Remember?
Bauer's Irving St Rahway by Lloyd Garrison
Koos Bros.
Childhood memories; 45 rpm spindles, Green Stamps, Metal ice cubes trays with levers, Beanie and Cecil, Roller-skate keys, Cork pop guns, Marlin Perkins, Drive in Movies, Drive in restaurants, Car Hops, Studebakers, Topo Gigio, Washtub wringers, The Fuller Brush Man, Sky King, Reel-To-Reel tape recorders, Tinkertoys, Erector Sets, Lincoln Logs, 15 cent McDonald hamburgers, 5 cent packs of baseball cards, Penny candy, 25 cent a gallon gasoline, Jiffy Pop popcorn, 5 cent stamps, Gum wrapper chains, Chatty Cathy dolls, 5 cent Cokes, Speedy Alka-Seltzer, Cigarettes for Christmas, Falstaff Beer, Burma Shave signs, Brownie camera, Flash bulbs, TV Test patterns, Old Yeller, Chef Boy-AR-dee, Fire escape tubes, Timmy and Lassie, Ding Dong Avon calling, Brylcreem - "A little dab'll do ya!", Aluminum Christmas Trees
If you can remember most or all of these, then you have lived!
Barry DeReamer 64
Do you remember?
Class of '71 Boys only: Do you remember the "Newark" style of dress? It included "High Roll Collars, with "bones" to adjust the collars!" Featherweight Shoes" ... sometimes called- Stub Toes? Burgundy Pants, with shirts colored "Pink" Purple" or "Bright Yellow" and even pin stripped pants? It really was the Soprano's! Do you remember when you got your ass whupped for wearing white socks? It wasn't easy was it?
Class of '71 Boys only: Do you remember the "Newark" style of dress? It included "High Roll Collars, with "bones" to adjust the collars!" Featherweight Shoes" ... sometimes called- Stub Toes? Burgundy Pants, with shirts colored "Pink" Purple" or "Bright Yellow" and even pin stripped pants? It really was the Soprano's! Do you remember when you got your ass whupped for wearing white socks? It wasn't easy was it?
Kevin Schweitzer 71
Rahway Movies... Do you Remember?
Sure, double features and 35 cents got rid of me for the entire afternoon. My first date: one of the movies was Rob Roy and it took me a movie and a half to get up the courage to hold her hand.
Fast forward a few years... The movie Blackboard Jungle and the song Rock Around the Clock which was my introduction to Rock & Roll, I bounced to the rhythm of that song all the way home that afternoon. That in turn led to such DJ's as Peter Tripp (the "Curley-headed kid in the third row"), Allen Freed, Murray the K and Submarine Race Watching which was done best in Rahway Park after dark but only if you left your parking lights on.
Tom Nolan ‘61
The 5 cent candy bar machine, 15 cent bag of popcorn, 15 cartoons before the featured show, Opening up the side door to let your friends sneak in and having theOld lady chase you around the movie, Cool air conditioned on hot summer days, "The Blob" "Haunted House on a Hill." Eric Southern '70
At one afternoon show, they handed out cardboard push outs to create an object, these were about 4"X4", and at intermission most kids scaled them at the screen, shredding it to Pieces! Edward J. Kaspriske
The German Lady FYI, the old German lady from the theater name was Emila Lochner. She happened to be my husband’s great aunt. Kathi (Miller) Lochner 78
Being a Catholic, I took communion on Sundays, but I had to go to confession on Saturday in order to receive communion, so the (Rahway Movies) ticket taker would let us run over to St. Mary's between features, and we would go to communion, and then run back for the second feature. Wonder how many others did this little trick? Rosalie Livelli Cook '49
Lloyd Garrison's St Mary's Church
Bells & Whistles... Do you Remember?
My sister lived in an old apartment building near Truppa’s just off Irving Street. Boy! Do you remember the racket at noon, first the fire horn, next the church bells from St. Mark’s and St. Mary’s, they battled each other and I think St. Mark's won, then on Saturday... the Air-raid siren.
