The Yellowed Pages: News from 50 years ago in The Guide
by Jacqueline Watts
editor@baltimoreguide.com
April 3, 1958
Mrs. Mary Carroll, chairman of the Eastern Community Council Easter Egg Hunt, announced that the hunt would be held in the Patterson Park Extension, the part of the park between Linwood and Ellwood avenues, on April 7, and all elementary school age boys and girls were welcome to participate. There were 50 prize eggs hidden, and the finders would receive a prize and a movie pass to the Patterson Theater. This year the Easter Egg Hunt would welcome a special guest, Mr. Bugs Bunny.
The Hochschild-Kohn Department Store in Eastpoint held a speed crochet contest in its needlework department. Mrs. Mary Lang of 705 Dean Street won the contest and a gift certificate for $25.
“‘Movies Are Better Than Ever’” seems to be proven this week by theatres around East Baltimore!” read the lead in Business Briefs. “Beginning April 4, and slated for a long run, will be the movie version of that sexsational best seller, ‘Peyton Place,’ at the Carlton Theatre. Also featured will be the fimled Basilio-Robinson fight…
“At the Strand Theatre, beginning April 3, you will be able to enjoy the spectacular ‘Around the World in 80 Days’—starring a who’s who of Hollywood greats. It’s an entertainment epic no man, woman or child should miss!
“The Abbey Lane stars ‘Day of Triumph’ as its Easter feature.”
A group representing the East Baltimore Community Councils was shown around a battery of Nike missiles in Cronhardt, Md., by sergeants from the U.S. Army Recruiting Station on Highland Avenue. The Nike missiles were set to fire from a spot between the Caves Valley and Chestnut Ridge country clubs, right off of Greenspring Ave.
Portman’s Delicatessen opened up in the 7500 block of Eastern Avenue, infusing the Shoppers Guide offices with the tempting aromas of crabcakes and padded oysters.
Under “New Eateries,” there was Eichenkranz Restaurant, “the famous German restaurant on S. Fagley St….Genova Pizza, 500 S. Highland Ave., home of some very fine spaghetti and meatball sandwiches.”
And Marcus Motors, at Highland and Fayette, offered $25 off to anyone who mentioned that “he read it in The Shoppers Guide.”
The evening of March 27 did not go well for one member of a pair of robbers who knocked over a corner grocery in the 1700 block E. Pratt Street. Vincent Pfaifer, the grocer, pelted the robbers with eggs and then chased and shot one of them in the leg with his .32 caliber revolver. Joseph Keeling of the 100 block N. Exeter St. was arrested. The other guy got away with $512 of Pfaifer’s money.
Two men were revived with artificial respiration after their boat was swamped in the Back River. Joseph Conotto, 22, and William Foehrkold, also 22, nearly drowned after their plastic boat was swamped, but Josephine Weaver, wife of the boatyard owner, dispatched a couple of men in a cabin cruiser to collect them, and two cops from the Essex Police Department revived them.
Special city inspectors visited the 1300 through 2200 blocks of East Baltimore Street as part of a slum clearance drive.
Abbott Memorial Presbyterian Church played host to the Bryan University Musical Messengers of Dayton, Tenn. The ensemble performed “an hour’s program of sacred music appropriate to the Easter season and a Gospel message.”
The Rev. Roy D. Gresham, General Secretary of the Maryland Baptist Union Association, was scheduled to speak at the ninth annual North Point Easter Sunrise Service, to be held at the North Point Drive-In Theater at 5:45 a.m. Easter Sunday.
Tired of shank’s mare? You could buy a car for as little as $3 a week at Al Siegel’s Used Cars, or drive away in a ‘52 Chevy for $10 down (with good credit) at Marcus Motors. Clip the ad from the paper and take it along for $25 off.
Keeping that car in top shape was important, so a visit to Nick & Lou’s Sinclair Service Station was in order. They offered a 95-cent lube job with every oil change.
A man would want to celebrate after buying his used car, so a visit to the Surf Club was practically mandatory. The Big Toppers were playing there through April 15, and then Earl Bostich and His Orchestra took over for two weeks.
Or to celebrate on the cheap, the new used car owner could stop by Barney’s Cut Rate Liquors, right down the street from the Surf Club, for a case of beer for $2.49 or a fifth of “sacramental Concord grape” wine for 49 cents. Bottoms up!
