La Gazzetta Italiana Everything Italian 2016

Welcome to La Gazzetta Italiana Benvenuto! During my early years, there were really only two major entertainment centers. One was the Euclid Avenue block, where the movie houses were concentrated, which today is the Playhouse Square area. The Lowes State, Allen, Ohio, and the Palace, and further down Euclid Avenue, the Hippodrome, were major venues. If you wanted live entertainment, Saturday morning was the time to go because there was a ticket discount. The Palace Theater was numero uno and on Saturdays at 11 a.m., you joined the waiting crowd that lined up around the corner. The headliners were the big bands with the number one attraction being Glen Miller with Tex Beneke and the Modernaires. I saw them all: Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Woody Herman, Kay Kyser, Gene Krupa, Spike Jones, Lionel Hampton, Les Brown, Vaughn Monroe, Louie Prima, and Harry James. When the bands weren’t the headliners, the singers were. I saw Perry Como sing his early favorites, “Goodbye Sue” and “Temptation.” Nat King Cole was a big draw with “I’m Confessing” and “Too Young.” The Mills Brothers with “Till Then” and “Up a Lazy River” were very popular. Every so often, the comics would top the marquee. I saw Bob Hope at the Lowes State. You had to buy war bonds to get a ticket. Red Skelton was also a major attraction. Then there were the night clubs. Eldorado and Alpine Village were among the favorites. If you wanted to catch Tony Bennett, you went up Euclid Ave. to Moe’s Main Street near E. 105th and Euclid. The E. 105th area was almost as busy as downtown. On the weekend, the Alhambra Tavern and the Downstairs Cabin Club were always jammed. I could buy a glass of Vernon Ginger ale in the Alhambra movie house entrance for 2 cents. The Airport had a very fashionable Skyway Lounge with major performances as well. The Zephyr Room and Encore Room and later, Gruber’s in Shaker Heights were also fashionable entertainment spots. Most people couldn’t scrape enough coins together on a regular basis so there was always network radio with favorite weekly shows like Hope, Edgar Bergen and Charley McCarthy, Lux Theater, Screen Actors Guild, and Amos and Andy. One of my favorites was the Sunday night chiller, Hermit’s Cave sponsored by Olga Coal. We prayerful y support faith, guide hope, and foster remembrance of loved ones. Your Trusted Family of Catholic Cemeteries All Saints, Northfield All Souls, Chardon Assumption of Mary, Brook Park Calvary, Cleveland Calvary, Lorain Elmhurst Park, Avon Holy Cross, Akron Holy Cross, Brook Park Holy Trinity, Avon Resurrection, Valley City Saint John, Cleveland Saint Joseph, Avon Saint Joseph, Cleveland Saint Mary, Berea Saint Mary, Cleveland Saint Mary, Cuyahoga Heights Saint Mary, Elyria Saint Paul, Euclid Paul Sciria, Managing Editor SUBSCRIBE TO LA GAZZETTA ITALIANA Take out a subscription to La Gazzetta Italiana! It's a great gift idea... Sign up today at www.LaGazzettaItaliana. com.... Share with family and friends! SUBSCRIBE ONLINE Catholic Cemeteries Association THIS MONTH'S CONTRIBUTORS Jennifer Spitalieri Ben Lariccia Serena Scaiola Pamela Dorazio Dean Tony Marotta Gabriella Vitalone Anne Robichaud DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND Faith, Hope and Remembrance www.clecem.org 2 Those really were the days of great entertainment. LA GAZZETTA ITALIANA | JANUARY 2016 www.LaGazzettaItaliana.com Computer Tablet Smart Phone LA GAZZETTA ITALIANA | JANUARY 2016 3

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