 story house is an art gallery. I really liked the Video Nelson's fan uploaded. I put a link for those that have not seen it. I hope it is okay i put it here. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-SPW1G1JLy64.html
@@xdaydreaminx I can't believe it with all the power and mad money LGBT don't care about it's own history 😬 , it just clearly shows what they all about.
I recently stumbled on to this channel researching the nightlife of NYC in the 80s and 90s. One thing led to another and I saw some vids on Michael Alig. This is how I found Nelson. I just found out earlier he died at just 41. Even though I’m straight, which really has nothing to do with anything really, I’m fascinated with Nelson’s videos. He was such a kind gentle soul and I wish I met him even though I was just 14 when most of these were made. He was WAY before his time and the first pre RU-vid blogger. Thanks for all of your work Nelson and I’m sure your vlogging in Heaven annoying all the angels!!!
Nelson’s videos always leave me wonderstruck. I keep coming back to see if any new videos have been uploaded but I suppose this is the end. Thank you Dick for introducing Nelson to the world.
I wish Nelson was alive today to see how popular his work has become. I’ve been watching his work for a couple years now and he was such a genuinely endearing, charismatic human being who showed his world and his friends in such a beautiful way.
Even before I knew of Nelson, I wanted to go to 1984-1994 NYC, and now I want to go even more, someday when I time travel, I will go and meet Nelson, I really think he and I would have made the best of friends. Sometimes you just know you are soul connectors
This is such valuable content and great inspiration for people to genuinely record their lives. 30 plus years later it could be the most interesting thing to watch.
Man somebody please upload the rest of these. I've become attached to Nelson over the past few years watching his videos. May he and Dick rest in peace..:( I'm sad. NYU owns them right? C'mon can we get someone to upload? Whay about his one friend that has a RU-vid channel? I'm saddened. I look forward to these. We should start a petition to get someone to post them. What about Michael Alig or his friend that had the pop group. He has a RU-vid channel. I forget his name right now. I think Larry T??? I really would buy these.
I just heard Dick Richards who was posting Nelsons Videos passed away last week. RIP Mr Richards💔💔💔 Thankyou for all your work you have done for this channel ❤ I wonder what will hapeen to this channel now???
I was born in June 1987....I dont know how I came across this channel but I love these videos...a glimpse into the past....its bitter sweet to watch...there is something gut wrenching about this video...life takes crazy turns
