20

Page 20 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, December 16, 2022 MUSINGS | FROM PAGE 6 1. What comic strip was originally called “Take Barney Google, F’rinstance”? 2. On Dec. 16, 1773, what event took place in Boston Harbor? 3. Who serves the Figgie pudding in “A Christmas Carol”? 4. What was named Elsie and born in Brookfi eld, Mass., at Elm Hill Farm in 1932? 5. On Dec. 17, 1894, what conductor was born in Boston, Mass.? 6. What Greek god’s name is also the name of a fl ute? 7. Where is the Wizard of Oz’s home? 8. On Dec. 18, 2002, what second fi lm of the “Lord of the Rings” fi lms was released? 9. In the Philippines, for the Christmas season star-shaped lanterns made of paper and bamboo are traditional; is bamboo a wood? 10. In December 1963 what rock and roll singer/dancer married Miss World Catharina Lodders? 11. On Dec. 19, 1843, what Charles Dickens novella subtitled “In Prose. Being A Ghost Story of Christmas” was published? 12. Traditionally, what Italian cake is eaten at Christmas? 13. Reportedly, this fall a gang of what has been alarming Woburn residents? 14. On Dec. 20, 1946, the fi lm “It’s a Wonderful Life” premiered; who starred in it? 15. Last month the Scottish Football Association banned what professional soccer training practice around match time? 16. December 21 in the United States is the shortest day and longest night – otherwise known as what? 17. In December 2019, Zach King posted “Zach Kings Magic Broomstick” – captioned “They rejected my application to Hogwarts, but I still found a way to be a wizard” – as of March 2022 the most viewed video on what, according to Guinness World Records? 18. Do just dogs have canine teeth? 19. On Dec. 22, 1862, Cornelius Alexander McGillicuddy – also known as “Connie Mack” and the “Tall Tactician” – was born in East Brookfi eld, Mass.; what sport did he play and manage? 20. What 1971 movie has the tagline, “It’s scrumdiddlyumptious”? ANSWERS AAA Service • Lockouts Trespass Towing • Roadside Service Junk Car Removal 617-387-6877 26 Garvey St., Everett MDPU 28003 ICCMC 251976 war zone. One-hundred-yearold factory buildings line the street in their death throes (ancient artifacts gone in less than 10 years as Malden steps slowly out of its industrial past). We walk past the former Jennies Pizza, which in 1972 is called Moriarty’s Pizza, located downstairs from Al’s Pool Room. One more stop: “The Greeks” package store across the street from Jennies; a toast before we continue, in memory of Al Owens and John Surette, who were tragically killed the year before on the tracks not far from where we now stand. Chief says, “one more toast, this one for Eddie Callahan!” Ptl. Callahan was murdered in 1963 at the A&P Supermarket, again, not far from the spot we were standing on – his killer, evil incarnate, now suff ering eternal damnation in Hades. The journey continues. We arrive at CB’s. We notice farther down Pleasant Street towards the downtown area that fi re engines, emergency vehicles and a large crowd have gathered in front of 7 Washington St. The Centre Methodist Church is engulfed in fl ames – later to become the John & Christina Markey Malden Senior Community Center. We enter Charlie Brown’s. As we pass the bar area, we hear chatter from barfl ies about a newly released movie they had just seen at the Granada Theatre starring Al Pacino called “The Godfather.” Charlie Brown’s is a relic from Malden’s long-ago past, much like The Rosebud on Highland Avenue, Demarco’s Cafe on Pearl Street and Mike’s Cafe on Highland Avenue: holding on for dear life as the public’s wavering/fi ckle taste in food, booze and ambience sweeps through Malden at a very rapid pace. We settle into our mid-century leather booths. Time to order. Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail for the table. At $1.50 for six, we order six plates of shrimp cocktail. Our table overfl ows with jumbo shrimp. We all agree that the Large Filet Mignon Steak at $3.95 with salad, baked potato, veggie and Italian bread is a stone-cold bargain. Meat all around! Cliff is the oddball. What’s new!? No steak for this Pine Street boy. He orders the Veal Cutlet Parmigiana (“en casserole”) with spaghetti and salad for $3. Cliff explains that it is the “‘Chef’s Special’ – “so it must be good!” For dessert we order a table full of treats: Italian Spumoni with claret sauce and Bisquit Tortoni with claret sauce. Sixty cents apiece. We overdose on claret sauce. After dinner Choff suggests that we catch the last set of Phil Longo’s “C Notes” at the Copa Lounge on Route 1. No takers. As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character “Columbo” would say, “Just one more thing, sir” – time to get back to 2022. Turmoil in our time be damned! We hustle back to the Bandstand and await the “Wayback Machine.” It’s a scary place at two in the morning. The Bandstand has taken on a more ominous tone. The Heller brothers now own the wee small hours. Back in the speed of light. No place like home. Postscript: A quick note about (recently retired) Director of Cemeteries Jim “The All-American American” Cahill. Jimmy decided to stay in 1972 Malden giddily muttering as we departed about inexpensive booze, steak dinners under a fi ve spot and miniskirts. Peter is a long-time Malden resident and a regular contributor to the Malden Advocate. He can be reached at PeteL39@aol.com for comments, compliments or criticisms. 1. “Barney Google and Snuff y Smith” 2. The Boston Tea Party 3. Mrs. Cratchit 4. The Borden cow that appeared in ads and movies 5. Arthur Fiedler 6. Pan 7. Emerald City 8. “The Two Towers” 9. According to the dictionary, it is a woody or arborescent grass. 10. Chubby Checker 11. “A Christmas Carol” 12. Panettone 13. Turkeys 14. James Stewart 15. Heading the ball 16. The Winter Solstice 17. TikTok 18. No; many animals, including humans, have them. 19. Baseball (for the Philadelphia Athletics) 20. “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory”

21 Publizr Home


You need flash player to view this online publication