Isn't that building backed by the bowling alley on French and York Street?

Are they all one continuous brick building?

There used to be a car garage in the basement running up the side of York Street, and it seems to me it used to be a dry goods store in there prior to that back in the early forties, and I also remember the night there was a fire there.

We could see the smoke and colored sky all the way up to Church Lane.

Charlie Milan's son or grandson owned the bowling alley last I remember.

As a part of old Exchange Street Bangor is lucky that it's still there!

Mainelyme

PJT:

The parking garage under the bowling alley was originally part

of Casino Motors which later was Webber Motor Company.

They were the Ford Agency for Bangor, and later moved up

to Hammond Street and became Sullivan Ford Sales (..Where you

drive a little to save a lot...) Same Webber as Webber Oil.

The showroom was a one-story that fronted on Exchange right

across from the Brass Rail Restaurant. It was connected to the

parking garage by concrete ramps.

When Webber moved out, it became Dunnett Inc. who also ran the

parking facility and did auto service. In those days Dunnett's sold

a lot of auto supplies and Seiberling Tires. My Dad and Grandpa

parked their cars there during the day for many years. A fellow

named Fred Goodspeed was the watchman who lived right there.

Doug Dunnett ran the parking and service operation.

Bowling alley is now an office of some sort as is the old car showroom.

OldBangor

In thinking about it I have come to the conclusion that the empty over grown with tall grass lot on the opposite corner of French and York Street must have been the building that burned that night.

The Salvation Army was directly across the street from the bowling alley but, that lot ran from French up York Street to where Getchell Ice House used to be with a loading platform fronting Oak Street.

The lot remained empty for the rest of the time I lived in Bangor and, one night we had a Democratic Rally on Harlow Street, where John Diamond, Nat and Ellie's son, had us all walk over to that lot to greet former Governor and U.S. Ambassador to Canada Ken Curtis whose helicopter landed in that small space.

The then Former Governor Cutis joined us at the Democratic Headquarters, and I told long time friend and dancing partner Rita Plank Watson to go over and kiss the Governor on the cheek. Which Rita, a tall willowy red head did.

Governor Curtis looked over to me and said, "Thank you, Perley."

No, I don't spend all my time blogging, but I do spend a lot of time remembering Bangor and New York City and what I've learned from all the good people I've enjoyed knowing in both places for the past 47 years, and the people of Bangor prior to that.

I just finished and have ready to mail to U.S. Copyright in Washington a 36,000 word screenplay that is the 6th in a series of ten scripts that take place between Bangor and Manhattan.

My mother used to tell me that someday I'd wish I had all the energy I was using then when I was young.

As usual, mother was right!

Perley J. Thibodeau

Mainelyme

Manhattan, New York.

Screen/Stage Plays

One of the people in New York asks the leading character what

the major industry in Bangor, Maine is.

The leading character replies, "Stealing each other's real estate!"

Perley J. Thibodeau

Mainelyme

New York, New York

OldBangor

You're either Ralph and Edythe Cassidy Dyer's grandson or Vera and Alan Waterman's son, of Bangor's Kirstein Real Estate.

James and John Cassidy and I'm sure the Dyers came over during the Potato Famine of the 1840s, and you claimed that your ancestors came to Bangor in 1790,

I don't know when the Kirsteins and Watermans came to town

I do know that Vera was absolutely gorgeous and would put a young Lana Turner to shame.

I was very flattered when I first met Vera and she told me then that she has a son who is every bit as handsome as I was then.

But, then again, you can't be Vera's son because Vera and Fran Stanley were the best of friends in Civic Theater and Savoyards and Vera would certainly know that Jim Stanley's name was Sylvesta James Stanley, and their summer camp was the dirt road straight ahead beyond the fish hatchery on the right at Green Lake.

A friend said they were talking to Alan Waterman Jr, recently and asked how Vera was, and he said she was fine.

My God, I'm starting to sound like the late Margaret Small, Doctor Clarence Small's ex wife who played Vera Charles in Bangor Civic Theater's Production of, "Auntie Mame" in October, 1960.

Margaret taught English to autistic children at the Bangor State Hospital and also Bangor High School where the students called her the "show girl."

I was told that Margaret came from a well established family in Machias but, she sounded like the world's number one social climber when she'd tell the whole room full of people a person's ancestry, social status, and Dun and Bradstreet Rating even before that person had a chance to step their foot across the threshold to enter the room.

J. Palmer and I were talking on the telephone long distance just before he passed on and he told me that Margaret had passed away in a nursing home in Arizona. I told him that I wished there had been a notice in the Daily News as she had a lot of friends and admirers in Bangor, me included.

Of course, knowing all these colorful people/personalities has prepared me to now write bits and pieces of them into the stage/screenplays I'm scripting.

The sad part of it is that with the exception of one person none of them is alive now to play themselves if the scripts ever get produced!

Perley J. Thibodeau

Mainelyme

OldBangor:

A footnote to the above.

Fran always called Vera Waterman, "One of God's more divine looking children!""

Perley J. Thibodeau

Mainelyme

Sorry, Perley.....

But you are wrong on all counts. I know plenty of Kirsteins and

Watermans, but I'm not one of them. Margaret Small taught English

at Bangor High when I went there, and I always thought at the

time that she was just trying too hard to stay "young".

1790s is correct, but the first direct ancestor to be BORN here

was in 1802. His first name was Enoch. I can take you right to

his headstone up at Mount Hope. HA!

You have to be careful, Perley, what you say about people who

aren't around any longer to defend themselves! Plus, I have a

feeling that a lot of your "information" might be a little suspect.

Watch your "facts", in other words.....

