The Wall

I get a newsletter called Senior Moment.

The writer of the newsletter, Tom Koziol, posted this link and verbage in his newsletter and I thought you might like to see it.

"First, the Wall:

First click on a state. When it opens, scroll down to the city and the names will appear. Then click on their names. It should show you a picture of the person, or at least their bio and medals.

This really is an amazing web site. Someone spent a lot of time and effort to create it.

I hope that everyone who receives this appreciates what those who served in Vietnam sacrificed for our country.

The link below is a virtual wall of all those lost during the Vietnam war with the names, bio's and other information on our lost heroes. Those who remember that time frame, or perhaps lost friends or family can look them up on this site. Pass the link on to others, as many knew wonderful people whose names are listed.

http://www.virtualwall.org/iStates.htm

Second, the census:

http://projects.nytimes.com/census/2010/map?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=thab1

Pretty interesting wouldn't you say?
I don't know if the above means anything to anyone other than me but I thought I'd be esoteric today. Viet Nam, for me, signals the beginning of the end for us and the census confirms it. We are no longer Americans. We are just inhabitants in an ever changing cycle."

My thoughts:

If you look at Michigan's Wall, remember all of the negative things said about Detroit and then look at which city in Michigan has the most soldiers who gave their lives for their country - right or wrong, whichever way you think of the war -- these soldiers are still heroes.

The Detroit River

This is one of my favorite skyline pictures!

Detroit

A small piece of Detroit.

I Am Hungry...

I work in downtown Detroit. I see a lot of things. Some make me angry, some make me sad, and some just amaze me.

Yesterday morning, someone in a car jumped a curb and pinned a man between a building and their car. I am pretty sure he died. I heard quite a few people say, "Oh, he was only a homeless person..." or "Oh, he was just a homeless person." This bothered me greatly. Everyone is a human being regardless of their situation. It really made me sad. (I have since found out that the man didn't die -- I also found out that the person in the car was a police officer on his way to work.... his license plate read "furious" -- nice, real nice.)

Then, at the end of the work day when I was walking to the garage where I park my car I could see that the crossing light was going to change so I slowed my pace. There is no point in trying to step up the pace when I know that I don't walk quickly enough to make it across the street before the light changes and people zoom passed in their vehicles lost in their own world with their booming music and their cell phones.

As I was waiting for the light to change in my favor a gentleman came up to me and said hello and that his mother had just died last week. Before you go, "Oh, I know what his game is," hear me out. This man was grown, probably in his late 40s or so.... and had the mental capacity of about a 12 or 14 year old. There are a lot of people like that downtown. They live in squalid apartments because that is all they can afford, and if they are mentally challenged and living with an aging parent, suddenly they are left alone to cope in a very cold world. He said he was hungry and hadn't eaten in two days. He also said he wasn't asking for money, just for someone to buy him something to eat. He was clean, and so were his clothes, so I knew he had been taken care of by someone. I felt so bad because I had to tell him I didn't have any money. Instantly he went from nice to calling me a b*tch among other things and said he was so hungry and walked away. I continued to wait for the light and I watched him walk up to several people who either walked a wide berth around him or just shook their head before he could say anything. He didn't keep walking, he stood in front of the gas station that is on the corner. They have pop and chips and sandwiches, milk, eggs, bottled water, and lots of things one could eat.

The light changed and I started across the street. I kept looking back and kept seeing people just ignore him or shake their head. I was almost to my car when I couldn't go any further. I turned around and with tears streaming down my face I went up to him. One could instantly see the shame on his face because he knew he had made me cry. He said, I'm sorry many times to me. I told him that if the gas station would take a credit card, I would buy him something to eat. He kept thanking me profusely. Instead of heading for junk, he picked out a carton of eggs, a pound of butter, bread, crackers, two sandwiches and then asked me if he could have toilet paper because he didn't have any. As he was putting his things on the counter, the line behind us grew. No one became angry, no one said hurry up, they were trying to figure out why I was crying. Then he asked me if he could have a cookie. Dear God in Heaven, something so simple as a cookie. Of course, I said yes. His purchases added up to quite a bit, but I didn't care. As I paid for them, he couldn't thank me enough. He just kept saying it over and over again.

