SOUTH SHORE NEWS SPOT January 2006
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SOUTH SHORE NEWS SPOT – July 2006 © 2006 by CMA Publishing - By Caryn Lazar Amster
Word count for this issue is 4666 words – Total read time about 13 minutes.
A personal thank you! I have been blown away by all your emails, I never dreamed that there would be SUCH interest in my little newsletter. I could write another book with the emails and stories I have received since the Pied Piper came out. "Thank you" does not really convey how I feel. In fact, "I love you all" is more accurate. If you are receiving this newsletter for the first time – welcome! I welcome you, and encourage you to share your stories and memories here. Thanks for coming and for sharing with over 1,500 other former South Shoreites. Caryn
Thanks for stopping by the South Shore News Spot. This month we feature stories, reunion information, South Shore and other bus tour updates, former South Shoreites seeking old friends, stories from the Pied Piper’s mailbag, upcoming events, new ways to reach old friends, a new challenge game and much more!
Don’t just forward this newsletter - tell your friends to email me and get their own copy at [email protected] JUMP ON THE BUS GUS – SOUTH SHORE BUS TOUR Don’t Wait! Sign up today for the 3-4 hour bus tour of South Shore. The date is Sunday, August 20, 2006. It is narrated and conducted by Chicago historic expert, Dr. Irving Cutler. Don’t worry – this is a big tour bus with a BATHROOM! The bus is over half filled right now! I will be on the bus to provide local color and I will have autographed Pied Piper books and posters for sale. The tour is sponsored by the Chicago Jewish Historical Society (CJHS) and the coordinator is Leah Axelrod. For reservations, contact Leah at 847-432-7003 or email her at [email protected] Pick up/return locations: Bernard Horwich JCC, 3003 W Touhy Avenue in Lincolnwood, pick up at 12:00 – Return at 5:00 and the Chicago Marriot: Rush and Ohio Street entrance - pick up at 12:30 – Return 4:30. Full payment is due before the event. The cost is $30/Member of CJHS and $40/Nonmember - All checks are to be made out to CJHS and mailed to Leah Axelrod, My Kind of Town Tours and Events at 2100 Linden Ave., Highland Park IL 60035. They only accept checks no credit cards. ANOTHER CHICAGO TOUR There is another tour, a walking tour called Jewish Life in the Loop on July 23 conducted by Herb Eiseman (SSHS class of 54). Herb has led many Chicago tours. He holds a Masters Degree in Urban Studies and is an architectural historian and a member of the Chicago Architectural Society. It reveals the many Jewish contributions to the cultural and commercial vitality of the city. It starts at 1 p.m. at the Spertus Institute, 618 South Michigan and ends at 4:40 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel at 151 East Wacker. It is also sponsored by the Jewish Historical Society. For more information contact Leah Axelrod at 847-432-7003 or call Herb at 773-404-2400 – see more on the tours at www.herbstours.com
Note from Herb - I enjoy your monthly South Shore News Spot and have recommended it to other South Shore graduates with whom I keep in contact. Keep up the good work. Best regards, Herb Eiseman
SAVE THESE DATES IN 2006! Please save these dates for my seminars and book events. Books and posters will be available for sale at all events. I look forward to seeing you there! Celebrate good times. Visit my website Calendar of Events for more detailed information on these events. www.cmapublishing.net
THE CHICAGO SUMMER SILENT FILM FESTIVAL Mitch and I were planning to be at this event to sign and sell books and posters but we will be unable to attend as my back is really acting up. We recommend this series to all you Chicago history fans and Chicago old movie house and silent film buffs. It is at the new Portage Theatre. In addition to the Pied Piper/Avalon Theater cover book poster Mitch also has posters of the old Biograph Theater with John Dillinger leaving the theater entitled “CRIME DOESN’T PAY” along with many other works. They are available on his website at www.mitchmarkovitz.com
THE PORTAGE THEATER SUMMER FILM SERIES - Chicago 2006 The highlight of the Society's event calendar is their annual summer silent film festival, in which the Society presents a live silent film photoplay at the Portage Theatre on six consecutive Friday evenings in late July and throughout August. These film classics are presented in the same fashion as they were released more than 70 years ago.
