Page 6 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, December 20, 2024 ~ Malden Musings ~ The Holiday Postcard that's Christmas in Malden By Peter Levine A h, the Christmas season in Malden – it sounds like stepping into a holiday postcard (one that Frank Levine probably has in his immense Malden postcard collection), doesn’t it? Those memories of Malden Square during the ’60s through the ’80s capture the magic of a classic hometown Christmas. You can almost feel the excitement in the air as Maldonians bustled around Mal’s, Kappy’s, Boston Leader, Jack in the Box, Malden Jewelry, Jordan Marsh and the old newspaper stand on Main and Pleasant – Albert Long hawking Globe’s – filling the square with Gerry D’Ambrosio Attorney-at-Law Is Your Estate in Order? Do you have an update Will, Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney? If Not, Please Call for a Free Consultation. 14 Proctor Avenue, Revere (781) 284-5657 life and laughter. It was a magical place at the time where everyone seemed to know each other, and the shops, restaurants and cocktail lounges felt like extensions of your own living room. Staying warm meant ducking into the Charles Street Bowling Alley, grabbing a slice at Signor Pizza or Piece-o-Pizza or popping into Brigham’s or Gold Coin for some of their iconic comfort food. Each of these places was a little world of its own, where familiar faces and local legends, such as Ronny “Malden Ron” Anderson – in his DPW truck decked out for the holidays – added their own warmth and charm to the season. And, Christmas in Edgeworth circa 1995: Father Puccini with some Edgeworth kids – Michelle Cagno, Dorothy Levine, Lauren Barahona, Gina & Lee Ann (?) Scibelli, Toni Scibelli, Lauren Cirino, and more – at the Saint Peter’s Christmas Fair. Special guest Santa, Joe Levine! (Helen Levine photo) of course, there were the bars where holiday cheer took on a life of its own. Places like The Do Re Lounge, Jack Haney’s, The Centre Bar & Grille, the Auld New, and the Horseshoe Lounge, where friends could be found, laughter flowed, and the holidays were celebrated in true Malden style (always responsibly, of course). Christmas shopping was a unique experience in itself, too. Before the onslaught of “The Mall” there was Jordan Marsh and Woolworths, Bakers and No Where’s End for those all-important last-minute gifts; each store held treasures waiting to be discovered, with families bundling up and huddling together to take in the magic of the displays and the warmth of the holiday crowds. And then there were those snowy sojourns with friends to the Square from all points in Malden to catch a movie at the Granada or the Strand, or to shoot pool at Al’s Pool Room. The glow of the streetlights surrounding the downtown felt like pure holiday magic, with snow crunching underfoot and scarves flapping in the wind (yeah, it snowed in them days!). Snowstorms didn’t stop the adventure though; they only added to it. Ice skating at Devir, Ferryway or the Rez. Clearing snow off the basketball court at Amerige or Devir or Ferryway for an impromptu winter game was just one more way to make memoMUSINGS| SEE PAGE 18 — Vinyl Siding — Carpentry Work — Decks — Roofing — Free Estimates — Replacement Windows — Fully Licensed — Fully Insured
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