lsquoBaltimore ndash my Balmerrsquo hellip Vol I

Do you remember hellip by Larry Collins

You think being called hon by waitresses cashiers bank tellers and

complete strangers is perfectly normal You watched local TV shows Duckpins for Dollars The Collegians Pinbusters Buddy Deane Show Romper Room and Hutzlers Theatre You also saw Stu Kerr star as Bozo the Clown and Professor Cool for the kids then host Dialing for Dollars for the stay-at-home moms and later fill-in as the weather man (complete with cloud and sun magnets) on the 6 oclock news (Dont forget Rhea and JP no Doppler then) Your mother always knew the daily count and the amount on Dialing for Dollars

You know how to pronounce Towson and Ellicott City and always notice ads where the announcers get it wrong We had milk home-delivered by Green Spring Sealtest and Cloverland but somehow Cloverland was the only who claimed to be the dairy with cows Oh yeah you can probably sing their number too (NOrth 9-2222) Going for a Sunday drive to get ice cream at Murrays Sanders (The Dam Place ) or at Cloverland Dairy Farm on Dulaney Valley Rd If you didnt have a car there was always a walk to the Arundel or Highs Or you could just stay home and wait for the bells of the Good Humor Manrsquo When somebody gave their phone number prefix such as CLearwater VAlley IDlewood or DRexel HAmilton you knew right where they were from

Youve been on Sunday drives through Droodle Parkrsquo and watched the submarine races at Loch Raven or Lake Montebello You remember late night Mister Rays Hair Weave commercials ldquoLet me put that hair on your headrdquo You found yourself cheering for the guys who added hon to the Welcome to Baltimore sign on the BW Parkway especially after the Mayor got upset and staked out the sign to catch them You remember the nitwit who crashed the plane into the upper deck of Memorial Stadium You remember when now trendy Canton was a true blue-collar neighborhood of small factories a can company waterfront oyster and vegetable packing houses seed companies tug boat piers filthy harbor water and a few greasy-spoon restaurants In the early 70s the neighborhood had about eight square blocks of its homes demolished to make way for an interstate to connect 95 and 83 The interstate never happened but there are ramps for it on I-95 to this day You love to see the Domino Sugar sign reflecting across the harbor

Youll always remember a cheer-leading fan Wild Bill Hagy in Section 34 from the 70s You remember when Towson U was Towson State Teachers College in Towson 4 Maryland All the big downtown theaters were as cool as the Senator is now

You remember when the Baltimore Civic Center was home to The Baltimore Bullets The Baltimore Blast The Baltimore Clippers rock concerts car shows horse shows civil-service exams circuses ice shows and graduations (I do ndash I used to run the place) You remember the wonderful spicy cinnamon smell of McCormicks on Light Street Youve marveled as the three-wheeled motor cops shifted both sides of 33rd Street to the one-way pattern to get all the traffic in and out of Orioles and Colts games in record time every time Try that one on Pratt St You remember cutting school to go to the Flower Mart and Opening Day or THS

You remember Greenmount Cemetery as a place you could actually visit or drive past without taking your life in your hands You know where Downey Ocean is and remember where the Irish House was You remember the old rivalries of Poly vs City and Loyola vs Calvert Hall were played out every

Thanksgiving Day at Memorial Stadium You still cheer for the Orioles even when they arent doing well and root for anyone playing the Yankees or Colts Therell never be even the slightest hint of forgiveness for Bob Irsay and Mayflower Movers might as well move themselves to Indiana for all the business Ill ever give them Everybody knows what a zink and payment are and just how important it is to warsh them marble stoops

You yell out O during the Star Spangled Banner You remember urban renewal the riots of 68 and burn-baby-burn And no matter where you are you can only laugh when you see signs saying Maryland Crab Cakes Even during all the years of no pro football team in Baltimore you couldnt bring yourself to be a Redskins Fan You say Blare Road for Belair Road You understand the inner and outer loops of the beltway and dont understand why they need signs up to point out which is which You remember Rolf Hertzgaard Frank Luber Royal Parker Jim Mustard Mike Hambrick Ron Smith Jerry Turner and Al Sanders on the tube How bout Rhea amp JP and Miss Nancy

Sportscasters Chuck Thompson ndash ldquoAint the beer coldrdquo amp Vince Bagli WBAL-TV ndash and writer Charlie Eckman was the coach There was Kirby Scott Johnny Dark Jack Edwards on WCAO Jay Grason and Galen Fromm on