For all you silent film buffs, here is the entire schedule for the Chicago Summer Silent Film Festival at the Portage Theatre. For tickets and information on the organization or the entire summer Silent Film Series, contact the theater at 773-736-4050 or 773-205-7372, email Program Director Dennis Wolkowitz at [email protected] or visit the website at http://www.silentfilmchicago.com
“ TRAMP, TRAMP, TRAMP” - Friday, July 21st, 2006 - 8:00 p.m. (1926) Cast: Harry Langdon, Joan Crawford - Directed by Harry Edwards; Written by Frank Capra - Live theatre organ accompaniment by Dennis Scott.
“ AELITA QUEEN OF MARS”- Friday, July 28, 2006 - 8:00 p.m. (1924) Cast: Igor Ilinsky, Konstantin Eggert, Nikolai Tsereteli, Yulia Solntseva Directed by Yakov Protazanov - Live theatre organ accompaniment by Jay Warren - Live theremin* sequences performed by Professor J. Pierce
"LA BOHEME" - Friday, August 4, 2006 8:00 p.m. (1926) Cast: Lillian Gish, John Gilbert, Directed by King Vidor - Live accompaniment by the 24-piece American Festivals Music Orchestra under the direction of Philip Simmons, and theatre organist Mark Noller.
"MANSLAUGHTER"- Friday, August 11, 2006 - 8:00 p.m. (1922) Cast: Leatrice Joy, Thomas Meighan, Lois Wilson, Directed by Cecil B. DeMille - Live theatre organ accompaniment by Jay Warren
"QUEEN KELLY" - Friday, August 18, 2006 - 8:00 p.m. (1929) Cast: Gloria Swanson, Walter Byron, Directed by Erik von Stroheim - Live theatre organ accompaniment by Mark Noller
"SALLY OF THE SAWDUST" - Friday, August 25, 2006 - 8:00 p.m. (1925) Cast: W.C. Fields, Carol Dempster, Directed by D. W. Griffith - Live theatre organ accompaniment by Dennis Scott with pre-show music with the West End Jazz Band at 7:30 p.m. THE PORTAGE THEATRE The historic Portage Theatre, located on the northwest side of Chicago at 4050 North Milwaukee Avenue, is the new home for The Silent Film Society of Chicago. Designed by architect Henry Newhouse, the theatre opened on December 11, 1920 with 1,938 seats as part of the Ascher Brothers theatre chain. Pre-dating the advent of America's movie palaces, the Portage Theatre's megaphone-shaped auditorium features a formal beaux-arts opera house design. When the theatre was taken over by Balaban and Katz in 1940, its marquee, entrance lobby and foyer were redecorated in a sleek, streamlined art deco style to complement its new art deco neighbors -- the monolithic Sears department store and the five-story Klee Brothers building. In the 1980s, the theatre underwent a dramatic change when a wall was constructed down the middle of the existing auditorium resulting in two oddly-shaped cinemas. After a five-year period of darkness, the theatre has reopened to its original shape, and has been refurbished and restored to its 1920s splendor. The Silent Film Society of Chicago is pleased to be part of the exciting revitalization of the Portage Theatre.
THE ORGANIZATION Formed in 1998, The Silent Film Society of Chicago is dedicated to the preservation and proper presentation of silent films. With 80% of all silent film prints no longer in existence, the Society's goal is to heighten public awareness to expedite silent film preservation. It accomplishes this with proper presentation of the silent film — historically, technically, and artistically. For tickets and information on the organization or the entire summer Silent Film Series, contact the theater at 773-736-4050 or 773-205-7372, email Program Director Dennis Wolkowitz at [email protected] or visit the website at http://www.silentfilmchicago.com
SOUTH SHORE HIGH SCHOOL NEWS South Shore High School News, Tribune staff report, Published June 15, 2006, 2:14 PM CDT The bulk of the construction is to take place on the South Side, where five brand new high schools and four new elementary schools are to be built. In addition, the plan calls for new buildings for existing schools, including South Shore High School and Bouchet Elementary School in the South Shore neighborhood, Langston Hughes and Davis elementary schools in Roseland, and Miles Davis School in Englewood.
Chicago Public Radio, Tuesday, May 02, 2006, Neighborhood Schools Part II William Gerstein is the principle of School of Entrepreneurship, a small school on Chicago's south side. Like all small schools, Entrepreneurship provides its students with a focused curriculum; in this case it prepares students for the world of business ownership. The school was born of his own alma mater, South Shore High School, a comprehensive high school which was broken into four autonomous small schools. Mr. Gerstein has a long history of community involvement having been the owner/operator of two supermarkets, and a member of many boards of community based organizations and institutions.
