NY System Hot Weiners and Other RI Favorites!

Tune: "Leader of The Pack"
by: The Shangri Las

Memories of Rhode Island!

(Click on photo for a larger view.)
"I wish I had kept the picture in a safer place, but its a memory of my time in R. I., first bike. I do know in the 60s there was not many bikers in R.I.. The bikers we did have were not looked on very good. We were not all rough riders, but for all those older bikers from the 60s, hope this brings back memories when they rode.
I still do ride. ." Richard Ric0414@aol.com

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"Hello Ray, This is about a kid from Federal Hill that made good. I’m sure a lot of people in RI. have heard of Jimmie Crane. But for those who have not, I would like to tell a little about my friend Jimmie Crane. He was born in RI. grew up on Federal Hill, later moved into a beautiful home near Providence Collage. Jimmie owned Colonial Novelty a jewelry manufacturing Co, that employed a lot of people, and I had the privilege of working for him when I was a teenager. Jimmie Crane was also a very successful song writer, who wrote hundreds of beautiful songs. A lot of the top singers recorded them. Doris Day, Joni James, Nat King Cole, Kitty Kallen, Jerry Vale, Eddy Fisher, Elvis Presley, Al Martino, McGuire Sisters, Bobby Vinton, Eydie Gorme, just to mention a few. Jimmie was the first song writer to ever have, the number one, and number two songs on the charts across the country. "I Need You Now“ and “If I Give My Heart To You”. I’m not sure if any other song writer has accomplished that since. My wife Jean and I, before we were married had the privilege of being the first ones to hear, Eddy Fisher’s hit song “I Need You Now. This is a RI. memory that will always live with me. I’ll never forget the day we rang the door bell, Jimmie came to the door he was so excited, Eddy Fisher and Debbie Reynolds had just delivered the recording of his new song. Jimmie was so happy he was like a person who just hit the lottery, I guess in a way he did, because it became the number one song, “If I Give My Heart To You “ was Number Two. Jimmie played the 45 record, of, “I Need You Now” over, and over. I said to him, Jimmie you have another big hit. This is also something that some people may not know. President Franklin D. Roosevelt presented Jimmie Crane with an award for writing a patriotic song called, “It‘s Great To Be An American“. Glen Miller Introduced it on his weekly radio show, and it was sung by the Modernaires Singers. The song was played all over the world, for our service men and women, and became Glen Miller’s theme song within a theme song. Sheet Music was distributed at no cost, to all the schools. Jimmie Crane has passed on, but his memory, and his songs will always live on in my heart, and in the hearts of millions of people. Ray, The way our country is divided today, I believe this song should be heard, by everyone, and maybe then, people will get back that old feeling when they see our flag go by, and the reason our Men and Women gave their lives for it. The next time a song is requested, why not request Jimmie Crane’s, “ It’s Great To Be An American” ." (Click here to listen. )
(You may stop the music to playing to listen to “ It’s Great To Be An American”.)

Bobby LaNinfa, Ca. blaninfa@prodigy.net

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"I love this site! I was just thinking about how my mom and dad an uncle and aunt use to have a miniature golf course on 146 next to the old Beacon. Oh and ice cream and fried clams were so good.
They use to have tournament. People would submit the low scores all week. On Friday night they have a playoff and get trophy's. We even had an old coke machine, but had soda that was made at Diballs in Woonsocket. I had so much fun there."

John Lacouture Arden N.C. LSliders@aol.com

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"Hi my name is Claudia. I was Born and raised in R.I. and I Live in California. I miss R.I. so much. I miss the food, the people. the sites and I even miss the weather! I have lived here for 18 years and I still talk like a Rhode Islander. Everyone here loves the way I talk. I will never lose it. I am a true Rhode Islander. I miss it so much that I ordered 2 cases of coffee syrup. I had to figure out how to get the food till now Thank you for this web page!
I was just looking at your site again, and I am amazed how all those memories come back to me . I remember all these places Rocky Point, Crescent park. I saw the three stooges there. Valle Steak House was my Fathers favorite Steak house . People don't have a clue. For in the smallest state R.I. You can do so much, and my sisters will LOVE this site to Thank YOU, THANK YOU
You don't know How happy I am!!!!!"