WBAL Lee Case on WCBM Mike March Johnny Walker (1948 ndash 2004) and The Flying Dutchman on WFBR and Joe Buccheri on a variety of Classic Rock (WKTK) stations to name but a few Dont forget Chop Chop Fisher amp Fat Daddy on WWIN You remember the strange mixture of Oprah Winfrey and Richard Sher on WJZs morning show You were confused for a few years after they swapped one-way directions on Lombard and Pratt Streets Youve been to a prom at the Alcazar and probably danced to the Admirals You refer to Catonsville Community College as UCLA ( University of Catonsville Left of Arbutus) You remember Mayor Schaefer swimming with the seals at the National Aquarium and whining about it ever since You marvel at all the city bumper stickers Baltimore s Best Baltimore is Best Charm City The City That Reads and Believe

You remember Marty Bass with hair and a leisure suit trying to explain his way out of soliciting an undercover cop ( I was just trying to get into her head) You know when to stay off the JFX

The Great Dantini (by Leonard Bahr ndash rsquo74) used to perform and hang at the Peabody Book Stube

You miss the RCA dog hellip lsquoNipperrsquo The ladies room and then the IRSAY room at Johnny Unitas Golden Arm You swore Frank Perdue kinda looked like one of his tender chickens The new candelabra TV tower on television hill was the tallest thing on the planet at the time You know which bridge theyre talking about when someone says The bridge traffic is backed up You actually admire someone named Boog You remember the Gwynn Oak Carlins and Bay Shore Amusement Parks You know where to park for the Preakness The cheapest guy in town had an ideal location to watch fireworks You love to hear Arty Donovan explain anything Taking TV tubes to Readrsquos to be tested Friendship rings for a buck at Reads (always carried an extra in my wallet) Sundays (after church) centered around the Colt Game Taking the NO 10 from Towson to Howard Street - and then downtown ndash lsquoNIRVANNArsquo You got a parking ticket (or towed away) while in court for a parking ticket in the old traffic court at 211 E Madison St

You dont think that Assawoman Bay is a strange name They SAY bullets Sheppard-Pratt police Germany Italy Europe BelAir hundred alley good one(as inHave a good one) Druid Hill and the Orioles In Balamerese you HEAR bu-wits sha-pert prat pu-weis Germ-nee It-lee Yorpe Blair hunnert al-wee and goo-win(as inHave a goo-win) droodle and oreos The Hunt Cup - theres a race there too

And the Bromo Seltzer Tower - CARS

My first car ndash a 1960 Mercury TURNPIKE CRUISER Convertible Mine was white with red black and silver rolled and pleated leather What a pimp-out ride hellip and what a feeling of independence

Billy Friendrsquos rsquo57 Chevy convertible ndash lsquotropical turquoisersquo blue and white ndash it was awesome Danny Merrittrsquos VW bug hellip

Jerryrsquos lsquokillerrsquo Chevelle SS 396 in blue

GTOrsquos (GOTrsquos) 442rsquos 64 Volvorsquos TR3rsquos Healyrsquos Rickrsquos XKE and

Tommyrsquos lsquobug-eyersquo Sprite and Montersquos red lsquo55 Chevy pick-up hellip You could only buy a Volvo from Michaelson Motors on Reisterstown Rd lsquothe best place to become a Chevrolet ownah was at York and Bellonarsquo Johnnys on Harford Rd was the Walking Mans Friend Granny Packer was on Blair Road in Oberlee and Hey Hey Fox Chevrolet was just as annoying then as the car ads these days Dont forget Doug Griffiths Corvettes on Harford Road RESTAURANTS ndash FOOD Youve had the monster Powerhouse burger at one of four Ameches Drive-ins long before there was a McDonalds in sight You could Meetcha at Ameches at Loch Raven amp Taylor 5800 Reisterstown Rd 7700 Wise Ave or Ritchie Hywy amp 5th in Glen Burnie The perfect meal an Amechersquos Cheerleader onion rings and an orange drink

ldquoPeople would ride around to see who was at Amechersquos They theyrsquod pull to the cement island where 20 or so parking bays were flanked by hanging menus and place an order for a Powerhouse with its special sauce and onion rings Some would get out and visit while they were waiting for food slipping notes for ldquolate datesrdquo or occasionally picking fightsrdquo

Marticks - Mama Cass used to hang here

OTHER GREAT EATS Cy Blooms Place in the Alley the Chesapeake Danny Dickmans Thompsons Sea Girt House Connollys Bernie Lees Penn Hotel the Jade East Leonardos Harry Littles Cal Bitnerrsquos