You see, there was a time when my father had no income, no place to live and nothing to eat.... nothing to eat for days. I also remember quite vividly when I was little being without food, heat, lights. People think I make it up that I used to do my homework by a kerosene lamp. It's not a lie. We couldn't afford to pay an electric bill, so we had no lights. We couldn't afford to pay for the gas to be turned on so that Mom could cook on the small stove. There was no money to pay for a delivery of coal, so there was no heat. I've been there. I cannot ever say no to someone (or an animal) that is hungry.

I cried all the way home. I am still crying. The words "I'm hungry" are still ringing in my ears.

I Remember Detroit

I also remember when we used window boxes in the winter to keep food fresh. I never see that listed. They were made out of galvanized steel or tin plated.

I wonder who has the time to think of all these things and who really has the time to read them. BUT..... some really do bring back some fond memories.

You used a pillow case to go "begging" on Halloween, and you yelled "Help the Poor!" at every door. ("Help the poor, my pants are tore, I need some money to buy some more.")

You remember what Devil's Night used to be.

You remember the huge elm trees forming lush green tunnels over many Detroit streets in the summertime. Or when they'd come around to spray and tell you to stay in the house.

And the autumn smell of burning leaves when you'd rake huge piles to the curb for burning.

You remember honking your horn as you went through the tunnel to Belle Isle at the end of East Grand Blvd where it went under Jefferson Ave -- even though the sign at the entrance read "Don't Sound Horn."

And you remember the submarine that was tied up at the Brodhead Naval Armory along side the Belle Isle Bridge.

You took a class trip or a moonlight cruise to Bob-Lo with Captain Bob-Lo.

You remember running home from school so you could have Lunch with Soupy.

You rode a bus to Edgewater Amusement Park to ride the wooden rollercoaster (again and again) or the Salt & Pepper Shaker.

You remember "A fantabulous day for the family, at fantabulous Edgewater Park.

P.O.P. means 'pay one price'..."

Your mom packed the station wagon with kids, swim suits, towels, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to spend the day at Metropolitan Beach.

You played in the "Big Ditch" as I-94 was being built.

You played tennis on Belle Isle's courts, or golfed at their par 3 course, both lit after dark. Or went ice skating, or for a horseback or canoe ride, rode in a pony-drawn carriage, hand-fed the animals at the zoo, visited the aquarium, remember the teepee, or attended an event at the Casino. Or rode the big white roller coaster or found your way out of the Fun House at Jefferson Beach Amusement Park.

Took a day trip and drove way out to Walled Lake Amusement Park where they had lots of rides, a roller coaster, and to Walled Lake Casino for dancing.

When ice skating was outdoors and Palmer Park was the place to do it. You also remember its tennis courts, wading pool, golf, ice-skating, and horse and buggy rides.

And Rouge Park's Brennan Pools.

Or how about the Detroit Firefighters working the crowds at the fireworks, selling tickets to their Field Day, and giving out firecrackers to the kids.

You rode a street car that ran on tracks down the center of Gratiot, Woodward, Jefferson or Michigan Avenue. Or the electric buses on Warren and Grand River.

You remember how all of the lights from the auto dealerships lit up Gratiot and Livernois -- and that they only sold American-made cars.

You remember when Eastland, Wonderland and Northland Malls were open, not enclosed. And when Wonderland had animals in circular cages.

You know how to pronounce Gratiot and Schoenherr and Cadieux.

If someone tells you it's on Outer Drive, you know to consult a map first.

You thought driving to Southfield was going "out to the country."

You checked out books for two weeks from the Bookmobile that came to your elementary school once a weeknight.

You vividly recall the mineral bath smell (rotten eggs) when you drove through Mt. Clemens.

You bought candy and nuts from window-lined, walk-around counter and wooden floors at S.S. Kresge or Woolworth's ("dime" stores).

