04-30-2008
( Reply#: 1974 ) |
Tom J |
Joel:
So glad you have joined us!
I grew up just a few blocks north of that TV shop, but I cannot say that I remember it. I lived two blocks east of Calumet on Woodward Avenue, which was only one block long, the 6400 block. My house was the sixth one north of 165th Street and was on the west side of Woodward.
I hope someone can help you with pictures of the old shop.
Tom
A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days!
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Tom%20and%20Georgeann/img014.jpg[/IMG] |
04-30-2008
( Reply#: 1975 ) |
Joel357 |
Thanks Tom for the response. I grew up in Munster but have always felt I was from Hammond. I grew up on Belmont Place and as you have written, the 60's was really a great time for being a kid. I remember riding our bikes into downtown Hammond. We even went up to Robertsdale a few times. We didn't worry about if we were in harms way. It seemed, to me such an innocent time. My parents and grandparents were so much a part of Hammond history. My grandfather's neighbor, on Detroit Street, in Hammond was Ralph Dunn. My dad, Jack Miner, was good friends with Shep. Shep's ham radio callsign was W9QWN and my dad W9DDA. |
04-30-2008
( Reply#: 1976 ) |
Tom J |
quote:
Originally posted by Joel357
Thanks Tom for the response. I grew up in Munster but have always felt I was from Hammond. I grew up on Belmont Place and as you have written, the 60's was really a great time for being a kid. I remember riding our bikes into downtown Hammond. We even went up to Robertsdale a few times. We didn't worry about if we were in harms way. It seemed, to me such an innocent time. My parents and grandparents were so much a part of Hammond history. My grandfather's neighbor, on Detroit Street, in Hammond was Ralph Dunn. My dad, Jack Miner, was good friends with Shep. Shep's ham radio callsign was W9QWN and my dad W9DDA.
How old are you, Joel? I was born in 1949 and am a 1967 graduate of Hammond High.
Do you by any chance remember my dad, Paul Johnson, the one-armed man at the Minas Parking Garage?
Please, please, please, share some of your memories of Downtown Hammond, since you mentioned that you went there on your bike. Any other memories of Hammond from the 50s or 60s would be great, too. Pictures would be FANTASTIC.
Tom
A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days!
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Tom%20and%20Georgeann/img014.jpg[/IMG] |
04-30-2008
( Reply#: 1977 ) |
Joel357 |
Well Tom I am 51, am part owner of Miner Electronics and grew up in Munster. I graduated from Munster High and graduated from Purdue Cal in 1981.
My memories of downtown Hammond were many and even though I rode my bike alot all over downtown. I do remember taking the bus downtown and going to the theaters to see the afternoon movies. Now I know I am talking as a kid, about 6 years old until 10 or so. I do remember seeing Mary Poppins, when it was in 1963 or 1964, my older sister took me. She was about 11 or 12 and it was an adventure going down town. I think we went to Minas' for lunch and I can still see it in my mind. Sorry, I do not remember your dad, but he sounds like a good man. Remember we took the intercity bus and would have no reason to park at the Minas parking garage. You know in the 60's a kid could go downtown and really not feel in danger. It's too bad kids can't do that now. When I was older, we would go down to Waynes's Trick shop, that was a neat place.
Like everyone on this message board, it depresses me to see how things have gone down hill. The old building my dad's business was located looks like hell. You can still see remnents of the past, like Hammond High, city hall and the Civic Center though. This city and the whole region could come back, Joliet is in the middle of revitalizing downtown.
I think I have said enough for now.
Joel |
04-30-2008
( Reply#: 1978 ) |
Joel357 |
There is another reason Hammond went downhill, besides industry has gone and the railroads, that is River Oaks Mall. Its proximity to Hammond residents made it easy for people to go there. |
04-30-2008
( Reply#: 1979 ) |
Tom J |
quote:
Originally posted by Joel357
There is another reason Hammond went downhill, besides industry has gone and the railroads, that is River Oaks Mall. Its proximity to Hammond residents made it easy for people to go there.
