Mid-century Reading Road (Cincinnati, Kent, Mason: motel, work, house)

[Mikey1003]

Someone mentioned the Shrine Circus and Ice Shows at the Gardens.

What about the Royals, the Mohawks and rassling (loved it when The Sheik made fire come out of his hand and tore of the good guy's ear)? We used to buy cheap seats on top and keep moving down closer and closer. A friends dad was an usher and looked the other way.

Talking about moving closer. When I was a Jr or Sr at Woodward (Class of 63) a group of us went down to the Gaiety Burlesque (real burlesque, jokes 3-4 musical numbers to strip - not go out and get naked for dollar bills) and we were sitting in the back. We were under age. But as people would leave, boys being boys, we would move closer. Soon, we were at the stage seats hooting and hollering.

One of my friends looked over and there was his uncle. Both swore that they would never say anything about it. My friend's Mom would have killed both of them.

When the Gaiety closed (to be torn down for the library), there was a black tie benefit at the Schubert with Nationally known burlesque artists. I believe that it benefited Children's Hospital. My wife and I went even though she was almost nine month's pregnant. If any of you remember the Schubert, remember that the seats were very tight and rows were very close. My wife was so uncomfortable but she wanted to stay and say that she was there.

Everyone who was anyone in Cincy politics was there. The city wasn't so blue nosed that night!

After the benefit at the Schubert we all walked over to the Gaiety for a tour and a drink. To this day, I remember the sign in the dressing room.."Make sure tampon strings are tucked in"

[allmybengals]

...was "Breitholly's" Possibly "Breithollies" AKA "Mr. B's"

Felson's Bowling Alley was a short bike ride from Paddock and Reading. And they had human pin-setters for as long as I can remember. Then in the early 60's an ex-teacher from N.A. opened a bowling alley in St. Bernard called "Spring Bowl." Also a bike-ride away (when it was warm) and everyone stopped going to Felson's because Spring Bowl was really modern.

[MiddleCincinnati]

Originally Posted by fhiudt

Not a bad memory but you did miss some things. The highrise at Victory Pkwy. was the Park Lane apts. Lorretta's was owned by a friend of my family and we ate there quite often. There was a Gulf gas station by Natorps. An other friend owned that. Frisch's was known as Mt Vernon cause it looked like Washington's Mt. Vernon. The bottler in Golf Manor was Signer's another friend of family. The bar in Roselawn was the Whisper Room. I worked at Garson's clothing, and the Honk Kong which was owned by the Kirschner brothers who own the Whisper room too.

Excellent stuff, fhiudt. You note that the bar in Roselawn was the
Whisper Room. Could you pinpoint the location and possibly recall some
features of the exterior? - I am hoping were are talking about the same
place. Thanks!

[lectrikeye]

I went to Swifton grades 1-3. Kindergarten was at Bond hill. My mother saved most of my old school pictures and I am looking at my 2nd grade class photo. The teacher according to my mother was Ms. Tavlin. I forgot about her but if I remember correctly 1st grade was Ms Neely, and 3rd grade was Ms Bernstein. I can still name 15 of the 24 students in the photo. I can not remember the name of the principal but I remember the old mimiograph machine (before xerox copiers) with the stinky ink in the principal's outer office.

[allmybengals]

As a resident of Chicagoland, I listen to you all the time! Amazing how a kid from NA/Woodward could grow up to be such a "foodie." Must have been all that Kreplach at Loretta's. Keep up the good work. Will defintely try your recipe...

A few other memories --- Mort Keller (Sugar'n'Spice) went in with Meir to open the Upper Krust. It was right next door to the 1st ARBY'S I ever remember --- which opened on Reading Road in Roselawn about 1968 or so. The Roast Beef sandwiches were REAL roast beef, and they were 50 cents which I remember as being slightly higher than say a Big Boy...but they were actually very good when Arby's first opened. Not the "stuff" whateveritis they serve now and call "roast beef."

Frisch's Mainliner Roselawn (AKA "Sigma Frisch's) is now under the wrecking ball I hear. Mt. Vernon Frisch's (long since gone) was AKA "RT Frisch's.

I still have all my electric trains purchased from Lee's Hobby Shop. And they still work, which is even more amazing.

Mostly I remember you could ride your bike ANYWHERE around N.A, S.A, Bond Hill, St. Bernard, anywhere and nobody worried about you. You could take a bus ANYWHERE, and we did, starting at about age 8 and nobody worried about you. I remember taking the "32" to school and/or downtown, and sometimes the "BR."

[fhiudt]

Originally Posted by MiddleCincinnati

Excellent stuff, fhiudt. You note that the bar in Roselawn was the
Whisper Room. Could you pinpoint the location and possibly recall some
features of the exterior? - I am hoping were are talking about the same
place. Thanks!

The Whisper Room was on the east side of Reading Rd just pass the Roselawn Synagoge and before what was the A&P. At one time it was owned by the Kirschner twins who also owned the Hong Kong which later became the Fortune Cookie which was origninally Steins Hideaway
And how about the Buccaneer Motel and Nightclub. Both were places that my family visited and was very good friends with the various owners.

[Mimi2752]

The fish place you described was actually called "Fish Fare" My mom used to pick up dinner there quite often, and I loved it!

I really enjoyed reading your history of Reading Road....brought back a lot of memories.

[MiddleCincinnati]

Originally Posted by Mikey1003

What about the Royals, the Mohawks and rassling (loved it when The Sheik made fire come out of his hand and tore of the good guy's ear)? We used to buy cheap seats on top and keep moving down closer and closer. A friends dad was an usher and looked the other way.

Royals must have left town ca. 1965. We caught a few games as kids, but
mostly went back to the Gardens for rock concerts after that. There was a
hockey minor-league team that played there briefly, the Swords. What
were the Mohawks?

Wrestling: Is that the same as "Big Time Wrestling", which used to air on
weekend afternoons? Mentioned early in this thread were the gentlemen
who used to do the Rinks commercials, Willie Thall and Hy Ullner. Wille Thall
was a local impressario who had hosted, among other things, the
Midwestern Hayride. Hy Ullner was a local businessman who, with
his brother, owned Rinks; in the commercials, he dressed as a lawman.

[Mikey1003]

The Mohawks were the original professional hokey team in Cincy. They played at the Cincinnati Gardens.

Yep, Big Time Wrestling...Georgous George, The Shiek, midgets and ladies. And in those days, it was real

That first Arby's had a chunk of beef rotating on a spit and it was carved off served with horsey sauce. Today, Arby's is pressed "mystery meat." and comes hidden behind the scene.

What about the card game that was always going on upstairs-above Valley Pharmacy at Section and Reading?

Talking about Section and Reading. The NE corner is a lot now. Building torn down for a CVS? or Walgreens?.. Must have too much lead and other pollutants in the soil from the gas station. No pharmacy-no building. Just an empty lot

[MiddleCincinnati]

Originally Posted by Mikey1003

What about the card game that was always going on upstairs-above Valley Pharmacy at Section and Reading?

I believe you refer to Manny Israelski and his bridge lessons. He operated out
of that space ...