You went to Sock Hops at Notre Dame high school on a Friday night where you heard Stevie Wonder, Bob Seger and the Last Herd, or the Rationals.

You drank Faygo, Towne Club, Grilli's, Oso, or Atlas pop (we never heard it called 'soda").

Your mom saved Top Value, Holden Red, S&H Green or Gold Bell stamps.

Cunningham Drug Stores soda fountain and their raspberry phosphate.

Your school took a bus trip to the cider mill (with donuts and cider after the tour), or to Kellogg's in Battle Creek.

Silverstein's was the candy store of Army and Navy surplus stuff.

You had a subscription to the three Detroit newspapers, including The Detroit Times.

You remember Jac LeGoff who eventually worked at every TV station around Detroit.

You visited the Wonder Bread Bakery and got to take home a mini-loaf of bread (but you weren't cool unless you ate Silvercup bread).

You had a Shaffer's or Awrey's breadman and a Brickley's milkman.

Or a Twin Pines milkman, a Jewel Coffee man, and a Fuller Brush man (and they were always men).

You remember Pure, Benzoil, Speedway 79, Monkey, Dance, Purple Martin, Sinclair, Danny's Dino, Kayo and Gulf gas stations, and when "gas wars" meant 17 cents a gallon.

You remember Primo's Pizza, Carbone's Pizza, Red Barn, Powers, Henry's, Herc's Beef Buffet, Cupid's, Tom's Tavern, Ted's 5x5, Totem Pole, Red Devil or Richard's drive-in.

You attended a wedding reception or a banquet at Roma Hall.

You attended "Wendy Ward's Charm School" at Montgomery Wards.

You remember when Ben's Hi-Chaperelle and Watt's Club Mozambique were the places to go to catch Motown acts.

Every year when the Blue Angels came to Willow Run Airport.

Or always wished you could be one of the Hudson's Teen Panel girls whose pictures hung on the wall in the Juniors department.

You had friends or relatives who could get you into Camp Dearborn for the canteen dances in the summer.

Or the pond at Belle Isle near the Conservatory where the sign warned you not to touch the water.

You had a reverb unit installed in your car at Mickey Shorr's or Crazy Jack's (a.k.a. Michigan Mobile Radio (MMR)) on Livernois.

You remember the riots of 1967.

When the bleacher seats at Briggs Stadium were only $2.00 to watch the Detroit Lions play. And when they won the National Football Championship (before there were Superbowls) in 1957 against the Cleveland Browns, 59-14.

And when the Red Wings won all those Stanley Cups in the 1950s, and balcony seats at Olympia Stadium were only $1.25!

You remember Detroit wrestlers Dick the Bruiser, Bobo Brazil, Leaping Larry Chene, Wild Bull Curry, Ernie "The Cat" Ladd, Lord Athol Layton, Edward "The Sheik" Farhat, Fritz Von Erich, George "The Animal" Steele and Johnny Valentine.

You remember bowling for a quarter a game at Chandler Park Lanes, Falcon Lanes (next to The Ginos/Falcon Showbar), Parkside, Woods, Ritter's or Ritz bowling alleys.

You banked at Detroit Bank & Trust, Manufacturers National Bank, Bank of the Commonwealth, City National Bank, or National Bank of Detroit.

You "parked" at Belle Isle either to watch the color-changing waterfall or the submarine races -- depending on how old you were and who you were with :-).

You were in awe of the Big Stove on East Jefferson at the entrance to Belle Isle (before it was moved to State Fairgrounds' entrance).

You remember your mom taking your burned-out lightbulbs to Detroit Edison to exchange for new ones.

You remember the J. L. Hudson Co. (known to us as just "Hudson's") building on Woodward Ave. occupied an entire city block. And you remember the white-gloved elevator attendants operating the expandable gate and lever-locked door, and just before letting you out, she would call out the names of the various departments on that floor.

You ate a Maurice Salad at a J.L.Hudson's cafeteria.

You went shopping during Downtown Dollar Days.

You remember when Women's Hospital before it became Hutzel Hospital.