RE: Camp. I know for a fact that JIM had a camp at Pearl Point,

Lucerne in the late 60s and for a long time later. Perhaps this

was post-Fran. I STILL know how to find out for certain, but

with people away for the winter, it might take me a day or two

longer.

All Best, etc.

OldBangor

Then Jim sold the camp at Green Lake to Bill and Maxine Freeze and bought the camp at Lucerne after Fran passed away.

He also sold the completely renovated house on the hill in Dedham.

Everyone agreed that it must have been quite impossible for Anna to escape Fran's image and friends in Bangor when even I was putting Fran's picture wearing a beaded dress and dancing the Charleston in the Daily News as publicity for a Community Theater Reunion Party several years after she passed away.

John told me it was alright at the time as Fran had been so well known in Bangor that she was really in public domain.

People who became so well known in Bangor often moved away when they retired as a means to get away from the well known active life they were locally famous for and were ready to settle down into a new more quiet one.

I quite often appreciated the anonymity of being back in the big town except for the fact that a lovely elderly German Lady I met at the senior center next door dispelled my whole illusion by telling me that with all the people on the street here in New York City I'm the one whose looks and presence stands out above the crowd.

And that was without a dress on.

With a dress on I was told that I was so beautiful that I was stopping traffic.

It's really too bad that Maine doesn't have any human rights laws that protect people who only want to enjoy the life that God gave them, and go happily on their way.

Also, I'd venture the opinion that my facts are suspect to only you because you weren't and aren't as knowledgeable of Bangor's History, People, and Mores as you like to think you are. Life isn't all a Shriner's Parade, and people did take the time to really know and care for each other back when I lived there.

As for being careful what I say about people who have passed away.

I'd never do anything but praise the people who were so kind to me in the past. Bangor always covered for itself but, with so many new people it sadly seems that Code of Honor has dropped along the wayside.

My Irish Grandmother always said, "It's not the dead who'll hurt you: it's the living!"

As usual: Grandmother was right!

Perley J. Thibodeau

Mainelyme

Oh, and Margaret Small and I always appreciated each other's fun personalities.

I'd even go so far as to say we were each other's best audience!

Of course, even though I could be a continued source of aggravation to him John Ballou always appreciated us and we always appreciated him, too!

Perley J. Thibodeau

Mainelyme

PJT:

I'll try to keep this brief.

You and I aren't in a competition to see who knows more about

Bangor. You are over 10 years older than I am, and we grew up

under very different circumstances. There are things YOU know.

There are things EYE know. You say everything that pops into

your head. I have things that I COULD say but choose not to. Some

of the people you mention I knew far better than you ever did.

Other things you mention I have no knowledge of because they

just weren't a part of my life. BUT! You seem to believe that your

knowledge is somehow superior to mine or that I am in some way

exaggerating things. If you don't stop trying to establish yourself

as the one and only all-time bull-goose-looney authority on all things

Bangor, I'm just going to leave you alone.

OldBangor

OldBangor

You were not only ten years younger than I was but, you were also away at school or as you said living in New York at the times that I'm speaking of.

You admittedly have to rely on some one else to give you the facts when I am the only one who knows the facts of what I am talking about and don't have to consult with anybody for my facts because I was living them.

I do consult with a friend in Bangor who is four years older than I but, that's only because we have known each other all our lives and I'm just verifying areas that have gotten a bit fuzzy because I was so young at the time.

I'm sorry that you didn't experience the wonderful life I lived by knowing both Bangors in the time I lived there.

I had many many many relatives who have lived in Bangor since before the flood, and all those stories were handed down to me, too!

I didn't live my life in a self imposed ivory tower as I got out and met people and did things for the community.

I feel sorry for you and the fact that you've lived such a self contained cloistered life but, you're certainly old enough now to be able to learn new facts, and not just the ones that you've imagined.

I once ineptly told Palmer Libby, who worshipped her that Fran lived in a shell. Meaning the public Mrs. James S. Stanley wasn't the relaxed fun loving person that the private Fran Stanley was. I used to watch her change demeanor before my eyes according to who she was talking with and who they thought she was. .Palmer very aptly stated that, "If she lived in a shell then she carefully created it herself."

Doesn't that apply to all of us?

If you wish not to be bothered with me then that's your prerogative. Not even knowing that you are a real person, or just a computer geek who likes to stir things up doesn't put any dent in my budget, and you can be pushed to the periphery of my mind just like a lot of people that I deliberately never bothered to really get to know!

Have a Happy New Year and if you do come to the city in January then don't let the crowds of tourists get you. In a group they can be very pushy!

Perley J. Thibodeau

Mainelyme

Are you related to Bruce Carlisle and Linda Harnum?

Mainelyme

Well, we've lost the Phillipines again.

I'm sure they'll show up somewhere!

Mainelyme

I'm here, 'Mainelyme". Just reading on and on. Have a great New Year 2009! I'm waiting for BDN's appropriation on what they plan to do with the common names/user name controversy and all that led up to the decision.

PJT:

Wasn't on the site at all yesterday, Perley...

Nope on the Harnum/Carlisle guess...

I see you have Campbells. Are you related to either

Polly Campbell Carlisle or the Campbells who were

in the beauty shop business?

BTW: You will notice that I don't use malapropisms

like JIP does. Words are my bread and butter!

OldBangor

OldBangor:

No to the Polly Campbell Carlisle question.

I graduated from D'Lor Beauty School in Brewer in '74 but, didn't realize that there was a Campbell Beauty Salon. What was its business name?

It could have been East Side or RoseMarie's or even Paul and Kitty Shay's.

Wasn't there a Campbell's Bakery in Bangor or Brewer?

If words are your bread and butter then you're certainly not Stevie Robbins, as he had to send an FDR quote to the Letters Column the other day just to get his name in the paper.

