Gene's Coffee Shoppe & Dining Room, Thanksgiving Menu, 1929

Gene's Coffee Shoppe & Dining Room
Thanksgiving Menu
ad
Daily Citizen
November 27, 1929

Gene's Coffee Shoppe & Dining Room was in the long-gone Ambridge Hotel, located from 1905 to 1964 on the northwest corner of 8th and Merchant Sts. The restaurant's address was not printed in the ad. I guess everyone in the area knew where it was.

That $1.25 is equivalent to about $19.40 today. Still an attractive price for a complete Thanksgiving meal, but when the average steelworker was making less than $0.68 an hour, and taking home even less, perhaps beyond the budget of the average steelworker's family,

And no pumpkin pie!

Group photo: Divine Redeemer booth, Nationality Days 1966

The first Ambridge Nationality Days was in April 1966. The photo below belonged to the late Eddie Dzubak, Sr. His daughter, Lesabeth Trzcianka, says she believes the photo was taken during that first festival.

left to right in booth: Pat Halicek, Marie Dzubak, Virginia Ochman, Dorothy Roman
Divine Redeemer Church booth
600 block of Merchant St.
Nationality Days
April 1966?
courtesy of Lesabeth Trzcianka and Eddie Dzubak, Jr.

On the left side of Merchant St. you can see Perlman Jewelers, 609 Merchant St.; a business with a sign that looks like it says "Gil's" which I don't remember at all; Lee's Shoppe, 619 Merchant, which sold women's clothing; and Sun Drugs, 625 Merchant.

On the right side, you can make out a bit of the sign of Dr. Alter Steinberg's optometrist office, 608 Merchant; Krauss Jewelers, 610 Merchant; the white building to the left of Krauss was Timney's Appliances, 612 Merchant; and on the left of Timney's was the old Prince Theatre building.

Last year's 50th Annual Nationality Days probably was the last one to be held. There are no plans to hold one this year or in the future. I haven't been to Nationality Days for many years, but I heard it just wasn't the same now that there are fewer ethnic churches to staff the booths and make the food sold at them, fewer ethnic organizations to provide entertainment, and fewer businesses to help support the Chamber of Commerce which sponsored the event.

If you want to read more about Nationality Days:

The debut of Nationality Days, Part 1, May 14, 2014

The debut of Nationality Days, Part 2, May 15, 2014

Nationality Days 1983, May 15, 2015

Ambridge memorabilia: Penn Theatre cookbook

Milady's Style Parade and Recipe Book for 1935
compliments of Penn Theatre
cover
owned by Mary Ann Vlasic Szymoniak

The Penn Theatre once stood on the southeast corner of 5th and Merchant Streets, where PNC Bank is now located. It was one of four movie theaters in Ambridge during the 1930s and '40s. The others were the Ambridge, the State, and the Prince.

Nationality Days 1983

The Ambridge Area Chamber of Commerce's three-day 50th Annual Nationality Days Festival started today, not on Merchant Street in Ambridge as it did for 49 years, but on Duss Avenue in Harmony Township. So this seems like a good time to take a look back at a past festival. Let's do 1983--since I have photos of that year's event.

A "new and improved" Nationality Days debuted Thursday, May 12 through Saturday May 14, 1983. Among the 18th annual festival's "new" features was a new name, "Nationality Arts Festival." In additional to the traditional ethnic food and entertainment, the event added musical, theatrical, and dance performances, plus artists and craftsmen who offered demonstrations as well as items for sale. The festival site on Merchant St. ran from 4th St. to 8th St.

Here's the entertainment lineup listed in the May 8, 1983, Beaver County Times:

Nationality Arts Festival's list of scheduled events
Beaver County Times, May 8, 1983

Racers in the Nationality Arts Festival Classic 10-K on Saturday ran from Northern Lights to Merchant Street via Route 65. Just enough of a distance to work off a few calories from the highlight of every year's festival--the food.

Despite the new arts and crafts, really, the event was, as usual, about the food.