Yeah, Joel, what happened to Downtown Hammond happened to downtowns all over the country. People want the convenience and the low priced merchandise offered by the discount stores. There is no longer any appreciation for the high quality of the merchandise, and there is no longer any value placed on the personal service of stores like the ones in Downtown Hammond of the past.
Tom
A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days!
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Tom%20and%20Georgeann/img014.jpg[/IMG] |
04-30-2008
( Reply#: 1980 ) |
Joel357 |
I told you that my family, the Miner Family, had a lot of history in downtown Hammond. My grandfather organized the Calumet Coach Company and it operated in North Township. It was really a successful business until the Insull Group ran it out of business by running free duplicate buses on their routes. Now that was in the middle 20's. That was only a part of a very interesting life of my grandfather, Harold E. "Doc" Miner. |
05-05-2008
( Reply#: 1986 ) |
svea3 |
Joel
Do you remember the Kessler's whose tv shop was across from Atrim Trucking on Kennedy. It was two doors from Dedelow Van Gorp Plumbing. There was a barber shop and a dad who was also a Hammond cop ran the tv repair shop. Sandy passed away last year, I think. Her brother Robert , a teacher,lives in Wisconsin. Now he would be a possible source for pix.
Linda[8)] |
05-06-2008
( Reply#: 1987 ) |
Bill Bucko |
That was Artim's Trucking, not Atrim's. According to the phone book, it's gone now.
I remember them well because when the wind blew my cowboy hat into Kennedy Avenue and I dashed after it, across from Dog and Suds, it was a semi driver from Artim's who considerately braked and kept from running over the 4 or 5 year old me.
And my 3rd or 4th grade class from Harding went there on a field trip, got to operate a forklift, and were given jelly donuts by the generous owner.
I know this thread was started for television shops, but--speaking of television, surely some of you remember the wonderful UNCLE JOHNNY COONS and his tv program? (I've searched, but have found NO surviving recordings of any sort.) And Garfield Goose? I had an official membership card in his Secret Service. And Captain Midnight? I'm the proud owner of a complete 1957 Secret Squadron membership kit: code book, decoder, membership card, patch, and all. And there was another "Uncle" program--I forget the name of the host, but he regaled us with "Tim Tyler's Luck" and other cliffhanging serials until he was taken off the air for blurting out "ferchrissake" while on the air!
Bill
Warren G. Harding Class of '63 |
05-06-2008
( Reply#: 1989 ) |
RicKoe |
Hello to everyone! I've been enjoying the Hammond forums and will start adding some thoughts beginning with this. Was intrigued with Joel357 commenting on his family's business interests. My sister (13years older then I am) worked for the Miner Dunn Restaurant on Calumet at Summer St. before she graduated from Tech in 1945. At that time, we were living on Summer St. in a house located on what later became Lafayette School property. It was 1945, when we moved to 7046 Harrison St.and I attended Edison School from K. thru 8th, grade. It was about 1950 when my parents purchased their first TV, a 10 inch Emerson console, and I remember it came from a small shop on that section of Calumet Ave, probably the one your family owned. At that time, the men came out to deliver, and also installed the big TV antenna on the roof. In those days, TV sets needed a lot of repairing and adjusting, and the man would come to our house whenever we called in a tiny little car, probably some foreign make. That was before the VW Beetle was all over our country, and that little car was quite unique. Thanks for sharing these memories. I'll be adding more later. |
05-06-2008
( Reply#: 1992 ) |
Tom J |
quote:
Originally posted by RicKoe
Hello to everyone! I've been enjoying the Hammond forums and will start adding some thoughts beginning with this. Was intrigued with Joel357 commenting on his family's business interests. My sister (13years older then I am) worked for the Miner Dunn Restaurant on Calumet at Summer St. before she graduated from Tech in 1945. At that time, we were living on Summer St. in a house located on what later became Lafayette School property. It was 1945, when we moved to 7046 Harrison St.and I attended Edison School from K. thru 8th, grade. It was about 1950 when my parents purchased their first TV, a 10 inch Emerson console, and I remember it came from a small shop on that section of Calumet Ave, probably the one your family owned. At that time, the men came out to deliver, and also installed the big TV antenna on the roof. In those days, TV sets needed a lot of repairing and adjusting, and the man would come to our house whenever we called in a tiny little car, probably some foreign make. That was before the VW Beetle was all over our country, and that little car was quite unique. Thanks for sharing these memories. I'll be adding more later.
