Fireworks at Hills – July 4, 1962

Here's hoping you have a safe and happy July 4th Holiday!

And here's a pleasant memory for those of you that grew up or have lived in Lorain: the July 4th Fireworks sponsored by Hills Department Store. The ad above ran in the Lorain Journal back on July 3, 1962.

It's interesting how Hills really made an effort to get you to come out to the store and shop. It really wasn't all that close (it was halfway to Elyria and in South Lorain to boot) but it was a regular stop for the Bradys, especially since it had the layaway option. We bought a lot of clothes and toys there.

I don't know how long the Hills fireworks tradition lasted. I know that we watched fireworks at Hills some years and at George Daniel Field as well. I remember parking at Admiral King High School and walking over there.

Nowadays (I hate to say it) fireworks don't interest me a whole lot. If I'm at a festival that has them (like Sheffield Lake Community Days) then I'm all for them and will stick around. But I'm not sure I would make a special trip anymore to see any, especially if there is a potential hassle getting out of there afterwards.

Lawson's Fourth of July Specials Ad 1962

Lawson's has been a favorite topic on this blog. It was the first of the convenience stores in our area (opening in Lorain in 1959), and the former stores – easy to recognize thanks to the chain's distinctive architecture – will continue to haunt the streetscape of Lorain County for years to come.

But sixty years ago, Lawson's was still in its early days here, and it advertised plenty in the Journal. Above is a full-page ad that ran in the paper on July 2, 1962. 

I like the serene scene of the young nuclear family on a pic-a-nic. There are the two children – one boy, one girl per government specifications – and Junior has on the striped shirt that was so popular back then. Even Charlie Brown's pal Linus wore one.

Mom looks like a young Grace Kelly.

And we get yet another Cleveland Indians ticket outlet. You could pick up your Tribe tickets and some Budget-Pak Ice Cream at the same time.

What, no Dutch Loaf on sale?

New Lorain Yacht Club Building – June 30, 1951

Back in June 1951, the Lorain Yacht Club was drawing up plans for a new building.

Above is the article that appeared in the Lorain Journal back on June 30, 1951. The article notes, "A new Lorain Yacht club building will decorate Lorain's waterfront area in the near future, according to an announcement made today by Don Heisner, commodore of the club.

"The announcement came after it was learned that the club had purchased land on Alabama-av from the Todd estate.

"The acre of ground purchased, a lot 150 feet wide by 200 feet deep, sets on high ground above Riverside park near the coast guard station.

"Architect's plans have already been drawn and officers of the club hope to start building operations as soon as the present war emergency ban on non-essential building is lifted.

"The new clubhouse, very nautical in design, will include a big sundeck, a dining or assembly room, showers for men and women, a club room, bar commodore's office, kitchen and other facilities. It will be approximately 70 feet wide by about 50 feet deep, leaving plenty of room for parking for club members, according to Heisner.

"The present yacht club, located at the foot of Oberlin-av, at the rear of the Lorain water works, was started in the mid-1920's with club members themselves erecting the four walls, roof and floor.

"It is understood that plans are now underway to sell the present yacht club but as yet nothing definite has been done, Heisner said."

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I've written a lot about the original Yacht Club building that was located down at Hot Waters. I hated to see it demolished, as it was a link to Lorain's nautical past. 

Ironically, the newer Yacht Club building on Alabama Ave. mentioned in the above article was torn down before the original one.

Grand Opening of Brady's Dairyland – June 1962

The name 'Brady' has been associated with the area around Leavitt Road and West 21st Street for some time. Back when there were just two Brady families on the west side of Lorain, it was the other Brady Bunch that owned a lot of land near that intersection.

Brady's Restaurant (which was located just north of where Burger King is today) has been a favorite topic on this blog – even though it's becoming increasingly difficult to find anyone who remembers this well-named restaurant. Brady's Chuckwagon Chicken House was another business owned by John Brady. It was located next door to Brady's Restaurant to the north, in the building where Marco's Pizza is located today.

But did you know there was a third Brady standalone food enterprise near that intersection?

Brady's Dairyland was located "Just Around the Corner From ... Brady's Restaurant" as the Grand Opening ad below says. It ran in the Lorain Journal back on June 5, 1962.

(Brady's Dairyland had actually opened in late May 1962 as noted in this post.)

Like all of John Brady's businesses, Brady's Dairyland was well-promoted, with the nearly full-page ad touting "Olde Type" Frosted Malts, Brady's Fresh Hawaiian Pineapple Barge, and "home made ice creams packaged for carry out." As an added incentive to drop by, a prize was awarded with every order over a dollar.

I like the fact that John Brady tied together all of his businesses with the same mascot, a caricature of his father (who started Brady's Restaurant) as a chef on a unicycle, delivering food.

