eMAIL inBOX ~ SAFARI LAND RESTAURANT ~ HARRY JARKEY ~ LITTLE HARRY'S RESTAURANT ~ RAYMOND MEURER ~ MUIRHEAD'S TOY DEPT ~ GRAYDON GOSS / BOB DALE ~ LOVIN' THE MEMORIES ~ HOTEL PARK SHERATON ~ THE MARVELETTES
It's a crossword containing 49 of Detroit's Indoor Theaters.
All were operating in the 50s, 60s and 70s...and some are still open.
All were in the city of Detroit proper.
SAFARI LAND RESTAURANT
Hi Eileen,
Great story and interview with Harry Jarkey (March 2011 issue). I have wondered often what happened to him. Back around 1957 at Pleasantview Elementary School in East Detroit, one of my kindergarten classmates was Juliana Jarkey, Harry's daughter. It was only natural, I supppose, that our class took a field trip to Broadcast House for a visit to Harry's show. I do remember some parts of the trip, including Ricky the Clown entertaining us and looking at myself in a monitor trying to figure out how I got on TV. My big memorable moment was when Soupy Sales came out of his dressing room to talk to us and patted me on the head. Strange memories of a six year old...
I am happy to see that Mr. Jarkey is doing so well these days, and thanks to you for bringing this info to your web friends.
Fred Jorgensen
Pahrump NV
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The Roostertail, circa 1960s
Eileen,
What a wonderful site you've created! I saw Harry Jarkey's piece where he mentioned the Roostertail. I think there are a lot of people who not only have great memories of it and the hydroplane races, but also the UpperDeck and the Motown Mondays. Hope to see you at the Roostertail sometime!
Diane Schoenith
Owner, The Roostertail
St. Ladislaus 1962
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Eileen,
The video of Harry Jarkey was precious! It brought back so many great memories for me that tears were streaming down my face. May God bless this wonderful 90+ man. Eileen you are doing so much good for people who want to go back to the "good old days." Keep it up.
Just saw the photo of my sister, Jan Carter, and me inside our Quonset Hut. The photo above was not taken at Conner and Gratiot (all the way to Warren). Ours did not have the overhang and were not so close together. There is a quonset on a business lot on
I didn't know there were quonsets on the west side too, so maybe that's where this was taken.
Keep up the good work. I am always telling someone about the Detroit Memories website.
Linda Ritzert Scope
Washington Township MI
LITTLE HARRY'S RESTAURANT
In last month's issue (March 2011), Lee Dixon inquired about a gentleman he'd known and lost touch with. I'm pleased to say the mystery has been solved.
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Eileen,
The gentleman Lee Dixon refers to was Raymond Meurer, an attorney who handled the franchising of The Lone Ranger, The Green Hornet and other properties owned by George W. Trendle. He eventually owned the characters as part of Trendle-Campbell-Meurer Productions. Meurer died in 1974.
Many compliments on your continued efforts with Detroit Memories.
I noticed the question regarding Ray Meurer. He was one of the original owners
of The Lone Ranger, The Green Hornet and Challenge of the Yukon. If you listen to one of the old radio shows, at the very end, our late friend Fred Foy will refer to them as "a copyrighed feature of Trendle-Campbell-Meurer Incorporated."George Trendle owned WXYZ radio, Alan Campbell was the VP of Sales, and Meurer was their attorney and part owner.
For anyone interested in this part of Detroit history I highly recommend Dick Osgood's book: WYXIE Wonderland - The Unauthorized Diary of a Radio Station." However, it's now out of print and a collector's item.
One last point: All three of those programs were originated and written by Fran Striker. Trendle paid him about $10 a script.
Ray Meurer (he always insisted that I call him "Ray") was very nice man who gave me a lot of guidance and inspiration. Thank you for the information. It really triggered some memories. WOW!
I just joined your site and thought you might find this menu interesting. I don't have a picture of the Safari Land Restaurant but I kept a couple of the unique menus from the late '50s. It was located on the corner of Conner and Gunston on Detroit's east side. I lived nearby as a kid — until I-94 went through my parents house on Malcolm and we were forced to move. When I graduated from high school in 1960, my parents offered to take as many friends to this restaurant as dared to go. We only had THREE takers.
