Sunday, September 30, 2018

AND THE WINNERS ARE....2018 CROTON ROTARY CAR SHOW

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

AND THE WINNERS ARE...

FROM THE CROTON ROTARY CLUB FACEBOOK PAGE:

2018 CROTON ROTARY CAR SHOW - SPECIAL CATEGORY WINNERS: FUTURE DRIVER’S CHOICE, Car #21, Year 2015, Make: Ford Mustang, Owner: Tony Sansone--BEST ENGINE, Car #27, Year: 2015, Make: Ford Mustang, Owner: Tony Sansone -- BEST PAINT Car #33, Year: 1970, Make: Chevy Nova, Owner: Joe Cipollone--BEST INTERIOR, Car #37, Year: 1969, Make: Ford Bronco, Owner: Jeffery Puglisi--BEST HOT ROD, Car #1 Year:1969, Make: Pontiac GTO, Owner: Roland Bishop--BEST UNRESTORED, Car #60, Year: 1971Make: Chevy Camaro, Owner: Dave Kutka--PEOPLES CHOICE, Car #45, Year: 1959, Make: Chevy Owner: Jim Picciano

AND THE WINNERS OF THE CHILI COOK-OFF:  https://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2018/09/and-winners-of-2018-croton-rotary-car.html

A LITTLE 1957 CROTON FOOTBALL

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

And now by special request and courtesy of THE CROTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY, a little 1957 Croton football--BARTLETT WAS AREA TOP SCORER, FOLLOWED BY McGEE AND GRUDEN--click on the images below.

You may also have an interest in THE 1960 CROTON CORTLANDT ALL STAR FOOTBALL TEAM; more here.

And more 1957 football here.

Saturday, September 29, 2018

MORE RECENTLY UNEARTHED BITS & PIECES ABOUT CROTON NOTABLES PATRICIA BENOIT SWIFT, HOLBROOK BLINN, GLORIA SWANSON & JACKIE GLEASON

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton -- our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools -- in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

SOME MORE RECENTLY UNEARTHED BITS & PIECES ABOUT CROTON NOTABLES PATRICIA BENOIT SWIFT, HOLBROOK BLINN, GLORIA SWANSON and JACKIE GLEASON--click on the photos and links.
 

First up, from RADIO TV MIRROR 1955, more about the late Croton notable and actress PATRICIA BENOIT SWIFT, in her role as MRS. PEEPERS to television's Wally Cox as MISTER PEEPERS. 

The show ran from 1952 through 1955; others in the cast included Tony Randall as history teacher Harvey Weskit; Georgann Johnson as Harvey's wife, Marge.

Benoit played county nurse Nancy Remington, later married to Peepers.  She lived in Croton from 1961 through 1981.  YOU CAN READ HER OBITUARY here.

Next up, a quick article from the 1927 PHOTOPLAY magazine about Holbrook Blinn, of Blinn Road fame here in Croton.  He's shown here with Madge Bellamy in THE TELEPHONE GIRL.

You can read more about it here

Unlike many films of this era, it survives today and is preserved at the EYE Institut aka Filmmuseum.

For those who don't know, Holbrook Blinn was a very well known silent film star, performer, producer and director of plays at the Princess Theatre. You can read more about Blinn here

And just for fun, from the 1927 PHOTOPLAYS COOK BOOK, here's a CREAMED FUDGE recipe attributed to  Croton's own Gloria Swanson!  One of the Everything  Croton Elves promises to give this one a try. We'll let you know how it turns out!  

Next, also from 1927, a brief blurb about Swanson and her "marquis" dispelling those divorce "rumors".  He was Swanson's third husband...a French aristocrat Henri, Marquis de la Falaise de la Coudraye, whom she married on January 28, 1925, after her divorce from second husband Herbert Somborn was finalized. Though Henri was a Marquis and the grandson of Richard and Martha Lucy Hennessy from the famous Hennessy Cognac family, he was not rich and had to work for a living. He was originally hired to be her assistant and interpreter in France while she was filming Madame Sans-GĂȘne (1925) with Warwick Ward.  Swanson was the first film star to marry European nobility, and the marriage became a global sensation, ending in divorce in 1930.

