"Night Club Queen Convicted" – November 1934

The various businesses located at 3700 Oberlin Avenue – the home of today's Mutt & Jeff's – has been the subject of many blog posts over the years.

While many of the previous modern era nightclubs and restaurants located in that same building that is still there today are well-remembered (such as Sherwood Inn), the ones dating back to the 1930s are not so well known. Penny Morgan's – a notorious brothel – is one of them. (I've written about Penny Morgan's several times.)

Another is the 400 Bridge Club, which was the scene in 1934 of a tragedy involving the nightclub's two business partners. As I described it back on this blog post, "It happened in early September 1934. Florence Lee, a divorcee and co-owner of the club, had been attempting to keep her partner, Michael Carreo, from driving home as she believed he was drunk. She took his keys and, for her trouble, received a beating from him, including a punch in the face.

"He drove off with Joseph Yankowsky, the manager of the nightclub, who lived nearby. Furious, Miss Lee arrived at Yankowsky's residence shortly thereafter and shot Carreo several times with a .38 automatic pistol.

"Then she drove directly to Lorain police headquarters and gave herself up. Carreo died later that day.

"When told that her partner was dead, she was quoted as saying, "Why did I do it? Oh, why did I do it? Forgive me, Mike. I must have been crazy, Mike."

In November Florence Lee was found guilty of manslaughter by a common pleas jury. Here's the front page of the November 1, 1934 Lorain Journal with the story, as well as the continuation.

During sentencing, Ms. Lee received quite a tongue lashing from Judge Webber. I'm not sure his speech would go over too well today. Here's the article with the story from the November 3, 1934 Lorain Journal.

Election Day – November 4, 1924

Well, it's Election Day 2024. I don't know who's going to win, but I will be mighty glad to turn on the TV tonight and not see political ads.

One hundred years ago was a Presidential Election as well. Above is the front page of the Lorain Journal of November 4, 1924. I recognized Calvin Coolidge, but never heard of the rest of them. It turns out that the running mate of each presidential candidate – Calvin Coolidge (Republican), John W. Davis (Democrat) and Robert M. Follette (Progressive) – was positioned next to him on the page layout.

This Wiki page described the election as follows. "The 1924 United States presidential election was the 35th quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 4, 1924. In a three-way contest, incumbent Republican President Calvin Coolidge won election to a full term. Coolidge was the second vice president to ascend to the presidency and then win a full term.

"Coolidge had been vice president under Warren G. Harding and became president in 1923 upon Harding's unexpected death. Coolidge was given credit for a booming economy at home and no visible crises abroad, and he faced little opposition at the 1924 Republican National Convention. The Democratic Party nominated former Congressman and ambassador to the United Kingdom John W. Davis of West Virginia. Davis, a compromise candidate, triumphed on the 103rd ballot of the 1924 Democratic National Convention after a deadlock between supporters of William Gibbs McAdoo and Al Smith. Dissatisfied by the conservatism of both major party candidates, the newly formed Progressive Party nominated Senator Robert La Follette of Wisconsin."

"Coolidge won a landslide victory, taking majorities in both the popular vote and the Electoral College and winning almost every state outside of the Solid South (while still making headway by winning Kentucky). La Follette won 16.6% of the popular vote, a strong showing for a third-party candidate, while Davis won the lowest share of the popular vote of any Democratic nominee in history. This was one of only three elections with more than two major candidates where any candidate received a majority of popular votes cast, the others being 1832 and 1980. This is the most recent election to date in which a third-party candidate won a non-southern state. This was also the US election with the lowest per capita voter turnout since records were kept. 

The Journal did something interesting to provide election results. The newspaper sponsored an Election Party on Seventh Street between Broadway and Reid Avenue. "A special corps of reporters will compile returns at election headquarters in Lorain and Elyria," it noted. "Forty messengers will cover the various precincts and as soon as the vote has been counted in each precinct the results will be phoned to the Journal office. Both the United Press and the United News bureaus in every state capitol and big city in the United States will start sending returns over telegraph wires into the Journal office starting at 6 p. m. Tuesday. All returns will be flashed by a moving picture machine onto a screen across the street from the Journal office."

And if that wasn't enough, there was even entertainment planned. "Thruout the evening the Italian Boys band will entertain the crowd at The Journal Election Party."

And here is the front page of the Journal from the next day.

Remember Streetcars? – November 1963 Article

Do you remember the streetcars and the interurbans?