Of course, if you are Stevie don't turn your back on yourself as knives hurt when they're being pushed in between the shoulder blades.

I have to go to Staples now and pick up my latest ring bound screenplay to mail to copyright, and a copy for me, plus to a dear "very young" friend in Bangor.

Have a beautiful New Year, and as soon as you find out who you are please let me know.

Being a writer myself I'm curious that way.

Perley

Also, isn't Cakes by Jan run by Jan Campbell?

I should know as a friend in Bangor sends me Christmas presents that are sometimes purchased there!

Mainelyme

PJT:

Yep, Cakes by Jan (Campbell) but I don't know if she's still

involved directly, and I believe Campbell is her married name.

Campbell's Bakery is/was over in Brewer for a long time, but

I think that for most of its existence it was owned and run by

people other that Campbells.

I went to high school with a girl named Deborah (Dee) Campbell.

She was rather spectacularly good-looking and was always

beautifully turned-out. It was her father who had the hair salon

which was highly successful. Perhaps he was her STEP father

and hence the difference. I'm thinking "Mister" somebody. Last I

knew they had converted a house right at the southbound

entrance to 95 at Ohio Street. I was visiting Bangor late 70s and

needed a haircut on short notice. Dee cut my hair and was still

bee-you-tee-ful, but has now (I think) moved to FLA as have too

many.

OldBangor

Mister Bernard!

He bought that beautiful old stone building at the top of Park Street Hill across from Sears Roebuck Garage and used it as a Beauty Academy.

Ron Fillmore, Mark Pooler, Peter Serois and, I almost think Roger George , all worked for him but went out on their own and he wouldn't hire anymore male hairdressers because they all took their clientel with them.

He iwas n the basement across the street from the Universalist/Unitarian Church on the corner of Union and Main Street just up the hill from the vacant lot beside the Opera House.

I used to go to Mark there to color my hair because I, being Irish, started to turn white when I was 21 years old.

I wish I had the rest of that hair now, and I wouldn't care what color it is!

Perley

Mr. Bernard's last name was Martin.

Bernard Martin.

When he started out there he used to bill himself as Mr. Bernard of Freeses.

He came from Lewiston, I believe.

There was also a Mansfield Beauty Academy in what had been the Brass Rail (Ye Olde Brass Rail) Restaurant on Exchange Street near the Bijou Theater across the street from the Penobscot Exchange Hotel on the corner of Hancock and Exchange Streets.

They had a room upstairs that was used as a public meeting room. It was painted Coral and was appropriately enough called, The Coral Room at The Brass Rail.

The counter really did have a brass foot rail as I remember eating at it several times on various Easter Sundays with the other kids in the Church Lane neighborhood, and putting my foot on it to get up to the chair at the counter to be served Lemon Meringue Pie with browned puffy French Frogs on top and a glass of milk.

So many beautiful memories of Old Bangor.

I hope I never become too senile to remember all of them!

Perley

Make that: "I hope I never become too senile not to remember all of them.

It's been a long day!

Perley

There was also an Eastern Academy of Beauty Culture in the fifties on lower State Street in or around the Bellmont Hotel between the BCM Cigar Store and the Eastern Trust and Banking Company.

Didn't Howard Foley's family own the building the Bellmont was in?

Gotta go, now.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Mainelyme

PJT:

HA! Howard FOLEY didn't even know all the things he owned!

There's an old Brass Rail story, and if it isn't true it OUGHT to

be.......

Spiro Chaparis came to Bangor from Allentown, PA, to run the

Brass Rail, which he did for many years. They also had a beer bar

downstairs which was frequented by the guy students at Husson.

As a result, Spiro would come into work mid-morning after a

l-o-n-g night before. He'd look across Exchange Street and see

Charlie Wong out sweeping the sidewalk in front of the Oriental

Restaurant -- remember that place? Spiro would shout out at

Charlie: "Flied Lice! Flied Lice!" And for a long time, Charlie would

just ignore him.

Then one day, Charlie had all he could take. Spiro yelled-out his

usual "Flied Lice! Flied Lice!" and Charlie yelled back: "It's FRIED

RICE! FRIED RICE!, you GLEEK PLICK!"

AH! Dear Old Bangor, eh?

OldBangor

Love it but, it does sound more like an urban myth to me.

Doesn't it sound that way to you?

What do you mean downstairs?

On the first floor or in the basement?

You must be talking about the middle sixties when Husson took over the beautiful old staid looking Penobscot Exchange Hotel and turned it into a dormitory with the curtains hanging out the open windows, and a sad look of decayed discrepancy about it.

What a terrible come down from what it had once been.

A friend and I did have a drink in there (The Brass Rail) in 1967 when I had my new car, and he and I went to the Bijou to see the movie," Thoroughly Modern Millie."

Okay, I do remember its turning into a bar because I stopped in one night after work to talk to Frank Currier who was tearing the city down for Urban Renewal.

That's strange because I have been thinking that Tommy and Janet Sing owned the Oriental Restaurant, closed it down and started Sing's Restaurant on the site of the old Union Station.

It was next door to the Atlantic Sea Grill Restaurant just up the street from the Bangor Hydro Electric Building on the corner of State and Exchange Streets which was on the opposite corner of the Park Theater, that became the Park Shopping Center, and ended in sad days too as a warehouse for Bar Wrights Sporting Goods just up the hill.

Everyone was in the new old Baldacci's Restaurant (The new addition-old building) one night after a play rehearsal and Howard was there. I don't know if he was the District Attorney then or not but, he was so personable and good looking.

It had to have been a rehearsal of Music Man because Tom Needham, Bill Neally and the rest of the young Republicans who eventually grew old were there, and they were the roving barber shop quartet that sang, "Lita Rose in the show."

