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David Mitchell

Joe,

I remember the old Port Columbus well. we used to go our and pick up my Uncle Herb arriving from Los Angeles (by way of Chicago on a "tail-dragging" DC-3). If I recall correctly, there were three gates - gate#1, gate#2, and gate #3. and we could go out to the gate and stand behind the cyclone fences as the passengers walked down the ramp and across a stretch of the tarmac. I understand the tower is now (or soon to be) a historic landmark. 

As for Union Station, I took a train out or there several times, but the best connection for Chicago was to drive to Marion and take the train from there. Union Station was a glorous historic piece of architeture until Mayor Moody (I think?) had it torn down to make way for the (old) "new" convention center and Hyatt Hotel. He knew that a federal judge was about to issue an order to halt the planned demolition the following day, because the National Trust for Historic Buildings had pledged millions in restoration funds. So he sent the demo crew out at midnight before to begin the demolition. One of the dumbest decisions in Columbus history, not to mention that first attempt at a convention center was a poorly designed joke of a building. 

Jim,

You were saying something about single Latin females? Now you're talkin' my language.

Lawrence Foster

Joe,  I did take that train out of Columbus in December 1966 when I was headed to Ft. Sam Houston Texas for my medical trainiing.  It was a 36 hour trip through Indy, St. Louis, south down the Missipi river for a while and then over to Dallas.  There wasn't quite the expressed anger for military folks at that time.   Met some nice folks and had some good talks.  A few years later Arlo Guthrie's song "City of New Orleans" was popular and it always reminds me of that trip.

Speaking of music and the discussion about it on earlier posts, I enjoyed folk music and its variations. Simon and Garfunkel come to mind first but also The Highwaymen (Gypsy Rover and Michael, Row the Boat Ashore), Judy Collins, the Kingston Trio, New Christy Minsterals, Donovan, and Joan Baez jump up too.   Couple times when I was stationed in New Jersey I made it up to NYC and Greenwich Village and enjoyed some of the music there in the bars and on Washington Square.

But folk music wasn't all I got to enjoy in NYC.  One Christmas time, probably 1968, one of the officers I worked with had tickets to the NYC Ballet production of the Nutcracker that he and his wife could not go to.  A buddy of mine had a car and so we went.  I had been familiar with that score and some other classical music in things like the Lone Ranger, the Bugs Bunny cartoon "What's Opera Doc?" and a Gilligan's Island show where they spoke/sang some Shakespeare lines in an opera format.  But it might have been the visual sights of the ballet (such as the the Christmas tree growing from 12' to 60' when part of the stage floor opened and the elevators beneath raised the tree up) that most captured my imagination.   Over the years I have found some DVDs of the later productions of the Nutcraker and I have enjoyed those.   One was the Pacific Northwest Ballet's production where the stage and costumes were designed by Maurice Sendak (author of "Where the Wild Things Are") and the other was the Baryshnikov and Kirkland 1977 production.

Re-reading this I see that I have taken another train ride in my mind.  We're pulling into a station now.  I'll keep going on in my mind but you all are welcomed to make your own connections.  I'll see you at another stop on down the way.      

Janie Albright (Blank)

Several have commented on the detailed memories some of you have. And just general knowledge. Amazing!  I'd say we have have some savants in our class! 

Joseph Gentilini

I think that Denis' wishes to be intured at the Arlington National Cemetery is so appropriate and fitting.  Just wanted to say that.  Peace,  Joe G

David Mitchell

Larry,

I love it!

Even before I read that far down in your post, I was thinking  "The City of New Orleans". One of my all-time favorite songs.

"Good mornin' America how are you?"

I always thought it was written by Arlo Guthrie, or John Denver, or Willie Nelson. But apparantly it was Steve Goodman. Still some of the best song lyrics ever written. 

Also makes me think of Country Charlie Pride's  "Is Anybody Goin' to San Atone? Er Phoenix Arizona?" (which Fred and I commented on about a thousand posts ago)

David Mitchell

Larry,

Fred Clem

Up until the early 50's, Major League Baseball only extended west to St. Louis (2 teams: the Cardinals and the Browns).  The Browns relocated and changed their name to the Orioles.