Probably not. My father, who was born in 1921, did. But my mother, who was born in 1927, did not. She lived close enough to Downtown Lorain to walk there. By the time she was old enough to use public transportation on her own in the 1940s, the streetcars were gone and buses were the norm. Plus she didn't get out of town much as a child either, so she never had an opportunity to take the Lake Shore Electric anywhere. So streetcars and the interurbans were just not part of her memory.

Nevertheless, that's the question being asked in the above article that ran in the Journal on November 15, 1963. It's a well-written article by Ralph Neumeyer with a lot of interesting local touches about Lorain and Avon Lake. I'll leave it to our resident experts who read this blog to determine its accuracy.

By the time of the article, it had been 25 years since the Lake Shore Electric had only ceased operations in 1938, so a look back was probably in order. Like this similar article written two years later by Neumeyer, a book is referenced that seemed to have triggered the proceedings.

Anyways, time marches on, and there are fewer and fewer people who remember riding the streetcars and the interurbans. That's why it's important for websites like Lake Shore Rail Maps to educate the public about them, and make sure their place in transportation history isn't forgotten.

Snowstorm! – Nov. 1, 1954

It sure has been the typical crazy Northeast Ohio weather lately.

Four or five days ago, I was sleeping with my Reddy Kilowatt-approved electric blanket on high. But the last two days, I considered turning on my air conditioner in my condo. We did at work!

Seventy years ago today, however, Lorain and its neighboring cities were dealing with the aftermath of a snowstorm. Above is the front page of the Lorain Journal from Monday, November 1, 1954.

"An estimated 7,000 homes in Avon Lake, Bay Village and Cleveland today were still without heat, light or refrigeration, Bay Village and Avon Lake schools were closed, and property damage was estimated at $250,000  to $500,000 as the result of a freak weekend storm which dumped snow and ice from Lorain to Painesville, "noted the article.

"Two thousand homes in Lorain, Sheffield and Sheffield Lake had electricity restored today after being without power several hours Sunday.

"Telephone service knocked out by the snow was restored today to approximately 500 customers in Lorain, Sheffield, Sheffield Lake, Avon and Avon Lake.

"In Lorain the storm dumped nearly a foot of heavy wet snow on the East Side, and an estimated four inches on the west side.

"The snow ended just east of Lorain at about Meister Road and extended south as far as South Amherst.

"Ohio Edison Co. officials in Lorain said damage to their lines was all in Lorain's East Side, Sheffield and Sheffield Lake."

I had just mentioned to a co-worker earlier today that sometimes we have already had snow by Halloween. And today it was still warm enough that you could get by without a jacket.

One ominous note, however – I saw my first snowbird (junco) outside at my feeding station tonight!

Lorain Drive-In Halloween Triple Feature – October 31, 1959

Well, it's Halloween Night 2024. If you are handing out candy tonight to the trick-or-treaters, or perhaps are observing the holiday in some other manner, here's hoping a safe and good time is enjoyed by all.

Sixty-five years ago, you might have decided to celebrate Halloween by making a late season visit to the Lorain Drive-in on Lake Road. Above is the ad that ran in the Lorain Journal on October 31, 1959. As you can see, it was a special Halloween program consisting of three spooky features.

First up was Horrors of the Black Museum (1959), a British-American horror film. The gimmick here is that it was shown in Hypno-Vista, which "puts YOU in the picture."

Here's the creepy trailer, with a preview of Hypno-Vista. I was kind of grossed out with the needle demonstration. And I probably would stay away from binoculars for a while.

Next up was The Headless Ghost (1959). It's another British film, but this time a horror-comedy. The poster makes it look like a live-action Scooby-Doo episode.

Interestingly, its Wiki entry notes, "The film was made specifically as the second feature for an American double bill with Horrors of the Black Museum." So there was no chance it would be on the same bill with one of the Bowery Boys' haunted house flicks.

Here's the trailer. It actually looks pretty good!

Last up is The Giant Behemoth (1959) a British-American monster film. The 'giant behemoth' (is there any other kind?) is a dinosaur, created by way of the usual nuclear radiation. The live action scenes were all shot in Great Britain, but the stop-motion animation of the monster was done in Los Angeles.

Here's the trailer. Note how when the creature emits radiation, it is accompanied by a goofy sound.

Anyway, the triple-feature looks like it was a lot of fun. But with all those British flicks onscreen, I wonder if drive-in attendees were at the concession stand asking for fish and chips?

Halloween Coverage in the Lorain Journal – 1920s and 30s

1920s postcard

The way we celebrate Halloween has certainly evolved over the years. 

