Pete Walver and Angelo Lombardi (in back) on Lawrence Avenue, circa early 1960s (c) Andy Romanoff
“Here’s a picture taken in the early sixties on Lawrence Ave. Maybe someone can identify the exact location from the signs. The guys on the bike are Pete Walver, later the president of the Chicago Outlaws and on the back Angelo Lombardi, later found murdered gangland style for what were rumored to be transgressions with some guy’s wife…
We all hung out together just west of Kimball on Lawrence, north side of the street. There were enough bikes and we made enough trouble that the police started to harass us, coming by nightly and writing noise tickets and tickets for parking the bikes in a group in one or two spaces all pointed out into the street.
After a few weeks of this we got a lawyer and one night parked each motor in its own parking spot, using up the entire block to park a few motorcycles. When the cops came and started to hassle us the lawyer stepped in and reminded the cops we were citizens too. I don’t remember the exact outcome but we had peace again for a while, Chicago style.” — Andy Romanoff
Like me, Andy Romanoff grew up in Hollywood Park, attended Peterson Elementary School, and bought penny candy at the Hollywood Bowl. His was an earlier time, but not so different. The greasers of his day were the freaks of mine, and the police were never far from sight.
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Frances,
So were you a “duper” then? Wasn’t that part of Lawrence and Kimball a little tough
back then? My big hang out was the Pyramid Grill on Damen north of Foster. Go
Amundson Vikings!
Did you catch the price of steak on the window behind them!
Ralph
No, Hollywood Park was my hangout, but I went to Lawrence for Different Circle. It was a jeans store across from the Ravenswood Terminal. I do remember the Pyramid Grill, though I never was inside. We knew someone who lived across from Amundsen, on Damen, and visited often.
Many years ago, twenty, at least, Chicago Magazine ran a “where are they now” story about “Chicago hoodlums.” They featured about 5 or 6 young men. Wasn’t I surprised that two of them were my cousins….Don Nathan and Larry Cowan! Anyone remember them?
Merle, that is too funny. Were they from our area?
Don lived on West Fargo in Rogers Park and went to Sullivan HS, I believe. Larry was from the same general area.
Hey Merle,
Did you go to Peterson in the fifties?
Andy, she did. And I’ve wrote a post about her move from the West Side to Hollywood Park.
Interesting. I hung from 1962 -1965 on Kimball and Lawrence (more correctly in front of Napoli Pizza, (Butch Dakoff’s father’s restaurant). We would roam maybe from Central Park and Lawrence to The Pool Hall on Kedzie near Leland, nightly. Don’t remember many bikes but there were some very supped-up cars. Remember Harry Stein, Jimmy Navagato, Bill Smedick, Harold Brooks, Baby Huey, Tony Lanutti, Mike Fish, Paul Schwartz… anybody know about these beautiful dudes? Was a bunch of good fun.
I went to Volta and then Roosevelt — born and raised on Drake and Ainslie. Thanks!
Hey Donny,
it sounds like you came just a few years later. Tony Lanutti is Al Lanutti’s younger brother and hung around with my brother Larry. i remember Navagato and Harold Brooks but also Paul Cohen, Harold Stokes and his sister Sarita, Semour Rottenberg, Carl Goldufsky, Pat and Connie Binder, Jerry Svardlof, Lois Marks and Pat Fiedler. We spent a lot of time at Alba Bowl, The Bonfire Restaurant and Napoli’s. I worked at the pool hall one summer fixing the pin spotter machines in the lanes next door and I spent a lot of hours shooting pool with all the guys, especially in the winter. There was a reunion of the Lawrence and Kedzie crowd a number of years ago and I’m still sorry I missed it. if anybody out there with the list of who attended and a way to reach them is reading this it’s time to do it again!
Andy
Hey Andy,
Thanks for the nice reply. Wow, I forgot Harold Stokes. Those were some very tough cookies. Tony and Al Lanutti were awesome fighters. The smaller of the two (I thought was Tony) was extremely quick as much as he was slight. Those who didn’t know him and messed with him, never saw it coming.
I remember Alba bowling alley, real well. It was a fun place. There was a roller rink across the street or close near by, if I remember? Andy, do you remember Bob’s full name who owned the pool hall? What I remember is Bob Khortem? He was an amazing world class billiard player and also awesome 9 ball player.
