Fifth Avenue in the1950s

[Grant Beattie]

I remember New Kensington as a wonderful place to be in the late forties and early fifties. I worked at ALCOA and GE. These pictures bring back great memories. I have been all around the world, but old New Kensington will always have a special place in my heart.

[Grant Beattie]

New Kensington had five movie theaters in the early fifties. There were the Datolla, Parmount, Circle, Ritz and Liberty. The Datolla was the first one with AC. We went there even if we didn't like the movie to get out of the heat.

[Wayne Schuricht]

What a great picture and what memories. Brings a tear to my eyes. I worked at the Cooper Brothers Music Store in the 60's, right across the street from the Liberty. Miss Horner, 8th grade teacher at Ridge Avenue Jr. High would let me out of class to walk down to Embrose drugs and pick up her prescriptions and would give me a dime to have a coke at the soda fountain while I had to wait. Boy, I wonder what they would do to her now!!!!

[Tom R]

Wayne Schuricht wrote:

I worked at the Cooper Brothers Music Store in the 60's, right across the street from the Liberty.

You might remember my Dad, Moe Russell. He played guitar and bought his Gibson L5 at Cooper Brothers sometime in the '50s. I still have the L5. Serial number from 1929. He played it every Friday and Saturday night somewhere, and it looks like it. Still sounds great.

[Wayne Schuricht]

Tom R wrote:

<quoted text>You might remember my Dad, Moe Russell. He played guitar and bought his Gibson L5 at Cooper Brothers sometime in the '50s. I still have the L5. Serial number from 1929. He played it every Friday and Saturday night somewhere, and it looks like it. Still sounds great.

Tom R. I'm sorry but I don't specifically remember your father but I sure am glad you still have his guitar. I bought my trombone there in 1969 (Conn 6H) and still have and play it.

[Gene Arabia]

I worked for a short time at the Kroger store on the right in the mid 1950s until it closed. Then I worked at the new Kroger's on Freeport/Leechburgh Rd in Valley Heights.

[Gene Arabia-YorbaLind aCA]

I posted this message before and saw it. Why was it removed?
I worked at the Koger store on the right in the 1950s until Krogers moved to te new store near the reservoir on Leechburgh road. I believe the store became Golden Dawn.

[Grant Beattie]

Gene Arabia-YorbaLindaCA wrote:

I posted this message before and saw it. Why was it removed?
I worked at the Koger store on the right in the 1950s until Krogers moved to te new store near the reservoir on Leechburgh road. I believe the store became Golden Dawn.

You are right the old Kroger store by the reseivor is now Golden Dawn. Golden Dawn continues to operate even with the competition from Giant Eagle.

[Grant Beattie]

A local developer plans to to renovate the old Dattola theatre on 5th Avenue. It has been silent since 1985. It is a block from the Westmoreland County Community College branch. They have a target date of May 2010 to reopen the Dattola. It is great companies are willing to put money into downtown New Kensington. Perhaps, we can regain some of the glory days for the city. I just moved back after being gone for almost 50 years, and I am encourged by what I see. Also, we have the G20 coming to Pittsburgh in September. It is great.

[tubby]

Tom R wrote:

<quoted text>You might remember my Dad, Moe Russell. He played guitar and bought his Gibson L5 at Cooper Brothers sometime in the '50s. I still have the L5. Serial number from 1929. He played it every Friday and Saturday night somewhere, and it looks like it. Still sounds great.

Iworked in record deptr. it was National Record Mart Tubby Galzerano

[tubby]

Grant Beattie wrote:

New Kensington had five movie theaters in the early fifties. There were the Datolla, Parmount, Circle, Ritz and Liberty. The Datolla was the first one with AC. We went there even if we didn't like the movie to get out of the heat.

I remember the Ritz Cartoon shows 50 of them All Day westerns But you had to hold your feet up cause of the RATS LOL Tubby

[tubby]

Wayne Schuricht wrote:

What a great picture and what memories. Brings a tear to my eyes. I worked at the Cooper Brothers Music Store in the 60's, right across the street from the Liberty. Miss Horner, 8th grade teacher at Ridge Avenue Jr. High would let me out of class to walk down to Embrose drugs and pick up her prescriptions and would give me a dime to have a coke at the soda fountain while I had to wait. Boy, I wonder what they would do to her now!!!!

I used to go upstairs to the radio station above Cooper Bros and ivist with Phil Brooks and Bob Laverio and be on radio shows. Played records with Bob Lavorio at Ken Hi and at fire hall on Sunday nites across river was it Natrona Hgts? Regards Tubby Galzerano

[Wayne Schuricht]

Hi Tubby, thanks for you comments. I believe the firehall was Birdville in Natrona Heights. I just saw pictures of Dave Cooper and Joy Yinger (Dave's sister) celebrating Joy's 85th b'day. Sent to me by Joy's daughter Marnie. Marnie, DonaldCooper, and I were classmates, Ken Hi 63. Cooper Brothers is, I believe, still in business in Atlanta, GA. Wayne([e-mail])

[Mariellen Meszar]

Anyone have an old photo of the Sportsmens Bar on 9th Street and 4th Avenue. Please email me at [e-mail]

[tubby]

tubby wrote:

<quoted text> Iworked in record deptr. it was National Record Mart Tubby Galzerano

Hi what was name of female manager? I remember she loved Frank Sinatra if fact got me interested in him too Lol Tubby

[tubby]

Mariellen Meszar wrote:

Anyone have an old photo of the Sportsmens Bar on 9th Street and 4th Avenue. Please email me at [e-mail]

Ah the Sportmans Bar My mom had a cleaning shop cross from there on 4th ave. B&G CLEANERS went there every Friday nite for shrimp great food Tubby

[Parsec Sam]

My Dad and a couple of the guys from the auto parts store took me into the Sportsman Bar when i turned 21. I had been going to bars and club since I was fifteen; never was carded. That day was my first time being asked to show my ID. The good old days were gone. that was in 1950.

[deanwanderer]

Gene Arabia wrote:

I worked for a short time at the Kroger store on the right in the mid 1950s until it closed. Then I worked at the new Kroger's on Freeport/Leechburgh Rd in Valley Heights.

We shopped at both stores. Are you related to Anthony Arabia?