While these days, Halloween is big business – Americans are expected to send more than $11 billion this year on candy, costumes and decorations – there was a time when it was a much simpler celebration. Cities such as Lorain had costume parades, small private parties, and children went door to door asking for treats like they do now. But there was an element of mischief and fun consisting of harmless pranks that was an integral part of the observance. 

The Lorain Journal did its bit each year to call attention to Halloween with a small front page story. Sometimes it was just a gentle reminder to be on your toes for unusual occurrences in the neighborhood; other times, a brief history of the holiday was presented.

One hundred years ago on October 31, 1924, the Lorain Journal included this small front page article. 

As it notes, "Harbingers of the celebration stalked thru parts of the city last night, soaping windows, confiscating gates to adorn telephone poles and committing other acts of hoodlumism and petty vandalism to the annoyance of police and property owners.

"Police Chief Theodore Walker has warned that hoodlumism and vandalism destruction and damaging of property will not be tolerated. He will not interfere with innocent pranks, however, he said."

Three years later on October 31, 1927, the newspaper's front page had this small item.

"Tonight's the night that flaming youth, stepping out for a Hallowe'en celebration, is scheduled to cut up capers in observance of the occasion," the report noted. As Lorain had no city party, "Hundreds will journey to Elyria to witness the municipal celebration which is to be held in the public square" according to the story.

On Halloween Night 1929, Rhea Soper Eddy – the Journal employee who was responsible for the Mary Lee Tucker program for decades – contributed the front page story below. She provides a charming, detailed description of the fun and celebrations in store that night.

But a year later in an article that appeared on the front page of the Journal on October 31, 1930, the focus returned to Halloween tricks. And an article right below the story tells of a group of youthful Halloween pranksters who were in the act of overturning a shed when they were busted by the owner.

The Lorain Journal of October 31, 1931 included this article below distributed by the Associated Press. It reveals several strange customs associated with Halloween, including how a cabbage could help a woman meet her future husband.

On October 31, 1933 the front page of the Lorain Journal reported the story below. 

It's a little hard to read so I'll decipher some of it for you the best I can. "With the exception of private parties and celebrations tonight, Lorain expects to observe a quiet Hallowe'en.

"In Elyria, however, goblins will frolic as the city hosts its traditional Hallowe'en festival in downtown streets.

"There are no public observances planned in Lorain, and as far as the police are concerned, youngsters will be permitted to indulge in harmless pranks, but no [undecipherable] will be allowed.

"Extra police will be on hand to see, as far as possible, that [undecipherable] property damage are kept at a minimum.

"A motorcycle officer will be on duty at police station to respond to calls."

Two years later on October 31, 1935, the Lorain Journal featured the large article below. It offers a nice history of the holiday dating back to its roots in the celebrations of the ancient Druids – and throws in a little cheesecake (actress Nancy Carroll).

A year later on October 31, 1936, perhaps by popular demand, the Lorain Journal repeated the photo of Nancy Carroll and her pumpkin, albeit with different text. A slightly different photo of the same moppets working on their jack-o-lantern was also included. There's also a report of Lorain's Halloween parade.

Nancy seems to have posed for several Halloween cheesecake photos with that distinctive pumpkin.

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Mom provided her reminisces about what Halloween was like in Lorain back in the 1930s here.

Lawson's Halloween Ad – Oct. 28, 1964

The mention of Lawson's always conjures up pleasant memories for those of us that shopped there. So it's no surprise that the regional convenience store chain conveniently pops up on this blog regularly. Its ads were always well done and designed with a theme appropriate to the season.

Above is a particularly handsome ad that ran in the Journal on October 28, 1964. I like the various type fonts and the ad has great nostalgic appeal. It really puts you in the mood for cider and donuts. 

(I even had to go get a glass of cider out of the fridge while preparing this post. It's Honeycrisp Cider from Burnham Orchards on Route 113. Very tasty.)

It's funny how so many of us have fond memories of Lawson's, as well as Convenient Food Mart out of Elyria. Both chains maintained a high degree of quality, with clean, well-stocked stores. I really liked the Sunshine Farms milk sold at Convenient.

Open Pantry was another local chain, but it didn't have the same allure as the other two. 

Today, it's somewhat depressing going into most convenient stores, even 7-Elevens. You feel like you'd have to be nuts to buy anything to eat there. They seem to exist just to sell alcohol and lottery tickets. No chipped, chopped ham or Dutch Loaf there.

On the other hand, I have no problem getting a sub at a GetGo Café. In fact, I stopped at the Avon store recently and picked up my favorite sandwich – The Pilgrim. 

It's a great sandwich. I even tried to replicate it in the Brady Kitchen® but without success.