Their mode of transportation was mostly by rail.  Teams owned their own cars and they would be attached to the rear of a regularly scheduled train to get to the next city.  It wasn't until the Giants & Dodgers moved to California that flying  became a necessity.

My dad worked for the Pennsylvania RR @ Union station.  Sometimes he would take my brother or me to work if there was a small number of trains due that shift.  One night there was a train headed to NYC and the Cardinals were travelling with it.  Four bright shiny cars with the Cardinals perched on a bat logo on each one. Some players got out and my dad pointed to one and said "that's Stan Musial".  I was about 9-10 and had no idea who Mr. Musial was.

Timothy Lavelle

Mark - what do you think about a story on Edith Bolling?

Jim - thanks and at first I thought you meant Tacoma. After re-reading, it was "a coma". Much the same really. And, Yes, in a way.

A joke from Lynn Royer:

Why did the parrot wear a raincoat?

So she could be poly-unsaturated.

Mark Schweickart

Tim,

Thanks for the suggestion about Woodrow Wilson's wife. Something to think about researching.

Since this may seem like a mysterious exchange to the rest of you, I think the reason Tim is suggesting this to me is that awhile ago I wrote a one-woman play he liked about the life of Jessie Benton Frémont, the wife of John C. Frémont who led a quite extraordinary life, every bit as amazing as that of her husband--the Pathfinder Explorer, Senator, Presidential candidate, strike-it-rich goldminer, Union Army Civil War General--a won it all, lost it it all life. If any of you would like to read a copy of my play, let me know, I would be happy to send it to you. Just send your email address to me at sparto@ca.rr.com. and I will shoot you a PDF of the script.

Janie Albright (Blank)

FYI I loved the Jessie Benton Frémont script!  I think a lot of you will enjoy this about a very strong woman. 

David Mitchell

Fremont - Interesting man to be sure. I trust Dave Fredericks will agree.

This is from the 1898 "Trans-Mississippi" issue - a group of 9 stamps ranging from one cent to two dollars picturing scenes of the West, based on the great Frederick Remington's art. The series was issued to commemorate the "Trans-Mississippi Exposition" held in Omaha Nebraska during the summer and fall of 1898 - sort of a World's Fair to showcase the development of the West. This series is only the second set of commemoritve stamps issued by the U.S. Postal Service (after the famous "Columbian Exposition" series of 1893). I have a couple of sets of these in used condition - not Mint. These early stamps with their gorgeous engraving are some of my life's treasures. And as I said before, I learned most of my History and Geography through this wondeful hobbie that I shared with my dad and John Jackson. 

Date Issued: 1898-06-17 Postage Value: 5 cents Commemorative issue Trans-Mississippi Exposition

John Charles Fremont on the Rocky Mountains An explorer, politician, and soldier, John Charles Fremont is best known for his western explorations of 1842-44. In 1842 he was given the task of surveying the Oregon Trail up the Platte River. His second expedition led to results that solidified his fame. On this trek he circled the least-known parts of the West: from the Colorado Rockies to the South Pass, northwest to the Columbia River, south along the Cascade and Sierra Nevada ranges into California, and south before turning east across the desert to near Salt Lake City. His work proved the existence of Salt Lake and that the South Pass was the best route across the mountains.

David Mitchell

Like I've always said, nothing stops a good conversation like a blue 5-cent stamp with a guy nobody's ever heard of on the picture. 

Should we go back to telephone exchanges? That was really fascinating.

Beth Broadhurst (Murray)

David

This maybe a short conversation between you and me but I collected stamps with my dad. I still have his and my collections. I do have a mint set of these of my dads and I think one of my own. I haven't looked at it in years. So you've got me dragging them out! My dad always collected first issues and blocks too. I use go Downtown to buy stamps at Lazarus of all places as they had a counter. The old stamps were so beautifully detailed----nothing like it today!

David Mitchell

Beth,

Girl, you've been holding out on us!

