SOUTH SHORE NEWS SPOT   – June  2006   © 2006 by CMA Publishing - By Caryn Lazar Amster

Word count for this issue is 3808 words – Total read time about 11 minutes.   

Thanks for stopping by the South Shore News Spot.  This month we feature great S.S. stories, reunion information, South Shore bus tour updates, former South Shoreites looking for old friends, stories from the Pied Piper’s mailbag, upcoming events, new ways to reach old friends, and much more!

Don’t just forward this newsletter - tell your friends to email me and get their own copy at caryn@cmapublishing.net

JUMP ON THE BUS GUS – SOUTH SHORE BUS TOUR

Come see the old neighborhood!  On Sunday, August 20, 2006 a 3-4 hour bus tour of South Shore will stop at: Chicago's oldest Jewish congregation (KAM temple), The South Shore Cultural Center (formerly the South Shore Country Club), and the Historic South Side Jewish/Civil War cemetery. The tour will be narrated and conducted by a Chicago historic expert, Dr. Irving Cutler.  The tour group will view important institutions including those with historic, religious, and architectural landmark status, the University of Chicago and other schools, homes of prominent and important businesses such as the Wee Folks toy store. I am planning to be on the bus to provide local color.  I will have Pied Piper books and posters for autograph and sale.

 

The tour is sponsored by the Chicago Jewish Historical Society (CJHS) and the coordinator is Leah Axelrod. Contact Leah Axelrod at 847-432-7003 or email her at tourtime@worldnet.att.net   Pick up/return locations: Bernard Horwich JCC – 3003 W Touhy Avenue in Lincolnwood – pick up at 12:00 –Return at 5:00 and the Chicago Marriot: Rush and Ohio Street entrance – pick up at 12:30 – Return 4:30.  Full payment is due before the event. The cost is $30/Member of CJHS and $40/Nonmember - Join the Chicago Jewish Historical Society when making your reservation and pay membership prices. CJHS Membership: $35

 

“EVERYBODY LOVES SOMEBODY SOMETIME”- SEEKING LOST FRIENDS Looking for long lost South Shoreites from the ‘50s and ‘60s?  Email me caryn@cmapublishing.net and I will try to put you in touch.  These are new this month. By the way - If you want me to use your request or memory in the newsletter, please include your permission to use your name and email address in your correspondence.  

 

Judy Filmore (maiden name is Odell) is looking for Bob Chapter who went to South Shore in 1951. Judy has lived in Hot Springs Arkansas for almost 20 years and misses her South Shore friends. Any old friends please email her.  judy.filmore@sbcglobal.net

 

I graduated SS High School in June of 54’.  My maiden name was Nancy Parsons and I lived at 7800 Saginaw.  Does anyone know the whereabouts of Walter Dyer who graduated SS in 53” (I think).  He lived in the 7100 block of Jeffery Blvd.  Thanks.  leebrozen@compuserve.com

I am a South Shore graduate from the January class of 1963. My name then (maiden name) was Marion Matlock. I was in a few clubs and was captain of the cheerleaders at one point, a fact my high school students here in Milton, MA have a hard time believing!). I have always wondered what happened to Ann-Marie Sandburg. She graduated in my class and went on to Washington University in Saint Louis, right at that time, I think in January of 1963. If you could find her and give me her address, I would write to her! I still keep in touch with Marian Chapman (same class) and her sister-in-law from class of 1962, Marvelle Vickery Chapman. I also keep in touch with Ann Cookman (class of 1962) Walsh who now lives in San Fran. Marion Matlock (Van Nostrand and now Hernandez) vannostrandm@hotmail.com

This is Raymond Overholt.  I went to Bryn Mawr Grammer School.  I graduated from South Shore High in 1953 and worked at High-Low Foods at 79th and Jeffery. I married Carol Ann Newman who graduated from South Shore High in 1955 and lived on 71st and Constance. I am looking to correspond with old classmates or friends that may still be alive. I have enjoyed reading the News Spot as it brought back some fond memories of South Shore. Raymond Overhold - OLEngr@AOL.com

 

Bob Tucker says he heard from lots of old friends from the May listing in the News Spot.  He says hi to y’all.  He is a Bowen graduate (1968) and still looking for one perfect job.