As I noted in this post, Brady's Dairyland added donuts to its menu in 1966. But by 1970, the store disappeared in the city directory and was replaced at its 2511 W. 21st Street address by Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips.

Bowman Ice Cream Ad – June 27, 1962

A dish of ice cream is still one of the simple joys in life.

When I was growing up, there was always a carton of ice cream in our freezer. I don't recall what brand Mom bought regularly; it's only the flavors I remember: chocolate, vanilla or Neapolitan – nothing too exotic in the early days.

But the concept of exotic flavors is exactly what's being promoted in this ad for Bowman Ice Cream that ran in the Journal back on June 27, 1962. The three "Fantas-tic" flavors in Bowman's Fantasy ice cream line included Swiss Style Chocolate Vanilla; Swiss Style Chocolate Candied Pecan Vanilla; and Orange-Sherbet Caramel Nut Vanilla.

Yuck. I don't think all those nutty flavors would have been a big hit with my siblings and me. 

What's interesting is that in the 1962 ad, there are two versions of the Bowman bowman mascot: the cartoony version at the bottom of the ad, and a more angular, "modern" rendering of him near the top of the ad by the LIFE magazine logo.

Anyway, Bowman Ice Cream continues to fascinate me, probably because of the huge painted sign promoting it on the side of Whalen Drug in the 1960s. Where else could you buy it in the area? Check out this listing of local stores that ran on the same page as the ad.

Royal Crown Cola Ad – June 26, 1962

Friday's blog post highlighted Pepsi-Cola. Today we take a look at a cola competitor: Royal Crown Cola – or RC Cola.

Above is an ad that appeared in the Lorain Journal back on June 26, 1962.

According to its Wiki entry, "It was originally created for Cole-Hampton-Hatcher Grocery Store as an early generic brand, to avoid the high cost of purchasing Coca-Cola syrup.

"As a grocery wholesaler, Claud A. Hatcher purchased a large volume of Coca-Cola syrup from the local company salesman, Columbus Roberts. Hatcher felt that the company deserved a special reduced price for the syrup since it purchased such large volumes. Roberts would not budge on the cost, and a bitter conflict between the two erupted. Hatcher told Roberts he would win the battle by never purchasing any more Coca-Cola, and Hatcher determined to develop his own soft drink formula.

"In the 1950s, Royal Crown company was leading the beverage industry to sell the first canned soft drinks, followed by the first caffeine-free cola.

"In 1958, the company introduced the first diet cola, Diet Rite.

"In 1984, RC Cola accounted for approximately 4-5% of soft drink sales in the United States, behind Coke, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, and 7 Up. 

"RC Cola is owned and distributed in the U.S. by Keurig Dr Pepper. In the rest of the world, it is distributed by RC Cola International."

Keurig Dr. Pepper's fizzy roll call of soda pop brands

Click here to visit a great blog that has a comprehensive look at the innovative celebrity ad campaigns of Royal Crown Cola over the years. Besides pretty starlets like Gene Tierney shilling for the brand, the celebrity roster also included the Our Gang kids and John Wayne!

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I hadn't thought about RC Cola for a long time until recently, when I bought a 2-liter bottle at Discount Drug Mart – for 99 Cents! While the taste was a long way from Pepsi or Coke, it wasn't bad at all. And since I was in the mood to guzzle pop, it was nice to have a huge bottle.

Maybe the brand ain't dead yet.

Pepsi Day at Cedar Point Ad – June 16, 1962

Which do you prefer – Coke or Pepsi?

It's a timeless question. I guess it depends on whether you prefer the slighter sweeter taste of Pepsi. 

Of course, a lot of people don't drink cola at all and would probably answer, "Neither."

These days, there are so many variations of Coke and Pepsi (click here to read the surprisingly long list of the Pepsi ones) that I wonder if the classic version of each is still the most popular in the U. S.

But I was raised on Pepsi (we always had it with Yala's Pizza on Friday night). So it's still my cola of choice – as long as if it's the version with real sugar. But I like Vanilla Coke too.

Anyway, another reason to like Pepsi is shown below: a special Pepsi Day at Cedar Point. The ad ran in the Journal back on June 16, 1962.

It was a pretty good deal. You could ride all the rides for one price: $1.50 (children under 12) or $2.50 (children over 12). And best of all, the price of Pepsi-Cola at Cedar Point that day was only 5 cents. Back then, I would have been burping with anticipation.

Anyway, Pepsi has bubbled up again and again on this blog, along with enough posts about soft drinks to rival the number devoted to Reddy Kilowatt. 

Maybe it's because Pepsi is bottled in Elyria, and tastes farm-fresh.