Little Caesarrsquos ( if you know this one - Ill send you a dollar) The Center Club the Fossilrsquos Club

(The Maryland Club ndash only kidding) Jimmy Wus ndash The Palmer House a fun place wOK food

the Prime Rib hellip THE BEST FOOD ANYWHERE - wow

hellip and my all-time favorite Marconis (oh the Imperial crab and the hand-made at your table hot fudge for your sundae) Palmrsquos Pizza and subs The Peacock (Inn) which later became AMECHErsquos DRIVE-INN and is now Nationwide

Little Tavern 15 cents for a tiny hamburger ndash a dollar for a bag of 6 ndash and everybody could eat 6 Vanilla phosphates and French fries with gravy at Reads Ridgely and Towson Kreskes counter - all good and nothing over a dollar - and those pointy paper cups in the shiny metal holders You can remember Connollys Restaurant on Pier 5 was the last survivor of the old Pratt St waterfront

You remember when Baltimore rated a Playboy Club ndash it was at 28 Light Street ndash you needed your lsquokeyrsquo to get in ndash then had a great time hellip great food amp drinks also Youve seen the governor (and other dignitaries) standing in line in the rain outside of Hausnerrsquos because they never took reservations Deciding between Knoxs Ice Cream Parlor the Arundel or Murrays Ice Cream Parlor across the street - both at Loch Raven and Taylor

Peppermint sticks in a lemon

Eating at Pollack Johnnies Lexington Market Attmans Bel-Loc Diner Ciminos Little Tavern (buyem by the bag) White Castle AJs Dog House Horn amp Horn Horn amp Hardart White Coffe Pot Jr Oriole Cafeteria White Coffee Pot Hot Shoppes Ameches Ginos Reads Hoopers Silbers Bakery Youve remember special deli shopping trips to Stones Bakery Jacks Corned Beef Weiss Deli and Attmans Deli on Lombard St right in the heart of the high rise projects Hot school lunch meat loaf parsley potatoes veg peanut butter fudge Dulaney cake (yellow wchocolate frosting) ice cream sandwiches - all for 35 cents including milk (2 cents) The O-E (Theta Epsilon) girls selling Mary Sue (or Log Cabin) Easter Eggs -

STORES The Oxford Shop ndash while still on Greenmount The Canterbury Shoppe Frank Leonards Youngs the Sample Store the TIE-RACK in that little white brick house in Towson on Chesapeake Ave Eddie Jacobs and Hamburgerrsquos The two Talking Christmas Reindeer in Hutzlers Towson - I can still see the sales ladies and the winding staircase and Tea Room And the windows at Christmas with their intricate moving displays in Hutzlers Castle on Howard Street Setrsquos Sports Shop Baltimore Shopping Plate - later known as NAC charge cards for Hutzlers Hechts Hochschild-Kohns and Stewartrsquos (no problem if you forgot it - the clerk would just call your Mom at home) Music stores Teds Walkers Hammonds (under the stairs at Towson Plaza) Bills

READ Street the Bum Steer Hell Bent for Leather ndash the Bead Experience - The Leather People

You and your Mom shopped at Braeger-Gutmans Hutzlers Stewarts Hochschild Kohn Robert Hall The May Company Hechts Peck amp Peck Hamburgers Epsteins Woolworths SS Kresge McCrorys Ben Franklin Dacks 5 amp10 EJ Korvettes Two Guys Cooks Kaldor Hechingers and of course Shocketts on Broadway In those days Sears was still called Sears Roebuck and Company and lived at Harford and North Wards was a little more formal as Montgomery Ward and was at located at Monroe and Washington Blvd Both stores carried their own brand of lawn mowers tools guns motorcycles clothes shoes tires and appliances A Sears Revolving Credit Card was tough to get CLOTHES

Blanket jackets green and white reversible parkas with rabbit fur around the hood from Sunnys

Surplus Flag jackets stadium coats Cox Moore sweaters real

bleeding Indian madras shorts and shirts pressed jeans and a blue oxford button-down worn with a herringbone topcoat

Jack Purcellrsquos and Scotch grain wing tips ndash now that was style

MUSIC

You remember seeing the Four Seasons perform at Painters Mill or at Club Venus You saw the