He has a great resume.  He is a great marketing planner and would be an asset to any company that is looking to increase their bottom line through more strategic marketing and use of the internet. You can reach him at (847) 899-8877 or email him at bobtucker44@yahoo.com.

 

Thanks for the good work on the emails and of course the book, we have really enjoyed reading it.   My name is Betty Lee Thurman, class of 1954.  I am trying to locate Wendy Wolper. I think she was a year behind me.  jrthur@starstream.net

 

CALLING ALL BIKERS

I know many of you have taken up motorcycling in the past few years.  My daughter, the biker who lost her husband this past year, has a terrific 26 foot camper to sell.  It is a motorcycle Haulin’ Trailer, 26ft long with  16ft living quarters and 10ft garage (2 sts motorcycle wheel chocks already installed, holds 2 full sized motorcycles), bathroom/shower, kitchen w/stove, fridge, and microwave built in. 2 fold down twin bed, in-house stereo system, tons of cabinets and storage. Garage has vinyl flooring and diamond plate tailgate, plus added-on screen panel for back tailgate door. It is in MINT CONDITION, hardly used and bought new in spring of 2005. She is asking $17,000 or best offer.  If you are interested just email me.  She lives in Illinois but will be glad to email you photos of the trailer inside and out. Caryn120@comcast.net

OVERFLOW79TH HAS PHOTOS FROM OUR PAST   Last month I told you how to join the Overflow79th chat room.  We had lots of new members!!!  Thanks!  But did you know they have a HUGE photo gallery?  Check it out. Here is what moderator Tim says about it “We've added a feature to the Photo Gallery called "View Latest Comments".  This will allow you to see all of the comments sorted by date, latest first.” Go to this link for great memories.  http://overflowat79th.googlepages.com/  Once you are a member you can visit the photo site and find lots of old friends.

From Tim – “In order to make things easier for the new members (and some of the old members) we have set up a 'gateway' site for the Overflow.  This site will serve as a place to direct people who are interested in the Overflow.  There are pages with News, F.A.Q.s (frequently asked questions), links and more.” Here is the link:

http://overflowat79th.googlepages.com/

 

WHO DO YOU KNOW?

Everyone who has read the Pied Piper including Sherry Lansing, former President of Paramount Studios, says the book should be a made for television movie.  If any of you know anyone in the movie or made for TV business I would appreciate a referral.  It takes connections. Also I am looking for a book publisher to pick up my book at this point. Thanks Caryn.

 

SAVE THESE DATES IN 2006! 

Please save these dates for my seminars and book signings.  Books and posters will be available for sale at all events.  I look forward to seeing you there! Celebrate good times – visit my website Calendar of Events for more detailed information on these events.

www.cmapublishing.net

 

MEET CARYN AND MITCH - Sunday June 11th, 2006 – 11 am – 6 pm - Greater Chicago Jewish Folk Arts Festival - Mitch Markovitz (Pied Piper book cover designer) will be there with me signing the Pied Piper of South Shore posters and fine art limited edition lithographs as well as many of his other great art works like Wrigley Field. I will be signing books and meeting old friends.  The Greater Chicago Jewish Folk Arts Festival is in a NEW LOCATION! - St. Paul Woods, Cook County Forest Preserves located at Dempster Street and Lehigh in north suburban Morton Grove.  The website is www.jewishfestival.org.  It is a huge event where artisans from all over the world come to show and sell their artwork.

 

Saturday, June 24, 2006 – 2nd Annual Author Fest at the Schaumburg Township District Library, 30 South Roselle Road, Schaumburg, IL http://www.gottawritenetwork.com/authorfest2006.html

 

August 24, 2006 – Thursday – 7 p.m. – Prairie Trails Public Library – 8449 S Moody, Burbank, Illinois – 708-430-3688 – I will discuss the book The Pied Piper of South Shore, Toys and Tragedy in Chicago and Chicago in the 1950’s and ‘60s and  sell and sign books at the conclusion of the talk.