Phil Dersam
St. Clair MI
Lowrey HS, '60
RAYMOND MEURER
MUIRHEAD'S TOY DEPARTMENT
Eileen,
I lived in Grosse Pointe my entire life until I moved away
14 years ago. My family was in the fine dining restaurant
business for 50 years in Detroit. We owned Little Harry's,
Cliff Bells, The Golden Lion, The Kingsley Inn, Phillips
Cafeteria, The Showboat, The Old Place (Grosse Pointe),
The King's Table and others.
I would love to see some information on Little Harry's
(2681 East Jefferson, Detroit). It was a local historical landmark, but also on the National Register in Washington, D.C. through the Department of the Interior.
Gail Phillips
Hilton Head Island SC
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Do you have photos or memories of Little Harry's or any of the restaurants mentioned above? EMAIL ME If you have photos, send them to me eileen@detroitmemories.com
I wandered upon the question about the early Detroit TV host who responded to the off camera question “Ready Mr. Dale?” with “Roll ‘Em.”Bob Dale was his stage name; his real name was Graydon Goss.
Graydon was my second cousin, almost 45 years older – my parents’ generation. I still recall seeing him in “Stagecoach” at a small theatre around Detroit. He also did some of the voices on the WXYZ-originated radio shows. He was born in 1906 in Kansas. In 1961, he married and moved to a suburb of Columbus OH where he died in 1992.
Ed Goss
Lombard, Illinois
GRAYDON GOSS / BOB DALE
Eileen --
You sure are good at digging up great memories of my 50+ years in Detroit!
First my dad's famous quonsets and then I see in this issue
(March 2011) a picture of my favorite birthday memory which
was Hedge's Wigwam where every June 6th for about 10 or
more years, my family would ask me where I wanted to spend
my birthday and I always chose Hedge's. Loved the indian
wood atmosphere and, of course, what kid didn't want to go
to a cafeteria? But the best part was their unbeatable
chicken pot pies in a crock. Yummmmmmmm! Then the night
would finish off with my purchase of maple sugar candy in
the gift shop. Bears or soldiers? What a tough choice!
buddies. But, besides the deafening roar of the cars, the
best part was the radio promos throughout the week advertising who would be there like "Color Me Gone" this weekend at "Detroit Dragwayyyyyyyyyy...Sibley at Dix!"
Bill Morton
West Chester OH
LOVIN' THE MEMORIES OF DETROIT
Hi, Eileen,
The photo above is of the crew that served the restaurant atop the Hotel Park Shelton circa 1955. The huge nearby building in the upper right corner is the Maccabees. The downtown Detroit skyline forms the rest of the backdrop. Parts of the Detroit Institute of Arts can be seen through the balusters. There have been many changes to this view since that time.
The gentleman in the white tux jacket and bow tie is my
brother, G. Kenyon Wickman (called Ken) who was the
maitre d'. I don't know the names of any of the others.
Perhaps someone remembers the accordionist.
The others photos (shown in the insets at right) are views around the dining area taken before the restaurant opened for service on that particular day.
Stan Wickman
Livonia MI
HOTEL PARK SHELTON
CLICK ON PHOTOS
TO ENLARGE
Eileen --
Thought you might really enjoy this new site. They also have an iphone app for it. http://whatwasthere.com
Reading about the passing of Gladys Horton (March 2011) reminded me of a book I own and can highly recommend,
since it's the only comprehensive history of the group.
Looks like it's getting tougher to find.
Elizabeth Lowe
Las Vegas NV
THE MARVELETTES
I went to McFarlane Elementary during the 50s. At lunch time, I walked home and had my tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich with Lunch with Soupy.
In the late 60s, I was working at WXYZ-TV as a still photographer. The station produced a 25th Anniversary Special of the Soupy shows. It was amazing to me that I'd watched him as a kid and then as an adult. After the taping, he was brought to my office/darkroom to see what I'd captured. We talked and he loved the photos. Everything was great until I mentioned that I watched his show as a youngster. At that point, it was as though I'd hit him right between the eyes with the age problem. He seemed noticeably shaken. End of visit. Talent never liked to deal with the age thing. We ended up sending the contact sheet of the show to the Detroit Free Press and it was the cover of Detroit Magazine.
Not much of a participater but I read each monthly Detroit Memories Newsletterwith unbridled joy and rememberence. You have filled a huge void in a lot of people's lives and are deserving of any and all accolades directed your way.
