Born in old St. Barnabas Hospital on High
Street in 1947, attended Ann St School and East Side High School.
Read each of the sections-not one stretching of the truth. Newark
in the 50's and 60's was terrific.
Didn't anyone walk to Port Newark and the Airport, or save up eight
cents to take the "#4 Port Newark" Public Service bus???
It was free 12 hours of entertainment, and the Newark Fire detachment
at the Airport would grill a dog for you, along with a coke from
their ice chest ( as long as you said you wanted to be a fireman).
Mom bought our back to school clothes at S. Kleins ( Bams was too
expensive), and the real treat was the Naval Reserve Destroyer tied
up at the Port with a full time two man crew. That was a free meal
also ("We want to be sailors").
The two bars of renown on Pulaski Street were Johnnies Tavern and
Barskys. Byks Market (still there) and Sid's Deli were where you
bought your local edibles.
You looked forward to the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Festival on
Oliver Street each year. The Newark Band played in Independence
Park on Saturday evenings during the summer, and there was Ralph's
Hot Dog Wagon-a high school lunch staple, on Adam Street. There
were only two real Pizza places"Jim and Jeans" (originally
on Chestnut and then on Ferry Street) and the 'Dugout' on Oliver
Street. I'm 61 now and "Jim and Jean's " is still the
best Pizza I ever had. No one has since come close.
Saturday Matinees were 25 cents at the Rivoli. Practically pooped
the pants seeing "Creature from the Black Lagoon" and
"War of the Worlds" there. Used to walk the dog and listen
to the Black Baptist Choir at their Church at Ann and New York Ave.
(torn down in 2008). Loved how they sang and learned many songs/hymns
that surprised Baptist GI's in Vietnam(I'm RC and St. Casimir's
was my Parish). They'd end their practice, and leaving, would ask
me how they sounded. I never gave them less than an A-. They were
that good.
Dad got his cars repaired at Ed's Texaco (now Lusitania Bank) on
Pulaski Street or at Bill's Flying A on Wilson Ave. They wore bow
ties.
Never look back. You regret not having the ability to recreate
it.
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