They were tough guys all right. I remember one night the cops locked us all up for something or other. When the shift changed at 6AM they paraded us out in front of the day crew so they could get to know us. The sergeant gave us each a minute of sarcastic description but when he came to Stokes he changed his tone. He said “This is Harold Stokes, he’s a real tough guy, he’s gonna end up on a slab one of these days”. And of course a few years later he did.
I don’t recall any roller rink near Alba but that doesn’t mean much…
And as much as I hung out at the pool hall I don’t remember who owned it, only the signs that said “No whistling allowed” and the story everybody whispered that someone had been thrown out the window for doing just that. (For those of you who don’t know the place it was on the second floor…)
The “Pool Hall” and Napoli Pizza were homes away from home … The feeling was name of the game… kindred souls — strangers in a strange land during the day … but at night Lawrence Ave was our home. Names come back sometimes Alan Broad, “the Fish”, “Shmutz”, Baby Huey (Larry Zaretsky). Zaretsky was super strong so he was nicknamed Baby Huey. He was from Peterson Park, but was welcomed. His family had that fish shop on Lincoln Ave, northwest of Kimball past Lincolnwood Plaza. Later Sammys opened up on Central Park and Lawrence, an offshoot from the bar on Drake and Lawrence. Looking back, there seemed to be very few relevant alternative places to hang late at night. I think we all wanted to bust out of that prison-like world… or something like that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGZZ-CLphCI
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Donny, I know who Zaretsky is, though I don’t know him personally. One of my friends from Peterson was his cousin. At one point, the fish store was next to Lerner’s. I didn’t know it had been on Lincoln. It seems that a book might be written about the pool hall … so many stories! I’ve heard guys from the Von class of ’51 talk about it as well. they mentioned a legendary character nicknamed Butz.
Butz, I think was a member of the Lil’ Gents. I might be wrong. I knew Bunty and Goldberg as they hung out lifting weights at Eugene Field Park. They were the legendary street fighters of the day. They were a bit more than a SAC if you know what I mean
They were so “good” that the Chicago police department made a deal with them, letting off charges if they never picked juniors and would disband. So ended another “colorful” chapter (mostly at Von). Truly though, the Lil Gents acted as “protectors” — I never saw them in action, but yes… a boo could be written Frances (names would have to be changed to protect “the innocent”.
Donny, check Howard Glantz’s comment on this post. The comment of his I am referring to is 11th up from the bottom of the comments. He recalls when the Lil Gents were “asked” not to pass their name to a junior club. Good story.
Thanks for that link. Wow, the Little Gents broke up in 1954! But now, that sounds right. I guess I meant Lincoln Village, across from Zaretsky’s fish market. After moving away, I used to stop by and visit with Larry in order to get “the word”, but of course, the old neighb was changing fast by then. I am contemplating a 50 year Roosevelt class reunion in Chicago this coming year, but haven’t been back since a short visit in the eighties. I’d probably get lost.
What memories!!! What about the Terminal. Every Friday night at the movies for 25 cents. I was a Top Hat. Still have my club jacket. How sick is that. Born on Leland and Albany and lived there until I got married. Don’t remember a roller rink near Alba but I’m so old I remember Alba when it was still a movie theater. I worked at S & L on Lawrence and Kedzie for a short time with Harold Hirsh bussing tables. Went to Hibbard and Roosevelt. Now that you bring it up, I really miss that old neighborhood.
Welcome, Gil. Thanks for stopping by. You are not the only guy to keep his club jacket. I’ve seen a few ever since I started this blog. check the photos in this post.
I can’t believe what I’m reading. HI! All these familiar names and places. I went to Hibbard and graduated Roosevelt in ’62. I remember the night we parked the bikes in one space each and took up the whole block because of the harassment we were getting from the cops. I kinda remember a cop that we named “squeaky” that was always giving up trouble. If I’m remembering right Smutch (Al Sherman) stoled his gun. And Harold Stokes (puppy) was anything but.
On Kimball and Lawrence there was the “Cooper & Cooper” diner, Mitch’s hot dogs Napoli piizza where I delivered pizza for awhile along with Harry Stein. Harry always had the fastest cars. There was a roller rink across from Alba bowl, can’t remember the name. It turned into an unemployment compensation office. For those of you a little older I had an older brother Art who married Marlene Tepper, all went to Roosevelt.
I could write a book.
Thanks for visiting Carl, and sharing your memories. I’m sure someone can tell us the name of the roller rink. BTW, I received your note about the subscription, but I can’t change anything on that. It’s set up that way on purpose so no one can send out unwanted emails. Try resubscribing to see if that works, or unsubscribe and then resubscribe.
