You're from Bawlmer if . . .
We don't know the source of this fine list, so I can't yet give credit. It arrived as an e-mail from some natives now in middle-age and a little beyond. This is good for born-in-Baltimore Baltimoreans, those of us who adopted the city as our own, and even newcomers. Enjoy, and feel free to post your additions this weekend.
You're from Bawlmer if . . .
You remember when you could only buy a Volvo from Michaelson Motors on
Reisterstown Rd. . . . The best place to become a Chevrolet ownah was at York
and Bellona. Johnny's on Harford Rd was the "Walking Mans Friend." Granny
Packer was on Blair Road in Oberlee, and "Hey, Hey Fox Chevrolet" was just
as annoying then as the car ads these days. Don't forget Doug Griffith's
Corvettes on Harford Road.
You rode on street cars and busses operated by BTC
(Baltimore Transit Company), and remember when their color schemes went
from yellow to green to blue, and you could pay with tokens.
You can sing the phone number for Hampden Moving and
Storage. (Belmont 5 0600).
You remember Royal Parker yelling at kids jumping on
furniture that was not covered in plastic: "What're ya trying to roon
it?"
You think being called "hon" by waitresses,
cashiers, bank tellers, and complete strangers is perfectly normal.
You remember the Bay Belle cruise that took you to Betterton and
Tolchester beaches before the Bay Bridge was built.
You watched local TV shows: Duckpins for Dollars, The Collegians,
Pinbusters, Buddy Deane Show, Romper Room, and Hutzler's Theatre.
You also saw Stu Kerr star as Bozo the Clown and Professor Kool for the
kids, then host "Dialing for Dollars" for the stay-at-home moms, and
later fill-in as the weather man (complete with cloud and sun magnets)
on the 6 o'clock news. (Don't forget Rhea and JP, no Doppler then)!
Your mother always knew the daily "count and the amount" on dialing for
dollars.
You know how to pronounce Towson and Ellicott City,
and always notice ads where the announcers get it wrong.
We had milk home-delivered by Green Spring,
Sealtest, and Cloverland but somehow Cloverland was the only who claimed
to be "the dairy with cows". Oh yeah, you can probably sing their number too
(NOrth 9-2222)
Going for a Sunday drive to get ice cream at
Murrays, Sanders (The Dam Place), or at Cloverland Dairy Farm on Dulaney
Valley Rd. If you didn't have a car, there was always a walk to Arundel or High's.
Or you could just stay home and wait for the bells of the Good Humor Man - "Wait
a minute!"
When somebody gave their phone number prefix (such as IDlewood - 5 or
DRexel- 7 or HAmilton - 6), you knew right where they were from.
You've been on Sunday drives through "Droodle" park, and watched the
submarine races at Loch Raven or Lake Montebello.
You still use the old "Poly" on North Ave as a reference for directions.
If you were interested in motorcycles, you could buy Honda at Pete's in Hamilton, a Triumph at Boutwell's on Broadway, a Harley at Baltimore HD on Loch Raven Blvd, a Beemer from Motor Sports Center on Pinckney Rd, or a Yamaha from Frankie & Ronnie's on Route 40.
Speaking of Ronnie, how about Baltimore's own Ronnie Dove?
You remember when Baltimore had three passenger train stations: Penn
Station, Camden Station, and the B&O Station on Mount Royal Avenue.
It also had a functioning light rail system. The city and adjoining counties were linked by street cars, which plied the tracks for 104 years before the busses ultimately won on November 3, 1963. One of the last survivors was the No. 8 line, which ran between
Catonsville and Towson. There are still a bunch of huge old car barns around: York Road in
Govans, Harford Rd in Hamilton, Belair Rd in Overlea, Retreat Street, and
the monster on Washington Blvd, to name a few.
Car drivers, bicycle riders, and pedestrians had to avoid street car tracks long after the street cars were out of business. It took years to dig up the tracks, and some are still evident on paved-over cobblestone streets. Now we are spending a gazillion dollars trying to
re-create the original version of light rail.
You can remember what the harbor looked like before it was The Inner Harbor, and that Connolly's Restaurant on Pier 5 was the last survivor of the old Pratt Street waterfront.
You know why Pigtown is called Pigtown.
You remember swimming and family picnics at Beaver Dam and Beaver Springs Swim Clubs in Cockeysville. and no one knew of a place called Hunt Valley.
You remember when there was home delivery of the Morning Sun, The Evening Sun, The Sunday Sun, The News-Post, and The Sunday American. The last two were later the News-American, and all long before the City Paper made its debut.
You know what/where the 9th Ward is.
You remember when White Marsh was just a marsh, Owings Mills was just a
farm, and Columbia was a utopian dream (and a farm).
You still don't get the whole "Town Center" thing and maybe you shouldn't
....... it's just a mall!
Taking visitors downtown at night to see the Washington Monument and pointing out why (from a certain angle) George Washington is really the father of our country.
You looked forward to Earl Weaver antics over a bad call; okay, over any call.
You remember laughing at bawdy jokes and political comments scrawled in white shoe polish on the front window of Turkey Joe's Bar in Fells Point.
Eating at Pollack Johnnie's, Lexington Market, Attman's, Bel-Loc Diner, Ciminos, Little Tavern (buy'em by the bag!), White Castle, AJ's Dog House, Horn & Horn, Oriole Cafeteria, White Coffee Pot, Hot Shoppes, Ameche's, Gino's, Read's, Hooper's, Silber's Bakery.
You've seen the governor (and other dignitaries) standing in line, in the rain, outside of Haussners, because they never took reservations.
You remember Friendship Airport (now BWI) and Harbor Field (now Dundalk Marine Terminal).
You remember late night "Mister Ray's Hair Weave" commercials. (Let me put that hair on your head!)
You found yourself cheering for the guys -- first MICA students, then a certain janitorial-supply salesman -- who added "Hon" to the Welcome to Baltimore sign on the BW Parkway, especially after officials got upset and staked out the sign to catch them.
You remember driving over the old Kent Narrows Drawbridge that snarled weekend traffic coming home from the Ocean. You remember 17-mile traffic backups coming back from Ocean City on holiday weekends.
You remember the guy who crashed the plane into the upper deck of Memorial Stadium after a Colts playoff game.
You had plenty of friends who worked at Sparrows Point, and each had an ugly old "point car" to drive to work.
Everybody else (it seemed) worked for GM on Broening Highway, Western Electric, or National Brewery.
You remember going to see the fabulous Fire Department Christmas Train Garden at the home of T-27 & E-45 on Glen Avenue. (By the way, it's still open)
Fort Holabird was alive and thriving.
You remember when now trendy Canton was a true blue-collar neighborhood of small factories, a can company, waterfront oyster and vegetable packing houses, seed companies, tug boat piers,
filthy harbor water, and a few greasy-spoon restaurants. In the early 70s the
neighborhood had about eight square blocks of its homes demolished to make
way for an interstate to connect 95 and 83. The interstate never
happened, but there are ramps for it on I-95 to this day.
You love to see the Domino Sugar sign reflecting across the harbor.
You'll always remember a cheer-leading O's fan Wild Bill Hagy, in Section 34, from the 70s.