Beatles The Beach Boys Dave Clark Five The Rolling Stones The Monkees and

Peter Paul amp Mary at the Civic Center You saw Emerson Lake and Palmer at the Lyric You saw Otis Reading the Four Tops and the Temptations at Calvert Hall You didnt save a single program Or dance at the Club Venus Hollywood Park Teen Center CYO or the Epiphany The Read Street Festival in 1968 w10 bands and 10000 kids Steelworkers Hall the Alcazar and Idelwylde Hall Dixie Ballroom Club Venus Matuskirsquos ndash Riviera Beach

We rushed home ndash 5 days a week ndash to see Buddy Deane and the

lsquoCommitteersquo ndash and all his lip-synching guests (I donrsquot think he liked kids very much)

Jack Purcellrsquos and Scotch grain wing tips ndash now that was style

MUSIC

You remember seeing the Four Seasons perform at Painters Mill or at Club Venus You saw the

Beatles The Beach Boys Dave Clark Five The Rolling Stones The Monkees and

Peter Paul amp Mary at the Civic Center You saw Emerson Lake and Palmer at the Lyric You saw Otis Reading the Four Tops and the Temptations at Calvert Hall You didnt save a single program Or dance at the Club Venus Hollywood Park Teen Center CYO or the Epiphany The Read Street Festival in 1968 w10 bands and 10000 kids Steelworkers Hall the Alcazar and Idelwylde Hall Dixie Ballroom Club Venus Matuskirsquos ndash Riviera Beach

We rushed home ndash 5 days a week ndash to see Buddy Deane and the

lsquoCommitteersquo ndash and all his lip-synching guests (I donrsquot think he liked kids very much)

Hampton Teen Center hellip was run by Skip Carey ndash what a jerk Lee Case ndash another winner ndash wWCBM-AM was there one night He put on a song and we all started dancing the lsquoBodie Greenrsquo He stopped the record (playing on a 45 mono portable player) called the dance lsquolewd and disgracefulrdquo ndash and us too ndash and threatened to call each and every one of our parents ndash what a buzz kill

The Dixie Ballroom at Gwynn Oak Amusement Park and (the Carousel and the SnowBall and an Easter dance () - great dress-up dances for older teens and 20 somethings) Eudowood on Sundays - Ronny Dove and others -- then one Sunday - surprise -- The Yardbirds and the Barbarians --- for $3

The Admirals hellip - circa 1964-65 1st Row Bill Kalkman-Guitar

Wilber McClain-Vocals Jay Stermer-Mighty Wurlitzer Eddie Tajkowski (SP)-Drums Ron Creamer-Trumpet Butch Williamson-Trumpet 2nd Row Bernie Robier-Trombone Tom Berry-Bass Chuck Klapka-Sax They were a great lsquoreviewrsquo band with lots of different acts ndash the most famous hellip ldquoAnd then along came Jonesrdquo ndash and donrsquot forget lsquoDenny ndash and the Hitch Hikersrsquo hellip a great horn band

My favorite band of course was ndash lsquoThe Childrenrsquo ndash so handsome and talented hellip

then there were The Van Dykes and the Then there were the Lafayettes - Lifes too short ( hellip you know about MA - shes really tough -- and shes about 70 4 12 feet tall and still a waitress at Souris in Towson ndash sweetest gal yoursquove ever met) the SPECTRES and the MAJESTICS Johnny Dark and Kirby Scott at the Owings Millrsquos Fire House presented 100rsquos of local bands ndash including mine

The Yardbirds and the Barbarians at Eudowood (Breck and I were there it

was $3 that day) Wilson Pickett performed at Immaculate Heart too and the Four Tops and the Temptations RAZZMATAZZ (thanks Jer) - now Patrickrsquos run by a Calvert Hall kid Dances at The Famous Ballroom after a dinner date downstairs at the Chesapeake House (Inn) Fat Daddy (ldquoGood cooga-luga-moogardquo) and Rockin Robin on WEBB Johnny Dark on CAO (not WEAM) Barry Richards (Geater with the heater boss with the hot sauce on WDON WUST WHFC etc) Hound Dog

Tommy Vann ndash and the Echoes - ldquoPretty Flamingordquo What the hell ndash ldquoTOO YOUNGrdquo was the hit