Actually,Shmutz (Al Sherman )wasn’t involved in stealing officer Frank Perry’s gun..And the three that did do it (we all know who they were) were taken into the albany park station and badly beaten..I still have the news clippings..I was a few yeras older then most of you but hung around with Sherwin Brooks,Al Sherman,Paul Cohen..Me and Bill Campanerro bought a 52 Ford convert for $25.00 and drove through the alleys mostly since we didn’t have drivers lic.Paul had a 57 BSA bike and a 57 409 chev…I went into the army in 1957 and so did Schmutz & Jack Paris..We all went to Korea…I returned to Kimball & lawrence in 1960 ….I joined the police force in 1966 and worked at the Albany Park station until 1993(27 years)
Puppys real name was BOB Dillion …Harold Stokes (He didn’t have a nick name)was shot and killed at Avers and Ainslie if my memory serves me right…Puppy hung out mainly at Ma’s across from Roosevelt but did come around Kimball & lawrence at times..
Puppys real name was Bob Dillon..He hung around Ma’s across from Roosevelt High but did hang at our corner at times..Harold Stokes was shot and killed at a party i belive at Ainslie and Avers if my memory serves me right.Half of the Kimball and Lawrence crew either died or were killed…I remember Paul and I used to go to a Black Dudes house by the name of Curtis(Anyone remember Curtis?)Him and his wife both drove Harleys..Angello and Paul both liked this girl Vern Marteani…She was the prettiest girl around at that time..I better stop…I can go on for hours about Kimball and Lawrence …
Hi, Irv. thanks for visiting and giving us the story straight. More about Kimball and Lawrence, please.
Hey Irv,
Curtis was Curtis Whitehead also known as Jawbreaker for having broken a guys jaw in a boxing match and later known as Hercules or Herc. He was one of the strongest guys I ever met and could lift the front of a Harley three feet off the ground. He worked at a gas station on the southwest corner of Kimball and Foster called Buds. He lived on the West Side near 16th and Wentworth and rode with a club called the Iron Horses or Iron Horsemen. Either way they were crazy riders and totally fearless.
Also a hi to Carl, Hey Carl you ought to post that picture of you with your Triumph.
Hi Andy: I would post that photo if I could figure out how. But yes I remember Curtis well (Herc). All the bikers from Kimball and Lawrence would ride out to the west side where he lived. There was Pete Walver, his brother Bruce, Paul Cohen, you and myself and others. We would meet at 16th and Springfield which was a completely black neighborhood but being with Curtis, no problem. The last I heard of Pete a couple of years ago, he was alive and well living in St. Petersburg, Fla.(no pun intended) His younger brother Bruce who also was an Outlaw president passed away in the Philipines about 5 years ago.
HI Andy: I would post the photo if I could figure out how. I remember Curtis (Herc). Big guy and a good friend. All the bikers Pete, his brother Bruce, you, me and many others would ride out and meet on the corner of 16th and Springfield which was a completely black neighborhood. Being with Herc,never a problem. The last I heard Pete was living in St. Petersburg, Fla. (no pun intended).
I don’t know what my cousin Gene is talking about. I remember a different Albany Park. Yes, I remember all the spots where we hung out, but I also remember the innocence of the times. We danced, drank coke in the bottle while eating french fries and went steady. On Friday night we’d walk, or if we were lucky, have a friend ( Jerry Manos and his pea green voltzwagen) who would cruise down Lawrence avenue and then we would wind up at the Terminal Theatre. We would try to get Carl ( my brother ) or Jerry to take us on Chicago Bandstand. Boy, were they great dancers!
Yes, there was a little rowdiness and towards the end of our teen age years the drugs did creep into our lives, but not for many of us. For most of us, it was just a carefree and fun time!
I could write a book about all those great years of growing up in Albany Park and of course hanging out at Kimball and Lawrence.Nice to know that some of those memories are still with the people that remember first hand.Thanks to all,Carl G.,Irv S.,Bobbie D. and the others that left comments,Carl Danca.
Carl, thanks for stopping by and leaving your own comment. I suppose many look back and think their youth was an ideal time, but this area really had something special that has vanished completely.