You remember that Hudson's hung a HUGE American flag on the front of the building every 4th of July.

You would ride the bus downtown at Christmas and stand in line at Hudson's amid a fabulous winding, animated Toyland just to see Santa.

Or you remember going to see Santa Claus at the Northland Mall igloos because it was televised and you hoped your friends would see you.

Thanksgiving was not complete unless first you went to the Hudson's Parade, then to watch the Detroit Lions play the Green Bay Packers (always the Packers back then) at Brigg's (later Tiger) Stadium. (I can add when the Lions practiced at Eastern Michigan Univ. and they would spread out with their wives at the restaurants in Ypsilanti in the evenings) Remember Bobbie Laine?

You know guys who put up big antennas so they could pull in the Lions home games on channel 6 out of Lansing.

You watched the 'old guys' play bocce ball at Buddy's Rendezvous Pizza or sang the Schnitzelbank song at the Dakota Inn.

You remember when Mayor Cavanaugh would give Santa and Christmas Carole (who always looked like she should be freezing in her short red velvet outfit trimmed with white fur) the keys to the city at the end of every parade.

You remember the Detroit Tiger's pitcher Mark "The Bird" Fidrych.

You remember watching the Detroit Pistons and the WHA Michigan Stags hockey games at Cobo Arena.

How about Al Ackerman ringing Big Al's bell for the Sports Hero of the Day.

And watching Cadillacs being made on Clark Street.

Or the giant, three-dimensional "Elsie" the Borden Cow (head) located on the side of the Ira Wilson Dairy off the I-94 service drive. (Now, it only says "ILSON;" much of the stack has been taken down.)

Going to the Better Made potato chip factory and getting small bags of brown chips or shoe strings before going to the Jewel movie theater.

You remember hearing the air raid sirens on Saturday at 1 pm.

You remember the RAF bomber flying from England in 1962 that exploded over the Detroit River near Grosse Pointe Park.

Your neighborhood had a man who came down the alley on his horse-drawn carriage, honking his horn and collecting the stuff no one wanted, like bicycle parts, wheel rims, etc. (the sheeney man).

Or the guy who came through your neighborhood on a bike to sharpen your scissors, etc.

You remember going to the drive-in and getting blasted by mosquito spray from the back of a pick-up truck that drove up and down the lanes.

You ordered Cold Duck at the Ponchartrain Wine Cellars (the restaurant/bar where it was invented) and enjoyed a frog leg dinner.

Trips to Western Market.

Arriving home from college at the Michigan Central Depot.

Playing at one of the big piano recitals at Olympia with 200-300 other kids.

You got a piece of buttercream or bumpy cake at the Sanders cafeteria downtown, right across from Hudson's. Whoa, just think about those cream puffs and hot fudge toppings!

You remember when Eastland's real gold mouse on the lion statue was filed off and stolen. And what about climbing all over that big stone hippo...then they'd move it...

You remember the Christmas festivities at the Ford Rotunda before it burned down. (the model train village).

The Reddi Whip Can on Telegraph Rd., under the Michigan Ave overpass.

Or the "Gas Is Best" sign on the big gas tank near Detroit City Airport.

Or the big electronic sign at I-94 and I-75 that tracked new vehicle production.

You went to the lavish Michigan Theater downtown to see a movie, or to the Ford Auditorium for a show.

You remember mayors like Albert E. Cobo, Louis Miriani, Jerome P. Cavanaugh and Roman S. Gribbs. (They built Detroit instead of destroying it.)

You saw a wide-screen movie at the United Artist Theater, like Around the World in 80 Days, or Seven Wonders of the World at Cinerama.

Or when the WXYZ television station was located on Woodward in the Macabbees Building across from the Detroit Institute of Arts and a few blocks north of the old Vernors plant. (WXYZ later moved to Southfield.)

You "cruised" Big Boy's drive-in at 8 Mile & Dequindre (better known as Dixie's), or the one at 9 Mile & Jefferson, or Grand River off Woodward. Or through McDonald's in Madison Heights after a football game.