You remember when Social Security moved out of the Candler Building to the new complex in Woodlawn.
You remember seeing the Four Seasons perform at Painters Mill or at Club Venus. You saw the Beatles, The Beach Boys, Dave Clark Five, The Rolling Stones, The Monkees, and Peter, Paul & Mary, and the Village People at the Civic Center . You saw Emerson, Lake, and Palmer at the Lyric. You saw
Otis Reading, the Four Tops, and the Temptations at Calvert Hall. (You didn't
save a single program!) Or dance at the Club Venus, Hollywood Park, Teen Center, CYO or the Epithany.
You remember the Towson State Teachers College.
All the big downtown theaters were as cool as the Senator is now.
You know where High and Low streets meet.
You liked the orioles smiling cartoon bird face better than the
ornithologically-correct Oriole on today's ball cap.
More Parks sausages Mom, Please!
You remember the rotating restaurant on top of the Holiday Inn on Light Street.
You've had the monster "Powerhouse" burger at one of four Ameche's
drive-ins, and (long before there was a McDonald's in sight), you could "Meetcha at Ameche's!" at Loch Raven & Taylor, 5800 Reisterstown Rd, 7700 Wise Ave, or Ritchie Highway & 5th in Glen Burnie. All gone!
A few years later you could also have a 15-cent burger at Gino Marchetti's, or drive through the Circle for a Cheesy-Q. They're gone too!
You get a kick out of hearing Johns Hopkins or Pimlico named in movies or TV.
You know B&O is not body odor.
You remember when the Baltimore Civic Center was home to The Baltimore Bullets, The Baltimore Blast, The Baltimore Clippers, rock concerts, car shows, horse shows, civil-service exams, circuses, ice shows, and graduations.
You remember the wonderful spicy cinnamon smell of McCormick's on Light Street, and all the big festivals at Rash Field.
You've marveled as the three-wheeled motor cops shifted both sides of
33rd Street to the "one-way" pattern to get all the traffic in and out of Orioles and Colts games in record time, every time. Try that one on Pratt Street!
Every kitchen had a can of Old Bay and every Frigidaire a case of Natty Boh. Ain't the beer cold!
You remember when Baltimore rated a Playboy Club, and no, it wasn't on The Block.
You understand the difference between Hampden and Remington.
You instantly recognize your entrance into Dandily, even if blindfolded; better yet, Eastpoint!
You remember Ross Z. Pierpont, candidate for governor - again!
You and your Mom shopped at Braeger-Gutman's, Hutzler's, Stewart's, Hochschild Kohn, Robert Hall, The May Company, Hecht's, Peck & Peck, Hamburgers, Epstein's, Woolworth's, SS Kresge, McCrorys, Ben Franklin, Dacks 5 &10, EJ Korvettes, Two Guys, Cooks,
Kaldor, Hechingers, and of course, Shocketts on Broadway
Shopping on The Avenue meant Eastern Avenue in Highlandtown, unless of course you were from the other side of town, then it was 36th St.
Shopping on The Boulevard meant Washington Boulevard in Pigtown.
You've cruised Ameche's, the Circle, Champs, The Thunderbird, and Topps Lot on a week-end evening to see the muscle cars.
You know that an A-rabber is really a guy who sells fruit and vegetables from a horse drawn cart.
S.....O....F....T....C......R....A......B....S also....
You remember when the city po-leece cars went from black and white, to blue and white, then to all white with red and blue stripes.
You know what an espantoon is.
You know live crabs are at their very meanest right before steaming, and that if one gets you..... he WILL NOT let go!
You helped paint a Bicentennial fire hydrant.
You know that the Colts Band does not need a football team to do their thing. They were formed in 1947 and have spent 13 years of their existence without a team (51 to 53 & 84 to 95). Didn't
slow 'em down at all!
You always knew where to find Blaze Starr. (2 O'Clock Club)
You remember the spectacular 13-alarm Schapiro's Rag-Factory fire that lit up the entire city sky. Hint: it's where the Pepsi sign on the JFX is now.
You remember cutting school to go to the Flower Mart and Opening Day.
You remember Greenmount Cemetery as a place you could actually visit, or drive past, without taking your life in your hands.
You know where ' Downey Ocean ' is, and remember where the "Irish House" was.
You remember the old rivalries of Poly vs. City and Loyola vs. Calvert Hall were played out every Thanksgiving Day at Memorial Stadium.
You remember when Belvedere Avenue was "Northern Parkway ", and the
two-lane road up-the-hill from Falls Rd to Roland Ave was a steep, narrow, and treacherous path. They stopped traffic on Falls Road to allow the cars on Belvedere to travel one at a time on
icy/snowy days; Cold Spring between Falls and Roland wasn't much better.
You know Frank Zappa was from Dundalk, and that somehow helps you to understand his lyrics.
You remember a very green, but not very Irish, Hyman Pressman marching in the St Patrick's Day parades and Louis L Goldstein with his immortal "God bless y'all real good" blessing.
You remember special deli shopping trips to Stone's Bakery, Jack's Corned Beef, Weiss Deli, and Attman's Deli on Lombard St, right in the heart of the high rise projects.
In those days, Sears was still called Sears, Roebuck and Company and lived at Harford and North. Wards was a little more formal as Montgomery Ward, and was at located at Monroe and
Washington Blvd. Both stores carried their own brand of lawn mowers, tools, guns,
motorcycles, clothes, shoes, tires, and appliances. A Sears Revolving Credit Card was tough to get!
You remember the Gwynn Oak, Carlin's, and Bay Shore Amusement Parks.
You know where Engine 6 lives.
You remember all the ship repair drydocks that lined Key Highway. Now it costs a million-plus to call it home!
You wait every year to hear true Baltimore Christmas classics; "Oh, I want Crabs for Christmas" and "Walking in an Essex Wonderland".
You first heard of Spiro Agnew when he was the Baltimore County Executive.
You know where to park for the Preakness.
The cheapest guy in town had an ideal location to watch fireworks.
Mama Cass Elloitt.
You remember the old North Central Railroad that ran from downtown to Pennsylvania. It ran on the current light rail tracks along the JFX, through Mount Washington, crossed Lake Roland (Robert E Lee Memorial Park), out thru Ruxton and Lutherville, crossed York Rd at the
Cockeysville underpass, and then headed north to PA on what is now a great
bicycle path. The transition from working railway to light rail and bicycle
path was courtesy of a very determined Hurricane Agnes in 1972.
David and Freddie killed off any chances of NCR recovery in '79.
You love to hear Artie Donovan explain anything.
You got a parking ticket (or towed away) while in court for a parking ticket in the old traffic court at 211 E Madison St.
You don't think that Assawoman Bay is a strange name.
You are an expert crab picker that always volunteers to teach visitors the only (and best) way to pick a steamed crab. Of course everyone else around you will interrupt the lesson to show your new student their best way, and confusion will reign. This will never change!
You had to be ready to yell out your order at Captain Harvey's, or risk hearing jeers from all the longshoremen in line.
You have no idea what an Auchentoroly is, but know where there is a street (a terrace actually) named after one.