SLOGANS - JINGLES - ADS Baltimore Federal Savings and Loan -- on the Colonial Corner where St Paul Street and Fayette

meet -- youll find high high dividends there Mary Sue Easter Eggs Mary Sue Easter Eggs - people are making the switch - cause using pure butter makes Mary Sue better -- and you never had it so rich ldquomeetcha at Amechersquosrdquo ndash ldquoeverybody goes to Ginorsquosrdquo You can sing the phone number for Hampden Moving and Storage (Belmont 5-0600) You remember Royal Parker yelling at kids jumping on furniture that was not covered in plastic whatre ya trying to ruin it More Parks sausages Mom Please Run right to Reads MAKE-OUT STOPS Carlins Drive-in TDI the passion-pit Country Lane in Timonium Loch Raven ndash got engaged there PARKS amp STUFF Bay Ridge Park ndash the Bay crabs and slot machines

And of course Gwynn Oak Amusement Park - located in Woodlawn Maryland Setting adjacent to the Gwynn Falls stream the Park met its demise in 1972 during Hurricane Agnes It laid abandoned for a time and was eventually leveled leaving an open area that still exists today

COOL PLACES

You remember taking friends family and visitors to Loch Raven Dam to see and feed the carp that were as big as your little brother You remember swimming and family picnics at Beaver Dam and Beaver Springs Swim Clubs in Cockeysville and no one knew of a place called Hunt Valley Colt Lanes

Skating at the Stadium Ice Rink Sitting in lsquoBlack Aggiersquosrsquo Lap

Skiing () at Oregon Ridge

lsquo Visitingrsquo Blaze Starrrsquos 2 Orsquoclock Club Pam Gailrsquos lsquoClub Oasisrsquo ndash lsquoworst show in town ndash best time in townrsquo

My favorite band of course was ndash lsquoThe Childrenrsquo ndash so handsome and talented hellip

then there were The Van Dykes and the Then there were the Lafayettes - Lifes too short ( hellip you know about MA - shes really tough -- and shes about 70 4 12 feet tall and still a waitress at Souris in Towson ndash sweetest gal yoursquove ever met) the SPECTRES and the MAJESTICS Johnny Dark and Kirby Scott at the Owings Millrsquos Fire House presented 100rsquos of local bands ndash including mine

The Yardbirds and the Barbarians at Eudowood (Breck and I were there it

was $3 that day) Wilson Pickett performed at Immaculate Heart too and the Four Tops and the Temptations RAZZMATAZZ (thanks Jer) - now Patrickrsquos run by a Calvert Hall kid Dances at The Famous Ballroom after a dinner date downstairs at the Chesapeake House (Inn) Fat Daddy (ldquoGood cooga-luga-moogardquo) and Rockin Robin on WEBB Johnny Dark on CAO (not WEAM) Barry Richards (Geater with the heater boss with the hot sauce on WDON WUST WHFC etc) Hound Dog

Tommy Vann ndash and the Echoes - ldquoPretty Flamingordquo What the hell ndash ldquoTOO YOUNGrdquo was the hit

SLOGANS - JINGLES - ADS Baltimore Federal Savings and Loan -- on the Colonial Corner where St Paul Street and Fayette

meet -- youll find high high dividends there Mary Sue Easter Eggs Mary Sue Easter Eggs - people are making the switch - cause using pure butter makes Mary Sue better -- and you never had it so rich ldquomeetcha at Amechersquosrdquo ndash ldquoeverybody goes to Ginorsquosrdquo You can sing the phone number for Hampden Moving and Storage (Belmont 5-0600) You remember Royal Parker yelling at kids jumping on furniture that was not covered in plastic whatre ya trying to ruin it More Parks sausages Mom Please Run right to Reads MAKE-OUT STOPS Carlins Drive-in TDI the passion-pit Country Lane in Timonium Loch Raven ndash got engaged there PARKS amp STUFF Bay Ridge Park ndash the Bay crabs and slot machines

And of course Gwynn Oak Amusement Park - located in Woodlawn Maryland Setting adjacent to the Gwynn Falls stream the Park met its demise in 1972 during Hurricane Agnes It laid abandoned for a time and was eventually leveled leaving an open area that still exists today

COOL PLACES

You remember taking friends family and visitors to Loch Raven Dam to see and feed the carp that were as big as your little brother You remember swimming and family picnics at Beaver Dam and Beaver Springs Swim Clubs in Cockeysville and no one knew of a place called Hunt Valley Colt Lanes

Skating at the Stadium Ice Rink Sitting in lsquoBlack Aggiersquosrsquo Lap

Skiing () at Oregon Ridge

lsquo Visitingrsquo Blaze Starrrsquos 2 Orsquoclock Club Pam Gailrsquos lsquoClub Oasisrsquo ndash lsquoworst show in town ndash best time in townrsquo