You played putt-putt golf or jumped on the tramps at Burkemo's near Olsen's Beach.

You were served a root beer float and a foot-long hot dog or a mama burger in your car at A&W's (pronounced A-IN-DUBS).

You've ended up at a Time or Clock restaurant after the bars closed.

Ordered fries and a shake at Dunkenburger ("Dunks") at 8 Mile and Kelly.

Or the barbecued beef sandwiches or chicken pies (rated tops by Duncan Hines) at Hedge's Wigwam on Woodward in Royal Oak.

You remember the Raven Gallery on Woodward, or the Chess Mate on Livernois. Or the Ellwood, Purple Pickle, Moby Dick, Chalet Lounge, or Colonial Lounge.

You went to Verne's Bierstube for burgers and beer, and The Snug near Wayne State for ice cream (they didn't allow kids).

You know what it means if someone tells you to "hit 8 Mile."

You remember the "Club Polka" TV show with Stan "Stosh" Wisniach on the accordion.

Or "Madman Muntz" for Muntz TV.

You got your car repainted at Earl Scheib's - "I'll paint any car, any color, $29.95!" ( it's about $300.00 now)

You remember Dick Purtan on WXYZ and CKLW (who's now on WOMC 104.3).

Or how about Lee Alan, "On The Horn" whose opening song was Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart. "Now I can't sing...but hear me swing! Whoooeee! We'll have something old to play, something new in review and a couple of things to say. Between now and midnight you're going to hear some of the most fantastical round ones in this big old town. We'll call it the cream of the crop until 12 o'clock!"

You listened to the Kelly & Co. variety/talk show in the morning.

Motown studios -- when they were actually headquartered and recording in Detroit!

And to the Battle of the Bands with Ted Nugent.

You remember yard long beer and ballads at the Poison Apple.

You can point to the 1975 photo of Cobo Hall on the back of the Kiss Alive album and show people where you sat during the concert.

You went to Saturday concerts in Kennedy Square.

Or a "grasser" (concert) where you sat on a blanket on the lawn.

You shopped at the Broadway Market, an indoor produce, meat and deli market with lots of sawdust on the floor and the best of every edible item you could think of.

You called WKNR (Keener) when they'd announce the last two digits of your phone number, even when you didn't know the name of the song, just to get the Keener pin.

Or how about Joel Sebastian's Movin' Memories Sunday night show, his sock hops or March of Dimes dances with the Motown stars of the future, Marvelettes, Eddie Hollandor Marvin Gaye, for $1.50 a show.

You thought driving to Troy was going "out to the country."

You remember the "Big Snow," the one that kept you out of school.

You heard the Good Humor man ringing his bells two streets away, usually around dinnertime.

You remember Twin Pines or Sealtest delivered milk and juice to the chute on the side of your house.

Or the (Free Press or News or Times) paperboy delivered your paper by bicycle using a huge bag, then collected on the weekends with a change-maker hanging from his belt.

Your tour of the Stroh's Brewery ("From one beer lover to another, Stroh's beer") included a sandwich, a beer and a souvenir glass.

Or maybe you preferred Pfeiffer, Drewries, Altes, Schmidt, Goebel, Prost, or E & B beer.

Or the fancy drinks at the Chin Tiki, or...

You remember the Gold Cup and Silver Cup Races, and seeing the people line up along the Detroit River near Belle Isle to watch the annual hydroplane races with "Miss Budweiser," "Miss Pepsi," "Miss Supertest," "Gar Wood," "Slo-Mo-Shunand," "Suchcrust," (sponsored by Shaefer's Bread) and "Miss Madison."

You remember that the Red Wings AND the Beatles played at Olympia Stadium (The Old Red Barn).

Cruising Telegraph from Grand River to Michigan, Telway's, Big Boys, Burger King, Daly's and Blazo's.

Crusing north Gratiot drive-ins: Scotts, Jupiter, A&W, T&C, Starlite, Midgions, Wells.

Dances at 182 Hall, Franklin LYI and The Pumkin.

You ordered an amazing steak and baked potato at the Flaming Embers at Woodward and Grand Circus Park.

