Most business dinners aren't very exciting, but the kickoff dinner's program started with a bang. Literally.
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| Men at Old Fashioned Bargain Days kickoff dinner Daily Citizen June 23, 1955 |
Original text:
SOME OF THE PRINCIPALS who aided in making the kick-off dinner last night to inaugurate "Old Fashioned Bargain Days" by Ambridge stores June 30 through July 2: Front left to right: Charles T. Wise, Joe DePasquale, Lawrence LaSpada. Rear: William J. Fedoryk, Al Stevens, David Apple, Eugene Williams, Jack Sterrett, William Curphey, William Merz, Phil Krauss.
After the dinner, Eugene Williams, president of the Ambridge Chamber of Commerce was speaking to the diners, when the police burst into the room and, according to the Daily Citizen, felled Williams, "with a fusillade of cop pistols." Keystone Kop pistols actually. Then stretcher bearers quickly arrived and carried the "wounded" Williams away. The Citizen described the diners as "startled and considerably amused" by the mayhem.
Old Fashioned Bargain Days sales began with a Merchant St. parade of costumed store clerks, led by Burgess Panek.
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Original text:
The Jubilee wooden nickels could be used as currency in Ambridge stores during the celebration, but I suspect that they all were kept as memorabilia or scooped up by collectors. The front of the nickel says, "One Wooden Nickel, Face Value 5¢." The back says, "This wooden nickel is redeemable in cash at the Mellon National and the Economy Banks of Ambridge, PA. on or before June 30, 1955."
Original text:
Store employees and business people wore their old-fashioned costumes. And some stores had old-fashioned displays or special events to bring customers into the store.
Original text:
Original text:
These two amigos posing in the 300 block of Merchant St. are unidentified. If you know who they are, please leave a comment.
Here are some Old Fashioned Bargain Days ads, I'll post more in the next blog article. How many of these businesses do you remember?
More Old Fashioned Bargain Days ads coming!
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* The Melody Ballroom was located at 472 Merchant St.
Old Fashioned Bargain Days sales began with a Merchant St. parade of costumed store clerks, led by Burgess Panek.
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| Burgess Panek and store clerks Old Fashioned Bargain Days parade Daily Citizen June 30, 1955 |
Original text:
BURGESS PANEK LEADS the Old Fashioned Bargain Days parade in a rig that harks back to the pre-automobile stage. Surrounded by clerks from Ambridge stores, attired in 50-years-old styles, the line of march was along Merchant St. when the business places opened for the feast of bargains."
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| Hurdy-Gurdy Old Fashioned Bargain Days parade Daily Citizen June 30, 1955 |
Original text:
EVEN AN ANCIENT HURDY-GURDY was in the Old Fashioned Bargain Days Parade this morning which started from the Borough Building. Left to right: Gene Williams, Sears; Charles Wise, Murphys; in rear of Wise is Dave Apple while at Apple's right is Andrew Hammer, of Krauss Jewelry.
The Jubilee wooden nickels could be used as currency in Ambridge stores during the celebration, but I suspect that they all were kept as memorabilia or scooped up by collectors. The front of the nickel says, "One Wooden Nickel, Face Value 5¢." The back says, "This wooden nickel is redeemable in cash at the Mellon National and the Economy Banks of Ambridge, PA. on or before June 30, 1955."
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| Golden Jubilee wooden nickles Daily Citizen June 22, 1955 |
Original text:
THE FABLED WOODEN NICKEL has become a reality. They are in current circulation about Ambridge in connection with the Golden Jubilee celebration. Round and about the size of a silver dollar, many local people will send them to friends. Distribution will continue today as business places are receiving their allotment. Letters are being received from coin collectors who want one or more for their possession.
Store employees and business people wore their old-fashioned costumes. And some stores had old-fashioned displays or special events to bring customers into the store.
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| Rare GWK car Daily Citizen June 30, 1955 |
Original text:
A RARE AUTO ON DISPLAY -- A 1919 GWK two cylinder car, the only one in America is on display all this week during Old Fashioned Bargain Days at the Davidson's Store, Shoe Department. It was revealed that only two other model cars remain in the world and they are located in Daker, Morocco and Johannesburg, South Africa. Edgar Davidson is behind the wheel while others pictured left to right include Mrs. Ann Vorce, Ann Maravich, Mike Vito, Carol Carrerra and Dorothea Russin.
