Forty Years Ago
Tucked away back in the classifieds was this ad for dealers in a (then) rapidly growing self-employed business venture that may have gotten started in the ‘fifties: “More Tupperware Dealers Needed. Rapidly growing business needs men and women, part or full time, to show Tupperware, the leader in plastic house wares, at home parties. Make your own hours. Fun. Profitable. No experience necessary. For private interview call distributor near you. (List of seven followed.)
And on the front page was this earthshaking 1-inch deep item headlined: “Sauerkraut Feast at St. John Jan. 21.” (This almost rivaled the annual Cabbage Festival in Berwyn.) Between both happenings there were engagements and weddings which never get reported here because the odds are only 50/50 they’ll last.
Editor Claude Walker felt the need to include a press release from McDonald’s. Children age 7 to 13 ate the most hamburgers per week (6.2), teenagers rated right behind (wolfing down 5.2) while those under 60 put away only 1.3 burgers every seven days. Dessert, anyone?
From the Jan. 1965 issues of the Forest Park Review
Thirty Years Ago
Only once in a while we get letters. One came from Betty Breseman, and it was nice to get. Nice to get corrected, too.
A few issues back I mentioned that the “Lil,” a former Forest Park movie house had closed before WWII. It was after; I want to thank her. However no address or telephone book listing. So I’m going public:
Her kidhood seemed a lot like mine. She was raised in a drafty apartment building on Madison St. and I grew up in a railroad flat in Yonkers, New York. She was born in 1937, so I was five years up on her. We were both kids of the Depression, and had favorite movie houses while growing up. Hers was the Lil; mine was the Terrace. Among the hometown cognoscenti in Yonkers, however, it went by another name, “the Itch.”
All this brought back a fugitive memory; early in the War (c. 1942) a neighbor lady needed a loaf of Silvercup bread and asked me to run the errand. It set her back 11 cents”without tip. Ah, the times. Ah the customs.
From the Jan. 1975 issues of the Forest Park Review
Twenty Years Ago
Speaking of letters; our handwriting expert, Dr. James Murray gets a few. The copy shown here speaks for itself. So does Murray’s excerpted answer to this Big-Time handwriting analysis doubter: “Your writing and your words show your strong emotions. You’re young, impetuous and don’t always use good judgment. You’re also self-sufficient and confident, yet there’s a conflict between your self-confidence and self-consciousness indicating immaturity”not unusual in an adolescent. You keep up a steady stream of jabbering as you remain evasive and secretive about things. Mike, you’re a very bright young man. You learn quickly and can figure things out without much difficulty. You like to read and learn new things. You are a self-starter and have initiative. On the other hand, you’re stubborn and resent authority. You have lots of talent, drive, ambition and ability. Go easy on yourself as well as others.”
From the Jan. 1985 issues of the Forest Park Review
Ten Years Ago
An eyesore was to be torn down on Madison, just east of the railroad tracks. By summer, a spanking new car wash would be up and running on the shuttered site where the infamous Xzotics nightclub then stood. Later known as the Bermuda Triangle, the bar attracted troublesome elements and had been investigated and fined for violations of several local codes. The replacement business, Superwash, was to be the latest in a chain of 400 Superwashes in 20 states. Man accosts man in victim’s car at Wendy’s parking lot on Roosevelt Road. Demands cash. Is given $1. Demands more, using fake gun as cudgel with which to whack victim on head four times. Takes wallet containing $55 and leaves. In exchange, victim receives seven stitches. Time passes”like a month”and victim visits friend who’s a patient at Madden Mental Health Center. Doesn’t notice another patient nearby (his attacker). Attacker had plans to turn himself in. Victim leaves. Attacker-patient turns self in to Loyola Security. By nightfall, he’s turned over to Forest Park police and held on $150,000 bond.
From the Jan, 1995 issues of the Forest Park Review
