Month: July 2022

Art Tatum Boyhood Home, 1123 City Park Avenue.

Art Tatum Boyhood Home, 1123 City Park Avenue along the Dorr Street Corridor in the Junction Neighborhood. Built in 1905. In 2021 grant money will be used to “start revitalizing the home into the Art Tatum Zone, a museum for children and families that will provide a multi-sensory learning experience about the musician and the neighborhood.”

“Born in Toledo in 1920, Art Tatum was, and is, the giant of jazz piano. Count Basie called him the eighth wonder of the world. Charlie Parker once said, “I wish I could play like Tatum’s right hand!” Dave Brubeck once said, “I don’t think there’s any more chance of another Tatum turning up than another Mozart.”

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Ron’s Music (TMIE), 2457 Tremainsville Rd.

Ron’s Music was created by Ron “Crazy Ron” Pollman on February 14, 1973 according to Ohio Sec of State filings. Ron’s Music later became Toledo Musical Instrument Exchange (TMIE). Ron later opened The Used Music Shop. Many great memories of going to TMIE to buy and rent. Ran into the other Ron often. Former Ron’s/TMIE location demolished. Now Meyers Auto Wash.

“Musicians on a budget should look into Toledoan Ron Pollman’s latest venture, The Used Music Shop, at 2425 W. Laskey (next to Sommerset Hall). Pollman, who has 47 years in the music business with former shops Ron’s Music and Toledo Musical Instrument exchange, has created a new hub for buying, selling and swapping musical equipment.” – Toledo City Paper (1-2-2013)

On Tuesday, June 8, 2021, Ron Pollman passed away at the age of 74. https://www.pawlakfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Ronald-Ron-B-Pollman?obId=21371101

TMIE Now Open 6-29-1984

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Toledo Speedway Jam – June 27, 1982

Line-up: Foreigner; Loverboy; Triumph; Donnie Iris

Foreigner ’82 Tour Setlist: Juke Box Hero, Urgent, Hot Blooded, Cold as Ice, Dirty White Boy, Urgent, Double Vision, Cold as Ice.

Triumph setlist: Allied Forces, Rock & Roll Machine, Rocky Mountain Way, Magic Power, Blinding Light Show / Moonchild, Nature’s Child, Say Goodbye, Lay It on the Line, Fight the Good Fight.

Donnie Iris ’83 setlist: Ah! Leah! The Rapper Love Is Like a Rock

 

 

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Jim’s Pizza Paddle, 5832 W. Central Ave.

According to the Ohio Secretary of State registered trade name filings, Jim’s Pizza Paddle was created on March 11, 1974 by Dimitrios “Jim” Mitsopoulos. Jim’s Pizza Paddle was located on the east end of a small strip mall at the northwest corner of Central Avenue and Waldmar Road. It was at Jim’s where I tasted baklava for the first time and tried my first gyro as a kid. I remember seeing Jim often when I would ride my bike to the Sterling store located next to Jim’s Pizza to get my supply of lemonheads, burnt peanuts, a couple of packs of Lucky Lights candy cigarettes and a cold bottle of Faygo Moonshine. Or, maybe I got the moonshine warm at Centre. Anyway, I passed by Jim’s on my bike over many years and often stopped in to get a gyro as a teenager. It was always a pleasure to run into Jim. He always seemed like he was on the verge of yelling at me for something. But in a good way. Jim’s Pizza Paddle closed in 2001. In 2004 Jim opened and operated Dimitri’s in the strip mall (Timberstone Center) at King Road and Sylvania Avenue until his retirement in 2008. Jim passed away on November 25, 2020.

“Jim was born in the Village of Gonoussa in Greece on January 3, 1936, to Antonios and Efthymia Mitsopoulos. He spent his childhood in Greece with his four siblings and served honorably in the Greek Army. After his service he immigrated to Toronto where he met and married Athena Vergos. In 1972, he moved his family to Sylvania, Ohio and shortly after he opened Jim’s Pizza Paddle. For over 30 years he prided himself on serving the best homemade greek cuisine. He is known for his homemade grape leaves, gyros, pizza and greek salads.” – from obituary.

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Porch of the Maidens – 6008 W. Central Ave.

Porch of the Maidens was located on the northwest corner of Central and Warner Avenue. Formerly Michael Angelo’s and Imperial Coffee Shop (“Home of the Imperial King Hamburg”).

“Before the building became the [ancient Greece and Roman themed] Porch, it was [Italian themed] Michael Angelo’s, where Chef Henk Vandersteen was best known for his lasagna and chicken cacciatore. Now, Chef Henk is back in the kitchen, to assist the head chefs, Deiphino Martinez and Dave Pelow, and the Italian dishes have been given fanciful names. The cacciatore is listed on the menu as polio petro cacciatore for $7.95 and the lasagna is lasagna a la milanese, $6.95. For the latter, the sauce will be heated at the table. The gazpacho has given way to cream of potato with sherry and the complimentary chocolate-covered strawberries are being replaced with mini-chocolate cups holding custard.” – Blade food editor Mary Alice Powell, December 7, 1978.

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Ramada Inn, 2340 S. Reynolds Rd.

The 5.5 million dollar 11-story Ramada Inn at 2340 S. Reynolds Road opened its doors on October 2, 1974, two years later than originally planned due to court battles brought on by the Holiday Inn across the street. It was built during a commercial development boom spawned by the opening of the Southwyck Shopping Center. The Ramada Inn offered 220 rooms in the only high rise in the South Toledo-Maumee area. In its best days it was a “vanguard of activity.”

In 1995 it became the Holiday Inn Toledo West. On September 8, 2006 it became the Clarion Inn. Each name change took it further and further away from the prestige it possessed in the ’70s and ’80s as the Ramada Inn, to me anyway. The hotel has stood empty since 2009 when previous owners Toledo Hotel Investment Group LLC defaulted on $2 million in loans. The hotel has since caught fire, been broken into, vandalized, and lived in illegally. An undignified end to a once grand hotel. Demolition of the building began in September 2014. I doubt many were sad to see the Clarion go. Perhaps even the Holiday Inn. But I suspect many were sad to see the Ramada Inn go.

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Dr. Shock

Dr. Shock, host of Dr. Shock’s X-Ray Chiller Theatre on WUPW-TV Channel 36 in Toledo, OH. The show was put on by a local pair, Lance Otto Smith and Doug Agosti. The show ran from July 1989 to September 1992 until it was forced off the air and replaced by infomercials, which nobody watched. After being replaced by infomercials, Agosti and Lance Otto Smith partnered to form After Shock Productions. Dr. Shock’s X-ray Chiller Theater website is a must for fans. https://ghoulardi.tripod.com/shock.html

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Renee’s, 1532 S. Byrne Road.

Late 70s/early 80s nightclub. Later became Henry J’s nightclub.

“Advertised as a place to move together, Renee’s, 1532 S. Byrne Rd., is just that. Originally a disco, the jocks at Renee’s now spin both rock and disco records. Renee’s spacious three-level dance floor, possibly the best In Toledo, is usually filled to the maximum on Thursday, which is college ID night. Renee’s also has two well-stocked bars. Renee’s does have a dress code (no tennis shoes or faded jeans). On college ID night beer is $1.75 a pitcher, but there is not much emphasis on drinking, because dancing is the main attraction. The décor is Impressive with thick, plush carpeting under low, lounge-type furniture surrounding the dance floor. There is also an elevated area isolated by lattice work away from the chaos of the main floor.” – BG News, November 29, 1979

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