Nagy Novelty Company

In Downtown Allentown's commercial years, stores extended 3 blocks out from Hamilton Street. The only remaining remnant of that era is the parking meters, which apparently haven't noticed that the stores have been gone now for over 30 years. A magic shop mentioned in the previous post was on 9th Street, between Linden and Turner. On 8th Street, also a couple blocks off Hamilton, was the Nagy Novelty Company. The dictionary defines novelty as a small, often cheap, cleverly made article, usually for amusement. The Nagy's had thousands of them, floor to ceiling. There were little jokes and gags, sometimes risque, passed around parties in the 40's and 50's. When you pulled " Miss Lola, The Snappy Bubble Dancer" leg's out, your finger got snapped. The Nagy's, an ancient father, son and dog, stayed open till around 1980. I was never sure which one was the son. To me, as an aficionado of the old and curious, the store was a shrine. Items which they sold for a few cents, now sell on ebay for many dollars. They manufactured their own greeting cards. Shown here is the front and inside of an embossed card probably dating back to the 1920's.
reprinted from December of 2008

Issues With The NRA

I'm a supporter of the 2nd Amendment. Although that is a right which I defend, as an engaged citizen I appreciate living in a society of laws. There are rights and laws, and we can all live within them. I do not blindly consider every regulation as a curtailment of my rights, or as a slippery slope which will erode them, as does the NRA.  I can exercise my rights in a responsible manner, without purposefully provoking those who feel differently about this issue.

Each November the NRA sends its current and former members a card telling them whom they should vote for in their district, to protect their 2nd Amendment rights. Although their member magazine often features hunting rifles, the organization must also think of their members as sheep, who should only care about one issue. As Americans we should guard our right to own firearms,  but never tolerate being told how to vote.

I support Americans For Responsible Solutions, the group started by Mark Kelly and  Gabby Giffords.  They both value their right to own a fireman,  but appreciate the need for greater controls against irresponsible ownership.

Shown above is a 38 special, gifted upon Frank Sinatra by the Miami Beach Police & Firemen's Association.  

reprinted from December of 2014

Local Strategist Disses Allentown Interim Police Chief

Ed White emerged on the local political scene about two years ago, around the time he attended a forum in NYC, where you pay $thousands of $dollars to rub elbows with the rich and successful, and have your picture taken with them. Although I have been politically active and a blogger for many years, previously I never saw or heard of Mr. White, but he now considers himself an expert on local government. He is also a self proclaimed selfie advocate, taking pictures of himself, everywhere and with everybody.

In the previous and current election cycles, he has been involved with several candidates for local office. While he dislikes being described as a promoter or manager, he refers to himself as a strategist. When he volunteered to mediate between a local cemetery operator and group dedicated to improving deficient conditions there, I didn't approve of his participation, because he was involving a current candidate in the effort. Likewise, when he recently proposed an organization with paid speakers to influence youth,  to me it raised some questions.

This past weekend he has called for rejecting Mayor O'Connell's recommendation of Tony Alsleben as police chief, instead calling for a national search. He wrote "and he(Alsleben) lacks the judgment, leadership, vision and public relations skills necessary to be an effective chief". Although Alsleben has been on the force for 19 years, he further faulted him for not moving within the city boundaries after he was appointed interim chief.  What the selfie king doesn't factor in, is that during the Pawlowski regime we suffered the disastrous results of two national searches. We ended up with inferior chiefs from out of town, who didn't even know their way around the city. They didn't know the personnel, or the local police assets.

Ed White is entitled to speak out against Tony Alsleben. This post is not a blanket endorsement of Alselben,  but rather my appraisal of White... Ed White is involved with candidates whose campaign is based on advocating such changes.

Allentown will not benefit from another national search for a new police chief. Furthermore, it may well be time to examine if the current residency requirements are really benefitting the city.

