Mid-century Reading Road (Cincinnati, Springfield, Blue Ash: price, stores, farm)

[Mikey1003]

Didn't a guy named Posner deliver soft drinks? And Bernie Rubinowitz delivered milk before he became a Realtor.

I also seem to remember someone (maybe Posner again) delivering vegetables to my grandmothers house when I was in grade school.

How about the guy that came around with a pony and took pictures of us on the horse?

I could leave my house on Reading Rd, or my grandmother's house on Elizabeth, and go all day and no one would worry. Any parent in the neighborhood could yell at any kid that misbehaved. Every house was open to us, doors were never locked. Those days are long long gone.

I remember spending Saturday afternoon's at the Forrest Theater. (I think my dad drove or I took the bus because I was only 10 or 11.) Always had a double feature.

I also remember walking over to my friend's house on Yarmouth then actually walking down town Cincy on Saturday afternoons. We wanted to save the bus fare down for a triple feature movie at the Albee or Paramont. Obviously, we didn't do this very often. Occasionally, we would ride to the top of the Carew Tower and try to fly paper airplanes into Kentucky.

There was also a stamp collecting store in the Carew Tower.

cincinnati Photo Gallery by Jayson at pbase.com
Bond Hill Photo Gallery by Jayson at pbase.com
North Avondale Photo Gallery by Jayson at pbase.com
Avondale Photo Gallery by Jayson at pbase.com


This website is addicting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[unctheel]

Originally Posted by shermank

What a great rush to find this blog....I married my high school sweetheart...and we met in the back seat of a Buick(really) one day when a friend and I were cruising Swifton. My wife and I left Cinti in 1964, but came back regularly until a few years ago. We still have a little family, cousins, aunt, etc...

As for some of the memories....many have been mentioned...but, maybe I can add some other details. The Kroger store in the Valley was one of a few locations to see the first experiments with color television. At that time, early 1950s, transmission was achieved on a special channel, not compatible with over the air TV at the time. CBS came out with an early experiemntal system, and there were special broadcasts which people could see at the Roselawn Krogers.

Someone mentioned the Valley Theatre, owned by a man named Lou Weithe. It was one of the few early wide screen theatres, but the early process was Cinemascope. Todd-AO came later. I remember the first cinemascope movie I saw was at the Albee...it was The Robe starring Richard Burton, Victor Mature and Jean Simmons.

Someone mentioned WAEF in Golf Manor. That was my first real radio job. The station was owned by two brothers, Al and Ed Fishman, who were in the TV repair business. The managed to get an FM radio liscense, one of the very early ones. It was a real learning experience. My next job, btw, was at WSAI Boss Radio 1360 where I was Mike Sherman the Night Creature. I did the all night top 40 segment. When I started there in possibly 1961 or 1932 they broadcast from the Sinton Hotel (I know the spelling on that is wrong). In fact, that studio was were John Arthur of Big John and Sparky fame broadcast their Saturday morning program before WSAI moved in. Anyone who grew up in cincinnati in the late 1940s-early 195s must remember Big John and Sparky. One of the other DJs then was Dustry Rhodes, who still does an oldies show, and is a Hamilton County office holder. I don't remember which one, but his name is on the gasoline pump seals...:-)

I grew up on Clinton Springs Avenue and lived in an apartment building at the spot where Clinton Springs interesected with Mitchell Avenue. I don''t think anyone has mentioned Gleuck's Pharmacy, which had a great soda fountain. I remember that to go into it, you walked down a half flight of stairs and the store had a black and white mosaic tile floor. I don't know whether they were selling Graeter's ice cream, but I remember how rich and creamy it was, and especially delicious when eaten in a Grippo sugar waffle cone.
In that same building, and just South of the drug store was a restaurant and bar called Stein's Hideaway. I was too young to go inside, but remember it was there.

Of course I remember the Frisch's Mt. Vernon and all the grief those poor waitresses had to put up with when all the kids would pile in on Friday and Saturday nights. I also remember how much I loved the barbecue beef sandwch at Sugar and Spice, and the French Toast at breakfast.

When I was still at Woodward (class of '59), I worked part time at the Pasquale Pizza shop on the lower level of Swifton. I was lucky to have the job One day I came into work wearing my tee shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a pack of cigarettes in one sleeve. Evidently I saw myself as a Sal Mineo type...:-). I was in no uncertain terms told that was not an acceptble way to come to work. I learned a great deal from the couple who owned that franchise, and in fact they and my parents became very good friends.