I still have my dad's 1921 Scott Worldwide Album (with tattered cover). And his little brother's 1922 Scott's Junior Album - with all their stamps still in them. I also got into "plate blocks" and "First Day Covers". Aside from the wonderful little shop in Grandview, the stamp and coin counter at Lazarus was really cool. If I recall correctly, it was on the sixth floor where the toys were (wonderful toy dept. - all year round). I had been dragged around that store many times by my mom and she would always "reward" me for being good by taking me up to the toy department at the end of our day's shopping. And whenever I got tired and whinny, she would hold that over me, "we won't be able to go up to the toy floor if you can't behave."

Isn't puberty when you graduate from toys to stamps & coins? I know there was some change that came over me when I started skipping the toys and heading straight for the stamps instead. I used to stand there and fantasize about being able to afford my very own 1916-D Mercry Head Dime. Ahh, but soon came Annette Funicello, and Kathy Shanahan and Barbara Boggs, and then Paula Masinelli, (and Elizabeth Taylor and eventually Raquel Welch), and one dream gave way to another. 

But now stamps are interesting again. Hmmm, could there be a message here?

Mark Schweickart

Dave,

I love your comment about the progression from toys to stamps to Raquel Welch and now back to stamps again. Very funny.

By the way,  regarding the stamp showing Frémont on top of a mountain in the Rockies, you might find it interesting to know that it was not actually an American Flag he was waiving. He did not want to antagonize Indians while on this decidedly non-militaristic exploring expedition, so his wife Jessie, made him a special flag that had the familiar alternating stripes, but where the stars normally are in the corner, she added a curve of stars above and below an Eagle holding an Indian peace-pipe in its talons. She also had a very different take than one might imagine about John's going well out of his way to climb a mountain that he nearly fell off. But I will leave that opinion unstated here, as an inducement for you to read my play. Her flag is now in the Autrey Museum collection here in Los Angeles, but is unfortunately not on display. However, a replica of it is on display at the small Campo de Cahuenga Museum here, (now somewhat ignominilously hidden away in the parking lot of Universal Studios amusement park, aaargh!). This is the site where Frémont signed the treaty that ended the fighting here in Los Angeles during the Mexican-American War.

Oh, and Janie, thanks for the thumbs up review!

David Mitchell

Mark,  I knew that!

David Fredericks

Dave and Beth...I too made many Saturday morning trips to visit the Lazarus stamp counter.  I think it was on the fifth floor.  Those were the good old days when a gradeschool youngster could hop on the bus and ride downtown without fear of danger. The only fear I had was forgetting to get a transfer ticket at Jeffery Place, as I was coming from/going to Worthington.  I can still picture those sparking overhead wires above the buses.  I agree the US engraved stamps of old were truely beautiful works of art, and the subject matter seemed significant for the most part (excepting a poultry industry stamp with a rooster??).  Plate blocks and first day covers were popular with most young collectors.  Remember taping four pennies to a letter to the postmaster requesting a stamp and a first day cancel on a self addressed envelope?  Check out your penmanship on those 1960 era covers. 

Joseph Gentilini

  David, your message brought back many memories, especially the trips to Lazarus.  Often I would go with Ray Vaughan.  I think the coin counter was on the 5th floor also. Ray was always buying something and I'm sure we ate in one of the restaurants in Lazarus.  Thanks for the memories.  Joe

James Hamilton, M. D.

Kathleen Wintering (Nagy)

Trips to Lazarus on the bus- great memories!  I used to go shopping  downtown with friends on the bus. Amazing how safe it was then. That was before we had suburban malls. And the only movie house was the RKO, I believe it was called. Kathy Wintering

David Mitchell

Kathy,

Oh yes, the RKO Palace - with it's huge splendid balcony. But also across that Street was Lowe's Broad (where they once had live shows, and my dad, a high school stage hand, once got autographs from the two live performers, young Fred Astaire, and his lovely dance partner, Ginger Rodgers). I saw many movies at the "Lowe's Broad" as well as the Palace. But wasn't the "Ohio" also a "Lowe's" movie house at one time? I'm sure there was a third movie house down there..... FRED?????  (and I don't count the old "Southern")

And remember, "Ushers"? They wore uniforms, asked for your tickets, and led you to your seats - sometimes with a flashlight if the house lights had been lowered.