Ed White's expensive selfie with Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Airlines

The Train Of Dorney Park

By Wally Ely
 In 1934, times were tough — in the Lehigh Valley and throughout the United States. The Great Depression was rampant. Unemployment kept willing and able workers out of jobs, with some in food lines or soup kitchens. Dorney Park was just hanging on, waiting for better days. There was no way the park could afford anything new to keep interest in the amusements alive. Nobody could afford to come to the park in 1934, especially not to spend any money. Bob Plarr, park president, was not accustomed to sitting back, waiting and hoping for things to improve. Plarr had an acquaintance, Miles Erbor, from the nearby village of Wescosville. Erbor, known as Mike, ran a machine shop in his garage. Erbor floated his bright idea for a new ride at Dorney past Plarr, and he loved it! Erbor's thought was to build a miniature version of the national train sensation of the day, the Burlington Zephyr. He could do it economically, with many used parts he had on hand.... The new Zephyr traveled the route an old steam engine-powered open-air train had traveled around the west end of the park. The Zephyr Jr. started near the main crossing of Dorney Park road, which divided the park; it continued along Cedar Creek parallel to the Water Skooter boat ride and then passed the swimming pool and rumbled through a short storage building, which served as a tunnel. At the far end, the route approached the boating lake and began to circle back. On the return trip it passed the picnic groves, more Water Skooters, and finally the rocket ship ride and the old mill. A final turn across the bridge near the French fry stand brought the ride back to the beginning. The announcement of the new ride at Dorney Park was welcomed by the community; there weren't many positive announcements in those days. The public responded. Crowds appeared at the park to buy the nickel tickets for a Zephyr Jr. train ride. The nickels added up, and a new, steady cash flow helped pay the bills and enabled Dorney Park to ride out the Depression.....

The above is excerpted from a column written by the late Wally Ely, which appeared in The Morning Call on May 5, 2013. The photo has been added.  Ely was a history,  train buff and author, who had written a book on Dorney Park.

Democrats To Eat Rich

Last night once again I listened to, rather than watched, the debate. I heard NYC Mayor di Blasio say that he will tax the hell out of the rich. With no video, and only my imagination, he sounded so gleeful about it, I thought of the couple on Gilligan's Island cooking in a kettle.

While Kamala Harris kept up her attack on Biden, it was Tulsi Gabbard, rather than Biden himself, who brought retribution back to Harris about her record as attorney general in California.

In the first portion of the debate, I was getting a little nauseous listening to the candidates drone on about medicare. Hope my policy provides coverage for that.

Each candidate stressed that they have the capacity to beat Trump, but apparently not the other Democrats, since only one will prevail.

Democratic Boxing Tournament

Yesterday,  this blog featured one of my posts from the Joe Louis boxing era. During that period people would sit around the radio and listen to the event. I do not get CNN on my limited television package, so I ended up listening to some of it on my computer.

I mostly heard people interrupting each other, with Elizabeth Warren being the main interrupter. I did hear Bernie Sanders say that He wrote the damn bill. This morning I read that it was the knockout line of the debate. Before I fell asleep, I also heard him say that under his plan I could get a hearing aid with my medicare. I could use that.

I understand that the rest of the tournament is tonight. Because I keep baker's hours, I couldn't stay up that late even if my TV received CNN. But, I figure if Joe Biden can stay up and stand on the stage, I should be able to stay awake long enough to listen to some of it.  Anyway, who knows what I'll get promised tonight?

Boxing 1930's, Primo Carnera

When Abe Simon fought Joe Louis in 1942, Abe was the biggest heavyweight* fighting. That wasn't the case when Abe began his career in 1935. Primo Carnera was an Italian strongman on the European circus circuit. He fought his first fight in Paris in 1928. It is pretty well known that he was brought to N.Y.C. by mobsters who arranged and managed his fights. The 6'6" giant upset Jack Sharkey in 1933, and held the title for a year until Max Baer had a go at him.

In 1935 Carnera fought the up and coming Joe Louis, who pulverized him into a bloody mess. Primo would return to Europe. Shown in the ring with him in 1933 is Jean Harlow, promoting her movie classic Bombshell.

* 6'7" Buddy Baer, brother of Max, had retired after a beating from Louis earlier in 1942.

reprinted from November 2012