Yesteryear's Humor

I can't understand why many of today's comedians use so much "blue" material in their acts. 

Somehow I don't find obscene language funny. In fact, I find it offensive and think it detracts from the comedy.

I got to thinking about how humor has changed from the "good old days". The other day I came across "The Featherheads", a comic strip that regularly appeared in the Tuckerton Beacon in the late 1920' and early 1930's. I'm curious to hear if today's Blog readers find it funny.

Well, what do you think? Does it tickle your funny bone? What were your favorite comic strips when you were a kid?

I especially enjoyed Joe Btfsplk from Little Abner. He always walked around with a dark cloud over his head, obliviously

wrecking havoc in his wake.

Let's hear from you about your favorite childhood comic strip!

Pete S

West Creek's Own Charles Lindbergh

One of the icons of American aviation history was Charles Lindbergh who, in May 1927, made the first non stop flight across the Atlantic when he took off from Roosevelt field in Garden City, Long Island and landed in Paris. He became an overnight hero.

Well, it seems that little old West Creek had it's own "Charles Lindbergh", Everett Cameson, who flew into West Creek a little over a year from Lindbergh's epic flight. A gathering of locals gave a rousing welcome to their local "Lindy".

I wonder if there are some photos of some of the locals with Everett floating around in a West Creek attic. It sure would be interesting to see one.

Pete S

Howard Ware and the Sochi Olympics

A few years ago, my buddy, Howard Ware, now 92 years young, gave me a quick tour of an outhouse situated on the property next to his garden where he grows his famous pole "limers". It was a reminder of a much slower paced and simpler era in old New Gretna 

The outhouse adjacent to Howard's garden.

Howard took a load off his feet as he sat down to give me a brief talk regarding his experiences with various types of outhouses.

Oh, the memories that Howard had.

Howard pointed out that this particular outhouse was a two seater. That concept always seemed strange to me. How often did nature call two people at the same time that two adjacent seats were necessary? And wasn't this bringing togetherness to a whole new level? 

The two seater

Some might say that the two hole outhouse fostered an early form of social networking now satisfied through Facebook and other internet services. Maybe things were more advanced back in the old days then we give them credit for.

I shouldn't be so judgmental regarding the togetherness fostered by the two hole outhouse of the past, as this was brought to my consciousness as I was surfing the net regarding the Sochi Olympics and came across the following photo. 

Twin toilets at the Scoci Olympics

The twin toilet concept in the Olympic Village was causing quite a stir among the athletes and commentators. It's hard to image, that in an Olympic environment that took 51 billion dollars to create, the Russians couldn't spring for a separate booth for each toilet. I guess that, with today's inflation, 51 billion dollars doesn't go as far as it use to.

Howard is probably scratching his head, wondering what all the fuss is about and smiling as he thinks back to the good old days when a good two seater was a status symbol in New Gretna.

Maybe the twin toilets are a sign of things to come, that in addition to synchronized swimming, the Russians are lobbying for a new Olympic sport - synchronized pooping. Don't laugh! They say that truth is often stranger than fiction.

Pete S

Local Man Is First New Jersey Civil War Draftee

A favorite Television show for many years is the game show Jeopardy with Alex Trebek. Contestants pick a category and then must provide a question for a answer appearing on the Jeopardy board.

Should anyone out in the Blog-O-Sphere ever appear on Jeopardy with a "New Jersey Civil War" category, I thought I would offer the following obituary which would provide the question for the following answer - "William L. Shinn from West Creek, New Jersey".

The question would be "Who was the first New Jersey man drafted in the Civil War?"

Charles Shinn was also the oldest West Creek resident in 1928 and appears to have led an interesting life. I'm sure you would agree.

Pete S

"Skeets" Hickman And The Jumbo Egg

I've been posting on the Blog infrequently as I find myself running out of material. Recently, I have obtained access to digital copies of the Tuckerton Beacon from 1917 through 1989. My current plans are to post one article a week from the Beacon, hoping that it may mention relatives of Blog readers or jog someone's memory regarding a forgotten event from the past that you would like to share here at the Blog. 

Should anyone wish me to look up an event that you would like to see posted on the Blog (a birth or marriage announcement, an obituary, a news event, etc) leave a comment or drop me an email. I will be happy to try to accommodate your wishes.