Next up, from 1959, a bit of good natured ribbing from Toots Shor about Jackie's Gleason's famous round Cortlandt house (described here as being in Peekskill). For those who don't know, Toots Shor's Restaurant was a restaurant and lounge owned and operated by Bernard "Toots" Shor at 51 West 51st Street in Manhattan during the 1940s and 1950s. As for Gleason, he was a frequent Croton visitor; for more, CLICK HERE

See the last edition of SOME MORE RECENTLY UNEARTHED BITS & PIECES ABOUT CROTON NOTABLES GEORGE BIDDLE, LENORE ULRIC, HAROLD GRAY and GLORIA SWANSON here.

Note: All content on this blog is Copyright (c) by Maria Cudequest and by those who have contributed specific content. All material is for your personal use only. No content or photos may be republished or sold, without prior written consent from your editor and the individual who contributed the content in question. For permissions or questions about this policy, please contact the editor.    

Friday, September 28, 2018

THE CROTON SOCIETY OF FRIENDS, AN ARTICLE BY MARIAN GRAVES - JULY 1975

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

COURTESY OF THE OUTSTANDING ARCHIVES MAINTAINED BY THE VOLUNTEERS OF THE CROTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY: THE CROTON SOCIETY OF FRIENDS - Click on the images below.


MORE FABULOUS VINTAGE WEBSITES, FINDS, ETC. FROM EVERYTHING CROTON

An oldie but goodie. One of our favorite houses from Howard--based on the vintage original, the Twin Peak Flat Top.  

And he made the "flatties" too.

You can find the putz pattern and more--including the photos and patterns for the brick printie and multi-window house recently featured here at Everything Croton by clicking here  Just keep scrolling down the page once you get there.

Howard's latest is followed by a great excerpted article from putz afficinado Pete Oehmen and the Golden Glow of Christmas magazine. 

Lots of wonderful putz house goodness---some rarely seen examples too.

Click on the photos and enjoy.

Another oldie but goodie--a Tom H repro of a great old vintage putz house too, the cottage wattle house; see it here  

A great project---how to make vintage inspired tinsel Christmas rosettes---a how-to from Blumchen here

Here's a very fun site we have been enjoying immensely--stamps, stencils, collage papers, some interesting ideas and inspiration:

redleadpaperworks.com/

REMEMBERING ROBERT MONTGOMERY; click here

"City Hall" vintage made in Japan putz, a restoration project; and very well done. Click here.  

A fabulous set of Vintage Diamond T trucks--from auto historian Alden Jewel; lots of flattie inspiration too. Click here.

And in case you missed it: 

More fabulousness here.

ABOUT CROTON ANGER... CIVILITY... LEAF BLOWERS & MORE

A letter from The 9/27/18 edition of The Gazette....for your consideration.

ABOUT CROTON ANGER...CIVILITY...LEAF BLOWERS....AND MORE

To the editor:

A day in Croton last week began with a street dispute that led one shopper to question whether she should find a different salon and avoid patronizing Croton businesses so as to avoid having to deal with Croton anger. The day ended with an online dispute about leaf blowers that led one resident to say to a resident who disagreed with her: “[Y]ou are friends with my friends and you challenge me? Nice! Good night!”

The morning dispute got much less attention than the evening dispute, and there is a lesson there. The petty bickering that used to pass quickly between a handful of people is now a community-wide affair memorialized forever online.

In both cases, the type of disagreement which would in a prior time have remained at a level of polite discourse instead became escalated. Most troubling is the belief that you cannot have a difference of viewpoint between 2 neighbors of good will.

There have always been such disputes, and sometimes quite passionate. Just a few generations ago, the war in Vietnam and civil rights issues divided families. It is true that many people find Donald Trump and leafblowers to fall into the same sphere as teenagers drafted and sent off to get killed in a foreign jungle or peaceful citizens getting brutally beaten in Selma, but I don’t agree.

We need to stop making everything political. In 2013, Pajama Boy told us to grab a cup of Christmas cocoa and lecture our family about health insurance as they gathered around the tree to unwrap presents. We progressed in 2016 to de-friending online friends and cutting off contact with neighbors of differing political views. In 2018 siblings are not merely disagreeing over politics, they are doing political commercials for the candidate running against their own brother.

I don’t like leafblowers. I have never understood the point of blowing leaves rather than letting them decompose, and I especially don’t understand why people such as the Village of Croton landscapers blow leaves from the sidewalk alongside the Municipal Building into the middle of Old Post Road.