You saw Marvin Gaye or the Supremes sing at the Olympia Stadium, the Roostertail or 20 Grand Lounge. And all of the top bands at the Eastown Theater.

Or the Graystone or Vanity Ballroom, and that all the great ballrooms became psychedelic rock barns in the 60s.

You danced to the live music of The Temptations at your high school sock hop and Motown music was all over the radio.

You went on Detroit Bandstand hosted by Dale Young. You ordered the tickets by mail and your mom would drive you and a friend to the studio on Second Blvd.

You danced under the mirror ball or saw The Who or Janis Joplin at the Grande Ballroom. And you know who Russ Gibb is.

You remember a hip newspaper called The Fifth Estate.

You remember the Detroit Wheels football team.

You went to to the Motown Revue at the Fox Theater and saw the Four Tops, the Temptations, Gladys Knight and the Pips, the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye & Tammie Terrell, and Willie Tyler & Lester... all for $3.00!

You remember when Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels were big.

And that the "sun never set" on CKLW's Tommy Shannon empire.

And Martha Jean the Queen, a Motown DJ.

Or dancing to Rusty Day & the Midnighters at the Chatterbox, a teen nightclub at 13 Mile and Mound Rds.

Or every Sunday afternoon, Johnny Walenda would host Teen Age Nightclub, a party / talent show / dance at the Gay Haven in Dearborn.

Or having your prom at the Masonic Temple downtown.

You sometimes wonder what happened to Jimmy Hoffa.

You remember when there was no Lodge Freeway, no I-696, and I-75 only went as far as Troy.

You knew someone who went to John Williams' Beauty School after high school to become a beautician. Or to Virginia Farrell's at Milwaukee and Woodward.

You remember your first strawberry, chocolate or vanilla Cream ale in a frosted glass from Vernor's at the foot of Woodward near Bob-Lo. A bearded troll on every bottle and always a sneeze on the first sip.

You remember Crystal Pool at 8 Mile and Greenfield. After it closed, you went to its sister salt water pool, w-a-y out in Rochester.

Or how about Kiddieland Amusement Park on 8 Mile between Schaefer and Greenfield.

You remember Zookeys and talking storybooks and when admittance was free at the Detroit Zoo. Train rides cost 10 cents, they had more than two of each species on display, and when the nature trails bat house was destroyed by severe weather in the '60s.

You remember Plum Street when it was trying to imitate Haight Ashbury.

When there were signs on the lawns of homes in Highland Park during the block-busting years that said "This home NOT for sale."

When the freighter "Montrose" sunk under the Ambassador Bridge in 1961 (a big attraction while riding the Bob-Lo boat).

You remember Paw Paw Charlie (Charlie Maxwell), a Detroit Tiger who was known for hitting home runs on Sundays.

You remember the Detroit Shopping News.

Derby Hill when there were soap box derby car races sponsored by Chevrolet.

The giant clown slide at Lasky Playfield they cemented up after someone got hurt.

When Eastern Market was the only place to get your flowers for spring planting.

And when Joe Muer's had a restaurant near there.

When Sams department store was behind Hudson's downtown (and it had nothing to do with Sam Walton).

Going to the Top Hat Supper Club to see Sonny & Cher. Or you remember your parents going to the Metropole or Elmwood Supper Clubs, all in Windsor.

You remember when Sunday meant getting dressed up to go to church, family dinners, quiet streets, and closed stores.

You pronounce Kmart as Kmarts, and Ford as Fords.

You had an Uncle (Joshua Doore) in the furniture business.

You remember this telephone number: TYler 8-7100 (Belvedere Construction), and their motto "We Do Good Work" and "Have No Fear with Belvedere.

You thought the Big Tire on I-94 might roll away one day. Or you tried to image how big the car was that it came from. Or where it picked up that nail (now removed)!

You had breakfast with Santa at Crowley's downtown and got to take your hot chocolate Santa mug home with you.

You crawled all over the Golden Goose at Westland Mall and thought the golden egg seamed so BIG!

