Saturday Podcast "31 Minutes" with The Weekend Update
1946-Where the Crawdads Sing-Talk of The Town-Peter Betz
Leader Herald history columnist Peter Betz has a story about blackouts during World War II plus the tale of W.C. Porter, the absconding drummer and the convicted man who convinced a friend to go to jail in his place.
Saturday, January 25, 2020
Life in 1946 in Amsterdam
By Bob Cudmore, Focus on History, Daily Gazette
With World War II over for five months in January 1946, the Mohican Market at 117 East Main Street in Amsterdam proudly advertised, “Yes! We have plenty of meat.”
Lean hamburger cost 28 cents a pound. Bologna was 21 cents a pound. Corned beef was 32 cents a pound.
There once were Mohican Markets in many of the bustling downtowns of the Northeast. There were Mohican Markets in Massachusetts, Connecticut and in Troy, Syracuse, Niagara Falls, Binghamton and elsewhere in New York.
The Mohican in Amsterdam advertised a chocolate layer cake could be yours for 50 cents in 1946. Mince pies were 35 cents each and two lobsters cost $1.25. .
W. Sweet Ice Company supplied ice to keep the fish fresh and for other purposes at the Mohican. In the summer, Sweet stopped three times a day to keep the homemade ricotta cheese from melting.
Also in 1946, Holzheimer & Shaul at Church and East Main streets advertised nylon sweaters for $3.98, “It’s a sweater sensation, this nylon classic. Just feel its butter-soft, cashmere-like texture! Washes and dries in a jiffy, won’t shrink, won’t shed.”
The Gloversville-based Schine theater chain was promoting movies at its downtown Amsterdam facilities. Lon Chaney starred in “House of Dracula” plus “Shady Lady” with Charles Coburn was on the double bill at the Regent on Market Street. Gene Tierney was in “Leave Her to Heaven” at the Rialto on Market Street and the Strand, later called the Mohawk, on East Main featured a double bill—“Hubba! Hubba!” with Eddie Cantor and “Ragged Angels” starring Joel McRea, the story of “dirty-faced kids with music in their souls.”
Out in Scotch Church in the town of Florida in January 1946, Harley Bohlke led devotions at the young people’s group and study of the four Gospels was scheduled for the next week. Reverend John Wright and his wife Bessie served lunch at church that day. Reverend Wright was my great uncle and previously had been pastor of Scotia Baptist Church.
Monday, January 27, 2020-The Story Behind the Story Podcast focuses on Amsterdam in 1946.
Five sons of Louis Townsend, Sr. and his wife Sarah Beyer Townsend of Tribes Hill served in the U.S. Army in World War II. In February 1946 after all of them plus a man who had married one of the Townsend daughters came back safely from the war, a reunion was held at the home of their sister Jeanette Newbold in Tribes Hill.
The newspaper reported, “It is pointed out that six members from one family survived several important phases of World War II in all parts of the world, three of the sons making a complete trip around the world.”
In April 1946 the Amsterdam Fish and Game League held its mostly annual Sportsmen’s Show at the Theodore Roosevelt Junior High on Guy Park Avenue during Easter vacation. The show that year featured state lumberjack championship events.
In a program ad, Bigler’s Tavern, then across from the junior high, urged sportsmen to make Bigler’s their “headquarters…before and after the show.”
Saturday, November 16th, 1946 was a day for rejoicing on Amsterdam’s South Side as a testimonial dinner was held to honor some 400 returning servicemen and women.
“It’s remarkable to think that there were that many who served from the South Side alone,” said John Bianchi of Amsterdam, one of the honorees. Bianchi said that other parts of the city also sent hundreds to fight in World War II.
The South Side event was held at the State Armory, which today is a boutique hotel called Amsterdam Castle. At the 1946 event, there was a turkey dinner and dancing to the music of Butch Robertshaw’s orchestra.
Saturday, January 25, 2020
Amsterdam City Wide event
For more information please contact:
Michele Pawlik | 5188414307
Join us for the City of Amsterdam’s 2nd Annual SOUPFEST Sponsored by Berkshire Farm Center & Services for Youth!
This event will take place at various bars and restaurants throughout the entire city! We encourage all city restaurants to participate by preparing a soup to taste and also providing entertainment or other specials to entice patrons to come to your establishment!
PARTICIPANTS: Pay $1 for 3oz soup samples at each location and vote at the end for your favorite soup. The winner will receive a TROPHY for the MOST UNIQUE and BEST SOUP IN THE CITY! Pick up a Soup Guide at any location with a list of all soups, entertainment, specials and a map of participating locations.
Bob Cudmore will moderate of a public program on the Amsterdam Reads book of the year, “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens this Sunday January 26, 2020 at 2 pm at Amsterdam Free Library, 28 Church Street. A video featuring the author will be shown. Anita Sanchez, author and naturalist, will discuss the role nature and environment play in the novel. The Amsterdam Reads Elves will serve desserts and hot chocolate. Snow date is February 9, 2020
Paula Mahan
Bob Cudmore’s guest tomorrow on Magic 590’s Talk of the Town is Colonie Town Supervisor Paula Mahan. Topics include new Northway Exit 3, a computer attack on town records and public safety in Colonie. Hear Talk of the Town Sunday morning on Magic 590 plus 100.5, and on 96.9 and 1410 in the North Country.
The Mid-Morning Show with Jason Subik on WCSS 1490 AM 106.9 FM.
Broadcast Thursday Morning, January 23, 2020
Phone #518-843-2500. Special thanks to my guest Montgomery County Executive Matt Ossenfort who told us he is not running for state senate and talked to us about county issues such as the proposal to move the county DPW to the Glen Canal View Business Park and the possibility of New York state expanding the local share costs of Medicaid.
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