Today, I thought I'd post an oddity news item regarding a rather large elliptical orb laid by a New Gretna Leghorn owned by Gerald Hickman. It must have been a slow news week as it was posted at the top of the front page. My first reaction was to say "OUCH!". Unfortunately, the giant egg was the last laid by the unfortunate leghorn.

Gerald Hickman, at the age of 22, suffered a gun shot wound in his left hand in a November, 1922 duck hunting accident which resulted in the hand being amputated just below the elbow. 

Transcription from 11/9/1922 Tuckerton Beacon

Having a strong character, the loss of Gerald's lower right arm did not seem to deter him from a normal daily routine. He was a successful house painter for many years. Rickie Steele, a men's Breakfast buddy, tells me that Gerald, known locally as "Skeets", was also an accomplished pool player who would occasionally clean Rickie's clock in a friendly game of pool.

Gerald (r) and Richie Hickman.

Can anyone out in the Blog-O-Sphere tell me the relationship of Gerald and Richie Hickman?

Eggs must have been of great interest in the late 1920's as evidenced by the following May 24, 1928 Beacon article which mentions an Egg Exhibition held at the Tuckerton Fire House where Gerald Hickman won a special mention for his exhibit. I wonder if he displayed his giant egg.

"Skeets" passed away in January, 1974, 46 years after his unlucky Leghorn laid the famous giant egg. His obituary made no mention of that momentous incident.

Pete S

The Great Al Jolson Stops In Tuckerton

Back in the day, Route 9 was known as New York Road, as it was the route connecting New York City with Atlantic City. Famous people traveling from the "Big Apple" to the "Playground of the East Coast" would frequently travel through Tuckerton. Occasionally, they would stop. Sometimes by design and sometimes unexpectedly. Al Jolson, the famous singer, actor, and comedian, known by his generation as "The World's Greatest Entertainer", was one of these people. 

Click on the arrow below to hear Al Jolson sing

"Toot, Toot, Tootsie!"

While traveling through Tuckerton on Saturday, June 16, 1923, Al was stopped for exceeding the speed limit. 

Evidently, Mr. Jolson had a heavy foot. Trooper Lipgen clocked him at 55 miles an hour. Not one to be outdone, Jolson claimed that he was actually traveling 69 miles per hour. 

Brought before Justice of the Peace Potter, Jolson was fined $25.00 plus court costs and was quickly on his way, the residents of Tuckerton unaware of the celebrity's brief visit to their tranquil village. I wonder if Al whistled "Toot, Toot, Tootsie!" on his way out of town.

Pete S

PS- Other celebrities were known to have traveled through Tuckerton and New Gretna on their way to Atlantic City. Click on the photo below to read about Al Capone's visit to New Gretna.

PPS- Jolson's "Toot, Toot, Tootsie" may not play on an Apple iPad as it is a Flash file.

Some Early 1960's New Gretna Businesses

This is the last in a series of Blog entries from the September 4, 1960 "2nd Annual Power Boat Regetta Souvenir Program". 

A few New Gretna businesses placed ads in the booklet. I thought some of you out in the Blog-O-Sphere might enjoy seeing the ads with an accompanying photo from my files. I added a few questions to test the memories of old New Gretna-ites who might be reading this blog. 

Eddie's Market in downtown New Gretna.

What present day business is located in the old Eddie's Market building?

Belk's Esso Station in background of the 1976 Bicentennial Parade

What business was and still is across the street from the old Esso Station?

Who can remember Helen and John's last name?

The New Gretna House in the 1960's

The Rustic Inn was built by Frank Cramer and had many owners over the years. Can anyone name some of these owners, other than Frank Cramer and Frieda Shedaker?

 The Soroccos and Dot Cramer (left)

Does anyone know the Sorocco's first names and where they lived in New Gretna? Who was Dot Cramer?

What present day business is on the location of Sorocco's Luncheonette?

Capt. LaRue Mazelle

What was the name of LaRue's party boat?

Well, that ends our little Power Boat Souvenir Program New Gretna business tour and quiz. I hope it brought back some pleasant memories. Check back for answers to the above questions.

Pete S