Baldwin Locomotive Works 26

 BLW 26 passing Lackawanna Station back in late July.

Geese

 Geese walking through the Flats on Friday morning.

Jesse Owens

 Jesse Owens statue in Fort Huntington Park, Owens was the hero of the 1936 Olympics.

Cuyahoga River

 The Cuyahoga River, looking downstream from Settler's Landing.

Euclid Avenue

 Looking west on Euclid Avenue from 13th the other day.

Beatles: Away With Words

From the Cleveland Press, August 18, 1972.

Fifty years ago this weekend, Friday, August 25, through Sunday August 27, 1972; The Beatles Away With Words was a multi-media extravaganza. A few weeks before this a man named Howard Ragland came into the Allen, asking about rental availability. We were sort of skeptical of this guy in a cowboy hat with the southwestern accent as he boasted of sellouts across the country. But when showtime rolled around, mobs swarmed the box office. There were three shows a day, at 8, 10 and midnight on Friday and Saturday, and at 4, 8 and 10 PM on Sunday, all nine were sold out. The show itself consisted of a 360 degree sound system, with the sound set at the maximum level. 26 film projectors and a wall of slide projectors bombarded the film screen with 6,000 slides. The show opened with a brief montage of rock and roll before the Beatles, then a quick Beatlemania segment, before heading into the much longer later Beatle era. It was a pretty intense experience, lots of images, clips, etc, and concert level sound, almost like a rock show without the band. Dick Wooten in the Cleveland Press didn’t care much for it, but the crowd did seem to enjoy it. A couple days before the show, when it was time to put the show up on the marquee, Ray was insistent that the Beatles, should be spelled Beetles, and it stayed that way all weekend, I seem to recall Jane Scott poking fun at us in her column. There was a guy from across the street, Gary something or other who had a purported love letter from Paul McCartney to Jane Asher. I'm not sure if this was authentic or not, but we had it on display in the rotunda for the weekend. Smitty and Poe (Ken Plocica) hooked up an 8-track player, which continuously played the first Rotary Connection longplayer. To this day their version of Ruby Tuesday is tattooed on my brain. There was also a girl who made copies of the purported love letter, they were sold for $1.00, which went to some charity. Ragland and his associate, whose name I can’t recall, were sort of shady individuals. On Saturday night they got a few counterfeit $20 dollar bills, which they passed at a local restaurant. By Monday morning, these guys had left town and the phone was ringing off the hook as hotels and other suppliers tried to collect on their bills. We took cash up front, so we did OK.

From the Cleveland Press, August 18, 1972.

From Scene, August 24 - 30, 1972.

Blurb from Jane Scott, Happening, Plain Dealer Action Tab. August 25, 1972.

From the Plain Dealer Action Tab. August 25, 1972.

From Scene, August 24 - 30, 1972.

From the Cleveland Press, August 26, 1972.

CLE

 Display on Public Square.

May Company

 The former May Company Department Store building on Cleveland's Public Square.

Pittston Jct

 Pittston Jct on an uneventful Sunday afternoon a few weeks ago. Back in May 2015 I climbed to the top of Dial Rock/Campbell's Ledge.

Studebaker

 Old Studebaker showroom, 1290 West 117th Street Lakewood Ohio the other day.

Roaring Brook

 Roaring Brook, looking downstream from Cedar Avenue last week.

Delaware - Lackawanna 2461

 DL 2461 crossing Luzerne Street a couple weeks ago.

Old Crossbuck

 An old crossbuck along Cedar Avenue in Scranton last week.

The Big Relocation

 The Big Relocation Is completed, the new view.