As I said before they (including John Ballou) had a singing group called "The Landlords."

Emily Bean showed up, and Howard was really wound up and insisted that they were all going to have a political rally right then and there to elect someone or other.

Emily was laughing as much as the rest of us were at Howard's antics and Howard kept laughing and saying, "Can you hear me, Emily. Can you hear me?

Finally, Emily flashed that beautiful crinkly smile and replied," Yes, I can hear you, Howard. They can hear you all the way up to the other end of Hancock Street!"

It's a shame the government took over welfare as it was fun raising money for the different charitable causes around town.

As you can tell by the time I didn't go out tonight.

The wind is blowing fiercely, and we had heavy snow squalls all day.

A friend called last night and begged me to dress up and go out tonight as we met 12 years ago tonight at a nice dance down in the village, but I really don't enjoy going out on commercial nights when everyone else feels the need to celebrate.

I turned down an invitation to go to another party that night in a tan and brown chauffeured Rolls Royce to ride the 3rd Avenue bus uptown to where Daniel got off at 33rd Street and I continued on to E. 86th Street.

I've never seen the tan and brown chauffeured Rolls Royce since but, Daniel and I are still good friends 12 years later.

Boy, I sure know how to pick my friends.

In other words, every night is New Year's Eve in Manhattan.

I didn't mean to go on but, when I was little on Church Lane I'd listen to the world famous dance bands in New York on the radio, and I dreamed about growing up to live in that far away mythical kingdom called Manhattan. Now I'm here and writing back to the general vicinity of Church Lane.

New York City is like other cherished loved ones. It's always there when you really need it!

Perley

I stand corrected.

It was Maurice Martin not Mr. Bernard of Freeses who wouldn't hire any more male hairdressers because they built up their clientel at his shop and then left and took them with them.

Are you sure that Charlie Wong didn't own Wong's Laundry that was close by The Oirental Restaurant?

Everything was on Exchange Street back then.

The Bangor Daily News, The Bijou Theater, expensive M.L. French and Son's Clothing Store, The Brass Rail, Submarine Lunch, Bangor Hydro, Oritental Restaurant, Wong's Laundry, Atlantic Sea Grill, Allen Lewis Men's Clothing Store, The Penobscot Exchange Hotel, 88 Exchange Street where my Uncle James McFarland owned a hotel, and my mother was born there became a second hand shop in its last years, and of course Oscar's Restaurant on Washington Street across from the Union Station.

Let us not forget Jones' Sea Food Market on the banks of the other side of the stream.

People used to dress up for Easter Sunday, go to church then walk up and down Exchange Street for Bangor's own version of The Easter Parade!

There was always life happening on Exchange Street in Bangor, Maine.

Perley

PJT:

I'll get back to you when I can. Too busy right now, and

that's a LOT of info to reply to.

OldBangor

OldBangor:

Do you have a relative my age or older named Joan?

If you're who I think you may be I'm going to have to put a legal disclaimer on ten of my screen plays because one of the characters inadvertently usurped your job.

Are you angry with me?

Perley

PJT:

No, not angry for the moment...

And no, no Joans that I know of....

Just now signing off 'til tomorrow, I'm pooped from the

holidays. Just a little, though:

The Oriental was there on Exchange for a L-O-N-G time.

When my Mom was a little girl in grammar school (Hannibal

Hamlin) her reward for good grades was always a matinee

at the Bijou followed by shopping and then a meal at the

Oriental. This would have been 20s - 30s. When it closed

mid 60s, the Sings opened Sing's at the foot of Exchange.

Charlie Wong opened Ho Sai Gai in Veazie on State Street

right where Mt. Hope ends. Wongs and Sings were all

related and went way back in Bangor. Really super people.

They INSISTED upon being accepted, and they WERE!

All those NAMES you mention. So much to say and lots that

I really shouldn't! Special ties, though, to both Howard Foley

and Bill Nealley. BTW, in those days it was County Attorney,

not "District". Who was it Howard lost to when he ran for

Congress? It was too bad in any event, because there was

never anyone who loved the Bangor Region any more than

he did! Two brilliant men, each with his own personal devil.

One wonders what MIGHT have been.....

I don't know who it is you THINK I am with a relative named

"Joan", but I think your MSs are safe with me....

Will that hold you for now, Perley? And will you finally admit

that I'm no pretender? JWB was a fixture in my household

when I was growing up. Have you ever heard of "Itsy Bitsy

Charities, Inc." ??? Didn't think so.....

Nighty Night!

OldBangor

Aileen Pilot and Ed Keth!

Judge Morris Pilot and his wife Aileen who divorced him and married John's friend lawyer Ed Keith!

Ha!

HEE! HEE! HEE!

Cold as a Maine Winter, Perley!

When Ed was a starving, under-nourished bachelor, though,

he was a frequent dinner guest in our house.....

Oh, and if you ever DO figure out who I am (...and I'm sure

you'll get it eventually...) I'd appreciate it if you'd find some way to

do it in code. I value my anonymity on here and would hate to

have to stop posting. If and when you land on "GO", though, I

will plead Guilty as Charged. And none of that is in "Code".

The Keiths were, truly, a match made in Heaven, don't you think?

OldBangor

I'm drawing a blank about the Hannibal Hamlin School. I know there was one but, was it over on the west side around 3rd Street. I know Vine Street School was on State across from the Gerard Hotel ( First National-LaVerdiere's) and Elm Street was, of course on Elm Street.

I'm drawing a blank about Howard running for congress, also.

Was that in the early sixties when I was in New York, and before he became the county attorney?

I know I interviewed him for an article I wrote about law enforcement when I was writing for the Community Observer. That was in '75-76-77, and he was the county attorney then.