You remember when you could go out on the observation deck at Willow Run Airport to watch the planes...long before there was a Detroit Metro airport.

You remember the moving beer sign on Third and Grand Boulevard.

Or going to the GM Building to see model cars made by kids as future designs.

When you could go to the top of the Fisher Building.

Or, watching the billboard that blew smoke rings at Grand Boulevard and Gratiot while waiting at the bus stop.

You can still sing the Roy O'Brien jingle, "Stay on the right track to 9 Mile and Mack..."

You played at the Ridgemont Golf Course...when Eastpointe was East Detroit.

The TV2 Swimmobile held thousands of gallons of water in a portable swimming pool hauled by a semi truck that would come to your neighborhood in the summertime.

You remember Black Bart, and the Faygo pop song being sung on the Bob-Lo boat: "Which way did he go, which way did he go? He went for Faygo Old Fashioned Root Beer" and their slogan "I'm too pooped to participate." Or... Uptown, the pop with the little guy who grew tired blowing up bottles, and tell his boss "I'm too pooped to participate." To that his boss says, "Then live it up up with Uptown!"

You remember going to lunch downtown at Greenfield's (for the cloverleaf rolls) or to Quickee's.

You told your mom, husband, boyfriend, sister, friend, whoever...to meet you under the Kern's Clock.

You went to the Big Cow at Mack and Dickerson for ice cream.

You had the pleasure of being "served" at Victor Lim's in Grand Circus Park.

You knew someone who was born at Memorial, Receiving or Crittendon Hospital.

You had a car with a "Sock it to 'em Tigers" bumper sticker on it. And you remember Terry Cashman's "Tiger Baseball" song. And when Harry Heilmann broadcast the Tigers games. When they were out of town, he'd read the play-by-plays from a teletype.

You took pride... and then embarassment... in Tigers pitcher Denny McLain.

Or listening to "Rollie Pollie Mickey Lolitch, Tigers Won the Series" playing on Keener.

You remember buying hamburgers 8 for $1.00 at Top Hat or White Castle. (At 8 Mile Rd and Gratiot, they were kitty-corner from one another.)

You remember trying to decide which of the two side-by-side Coney Island restaurants to eat at in downtown Detroit.

You remember when going to The Top of The Flame in the gas building downtown was THE place to go after the prom.

Velvet Peanut Butter with the three little imps named Fresh, Pure and Delicious.

Farrell's, where you loved to go for your birthday ( video). The sound of a siren and a banging drum meant you'd ordered the The Zoo, a HUGE bowl of assorted ice creams and toppings that arrived on a stretcher (and you got to sign the Pig's Trough with much embarrassment). If you ate it all, it was free!

You know that WJR as "The Greatest Radio Station in the World" and broadcasted from the "Golden Tower of the Fisher Building.

You watched Rita Bell's "Prize Movie."

"Dialing for Dollars" with Larry Adderley, or Bob Allison of "Ask Your Neighbor," "House Detective" and "Bowling for Dollars," or Fred Wolf hosting "Championship Bowling" on Sunday mornings, or Don Kremer and Chuck Walby as co-hosts of "Beat the Champ," or Crafts with Carol Duvall (now on HGTV).

You remember weatherman Sonny Eliot (who's still doing the weather for WWJ radio) using a chalkboard map to fill in temperatures and forecasts for rain or snow, along with a removable Keweenaw peninsula. And his weekly TV program "At The Zoo."

And opinionated newscasting by Bill Bonds and Lou Gordon.

The Lady of Charm, Edythe Fern Melrose.

Or George Pierrot's "World Adventure Series," one of the first local color programs offered in Detroit. (Who can forget George occasionally dozing off on the set.)

You remember Van Patrick and Mel Ott broadcasting the Detroit Tigers games from Tiger Stadium on radio station WKMH ("At 1310 on your dial").

You remember Ernie Harwell and George Kell.

And Byron McGregor on CKLW 20-20 News.

And Mary Morgan and the Million Dollar Movies she hosted with her dog Liebshein on CKLW channel 9 on Sunday afternoons, after Bill Kennedy "At the Movies."