PLEASE HELP KEEP THIS NEWSLETTER COMING When was the last time you bought a personally autographed book or poster from someone you know? PLEASE order the Pied Piper books and posters using the secured shopping cart on the order form at my book website www.cmapublishing.net
NEW FEATURE – FAMOUS SOUTH SHORE AREA PEOPLE Based on my mail it seems that people are interested in what now “famous” people attended South Shore area schools in the 1950’s and ‘60s. With this issue we will start with my alma mater South Shore. We will cover other schools in later issues like Bowen, Hyde Park and Aquinas so you can send me your entries and I will put them in the right school. Thanks to Bob Levi for starting this idea percolating and identifying some of these famous folks! How many do you know? Do you know any others? Please send your entries to the News Spot.
Lawrence Ellison, the head of Oracle, went to SSHS and graduated in 1962 http://www.hausarbeiten.de/faecher/hausarbeit/eni/20255.html
Nobel Laureate James Dewey Watson attended Horace Mann and then went to SSHS for two years before transferring to the U of C in their accelerated program. http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1962/watson-bio.htm
Marv Levy, Hall of Fame Coach of the Buffalo Bills graduated from SSHS. http://www.profootballhof.com/history/release.jsp?release_id=434
Blues Singer Corky Siegel - http://www.chamberblues.com/ssb_bio_corky.htm
Penn State track star and 2004 Olympian Consuella Moore graduated SSHS http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2006/01/01-31-06tdc/01-31-06dsports-05.asp)and
Former Illinois State Treasurer and Attorney General William J. Scott graduated from SSHS. http://wwwxanana.ucsc.edu/wjscott
Ted Erikson was a champion long-distance swimmer and a SSHS graduate. http://www.sdogv.com/swim.html
Actor Robert Conrad attended SSHS. (Not verified, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Conrad)
Gerald Gordon (nee Golden?) has been mentioned as possibly attending SSHS. (Not verified, http://www.answers.com/topic/gerald-gordon
MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS This is the spot for your memories of South Shore or living in Chicago in the 1950s. Email me your memories. Got any old toy or Wee Folks memories? Send them along. When did YOU move out of South Shore? What do you remember about it? Where did you move? Got any good Rainbow Beach stories? Any great stories of restaurants, the Overflow, old TV shows?
“EVERYBODY LOVES SOMEBODY SOMETIME”- SEEKING LOST FRIENDS Looking for long lost South Shoreites from the ‘50s and ‘60s? Email me [email protected] and I will try to put you in touch. These are new this month. By the way - If you want me to use your request or memory in the newsletter, please include permission to use your name and email address in your correspondence.
Can you find Sandra Israel? She did not graduate. I think she left in her 4th year, about 1954. Thanks Paul Horwitz [email protected]
I am looking for former South Shore (79th Street) High Low employees from the 50’s and ‘60s. Bill Krause [email protected]
I'm a Myra Bradwell graduate, year of 1956 and a South Shore graduate June of 1960. This past month two other former south siders and I did a nostalgia journey back to the south side and drove by our former homes and South Shore High School. We also went down 75th and 79th Street trying to identify places we used to hang out. Also went by what used to be our temples. I have been looking for a way to contact an old and one time very close friend of mine. She was not only a friend in elementary school but high school as well. Her name was Marilyn Wainer and she graduated Bradwell in 1956 and South Shore in June of 1960. I'd appreciate any help anyone can give me in locating her. Bobbie Solovy Jacobson - [email protected]
“It sure is a small world. My mom told me about meeting you, and she found your talk most interesting. But Bobby Tucker --- Wow!! I love Bobby Tucker! I have the fondest memories of him. Bobby lived directly across the street from me. My family was 8941 S. Chappel and his was 8942. He's about five years older than me, but he always played ball with me from the time I moved in, which was when I was six years old. We'd play catch, or pinner; sometimes throw a football around. He never took advantage, was always friendly, kind and encouraging--a genuinely good person. Then as I grew older we'd play basketball together at the JCC, and I think sometimes at Stony Island Park. Bobby is a great guy. Please send him my warmest regards. I know that his family stayed on the block quite a bit longer than even mine did. I think they stayed into the late 1980's or 1990's. Also, I enjoyed reading the recent newsletter you sent me. Thanks for sending it. Please keep me on your mailing list. I'm sure we'll be in touch. Best Regards, Louie Hi Caryn, Just wanted to let you know that you posted my email address and I was able to reconnect with several friends from Caldwell School. They were even able to send along class pictures from 6th grade. My family moved from 1724 E. 86th Place in 1964. I appreciate it so much - what a treat to recall so many great memories! My Dad owned Lyngdal and Kress Drug Store at 1465 East 63rd Street until about 1968. I love your South Shore News Spot. Keep up all the great memories. My Mom went to Bradwell and was a graduate of South Shore. Thanks, Barbara Veneris Stewart
CURRENT BOWEN PHOTOS ANYONE? A friend of Bob Tucker’s made a recent visit to Bowen and took some great photos. He is a professional photographer named Ron Springer, Esprit Productions, [email protected] who puts on wonderful meetings and events for Fortune 500 and other companies, class of 1968; along with Frank Conry also class of '68. They were taken a few weeks ago. If anyone is interested, email me at [email protected] and I will forward you the file.