You have great memories of Memorial Stadium, an the days when Brooks, Frank, Jim Palmer, Gus Triandos, Mark Belanger, Luis Aparicio, Jim Gentile, Milt Pappas, Dave McNally, Andy Etchebarren, Eddie Murray, Hoyt Wilhelm, Dave Johnson, Rick Dempsey, Earl Weaver, and the
Ripken boys gave Baltimore plenty of seasons and reasons to be proud.
You had to pull out the BS sign when Robert Irsay declared that he had to move (steal) the Colts from Baltimore, because the city would not support a team.
We didn't get to be the world's largest outdoor insane asylum for nothing. The names of Johnny Unitas, Raymond Berry, Bill Pellington, Art Donovan, Tom Matte, Alan Ameche, Gino Marchetti, Jim Mutscheler, Lenny Moore, John Mackey, Big Daddy, Jimmy Orr, Bert Jones,
Lydell Mitchell, John Dutton, Mike Barnes, Joe Ehrman, Fred Cook, and many
others are held in reverence to this day! Wouldn't support a team .....hmmm!!!!
You remember when Baltimore Street was a gaping cavern covered by wooden planks and steel plates during years of subway construction.
You still cheer for the Orioles even when they aren't doing well, and root for anyone playing the Yankees or Colts. There'll never be even the slightest hint of forgiveness for Bob Irsay,
and Mayflower Movers might as well move themselves to Indiana for all the
business I'll ever give them.
Everybody knows what a 'zink' and 'payment' are, and
just how important it is to "warsh them marble stoops."
You yell out "O" during the Star Spangled Banner.
You remember urban renewal, the riots of '68, and burn-baby-burn.
And no matter where you are, you can only laugh when you see signs saying "Maryland Crab Cakes!"
Even during all the years of no pro football team in Baltimore, you couldn't bring yourself to be a Redskins Fan.
You say ' Blare Road ' for Belair Road.
You understand the inner and outer loops of the beltway, and don't understand why they need signs up to point out which is which.
You remember Rolf Hertzgaard, Frank Luber, Royal Parker, Jim Mustard, Mike Hambrick, Ron Smith, Jerry Turner, and Al Sanders on the tube. How about Rhea & JP and Miss Nancy?
There was Kirby Scott, Johnny Dark, Jack Edwards on WCAO, Jay Grason and Galen Fromm on WBAL, Lee Case on WCBM, Mike March, Johnny Walker, and The Flying Dutchman on WFBR, and Joe Buccheri on a variety of Classic Rock (WKTK) stations, to name but a few. Don't forget Chop Chop Fisher & Big Daddy on WWIN.
Eddie Fenton.
You remember the strange mixture of Oprah Winfrey and Richard Sher on WJZ's morning show.
You were confused for a few years after they swapped one-way directions on Lombard and Pratt Streets.
You've been to a prom at the "Alcazar", and probably danced to the Admirals.
Vince Bagli was 'the' sports announcer on TV.
Charlie Eckman was 'the coach.'
Chuck Thompson was 'the' voice of the Orioles after Bailey Goss.
You refer to Catonsville Community College as UCLA (University of Catonsville Left of Arbutus)
You remember Mayor Schaefer swimming with the seals at the National Aquarium.
How about laughing out loud to the Johnny Walker morning show on WFBR, and his risque shows at the Barge?
You marvel at all the city bumper stickers; Baltimore's Best, Baltimore is Best, Charm City, The City That Reads, and Believe!
You remember Marty Bass with hair, and a leisure suit, trying to explain his way out of soliciting an undercover cop. ("I was just trying to get into her head")
You know when to stay off the JFX.
You still refer to the Mount Washington Tavern as Sparwassers.
You miss the RCA dog.
You swore Frank Perdue kinda looked like one of his tender chickens.
The new candelabra TV tower on television hill was the tallest thing on the planet at the time.
You know which bridge they're talking about when someone says, 'The bridge traffic is backed up.'
You actually admire someone named "Boog."
Comments
You rooted for the "Coats" and the "Oreos".
Posted by: MCG | February 15, 2008 8:39 AM
You know you are a native when you remember your parents buying watermelons from the vendors on the piers at what is now the inner harbor area.
Posted by: Regina | February 15, 2008 9:02 AM
Brilliant !!!
Your piece took me right back to being a kid. I remember all of these things. How about "Mr. Rays hair weave", call Rays now !! My best friend and I loved when that would come on late at night while watching TV .
Thanks,
Jeff
Posted by: Jeff potter | February 15, 2008 9:09 AM
how 'bout hamberger junction in carney where they brought your food out on ho trains ?
Posted by: neal cherry | February 15, 2008 9:09 AM
You remember Pat Hays Buick at Maryland and Biddle?
How about Luby Chevrolet on Monument St?
Posted by: Kevin | February 15, 2008 10:05 AM
I love it! but what about before the inner harbor was built, going to McCormicks tea house? how nice the harbor smelled back then.
Posted by: the baltimoron | February 15, 2008 10:05 AM
the Cloverland Dairy song:
Milk and butter and eggs and cheese
fresh from the farm to you
if you don't own a cow call Cloverland now
it's NORTH 9-2222
The Oriole Ice Cream song:
Get a nickel, get a dime, get fifteen cents
Here comes the Oriole man
Bells are ringin', kids are singin'
BEST ice cream in the land!
ORIOLE! ORIOLE!
one verse of Mary Sue Easter Eggs:
Mary Sue Easter Eggs,
Mary Sue Easter Eggs
people are making the switch
'cause using pure butter makes
Mary Sue better and
you never had it so rich!
The Robert Hall song:
School bells ring and children sing
It's back to Robert Hall again
Mother knows for better clothes
It's time for Robert Hall again
You'll save more on clothes for school
Shop at Robert Hall
Posted by: frank bond | February 15, 2008 10:21 AM
Speaking of deliveries, Rice's Bakery trucks delivered fresh-baked goodies right to your door.
Across Taylor Avenue from Murray's was Knox's, and each had its "fan base" ... there was no "cross-over" from Murray's to Knox's or vice-versa.
Posted by: Dottie | February 15, 2008 10:35 AM
Driving in fromn Rosedale on Route (root,hon) 40, you knew you had crossed the city line when you could smell the spices from McCormick's. How about Enchanted Forest? The tea rooms at Hutzler's and Hochschild Kohn? The penguins in the windows at Eastpoint Mall? Neighborhood movie theatres such as the Grand?
Posted by: Susan Moscareillo | February 15, 2008 11:09 AM
Silber's Bakery Stores
Reed Drug Stores
S.S. Kreskies
Towson Plaza (I still call it that)
Finkelstein's in Towson
Barry's Boys Store (Towson Plaza)
Timonium Drive-in (ah, my wasted youth!)
Posted by: MDR | February 15, 2008 11:14 AM
Remember Richard Sher and Oprah on "People are Talking", this is where she got her talk show host experience from!!
Jerry Turner and Al Sanders "Good evening, it's 11 o'clock, do you know where your children are?"
You know how to eat steamed crabs and you can tell the males from the females
Posted by: Theresa | February 15, 2008 11:16 AM
HOW ABOUT DRIVING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN DUNDALK AND SEE ALL THE CARS COVERED WITH RUST SOOT FROM SPARROWS POINT.