Ken Lawrence Class of 1983
Ice Skater's in Rahway Park 1960's by Lloyd Garrison (Koos Brother's in background)
Ice Skating… Do You Remember?
While the class of 61 went to school a half a day, many of us went to work. I worked at Mae Moon, made $1.00 an hour, $.80 after taxes. Before I went to work, we were allowed to go to the VFW on Campbell St., to play our 45's to dance and socialize. Hoping other 61ers remember going there.
During the winter we would go ice skating, then Greenfield, the property had a big gully, that would freeze, we put it to good use, then at night we would go to Rahway Park and meet in the little shed, where there would be a fire, no wonder we were all in such good shape, sure got a lot of exercise, did a lot of walking, no computers, sure glad we got them now, look how many people we can keep in touch.
Ruth T. Hardy Lambert 61
Superior Pharmacy, good ole Frank Graf worked there after school, Acme where Witty’s now is, the Foursome Diner where a gas station near drug fair is, Sutton Place, a catalog showroom used to be where Drug Fair is, Witty’s where it used to be before the fire where the Firehouse now is? The smell of burning Christmas trees while ice skating at Milton Lake.
Lynne Melchior 75
Do You Remember?
Walt's Bar & Grill, O'Keefe's, The Aces, 8-cent Belly Bombers, fender skirts, the Union Drive-in, Jan's, Schweede's, Miller's Men's Shop, The Supply Sergeant, Witty's, Bill's Delicatessen, Buyer's, Truppa's Italian Ices, Marks Harris, RAhway 7 -0873, FUlton 8 -0873, LH Martin, WT Grant, McCrory's, Robinson's Hardware Store, Ducoff's, Suds Town, Morton's, Milton Lake, Chicken Delight, Gordon's Lumber yard, Chodosh Oil, Purolator, Wheatena, Quinn & Boden, white gym shorts, wool sweat sox, white Levi's, Amorelli's, Schatzman's, Spalding (Spaldeen) High Bouncers, Pennsy Pinkies, pink bellies, Goobers, Keds, Flag Flyers, ripple soled shoes, Thom McCann, Robert Hall, the Acme, Crazy Otto, Big Stash's, Tito's, 27 cents-per gallon gas at Hess, Miller Pontiac-Cadillac, the Cross Keys Hotel, Hullabaloo, Jackson's, Butch's, and reversible Rahway jackets?
Scott Smith 65
Do You Remember… Mr. Berger?
Some of us never realized what some of our teachers did to help others. I had Bob Berger first period for history. He would take money from his pocket and give it one of the guys so they could get some food for the class the next day.
Years later Mr. Berger and I were doing a basketball game together. I told him how nice it was of him to buy food for the class. He looked at me and said "Some of those kids had very little food at home." Mr. Berger fooled around with us but there was more to the man than I ever knew.
Joe Cerchiaro 63
Do You Remember?
Greetings to all RHS grads, but especially those from 1960 (I was a sophomore and a full day of RHS) to the class of '65 (and those lovely girls who thought the downtown library was the place to be on weeknights).
To the members of the Class of 62, we remember the numerous pranks--62 in beer cans, the Hillside painting, along with the parties and fun.
As time passes some may say immature, some will say hilarious, and some will say the best years of our lives.
The passing of Paul Caravella leaves a void as another really good person has moved on... The death of Ed Dykes, who inspired me to a very fulfilling career following in his footsteps, leads me to reflect on the thoughts of others who have written here.
I attended the reunion in October 2008. It was excellent, but we need more of you. Those I saw in Point Pleasant in 2007, along with those who have corresponded via e-mail since (and you all know who you are), I hope you get the same bounce in your step that I do talking.
Many of you will not attend in Rahway in 2008. But, we need to share the memories and the fun. I see names listed of people who I remember more than they remember me. Girls who were my "secret and un-acted on love" and guys who had the athletic ability I desired. Let’s find everyone we can from all the classes. Let’s get e-mail addresses known and you all can write people. Class of '62, let’s bring back those special times. For all of you who shared a ride in the little pink Ford-Rahway High forever.
Dave DeReamer 62
Woody’s Field Goal 1962… Do You Remember?