I didn’t meet Irv Schultz till the late 60′s .He was ALWAYS straight up w/ us & we all respected him . In the later yrs.(mid 70′s) I used to see him once in a while @ a Dunkin Donuts on Lawrence av. W. of Pulaski. I always wondered what happened to Mr. Schultz as he was one of the good ones.I’m sure he wouldn’t remember me but I hope all is well with him
Hey Carl et al,
Great stories. Lights up my memory banks, thanks. Albany Park was a very colorful neighborhood, and friendly. Those “tough guys” were not bullies; rather they had a sense of justice and a great sense of humor. They were alive (if you know what I mean) and talked straight. If you didn’t hassle them, you were safe. If someone tried to hassle anyone, then whoever you were, you warned to cool it first. No one carried guns, or if you did, you were looked down upon as a coward.
I just heard that El Toro, Jerry Manos, passed. Now there was an indestructible guy. I guess we respected independence and strength and I agree that sometimes we like to remember how tough we were, more than all the good and beautiful things about Albany Park. I think that’s a Chicago thing, like it’s a tough/hard city, “I ain’t no sissy”, bootlegging capital of the world kinda thing.
I was on Lawrence the night that Squeaky got knocked down. He was just too much in everybody’s face – on a crusade, you know. It happened on Central Park and Lawrence, in front of Sammy’s. Boy the heat were hot. They rounded up Brooks, Stokes, and Broad and beat them badly. I think the story went like, Squeaky said something, and was rebuffed. He went for his gun, and “someone” grabbed his arm and the gun fell loose, and “someone” picked up Squeaky’s gun and ran. “Someone” else made sure that Squeaky didn’t get up off the sidewalk right away
Shmutz, Bill Smedick, Harry Stein, Al Broad, Butch Dakoff, Jimmy Navagato, and I were very close. I think Harry Stein had a Ford 429 also later a Plymouth with a push button Chrysler 413 engine with a pair of quads. I might have the cars mixed up. Butch Dakoff had a Corvette. You couldn’t make any money racing or betting on these guys. The “action” was with the fake out cars, what guys did underneath the hood, that few others knew about. This was maybe between 61’ and 65’. I don’t suppose that Napoli is still there?
There wasn’t much to do after the pool hall and Napoli’s closed other than to go out north on Crawford (Pulaski Road). Things could have been different if we knew then how to take care of ourselves better.
mmmm- stuie berger, gayle burton, nancy broad, where is paul schwartz?, alan broad? sharon,el toro and frenchie?. bino? god i couldn’t wait to drop outta school and wear a black scarf and leather jacket when i saw ellen levine and kathy reafter sitting on the bank wall? is shmutz still alive? Jackie Paris? larry zaretsky did we eat enuff pixie stixs??? james red foley captain foleys son teeheee
I remember going to the roller rink ALL the time, I can’t think of the name either but I think it was a few blocks north of Lawrence. I remember having my own roller skates in a very glittery case. All my friends went on Saturdays. I love reading the blog so many things bring back great memories. The Terminal theater where my parents would take us there for a double feature if we didn’t go to the roller rink. Great Saturdays for us and them…Great growing up during that area, Peterson, then von Steuben, rochelle’s such good burgers. Hollywood Bowl almost everyday after school ,french fries at Tongs Tea Garden, never knew Chinese food did not come with french fries. I even remember Larry Zaretsky, wow!!!
Hi, Maureen. thanks for visiting. Still in touch with all these people?
Liz, thanks for stopping by. I love that comment: never knew Chinese food did not come with french fries.”
The name of the roller rink was “Hollywood Roller Rink”–I used to go every weekend when I was 7/8/9/10 years of age–when it closed down-went to the Riverview Roller Rink-on Western/Belmont just before Riverview itself! great memories from both–when we had REAL organ music
Carl–I remember us riding at 16th & Springfield on the bike-OMG–we were so young and I always felt so protected because of Curtis and how we all rode together around that neighborhood–lots of stares from people for sure!!
I remember ALWAYS getting french fries from Tongs Tea Garden when my parents got take out–they were the BEST around!!
Thank you Sharon! Glad to have found out the name of the roller rink. I am trying to remember if Rainbo Arena had live organ music ever — anyone know?
