Remember the Dances
Jim Hardie may have said it best when explaining the dance craze that hit Ellwood City in the late 50’s, 60’s & 70’s. “That timeline would include the very first of the Baby Boomers and the last teenagers of the 1950′s. Those that had one foot in one generation and the other in a new one got to experience the birth of Rock and Roll, Doo-wop, Folk and the music of the 60’s.”
I have gotten more than a handful of people that keep mentioning the dances in Ellwood City. Having not come from that time, the only dances I know about are the ones held Friday nights after the football games in the Lincoln High School small gym where three quarters of the students leave at half time of the football game to walk over to the dance. From what I have been told, the ones held today would not even be considered a dance, but rather a “gathering”.
We have heard stories of dances held in Ewing Park shelters with Christmas lights strewn about and the record player belting out the tunes (for those that do not know what a record player is, you’ll have to Google it.)
We have heard about different clubs in town that put on the best dances as fundraisers for their clubs including the Road Rebels Car Club and the Kingsmen Car Club. The Son’s of Italy hosted weekend dances, the Jaycees also sponsored dances for young people, as did the Shuffle Shop after the game.
The Shuffle Shop was a teen dance hall operated by local citizens inside the former Circle School Building. The Shuffle Shop (also known as the “Can”) is remembered today as always having dance floor crowded to the limits with enthusiastic jitterbugs and dance contests.
Tree of Life Jewish Synagogue hosted open dances for Jews, Protestants & Catholics in their new recreation hall at the end of the Ewing Park Bridge. Even the high school had a Dance Club. E.C.M. contributor Danny John served as president of the club whose job it was to put on a dance every Friday evening throughout the school year. The club took care of security, setup, arranging for a DJ, running the concession stand and cleanup afterwards.
Jim Hardie mentioned that the Dance Club would not have functioned without the guidance of the faculty sponsors: George Reese and Lou Oliastro. “They were exceptional men who allowed us the latitude to have a great time while gently, usually, keeping us from getting into trouble. Lou passed too soon but George is still around with his quick wit and humor.”
Jo Ann (Miller) Oxsen shared a personal memory of the Dance Club’s Friday night dances in the early 60′s. She recalled the time she and Vinnie Jeoffre (sp.?) won the Twist Contest (grand prize: Peppermint Twist record album). To this day she believes that Vinnie chose her as his partner because she was the shortest girl there that night.
I am sure all of us would enjoy hearing your memories of the dances held in Ellwood City. Please leave a comment below or email us at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com. Please be sure to mention where the dance you recall was located.
Another place where dances were occasionally held was Nick’s Snack Bar, owned by Nick Calabria. He had two very nice daughters who worked at Nick’s, selling candy bars, soda, and ice cream, named Sandy and Bunny. It was on Sims St. in Ewing Park.
I remember going to the dances at Nick’s Snack Bar. They must have taken place around 1959 or 1960. They were convenient for Francie Wilson to attend because she lived just a couple of blocks away on Pershing Street. The Calabrias were a nice family. I didn’t know Sandy, but Bunny was a friend. I was sorry when Nick’s closed.
Okay, everyone has answered all the trivia questions so far, but this one might test your memory. We have someone looking for the name of a singer who sang here in Ellwood City, and traveled from town to town in 1973 or 1974. Particularly the first couple of months in 1974.
oops. too old for that one Ben. I jusat knew the 60′s ones..lol. But I wonder how many people remember of the two record shops in town? One was on Lawrence Avenue and was owned by the father of a classmate of mine and the otehr was on 5th street by Kaufmans.
Bob, I remember the record shop on Lawrence Ave.(can’t remember the name. I used to buy 45s and the LP albums (long play 33 1/3) from that store. I remember Lou Lordi’s music store on 5th street. Of course all of this was in the 50s. I hate to ask, but what is or was Kaufmans? Don’t recall a record shop on 5th street. Did that come after 1960?
Hi everyone,
Elks, Eagles club also had dances and of course the school gym. We were quite the dancers, we travelled to Shenango firehall(New Castle) & McDanel’s in New Brighton. (that’s how we stayed so fit, oh no)!!!!
