MacTrumpzie's Gambit

If Mackenzie rode Trump's tails into Congress, he may well be riding the same tails out. With gasoline over $4.30 a gallon, that pickup with the flag may be waving it less. While Trump's narcissism may be stoked by renaming things after himself, the pickup driver doesn't share the pride.

I think the clock is running  out on Mackenzie speaking up and out. The local Latino vote will be a wildcard. Although they may trend Democratic, both Mackenzie and Brooks are transparent fakers when courting that demographic. How energized either party can get the Latinos for this election is questionable.

I'm offended by the amount of money going into the race. The Republicans are counting on Trump doing a lot of campaigning for them. Trump says that voters should make believe that he's on the ballot. That might not be the incentive he thinks.

CLICK HERE FOR MY BABY BOOMER MEMORIES OF ALLENTOWN AT AMAZON BOOKSTORE... 36 SELECTED POSTS FROM THIS BLOG

Hootchy Nights At The Allentown Fair

Morning Call columnist Bill White had a piece earlier in the week where he lamented that  Bobo the dunking clown was no longer at the fair. Although that's about as funky as it got for Bill in his era,  we older Allentonians remember much hotter nights at the fairgrounds. Up to the late sixties the fair had girly shows. I'm going back to the era of Gooding's Million Dollar Midway and Benny's Bingo. I'm going back to three midways packed between the Farmer's Market and Chew Street. I'm going back to when the fair only started after Labor Day.

I mentioned in one of my previous fair posts that Fred Schoenk and I made and sold printed t-shirts at the fairs during high School. At the Kutztown Fair we were hired by the burlesque show owner to letter a new banner for his show tent...as high school boys we would have paid him for the experience.

reprinted from September of 2018

photocredit:molovinsky...Black rock and roll review with strippers, 1969 Allentown Fair 

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The Mighty Atom

Years ago at the Allentown Fair, as one would push through a sea of carney delusion, tucked back by the 4H animals was an island of reality. There, in an old battered truck, an ancient Jewish strongman performed incredible feats of strength, to sell only homemade kosher soap. Standing on a platform on the rear of his truck, flanked by photographs from his performing youth, he would bent horse shoes and bite through nails. Many years earlier, my mother as a little girl in Bethlehem, saw him pull a truck with his hair. Even as an old man, like a reincarnation of Samson, his grey hair was still long.

In the summers of 1964 and 1965, myself and a friend,(Fred Schoenk, retired Allentown art teacher) made and sold printed tee-shirts at the fair. We had the honor to know Joseph Greenstein(The Mighty Atom) and his wife. For those interested, there are various articles on the Mighty Atom and even at least one book. Enjoy the fair!

reprinted annually since 2007

CLICK HERE FOR MY BABY BOOMER MEMORIES OF ALLENTOWN AT AMAZON BOOKSTORE....    36 SELECTED POSTS FROM THIS BLOG

The Great Allentown Fair

The Morning Call website is hosting an archive of Fair Pictures from over the years. Being a fan both of fair pictures and black and white photography, looking at the 111 photos presented was a treat.

The photo shown above, which I will get back to, reminded me of one of my unique fair experiences. In previous posts, I have discussed that both my father and myself had stands at the fair. While my father learned that you couldn't sell hotdogs near Yocco's, I learned that drunks leaving the beer garden loved to buy printed T-shirts.

But today's post has to with George Kistler, long time City Clerk during the 1950's and 60's. George loved the fair, and loved sharing his fascination with a large group of people. I was fortunate enough to be invited several times. The routine was always the same; Dinner at a local stand on the eastern side of the fairgrounds, followed by the wrestling show. I remember photographing Andre The Giant.

The Morning Call fair picture above is none other than Jim "Super Fly" Snuka, who was recently back in Allentown, for a most regrettable reason.

reprinted from September of 2016 

CLICK HERE FOR MY BABY BOOMER MEMORIES OF ALLENTOWN AT AMAZON BOOKSTORE....     36 SELECTED POSTS FROM THIS BLOG

Lightning Rod Candida Affa

Long time Council member Candida Affa has been taking heat on the dais for years. She was accused of racism in a suit by a former city employee, which was just dismissed by a federal judge. She is being accused of ignoring a homophobic slur by a policeman against a local activist.

I don't know the particulars in the above allegations, but I do know that Candida has been an out front member of the gay community long before such activism was fashionable. I do know that in her lifetime she has been no stranger to being discriminated against.

Candida is sounding the alarm on the tax reality of Allentown's plans for new police and fire stations. I know that new buildings will not make those departments better. I don't know who will be running for council again, but I'm pretty sure the list will not include Candida. Council can be a thankless job, and I believe that she has had enough of that type of gratitude.

CLICK HERE FOR MY BABY BOOMER MEMORIES OF ALLENTOWN AT AMAZON BOOKSTORE.....     36 SELECTED POSTS FROM THIS BLOG

Artful Fibbing

Artful fibbing is a nicer way to put things, rather than lying sacks.... The museum blue bloods are accommodating Reilly's desire to move the arts district closer to his new real estate projects. They are being rewarded by the project being included and partially funded by the NIZ.

We few who have been questioning the NIZ since day one, can't begin to understand how an art museum falls within the purview of that development tool?

When I read that the museum needs a modern home to better house its masterpieces, I think of the Mona Lisa in that old Louvre. Those European museum directors in Paris, Rome and Vienna need to come to Allentown, Pennsylvania.... They could learn a few things here.

CLICK HERE FOR MY BABY BOOMER MEMORIES OF ALLENTOWN AT AMAZON BOOKSTORE....      36 SELECTED POSTS FROM THIS BLOG

AS ALLENTOWN AND EVERY TOWN TURNS

We who stumble over the Gulf of America vs. the Gulf of Mexico, can now add a Great Lake to the learning curve. Little did MAGA know that in addition to being a great diplomat, their president is also an expert on geography and naval ship design. He and his appointed medical consultants have even apparently figured a way to remove the spine from every elected Republican, but leave them standing and talking.

The Allentown Park Department, which now specializes in tree planting and endless events at Cedar Beach, wants park users to carry out what they bring in. To encourage the new program they have removed most of the trash cans, and only empty the remaining ones once a month.

As some of you may know, I have produced a small paperback on Allentown titled Allentown Chronicles, available at Amazon Bookstore. If you're new to town and want the history going back to William Allen, this is not the book for you. It is a collection of 36 posts from this blog, selected memories of an Allentown baby boomer.

photo taken Thursday August 27, 2026 at Allentown Department of Parks