Donnie: Hi! You put it the right way. There was plenty of tough guys in the neighborhood but you were never in danger hanging out, walking around. There was no senseless violence. No weapons. It sounds like we were there at the very same time. I hung around at Napoli’s from 60 to 65 and delivered pizza there for awhile, but Nicks pizza was the best. Talk about lighting up memory banks with names, you certainly did. Little did we know what was coming, the 60′s and the end of the age of innocence. Some of the guys are still around but unfortunately only hear from them on the internet. I did have lunch with Eugene Schultz (Irv’s brother) last week and talked to Bill Smedick not long ago. He did mention that Smutch (Al Sherman) is still around.Many of those names you mentioned moved to (of all places) Las Vegas. Jim Navigato, Tony Lanutti, Harry Stein, Larry Lazar, Jerry Berkowitz, Al Mozer and myself. I was there in 71/72, lived with Navigato for a short time. Andy: I did post the photo of me that you restored, it’s on “this is how we rolled in Albany Park.” link. My story of me and the bike was a little corny, wish I would have given it more thought. Irv: Thanks for your input, my memory was terrible. You worked in Albany Park for many years and seen all the changes. I had lunch with your brother last week, we talked for hours.
anyone know how to get in touch with shmutz? i’ma lol now thinking of him kicking me off the corner…is fish still living? omg loved driving around laffing with larry lazar damn he was funny what happened to al leff and his sis gail???
A great source of information is Shelly Miller (an Albany Park boy). He owns and runs Adams Apple head shop, on California just south of Devon. He has been there over 40 years. Of course he can’t sell the same merchandise he once did. But it seems like everybody stops in there when they’re in town or in the neighborhood.
I’ll have to stop by Adam’s Apple. Haven’t been there since 1972. Thanks for the suggestion.
This thread is precious. Wow! The names,faces, memories, and feelings are coming back, thanks. I’d love to get in touch with Harry Stein, Jimmy Navigato, Bill Smedick, Shmutz, and “the Fish (I had the Fish mixed up with Shmutz), and Al Moser if possible. Indeed, where is Paul Schwartz? Thanks Maureen, Sharon, Carl, et al… especially you, Frances. BE WELL!
Going back years ago I was told Paul Schwartz Died…As did Jerry Klemmer,Angelo Lombardo,Sherwin Brooks,Leroy Brooks,Harrold Stokes,Ronnie Schwartz(FISH)and probably others I can’t think of right now…Al Sherman was one of my best friends back then and i wouldn’t mind hearing from him myself….
Donny, thanks! It’s been great hearing about Albany Park in the years before I knew it. All the nicknames!
I loved Sherwin and Leroy Going to their mom’s house I just remember the biggest fruit bowls in the world and that’s what I still do lol My dad and shmutz’s mom grew up on the westside together He always lived with Belle forever out west on Foster but couldn’t find him now –He and his wife (Debbie) had a son that he always stayed in touch with -I am lol rite now thinking bout him– O man I miss Fish he was so crazy–I loved smoking with Shwartz–before the darkside called lots of us down it was soooo fun–Jerry Klemmer Wow This is fun to shake up the poor memory cells
Remembering Albany Park is great. There are some errors in the memories of some contributors. Butch Dakoff drove an Olds Convert. not a Corvette; his parents owned Dorthy’s Drive in restaurant and gambling joint in Cicero, not Napoli. The pool hall (Bob’s)was owned by Bob Kortum, a world class pool and billiard player. Bill Smedick was nicknamed The Doctor, Jim Navigato was Navajo, Jay Kaplan was Marshy Mellow, I was bullfrog or senator. Nobody looked for trouble; but nobody ran from it either. People came to the corner (kimball & Lawrence) and people left. I hung out there from 1954 to 1968 minus 1963-1966 while in the military. Many did not live long enough to live out their lives, My cousins Ronnie (fish) Schwartz, and Jerry Berkowitz, Little Jack Namond, Louie Cohen, Jerry Klemmer, Jeff Sauers, Harold Stokes,, the brothers Sherwin & LeRoy Brooks, Al Mozur, Angelo Lombardo, and so many more. rip..
I can’t believe I’m hearing the old names from grammar school. I went to Hibbard School with Al Lanutti. He was the toughest guy in the whole school. He was also a great artist. He could draw like you took a picture with a camera. It always seemed like he had a chip on his shoulder. It’s too bad he didn’t cash in on his God given talent. We used to do projects and homework together. He, Ronald Schlosberg and I were the only 3 out of our class that went to Lane Tech after graduation from Hibbard. Al got thrown out the first day after getting into a fight and Ron transferred to Roosevelt. I was the only one who stuck it out and graduated from Lane. I ran into him many years later at Gabby Hartnetts. He was surrounded by guys like a Mafia don. I couldn’t believe it. I was afraid to try and talk to him.
