Of opera and cinema

Recently when I was sitting at my computer, an old column from more than 10 years ago popped up. I received a lot of comments on it and realized that there is still an interest in the things I wrote about so many years ago. As a result, I’ve decided to present some of the information from that and another column a while back. I hope you all enjoy this look back at the past.

Let me say that many of us have left Roseland, but we’ve never left behind the people, places or good times that Roseland gave us. The rich history and connection that we have carried with us these many years has borne out in the respect we have for many of those we knew in our youth who are now elderly. Among these “precious gems” from our youth who have always shined brightly when we recall them is the late Anne Ronzani.

Anne was very proud of her father’s having been a founder of the Roseland Operetta Club and of the fact that many of the performers would assemble in the family basement to rehearse for an upcoming performance. In the 1930s, the Roma soccer team was created as a source of camaraderie for the paesani of the Kensington, Roseland and Pullman neighborhoods. This group was very successful and at the end of many matches the players and their friends and families would gather. These impromptu gatherings would turn into a song fest featuring tunes from their early lives in Italy and opera songs that many of the members knew.

With so much obvious talent, the members soon decided to expand and become the Roseland Operetta Club. For a number of years, they rented the Venetian Hall at 139 Kensington until member contributions covered the purchase of a building at 372 Kensington, which they converted into their clubhouse and performance center, complete with bocce courts. (The phone number of the club was CO4-9865, to bring back some memories.)

The founders were Batista del Santo, Louis Frigo, Felix Stella, Joseph Stella, Anthony Stella, William Carollo, Anthony Carollo, Joseph Bortoli, Frank Bortolli, Valentine, Brazzale, Dominic de Vito, Charles Sola, Narciso DeMure, Emilio Valente, and John Lavada, Anne’s father.

The ROC presented many operas throughout the years. Through the generosity of Beverly Angio Carli, I have 11 of the original librettos. These include “La Bohemè,” “Carmen,” “La traviata,” “I pagliacci and “Rigoletto.” It’s obvious that the ROC wasn’t a mere group of amateurs but a talented troupe that never let the difficulties of an opera keeps them from creating a sophisticated presentation for their paesani.

Roseland was a community unto itself. There were clothing and shoe stores galore and our major department store, Gately’s. There were restaurants up and down The Ave, including Nick’s Fat Boy, Tony’s Snack Shop, Snack Time, Giovanni’s, Ninos, and Krapils. Kresge’s and Woolworths each had a food counter. And the movie theaters we had!

The State Theater (11016-20 S. Michigan Ave.) seated 2,000 and was much more stylish than any of the others. It had a retractable Wurlitzer, an ornate vaulted ceiling and a balcony, which was opened on weekends. Their free yellow passes for any of eight summer movies made the State very popular with the kids, and after the movies a lot of us headed to Palmer Park for a swim.

The most unique feature of the Roseland Show (11331 S. Michigan Ave.) was the extra-wide seat that was made specifically for 6-foot, 2-inch, 350-pound Two-Ton Baker. He was known as the jolly fat man and would make appearances at events. It was said that his laughter could always be heard above everyone else’s. His seat was in the lower-right middle section of the theater.

The Parkway (11053 S. Michigan Ave.) was next to Nick’s Olympic Grill. I recall when the Parkway closed and my dad’s friend, the Parkway maintenance man, gave us two five-gallon cans of coconut oil, which my mom used for cooking for months. It was another small theater and was also demolished in the late 1950s.

I recall going to the Normal Show (452 W. 119th Street), which was on a par with the Roseland Show. Anyone who grew up in Stewart Ridge and St. Catherine of Genoa Parish definitely went to the Normal. It was just up the block from Tastee Freeze, which was known for its chocolate dip cones.

One mystery theater whose existence some have questioned was the Ridge (120th and Lowe). It opened in 1917 and went through three name changes before it became the Ridge in 1936. It kept that name until it closed in 1951 and was converted into a store.

The Verdi Theater (301-303 E. Kensington) was near St. Anthony’s school and next to The Penguin restaurant, which was on the southeast corner of Kensington and Prairie Avenues. It wasn’t a very large theater but it was built for the Kensington neighborhood and named in honor of the Italian composer.

There was one theater that was a part of almost every Roselandites dating life and led to many stories and some marriages. Going there was always an adventure and the intermission was always a time for the kids to have fun. Have you figured it out yet? The Halsted Drive-in (138th and Halsted) was one of the best date-night places around Roseland. It was close enough to Raceway Park that you could always hear the stock cars racing.

There was one theater that was part of almost every Roselander’s dating life and led to many stories and some marriages. Going there was always an adventure, and the intermission was always the time for the kids to have fun. Have you figured it out? The Halsted Drive-In! It was one of the best date-night places around Roseland. It was close enough to the Raceway Park that you could always hear the stock cars racing.

How many people do you know who pulled away without taking the speaker off the window? Can you visualize the intermission clock on the screen with the animated concession stand offerings? As soon as that clock appeared on the screen the kids jumped out of the cars and ran to the lighted playground. As the clock ticked down to the end of intermission, all of the kids would run to the bathroom and then find their way back to the family car in the dark. Those were definitely the good old days.

“Petals from Roseland: Fond Memories of Chicago’s Roseland, Pullman and Kensington Neighborhoods” is available from me for anyone interested in sharing or revisiting their life Roseland at $20 + $5 s&h. Contact me at petalsfromroseland@gmail.com or 11403 S. St. Lawrence Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60628; 773-710-3559. My book is also available at D & D Foods, 1023 S. Halsted, Chicago Heights, at Bookie’s New and Used Books, 10324 S. Western Ave, Chicago and at Miles Books,2819 Jewett Ave., Highland, Indiana.