Posted by: JEFF P. | February 15, 2008 11:38 AM
You know your from South Baltimore when...oh what memories..
Body: You know you grew up in South Baltimore in the late 70s, 80s or early 90s, if .
Before Southside, your family did their grocery shopping at Steves or maybe you shopped at A&P and Herbie hauled your groceries home, but you always bought your lunch meat from Luckys
Saturdays meant a trip to Light Street, begging your Mom for Princess Shop instead of Epsteins or if you were really lucky, it was a ride Out the Road and you know that means traveling into Anne Arundel County via Ritchie Highway
You bought shoes from Dan Bros., Shanes, Sherrys, Shoe City,(nothing like a brand new pair of Docksiders from Sherrys) lets not forget shopping at Al Bass, Buckmans, Chess King, Tops & Bottoms, and New York Fashions, you bought your greeting cards from Dellies and you were followed around by the owner of Tommy Tuckers while shopping here, You bought those China Doll / Baby Doll shoes from S. Bargain, you graduated to Harbor Place shopping the likes of Benetton and Au Coton (remember that store?)
You not only remember eating at Cross St. Market (before it was the hip thing to do), but you shopped there as well
You ate at places like the White Coffee Pot (and begged whomever you were with to let you play the jukebox at your table), Rallos, the Garden, Georges, Hot Dog Johns, Crusty Edge/Food Fort, J&P, Charlies (Chollies), Pollock Johnnys then Jays and knew which of them had the best fries and gravy, mac n' cheese, coffee, pizza, cheesecake, shakes, etc.
You remember when Harbor Place opened and hanging out there with your friends, despite the fact that you were only 10-15, you bought stickers from Rainbows or Hearts, Etc., you ran through the halls of the Hyatt, hopped into the fountains, when the Gallery opened you could walk to the Gap, you spent Sunday nights at "Flaggs", went ice-skating at Rash Field, and walked to the movies at Harbor Park.
Your first job was at Harbor Place, the Gallery or Luckys.
You partied under 95 at Swans Park, the hills of the Latrobe /behind 76, Fed Hill Park, Hull Street Pier, or exceeded the maximum capacity of the average row home
You were thrown off of Hilltops corner or Maria Ds corner (when it was on a corner) or from in front of Latrobe park by an officer from Southern District.
ou remember the police station being located on Ostend Street
You got your first draught beer drunk down the Knights
You attended the South Baltimore Little League Carnival annually and know that it is held at the Coke Field; you never missed a Little League Parade and were probably in it at least once.
You remember the Bicycle Beer Races.
You remember going to carnivals, bazaars (and getting a lemon with a peppermint stick) & bingo at any of the many churches
You have attended the festivals in Latrobe Park and at the Church of the Redemption.
You learned that when founded, Holy Cross was a church for German-Catholic immigrants, St. Marys for the Irish and Good Counsel for the Polish.
Oh and you say St. MaryS, not St. Mary, Star of the Sea or Star of the Sea, and you remember when the star at the top of the steeple was red.
You remember Ms. Levi from the library
You remember reading The Enterprise on Thursdays
As a child you did not have a pediatrician, you got your shots from the clinic on Wall Street, then you went to either Dr. Sollod or Dr. Lozada. Oh and the dentist, wasnt Dr. Lamb everyones dentist, Point & Hill alike? And if you needed braces, it was Dr. Martin, of course, you may have just walked to his office to check out his Lamborghini
Your prescriptions came from Levays, James Drug or the drug store on the corner of Fort & Hull
You know that before there were Salons, Athletic Clubs & Law offices occupying corner buildings, there were drug stores, barbershops, beauty parlors, hardware stores, or just a corner store
You know what running to get numbers means (the legal kind, because you know what running numbers means also)
You remember the sweet smells from the McCormick building when it was on Light Street and the awful smells from Proctor & Gamble before it was Tide Point and Pfefferkorns that smell could be either good or bad you can still recall the smell of burnt coffee
And speaking of Tide Point, youve hung out at Hull Street Pier and thrown chunks of rock or metal into that building/silo to see it
stick, or maybe you just watched the fireworks there, and you
probably know someone who was just crazy enough to jump into that water.
Youve laughed at all of the people from the suburbs who sit in traffic after the fireworks on Fourth of July
The majority of your friends did not get their drivers license when
they turned 16 - what was the point of taking up another parking
space when you could just walk up and down Fort Avenue.
You know that before there was Sobo Sports there was the Hill vs. the Point games.
Your father or one or more of your uncles was a firefighter, a police officer, owned a bar, worked at Coke, P&G, Domino Sugars or on the waterfront.
Your mother worked for USF&G, some other office uptown or the bank
You remember when the Domino Sugars sign was not illuminated
You spent summer days up the Park Pool (you remember when it was free)and nights there watching softball games and you remember the bowl
You also spent those summer nights sitting out front with the
neighbors, or playing games like Ghost-Ghost, Tin Can Alley, Colored Eggs and Bloody Murder - way beyond dark - Ollie, Ollie, in Free!
You walked to the Civic Center for Blast Games and WWF events.
You remember lining up for those rides that came around in trucks - the Whip, the Salt N Pepper Shaker and the Ferris Wheel how weird was that?
You can still remember which corner store had your favorite snowballs.
You signed up at the Legion to see the Shriners Circus for FREE
You faithfully attended the dances at 84 Rec on Friday nights, begging your Mom to let you go even when you had a 101-degree fever.
You bowled at Southway and were probably on a league.
You know that despite the Hill/Point rivalry, if a challenge was
presented (athletic or otherwise) by a bordering neighborhood
(Curtis Bay, Brooklyn, Pig Town) you stood by your rival as if they
were your brother
You remember all of those weird county boys coming in and drag racing outside of Ft. McHenry and Rat Run and you know where Rat Run is
You remember seeing SBP tagged everywhere - You know that stands for South Baltimore PosseSBP Baby!
You know L.S.D. stands for Light Street Dirtball specifically one of
the Howard's or Jay's
You know the best pastries came from Simons or Muhlys day old bakery.
You remember when Dominos Pizza moved into the old Highs location and a few years later finally getting cable TV - it was like South Baltimore had moved into the 20th Century (Yes, thats right, South Baltimore did not have cable TV until the late 80s / early 90s, though you might have been lucky enough to have had Super TV or Lime Light, but if not, maybe you could finagle the antenna to at least watch Friday Night Videos or channels 5, 20, 45 or 54)
You ever pool hopped in Locust Point
You played street hockey at the recs and other sports on any empty "sand lot" or parking lot - which is probably a parking garage today
You remember all of the crazy play equipment at the parks, like the rocket and saucer at Latrobe or the wagon and tee-pee at Riverside, the heavy, wooden swings people would stand on and flip around the pole (and the many broken arms they produced) - kids today would never survive.
You visited Santa Claus at the V.F.W. or the Legion (or your local corner tavern) and received one of the netted stockings with the plastic checkers set.
At Midnight on New Years, you went outside of the house and banged pots and pans.
You know what it means when someone says, Point people.