I also remember Bill running for the Bangor City Council, and he had a missing cane reforged at Snow and Nealey for the Hannibal Hamlin Statue on lower State Street. I don't think he got elected that time did he?

I agree whole heartedly about the two gentlemen that we were mentioning earlier.

They both seemingly had everything going for them.

Old Bangor Families, looks, money, good jobs and social positions.

The important thing was that they were nice guys as far as I could tell, and that's most of a sucessful life accomplished right there!

Hey, I suffer from depression that I just never in my whole life had any control over and, it's certainly put an awful damper on my accepting all the wonderful opportunities that were handed to me by people who could well have made all my none depressed dreams come true.

Nothing is ever what it seems to be even though we all wish that it were.

Perley

There was a rumor that the Wong's kept dead rats in the freezer to eat at their restaurant in Veazie, and they went out of business right after that.

It was also rumored that the Sing's were the ones who started the rumor!

You can chose your friends but, you can't chose your relatives!

I'll have to pass as far as telling you who you are in code, as you can see I've known so many people that even though I've tried to keep up I still don't know who all is living or dead.

It would be simple if I had the program from The Music Man but, I don't and so I can't look in it to see who was in the Boys Band Chorus.

Kay probably has one I'm sure but, if she doesn't remember off hand I wouldn't ask her to take the time to go rummaging about looking for it.

All of my scrapbooks were left in Bangor and I believe they have since been destroyed in a house fire there.

That's show biz!

Are you sure I'd recognize your name even if I heard it?

You really don't seem to know who I thought I was supposed to be.

Perley

PJT:

Now I REALLY have to turn in....

Hannibal Hamlin was on Union between 3rd and 4th. It was

torn down to make way for the first "Doug's" Shop & Save.

Vine Street School is WEST side fronting streets you

wouldn't know, being an East Sider. I went to Vine Street

for K thru 6 -- Seven Whole Years!!!!!!! An Eaton Tarbell opus

that won national awards! Sister school to Fruit Street.

In the 70s, you would have interviewed Errol Paine, Bill Cohen's

law partner, as County Attorney. Yes, Howard ran for Congress

in (...I think..) 1962. It was a CLOSE 'un, too! My Dad helped run

the campaign. It was a killer, I'll tell you.....

So, are you ready to admit I'm no fraud?

OldBangor

PJT:

One more, that's it.......

I saw Kay at the supermarket on 12/24. As usual, she looks

great. Chances are you'd remember my Mom and Dad but not

me. All I know is that KAY always manages to remember who

I am and who they were....

Perhaps you're looking in the wrong DIRECTION.

That's all I'll say.

OldBangor

You're right about being an East Sider.

I didn't know the West Side at all until I got my car in 1967.

What was that school at the top of State Street that was a laundromat for years?

Oh, I think that was Pine Street School.

Sorry.

It was Howard Foley who was the county attorney somewhere in 74-75-76-77 because it was a picture and text article about how law enforcement officers thought about all the cop shows on television at the time, and someone asked me to interview Howard on the subject and I did.

I talked to Fran Woodhead, an officer Borno who died very young right after that, also a state police trooper, and his commanding officer who broke his back in a police crusier accident right after that and he retired.

I can't remember having talked to the Sheriff's Department, though.

Guess I just didn't have room on the two page tab sized sheets.

As I've posted before, I was on the Democratic County Committee when Joe Brennan had us elect a District Attorney, and Peter Baldacci wanted it.

I was the only one who wouldn't vote for Chris Almy when Peter changed his mind.

Don't anyone say I'm not intelligent.

I can't imagine your refuting everything I say I've known and done.

Everytime I look in the mirror I can see that I've been around!

And by the way: Kay was born in Searsport!

As a matter of fact it was Howard who told me that former Policewoman Lillian Watson was retired and living in Montana and her son Bill lived in Veazie or just north.

I wrote Officer Watson a letter and got a very nice reply telling me that it was all recorded in the Bangor Daily News, and the Bangor Public Library, and wishing me luck on my article writing.

Howard was the District Attorney at that time!

Perley

Was your grandmother's name Muriel?

PJT:

No Muriel, sorry....

Forgot that Howard went back into that office mid-70s. It must

have been after Errol Paine died tragically out on his farm in

Holden. Heck, Perly, I was AWAY in those days....

Kay was born in Mass, raised in Searsport. I'm not sure, but

I think it was Sam and Frannie Calderwood who coaxed her up

to Bangor. Searsport's loss was our gain!

OldBangor

The minute I said Kay was born in Searsport it didn't sound right.

She and I have been friends for forty nine years this coming June ever since I played Mr. Loomis in Bangor's Auntie Mame and she was the promter for the show.

I was the best man at her wedding when she married Murray Lebowitz.

Eunice Crowder was the matron of Honor

He always insisted he was the best man but, I told him, "No, he was the groom and I was the best man."

I still miss my friend Murray very much!

I was thinking that Howard came back to the position the second time.

I don't know as I knew Sam and Frannie Calderwood.

That couldn't have been Kay's friend Fannie Farrar who was an aunt to Ralph who in was the credit Department at Freeses, and became its manager just before Mac McOvick got the job at the mall.

Frannie never married as far as I knew and lived next door to John Flynn on what, Webster Avenue?

I knew all the women Kay was in the social group with.

What ever became of John Flynn?

Wasn't he related to Eddie Darling and was it Owen Darling?

The powers that had been took him out of the Clerk's Office and made him city manager when they were forced to get rid of John Mooney.

You better believe that Theresa Mooney, Jim and Julia's sister from Frazier Street and later Hancock Street made sure to let everyone know that they weren't related to him.

We all went out to the Paine's Farm one day from Newbury Street Park and picked sting beans for the Paines There was a young guy who was very nice looking and personable and he was the nices person to work for.