RicKoe:
Hey, I grew up on Woodward, so we were not too far apart. I was on the 6400 block of Woodward, which is the ONLY block of Woodward, so I was six blocks north of you. I was two blocks east of Calumet, and you were six blocks west of Calumet, right? Not exactly neighbors, but definitely from the same part of town.
I went to Edison Pool a few times, and I know you must have also spent some time there. Ever go to Bowl Era near the corner of 165th and Calumet? That was only two blocks from my house. How about Fruitland, across the street from Bowl Era?
Are you still in Hammond? I live in KY now.
Tom
A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days!
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Tom%20and%20Georgeann/img014.jpg[/IMG] |
05-06-2008
( Reply#: 1995 ) |
duane |
The building that house ARTIM trucking had the words ARTIM spelled out in the front of the brick building in Glass Blocks. If the building is still there, I'm sure you can still see the glass blocks! |
05-12-2008
( Reply#: 2017 ) |
Joel357 |
Rickoe,
Your sister worked for Miner Dunn when my grandfather was still associated with the company. I don't remember Artim on Calumet Ave, but I do remember Vic Kirsh/Red Top Trucking there. Miner Dunn was started with only $100.00 and my grandma, who's maiden name is Breyfogle, baked pies. I think the vehicle that you were thinking of was a Willy's stepvan. It was small but they used it for deliveries and it was unique.
Joel |
05-12-2008
( Reply#: 2018 ) |
Joel357 |
Linda,
I don't remember the Kessler's unless it was Coach Kessler from Hammond High and it probably was. Dedelow Van Gorp Plumbing, I bet it is the same family of the former mayor. Since I am still a youngster(haha)a lot of these names are familiar but I only have vague memories.
Joel |
07-16-2008
( Reply#: 2135 ) |
Alan Vandever |
Miner-Dunn, I used to date a waitress from there. She was tall and thin. Her name was Donna. I don't suppose anyone remembers her. |
07-16-2008
( Reply#: 2136 ) |
Alan Vandever |
Oh, buy the way, wasn't Uncle Johnny Koons the one that was kicked off the air because he thought the mike was off and he said, "That'll keep the little bastards happy for another day," on the air? |
07-17-2008
( Reply#: 2139 ) |
Bill Bucko |
No, no, a thousand times no! (And it's spelled Coons.)
I don't believe there was ever any scandal attached to the dear old guy. Uncle Johnny Coons was as wholesome and sincere as could be! The articles in the Chicago Tribune archives certainly don't mention any scandal. When he lifted his glass of milk, in commercials, and said to us kids "Here's how," I'm sure he really did drink the sponsor's product every day.
On the other hand, I WAS tuned in, watching, around 1954, as some "uncle" character whose name I don't remember (his show consisted mostly of chapters of old cliffhanger serials, such as "Tim Tyler's Luck"--I remember one scene in which the nasty villain stepped on the hero's fingers, as the good guy hung from the edge of a cliff) hosted a segment on a German inventor with his new "veedless" fishing lure. (This Uncle wore a short-sleeved safari jacket all the time.)
"Veedless?" asked Uncle, uncomprehendingly.
"No, Veedless," replied the inventor.
"VEEDless?"
"NO, VEEDless!"
"VEEDLESS??"
"NO, VEEDLESS!"
"Oh, WEEDLESS!" Uncle laughed, slapping his knee. "AW, FERCHRISSAKE!"
That was the last we saw of poor Uncle for a long time. Off the air! I think he did get his show back, about a year later, though.