Talk about winning a football game, it was in the Fall of '62 when Bill "Wietry" Wietrzykowski , Old Mr Football himself, kicked a game winning field goal, with little time left on the clock, to defeat Hillside 9-7.
It was one of the greatest sports stories that year. Old number "70" came through. We also can't forget Mike Toth who drove the team down the field so "Wietry" could kick the 27 yarder.
Joe Cerchiaro 63
Lincoln School
Lincoln School… Do You Remember Lincoln School?
MEMORIES, I have so many… Leaving Richard Blvd., to walk down Nicholas Pl. to walk with Cathy Fritts, Tom Hoagland, Jerry Finelli, to go to Lincoln School, 3rd and 4th gr., seemed like such a long walk, but with friends was not long enough.
Then Madison School opened, that's when I missed the walk. So, Mr. Palisi, I read you’re looking for some of the early students, this is "ROOFY", class of "56", and I have the original yearbook, 7th gr. Then, we went to the, "BIG HOUSE” Rahway High School, and became the Class of 1961.
Fond memories of my 13th birthday party, pizza, in Kenilworth, my date were Hugh Edwards. Could never forget Ron Kennedy, lost him to Mary Blaut, and Howie Rhodes, still have the letter inviting me to a birthday party.
I married Bob, class of "58", 4 kids, 43, 39, twins 34, nobody married, no grandchildren, I still live at the same address.
Does anyone out there in cyber space remember any of my POOL parties, and music by Frank Stiso and Pug Hathaway?
Now, look, what this site has gone and done, and you know what, it feels good. Just turned "65" and it feels good too.
To ALL, that read this, good for us, and to the ones who can't, we miss you, Pappy Kuhlman, was a neighbor, our class advisor, and a teacher to all my kids, did anybody go to Maine with him in the summer, all my kids did. A bit long, too bad....LOL
Ruth T. Hardy (Lambert) 61
Do You Remember?
Ruthie's message brought back some memories for me....Slim Jim ties, St. Mary's dances on Friday, high school dances on Saturday, oh so S..L...O...W dancing in the gym, and those glory days of Rahway football with Art Petrov, Joe Williams, Bob Scarpitto and beating Westfield 40-0, cruising Walt’s when we finally got our driver's license.
Bauer’s after church and sometimes INSTEAD of church (10:00 mass in the balcony of the gym at St. Mary's.) Spending summers at the pool at Rahway River Park. My first car, a '52 Ford, 20 Rahway jackets on a bed at a party and hoped you got the right one back afterwards. My first tux (thanks Elaine), the guys I walked to school with: Freddie, Jackie Cibrian, Richie Gould, Dick Sammond, Glen Wright, John "Frenckie" (can't recall his last name), Jim Major.
So many names come flooding back: Chris Williams, Thyra Morf, Jerry Finelli, Carol Morgan, Elaine Murphy, etc. where are you all?
Tom Nolan 61
Dembling's Ad & Writeup in New York Herald Oct. 1948 "click on photo to enlarge"
Dembling’s… Do You Remember?
Hi folks Ken Lawrence of the class of 1983 here. Two very different questions; First Dembling’s, when I lived at 727 West Grand Ave., I was right across from it. My mother used to buy these really great little minute steaks from there that had little pats of butter as part of the package. They were about the size and thickness of a Hamburger. Did anyone work there and did you ever buy those steaks?
My second question under the “where are they now” category is; Are any of my old CB radio friends on the site? Looking for Cathy, Road angel, Kim Gumdrop, Lisa Seeker, and Nancy Foreigner they all hung out on CB channel 20 in the winter and spring of 1977. Do any of you remember California Devil? Yeah that's me! The blind guy who introduced Cathy to Stevie Wonder's songs in the key of life, you had a copy and never listened to it till you put it on while we talked on the Radio. Yeah, you liked it!
Ken Lawrence 83
More on Dembling’s… Do You Remember?
I will take the conversation of Dembling's one step further. When my mother shopped there, you were given a pencil shaped stamp, each stamp had a letter A to Z, no grocery carts, you walked through the store picked your item, stamped it, put it on a conveyer belt that went to the cashier and they put your groceries in a small basket. Even when the store got bigger, and had carts, they did not dismantle the conveyer system.