You still call the local bars (or their former locations) by previous names - The Avenue, Cell Block, Leones, Top Deck, Wrotens, Phils, Pasquales, The Copa, Henrys, Wades, French Quarter, Coxs, Stumblin Inn (never quite figured that one, shouldnt it have been Stumblin Out?) You remember which of them would sell to minors and/or after 2:00am!
You know theres nothing like a Wroten Burger, crab soup from Henrys or just sitting down for dinner at the Lighthouse.
You got or get your haircut by Henry or Sam.
You remember Bobbi, Kay and Mike from 84s Rec or Gatewood from 45s rec
You always wondered who Ella Bailey was
Your parents ever called you a curb dweller
You remember those crazy (or scary) paintings on the garage in the 900 block of Light St. the Vampire, Frankenstein, etc.
You attended a Birthday Party at a Union Hall
You attended Southern, cut class, but never left school grounds just hung out in front of the school....????
You know that when someone moved away, they moved to Northern Anne Arundel County, going no further South than Pasadena, and when they sold their house, there were only two realtors - Ron Zimmerman & Century 21
The idea of a home selling on Race Street for $500,000 blows your mind, and that no street is considered taboo any longer and the people now buying the houses on those streets have no clue what it meant to live there when you were growing up.
You roll your eyes when you see people wearing the 21230 shirts, because you know the South Baltimore vs. East Baltimore thing has been going on since before you were born, however, you were tempted to buy one because 21230 was losing and you just cant bear to lose to Hollandtown (Highlandtown), oh, I mean Canton
Posted by: Paula L. Miller | February 15, 2008 11:38 AM
HOW ABOUT GOING TO HOCHSCHILD OR HUTZLER'S TO BUY 45'S OR ALBUMS IN THE RECORD DEPARTMENT.
Posted by: JEFF P. | February 15, 2008 11:41 AM
HOW ABOUT SUNDAY AFTER CHURCH YOUR MOM AND DAD TAKING YOU TO PATTERSON PARK FOR THE DAY.
Posted by: JEFF P. | February 15, 2008 11:42 AM
I REMEMBER ME,MY DAD AND MY BROTHERS WALKING TO EASPOINT SHOPPING CENTER(THEY DIDN'T CALL IT MALL) ONE DECEMBER DAY IN THE COLD,WIND AND SNOW TO PICK OUT OUR CHRISTMAS TREE AT PENN FRUIT. THAN DRAG IT BACK HOME.
Posted by: JEFF P. | February 15, 2008 11:49 AM
HAD TO GO TO POPLAR HARDWARE IN DUNDALK WHERE EVERYONE NEW YOUR NAME(I REALLY MISS THAT)
Posted by: JEFF P. | February 15, 2008 11:50 AM
DURING FOOTBALL SEASON MY DAD WOULD TAKE ME TO THE COLT CORALE ON SUNDAYMORNING,THEN LEAVE BY BUS TO GO TO MEMORIAL STADIUM.
Posted by: JEFF P. | February 15, 2008 11:56 AM
I BOUGHT MY FIRST HI-FI AT STANSBURY PHARMACY IN DUNDALK
Posted by: JEFF PRITCHARD | February 15, 2008 11:58 AM
The hucksters with ponies that wore bells, and sang out "Strawberries, Strawberries" and had the best fruit and vegetables.
Posted by: Janis | February 15, 2008 12:05 PM
HOW ABOUT OPENING DAY FOR LITTLE LEAGUE ALL THE TEAMS WOULD PARADE THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOODS,THERE WOULD BE MARCHING BANDS,OLD CARS,LOCAL POLITICIANS AND BUSINESS PEOPLE MARCHING AND WAVING.
WE DIDN'T REALIZE HOW HAPPY WE WERE.
Posted by: JEFF PRITCHARD | February 15, 2008 12:06 PM
HOW ABOUT COLT LANES ON MERRIT BLVD
Posted by: JEFF PRITCHARD | February 15, 2008 12:07 PM
WHAT ABOUT JERRY TURNER AND AL SANDERS
Posted by: JEFF PRITCHARD | February 15, 2008 12:08 PM
SKIPPING SCHOOL ON OPENINGDAY AT MEMORIAL STADIUM
Posted by: JEFF PRITCHARD | February 15, 2008 12:19 PM
TAKING THE 23 TO GO WITH YOUR MOM TO HIGHLANTOWN FOR YOU BACK TO SCHOOL CLOTHES.
Posted by: JEFF PRITCHARD | February 15, 2008 12:22 PM
DRIVING WITH YOUR GIRLFRIEND TO PARK AT LOCH RAVEN DAM
Posted by: JEFF PRITCHARD | February 15, 2008 12:23 PM
What about Food Fair, Pantry Pride and A&P supermarkets at Mondawmin? What about Captain Chesapeake on Channel 45? Jerry Turner, Al Sanders, Wiley Daniels on Channel 13? Rolf Hertzgard (sp?) on Channel 11? Trips to Liberty Dam and Patap-SEE-co Park?
Those were the days ...LOL. Wish I still lived in Baltimore.
Posted by: Kevin Briscoe | February 15, 2008 12:24 PM
Doug Griffith's didn't sell vettes..they were a chrysler/plymouth dealer.. Remember the Bond bread man.. Charles Chips.. oh the memories..
Posted by: len bender | February 15, 2008 12:24 PM
You remember Greenspring Shopping center had a Deli that sold sandwiches with piles of pastrami that you could never finish.
Crabs were $12/dz for large at the orginal Gunnings..and let's not forget the Crab Fluff.
Altoona Beach...Why Can't We Be Friends...
Posted by: Doug.g | February 15, 2008 12:36 PM
Don't forget Hausner's. I know it had a great art collection, but as a kid in the 50's, my memories are of the astounding number of vegetables on the menu and the huge rolls of string and foil in the lounge downstairs.
I guess if you remember those things, you know you're from Bawlmer
Posted by: Doug Lynner | February 15, 2008 1:20 PM
How about one of the early Disc Jockey's...HOT ROD on WITH AM...Every night he would start his show with the following RAP.....You can swing it high you can swing it low . This is the original Rocket Ship Show. You can talk about the stroll and the rock & roll when you should be concentrating on the rythm in space. I'll demonstrate this little jive to you. Keep your ears on the Rod and you'll dig it to. Momeo and Daddyo its yours for free...Stay tuned to 123."WITH".....HIGHER OLE ROCKET SHIP HIGHER...
Posted by: Frank Capella | February 15, 2008 1:24 PM
The indoor sliding board you could use instead of the stairs to take you to the ground level at Hess Shoes in Govans.
When Memorial Stadium only sold beer brewed by National Brewing Company.
You know the tune to "It's from the land of pleasant living they bring you National Beer."
TV ads for Joon Rhee's Self-Defense School, "Call USA-1000 'Nobody bodder me' "
Stebbins-Anderson sold everything from unfinished furniture to sports and hunting equipment.
The big fish tank at the top of the second floor escalator in Hutzer's in Towson.
Posted by: NCR | February 15, 2008 1:25 PM
Lets not forget Kirby Scott and that classic Sunday night program that if memory serves came on before Disney's Wonderful World of Color -- Faith to Faith.