All these blogs sure brings back the GREAT memories! Those were the real fun days, very simple but yet so memorable! Ray & I have been together since ’57 & can vividly remember all the fantastic dances. Bob Grant had a record shop on Lawrence Ave. for many years, also Ray & I danced on a live (TV station in New Castle) with Bob Grant hosting as the MC, Connie Francis was just a new artist, and she sang “Stupid Cupid”. Can you believe that Ray remembers her having a band-aid on her thumb???? LOL Of course, we were star struck?? How funny is that???
There were active dances @ Ewing Park shelter (the last one with the circle drive,) I believe they were sponsored by the Jaycees. Ray had a habit of breaking the sports curfew, the infamous Chuck Knox & Bill Canterna didn’t care for me much!
Well, as you can see, I can go on forever…..thanks so much for posting.
Awesome website…..thanks Bob Mallary!!
ps: missed Linda T @ class reunion, hope U R well.
pss: I believe Kaufman’s had a dairy store for a short time on 5th St (right near the LHS)????
I remember a record shop on Lawrence Avenue which was owned by Bob Grant (who, I think, was also a DJ on the local radio station). I also bought discounted 45s at a little store near the Manos theater. I don’t remember the name of the store, but it carried a variety of things, not just records. There was always a small box of 45s to look through.
Was Kaufman’s a restaurant? I don’t remember the record shop on 5th Street either.
Carole, I think when Willie’s closed on 5th St it was reopened as Kaufman’s restaurant. I also don’t remember a record shop on 5th St. or the name of the store by the Manos.
I, too, remember that store a few doors from the Manos. They also sold vaccuums and etc. My parents bought me a “Hi Fi record player” from that store. How far we’ve come from Hi Fi and record players. Love this site because it brings back such fond memories.
I remember moving from NorthSide to Ewing Park when I was in 6th or 7th grade. I hated leaving my NorthSide friends, but yet just met more, most of whom I already knew from the Ellport Roller Rink. We all merged anyway at Lincoln a little later on. Then we had some lucky “split session” days when they were constructing the addition when we were in 8th grade around 1960, I think. So we had afternoons from 1PM off for free time, which we used to enjoy the outdoors during a lovely fall. I remember lazing by the Connequenessing Creek, which was probably very dangerous and still is.
ok that store whear you got your HiFi was Herges I thing Iam not sure of the spelling It was a great store also Dad got his first TV there and in 1952 i got to pick out my first record player. the other stroe that sold 45s was the old news stand 2 doors down from the theater they was out of juke boxes. I bought a lot of record there and also at Gen Sales too….
auctiondj@yahoo.com
Francie, The split sessions were when we were in 10th grade it would have been the fall of 1961.
Danny, The store my hi-fi came from was 2 or 3 doors down from the Manos next to the Newsstand (that sold comic books, cards, tv guides, pens and of course newspapers). Herges was across the street. My parents bought our Frigidaire refrigerator and other big appliances from Herges. For some reason I remember the man from “that other store” he was tall, skinny and wore thick glasses.
Weird, huh?! I lived at 405 Lawrence Ave.
Linda I do remember that guy but just can’t put it together in my mind but i will get the little grey cells going.
Linda just remembered the name I think it was Parkers maybe somebody will remember i might be wrong
Danny, You are correct. The minute I saw the name I knew it was right. good memory!!!!!!!!!!!
that is so cool now would you belive he is still in business in Ellwood on 7th street my brother and I was in Ellwood a few weeks back and saw that store cant miss all the vacs in the window. Boy Ellwood sure has changed not much down town at all even Blockers has moved out to the plaza i did notice the wonderful black tiles are gone as well.
Ray D’Ambrosio, Good to hear from you. yes, I missed our 50th reunion, but I am fine. I have a dancing school with a 150 students and our dance revue is always the end of June which makes it difficult to make it to the school reunions. Los Angeles schools don’t get out until the end of June. I miss the reunions and the July festival in EP. But I also don’t fly anymore so 1999 was my last visit to EC. I keep in touch with Lois Mitchell, Bette Baney and now Bob Stevens (due to this web site)and my cousin Ken Turner. Take care of yourself. My email is linda42t@yahoo if you ever care to email.
