The message forum is an ongoing dialogue between classmates. There are no items, topics, subtopics, etc.

Forums work when people participate - so don't be bashful! Click the "Post Message" button to add your entry to the forum.

James Hamilton, M. D.

Joseph Gentilini

Is this the one that was near Indianola Avenue?  If so, I often went t here also.  Once our 8th grade class all went.  I was pretty good at this, but now I only fall on my ass if I try. 

Beth Broadhurst (Murray)

Donna

Every time I see a post from you come up, I think how wonderful the tech age is that we can communicate  today  not only over small distances but  large oceans as well.

Yes I spent quite a few times at that rink trying to master those skates. Thanks for more fond memories of times spent in Columbus.Those were the days when we could take  the city bus everywhere living in the Wallhalla area near both High Street and Indianola.  My mom rarely had to drive me places.  Also I remember going to Whetsone Park where we  ice skated on some type of pool?/unsupervised area. We never thought that ice wouldn't be safe. I'm still glad I am able to ice skate with the grandchildren without breaking a leg-------I managed to break it cutting my grass a year ago---go figure!

Does anyone remember the  little movie theatre located in the  small shopping strip on Indianola between Weber and Midgard Roads. We use to buy a coupon booklet and I believe the movies were only a dollar?or a dollar for the booklet?

Mary Margaret         Loved the Valentine Lip Sync

Jim.   Your pictures are so beautifull. Thanks for continuing to add them 

David Mitchell

Beth,

I think that theater used to be called the "Indianola" - Maybe I'm wrong, (somebody help me here), but I went there pretty often, along with the "Beechwold" (near Watterson) and of course, my favorite, "The Clinton" just south of North Broadway on High Street. I actually went to a film at the Clinton as late as the 70's ("Monte Walsh", a great Western with Lee Marvin and Jack Palance). But the Indianola is now called "Studio 35" and has become a trendy little dive with food & alcohol - and "indie" films and "second runs". I also used to go to the "Avenue" out on 5th (or 3rd?) in Grandview with my cousin sometimes.

Speaking of films, does anybody remember those lives of the saints films they used to take us to in groups from school? I think they were usually at the "Southern" Theater (or the "Markham"?). I think they were filmed in Spain in the 50's as low budget, black and white, english-dubbed films. I remember seeing one about Ignatious Loyola, Vincent DePaul, and a few others - including "Miracle of Marcelino" - about a little orphaned boy who lived in a monestary with the monks and used to sneak up into that secret attic room to peek at the big crucifix. Just out of curiousity, I actually bought the DVD a few years back. Would have been a sweet little bit of relic from our childhood but the dubbed voice of the little boy is simply thee most annoying little simperring, whining, nasal voice they could have possibly come up with!

And does anybody recall those visits from Father Kulp (later Monsignor) from the Diocese office? They would parade our class down to the basement cafeterria and he would have his screen and projector all set up for us to watch a film about the starving children of Africa, India, and China. I can still hear his over-dramatic voice as he introduced the film - "My dear children, Meeessionaries all."

---------------

Okay Beth, I'll bite. How does one break a leg mowing the lawn? 

James Hamilton, M. D.

David Mitchell

Jim,

We OLP'ers never had such luxuries. We were too busy saving "pagan babies". 

(Five bucks apeice - and Mom gave me the money)

Alan Standish

The only electronic "treat" I remember at St. Michael's was bringing radioes in the classrooms or listening to the World Series over the intercom every fall.  Probably the only thing that was free and Fr. Byrne would approve!

David Mitchell

WOW!

If anybody can possibly explain what Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway just did - I'd love to know?

Just imagine how bad the group from "La La Land" must feel ?

Janie Albright (Blank)

Al, I have a vague memory of going downstairs to the cafeteria and watching a movie about either Lourdes or Fatima. I also think we had tv brought in for John Glenn landing. 

Dave- I was so freaked out seeing how much Faye Dunawsy and Warren Beatty had aged I almost missed what was going on. lol. When they saw it said Emma Stone why did they read it?? Not to mention whoever gave them wrong envelope. Ayayayay 

Alan Standish

My only response would be- what do you expect when you leave a 76 and 79 year old responsible for reading and revealing something so of value (to the Academy)?!?  Oh well, stuff happens- just take steps so that it never happens again!  And Janie- your memory is way better than mine!

Monica Haban (Brown)

Joe Gentilini-

Don't know if you ever got a chance to see Frank Fortkamp.  His obituary is in today's Columbus Dispatch.  He died yesterday.  May he rest in peace.

David Mitchell

Father Fortkamp was an odd duck to be sure. But he had a heart full of desire to make this a better world. 

Michael McLeod

Ok my memory is just not good and the obit doesn't say much: will someone please flesh out Father Fortcamp for me? What parish? What he looked like? Anything? His name is, of course, familiar. But apart from that I got nothin'

Joseph Gentilini

Leo remembers him at Bishop Ready High School when he was in Leo's class.  I do not remember him at all at Bishop Watterson. It is obvious that others do, but I can't.  Poor memory.  Joe

David Mitchell

Mike

Father Fortkamp was an assistant pastor at OLP for a few years. He was a heavy-set guy in his thirties(?) with thinning brown hair and professor-type round glasses.  Very intelectual, and somewhat controversial. He has several nephews (and nieces?) who followed us at Watterson and have been very ative in alumi stuff.  I would have sworn you were in that group of us who put on the silly "fancy" dining table in the cafeteria, when the nuns summoned him from the office to come in and bust us.  

