Page 6 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 30, 2026 ~ Malden Musings ~ Step Back with Edgeworth’s Nick Angelo By Peter Levine “ Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s the one and only Nicky Angelo!” An August article mentioned how Nick “Keeper of the Edgeworth Flame” Angelo had been to every single Saint Rocco Feast starting in 1929 to present day. In a make-believe interview I had with Nicky recently, he recounted how 1929 was an extraordinary year in his life. The Wall Street Crash of 1929 had brought a worldwide Great Depression; money was tight. Ever the entrepreneur/opportunist, that didn’t stop Nicky from placing a wager on the outcome of the 1929 World Series. Nick had a paper route and although the rest of the world was hurting, Nick was a hustler and had a little gelt in his railroad pants pockets (he told me the Gold Star Café, the Rosebud, Maher’s Cafe, and DeMarco’s Café were his best customers). Nick loved the Cubbies that year and their mythic slugger, Hack Wilson. His $1.75 wager disappeared in five games as Athletics Manager Connie Mack outwitted the Cubs in just the 26th World Series action ever. Depressed, the next day Nicky walked to Malden Square to Ye Olde Record Exchange on Irving Street and procured the latest release by Memphis Minnie, brought it home and moaned the blues until he wore that shellac out. Still unable to shake the blues from losing a whole month’s salonly you can write them. Get out of Patrick’s for a night and back down to Edgeworth! ● Kenneth Coburn, 89, of Peabody, formerly of Chelsea and Malden. May his memory be a blessing. ● Get well quicker to the Pride of Green Street Park, Jerry “Twinkle Toes” Lynch. ● Teamsters Local 25 Superstar Business Agent and proud Maldonian – Brian Hatch – MalLeft to right: Malden royalty Nick Angelo, his brother Johnny “Mr. Gabby’s Baber Shop” Angelo, and childhood friend and early 1960s MHS football star Johnny Brandano. Established 1978 Mid-grade Regular 3.95 4.60 5.95 $4.91 Full Service ULS $5.499 Order online at angelosoil.com Kerosene Now Available! ary, Nicky took his best gal to Malden Square, where they first had an ice cream float at the Palace of Sweets before sitting front row at the Granada Theatre and laughing out loud as The Marx Brothers pre-code classic “The Cocoanuts” was finally good for what ailed young Nicky. According to Nick, 1929 went out with a little Christmas magic. As the holidays rolled around, Edgeworth was alive with Italian immigrants who brought more than their suitcases, recipes and grape-crushers from the old country. They carried with them a work ethic forged in the old country, time-honored traditions, and a fierce sense of community that made their Edgeworth neighborhood someWelcome Home to 588 Lincoln Avenue Offered at $699,900 Home of the Week SAUGUS – 1st AD - AFFORDABLE Two Family! First floor offers 4 rooms, 2 bedrooms, eat-in kitchen, full bath. Second floor offers townhouse style living on two levels featuring 7 rooms, 4 bedrooms, 1 ½ baths, eat-in kitchen, dining room, enclosed second floor porch. Separate gas heat and electric, level yard, off street, double width driveway. Located just outside of Cliftondale Square on bus line. Needs TLC. Great opportunity - Great investment! Come make this one your own! Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Commonwealth Real Estate Formerly Carpenito Real Estate (781) 233-7300 335 Central St. Saugus commonmoves.com ©2024 BHH Affiliates, LLC, An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. Equal Housing Opportunity. thing special. Families stuck together, neighbors looked out for neighbors and what one family had, another was welcome to share. Nobody was left behind, and nobody went hungry. In 1929 Edgeworth, the spirit of generosity flowed freely — and so, I’ve been told, did the fruit of the vine! (Insert smiley face here.) For Nick, Christmas brought more than the Feast of the Seven Fishes, good friends and a little holiday cheer. It restored his faith in life, in his neighbors and in the goodness of people. And he made a solemn vow to turn over a new leaf in 1930: never gamble again! Of course, in Edgeworth, a gentleman’s word was his bond (right, Moe?)! At least until the next hand was dealt at the ITAMS! The spirit of the season was encapsulated years later by Dr. Seuss; “What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!” Hi Nicky! Hope you enjoyed this. Just to be crystal clear, it was written in the spirit of health, happiness, love and respect for you and your wonderful family. Now back to our regularly scheduled program. Insert yet another smiley face. It is said in Malden Musings.... ● Speaking of the “Pride of Linden,” where have you gone, Chris Moro? Sung to the Simon & Garfunkel classic “Mrs. Robinson.” I’m looking for another contribution in regard to Linden on the Saugus Branch’s glorious past as den got yer back as you run for Teamsters President! Best of luck, dude! ● Just for the record, saw both Paulie Gilligan and Dave Russo perform at the Elks in Medford recently, and both continue to riff like mad men! Still killing it and believe me, you will never be disappointed with these two Malden treasures. Speaking of vinyl... Commiserating recently with fellow paisan Pasquale “Lino” Petrangelo — who, btw, is seemingly kin to all of Edgeworth (he’s even related to THE Moose Gennetti!) — I made a delightful discovery: The man is a certified vinyl junkie; a die-hard audiophile since his college days kicking it with cooler than cool hipster locals, such as Bert “Cliff’s Little Brother” Cioffi and Dave “The Face of Public Facilities” Angelo. Lino’s musical palette spans every genre by the way. He even confessed to me that he still spins records beside the exact same Lava Lamp that lit up his freshman dorm room at Merrimack — surrounded by a priceless collection of the original wax he bought back then. With that said, it’s Desert Island Disc time again! Stranded on a deserted island with your five favorite vinyl records, five albums you could not live without — talk amongst yourselves: ● Frank Sinatra — 1969’s “My Way” ● The Jam — “All Mod Cons” ● The Kinks — “Soap Opera” ● Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band — “Night Moves” ● Bob Marley & the Wailers — “Uprising” As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one MUSINGS| SEE PAGE 8 FLEET CARD Check Out Our LOW PRICES!
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