Danny- Parkers is on 6th street. Sharon. You’re right Sharon, Kaufmans was owned by Dale and Rose Kaufman and was where Willie’s was. The record store on Lawrence was owned by Bob Grant of WKST whose daughter was a classmate of the class of 64. Her name was Bobbi Grant. and the record shop on 5th Street was owned by Dave Ross of Beaver Fallsand was right next to Kaufmans
Bob- I remembered Grant’s record store and I remember Bobbi but I didn’t remember of there being a record store on 5th St next to Kaufman’s. I didn’t remember Parker’s having their store on Lawrence Ave either.
Thanks bob for corecting me on Parkers I get my streets mix ed up sometimes I do remember Grants record store the nice thing about buying a record there they had a turn table on the counter and you could hear the record before you bought it I bought a lot of records there also the Lincoln Dance club would always buy the records also…
Kaufmans was formerly williams Dairy Store[Willies} till around 1961 and there was a record store next door man from Beaver Falls owned it it was there for just a few years
I believe the Colonial later became the Ellwoodian I remember getting lunch there during school (2 hot dogs w/ketchup and an orange pop. They also had a downstairs where I believe the pool tables were, upstairs towards the back were pinball machines. Don
Does anyone know the name of the restaurant that was across the street from my Dad’s barber shop? I believe the outside was black tile. They had a room downstairs with a juke box,a place to dance with tables/chairs. The man who owned it was not a real friendly man. Does this ring a bell to anyone? I for some reason thought it was called The Wolverine. I know I can be wrong, so please help.
Linda, wasn’t the ‘Oasis’ across from your dad’s barber shop? I was never inside, but think that was the name. I remember the shiny, black exterior.
I think the Wolverine was out at Park Gate (?).
I recall the Ellwoodian originally was where the Elton Hotel was, then for brief time was in the building across the street from Turner’s barbershop, then closed and was re-opened by Don and Sadie(owned 5th st poolhall) as Colonial. Don never smiled but was actually allright after you got to know him. Sadie owned the poolhall couple doors down from Willie’s. I practically lived in both places(poolhall & colonial) It Is Now the Elks Lodge. Bob LaCava who was the manager of the Manos theater, also had dances downstairs.
Phil & Eddie’s Oasis was next door to the barbershop and was the busiest place in town during the late 60′s. I lived in an apartment above the Manos theater.
Carole, the Oasis was next to the barber shop. When Johnny and Eddie owned the Oasis it was a nice beer garden. I hear now it’s so-so. My Dad was friends with both men. Eddie and my dad had a March of Dimes contest down the sidewalk in front of the Oasis & barber shop to raise money. It started at the corner of Lawrence & 4th and went to the end of the water company. Eddie won I think.
Harry, Thank You so much. I was pretty sure it was called the Ellwoodian. I don’t know about the Colonial, but was the pool hall in the basement of the Simon Bldg. Where Frank’s barber shop & Willie’s were? If so, I remember Alice Mayberry had her dancing school there before she left town. I was always to scared to go down there.
And thanks again for the photo of my Dad from the VFW. I have with the other Turner photos of the family.
When Mom and Dad had their gift shop, I remember some Friday nights wearing a paper bib while eating spaghetti at Johnny & Eddie’s Oasis.
Thanks to Linda and Harry for refreshing my memory. I knew that the Oasis was somewhere on that end of Lawrence Avenue…now I know where.
Does anyone remember a laundramat at the corner of 4th and Lawrence? My Aunt and Uncle owned it (Frank & Essie Wallace) I believe it was there before the Oasis.
Don, I remember the laundromat at the corner of 4th & Lawrence. Not sure which came first, but the Oasis was there when we moved above the barber shop in 1947.
Linda, I believe the laundromat came first. I remember my uncle and aunt would come up from Pittsburgh and after visiting for a while he would say he had to move the car, it wasnt til years later I found out he would go down to the Oasis and grab a quick drink.
Linda, I remember the March of Dimes Contest. I think something was painted on the sidewalk. How’s that for memory???????????
Boy, Don, you have been busy on this web site. I love your comments. There wasn’t anything painted on the sidewalk, it was a very long piece of white paper that looked like paint. I have a photo of me by the strip of paper.