Forty Years Ago
Just a passing notion, and nothing new, but could there be a homeowner here who doesn’t know they can have their broken up sidewalk fixed at half price, courtesy of the village? Just call the village hall at 366-2323.
With an opening paragraph like that and a follow-up of local supermarket prices circa 1965, you know your columnist is in trouble because of one slow news month back then in our fair village.
You could run on down to Calgagno’s and buy a pound of ground beef for 49 cents, or a boneless sirloin tip roast, for 99 cents a pound. Also, lamb patties went for 29 cents a pound. And a two pound can of Manor House coffee? Would you believe $1.35? Thirsty? Put away a six-pack of 16 ounce Pepsi for 49 cents. Pick up two, 12 oz. packages of Patio Enchilada Dinner; pay only 49 cents. Ingest all this in a short time and you’ll belch in Technicolor. Amazing what the human stomach can tolerate.
From the April 1965 issues of the Forest Park Review.
Thirty Years Ago
Recommended reading over the Memorial Day weekend might be the Herman Wouk 1951 novel, “The Caine Mutiny.” There’s nothing current about this exciting, eventful story, nor should there be. It rivets your attention on the events (mainly in the Pacific) of that time. It also lets you brush up on the period of the “greatest generation.”
This is a novel and movie that features the infamous Captain Queeg, who eased his uncertainties and insecurities by twirling three steel balls in his hand.
One incident typified the action and some underlying thought processes of men at war: the Caine, among other ships, is ferrying landing troops in LSTs”floating metal boxes”each jammed with about fifty grunts whose job is to debark, walk through water, make it to shore and establish and hold a beachhead”all amid heavy artillery, air and rifle fire. Queeg orders his LSTs to drop its human cargo in water perhaps too deep and to return to the mother ship and safety. A few hours pass as pure hell takes place 1,000 yards away on the beach.
Lt. Willie Keith finds time to visit the galley and spoon himself a bowl of ice cream. Up on the bridge, he eats his confection, watching orange and yellow flashes on land”and what looks like running figures. He thinks long thoughts. The title of this chapter is “Death and Ice Cream.” Books like this deserve remembrance on Memorial Day. (There’s even a love sub-plot woven in.)
From the April 1975 issues of the Forest Park Review.
Twenty Years Ago
Emotions Anonymous (EA)”a support group offering serenity and piece of mind to chronic worriers and persons who are depressed”had its start-up at St. Bernardine Church. The group still meets at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays in the Rectory, off Marengo Ave. It’s a 12 step-pr ogram.
(A non-12-step support group, Recovery, Inc. meets weekly in Oak Park. It employs a somewhat different method to accomplish the same end. Recovery meets Tuesdays at the First United Church, 848 Lake St. 7:30 p.m.)
Back in ’85, there was no big wine boom like now. Still, Jo Ann Miner wrote a feature in the REVIEW on the marriage of wine and food. Space allows only an excerpt: “If serving an older wine like a Merlot, choose a more mellow cheese, such as Washington Cougar Gold or Monterey Jack, which will not overwhelm the wine but allow it to develop its own character. Working up a taste?
From the April 1985 issues of the Forest Park Review.
Ten Years Ago
When a dependable starting pitcher goes down, the team has some making up to do. Ten years ago our police department K-9 mascot, Hammer, was on the 90-day disabled list, having ruptured a disc in his back at a kennel. After a successful operation, the black and brown Rottweiler returned in top form. He was expected to start strong, finish strong and go the whole nine innings.
You may recall mention here of the Harry Glos shooting in which the 72 year-old man was shot in the abdomen during an aborted sidewalk robbery. It took nearly three years, but justice was served. The two gunmen were given sentences of 50 years each. Because Glos was never “really the same,” Judge William Pendergast tacked 20 years onto the original sentence.
Who Remembers? Robin Leach … Archie Leach (Cary Grant) … the Georgia Peach (Ty Cobb) … Stacy Keach … Each to Each … Beyond My Reach … Miami Beach … your favorite “teach.”
From the Mar./April 1995 issues of the Forest Park Review.