18th Annual Nationality Arts Festival
Merchant Street
May 1983
Laughlin Memorial Library archives
used with permission

18th Annual Nationality Arts Festival
Merchant Street
May 1983
Laughlin Memorial Library archives
used with permission

18th Annual Nationality Arts Festival
Merchant Street
May 1983
Laughlin Memorial Library archives
used with permission

18th Annual Nationality Arts Festival
Merchant Street
May 1983
Laughlin Memorial Library archives
used with permission

18th Annual Nationality Arts Festival
Merchant Street
May 1983
Laughlin Memorial Library archives
used with permission

18th Annual Nationality Arts Festival
Merchant Street
May 1983
Laughlin Memorial Library archives
used with permission

The May 16 Beaver County Times reported on the sales of some of the ethnic food booths:

• Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox: 3,800 pounds of gyro and 1,200 pounds of shish kabob;
• Christ the King: 3,500 Italian meatballs on 1,750 sandwiches, 400 pounds of hot sausage, 400 pounds of shells, and 600 calzones;
• St. Vladimir Ukrainian Church: 44,500 pirogi, 3,744 stuffed cabbages, 100 nutrolls, and enough haluski to use 350 pounds of cabbage;
• Holy Trinity Catholic: 3,600 stuffed cabbages, 350 pounds of kolbassi, 1,400 apple strudel strips, 440 dozen donuts, and used 250 pounds of noodles for cabbage and noodles;
• Scottish White Heather band: 400 pounds of fish and a half ton of potatoes for fish and chips, plus 500 meat pies.

Not listed on the Times' events schedule was the women's body building contest featuring young women who obviously did not partake much at the food booths. Cultural diversity event? Art? Craft?

None of the women are identified in these photos from the Laughlin Memorial Library's Bowan Collection. Are you in the photo? Or do you perhaps recognize your mother? Or your grandmother?

Women's body building contest
18th Annual Nationality Arts Festival
Merchant Street
May 1983
Laughlin Memorial Library archives
used with permission

Women's body building contest
18th Annual Nationality Arts Festival
Merchant Street
May 1983
Laughlin Memorial Library archives
used with permission

Women's body building contest
18th Annual Nationality Arts Festival
Merchant Street
May 1983
Laughlin Memorial Library archives
used with permission

Women's body building contest
18th Annual Nationality Arts Festival
Merchant Street
May 1983
Laughlin Memorial Library archives
used with permission

Women's body building contest
18th Annual Nationality Arts Festival
Merchant Street
May 1983
Laughlin Memorial Library archives
used with permission

If you'd like to read about 1966's first Nationality Days Festival, I wrote about it on May 14 and May 15, 2014.

Ambridge trivia: Did you know...? #4

The Maple Restaurant building was once the Beth Samuel Synagogue.

Maple Restaurant
463 Maplewood Avenue
September 28, 2014

Beth Samuel Synagogue
463 Maplewood Avenue
Program
Beth Samuel Synagogue and Community Center: dedication ceremonies,
May 26, 1963

The Maplewood Avenue building was the Beth Samuel congregation's first permanent home. Previously, the congregation had met in homes, businesses, and the old Ambridge library at 462 Maplewood Avenue. Because the 463 Maplewood building eventually became too small to accommodate the congregation's growing membership, the congregation purchased land on Kennedy Drive (then Latimer Avenue) near 8th Street in 1961 and built a new synagogue and community center, currently called Beth Samuel Jewish Center. 

After the congregation moved into its new home in 1963, they sold 463 Maplewood Avenue to James (Jimmy) Pappas who had been looking for a building in which to open a new restaurant. Pappas opened the Maple Restaurant in August 1963.

Maple Restaurant ad

The debut of Ambridge Nationality Days, Part 2

The first Ambridge Nationality Days were a hit, a huge hit. Not only did the groups running booths make more money than they had expected, the event brought the Ambridge community together like nothing else in memory. Nationality Days were something for Ambridge to be proud of and other communities to envy.

TWO DOLLS - Christine Molchen, 3, of Ambridge, gazes longingly at a doll in the Polish Falcons booth at the Ambridge Nationality Days observance. It is one of the items for sale at the booth.
Beaver County Times, April 29, 1966

PRETTY QUARTET - These four girls from the Polish Falcons booth didn't let the weekend rains hamper their fun in the Nationality Days observance which ended Saturday in Ambridge. From left they are Patty Miloszewski, Ambridge; Linda Ferrence, Hopewell Township; Patty Swiatek, Ambridge; and Debbie Ferrence, Hopewell.
Beaver County Times, May 2, 1966

The enormous success of Nationality Days from its opening morning on took everyone involved by surprise. The April 29, 1966,  Beaver County Times explained the popularity: "Never before in this area were so many different foods available within an area of less than a block."