Sincerely
Claudia Merkey clmerkey@yahoo.com

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"Two years ago, on March 17,1998, I was at the New York City Saint Patrick Day Parade. That day it felt like summer. I was standing by a large group of people, when suddenly I heard loud cheering. That was when I saw Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. I too began screaming his name and when he saw me, he ran over to me. It was wild; he shoved his security man out of the way to reach me! At that moment, that single solitary moment, he shook my hand. All the TV reporters took photos of the Mayor and me. I was dressed as an Irish clown, and you could see the smile on Mayor Giuliani's face. There were many other people in this photo, and their eyes showed wonder as the most famous Mayor in the whole world shook Danoe the Clown's hand. I made a lot of friends that day, and I hope to see them next Saint Patrick's Day. I wondered if my picture would be in the newspapers the next day, so that night, when I came back to R.I, I called the New York Mayor's office, and they sent a copy of the parade photo."

Daniel Mann aka Danoe The Clown DANOETHECLOWN@aol.com www.danoetheclown.com

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"Well Christmas is just around the corner and mother nature is doing her part with cold temperatures and even snow, the amount depends on what part of the country you live in. Last Saturday night my wife and I went to Slater Park in Pawtucket where I spent many hours growing up in the good old days. I can remember ice skating on cold winter nights, when the ice was safe on the duck pond. The city would open up the boat house and light a nice warm fire in the fire place and they would shine big spot lights out on the ice and play music. It was a magic time for kid playing hockey, couples skating around holding hand and whole families spending special time together and you know they must have put something special in the hot chocolate purchased at the boat house because it tasted extra special.
Other memories stand out too, like when it snowed my father would load my friends and I in his truck, sleds and all and take us to Country Side Golf Course, where they had a perfect hill for sledding. There would be hundreds of people, at least it felt like the was and everyone had a great time.
Yea the good old days, when kids could actually play outside. We didn't need special equipment to play hockey, just a stick and a puck, if no one had a puck we'd use a rock or anything we could whack around. Any piece of ice would do. Up the street from where I lived there was some open land across from Narragansett Race Track were water would accumulate just right for playing hockey when it froze over. All the kids in the neighborhood would be there and no parents looking over us. You know what, everyone got along and had a great time. Today kids wouldn't believe you if you told them that when you were a kid you actually skated outside, yea, and there was bumps and cracks on the ice too.
I guess things were simpler back then but my parents and grand parents probably said the same thing when I was growing up. They probably remembered horse drawn sleighs and central heat was space age technology. Technology makes things a lot easier for us today but what have we lost? Quality time with family and friends, kid playing outside with out parents standing guard over them and a chance to score that goal, skating down the ice with all eyes upon you, yea this is your chance to score the winning goal, only to have your skate hit that stick frozen in the ice and you fall on your face and you have no idea where the damn puck went. Oh well, maybe you didn't get to be the hero that day but you made a memory and a great story that you can tell to your grand kids and say, back in the good old day when I was a kid I came that close to scoring the winning goal. Damn, stick."

Bob Davis papa_d54@yahoo.com

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"Another old time RI institution was the Warwick Musical Theater (The Tent). My Mom and Dad had their first date there in 1955. They went to see Oklahoma if I am not mistaken. That might be another page you can add to the main menu. I’m sure there are a lot of people with fond memories of going to the Tent during the summer. I saw a number of “Stars” over the years – Sammy Davis Jr., Bill Cosby, Pat and Debbie Boone, Reba McIntire, Marshall Tucker Band, the Smothers Brothers and many more. What a great place to see a show and a big loss when it was closed for the last time.

Keep up the good work."

Jamie Jamie@bsmg.net

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"This was absolutely wonderful. I am a native Rhode Islander who now lives way out there in CT, but Rhode Island will always be home. Every now and again I go home for my fix of good Italian stuff and the car can not go back to CT without weiners. The car holds the aroma (smell) for an eternity.--Thanks again--Lol" jfducat@snet.net

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"Just wanted you to know how much I'm enjoying your website. I'm in AZ, left RI in '61 after graduating from Warwick Vets and URI. I was born in Providence and raised in Pawtuxet. I remember another thing to add to your "Lived Here Before the 60's" thing - the smell of fresh bread when you came over the viaduct from East Providence (by the old Davol plant). Mmmm. Also, watching the coal cars dump their cargo onto the huge coal piles off Allens Avenue. My dad worked at a lumber co. (EE Smith) off Allens Ave. and watching the cars would keep my sister and me busy while we were waiting to pick up Dad from work (people only had one car in those days!) I've lost most of my RI accent, having spent 15 years in Virginia before coming to AZ 27 years ago, but my sister, who's only been out here for ten years, still has most of hers. They DO talk funny, don't they?

Thanks for a great site."

Marge (Brown) Mathewson memcats@qwest.net

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