Al Lanutti did use his talents successfully. Al is a famous art designer and costume designer who has been credited with about 100 movies. He lives in a mansion in Hollywood. Some of those other so called mobsters did ok for themselves too; some didn’t.
This is a good story! Was his full name Albert? Just looked him up. A ton of films.
His name was Albert, and his friends all called him Albert.
omg jeff sauers my first kiss after he walked me home from our date to the zoo for couple years we hung out drove around smoked and made out till he started hanging little too much with steppenwolfe not good thing for him we used to have so many dreams
Moving to Albany Park in 1954 at eleven was like going to heaven. I had made the pilgrimage from Douglas Park, 13th Place and St. Louis, to Palmer Square, Palmer and Kedzie, to Lawrence and Monticello. Hot Dog stands everywhere, the friendliest people in the world and Lawrence Ave to walk down every day and night. Walk and meet your friends on every block; maybe at Morrie’s, or Archies, or Mitch’s…, or Mutt & Jeff’s, or perhaps at the Bonfire or S & L or later at Smiling Sams. There were always people on the street to talk or do something with; like go to Rush Street or Old Town with Lonnie Hall or a Cub Game with the boys, sitting in the Bleachers or a visit to Hollywood Park. Bill and Paul, Jay and Jimmy, my cousins ronnie (fish) and cousin Jerry (lepricon) or cousin Bobbie. Even stores to go in and play pinnocle or gin or poker for the older guys. Jensen Park, with Judy, Volta, Haugan, and Hibbard Schools not to mention Roosevelt and Von. If all else failed there was the Max Strauss Center and the Debora Boys club.The girls were plentiful and the morals as we roared into the 60′s were loose. Drugs were plentiful for those who cared for them and Harold and Shmutz would supply them for no charge especially if your brother was a local cop.
For those who died too young of either violence or drugs, I pray for your souls; Fish and Ronnie S and Louie, Jerry and the other Jerry, Al and Jeff and Bob and Little Jack and Angelo and Harold who both took one in the head along with AL Mozur, R.I.P.
gene schultz—Do I know u? You musta known my brother Stuie Berger and my dad Biff????Your sentiments are sweet. Do you know what happened to Al Leff and his sister??? If this is an awkward place for comments I’m at y e s r e e n i e @ y a h o o
My wife and I were friendly with Al Leff and his 1st wife Marie and child Michael back in the day, but lost track of him when we moved to Atlanta. His cousin Sherwin Leffkovitz probably can tell you if any one talks to him; I believe he lives in Northbrook. I remember Stu and Biff vaguely.
great site!! Even though I was a college boy, I still liked to hang out at Central Park and Lawrence when I was back in Albany Park. I’ve been a bartender for over 40 years and still relate these same stories. It was Michael/Alan? Broad (Rebecca’s brother) who stole the gun and made the front page of all the Chicago papers when he slugged a baliff after being sentenced in court. I’ll never forget the picture: there was a baliff holding each of his arms and two more holding each of his legs carrying him out of the courtroom. Nice to hear the responses from Gene Schultz also.
Hi, Don. Thanks for visiting, and for mentioning the story was on the front page. I’ll look it up in the newspaper archives.
Don, I found two news stories in the Chicago Trib archives: SEIZE 3 WHO BEAT COP AND TOOK HIS GUN was the headline, July 1, 1963. The gun was found in a dresser drawer at Alan Broad’s home, according to the article. All three men were pictured and they did look beat up. The article you mentioned took place a week later in court.
So many memories. 1969…Kimball & Lawrence…Maureen Berger, Patty Mc Donough, Stuie, Fish, Schmutz, Lance Geary. I bounced between Jensen, Napoli, Terminal Grill, Golden Que, Troy & Ainslie, Foster Beach. What a fun, crazy time.
Hey, Tobi, welcome. Thanks for visiting.