I graduated from Cooley in 1951 and worked for "Ma Bell" in Detroit. Chase Sneadwas my best man at my wedding. I met many of the Channel 7 staff through him.
Jerry LaMotte
Garden City MI
FRIJID PINK
THANKS...
EXPORTED FROM DETROIT
While traveling* on I-10 in west Phoenix last month,
I spotted this Dodge truck with a "FROMDET" Arizona license plate
and the "D" in their back window. Of course, I have no idea who the owner is
but maybe they (or someone they know) will see this and come forward.
(*Yes, I took the picture through my windshield.)
If you live outside of MI and have a 'Detroiter sighting,'
snap a photo and email it to me at eileen@detroitmemories.com.
Furnish me with the where and when details and I'll publish it in a future Newsletter.
Eileen,
It was great meeting and visiting with you at the Red Wings-Phoenix Coyotes game on March 5th. Hope to gather with everyone again.
After the disgraceful 3rd period, OT and shoot-out, I walked around the area to let traffic clear. I went into Just Sports and met a guy who'd moved from Southgate MI to Chandler AZ in 2009. Of course, he‘s a Red Wings fan. I passed on information about Detroit Memories, suggested he check it out and maybe join the group for the next outing.
Thanks again for your efforts in putting this event together!
Roberta Humphrey
Anthem AZ
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CLICK HERE for a few more AZ-Detroiter photos from the Red Wings game.
Note to Subscribers: As a rule, I generaly don't publish this type of
information in the Newsletter, but after reading Bob's email,
I felt that some of you might be interested in reading his account
of the event. It also helps us put a 'familiar face' on this tragedy.
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March 15, 2011
Hello Eileen,
Thank you for your concern about my family, myself and Japan. Things here are not so good. Some of the air in the area we live (Zushi City near the American Yokosuka Naval Base, one hour south of Tokyo) has shown small amounts of radiation. We are asked to wear a mask and hat if we have to go out, but it is best to stay inside. The videos of the tsunami are really heartbreaking. The warning about a tsunami came to us quickly as we can set up our cell phones to receive the warning after it is issued. However,
I think, from the time of the warning to when the tsunami hit was about 12 minutes. So, if you were living with an older person it was almost impossible to get to higher ground. It really brings home the importance of family.
I was at the high school where I work in Tokyo on the day of the earthquake. Man, the school buildings were rock 'n rollin'. I have been through many earthquakes in my 25 years in Japan but never have seen anything like that one. It must have lasted about 1 minute and it just kept getting stronger and stronger and stronger. Then came the after-shocks and they came pretty regularly. Another teacher and I ran outside to the sports ground five different times. They only way I can describe it is to say it is like being on a boat that never, ever stops rocking. That's what the ground was like for 35 minutes. Man, that is a trip I hope I never have to take again!
Of course, the trains all came to an immediate halt so I was stuck at school overnight. Howeer, they were well prepared with blankets, food and water. Many people got stuck at the stations overnight. Other people ended up buying bicycles to ride home or walked for a few hours if they lived close enough. Convenience stores, supermarkets and other stores were super crowded but everything was quite organized, no real craziness. We are on six hour rotating blackouts to conserve electricity. The big problem now, and it is a big one, is try to get control of the reactors that are melting down.
It was nice to receive your email because earlier today I was reading the posts in the Detroit Memories Discussion Group about Camp Dearborn (one of my favorite places ever!), Eastland and the Detroit Mounted Police Department and the Hudson's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It gave me a bit of an escape from the current situation we are facing and back to time of my life that was really, really enjoyable. I enjoy the escape that Detroit Memories gives me. My life here in Asia is quite enjoyable, and I also have fond, fond memories of growing up in the wonderful city of Detroit in the 50s, 60s and 70s.
People here always ask me where I am from and everyone knowsabout Detroit (I actually grew up in Oak Park, 11 Mile and Coolidge). They always say something like, "Oh, the car city." Or, "Yes, I know Detroit, Motown, I love the Supremes." They use many, many old Motown songs as background music for TV commercials and it always brings a tear to my eye.
Things are difficult right now but my wife Kazuyo and I feel very fortunate because of what we have compared to the people up north. We don't need anything and we really, really appreciate your thoughts and positive energy and all the help the international community is giving us.
Once again thank you for your concern for Japan.
In peace and love,
Bob White
Berkley HS '69,
DETROIT ROCK 'n' ROLL RADIO
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