There was a stream in back of their property and he said we could go swimming there the next time we came out but, none of us kids went back.

I didn't pick many beans, I'll tell you.

They left the Paines out of The Black Families of Bangor. I haven't read the book yet but, I'm still wondering if Barbara Browne was related to Mrs. Mary Ann Mills who owned the little house directly across Washington Street from the mouth of the old Brewer Bridge.

If there are no Muriels in your family then that leaves out Muriel and John Downing..

It will be an embaressment if it turns out that I don't remember either you or your family.

Perley

That's Julia their sister, etc:

Kay told me once who she ran into on Hammond Street Hill who told her to join Civic Theater but, I never thought of it again so I really can't remember.

Are you sure that Sam and Frannie Calderwood.were socially acceptable?

I remember working for a short time at N.E. Whitney in Brewer.

Barry Darling got me the job.

When Sid Winchester found out I was from the old neighborhood we started talking and he leaned against one of the tall metal file cabinets and asked,

" Did you know Honky Rolsky?"

I told him there were Rolskys in the rag business on Boyd Street across from where Sid Epstein was born."

Sid said, "I just remember going over there years ago and there was a kid named Honky Rolsky."

If you know him tell him that I still love Sid Winchester!

Perley

PJT:

Sam and Frannie (Palmer) Calderwood. Sam was a Searsport native

who spent his working life in Bangor, but they kept a beautiful home

down there right on the water. Both long gone. Frannie was somehow

related to my Grandfather.

Haven't seen John Flynn for years, but I always thought he was kin

to the Maine Distributors Flynns. Ed Darling is son of Owen. Perhaps

Owen's wife was a Flynn? My Dad would know. He knew everybody

and everything Bangor.

Wrong Paines! Paine's Garden Stand is/was in Orrington. Errol Paine

grew up in a big house on Howard street just behind Mrs. Robinson.

His "farm" in Holden was his hobby.

As far as I know, Barbara Mills Browne's parents were both Downeasters

from Washington County. They had blueberry barrens down there that

they operated, and I remember visiting.

You'll get it eventually, Perley. On the right track with "Down"-ing. Check

your map!

OldBangor

I've heard of Errol Paine

I didn't think that I knew any Black lawyers back then.

None that Billy would be in partnership with anyway.

Barbara Cassidy used to call their place in Searsport "The Cottage."

We used to go clamming at the end of Navy Street and it was so beautiful.

The fertilizer plant has completely destroyed it the last time I was down there.

I just came back from mailing my latest script, "Young At Heart" to copyright and to Kay.

Kay has a prominent role in all ten scripts, with a few variations added of other ladies that I have known.

I know you're not Clifford Launsbury and his cousin Gerald Downes who used to live on Frazier Street.

There was a Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Downes. he was a cook and they owned a sit down Deli on the corner of State and Exchange Street across from the Hydro Electric where the Naughtie Nighty Shop took up residence.

They were very nice people, and I almost think he went to work after that running the small restaurant that Louie Leakos owned at the Brewer IGA.

It's hard to believe that Louie and Georiga are both gone now, but it's hard to believe so many others aren't there, and here in New York anymore.

Perley

PJT:

Re: Kay joining Civic Theatre....

Could it have been Sylvia McInnis?

You must remember Sylvia.

OldBangor

No, it was a guy who told Kay to join Civic Theater.

Darling Sylvia.

Who could ever for get Darling Sylvia and her husband Ed who was a book keeper at New Central Furniture.

They lived next door to John Thomas on Maple Street, or shared a back property line.

John said Sylvia would go on a tantrum and the kids would come flying bodily over the back fence.

We were sitting around the stage at city hall waiting for Herb Billet the director to give us his Auntie Mame rehearsal critique

Fran, Dick Lail, Sylvia and I were sitting on the round black pouf sofa that Fran (for some reason) later wedged into her small dining room on Madison Street.

Dick was playing the college Patrick Dennis to Fran's Mame. Sylvia was Little Glory Upson, and I was the aforementioned Mr. Loomis.

Well, Fran, as you must know always had an innocent silly little school girl crush on some guy or other and during and after Auntie Mame it was Dick Lail, an airman from North Carolina, stationed at Dow Field.

It helped her perpetuate the myth of being our Auntie Mame.

Well, Fran was asking Dick all these questions about whether he drove a car. Whether he dances, etc: etc: completely oblivious to the rest of the cast of thousands who made up that play.

Finally, I just couldn't take it anymore and I looked directly at Fran and said, "Two drinks and I fly!"

I can still see Fran's face breaking into a completely uncontrolled bright smile of laughter.

Sylvia mentioned it years later at Baldacci's Restaurant as one of the funniest things I ever said.

Sylvia Applebee McGinnis was a beautiful girl. She and her cousin Muriel Applebee LaPointe (Larry) came from Enfield.

Arvilla and Tony Verceles took me and their granddaughters Dawn DuBois and Michelle Ranney to the Hawaiian Garden in Augusta one night.

It was a long banquet style table and who do you suppose I was sitting a rubbing a left elbow with but, Sylvia McGinnis and her new husband. They were with Vasco Baldacci and his wife, as they were all by then in the antique business down around Bar Harbor.

In introducing Sylvia to Arvilla, who was the Executive Director of the Miss Maine-Miss America Pageant I had to take my life in my hand to refer to the fact that Sylvia's maiden name was Applebee, and she was a cousin to Muriel Applebee LaPointe who was a former Miss Maine.

Sylvia was in a sweet mood that night and she graciously acknowledged that fact plus the fact that Arvilla's daughter Brenda Verceles Donroe was a former Miss Maine, also.

That dangerous moment passed with out incident, and I've never happened to see Sylvia again.