Bill
Warren G. Harding Class of '63 |
07-17-2008
( Reply#: 2142 ) |
Alan Vandever |
Hey Bill,
Reading you post got me interested so I looked it up on the net. It was actually Uncle Don who was credited with the outburst. As I read on, I found it never really happened. I've heard about that rumor for many, many years and was surprised to find out it was totally fiction. |
07-18-2008
( Reply#: 2143 ) |
Bill Bucko |
quote:
Originally posted by Alan Vandever
Hey Bill,
Reading you post got me interested so I looked it up on the net. It was actually Uncle Don who was credited with the outburst. As I read on, I found it never really happened. I've heard about that rumor for many, many years and was surprised to find out it was totally fiction.
Uncle Don? That might have been his name. I don't think it was Ray Raynor, this guy was a little more thickset.
But it is NO RUMOR. I SAW IT WITH MY OWN EYES! THE "VEEDLESS" INCIDENT REALLY HAPPENED!
Bill
Warren G. Harding Class of '63 |
05-11-2009
( Reply#: 3062 ) |
tom w |
Hi Gang;
Does anyone remember the incident when Len OConner got kicked off the air for cursing? I was watching that time and remember the whole thing. That was back when newscasters took their jobs seriously. Also, Uncle Jonny was my favorite Lunchtime Little Theater host. His favorite saying was "Heefity Hoofity" I wrote him a fan letter asking when he was coming to Hammond and he sent me a postcard that said Eat Oscar Mayer Weiners. His biography is on the web somewhere, maybe at WGN history or something. Does anyone who ate at Freddy's Steak House remember a waitress named Barbara? Tom W. |
05-11-2009
( Reply#: 3065 ) |
Tom J |
quote:
Originally posted by tom w
Hi Gang;
Does anyone remember the incident when Len OConner got kicked off the air for cursing? I was watching that time and remember the whole thing. That was back when newscasters took their jobs seriously. Also, Uncle Jonny was my favorite Lunchtime Little Theater host. His favorite saying was "Heefity Hoofity" I wrote him a fan letter asking when he was coming to Hammond and he sent me a postcard that said Eat Oscar Mayer Weiners. His biography is on the web somewhere, maybe at WGN history or something. Does anyone who ate at Freddy's Steak House remember a waitress named Barbara? Tom W.
Oh yeah, I remember that! His show was pre-recorded, and they showed the wrong take. He got all tongue tied and then took the Lord's name in vain. They say he was watching from home when his show came on, and he knew they were showing the wrong take, but he couldn't do anything about it.
I don't think he got in any trouble over it. Well, not with the station, anyway, but the Lord wasn't real happy with him, I'm sure.
Tomster
A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days!
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Tom%20and%20Georgeann/img014.jpg[/IMG] |
05-11-2009
( Reply#: 3067 ) |
duane |
quote:
Originally posted by tom w
Hi Gang;
Does anyone remember the incident when Len OConner got kicked off the air for cursing? I was watching that time and remember the whole thing. That was back when newscasters took their jobs seriously. Tom W.
I don't remember the actual incident, but I sure do remember Len Oconner.
Here's another name: PJ Hopf.
He was the weatherman on one of the 3 Chicago network channels. He was also a cartoonist and would draw "Mr. Yell and Cuss" to demonstrate the weather...Mr. Y&C would be angry when it was cold or wet, happy when it was nice. In 6th grade, I was in a science fair and did a project on weather. I wrote to Mr. Hopf and he sent me a lot of info. After winning at the regional science fair, we went to the Field Museum in Chicago and competed there....didn't do too well. Again, I sent the local paper's news clipping with our photo and the story to PJ and he wrote back a very nice letter. He was a good guy, and I think his weather forcasts were far more accurate than the guys today, even though they now have such fancy equipment. |
05-22-2009
( Reply#: 3097 ) |
seejay2 |
quote:
Originally posted by duane
quote:
Originally posted by tom w
Hi Gang;
Does anyone remember the incident when Len OConner got kicked off the air for cursing? I was watching that time and remember the whole thing. That was back when newscasters took their jobs seriously. Tom W.
I don't remember the actual incident, but I sure do remember Len Oconner.
Here's another name: PJ Hopf.
He was the weatherman on one of the 3 Chicago network channels.