SLOGANS - JINGLES - ADS Baltimore Federal Savings and Loan -- on the Colonial Corner where St Paul Street and Fayette

meet -- youll find high high dividends there Mary Sue Easter Eggs Mary Sue Easter Eggs - people are making the switch - cause using pure butter makes Mary Sue better -- and you never had it so rich ldquomeetcha at Amechersquosrdquo ndash ldquoeverybody goes to Ginorsquosrdquo You can sing the phone number for Hampden Moving and Storage (Belmont 5-0600) You remember Royal Parker yelling at kids jumping on furniture that was not covered in plastic whatre ya trying to ruin it More Parks sausages Mom Please Run right to Reads MAKE-OUT STOPS Carlins Drive-in TDI the passion-pit Country Lane in Timonium Loch Raven ndash got engaged there PARKS amp STUFF Bay Ridge Park ndash the Bay crabs and slot machines

And of course Gwynn Oak Amusement Park - located in Woodlawn Maryland Setting adjacent to the Gwynn Falls stream the Park met its demise in 1972 during Hurricane Agnes It laid abandoned for a time and was eventually leveled leaving an open area that still exists today

COOL PLACES

You remember taking friends family and visitors to Loch Raven Dam to see and feed the carp that were as big as your little brother You remember swimming and family picnics at Beaver Dam and Beaver Springs Swim Clubs in Cockeysville and no one knew of a place called Hunt Valley Colt Lanes

Skating at the Stadium Ice Rink Sitting in lsquoBlack Aggiersquosrsquo Lap

Skiing () at Oregon Ridge

lsquo Visitingrsquo Blaze Starrrsquos 2 Orsquoclock Club Pam Gailrsquos lsquoClub Oasisrsquo ndash lsquoworst show in town ndash best time in townrsquo

You remember taking friends family and visitors to Loch Raven Dam to see and feed the carp that were as big as your little brother You remember swimming and family picnics at Beaver Dam and Beaver Springs Swim Clubs in Cockeysville and no one knew of a place called Hunt Valley Colt Lanes

Skating at the Stadium Ice Rink Sitting in lsquoBlack Aggiersquosrsquo Lap

Skiing () at Oregon Ridge

lsquo Visitingrsquo Blaze Starrrsquos 2 Orsquoclock Club Pam Gailrsquos lsquoClub Oasisrsquo ndash lsquoworst show in town ndash best time in townrsquo

And the Gayety (where there were guys with newspapers jugglers bad comedians - and not-very-attractive strippers) Also the Rex Mortrsquos Cagelrsquos Tedrsquos Music Store anything on Read Street ndash Mulberry in Towson ndash or downtown GREAT EVENTS

The Baltimore City Fairs from 1979 to 1987 The Fair was no longer in vogue so thinking they would

lsquopump-uprsquo the volume a bit they ran a full-page ad in the Sun

It was an amusing advertisement that included a lsquoWheres

Waldorsquo kind of cartoon showing the crowd at the fair However ndash the illustrator (a practical joker)

added the scene of a couple doing it on the carousel above amongst all the details That little joke by

the art director forced him to resign the agency apologized and reimbursed the fair for the ad ndash then

they were fired God it was funny though I think that was the last City Fair

The Turkey Bowl City Vs Poly at noon amp Calvert Hall Vs Loyola at 4 Memorial Stadium on Thanksgiving Fireworks Memorial Stadium July 4th DOWNEY OWSHUN Loving our summers in OC amp hangin under the clock at 9th St Hitchhiking to Ocean City and sleeping under the boardwalk or in the basement of the George Washington Hotel or the most fun -- The Davis garage on Baltimore 6th

And of course hellip now he was different BEER

Ahhh Country Club in the little white cans Its twice as strong as beer we used to tell everybody It was smooth though hellip and potent (Jerry still has a couple of actual cans ndash unopened I think) REAL CLASS

Spending the day swimming and picnicing at the Pines or the Cliffs (the Rocks) at Loch Raven Reservoir I fish near there now Someone put this wonderful plaque at the base of the Cliffs just a foot or two off the surface of the water ldquoTHE ROCKShellipDEDICATED TO THE SUMMER OF 1961rdquo No fanfare no headline but the best summer of all for someone It is only viewable from the water and you will note it is anonymous ndash now thatrsquos

class Baltimore

My best

Larry Collins

NOTE This is a compilation of work from a wide variety of sources in the public domain I thank all those who contributed copy 2009 - all rights reserved - Larry Collins