What incredible memories. I grew up at 3410 Carmen and went to Hibbard and Von Steuben. I was a Jr. Character and hung out at Deborah Boys Club. Moved away from Albany park in 1965 after high school. I remember Cooper and Cooper (best fries) S and L, K and L, Bonfire, Alba, the Terminal and the Metro where the screen was in the front as you walked in. Ned Singers Sports, playing softball at Roosevelt on gravel and sliding and never getting hurt. To me they were fun,innocent times with a bunch of guys who are lifelong friends even though as the years pass we don’t see each other anymore. Still keep in touch with a few however. 2 buses to Wrigley even though a was a Sox fan. We lost one of our gang a few years back. His name was Kenny Turkin and he was a drummer in the Shadows of Knight for awhile after there big hit of Gloria.. I can go on and on because those days were so special. Take the El downtown or just hang out playing ball with friends. Our hangout was Zfaney’s drug store on Kimball and Foster and the small park behind Von Steuben.. They had a soda fountain at Zfaney’s and Mr. Zfaney was a good guy. We bought baseball cards at Millies on Kedzie and were yelled at all the time. Sorry for the rambling, it’s all coming back to me.
Mark, this is a great contribution to the blog. You’ve given me a new SAC to add to the list. Zfaney’s was still around when I went to Von in the seventies, perhaps it was the last drug store with a soda fountain in the area? Very cool that you were friends with Kenny Turkin, I’d love to do more posts about the bands of the day. Please feel free to contribute whenever. Send me an email through the contact form, and then I can reply and give you my email address in case you have any photos you’d like to share.
Hey Don! Some might not have known it, but Al Moeser was also an awesome baseball player and also a very tough fighter. Believe it or not, I last saw Al on Ashbury just off Haight Street in early 1967.(what a transposition from Lawrence and Kimball!.
Eugene, how did it Al Moeser go down? Funny how some names I can’t place, some I knew of, some were acquaintances and friends, and others were close friends.. were/are part of my life. I hope to be in Chicago in the Spring of 2013. It will be very cool to see the old neighborhood. Later!
Al Mozur was a great baseball player (catcher); he was drafted by the Houston Astro’s but his temper got him thrown off the team before he made the pro’s. His temper also was the cause of his death in Las Vegas over the affections of a woman.
I have a memory of Al Mozur. Kid was tough as nails. Did not know him personally but he was part of an event that is “folklore” to those of us who attended. There used to be a basketball tournament run by the BBYO at Mather in September every year 4 schools participated those being Roosevelt, Mather, Von Steuben and Sullivan as they were the 4 predominent jewish schools in the area. It was a 2 day event with the 2 winning teams playing the next night for the championship. Mozur challanged a guy from Roosevelt by the name of Marvin Tuchman to a fight the second night in the Mather parking lot and everybody knew about it. 3/4 of the crowd ran outside and in one punch as the story goes Mozur hit the ground. Tuchman was about 6 foot 4 and a tough guy who played on Roosevelt’s football team. I was there but did not see the fight. Thats all everybody talked about for weeks. Sorry to hear about Mozur. Nobody needs to have there anger cost there life.
Your facts are almost entirely incorrect. Mozur did get hit once, but after that Arnie Brissman and I broke the fight up. Nobody hit the ground, but Al did have a nice shinner for a time.
Thank you Eugene for correcting this. I was there and saw the bleachers empty, did not see the fight and went by what I was told. Arnie Briskman was one of the best high school basketball players to come out of that era and i saw him play numerous times for Roosevelt. Great mid range jump shooter and his brother Bob played for Von Steuben in the late 50s and early 60s. Von and Roosevelt had a great rivalry in those days always opening the season at Roosevelt who had the bigger gym untill Von made it to the red division and played Roosevelt twice a year home and away.
Eugene, You mention a name of Louie Cohen on one of your posts. I was in the same class as Louie at Hibbard and we were both really big baseball fans. i marveled at how fast Louie could throw a ball as a young kid. Louie was a big, big guy and when we joined the Mighty Mites at River park he was put in the majors and I was in the minors., My mom and his mom knew each other and sometimes the families would meet at the many food places on Lawrence. Louie played for Von’s baseball team as a catcher. I moved to Skokie in the mid 60s as did Louie and his family. I ran into him a few times in Skokie and read about him and his terrible fate in the paper. Its kind of a blur. I sometimes think about what a great guy he was. Louie was a good kid and I think someday when its my turn we will meet up there and exchange baseball cards like we did in the old days..
Louie lived on Albany and I had to pass his house when I went to River Park. What was the terrible fate that you wrote about. I lived on Leland and Albany til 1963.
I don’t know all the facts. I do know I was shocked to read about him passing away at a really young age in the Chicago papers. Had to be late teens or early 20′s.
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Louie got involved with the wrong people and OD’d. His mother blamed Al Mozur and asked him to leave the funeral. It was very sad saying goodbye to him