Fran's asking Dick, 'Do you ski?" brought on my reply: "Two drinks and I fly!"

Other funny stories regarding that crowd but, I just got an e mail from my Movie Script Management Company telling me that they are finally launching their Producer's Buyer's Guide and I have to double check the information on my segment, plus send them the fourth script, "The Bells Are Ringing For Me And My Pal," that really wraps up the push for same sex marriage story line.

Later!

Perley

Fran's asking Dick, 'Do you ski?" brought on my reply: "Two drinks and I fly!"

Other funny stories regarding that crowd but, I just got an e mail from my Movie Script Management Company telling me that they are finally launching their Producer's Buyer's Guide and I have to double check the information on my segment, plus send them the fourth script, "The Bells Are Ringing For Me And My Pal," that really wraps up the push for same sex marriage story line.

Later!

Perley

Fran's asking Dick, 'Do you ski?" brought on my reply: "Two drinks and I fly!"

Other funny stories regarding that crowd but, I just got an e mail from my Movie Script Management Company telling me that they are finally launching their Producer's Buyer's Guide and I have to double check the information on my segment, plus send them the fourth script, "The Bells Are Ringing For Me And My Pal," that really wraps up the push for same sex marriage story line.

Later!

Perley

Were your parents's names Milton and Naomi?

PJT:

Who the heck are Milton and Naomi????? NO!

I told you that you were on the right track with

"Down" but "Down" isn't the right direction. Then,

I told you to get out your "Map".

SHEESH!

OldBangor

OldBangor

You didn't know Milton and Naomi Lown?

Milton was a voice student of Bill Cupp's along with Sylvia, Chuck (Charles) Cronin,Mary Jay Osler, Aileen Pilot Keith, Donna Chandler, and everyone else who wanted to sing a lead in a Savoyard musical.

Bill dramatically announced his retirement but, supposedly loved Music Man so much that he came back as the musical director "one more time."

I told Barbara Kelly, who was originally from Panama that if you wanted a lead in Savoyards you had to own property on the other side of State Street.

Barbara laughed and reminded me that she was a student of Bill Cupp's, was singing leads in Savoyard Productions and her father and mother in law were Charles Kelly who was a decendant of an old Bangor Lumber Baron who owned a mansion on the corner of Fruit and State Streets.

Milton's family was one half of Kagan-Lown Pernobscot Shoe that enventually moved to Old Town.

There were three things that my mother told people on her death bed.

One was that Perley was giving her excellent care.

Two was that Perley couuld cook anything.

And three was that "Her Perley travelled with the best!"

It was all spread across the news media how my relatives treated me because of those grateful death bed remarks.

Map?

Are you related to the Rand McNallys?

I didn't know they were an Old Bangor family but, I'll certainly take your word for it.

As Fran told me once, "Bangor's money is so old that nobody even knows who has it anymore!

Perley

OldBangor;

Make that, "My Perley James travels with the best.

It took me a long hurtful time to figure out that she never wanted to say my Perley as that would tend to exclude her youngest brother Perley C. Campbell whom I was named after.

Perley James

PJT:

HA! Don't worry, it will dawn on you eventually.....

I knew Bill and Harold a little, but not well.

Didn't know the Lowns but did know the Kagans.

Their daughter Candace Beth was a friend of mine.

We used to ski together. She's now a veterinarian.

MAP, Perley! DIRECTION, Perley!

OldBangor

OldBangor

I suppose I could call and see if Kay will tell me who you are but, I just called the two days before Christmas, got a thank you note last Monday or Tuesday, sent her a screenplay and a thank you note yesterday and, so know for a fact that she's having enough fun on her own without getting in on ours!

Perley

OldBangor

You ought to be ashamed of yourself teasing an old man like this.

Do you know one of my screenplays that I have blocked out and have ten thousand words written on is a very intricate ploted fictional murder mystery that takes place in Bangor and, is called, "Lulu's Back In Town?"

As I've posted before, when I was little the other boys in the neighorhood used to tell me that I had great deducive powers, and that I should grow up to be a detective.

I'm not gong to reiterate all that I have done for the Central Park P.D. and how I straightend out Manhattan Homicide North, and enlightened the Homicide Detectives of the New Jersey State Police.

North-South-East-West/

I've already told you that I have a lousy sense of direction and I once got lost at the Brewer Drive In and Kay Koch had to come to the projection shack to get me and the popcorn!

Sheesh!

Perley

PJamesT

Calling up Kay would be CHEATING!

You already know more than enough to figure

it out, and I have one last clue -- but that would

be just handing it to you.

Plus, I'm having too much fun with this!

OldBangor

Perley, he said his last name is South!

anne_of_mdi :

Where did he say that?

Perley

He said you were close with "Down," look at the map, look "down" on the map! Plus he just made a disgusting comment so I have no respect for him.

anne_of:

Disgusting? No. Factual? Yes! Plus, I'm SURPRISED at you!

You GOT it! You've just gained MY respect!

PJT: My name ain't South. But Close!

OldBangor

OldBangor

That reminds me of the time Max Kagan built that new sprawling mansion on, what was it, Kenduskeag Avenue?

Fran said she got a guided tour of the newly built premises and told the owners that they shoud install a railing between the raised area of the dining room and the lower level living room before someone falls from the dining room down into the living room.

Perley

Southard. And you are disgusting. You have made my "ignore" list.

anne_of:

No I haven't. And it's not Southard. And I'm not disgusting.

YOU are for knowing!

PJT: It was on Broadway, left side, just before WLBZ Radio.

Built before Broadway got all built-up.

OldBangor

Aha!

I thought of Southard's of Bangor but, I'm drawing a complete blank.

I even Googled it and came up empty handed.

Is Southard's of Bangor still in business and wasn't that an office supply company?