There was a team: Fahey Flynn and PJ Hopf...Cj
He was also a cartoonist and would draw "Mr. Yell and Cuss" to demonstrate the weather...Mr. Y&C would be angry when it was cold or wet, happy when it was nice. In 6th grade, I was in a science fair and did a project on weather. I wrote to Mr. Hopf and he sent me a lot of info. After winning at the regional science fair, we went to the Field Museum in Chicago and competed there....didn't do too well. Again, I sent the local paper's news clipping with our photo and the story to PJ and he wrote back a very nice letter. He was a good guy, and I think his weather forcasts were far more accurate than the guys today, even though they now have such fancy equipment.
|
05-22-2009
( Reply#: 3098 ) |
tom w |
Seejay2;
I remember P. J. Hoff and Fahey Flynn. He left Chicago and went to Minnesota. He still did his cartoons too. He had the Vice-president-in-charge-of-looking-out-the-window. I always thought that was why he was such an accurate forcaster, because he looked out the window. LOL tom w |
12-11-2009
( Reply#: 4168 ) |
Jay |
For those of you reminiscing about Chicago television newscasters and weathermen, check out [url]http://www.chicagotelevision.com/newsmen.htm[/url]
Would you believe I found two people selling a P. J. Hoff memorabilia? Check it out at [url]http://cgi.ebay.com/Cartoon-by1950s-Beloved-Chicago-Weatherman-P-J-Hoff_W0QQitemZ180427247613QQcmdZViewItemQQptZArt_Drawings?hash=item2a024d4ffd[/url]
and
[url]http://auction.leonardauction.com/Auction2.0/Catalog?action=details&lotID=32378&auctionID=71&catID=159&sort=0&display=25&displayFrom=0&auctionSession=0[/url] |
12-12-2009
( Reply#: 4171 ) |
Jim Plummer |
I remember seeing Uncle Johnny Coons in Cal City making an appearence on the back of a flat-bed trailer. Some kid climbed up the side of the trailer and Johnny cursed at him to get off. Anybody remember Art Hearn on channel 7 in a Robin Hood outfit or Chuck Bill talking to the 'feather merchants', Two-Ton Baker and The Happy Pirate Show. Baker would show one chapter of a Universal serial at lunch time and Chuck Bill would show the following chapter in the afternoon.quote:
Originally posted by Bill Bucko
quote:
Originally posted by Alan Vandever
Hey Bill,
Reading you post got me interested so I looked it up on the net. It was actually Uncle Don who was credited with the outburst. As I read on, I found it never really happened. I've heard about that rumor for many, many years and was surprised to find out it was totally fiction.
Uncle Don? That might have been his name. I don't think it was Ray Raynor, this guy was a little more thickset.
But it is NO RUMOR. I SAW IT WITH MY OWN EYES! THE "VEEDLESS" INCIDENT REALLY HAPPENED!
Bill
Warren G. Harding Class of '63
|
12-13-2009
( Reply#: 4177 ) |
tom w |
Two Ton Baker also had Aunt Dodie and Squackie the parrot and his porpose (sp?) pal Bubbles. But I watched Uncle Johnny because he had old time movies. Still do. "Heefity-Hoofity" Tom W |
12-13-2009
( Reply#: 4178 ) |
Tom J |
quote:
Originally posted by tom w
Two Ton Baker also had Aunt Dodie and Squackie the parrot and his porpose (sp?) pal Bubbles. But I watched Uncle Johnny because he had old time movies. Still do. "Heefity-Hoofity" Tom W
How did that song go? "Has anybody here seen Bubbles....?" |
12-13-2009
( Reply#: 4180 ) |
BobK |
It may be here http://twotonbaker.com/index.htm
Bob
[img]http://home.comcast.net/~rkekeis/Bob1.jpg[/img] |
12-13-2009
( Reply#: 4189 ) |
Bill Bucko |
quote:
Originally posted by BobK
It may be here http://twotonbaker.com/index.htm
Bob
Wow, THANKS!
"I'm a Lonely Little Petunia in an Onion Patch"-- there's an old favorite I haven't heard in 50 years! And the Riverview Park Theme!
Duh-duh-DUH-duh-da-da
Duh-duh-DUH-duh-da-DA!
Bill
Warren G. Harding Class of '63 |