The Palace marks a special memory for me. It was where I was taken to my first movie, Disney's 1952 re-release of "Snow White and the 7 Dwarves". We actually had to wait in line out on Broad Street (same with "Oklahoma" and "The Ten Commandments").

What an evening! I loved the dwarves, but was so terrified by the "Wicked Witch" that I screamed and got down beneath the seats whenever she came on the screen. My mom finally had to hold me against her chest with a tight grip and me facing away from the screen to restrian me. Imagine a 4 yr-old getting through a night of one main feature, newsreels (with Lowell Thomas), cartoons, and then a second feature? I think they must have walked me to the men's room 3 or 4 times that night.

But that second feature was significant in my life. It was a film called "Wild Blue Yonder", about the B-29s in WWII (my dad had been a flight surgeon with a B-29 squadron in WWII in India, China, and Tinian). It starred Wendell Corey, Forrest Tucker, and Phil Harris. It is considered one of the worst movies ever made as it has never been ported over to video. But I was awestruck by the flying scenes. I recall sitting there transfixed, with my mouth open (as my mother reminded me many times later) and I really think that was the moment my life-long dream of flying took root. The hook was in so to speak, and I never got over the "disease". But it took me 15 years to get myself into a cockpit of my own. (and it was slightly different than a B-29 - lol)

Jim,

How I remember those lady models in the Chinz Room! Mom would take me (and sometimes my sisters or her mother) in there, and those ladies were always stopping at our table and smiling at me. I was only 4 or 5, maybe 6, and I would get so embarrrassed. 

And those bus rides. Mom would drop me down on High Street near Cooke Road, or later, I would walk down to the Glenmont turn-around, and ride alone on those buses with the electric arms reaching up to the overhead wires - how cool was that!  Later, I would often ride the bus that came up Third(?), or Fourth(?) from downtown and cut over to Indianola (much closer to my house) after working nights at my dad's medical office downtown. 

And does anybody remember the "Elevator Operators"?

At Dad's old office in the (Art Deco 22 story) Beggs Building across from the Statehouse on State Street, we had two wonderful "operators" - Roy, and Mary - who wore fancy uniforms with braided epilets and brass buttons, and those big "military" hats -- and white cotton gloves!  They knew every regular tennant by name and would always say "evening Doc" to my dad aswe enter teh elevator.Then they pulled first the main door, and then the "cage" door closed (or do I have that backwards?). And up we went as they turned that little round shinny brass wheel with a handle sticking out. 

James Hamilton, M. D.

David Mitchell

And to think, even Lazarus closed a few years ago - after what - 150 years!  I read somewhere that it was the first department store ever to have escalators!  My grandmother worked there, my first wife worked there. I will never forget those wonderful Christmas window displays, with trains, dolls, and toys galore. 

Does anyone remember the Christmas Santa they had? I think Clare showed us a photo of her on his lap at about age 5 maybe? (back many posts ago on this Forum). I remember lining up for what seemed like forever to get to be up on his lap. Tthey started running it on the eveing news. I waited so patiently for the news that night and I was the last kid in line. They cut off the newsreel just as I walked into the picture. I threw a fit in front of my parents because they didn't show me on his lap.

Fred Clem

I remember the downtown Lazarus well.  My favorite stop was also on the fifth floor, the Coin Shop.  My parents would save old coins they took in at our grocery store.  It was mostly dimes and quarters with an occasional silver dollar.  I would then take them downtown to check their worth.  

I really got the tour of Lazrus in 1970 when I started with the city.  The fourth and fifth floors had major food production facilities behind the scenes.  There were numerous scales in use which had to be inspected annually.  One was a candy kitchen that produced all the chocolates and various roasted nuts Lazarus sold in the first floor candy department.     The other was a large bakery operation that supplied all the restaurants and bake shops with breads, rolls and desserts.

Michael McLeod

The Beggs Building!

Don't know how many stories it was but I remember, in pleasant weather, they had all the windows open! That was where we went to see our dentist when I was a kid: Dr Sigafooth. I swear that was his real name. 

And yes, the display windows at Lazarus during the Christmas season was one of the wonders of my childhood. We'd drive downtown to "see the lights" every Christmas.