A Subway Token and a Dollar Tucked Inside My Shoe

This famous line was from one of the rare country music tunes written about NYC: Glen Campbell's "Rhinestone Cowboy."

Back in the 70's many of us did indeed travel with money in concealed places: our shoes, inside secret pockets inside of belts, pants cuffs - some women even stashed it in their bras. This made for interesting encounters in stores.

Crime was an over-riding concern in that era, especially when it came to the subways. Who could blame those who rode the subways late at night for being nervous? They were far less crowded than they are nowadays; graffiti was everywhere in platforms often stank of urine. Interestingly, though, studies showed that the majority of subway crimes were NOT committed late at night, but during the afternoons when kids were coming home from school. (I had a professor who got upset hearing that, worrying that it might somehow imply that the little cherubs who snatched purses and chains were somehow at fault for their behavior). As for the worst stations, a survey I read in 1979 listed them in this order:

1. Times Square
2. 42 St and 6 Ave
3. Grand Central Station

Disk Jockey and Beer Foil Hostage-Taking!

The late DJ Scott Muni was famous for his gravely voice and free-form style of programming. What he rarely liked to talk about was the way he helped defuse a gun-toting bank robbery and hostage taking situation that took place in Manhattan in 1975.

The whole tale started with the arrest of newspaper heiress Patty Hearst on September 18, 1975. As has been widely depicted in novels, plays and films, Hearst had been kidnapped at age 19 by a paramilitary radical organization called the Symbionese Liberation Army, founded (no surprises) in Berkeley, California. A short while after her abduction Hearst announced that she had joined the cause of her captors, who believed in fighting poverty, racism and other social ills through such progressive tactics as robbing stores and killing people. Their leader, Donald DeFreeze, was known as “Field Marshall Cinque.” All of us can recall that famous photo of Hearst standing with a submachine gun in front of the SLA symbol, a multi-headed Cobra. The gang was finally captured by LA police following a 4-hour televised shootout, during which the Field Marshall and four of his comrades were killed. Hearst was arrested.

A short while later, a man named Ray “Cat” Olsen walked into a Manhattan bank carrying both a pistol and a portable radio. Identifying himself as a member of the Symbionese Liberation Army, Olsen took several hostages and demanded the release of Hearst, as well as “that Oriental chick.” He also requested a six-pack of beer and the presence of Muni, who rushed to the scene to negotiate. I was listening to Scotso’s station, WNEW-FM, that evening, and recorded the events. Speaking via telephone from inside the bank, Cat communicated with Muni, who arranged for the station to play his favorite music, the Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan. Finally, during the Dead’s “Easy Wind,” Olsen went on the air live to “speak to the People.” He began:

“First of all, I’d like to say hello to Jerry Garcia…”

This was his great Political message. Olsen then went on to name all of the band’s members, making more requests. I suspect that he had been rapidly consuming the six-pack the police sent to him. Olsen did not sound like a political ideologue, but a tipsy rock and roll fan. He ended:

“Any night, man, the Grateful Dead are the ******* greatest band in the world. That’s all I’ve got to say, man.”

Scotso assured Cat that he and the WNEW audience all love the Dead, and the station continued playing his requests. A while later Olsen passed out and the hostages took his weapon. The siege was over.

Subsequent news reports showed no connection between Cat and the SLA. From what I recall reading in the Village Voice he had a minor arrest record and was essentially down on his luck. Muni was hailed as a hero for helping to defuse the kidnapping, but did not want to talk about it. As for Hearst, she was sentenced to a federal prison but was pardoned by President Carter in 1979.

You can listen to some of the dialogue between Scotso and Cat Olsen at this site . Click on the "Dog Day Afternoon" link.