But some of my neighbors disagree, and so long as they don’t blow their leaves into the street or use their leafblower before the birds are even awake, I am willing to “leaf” well enough alone. I believe those neighbors to be wrong, but we get along well and I don’t regard their use of a leafblower as a moral failing. More importantly, I don’t demand that my friends shun the leafblowing neighbors.

Communities get reputations, and damaged reputations can take decades to repair. Croton is already the subject of ribbing by our surrounding communities. We have had a high-profile meltdown over a few flyers put up in the dark of night by some social misfit. We are in the middle of a series of public shaming sessions of our largest private employer because Croton chose to ram legislation down the throats of residents rather than try to build consensus and find a compromise. We anger neighboring communities with illegal “No Thru Traffic” signs. We pass meaningless resolutions in support of legislation in Albany and Washington, including anti-police legislation.

Everyone says that Croton is a small village. We should start acting like neighbors. There is nothing wrong with disagreement on issues. There is a lot wrong with driving shoppers out of our village, telling people that they are no longer our friend unless they shun people who use leafblowers, and being nasty at Village Board of Trustee meetings (both from the dais and from the audience) when people express a minority viewpoint.

--Paul Steinberg, Croton-on-Hudson

COURTESY OF CROTON UNITED, A SNEAK PEEK AT THE 2018 BLAZE

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

COURTESY OF CROTON UNITED---OVER A DOZEN PHOTOS! A SNEAK PEEK AT THE 2018 BLAZE


Here are some photos of what you’ll see at Historic Hudson Valley’s Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze! CLICK HERE.

Thursday, September 27, 2018

CROTON'S WESTCHESTER BALLOON COMPANY ON CBS SUNDAY MORNING!

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

FROM THE WESTCHESTER BALLOON COMPANY - Tune into CBS Sunday Morning this Sunday @ 9am and see the amazing work of WBC’s own Chris Fuentes and Team USA As they compete against the best balloon artists in the world!  We will be having a viewing party at the shop with FREE breakfast for all who attend starting at 8:30 — at The Westchester Balloon Company.


Updated: see the video here

SOME MORE RECENTLY UNEARTHED BITS & PIECES ABOUT CROTON NOTABLES GEORGE BIDDLE, LENORE ULRIC, HAROLD GRAY and GLORIA SWANSON

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton -- our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools -- in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

SOME MORE RECENTLY UNEARTHED BITS & PIECES ABOUT CROTON NOTABLES GEORGE BIDDLE, LENORE ULRIC, HAROLD GRAY and GLORIA SWANSON--click on the photos and links.


First up, from 1956 and The New Castle Tribune, Croton notable George Biddle as one of the judges for what was then the 4th Annual Artists of Northern Westchester Exhibit.  The exhibit is still held annually and for the last several years has been featured at the nearby Unitarian fellowship. 

Next up, Croton's Lenore Ulric, featured on the 1930 cover of Theatre Magazine, very art deco.

And Ulric is featured as well in what was then a new concept---movie poster advertising--and the 1923/1924 silent movie production of Tiger Rose.

That film would be re-made in 1929. Among the cast members in that version were Monte Blue, Lupe Velez and Rin Tin Tin.  

Both films survive in complete form and are preserved in the Library of Congress collection and Museum of Modern Art, New York.  Also at the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research (16mm)

You can read a synopsis of the Ulric version (she also starred in the Broadway play of the same name) at  https://imdb.to/2xEbz7S

Next is Croton's own Harold Gray of Little Orphan Annie Fame....

Here's a 1933 ad and mini review for the 1932 pre-code movie LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE.   It was directed by John S. Robertson  and based on Gray's comic strip. The film starred Mitzi Green, Buster Phelps, May Robson, Matt Moore and Edgar Kennedy. 

You can read more about it here

And finally, Croton's Gloria Swanson, 1923, being sculpted by the famous artist (Peter) David Edstrom.  

Edstrom led a colorful life; you can read more about him here.

YOU CAN SEE THE LAST EDITION OF
SOME MORE RECENTLY UNEARTHED BITS & PIECES ABOUT CROTON NOTABLES HERMAN KAHN, GLORIA SWANSON, and PETER STRAUSS HERE


Note: All content on this blog is Copyright (c) by Maria Cudequest and by those who have contributed specific content. All material is for your personal use only. No content or photos may be republished or sold, without prior written consent from your editor and the individual who contributed the content in question. For permissions or questions about this policy, please contact the editor.    