As for the chile, I think Empress was the first one. It was near the Taft Theatre. In case anyone if is interested, I created a recipe for 5 way many years ago, and have adapted it along the way:


1lb ground beef and or turkey
16oz can chopped tomatoes
1 can kidney, black or pinto beans
1/2 water
3 T chile powder
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t cloves
1/2 cup of chopped white onions
1 T garlic powder or chopped fresh garlic to taste
1 T sugar
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 t white vinegar
1 pound spaghetti
1/4 cup shredded longhorn cheddar or similar cheese
brown meat, add tomatoes, water, beans, dry ingredients, vinegar salt and
pepper to taste. stir until all ingredients are blended. season to taste.
I sometimes add seeds from a dry serrano pepper depending upon courage of
guest diners...:-)
These ingredients are very flexible. you will probably want to add another
tablespoon or two of chile powder. be careful with the cinnamon and cloves.
too much will distort the flavor. same thing with the vinegar. I use it to
bring out other flavors, so add it last and in scant amount at first. sprinkle cheese on top to taste...and maybe a few shakes of tobasco.

I also remember Scotti Italian restaurant and the woman who owned it, named Teddi. Now, when we come back to Cincinnati, if it is a Sunday night, when Scotti is closed, we go to Campanella (spelling???).

When my wife and I were first married and could afford the treat, we ate at a restaurant called Pigalle's. We were thrilled by the likes of Beef Wellington and a potatoe puff given the fancy name Potatoes Dauphin.

As for the White Castle on Reading Road at the street where Bond Hill School was, they often ran a special...5 burgers for 25 cents...what a bargain.

People also have mentioned a synagog in that neighborhood. It replaced a movie theatre, I do not remember in what year. But, I do remember going to the movies there where I saw Rocket Ship XM, Mighty Joe Young and similar epics of the time. Speakling of theatres, there of course was The Forest Theatre in Avondale. Saturday matinee included not only the double feature and cartoons, but an appearance out front by The Duncan Yo-Yo Man.

Well, these memories have poured out in a wonderful rush...and there are so many more, but I have taken enough of everyone's time who has been kind enough to read this far. And, I have not even mentioned how the guys I hung out with would savor the pleasures of Newport across the river and The Gaiety Burlesque Theatre, which was on either Race or Vine.

Sherm

Hey, Mike Sherman!!! We all listened to you on WSAI in the wee hours of the mroning with a transistor radio radio plug stuck in our one ear!!! (And then the batteries slowly died!)

[fhiudt]

Since we started in Avondale we should end this trip in Reading at Galbraith rd. I was just reading another thread on resturants and at the end of the line was a favorite of my family's The Wishing Well. I remember that is where we went for special occascions when we didn't want to go across the river or downtown. We ate at Shuller's resturant at the motel quite often too. And my first job was washing dishes at the Hong Kong which was Steins Hideaway. But the best of the best was Chili time that was a Hiudt family favorite of all time. And who cannot remember hanging the lot at Frisch's in Reading and many a late saturday night at Perkins. We met Mr.Whopper at Frisch's and took him down to Perkins to meet the parents boy was he tall. And the best thing about Pasqueles in Swifton was those little pizzas that i think were only a quater. An other family favorite was Sands. At the end my father tried to turn it into the first Empress chilli palor franchise. But the original owner of Empress died and the son didn't want to do it. Thinking of all this I sometimes think that my father bless his soul should have been mayor of Reading Rd. He problably knew most of the business owners especially in the Avondale and Roselawn corridors.

[Mikey1003]

Originally Posted by MiddleCincinnati

This will probably only be of interest to a limited number of readers.
It contains my recollections of businesses and landmarks along Reading
Road dating back to the late 1950's. Memories fade and sometimes play
tricks, but perhaps other readers will offer additions and amendments.

MiddleCincinnati, do you still think that your thread will only be of interest to a few readers? Seems to have a life of it's own and also seems to be one of the highest viewer's threads on this whole site

[goyguy]

And it's totally smokin' the companion thread I started about Vine St and Springfield Pike! Wassup wit dat???!!!!!

[allmybengals]

That was it! Thanks - my brain just farted out on that one!

[MiddleCincinnati]

Originally Posted by Mikey1003

MiddleCincinnati, do you still think that your thread will only be of interest to a few readers? Seems to have a life of it's own and also seems to be one of the highest viewer's threads on this whole site

Thanks, Mikey1003. According to the thread log, it's been one year already.
No, I had no idea so many people would respond.

It's gratifying to see not only how many people share an interest in that era,
but also how many are able to provide anecdotes and background about
some of these places. It's really like piecing together a jigsaw puzzle.

[BWAGS]

How are the Hiudts' doing? I went to school w/Johnny and remember your parents!

[BWAGS]

Who remembers this phrase? " And whoever gets a hole in one in the next minute with a green or yellow ball wins one free round at Sammy Green's Putt Putt Golf Course!"
He also had a dance studio I believe .

[blockhead]

Originally Posted by BWAGS

How are the Hiudts' doing? I went to school w/Johnny and remember your parents!

And I believe I went to school with Cindy Hiudt