Posted by: Bob OReilly | February 15, 2008 1:29 PM
Bergs; Ice Cream and Cows!!! out blair road past joppa.
Posted by: Keith | February 15, 2008 1:36 PM
How about that famous Italian Restaurant GINO'S? Sunday's at the picnic area @Loch Raven Reservoir Pines? Sleigh riding & Xmas tree burning on the 19th hole @Mt. Pleasant? The Circle in Dundaaak? Captain Harvey's STEAK SUBS? The Timooooniiiuuum Drive-In? The list can go on and on so someone else pick it up!!! Enjoy your memories!!
Posted by: Bill | February 15, 2008 1:38 PM
Hess Shoes at Edmondson Village - monkeys in the windows, large "rocking" horses to ride, and the X-ray machine to see your toes in your shoes (my feet still glow in the dark!!!).
Posted by: nightowl | February 15, 2008 1:39 PM
How about:
Blue Boy's Sub Shop in Wallbrook Jct.?
The 3 sister's ponds and the working reservoir water fountain in Druid Hill Park?
TV channels 2, 11, 13 & later 45?
The "T" lights on the TV tower?
BJC (Balto. Jr. College)?
Open air viewing of the planes at Friendship Airport?
Open air shopping 'inside' Mondawmin Mall?
Reads drug store?
G.C. Murphy Co. 5 & 10 stores?
Electric street cars instead of busses?
The smell of fresh bread baking at Edmonson Ave. & Poplar Grove Sts. (can't recall name of company)?
"Trash Ball" anti-litter campaign?
Thanks for the memories!
Posted by: Greg Lee | February 15, 2008 1:39 PM
Remember Balto's other paper ~ The News American (although I've always been a Sun fan!)
Posted by: Karen | February 15, 2008 1:54 PM
Skipping school and meeting all the siding guys at Pimlico....no simulcasting then!
Posted by: Jeff | February 15, 2008 2:01 PM
I got this list about a month ago from a man I work with, who is computer illiterate. He gave me a hard copy with the name of the people he got it from. I re-typed and sent to my family because we have a personal connection. And believe me, this is only a fraction of the entire list.
Posted by: Kathy Addams | February 15, 2008 2:01 PM
Thanks!! for the great memories. What happened to Little Tavern Hamburgers?? I could eat fifty of these burgers right now. Loved Enchanted Forest and McCormick's.
Posted by: steve | February 15, 2008 2:11 PM
If you recall groceries "delivered" to your door from Reilly's Meats and Groceries on White Ave.
Posted by: Patrick Lund | February 15, 2008 2:20 PM
Can someone post some of these memories on youtube:? I'd really like to see them.
Posted by: Justin | February 15, 2008 2:24 PM
How about Read's downtown, the snowball stand on Joppa Road and Berg's dairy on Joppa Road in Perry Hall had the best chocolate milkshakes! How about Milford Mill Swim Club, Luskin's (the cheapest guy in town) on Joppa Road, and Lake Montebello, 2 of the best places to watch the fireworks. And all the teen centers and CYO's in the Bawlmer area!
Posted by: Pat | February 15, 2008 3:01 PM
How bout' Brookwood Farms on Ritchie Hwy, Champ's and Varsity Drive-in's, Circle Drive-In, Arundel Ice Cream Parlor and George's Lunch on Light Street just to name a few...Memories!
Posted by: Etta Hooper | February 15, 2008 3:36 PM
We use to go to Burg's on Joppa Road before the Weis shopping center was built. It was also a working dairy.
Hamburger Junction at the corner of Joppa and Harford Rd. The trian would come around and deliever your food to you.
Posted by: Martha Robey | February 15, 2008 3:44 PM
i am in my 30's so some of these things i remember, others i have heard referenced by relatives. my question is- where was the talking reindeer at xmas? was that at hutzler's and if so was it the howard st. location? i remember going to see it when i was around 4 years old and being so excited.
Posted by: sdr | February 15, 2008 4:12 PM
Nobody mentioned "Run Right to Read's" and "Meetcha at Ameche's"?
Posted by: Nelson Fox | February 15, 2008 4:39 PM
Everybody goes to Gino's 'cause Gino's in the place to go!
Going to the Farmer's Market on "Plaski" Highway on Sundays because it was the only place open back in the days of Blue Laws
Charlie Chips and Virginia Dare soda being delivered door to door like milk
Seeing Santa at Epstein's in Highlandtown
Posted by: serialnan | February 15, 2008 6:38 PM
This brings back memories of summer nights with Dan and Big Little Joey Peske reading "What is Baltimore?" during O's rain delays.
That was some good stuff. I taped it once, but it's been lost. Anyone have a copy? Dan?
Posted by: PF | February 15, 2008 8:03 PM
No one has yet to mention Saturday Afternoons at GYWNN OAK PARK. Went on the roller coaster and wild mouse, threw up, won a doll and never, ever rode another roller coaster again.
Posted by: Marlene | February 15, 2008 10:09 PM
I remember these:
Nick CampofretA (spelling) splilling American beer on his lap while doing a live commercial on the Sat. Night Movie.
Bailey Goss and the Colts With Chick Thompson.
Stu Kerr as the Janitor on WMAR.
Jack Wells as the original 'Dialing for Dollars. And his appearance on The Rifleman.
TV sets that only broadcasted limited times.
Calvert Hall when it opened in Towson; there were no sidewalks - only rain and mud.
Walking home for lunch at St. Anthony of Padua School.
Getting a ticket and probation for speeding on Echodale Ave. I was doing 30 in a 25 mile zone.
Spot checks by police.
The parking stop/sit-in at University of Baltimore in 1967 or 68. The only protest U of B had during Viet Nam.
Posted by: Pete Schap | February 16, 2008 4:19 AM
You forgot the Dan Rodricks Show, and I still have the coffee mug to prove it! Thanks for the memories!
Ron Kostin
Melbourne,Florida
Posted by: Ron Kostin | February 16, 2008 5:27 AM
Here's one I forgot:
A tv show from WMAR on Sunday afternoon. The Port That Built A City and State and Serves a Nation. The hosts were Helen D. Bentley and the late George Rogers of WMAR News.
George Rogers went on to become the host of Shell's World of Golf. Helen Bently became Sec. of Commerce under Nixon and a Congressional Rep. from Baltimore County. She was affectioninetly known as 'Tugboat Annie'. Ms. Bently was also Maritime Editor of the Sun.
Posted by: Pete Schap | February 16, 2008 5:40 AM
Chinese Food? Jimmy Wu's New China Inn. New Shoes? Towson Bootery-with the stuffed polar bear! Saturday Birthday Party Spot? Orchard Ice Rink. Clothes Shopping for Back to School?...where else...."Monkey Wards"!
Posted by: Bruce Stover | February 16, 2008 7:13 AM
The shout " Kill Bubba " did not mean kill someone named Bubba, it was meant to encourage Bubba Smith to tackle someone at a Colts game!
Running out to get the Sun paper in the morning to see if the Oriole Bird had a happy face or a mad face on the front page!!!!
