Forty Years Ago
Didn’t we devote some well-earned words of praise to Mathilda Petersohn a few weeks ago? So did Editor Claude A. Walker back in 1966 when he attended and covered a gathering at the village hall honoring her for long service to Forest Park and its citizens. He wondered how one lady could muster all the civic interest she had”and still have time to maintain her home, keep her husband happy and successfully rear a family. Yet she did all this with dignity, composure and the much-needed woman’s touch. Tillie died in 1973, age 85. Lovingly remembered.
“That’s Entertainment”“the name of an all-encompassing revue of showtime, U.S.A.”reflected the public’s taste here. A large crowd of Liberace fans departed Caserio’s Olde Town West on Madison Street to bus it to McCormick Place where the prancing prince of glitter was performing. Tickets at $10 per covered the show, dinner, transportation and an after-show snack. Get outta here. All that for 10 bucks? Even in 1966? Perhaps consideration of further editing might be in order.
Thirty Years Ago
Gionotti’s Banquet Room on Roosevelt didn’t host the local prom, but it drew the most prom-goers. Word got out that some guy named Sinatra had stopped by”and not for the first time”with a party of ten. In short time the place was packed mostly with young people. Cooperation is a nice thing under such circumstances. The Sinatra party was pretty much left alone while the curious remained at bay. Blue Eyes, who said he wasn’t all that hungry, reportedly did a workmanlike job on the linguini with clam sauce. When finished, he was most genial, working the crowd and signing autographs for five minutes before making his way to the waiting limousine.
From the May 1976 issues of the Forest Park Review
Twenty Years Ago
You may recall last week’s photo of a score of gentlemen drinkers gathered at a tavern on Madison back in”1906! The accompanying story was missing. These derbied fellows were there to slake their thirst at day’s end. Reference was made on the photo in white ink that the beer went for 5 cents a mug or 20 for $1! Think about that. Think of the attrition. Did they all buy a round? Or were they such prodigious drinkers?
VHS cassettes were becoming pretty popular, yet people were still going to the movie houses. If they went 20 years ago this week here’s what they may have seen: “Just Between Friends,” with Mary Tyler Moore and Ted Danson. “Gung Ho,” a plodding comedy about industrial failure in Pennsylvania starring George Wendt. And “Pretty in Pink,” a break-thru movie for Molly Ringwald.
From the Apr./May 1986 issues of the Forest Park Review
Ten Years Ago
We did the second of two excerpts from a Bill Lichtenberg column last week. Why not an extension of No. 2? His subject was a 1996 local election, and the inevitable rhetoric that had to go with it. Words to live by.
Rolando’s Rubrik: Too many of us combine the wisdom of youth with the energy of old age.
Mott the Hoople’s Hint: Don’t confuse motion with progress.
Robinson’s Rumination: When it comes to giving, some people will stop at nothing.
Greenius’ Hunch: To say nothing often shows a fine command of the English language.
Moo-Moo’s Maxim: Always remember, you are unique”just like anybody else. Dan’s Doubtings: The amount of sleep required by the average person is ten minutes more.
Damon (Runyon’s) Dictum; In all of life the odds are about 6-5 against.
Who Remembers? Hans Conreid … Charles Nelson Reilly … Karl Malden … Nanette Fabray … Ben Gazarra … Hildegard (last name Neff?) … Dick Shawn … Moss Hart … Tammy Grimes … Rex Reed … Timbukthree.
From the April 12, 1996 issue of the Forest Park Review