Theodore Gaydos, the executive secretary of the Greater Ambridge Chamber of Commerce, which sponsored the event, described the turnout for the first day as "fantastic." He said, "Many people have told me this is the greatest thing ever to hit Ambridge." And as an event, it probably was.

Thousands came the first day and bought food from the booths. In fact, by mid-day, the crowds had bought almost all the food from a number of booths, food that was supposed to last the entire three days of the event.

That caught the groups running the booths by surprise. One worker said, "We had what we thought was a three-day supply of food on hand, but most of it was gone by 1 p.m." All of the booths ran out of supplies.

According to the Times, "Many women spent most of last night baking in order to provide fresh stocks" for the second day, when charter buses and a shuttle service were about to bring many more people from out-of-town.

Over its three days, the first Ambridge Nationality Days attracted around 10,000 people, according to a Times article about its 1967 sequel. No one was quite prepared for the amazing 1967 turnout either when 10,000 people showed up the first day.

Here are more of the special Nationality Day ads from some fondly remembered, and some perhaps barely remembered, Ambridge businesses. What impresses me is the willingness of all of these businesses to support Nationality Days, even though some of them were rather unlikely to see an increase in business because of the event.

Want a new kitchen now that you've been inspired to cook all those ethnic dishes you sampled during Nationality Days?

Accent Kitchens ad,
Beaver County Times, April 27, 1966

Altmeyers ad,
Beaver County Times, April 27, 1966

In case you felt the need to pick up some cement blocks during your Nationality Days visit:

Ambridge Cement Block Co. ad,
Beaver County Times, April 27, 1966

If you have any money left after buying so much delicious food at Nationality Days, open a saving account!

Ambridge Savings and Loan Association ad,
Beaver County Times, April 27, 1966

Need a new bed or mattress to rest up after hours visiting the booths or dancing too many polkas?

Ben's Furniture ad,
Beaver County Times, April 27, 1966

Enelow Shoes ad,
Beaver County Times, April 27, 1966

Garvin's Paints ad,
Beaver County Times, April 27, 1966

James Restaurant ad,
Beaver County Times, April 27, 1966

Penneys ad,
Beaver County Times, April 27, 1966

If you don't need anything at Penneys, perhaps some meat from Penny?

Penny Cash Market ad,
Beaver County Times, April 28, 1966

Pittsburgh National ad,
Beaver County Times, April 27, 1966

Terner's Fine Men's Clothing ad,
Beaver County Times, April 27, 1966

Wall's Feed Store ad,
Beaver County Times, April 27, 1966

Singer ad,
Beaver County Times, April 27, 1966

Taylor's All Star Dairies ad,
Beaver County Times, April 27, 2966

Did you have a hard time hearing the Nationality Days music?

Professional Hearing Aid Center ad,
Beaver County Times, April 27, 1966

Saralee's Children's Store ad,
Beaver County Times, April 27, 1966

The debut of Ambridge Nationality Days, Part 1

Ambridge "Nationality Days" ad,
Beaver County Times, April 27, 1966

This weekend, May 16-18, Ambridge will celebrate its 49th annual Nationality Days.

Ambridge held its first Nationality Days celebration April 28, 29, and 30, 1966 (not 1965).* The event was held Thursday though Saturday, not Friday through Sunday because--church! And blue laws meant stores couldn't open on Sundays.

I can't find any mention of a parade that year, but there was a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Ambridge Area High School band at 10 AM on April 28. The April 28, 1966, Beaver County Times reports that "[d]espite cool temperatures and the threat of rain, more than 600 people jammed the 500 block of Merchant Street" for the ribbon cutting. The Times also reported that the unofficial headquarters for the event was in the former Sol's storeroom in the 600 block of Merchant. 

NATIONALITY DAYS OPEN - Arthur W. Pettibon, second from left, Beaver County commissioner, and William D. McClelland, Chairman of the Allegheny County commissioners, clip ribbon officially opening the three-day Nationality Days observance in Ambridge this morning. Others are Mrs. John Kotula, left, representing the Carpatho-Russian group, and Mrs. Paul Karal, representing the Croatian group in the observance.
Beaver County Times, April 28, 1966.

