Scranton Skyline

 View from the new Harrison Avenue Bridge on Saturday afternoon.

Allen Theatre: Yogi Bear/Flintstones/Banana Splits

 A most unusual attraction, Yogi Bear, the Flintstones, and the Banana Splits live on stage, for a week in the spring of 1972. These did not go over well, doubt if there was more than 100 at any of the shows, and a lot fewer than that at most.

Victor Villimas and I went into every store on Euclid Avenue from Playhouse Square to Public Square and back, Wednesday afternoon, March 29th, asking to put up posters. He was dressed like Yogi Bear, half the stores we went into sold, dresses, pantyhose, lingerie, etc., and the girls inside would squeal, "ooh Yogi Bear!" and run over and hug him. Some would look at me and say, "who you supposed to be? Boo Boo?" I was just a 15-year-old kid along for the ride, handing out these flyers. 

From the Cleveland Press, April 1, 1972. I'm pretty sure Victor Villimas is in the Yogi Bear suit.

From The Plain Dealer, April 4, 1972.

Snip from Halle Bros. ad, The Plain Dealer, April 6, 1972.

After the last performance on Sunday, April 9, one of the cast members broke the cold-water pipe in the shower on the second floor of the dressing rooms, causing a small flood. This was also the week I learned how to sell tickets and balance the BO. I also assisted Ray in changing the marquee that Monday afternoon, prior to the Sally Rand performances. A month or so later, I was doing them by myself. This was a job usually done by IATSE 27, but for some reason they got paid to change the sign, but I don't remember them ever doing so. Usually Smitty handles the chore, but by May I was usually the one dragging out the big ladder myself. I did the changes until early spring,1973.

Lackawanna 409

 DL&W 409, still looking like NIWX 603, is an HH 660 built by ALCO in April 1940 for the Lackawanna. It arrived at the DL shops sometime in late 2020, plans are to restore it to its original Lackawanna scheme.

Allen Theatre: Sally Rand

 The Allen's 51st anniversary was celebrated a few days late in 1972. Tuesday, April 4 saw Sally Rand grace the Allen's stage, in two big shows, one for golden agers at 11 AM, and an evening performance at 7;30. The show opened with Gene Jackson doing a passible Al Jolson tribute, followed by the 1929, All-Talking-All-Singing musical, Sunny Side Up, with Janet Gaynor. After a brief intermission, Sally appeared. much to the delight of the crowd. The early show also had an appearance by Mayor Ralph Perk who presented Sally with the key to the city. The early show was the slightly better attended, 2,200, and about 1,800. After the evening show I went to the Sheraton-Cleveland Hotel, with Ray and Ceil and listened to Sally tell a bunch of old show biz stories, she was pretty cool. The next morning, I was sent down the street, with $1,000 in cash in an envelope for Miss Rand. I was so afraid I’d get robbed, I stuffed it inside a book about the 1930’s. I had Sally autograph a page in the book with a photo of herself for my grandmother. This was a busy week, with the Flintstones/Banana Splits/Yogi Bear on stage running all week, that Tuesday there was only one poorly attended performance at 3 PM. More on that later.

Undated. c.1930's publicity photo.

From the Plain Dealer, March 26, 1972.

From the Plain Dealer, April 5, 1972.

From Film Daily, June 28, 1929. This was Janet Gaynor's first talking picture.

D&H Bridge

 D&H bridge over the Lackawanna River, near the Marvine Colliery site, from last week.

Allen Theatre: Invictus/Hot Wax Easter Show

 Easter Sunday, April 2, 1972, the big Invictus/Hot Wax Show came to the Allen, and what a show it was. I seem to remember this as turning into one long show with acts returning again later, rather than two distinctly separate shows. This is when I learned to count deadwood, and there was plenty of it. There were probably a couple thousand people there total by the end of the night, concession sales were brisk. The standout acts on the bill were The Glass House, and 100 Proof (Aged in Soul). 

From The Call & Post, March 23, 1972. I answered the phone a lot that week, and I'd swear there were a couple more acts on the bill. I also remember when I said, "Barrino Brothers" people inevitably asked, "Flying Burrito Brothers?" and I'd say "No, just Barrino Brothers." I also recall the phrase to use when answering the phone was "Playhouse Square Association, Allen Theatre" and was always asked "Is this the Allen Theatre?" and I'd reply "Yes, it is." Callers also confused Playhouse Square with the Cleveland Playhouse, which was a mile east on Euclid Avenue. Interestingly enough the Cleveland Playhouse would end up moving into the Allen years later.

Delaware - Lackawanna 41

 DL 41 at the Von Storch Shops last Saturday. The ALCO C420 was built as Long Island 211 in April 1964.