Campaign slogan for Schaeffer, " let's make Mayor Schaeffer! "
" whats an Oprah " was commercial for the new morning show for Sher and Oprah.
Posted by: Steve | February 16, 2008 8:41 AM
Charlie Eckman -- "shrimpy toast"
Martin's Bakery
Posted by: Bruce Aguilar | February 16, 2008 9:16 AM
Don't Guess, Get Goetze's GUNTHER, ARROW, American & Free State beers
Schindler's Peanut Butter
"Oh, That shrimpie toast!'
Monkeys in the Hess Shoes window
at Edmondson Villiage
Toys in the Crib & Cradle window at the same place. Chicken wire protecting the players from fans at Clipper games.
Buddy Holly @ the Royal Theater.
Frostie Root Beer
Posted by: Paul L Williams | February 16, 2008 9:27 AM
Thank you for such wonderful memories. I lived in the Irvington area of SW Balto. Traditions in that area for my family: were St Joseph Monastery Church , Rudots or Walts Bakery every Sunday after mass.Slentz Field had a caretakers thier names were Joe and Mac. who worked 9-5 everyday as did other "parks , .Mt St Joe had boarders, sleigh riding at Mt St Joe, 15 cent movies at the Irvington theater and penny candy at Leidigs,, , My dad was a "farman", taking the 8 bus downtown, walking to the "Villiage " on Sats, lunch at Tommy Tuckers, the tree lights at Christmas at the "Villiage" ,Burkes, Dannys, The Chesapeake, Gannons, Duffy's resturants Baltimore Traditions, the car barn oh I could go on.............
Posted by: Nancy Leatherbury | February 16, 2008 9:30 AM
Korvettes Department Store.
Great record department, including a very complete section of overseas imports.
Having to come in at sunset because the city was burning and Governor Agnew was enforcing a 6PM curfew.
Posted by: Beerman Cold Beer | February 16, 2008 9:46 AM
Almost forgot,
Your Old Friend Simon Harris,
Abe Sherman's Book Store and the Flag & Banner Shop , both on Park.
Mr. Poplolly, Pete the Pirate and the Lorenzo Stomp
The Peobody Book & Beer Stube with "The Great Dantini" " He Knew Houdini!'
The One O'Clock Show with Jay Grayson or Sylvia Scott with The Woman's Angle. The Harley Show.
Posted by: Paul L Williams | February 16, 2008 9:49 AM
What about the A-RAB guys calling out WAAA-DA-MELON RED TO THE RIND A RED. As kids we would walk up and down the block and mark the arab wagons. Raised in Sandtown
Posted by: CECE | February 16, 2008 10:29 AM
Submarines from HARLEY'S,
Jazz Music on the Harley Show, "lightly,lightly, once over nightly."
Posted by: Luther B. Miller, Jr. | February 16, 2008 11:19 AM
Gino's was the only place you could get Kentucky Fried Chicken and the Gino's Giant (which was pretty much identical to a McDonald's Big Mac!).
Posted by: BaltoJim | February 16, 2008 1:47 PM
hammerjacks, anyone?
Posted by: Jacob | February 16, 2008 2:27 PM
Dan, this was really good, hon! I can't stop laughing over "roon it" ("kids get off that furniture, what are you trying to roon it" commercial).
How strange we sound to out of towners. I never forget our now famous John Waters recalling when he invited some Hollywood friends to his home to review one of his movies.
When they arrived, John said they couldn't watch it, that "the tv had gone up." His friends replied, "gone up where?"
Posted by: Connee Sheckler | February 16, 2008 2:52 PM
We can't forget Jonny Walker WFBR, and other radio stations like WLPL fm
Posted by: Rick Mahoney | February 16, 2008 3:26 PM
We would go to Steelworkers Hall on friday night to listen to the Sentries and beer,wine and setups were only $4.50
Posted by: Rick Mahoney | February 16, 2008 3:37 PM
Miss Audrey at Muir's Tavern - and her Brother, Brother.
Posted by: McQ | February 16, 2008 4:20 PM
My wife read this and remarked, "Hon, this all the stuff you talk about all the time". She's from Hampstead. I grew up in Bawlmer. Lived in Fells Point, went to St. Stanislaus, them we moved to Hollandtown and I went to Our Lady of Pompei. I wonder if any of my goombas are out there. I went to Hampstead Hill Jr High. My first job was cooking KFC at Gino's on Wash Blvd. After highschool I worked at Bethlehem steel shipyard on Key Highway. I also had a part-time job at E J Korvettes Department store on Ritchie Highway. I worked there to make extra money to buy mag wheels for my new 1967 Camaro that I bought at Gladding Chev on Ritchie Highway. After the shipyard went to the State Police Academy in Pikesville, worked a State Trooper, retired and moved to Florida. Man this piece takes me back home:) Thanks
Wally Rossow
Navarre, FL
Posted by: Wally Rossow | February 16, 2008 5:39 PM
If you lived in northeast Baltimore off of Belair Road (Blare Road) you would remember Vilma Bakery, Vilma Bowling Lanes, Vilma Pharmacy Vilma Movie theatre. I never knew who Vilma was but I would love to know
Posted by: Anonymous | February 16, 2008 7:18 PM
Great story and comments. I love The town even tho I live next to the pacific ocean in No. Ca. I only know of your town by way of a couple of T.V. shows. Plus my uncle worked on the B and O before I was around. GREAT TOWN!
Posted by: Randy Garrett | February 16, 2008 8:58 PM
How bout Inner Harbor Ford
The 99 dollar down man
Posted by: Sean Dolan | February 16, 2008 9:14 PM
Wow Dan thanks so much for all the memories. someone correct me if I am wrong but didn't the old Roller Derby play in the Civic Center? The name of the team was the Baltimore Tiger-Cats who used to skate against the new York Bombers and the LA T-Birds. I used to look at the morning sun just to see if the bird had a smile for a win or a frown for a loss. I used to prefer the ol' Gino Giant over the Big Mac. The Harford Bowling Alley on Harford Rd. in Hamilton was just starting out and unfortunately closed last year. Remeber when Charlie Eckman used to say "go call a cab" every time he got mad. A food store on Harford Rd. called Eddies, my mom used to go there every week. If you want to see what the Inner harbor used to look like go to Casa Mia's on Taylor Ave. they have some old pictures on the wall on the left as you walk into the restaurant.This is way before the Aquarium and rest of the harbor. Domino's sugar was just starting out. Thanks for all the memories Dan and the rest of the readers for bringing back a bunch of memories. I am sure there are a lot we missed to.
Posted by: Dave | February 16, 2008 9:41 PM
I remember going Christmas shopping downtown with my mom at
Stewart's,Hecht Company,Hutzler's,Hochschild Kohn's and staring at the window displays for what seemed like hours They were some of my fondest Christmas memories.
Posted by: Anonymous | February 16, 2008 10:32 PM
What's the other S for? That's for salt. We throw that away!
Posted by: Brian | February 16, 2008 10:51 PM
Am I the only one who remembers a place called La Paloma on (I think) Belair Rd.? Used to go there with my parents - they had an outdoor "garden" area and I swear I remember a guy playing the accordian with a monkey - maybe I dreamt that. Anybody remember La Paloma's?