THE POWER OF KEEPING IN TOUCH – REUNIONS - If your class is planning a reunion please email me and I will include it in the newsletter. I have had several inquiries into another Bradwell'67 reunion for our 40th, to occur in summer 2007. If you could please reach out and ask anyone who has not connected with us or has moved or changed e-mail addresses in the last couple of years to e-mail me at [email protected], it would be appreciated. Thanks. Sheri Kessler
Aquinas High School will be having their 40 Year Reunion on Saturday, July 22, 2006 at the Hilton Oak Lawn, 9333 S. Cicero Ave., Oak Lawn, Illinois. Call Sentimental Journey, Ltd for details: 847-329-0111 or 847-657-3639 [email protected]
St. Felicitas - The new and final date for the reunion is November 4, 2006 at the AMERICAN LEGION HALL in Downers Grove, IL. The price including food and favors has been set at $30.00 per person. The bar will be cash. We will be sending out registration forms to as many classes 62-68 as possible by mail and e-mail with instructions where to mail your form and payment. Feel free to pass the form on to any relatives that attended St. Felicitas. There will be a photographer there to take individual class pictures and they will be available the same night. More info to follow as it develops. Our next meeting will be July 15. Contact Frank Parisi [email protected]
South Shore High School - June 1956 is having a 50th class reunion on Sep 9, 2006 at the North Shore Hotel, Skokie, IL. If anyone is interested contact [email protected] Carol (Smykowski) Giorgio
Aquinas High School, Class of '61 is having their 45th Reunion on September 30th at the Drake Oak Brook (another sleep over). Anyone interested can contact me and I will forward your info to Judy Scanlon Grant, who is helping with the arrangements. Liz Goodrick Wise - [email protected] Bradwell classes of 1965 and 1966 are having a reunion on Saturday October 21, 2006. For more information or to register go to http://www.trans-micro.com/bradwell - Even if you are not from Bradwell you can still register as a friend on this friendly site.
There is a 40th Bradwell from 1967 class to occur in summer 2007. If you could please reach out and ask anyone who has not connected with us or has moved or changed e-mail addresses in the last couple of years to e-mail me at [email protected], it would be appreciated. Thanks. Sheri Kessler St. Bride - The Epistles of El Greco will be ready for purchase at the annual St. Bride Luncheon at the Hilton Hotel at 95th & Cicero at noon on Sunday, October 15. After the 15th, orders may be placed by phone to the St. Bride Alumni office of Pat Thavis Sungaila at 708-349-8247 or to Sister Marguerite in the IBVM Development Office at 630-868-2907. Who is El Greco? He is none other than the author, Nick Gecan a 1962 St. Bride alum and his editor, Tom McGuire (St. BR'61), who have re-captured the past history of St. Bride in a unique way. What are the Epistles? They are anecdotes of the life and times of the St. Bride neighborhood that are hysterically funny, interesting and respectfully written, This book will bring back memories of the past as you read about Rainbow Beach, the handball courts, first confession, altar boy antics and much more. The Epistles of El Greco is a must for all graduates of St. Bride's and interesting reading for graduates from any school. One interesting and generous feature of this publication is that all proceeds will go to the IBVM Sisters in gratitude to all the IBVM's who taught at St. Bride School. Marguerite Caulfield, IBVM
South Shore High School 1959 – January and June Classes Reunion ~ Do you know someone who graduated from SSHS in January or June 1959? For those of you who graduated from South Shore High School in 1959 (January and June) we are in the planning phases of a 50th reunion in 2009. A “Steerage” (not steering) committee is forming. If you or someone you know was a member of these classes please have them email me at [email protected] or the new class email at [email protected] Stop now and forward this newsletter to friends. If you are reading someone else’s copy and want your own emailed every month, email [email protected] . FAN MAIL, ACCOLADES AND APPEARANCES If you have a few hours with nothing to do, try searching on the web for The Pied Piper of South Shore and/or Caryn Lazar Amster and see how many listings there are on the Internet now. It is amazing. There are hundreds of items.