 

July 29-30-31 – Friday – Sunday - Pierogi Fest – Mitch Markovitz will be at Pierogi Fest the last weekend of July. He will have Pied Piper posters as well as a lot of his other great artworks – It is held in Whiting, Indiana at 119th Street. Take the Skyway to the end at Indianapolis Blvd, then straight to 119th. Follow the signs.  I will not be there but he will have autographed Pied Piper books for sale.

 

Thanks to my funny friend Roger Fineberg for the following:

TO THE KIDS WHO WERE BORN IN THE 1930's 40's, 50's,   60's, & early 70's!
First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they carried us.   They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.   Then after that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paints.   We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.  
As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags.   Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat.   We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.   We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this. We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight because.....

WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!!  We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.  No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.  We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.  We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat rooms..........WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!
We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents. We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.  We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays.  We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes. We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just yelled for them! Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!  This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!  The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility.

And we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL! And YOU are one of them!

PLEASE HELP KEEP THIS NEWSLETTER COMING

When was the last time you bought a personally autographed book or poster from someone you know?  PLEASE order the Pied Piper books and posters using the secured shopping cart on the order form at my book website www.cmapublishing.net to place your order.  Or call toll free 1-866-50-PIPER (74737) or mail your order to CMA Publishing, P.O. Box 366, Medinah, Ill 60157-0366.  We take major credit cards including Visa, Master Card and Discover and we will gift wrap too!  This helps me afford to continue the newsletter.  Thanks – Caryn

 

FAN MAIL

This is from RoseElla in Kalamazoo, MI.  “I wrote you a while ago and you made me an honorary member of South Shore. (My grandparents had a deli on 65th Rhodes & Marquette).  My grandfather was hit in the head during a robbery, while trying to obtain some change across the street from the drug store). Anyway, I am at work and I was saving your email for later. I just finished lunch and was reading it during lunch. I just wanted to say thank you for including me in your emails. I truly enjoy reading them so much. Have a great day, and hopefully we will have the pleasure of meeting in person. RoseElla P. Lyke, Academic Advisor, College of Aviation, Kalamazoo, MI

 

My old classmate Roger Fineberg (SSHA 1959) says, “Thank you so much for putting Pat (I new her as Pat Daly) and I together.  She was the only Pat that I could remember ever living next door to. Pat along with her parents and several sisters, lived next door to me from the time my family moved into South Shore when I was starting first grade, until I moved out in 1967, when Sharon and I married!  We have sent several e-mails back and forth already.” MrAltaTupelo@aol.com

 

Hi Caryn.  My older sister, Terry, really enjoyed your book.  She works at a small hotel in Lake Geneva.  She had it out on the counter and had several people inquire about it.  So she's been pointing out where they can get a copy too.  Hope it leads to some sales.

John Servatius

 

Dear Caryn: What a resounding May issue. More power to you!  Amazing coincidnece: Sunday we participated in the Walk for Israel. After a strenuous mile and a half we sat down to rest. Along came a young lady and we started a conversation. She grew up in Jeffery Manor and remembered the store very well. Her maiden name was UNGER and she had read Pied Piper. So we had much to talk about. Keep up the good work.  Al (71st St.) Saper AS7250@aol.com

