MUSINGS | FROM PAGE 3 young basketball players in the city are Bert Cioffi , John Stanasek, Mark Burns, Joey Hult, Billy Murray, Gary Twyman, Scott Hanley, Arthur Boyle, Greg Phaneuf, Norm Pashoian and Vance Ferratusco. • The Lewis Candy Company on Commercial Street is scheduled for demolition under the Urban Renewal plan; it will be torn down in 1973 to make way (eventually) for yet (another) corporate coff ee shop. • Jackie Bottigie with one good hand was a better baseball player than most of us with two. • Harvard Pastry on Highland Ave. was still run by the Dorsi family; they had the best biscotti, the best “spuckies” and best pan pizza in the city! • Converse Rubber on Pearl Street employed all of Edgeworth at one time or another. • It also seemed as though more sneakers are going out the back windows than the back loading dock. • Frankie Molinari and Jimmy (Vinnie) Della Gatta were the best dancers in Edgeworth. • Malden Square could still go toe to toe with any downtown in the Commonwealth. • The city would flood Devir Park (and Ferryway Green) for kids to skate; the result: some of the best hockey players in the state came from Malden. • The MHS Hockey Team wins the GBL Championship in 1973. Most of the team is from the West End. • In the summer after a hard rain, the major league infi eld diamond at Devir was in great shape for “mud bowls” due to the fl ooding of the park in the winter. • The legendary Ward 2 Councillor Billy Callahan would lead his famous holiday parade down Charles Street every 4th of July. • Arguably some of the best young hockey players in the city are Matty Marden, Frank Hanley, Mike Powers, Joey Mayne, the Surette brothers, Dave Norton, Rob Buckley, Brian Rutledge and Richie Howard (from Edgeworth, not the future mayor). • The prettiest girl in the ninth grade was Geraldine O’Connor – no argument (followed closely by Pam Picillo). • “The Godfather” created Mafi a chic in 1972. • All the potheads down the park were talking about “Fritz the Cat.” • “Deliverance” was unsettling for a 15-year-old in 1972. • I saw “Ben,” “Frogs” and “Dirty Harry” at the Granada Theatre. THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, December 29, 2023 • Brigham’s Ice Cream in the heart of the downtown area (right next door to Schopell’s) is home to the best burgers in the Square; it will close up shop and make way for (eventually) another (you guessed it) corporate coffee shop. • There was no Orange Line in Malden! • Bruce Springsteen signed a record deal with Columbia Records, I became a fan three years later. • Paul Coleman was the first Springsteen fanatic I knew. • Rose Ann Tomasello and Bethie Sampson are being picked to play softball at the park before us guys! • Everybody was talking about Sammy Davis Jr and his iconic encounter with Archie Bunker. • The guys from “Acid” show movies at Devir Park. • They hang a large white sheet over the front of the Bandstand and use a projector to show “B Movies.” • A Devir Park hooligan sets the sheet on fi re. • There’s a riot goin’ on; Malden Square is the scene of youth disaff ection rioting over the course of three days. • The MPD are ill equipped to handle youth unrest; reportedly there are accounts of Malden’s little insurrection in Chicago dailies. Page 5 • Mom and Pops like Mal’s, Freddie’s Market, Columbia Food Store and Nelson’s Bakery had yet to be run out of town by corporate mega monsters. • The average cost for a gallon of gas is 55 cents. • Joe & Nemo’s is still charging 25 cents for a steamed hot dog. • The James Montgomery Blues Band blew the roof off the Jenkins Auditorium. • You did not go into or even near the Malden River and it is not to be confused with today’s “River’s Edge/Malden River.” • At Beebe, Barry Hitchcock and Pam Picillo win “Friendliest.” Rest in peace, Hitchy. • Charlie Farren is about to join his fi rst professional band “Live Lobster.” • Charlie is like, famous and still records and tours to this very day. • John & Yoko cohost “The Mike Douglas Show” for an entire week in Feb. then appear on Jerry Lewis’ 7th Muscular Dystrophy telethon later in the year. • Phil Longo, Phil Roderick, Ron Accettullo, Dick Robbie (Peter Robinson’s stepdad) and the “C Notes” are playing music for the “easy listening crowd” – getting people to shake, rattle and roll – while holding residency at the Copa Lounge on Rte. 1. • An ugly, large concrete building has yet to be placed in the middle of Pleasant Street. “Old City Hall” was 89 years old. • It is declared a National Historical Site. The city tears it down shortly after. • WBCN is four years old. • Anthony’s Restaurant (“Gennetti’s Spa” on Canal Street) is one year old. • Attorney Scott Lucey is born. As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” – you could cruise in your 1966 Buick LeSabre (me) down Pleasant starting at Jordan Marsh; the Kernwood and Anthony’s Shoe Repair on your right, Woolworth’s and W.T. Grant on your left, Boston Leader on your right, Sparks on your left, the Y on your right, Edson’s on your left, Dandy Donuts on your right, the Fruit Stand on your left, Pleasant Bowling Alley on your right, First Congo on your left. Under the bridge – Jenny’s Pizza on your left, the Greeks Liquor Store on your right, “Bay Bob’s” house on your left, the A&P Supermarket on your right, the VFW on your left, Beebe Jr. High on your right – all the way to Medford Square and Tony Lucci’s without going around a large, ugly concrete building aka “The Beast That Ate Pleasant Street.” Happy New Year, Malden! SABATINO INSURANCE AGENCY 519 BROADWAY EVERETT, MA 02149 Auto * Home * Boat * Renter * Condo * Life * Multi-Policy Discounts * Commercial 10% Discounts * Registry Service Also Available Sabatino Insurance is proud to welcome the loyal customers of PHONE: (617) 387-7466 FAX: (617) 381-9186 Visit us online at: WWW.SABATINO-INS.COM
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