Hi Caryn - If you are speaking in Southern California, I would love to come and hear you. Although I am nearly 53 years old, I fondly remember your parents and Wee Folks. I was a little girl when we would go to the store, but it was always such a treat. My memories of South Shore are sometimes dreamlike at times, and it is wonderful to bring back such bedrock images. Thanks for writing this important book (that I am still in the process of reading). Linda Spitz
I really enjoy your newsletter and hate to think of not receiving it.....your book was not only great but what you have been doing to reunite we-folks from South Shore is wonderful and I am sure I speak for all of us when I say a big Thank YOU!!!! Sincerely, Gayle Holly
A warm hello from Cookie (Lois Sternquist) SSHS (class of '60). I was pleased to see a post from John Hartigan (class of '59) in the Memories are Made of This portion of the newsletter. His sister, Sherry was in my class and I remember her as being a beautiful, warm and friendly girl who always had a ready smile. I hope she's doing well. BOOKS ARE NOT ONLY SOLD AT BOOKSTORES – Do you know a store that would like to sell the Pied Piper book or an art gallery that would like to feature Mitch Markovitz’s posters and fine art prints? Please email me. I have books at retro toy stores and Mitch is in galleries all over the country.
SPEAKING ON WRITING - I speak on business marketing and book marketing and publishing for clubs and organizations, colleges and universities and at conventions and conferences. Let me know if you have contacts at any of these places.
JOKE OF THE MONTH - 7 Reasons Not to Mess With Children: A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales. The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small. The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale. Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible. The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah". The teacher asked, "What if Jonah went to hell?" The little girl replied, "Then you ask him ".
A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work. As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was. The girl replied, "I'm drawing God." The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like." Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, "They will in a minute."
A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to "honor" thy Father and thy Mother, she asked, "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?" Without missing a beat one little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, "Thou shall not kill."
One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head. She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, "Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?" Her mother replied, "Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white." The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, "Momma, how come ALL of grandma's hairs are white?"
The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture. "Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, 'There's Jennifer, she's a lawyer,' or 'That's Michael, He's a doctor.' A small voice at the back of the room rang out, "And there's the teacher, she's dead."
A teacher was giving a lesson on the circulation of the blood. Trying to make the matter clearer, she said, "Now, class, if I stood on my head, the blood, as you know, would run into it, and I would turn red in the face." "Yes," the class said. "Then why is it that while I am standing upright in the ordinary position the blood doesn't run into my feet?" A little fellow shouted, "Cause your feet ain't empty."
The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray: "Take only ONE. God is watching." Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written a note, "Take all you want. God is watching the apples.
WEBSITE OF THE MONTH Want to revisit some old Chicago bungalos? Visit http://www.ridgehistoricalsociety.org/Arch_Styles/20th_Century.html
If you find typographical or grammatical errors in this email, they're here for a purpose. Some people actually enjoy looking for them and we strive to please as many people as possible.
On a personal note! Thanks for your many calls and emails – keep them coming! Thanks for recommending new bookings for your organizations’ events. And thanks for the book and poster purchases. I love to hear your South Shore and Wee Folks stories. Please ask your library or bookstore to request a signing of The Pied Piper.
Happy summer to all! And thanks for your continued support The Pied Piper and public television!
Many and More and More Happy Memories ………………Caryn
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******************************************** Caryn Lazar Amster, (The Pied Piper's Daughter) is the award winning author of the debut book The Pied Piper of South Shore, Toys and Tragedy in Chicago. This true family true crime social history is set in Chicago's South Shore in the 1950's and '60s. It won the USA Book News "Best of 2004" in the True Crime category. It garnered an all "5" rating in 2004 from Writer's Digest International Self Publishers Contest in the Non-Fiction category and Honorable Mention in the Family Stories category from the same magazine in 2005. ISBN: 0-9758928-0 LOC: 4108342 CMA Publishing is a divison of CMA Marketing Group, Inc. P.O. Box Sig366, Medinah, Ill 60157 mailto:[email protected] 1-866-50-PIPER (74737) To purchase books and posters of cover http://www.chicagospiedpiper.com Amster is a Chicago area marketing specialist, President of CMA Marketing Group, Inc. and a speaker and trainer. *********************************************