Posted by: 60s gal | February 16, 2008 11:18 PM
One probably no one remembers: Caddy. About 7 inches was cut from a broomstick and whittled to a point on both ends. The caddy was n the ground, hit by the stick, sending it into the air and then struck by the broomstick sending it soaring. The opponent was given x amount of strides t o get there. If he made it, he got the points and his turn to hit the caddy. If not, the hitter got the points and kept on hitting.
Posted by: Leo Berger | February 17, 2008 12:05 AM
The 11 pm news on channel 2 would start off ,It's 11 pm do you know where your chirdren are?
Posted by: Rick Mahoney | February 17, 2008 9:51 AM
Jack Luskin, the cheapest guy in town
Posted by: Rick Mahoney | February 17, 2008 9:53 AM
Price's Dairy on Liberty Road (now a McDonald's) and Emerson Farms Dairy at Falls Road and Greenspring Valley Road - for ice cream and milk shakes
Champs and the Varsity on Rt. 40 - best places to hang out after you got your driver's license
The Ambassador movie theater at Gwynn Oak Junction -- there are pictures of it in the lobby of the Senator. The Crest and Uptown theaters were nice, too.
Being able to hear the horns of ships in the inner harbor from our upstairs windows in Northwest Baltimore when the weather was just right
Chatting with Johnny Unitas at Colt Lanes in Woodlawn or the Golden Arm
Duckpin bowling with pin boys
Clippers ice hockey games at Carlin's Ice Rink
Gwynn Oak Park -- Report Card Day, pony and boat rides, a roving clown, and the Dixie Ballroom; also vinegar bottles on the counter for your french fries
The junctions all over town (Gwynn Oak, Walbrook, etc.) -- where streetcar lines met and there were usually a Read's, a bowling alley, movie theater, nearby churches, grocery stores (which delivered), doctor's and dentist's offices, a bank, a barber shop and beauty parlor, and much more -- the original transit oriented development. People talked about "going down the junction." I even took ballet from Miss Betty Lou "down the junction."
Being able to buy fabrics, patterns and notions at the major department stores
The Hochschild-Kohn jingle --
"When you buy better try Hoschild-Kohn
It's the store Baltimore calls its own..."
which we parodied as --
"When you die better try William Cook
He's the best undertaker in the book.
All your aunties and your cousins
Will go there by the dozens
To Baltimore's own William Cook
(They'll die to go there)
To Baltimore's own William Cook"
Knowing that the old Sears property at North Avenue and Harford Road was really the original Samuel Ready School, and that the Sears Community Hall was the school's old Lyon Hall. And before it was Samuel Ready School, the property belonged to the French Consulate to Baltimore, and Jerome Bonaparte proposed to Betsy Patterson under a tree on the grounds. It was also the site of what was claimed to be the first monument to Christopher Columbus in the New World, but there was speculation that it was really a monument to the consul's race horse, named for the explorer.
Posted by: Barbara | February 17, 2008 9:59 AM
How about when the disc jockey got thrown off the air for making that comment about the Supremes
Posted by: Bernie | February 17, 2008 10:00 AM
The Latin Casino on Rt 40 east and Hollywood Palace on Rt 40 west
Posted by: Rick Mahoney | February 17, 2008 10:03 AM
There was also a Koontz dairy for milk delivery. Remember Toots Bargers bowling on Liberty Heights. How about Knocko's at Garrison and Liberty Heights.
Posted by: Bernie | February 17, 2008 10:06 AM
When suburban scrawl was Liberty Rd and Northern Parkway!
Eating warm pretzels at the new Reisterstown Mall ( outdoors ) at night in the 60's.
Anyone remember the Gino's at Liberty Rd and Essex's
Mommy, Call Hampden” at BElmont 5-0600 !
58' Colts landing at Friendship Airport after Giants win.
Brooks Robinson 30 foot leap in air after 66' win over the Dodgers.
Milford Mill swim club (quarry)
Toddle House
Posted by: Steve Hochman | February 17, 2008 10:07 AM
Dan I think we can keep this going FOREVER!!!!!! there is no place like home. (Baltimore) LAND OF THE FREE AND HOME OF THE BRAVE OH HOW BOUT THE NATIONAL ANTHEM.
Posted by: Rick Mahoney | February 17, 2008 10:09 AM
How about Milford Mill Swim Club?
Remember when Buddy Deane did his shows from Milford Mill in the summer?
How about playing ball in Leakin Park @ Forrest Park and Windsor Mill Road?
Going to the Corner Store (Ermer's) @the corner of Forrest Park and Windsor Mill across from Leakin Park (plus they did home delivery)?
Your first haircut at the Hess shoe store @ Edmondson Village with Mr. Vic , the barber and the monkees.
The "good" nuns @ St. Agnes.
Going to the Edmondson Drive-In Movies and then to the Varsity or Champs for a burger or shake..
CYO dances at St Agnes or St Lawrence.
The Randy Rock Drive-In in Randallstown after a good old fashioned hay ride.
Posted by: greg | February 17, 2008 11:32 AM
I want to go back, Lorenzo's Sub Shop on Reisterstown road, the best steak subs, Fields Pharmacy root beer floats, Seeing the lights of Memorial Stadium in the distance from York Road. Christmas Dinner on top of the Holiday Inn Downtown, We recorded the opening of the orioles game on cassette and would play it before our neighborhood games. Oriole Baseball out in in the sun and having fun. Custards last stand on Liberty Rd. Soft ice cream on Friday nights after little league games. Hardees on Reisterstown road with the Big Boy statue out front.
Posted by: Nelson Spector | February 17, 2008 12:04 PM
Going to the movies on W.36th. St.( the Avenue) on the weekend so mom can do her cleaning. But on Sundays we would go to Windy Valley to ride on the ponies and eat great ice cream.
Also, The Rotunda was once a great place with fish ponds and walking paths.
Can someone put all of these in a book JAK
Posted by: Joyce | February 17, 2008 12:05 PM
You Know what a hard fried crab is On if your from Balmer Hon!
Posted by: Rick Mahoney | February 17, 2008 12:36 PM
During the 1940's The Times Theatre-- now the Charles-- ran double features 'til 4 a.m. to accommodate ship-builders working round-the-clock at Beth Steel during WWII. So did The Roslyn Theatre, at the Howard Street site of what is now Md. General Hospital. And who can forget The Famous Ballroom, north of Penn Station, where the top dance bands-- the Dorseys, Benny Goodman, etc. performed music of the late 40's, and then, later, where Left Bank Jazz Society brought in the very top jazz stars like Buddy Rich and Dizzy Gillespie, who played before mixed race audiences on Sunday afternoons long before civil rights laws were enacted. Finally, there was the Charles Bowling Center, which operated adjacent to The Famous Ballroom in what is now Everyman Theatre. "Those were the days, my friend..."
--Alan Shecter, February 17, 2008
Posted by: ALAN SHECTER | February 17, 2008 1:03 PM
... when you can copy & paste an e-mail forward and be featured on the newspaper's homepage for days...
Posted by: FrankSim | February 17, 2008 1:46 PM