And Dave Diles, and J.P. McCarthy.

And Detroit's first husband and wife news team, John Kelly and Marilyn Turner-Kelly.

You listened at night to WJBK's Ed McKenzie as Jack the Bellboy, then Tom Clay whose theme song was "How Come You Love Me Like You Do Do Do?"

And "The Bird," Robin Seymour, DJ and host of "Swinging Time" on CKLW. Or even further back, "Bobbin with Robin" on WKMH.

Or you were a fan of Bud Davies' Top Ten Dance Party. You listened to Pie Plant Pete, Bashful Joe, and Bud Guest (son of Edgar Guest) on WJR in the mornings, and their advertiser was Detroit-based Pet-Ritz pies, "Like momma used to make!"

Or maybe your favorite DJ was Johnny Slagle and Pat Tobin ("Pat 'n' Johnny Show") whose theme song was Cherokee by Charlie Barnett, and sign-off message was "So long, kids. Love y'all!"

And Jay Roberts, host of "Night Flight 760" on WJR where we went around the world.

Or Morgus, the mad scientist who did the weather on Ch 2 at 5:55 pm weekdays, then host a scary movie (usually a Japanese sci-fi) Saturday nights at 11:30.

You called Channel 7's Jerry Stanecki "The Newshawk" to help when you got ripped off.

You remember Sir Graves Ghastly, the host who dressed as a vampire and showed horror movies on Saturday afternoon.

And The Ghoul and "Ready, Mr. Dale, roll 'em."

How about Count Scary and Sgt. Sacto? (Both played by Tom Ryan)

Or Sagebrush Shorty (Ted Lloyd) and his puppet pals Skinny Duggan and Broncho Billy Buttons.

How about when the only TV channels were 2, 4, 7 & 9. On a good day, you could tune in 11 and 13 out of Toledo. In later years, UHF 50 & 56.

YOU REMEMBER:

~ Lets See Willy Dooit starring Willy Dooit, Gee-Whizzer, Applesauce the Dragon, Professor Smart, and Molly Cuddles

~ Milky the Clown (Clare Cummings), "Milky's Movie Party"

~ Soupy Sales (Milton Supman, also known as Milton Hines) and his Birthbath Club, along with (Clyde Adler as) White Fang ("the meanest dog in all of Dee-troit" -- you only saw his giant paw), Black Tooth ("the sweetest dog in all of Dee-troit"), Hippy the Hippo, and Pookie the Lion. Who can forget Willie the Worm, Marilyn Monwolf, and The Man at the Door?

~ Jingles (Jerry Booth) in "Boofland," and Herkimer Dragon, Cecil B. Rabbit, the King of Boofland and Mr. Binki the Postman, all voiced by Larry Sands.

~ Jerry Booth's Fun House with a purple moose head mounted on the wall named Clyde, who always said "Uh-huh."

~ Johnny Ginger (Gaylen Grindle)

~ Bozo the Clown (played by both Art Cervi and Bob McNea)

~ Captain Jolly (Toby David) and Poopdeck Paul (Allan Schultz) brought us Popeye cartoons and an appreciation of spinach.

~ Ricky the Clown (Irv Romig) whose sponsor was Tip Top bread.

~ Wixie the Pixie (Marv Welch), host of Wixies Wonderland, and whose sponsor was Bosco chocolate syrup.

~ WWJs kiddie show Playschool with Mary Melody, hosted by Marv's ex-wife Eleanor.

~ Harry Jarkey, the host of Our Friend Harry, a morning variety show on WXYZ. Then on Saturday mornings in 1959, Fun House, a game show for kids.

~ Romper Room with Miss Ardis (Kenealy) and Miss Flora (Asseltine)

~ The Lone Ranger and Sergeant Preston of the Yukon played by Brace Beemer.

~ Oopsy the Clown (Bob McNea)

~ Auntie Dee (Parker) and Uncle Jimmy (Stevenson)

N O W . .

What's the magic word? Twin Pines!