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| Cowboy George Boyle, Ambridge Theatre manager Daily Citizen June 30, 1955 |
Original text:
COWBOY DESERTS HORSE, GOES MODERN--George Boyle, manager of the Ambridge Theatre, deserted the horse in favor of a modern auto Thursday as he took part in the Old Fashioned Bargain Days parade.
These two amigos posing in the 300 block of Merchant St. are unidentified. If you know who they are, please leave a comment.
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| Two amigos 300 block of Merchant St. July 1955 photo courtesy of Bob Mikush used with permission |
Here are some Old Fashioned Bargain Days ads, I'll post more in the next blog article. How many of these businesses do you remember?
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| Ambridge Chamber of Commerce Old Fashioned Bargain Days ad Beaver Valley Times June 29, 1955 |
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| The David Shop 704 Merchant St. Old Fashioned Bargain Days ad Beaver Valley Times June 29, 1955 |
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| Economy Furniture 440 Merchant St. Old Fashioned Bargain Days ad Beaver County Times June 29, 1955 |
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| Fishers 562 Merchant St. Old Fashioned Bargain Days ad Beaver Valley Times June 29, 1955 |
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| Goorin & Harris 651 Merchant St. Old Fashioned Bargain Days ad Beaver Valley Times June 29, 1955 |
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| Steiner's Old Fashioned Bargain Days ad 564 Merchant St. Beaver Valley Times June 29, 1955 |
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| Stork's Nest 652 Merchant St. Old Fashioned Bargain Days ad Beaver Valley Times June 29, 1955 |
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| Tamers 547 Merchant St. Old Fashioned Bargain Days ad Beaver Valley Times June 29, 1955 |
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| Taylor's Ice Cream Old Fashioned Bargain Days ad Corner Duss Ave. and Merchant St. Beaver Valley Times June 29, 1955 |
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| Terner's 654 Merchant St. Old Fashioned Bargain Days ad Beaver Valley Times June 29, 1955 |
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| The Venger Shop 545 Merchant St. Old Fashioned Bargain Days ad Beaver Valley Times June 29, 1955 |
More Old Fashioned Bargain Days ads coming!
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* The Melody Ballroom was located at 472 Merchant St.
jd aka john domansky
ReplyDeletesomebody should have told george boyle to get his dirty cowboy boot off that new Study Hawk huh?? as much as i was in ambridge theater I do not recall george boyle, was boyleston ave on 14th st & merchant named after his family. always remember the ambridge, there were about 4 ways to get to any seating, luxury inside, 2 balconies & an upper balcony too. great popcorn for a nickel & candy was a nickel too, box of wrapped tootsie rolls, G&P, boston beans, & many more, admit was a dime for many years. saw so many good movies there, saw 1st 3D cowboy, had to duck when a fight happened, things flew right at you. believe tarzan movies were at the state tho. prince had great movies too. saw shirley temple about 1937 or 38 at the penn. outlaw in 48 or so. i see where economy lanes is where the olds caddy dealer was, how ironic, caddy & la salle dealer was below the lanes on 9th st & merchant. i left ambridge 1954 & missed all those fun days, huh?? too bad.
jd aka john domansky
ReplyDeleteforgot the 3D glasses you had to wear, they have them nowadays too.
jd aka john domansky
Deletei see a few nice looking cars in the above photos, 55 olds, study hawk & others, my love for speed spawned a few fast cars too, 57 chevy, a few dodge w/big V8s & more, never mentioned the 2 Honda bikes i had, started w/a 75 360cc rode to work, 20 miles, sold it & sisters son owned a honda shop & said uncle johhny come on down & see what i have for you, an 82 900F bonda in the box yet, a couple years old & selling at a special rate, he had a 750 for me to rest ride, & it was easier than my 360 to handle so i said put it together, & i rode it until about 2010, 1st bike when i was over 40 yrs old, & rode 900 i was in my 70s, had to quit because it was not reliable away from home, bad carbs, while in grand canyon area 2005 or so we were in sedona area & saw a cycle ad people in oak creek canyon, for Honda being run there, so we stopped & talked, they said the 900 was the best bike they made. wow!!
jd aka john domansky
Delete900F HONDA, sorry honda people