REMEMBERING THE VERY DAPPER ROBERT MONTGOMERY

Who died this date in 1981...an American film and television actor, director, and producer. He was also the father of actress Elizabeth Montgomery. 

Henry Montgomery Jr. was born in Fishkill Landing, New York (now Beacon, New York)...His early childhood was one of privilege, as his father was president of the New York Rubber Company. Read more here.  Click on the photo to see Mongomery and Joan Crawford in Forsaking All Others, 1934.

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

1971, "IT'S THE MOST DRAWS BIG" @ CROTON'S HOLY NAME

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

Courtesy of the outstanding archives maintained by The Croton Historical Society an an enthusiastic 70's loving Everything Croton elve: 


An article by Lou Brennan from 1971: "IT'S THE MOST" DRAWS BIG -- which details a Joseph Hayes production at Holy Name of Mary. 

You'll recognize many familiar Croton names...

Click on the images below and enjoy.   

You may also enjoy:

--A LOOK BACK AT THE 1970'S CROTON BUSINESS COMMUNITY; click here

--CROTON & CORTLANDT ARTISTS, THE 1970'S; more here

MORE FABULOUS VINTAGE WEBSITES, FINDS, ETC. FROM EVERYTHING CROTON

One thing about auctions--and especially auctions at Croton's own Serioustoyz--you certainly get to see ALL SORTS OF THINGS!

BY SPECIAL REQUEST--AN OLDIE BUT GOODIE-- We're not sure how we feel about this 1960's Yuletide Santa Claus copter--but we do have to admit it is a fun bit of tin. MIB, it sold for $25.30 back in 2013.

It's followed by this year's Autumn Kitchen putz (and yes, those turkeys are spun cotton vintage, made in JAPAN FROM THE LATE 50'S, EARLY 60'S; the barns are by Howard Lamey).

And finally from the very talented Matthew Und, an over the top but wonderful vintage-inspired Halloween display and village, with much of it hand-crafted. 

Click on the photos and enjoy.

THE T COHN NAVAL PLAYSET in all its glory—yes, yes, a few pieces are missing, but it's still fab--vintage playsets rock! See it here.  

VINTAGE MEN’S FASHION AND ACCESSORIES, FLICKR SET; more here

THE LATEST FROM PAPER GLITTER GLUE--GO HERE 

Two pages of tiny Halloween pretties, some vintage, with lots of putzabilities, including gothic window cut-outs in just the right size; more here 

To the reader looking for tiny honeycomb turkeys, these might do the trick; they're old stock from Blumchen; get them while you can http://www.blumchen.com/thanksgiving_shop_ha55.html

P.S. TUESDAY WAS NATIONAL ONE HIT WONDER DAY; have some fun here

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

NATIONAL ONE HIT WONDER DAY

It's National One Hit Wonder Day--and of course BRANDY YOU'RE A FINE GIRL BY LOOKING GLASS made the list---at least for the 1970's.

Come on...admit it...you know all the words....

And now...10 1970s One Hit Wonders Who Should Have Been Superstars--read and see more here

CROTON-HARMON SCHOOL NEWS FOR MARCH 24, 1939

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

Courtesy of the outstanding archives maintained by the volunteers of The Croton Historical Society, A look back at Croton-Harmon School News for March 1939; click on the images below.


You may also enjoy: AN INDEX TO THE "TIGER RAG" POSTINGS @ EVERYTHING CROTON 1939-1966; CLICK HERE.

Monday, September 24, 2018

AND THE WINNERS OF THE 2018 CROTON ROTARY CAR SHOW/CHILI COOKOFF WERE...

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

A crowded field of culinary contestants---all with excellent entries--made the 2018 Croton Rotary Chili Cook-off--especially challenging this year.


And here are the winners:  FIRST PLACE AGAIN THIS YEAR: MEXTOGO

SECOND PLACE: Memphis Mae's


AND IN THIRD PLACE, A TIE:

----Croton Colonial Diner; more here

----Franki's Grill; http://www.frankisgrillcroton.com/


Congratulations. See you all next year! 

CLICK ON THE PHOTO FOR MEX-TO-GO'S MAYRA AND DR. GREG SCHMIDT