,

Joseph Gentilini

My sister was in class with one of his younger brothers (Jim?).  I went to school with his brother Steve (now deceased).  Joe

David Fredericks

Janie.....do you remember Fa. Byrne playing the harmonica on St. Patrick's day?  This of course after the whole school had convened in the cafeteria to sing irish songs.

David Dunn

Fatrher Fortkamp was the boys disciplinarian priest at Watterson when I came back for senior year. He was my nemesis for the year, the reason I got "kcked out" of school for having long hair in Feb 66. He always seemed to search me out and find me somewhere in the school hallways. I remember him having a crewcut. In the 70s he was in a parish in Mt Vernon Ohio. Later I heard that he had become an Episcopalian priest, got married, "grew his hair long", wrote, and became voical against the Vietnam War.

Michael McLeod

Ah. He was the school disciplinarian. That's why the name rings a bell. I'm sure we had more than one encounter. And yes, Dave, I bet I was indeed part of the la tee da school luncheon escapade. As far as Fortcamp is considered: I remember doing something that drew Sister Estelle's ire. If I am correct she was a tiny little thing, right? Naturally I don't remember what she taught since I managed to get through those four years without learning much of anything. Anyway: She sent me, and I think one other miscreant, to see Father Fortcamp for whatever it was we did one day. And inbstead of shaking a finger in our face he gave us a lecture in the form of a metaphor. He said: You know, it's okay to speed a little bit if you are just keeping up with traffic. But you have to be sure to slow down if you are in certain areas where they have the speed traps, and you know the cops might be watching. Then he pause and asked us if we got the point.

I pretended like I did, so we could just get the hell out of there -- this was great, he was letting us off with some sort of weird ass lecture, who cared what the point was -- the point was we're not getting detention, let's bolt before he changes his mind. I was a little miffed at my companion. He was more honest, and said "Uh, no."  So Fr. had to explain his point, which was that that there were certain nuns you wanted to tiptoe around.Looking back now I realize he was giving me credit for more common sense and self-control that I actually possessed. 

What I remember most about the experience is being impressed -- shocked, actually -- that he was being reasonable, not just yelling at us, that he was trying to appeal to whatever shreds of common sense, however flimsy, might be rattling around in us. I was always surprised when I ran into any adult that conversed, rather than lectured, to me. It's funny how that impression -- that memory of being seen, being spoken to reasonably -- sticks with me -- while the particulars  -- remembering exactly who that priest was until just now -- had long since escaped me. 

Mark Schweickart

I definitely remember Fr. Byrne's (not very good) harmonica playing, and to this day carry around in my skull Irish ditties learned in those St. Patrick cafeteria day celebrations.

Hennessy Tennessee tootled the flute, and the music was something grand/ A credit to old Ireland was McNamara's band."

or this one:

"If you're Irish come into the parlor,
There's a welcome there for you;
If your name is Timothy or Pat,
So long as you come from Ireland,
There's a welcome on the mat,
If You come from the Mountains of Mourne,
Or Killarney's lakes so blue,
We'll sing you a song and we'll make a fuss,
Whoever you are you are one of us,
If you're Irish, this is the place for you!"

Okay, I had to look this one up because I couldn't remember the "Mountains of Mourne" line.

Beth Broadhurst (Murray)

Having just read Father Fortkamp's obit, I was surprised that he was 78------only 28 years old when he taught us!

Joseph Gentilini

I don't know what is wrong with my mind - I don't remember Fortkamp at all.  I remember Mr. Walker and Mr. Shay as the men who were the men who boys had to deal with.  Joe.

Janie Albright (Blank)

Dave, Mark, I remember Fr. Byrne and his harmonica on St Patrick's Day, vividly. I think we all knew the words to every Irish song. He was in his glory. But I don't remember him pulling it out on any other occasion. 

Monica or someone already posted this but I will post again.  It has Fr  Fortkamps photo. Somewhere in the archives I probably have one from 1965 when he baptized my mother at OLP.  

https://www.fredericknewspost.com/archives/after-more-than-years-this-priest-and-teacher-still-tilts/article_cceb2695-6e2d-50fd-8948-15ae4b90b861.html

David Mitchell

Happy St. David's Day. Patron saint of Wales, where my great grandmother sailed from as a 14 year-old orphan. I tried to upload a video clip of the singing of  "Cwm Rhondda" (Bread of Heaven)  from "How Green Was My Valley" - an all-time favorite movie.   (Hope it works)

David Dunn

Mike -- I am not sure how I would have graduated as a C student; I dont think I can remember ever opening and studying out of book much at all. Kind of sad to think of it now, and how much more I could have learned. One day in Feb. he had told me to get a haircut, and the next day called me to the office to ask me if Id done so.  I said "No". He said, "Dunn, we're trying to run a school here, not a hood asylum. You look like your sister." I took a more stubborn and defiant attitude when  I said "No, I dont. You dont know what my sister looks like".  Thats when he told me to go sit in the front office on a bench, before I was sent home :(