40 years ago
Larry Kaercher served five years as the Review’s editor, following Claude Walker’s death in 1970. He stepped down when Bob Haeger took over ownership in 1975. Former Mayor Bill Meyer wrote Kaercher a public letter after his first few weeks. It read, in part, as follows:
“I wish you success in your new venture. Much good can came from an active local paper, but don’t let the public get you down. Human beings can be the most cantankerous, unpredictable and valuable assets in a business, social organization or a village. While critical, they can also be broadminded and tolerant – not so easy to do. In the end, our citizens get about the kind of town they want.”
Interestingly, Meyer ended on a conciliatory note: “Since we have more in common than we have in conflict, let’s work together. No one should complain without an alternative suggestion for improvement.”
From the Apr. 29, 1970 Forest Park Review
30 years ago
This newspaper devoted 1/4 of a page to a popular cocktail in May of 1980, calling it America’s most popular drink. Despite Editor Bob Haeger’s fondness of the Silver Bullet, it was not the martini. It shared its name with a Rodgers and Hammerstein figure from the musical, South Pacific. We speak, of course of the noble Bloody Mary.
Invented in 1921 by bartender Fernand Petoit at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, the drink was popularized by showbiz toastmaster George Jessel and literary notable Ernest Hemingway. Pour some tomato juice into an 8 ounce glass, add a shot or two of vodka, a dash of Tabasco, some ice and a sprig of greenery. Then enjoy a glass of red happiness.
Probably no truth to the rumor that Hemingway replaced the juice with bullion, thereby fashioning the Bullshot – just because he happened to be writing Death in the Afternoon at the time.
From the May 7, 1980 Forest Park Review
20 years ago
Still more Match the Words to the Movie. Extra credit for the actor or character who spoke the line.
From the Private Files of a Movie Maven
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Mr. Roberts … Cool Hand Luke … Wizard of Oz … To Have and Have Not … Lauren Bacall |
10 years ago
What’s lawn bowling? Something out of 15th century Scotland? What Rip Van Winkle took for thunder in the Catskills? It’s a far cry from Striker Lanes. Yet so was Jennifer Wolfe’s lawn in the 900 block of Beloit 10 years ago.
Ms. Wolfe had a penchant, or a driven compulsion, to create an art installation in front of her home. So she collected and displayed a variety of what George Carlin called “stuff.”
And, independent person that she was, she liked to liven things up her way. “Old stuff its own character,” she answered when asked about her lawn ornaments.
It began conservatively enough when she laid down a winding path of stone slabs. Within a week these were punctuated by a trio of bowling balls – not your everyday, new and shiny bowling balls, but well-seasoned, in-your-chops, beer-stained bowling alley pin-demolishers. At various times over a couple of years this ball-and-curve motif was added to with a fountain recovered from a dumpster and a forgotten rusted mattress spring rescued from a junk yard.
By the way, Ms. Wolfe is a normal person with an artistic eye to go with her own world view. She works as a photographer, with her photos appearing in the Forest Park Review and other papers. She concluded the interview 10 years ago with, “I just like to go junking now and then. And … I’m a strong advocate of recycling.”
From the May 10, 2000 Forest Park Review