Klots Throwing Co

The Klots Throwing Company building on Dundaff Street in Carbondale, a few weeks ago. This is next to the D&H yard along Enterprise Boulevard. In 1895, H.D. Klots opened his first textile mill in Carbondale, expanding operations to Scranton, Archbald, Forest City, and Moosic by 1916.The company, like many others, struggled through the depression, and was reorganized, in 1937, as the General Textile Mills Corporation. By World War Two the company was using synthetic fabrics to make parachutes for the Army. Later the company began making helmets, their "Rioter Helmet" was a favorite of many police departments in the 1960's. In 1958 the name was changed to Gentex Corporation.

Chi-Lites

 50 years ago today, Chi-Lites at the Allen, from Scene, August 3 - 9, 1972. This was the same week the Trade Fair in the Palace was liquidated.

Lackawanna County Courthouse

 The Lackawanna County Courthouse last week.

Susquehanna River

 The Susquehanna River looking downstream from the Water Street Bridge in Pittston last Sunday afternoon. With the bridge being closed this is the perfect opportunity to grab some photos of the river that aren't framed by bridge girders.

U of S Library

 The UofS library last Saturday morning, I sure spent a lot of time here years ago. A downloadable copy of Anthracite, railroads, and textiles: industrial development of Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties, 1870-1976 can be found here.

Scranton Savings Bank

 An undated Scranton Savings Bank postcard, this building once stood on Wyoming Avenue, opposite the Globe.

A Cleveland Classic Party in A Classic Cleveland Theatre

 

From The Cleveland Press, August 11, 1972.

An important event in the quest to save the two Loew houses was a tennis party for the Junior League, held in conjunction with the Cleveland Classic tennis match on August 7-13th. For about two weeks we worked full tilt on this event. We used the stage as a dance floor, much to the consternation of Local 27. Smitty and I boxed in part of the alleyway between the Allen and the Stouffer Building with 2x4’s and heavy plastic. This was used as a cooking area for Paul Hom whom Smitty knew. Some of the lighting Smitty put together for the event were old stage lights we scrounged up from Loew’s State, repainted flat black, along with some colored flood lights. Two bands were played that night, Woodsmoke with M. Melinda Myer on the stage, and Trevor Guys and Doll, a famous local society group played in the lobby. The event was a rousing success and was a pivotal moment in which the Junior League started to lobby on our behalf. The fruits of this event would be apparent in the months and years ahead.

New York, Ontario & Western

 A giant O&W bridge pier looms above the D&H main in Carbondale, from a couple weeks ago. The original 1890 portion is on the right, the double track addition is on the left. A nice contrast of construction materials just a few decades apart.

Laurel Line Freight Station

 The Laurel Line freight station on Market Street in Pittston. A similar structure, for passengers, once sat on the opposite side of the right-of-way.

Delaware - Lackawanna 3007

 DL 3007 in the afternoon sun, last week at Steamtown.

Lackawanna Avenue Clock

 The clock in the 500 block of Lackawanna Avenue still isn't working, will it ever get fixed? A rather expensive prop for a political photo op, with the taxpayers footing the bill, yet again.

St. John's Church

 St. John's Church, 35 William Street in downtown Pittston last Sunday afternoon, along with a 1907 postcard.

The Man and His Music Returns

 The second of James Bullard's gospel shows at the Allen did fairly well. James went on to win a couple dozen Grammy awards over the next few decades, good for him, good guy!

Renaissance Park

 Again, we stopped by Renaissance Park on Saturday, despite what the sign says, not open. I don't know why it's such a huge challenge for the Park Service to send someone over to unlock the gate, they sure have enough people standing around down there. The Scranton taxpayer is cheated out of a park they paid for. The park was also closed on Sunday as well.

Coney Island Lunch

 We stopped by Coney Island Lunch, 515 Lackawanna Avenue on Saturday for lunch, always a great place to stop. We sure miss the train store next door.

Baldwin Locomotive Works 26

 BLW 26 at Steamtowm last Saturday afternoon.

Board of Trade Building

 The Board of Trade Building on Courthouse Square over the weekend.

Dante

 Dante statue on the UofS campus on Saturday morning.