Ten booths, mostly staffed by women from Ambridge's ethnic churches, served the following:

Didn't that make you oh so very hungry?

FOR HUNGRY VISITORS - Mrs. Ann Shema, Mrs. Helen Sovich and Mrs. John Kotula, left to right, dish out portions of holupki for hungry visitors to the Carpatho-Russian booth, one of 10 set up for Ambridge Nationality Days.
Beaver County Times, April 29, 1966

A SALE IS MADE - Mrs. James Fergadis, right dressed in native costume at the Greek booth, makes a sale during the opening day of Nationality Days in Ambridge, which started off with a bang Thursday. The observance continues through Saturday.
Beaver County Times, April 29, 1966

The event was a hit from the day it opened. Although the weather was cool with intermittent rain, Merchant Street was "jammed solid with people" between 5 and 7 PM on opening evening according to Theodore Gaydos, the executive secretary of the Greater Ambridge Chamber of Commerce, which sponsored the event.

NATIONALITY DAYS CROWD - Visitors to the National Days program in Ambridge survey some of the 10 booths featuring foods native to many lands. Thousands of persons visited the booths during the opening day of the observance Thursday. It continues through Saturday. The booths are on the 600 block of Merchant Street.
Beaver County Times, April 29, 1966

Most Ambridge stores planned to stay open until 9 PM all three days.

Notice that Ambridge stores would be open until 9 PM during Nationality Days,
Beaver County Times, April 27, 1966

And a number of businesses took out special Nationality Day ads:

The David Shop ad,
Welcome to the first Nationality Days,
Beaver County Times, April 27, 1966

Estelle Millinery ad,
Beaver County Times, April 27, 1966

G.C. Murphy ad,
Beaver County Times, April 27, 1966

United Dairy Co. ad,
Beaver County Times, April 27, 1966

Sol's Sporting Goods ad,
Beaver County Times, April 27, 1966

Maybe you need a new refrigerator to keep all the ethnic food you brought home with you cold. Or a new stove to reheat it:

Mikush Applicance ad,
"Andy Mikush Welcomes You,"
"Stop In And Visit While You Are In Town"
Beaver County Times, April 27, 1966

Sun Drug Store ad,
Beaver County Times, April 27, 1966

Maybe you wore out your shoes walking to all the different booths:

Jackson's Shoe Store ad,
Beaver County Times, April 27, 1966

Because you might need a new girdle after sampling the food at Nationality Days:

Fashion Hosiery ad,
Beaver County Times, April 27, 1966

Or decide that you need a new car to haul home all the food and ethnic handcrafts you bought:

Ambridge Automobile Dealers ad,
Beaver County Times, April 27, 1966

Although I don't think any of the booths took credit cards:

Mellon Bank ad,
Beaver County Times, April 27, 1966

Tomorrow: More first Ambridge Nationality Days news, photos, and ads.
_____

* It's amazing how quickly history can become muddled.

All the information I found during a Google search to find information about the first Ambridge Nationality Days said that the event began in 1965. But when I searched the Beaver County Times from April through September, 1965, I couldn't find an article, photo, or ad about Nationality Days. That seemed odd. At that time the Times covered everything from Brownie flyup ceremonies to church festivals.

So I checked with the Ambridge Area Chamber of Commerce to find the date of the first Nationality Days and was told Nationality Days started in 1965 (based, I was led to believe, on the memory of someone who had been involved with Nationality Days for a long time rather than a check of records) and probably were always held in May. Then why couldn't I find anything?

At that point, I decided to check the 1966 Times. I started with May and found a photo saying the event had been held the previous week. Finally, a mention of Nationality Days. So back to April 1966. The more I read about the April 1966 event, the more it sounded as though it had been the first one. Then I checked 1967 and found this in an article about the opening of the 1967 Nationality Days: "Some 10,000 people attended last year's nationality days program, the first one ever held in the area." Ah-ha!

Eventually I noticed The David Shop ad above which welcomed everyone "to the first Ambridge Nationality Days!"

So I am as confident as I can be at this point that Nationality Days began in 1966, not 1965, despite all the (unsupported) information to the contrary. And Nationality Days obviously were not always held in May.

Besides, if Nationality Days began in 1965, wouldn't this year's be the 50th and not the 49th annual event?