IT’S CORKY TIME!    More Corky Siegel(Siegel Schwall Band) appearances have been added – Sat 6/10/06 Chicago, IL Chicago Blues Festival - Petrillo Band Shell - 7:20 PM till 8:20 PM – Chicago Blues Reunion – Saturday, 6/17/06 Guerneville, CA Russian River Blues Festival Thursday - 6/22/06 Oshkosh, WI Waterfest - Fri 6/23/06 Detroit, MI TBA - Saturday, 6/24/06 Downers Grove, IL Heritage Festival - Chicago Blues Reunion - Sun 6/25/06 Monterery, CA Monterery Bay Blues Festival and Fri 6/30/06 Steamboat Springs, CO Howelsen Hill – Corky Siegel Solo - Mon 7/3/06 Denver, CO Coors Field - Blues Harmonica version of the National Anthem for the "Denver Rockies" vs "San Francisco Giants." (Universal Language version)  - Sunday, 7/2 Breckenridge, CO Riverwalk Center – Friday, 7/7/06 Lowell MA Lowell Summerfest TBA - Saturday,  7/8/06 Albany, NY Empire State Plaza - Sunday,  7/9/06 New York, NY BB King's, Monday, 710/06 Annapolis, MD Ram's Head, Wednesday, 7/12/06 Alexandria, VA Birchmere Music Hall, Thursday, 7/13 Hoffman Estates, IL Prairie Stone Parkway Summer Concert Series – For more information visit his website at http://www.chamberblues.com - Go Corky Go! 

BOWEN ~  “Transition” Celebration Slated June 17th – By Susan Stevens

Former students, teachers, other staff and community members will celebrate the next phase of Bowen High School from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sat. June 17. Bowen’s last students will graduate in June, with Bowen fully replaced by the four current small schools in the complex. The celebration will include a historical review, recollections from those who attend, a tour of the building and presentations by the four small schools.  A barbeque on the front lawn will be part of the refreshments. The small schools include Global Vision, Bowen Environmental Studies Team (BEST), Chicago Discovery Academy and New Millennium School of Health. Each school has its own principal, budget, staff and local school council. The school is expected to accommodate up to 2,400 students. A building manager is expected to be hired to coordinate use, maintenance and security within the building. Planning is still in the early stages. To help or for more information about the celebration, contact the South Chicago Chamber of Commerce, 773-768-1221, or the school, 773-535-6000.

 

MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS

This is the spot for your memories of South Shore or living in Chicago in the 1950s. Email me your memories. Got any old toy or Wee Folks memories?  Send them along.  When did YOU move out of South Shore?  What do you remember about it?  Where did you move? Got any good Rainbow Beach stories?  Any great stories of restaurants, the Overflow, old TV shows?  Here are some memories I have received:

 

Caryn: regarding toys:  Back in 1952 I was very sick and had to go into the hospital.  To make things better for me and ease the pain, my parents went to WEE Folks and purchased a white gold trim two holstered cap gun set in the tradition of Roy Rogers from your dad. It was beautiful and still is.  I still have that set because my mother saved everything!.  If you ever want to recreate the toy store let me know and we will add my beautiful gold encrusted with wooden golden bullets cap gun set to the memorabilia. John Hartigan: Our Lady of Peace 1955: South Shore High 1959

 

Hi Caryn! Reading John Chuckman's poem, in part recalling skating under the lights at the rink as snowflakes added to the wonder of youth.  I recall John finally convinced me to go along one Saturday.  Content to stand as still as my wobbly ankles allowed, John skated towards me, intending to stop before he ploughed into me and he almost succeeded.  Putting his hands before him, he bumped into me.  My legs no longer supported me...and my forehead hit the ice first. I believe I carried that bump for years.  It motivated me to learn to skate anyway. William Hachmann

 

THE POWER OF KEEPING IN TOUCH – REUNIONS - If your class is planning a reunion please email me and I will include it in the newsletter. 

The St. Felicitas Reunion has been changed to September 30, 2006 due to a glitch with the VFW Hall in Downers Grove, Illinois. Thanks! Frank Parisi . parisif@prodigy.net

 

Aquinas High School will be having their 40 Year Reunion on Saturday, July 22, 2006 at the Hilton Oak Lawn, 9333 S. Cicero Ave., Oak Lawn, Illinois.  Call Sentimental Journey, Ltd for details: 847-329-0111 or 847-657-3639 Jboll5@aol.com

Bradwell classes of 1965 and 1966 are having a reunion on Saturday October 21, 2006.  For more information or to register go to http://www.trans-micro.com/bradwell - Even if you are not from Bradwell you can still register as a friend on this friendly site. 

