As you might remember, the Howard Johnson's restaurant in Lorain was located on West Erie Avenue (U. S. Route 6) just a short distance west of Leavitt Road. Today the building is home to Chris' Restaurant.
But getting back to the ad.
It's kind of odd seeing Dennis promoting a Clam Plate Special, as well as Clam Chowder, instead of ice cream. Maybe it was a Lenten thing (Easter was the second Sunday in April that year). But the tousle-haired tyke wouldn't begin his thirty-year gig as the official mascot for Dairy Queen until 1971.
I've been a loyal Dairy Queen customer since the mid-1980s. Even though cartoonist Hank Ketcham's most famous creation hasn't on the DQ paper cups and wrappers, etc. since 2002, it still seems weird to me.
By the way, I once facetiously ordered an "M&M Floor Sweepings Blizzard" in the DQ drive-through (you know how the candy pieces are all broken into bits). I'm sure the DQ worker thought I was nuts.
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Speaking of Chris' Restaurant, I enjoyed a great perch sandwich carryout this past Friday. I'm not Catholic but I still like fish on Friday. Plus it was Mom's favorite restaurant (and one day away from the third anniversary of her passing). The place was busy for dinner, and I noticed that Brenda, Mom's favorite waitress, was still gainfully employed there.
Ironically I just watched Jay North(TV's Dennis the Menace)in one of his starring movies of the "60's the other day Dan."Maya" also starred big burly muscle man Clint Walker as his estranged father.Decent flick but Jay was already looking gangly and awkward in his teenage years.Too bad he passed last year.
ReplyDeleteI had that same yummy sangwich when I was up home in '23, great food in a great place where I 'd eaten many times over the years, as it went under many names; I 'm glad that you could still have that taste of your childhood, Dan.
ReplyDeleteSweetheart and I are headed to the Amherst DQ today. We always go in and order because we're there often enough for them to know our order and we like to visit. I think I'll ask for the "M&M Floor Sweepings Blizzard" and see what happens.
ReplyDeleteI can't seem to get on the fish-fry train. Maybe because in grade and hi-skool they used to serve variations on fish through lent. Fishsticks would've been okay but once-hot tuna fish in a stale hotdog bun? No thanks.
Nice of you, remembering your mom. Mine departed this plane ten years ago, January 2. Difficult to believe it's been so long.
You brought back a memory of my dad taking us on a rare dinner outing - to that very Howard Johnson’s. Maybe it was that same ad that brought him in - he ordered the fried clams dinner. I don’t think any of the rest of the family ordered clams, but he’d always give me a few off his plate, as the serving was generous. Pretty sure we’d all have ordered chocolate milkshakes or malts with our dinners! I recall how bright and cheerful those Howard Johnson restaurants were - very family friendly. And no worries or guilt about the calories or carbs…
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