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES, RHS ALUMNI
Ruth T. Hardy (Lambert) class of 61
The biggest hit of our graduation summer of '65 were The Rolling Stones' "I Can't Get No Satisfaction."It topped the chart for four weeks until Herman's Hermits' "I'm Henry VIII" knocked it off the top slot. It was followed by number #1's in The Four Tops' "I Can't Help Myself," Sonny & Cher's "I Got You Babe," and the Beatles' "Help!"
Rock N Roll History Compliments of Scott Smith ‘65
Del Shannon is a key figure in rock and roll’s transition from the Fifties to Sixties, serving as something of a link between Elvis and the Beatles. He was among the relatively few self-reliant rock and rollers of the Teen Idol era. He wrote his own material, played guitar and sang, and did not project a manufactured image. Shannon turned out a solid run of hits during the first half of the Sixties, including one bonafide classic ("Runaway") and seven more Top Forty singles. He also gave and received influence from the up-and-coming bands of the British Invasion, including the Beatles.
An early fan of Hank Williams, Shannon (who was born Charles Westover) picked up the guitar in his pre-teen years. After serving in the army in Germany, he returned home and formed his first band, the Midnight Ramblers, who became regulars at the Hi-Lo Club in Battle Creek, Michigan. It was here that Shannon worked up his first and most famous hit, “Runaway.” This minor-keyed classic from 1961-which occupied the #1 spot for four weeks and has been covered by more than 200 artists-possessed two distinctive qualities that became signatures of Shannon’s sound: his frequent use of a forceful falsetto and band mate/co writer Max Crook’s solo on the “musitron,” a high-pitched electric organ. “Runaway” made an overnight star of Shannon, who suddenly found himself performing on package tours with the likes of Jackie Wilson and Dion.
With assistance from fans and fellow musicians like Jeff Lynne, Dave Edmunds and Tom Petty, Shannon recorded sporadically in the Seventies and Eighties. The Petty-produced Drop Down and Get Me (1981) yielded a Top Forty hit-Shannon’s first since 1965-with his cover of Phil Phillips’ “Sea of Love.” After working steadily on the oldies circuit, Shannon recorded Rock On! With musical accompaniment by Petty and the Heartbreakers, among others, and with the album nearly completed, Shannon-who’d suffered bouts of depression and alcoholism dating back to the Sixties-committed suicide in 1990.
TIMELINE
December 30, 1934: Charles Westover (a.k.a. Del Shannon) is born in Coopersville, Michigan.
1959: Del Shannon forms his first band, the Midnight Ramblers.
April 1, 1961: “Runaway,” Del Shannon’s first single, hits #1 in both the U.S. and the U.K.
July 1, 1963: Del Shannon’s version of the Beatles’ “From Me to You,” which he’d learned while touring with them in England, becomes the first Lennon-McCartney song to make the U.S. singles chart, reaching #77.
February 1, 1965: Peter & Gordon’s rendition of the Shannon-penned “I Go to Pieces” and Del Shannon’s own “Keep Searchin’ (We’ll Follow the Sun)” both make the Top Ten.
May 1, 1965: At the height of the British Invasion, ‘Del Shannon Sings Hank Williams’, a tribute album to the late country & western legend, is released.
October 1, 1969: Del Shannon’s first outside production —"Baby, It’s You,” by Smith—becomes a Top Five smash.
June 1, 1973: ‘Live in England’, recorded the previous year by Del Shannon, is released.
October 1, 1981: Tom Petty, an avowed Del Shannon fan, produces the comeback album ‘Drop Down and Get Me’. It yields a Top Forty hit in Del Shannon’s cover of Phil Phillips’ “Sea of Love.”
February 8, 1990: Del Shannon dies of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at home in Santa Clarita, California.
March 1, 1991: ‘Rock On!’, the album that Del Shannon had been working on at the time of his death, is posthumously released.
March 15, 1999: Del Shannon is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the fourteenth annual induction dinner.