South Shore High School 1959 – January and June Classes Reunion ~ Do you know someone who graduated from SSHS in January or June 1959?  For those of you who graduated from South Shore High School in 1959 (January and June) we are in the planning phases of a 50th reunion in 2009. A “Steerage” (not steering) committee is forming.  If you or someone you know was a member of  these classes please have them email me at caryn@cmapublishing.net or the new class email at SS59reunion@comcast.net – Thanks to Ken Manaster for starting all this.

 

Aquinas High School, Class of '61 is having their 45th Reunion on September 30th at the Drake Oak Brook (another sleep over). Anyone interested can contact me and I will forward your info to Judy Scanlon Grant, who is helping with the arrangements. Liz Goodrick Wise - lwise1129@insightbb.com   

 

South Shore High School - June 1956 is having a 50th class reunion on Sep 9, 2006 at the North Shore Hotel, Skokie, IL. If anyone is interested contact Pjoylevy@aol.com

Carol (Smykowski) Giorgio

Stop now and forward this newsletter to friends.  If you are reading someone else’s copy and want your own emailed every month, email caryn@cmapublishing.net.

SENIOR PERKS – New column

Admit it!  A lot of us are already seniors over 55, 60, or 65.  But we made it this far and we DESERVE perks. I will share some that I have come across in this column.  Please email me to share your favorite senior discount sites or stores with my readers.  Do you have a favorite store today that reminds you of the good old fashioned service we got years ago?  Share with my readers.

 

PAST ACCOLADES AND APPEARANCES

If you have a few hours with nothing to do, try searching on the web for The Pied Piper of South Shore and/or Caryn Lazar Amster and see how many listings there are on the Internet now.  It is amazing. There are hundreds of items.

BOOKS ARE NOT ONLY SOLD AT BOOKSTORES – If you know a store that would like to sell the Pied Piper book or an art gallery that would love to feature  Mitch Markovitz’s posters and fine art prints please email us.  I have books at retro toy stores and Mitch is in galleries all over the country. 

SPEAKING ON WRITING - I speak on business marketing and book marketing and publishing for clubs and organizations, colleges and universities and at conventions and conferences.  Let me know if you have contacts at any of these places.

 

MONTHLY JOKE

Here is something for our government to ponder - A real win-win situation.
Dig a moat the length of the Mexican border, take the dirt and raise the levees in New Orleans, and then put the Florida alligators into the border moat! Any other problems you would like for me to solve?

 

If you find typographical or grammatical errors in this email, they're here for a purpose. Some people actually enjoy looking for them and we strive to please as many people as possible.

 

On a personal note!  Thanks for your many calls and emails – keep them coming!  And also thanks for the book and poster purchases.    I love to hear your South Shore and Wee Folks stories. Please ask your library or bookstore to request a signing of The Pied Piper.  

 

Happy Father’s Day to all of you dads and granddads!  Hug those parents if they are still around! And thanks for your support of public television!

 

Many and More and More Happy Memories ………………Caryn

 

If you no longer wish to receive emails, please unsubscribe by sending an email to unsubscribe@chicagospiedpiper.com

 

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Caryn Lazar Amster, (The Pied Piper's Daughter) is the award winning author of the debut book

The Pied Piper of South Shore, Toys and Tragedy in Chicago.  This true family true crime

social history is set in Chicago's South Shore in the 1950's and '60s. It won the USA Book News

"Best of 2004" in the True Crime category.  It garnered an all "5" rating in 2004

from Writer's Digest International Self Publishers Contest in the Non-Fiction category

and Honorable Mention in the Family Stories category from the same magazine in 2005.

ISBN: 0-9758928-0    LOC: 4108342

CMA Publishing is a divison of CMA Marketing Group, Inc. P.O. Box Sig366,  Medinah, Ill 60157

mailto:caryn@cmapublishing.net    1-866-50-PIPER (74737)

To purchase books and posters of cover http://www.chicagospiedpiper.com

Amster is a Chicago area marketing specialist, President of CMA Marketing Group, Inc.

and a speaker and trainer.

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