I'm afraid I don't know either you, your parents, or grandparents.

Why is the name Jerry or Gerry Southard uppermost in my mind?

Now for the really big question.

Have I become so jaded living in New York?

What was the discusting remark that OldBangor made, and where was it made?

Careful, I'm researching this guy.

Perley

Yes you have. Why wouldn't I know? It's a stupid, old, worn-out disgusting remark, Wayne.

Now I'm left wondering if I know any of you people!

Perley

Sorry Perley. He made the comment here http://bangornews.com/detail/96097.html

anne_of:

Wayne? My first initial is "D" and my last initial isn't "S".

Okay, so ignore me! I'll consider it a compliment.

PJT: Well, there was Harris Southard who was in a

number of Savoyard pit orchestras over the years.

He was also the person who played in the Bangor

Band for the longest number of years. Gone today

like so many of the best ones. No relation to me, but

a BHS classmate of my Mom's. He had Bee-yoo-tee-ful

daughters, btw.

Southard's of Bangor sold outboard motors, boats, canoes,

chain saws, snow throwers, lawn mowers, all that kind

of stuff.

OldBangor

OldBangor

Okay:

Jerri Southard was a 30's and 40's blues singer who was mostly known here in NYC and late night radio in Bangor when the atmospheric conditions were just right.

So, if I tell Kay your first initial is D will she say, "Darned if I know?"

Perley

Perley:

As I said before, asking Kay would be CHEATING!

And "S" isn't my last initial. Don't you have a Bangor

phonebook down there?

anne_of_MDI thinks I'm disgusting! Might as well pack

it in, I guess.....

She is, after all, the Goddess on here....

Well, I knew my days were numbered anyway.

See you tomorrow!

OldBangor

OldBangor:

There's a Bangor phone book available on my MSN Search Site but, it would help if I knew just what name it is that I'm supposed to be looking up!

Perley

PJT:

I'm going to be shutting down now. You know my

first initial. I have given you some DIRECTION on

this, but I don't want to just hand it to you on a

platter. It ain't that difficult.

G'nite!

OldBangor

OldBangor

I take it that you are giving me the name of a town south or down from Bangor on the map but, I can't figure out which one.

Down from Bangor could be in the direction of Eastport, Bar Harbor or even China, Maine.

I must admit that in a half crazed (non alcoholic) state I did try to cheat by contacting a friend at the News and asked who you are but, even though the paper's employees obviously hand out my e mail (so far only to people they know I want to hear from) they haven't answered that question up to today's date.

Which leads me to wonder all the further.

We'll now have to start lisitng the names of the News' employees to figure out just which one of us knows the most workers at the Bangor Daily or if we also run about even on that score.

Perley

Perley:

You're over-complicating it.

First initial is "D". Last name isn't "South" or any

derivation thereof. Has nothing to do with any

towns near Bangor. Pick a direction and then

look in the phonebook. There! On a platter!

OldBangor

OldBangor

Well, it isn't any platter that I ever passed.

I'm not up to snuff right now as a virulent strain of some kind of flu has everyone in New York knocked out at the present time, and it just won't let go of its strangle hold.

I 've been completely bedridden for five days two different times, and last night I was talking to a male friend in Bangor on the cell phone and had to finally tell him I had to go as the respiratory part of the symptoms had suddenly taken over, and my chest pained so bad I thought I was having a heart attack.

All through this I added five thousand more words to the 7th screenplay, "Enjoy Yourself."

Don't you just love those non applicable to me titles?

Under-Over, those are directions I assume and I'll concentrate on those possibilities as soon as I shave, shower, brush my teeth, comb my hair, prepare and eat lunch, and add a few thousand more words to my latest audio-visual dramatic endeavor.

For heaven's sake don't touch your computer screen or you'll catch what ever it is that I and assumedly eight to ten million other New Yorkers now have.

Perley

PJT:

Not Under. Not Over.

You are making it too complicated.

Already have the bug, that's why I'm here.

OldBangor

OldBangor:

I suddenly came to the conclusion that I'm in need of the medicinal waters of Phillips Lake at Lucerne.

Quick, cut a hole in the ice and I'll find a way to get there.

Either that or chop the ice and I'll bring the bottle!

Perley

OldBangor:

You already have it?

Did you happen to catch it around the time that we started blogging each other?

Those computer virus' are going to wipe out the mass populace of the world.

Achoo!

Perley

OldBangor

Stage Right

Stage Left

and good old

Center Stage.

Those are the only directions that I've ever been able to follow.

And a few directors will probably tell you that I wasn't even able to manage that!

Perley

PJT:

As a former stage director, I would have to say

that you are Down-Right Upstanding!

BMB taught me all that stuff originally, and I've

never forgotten!

I have all these great Lucerne memories plus quite

a few from Green and Branch. How lucky I was!

Right now, How sick I am!

Points of the compass, Perley....

OldBangor

OldBangor:

Poor baby:

The happiest times of my life were spent at Williams (Newbury Street) Park between the ages of two and eleven.

Lucky me.

Tell me what shows you have directed and I'll tell you whether or not I was in them.

I know you're not Herb Billet, Margo Floyd Hamm-Cobb, Denny Metro, Dick Sewell, Jerry Button, or any of the other directors of the shows that Kay produced for Civic Theater or Savoyards or you wouldn't have said previously that "she managed to remember you and your parents.

Were they shows that Virginia (Mrs. Bud) Ryer produced after Kay got married and retired from producing?

I did publicity and public relations for all of those, too!

How do you expect me to figure out a compass when I still have to count on my fingers just to know what 01300 hours means?

And if I do am I then supposed to look in the white pages or the yellow?

I just realized that I have homemade Matzo Ball Soup in the deep freeze.

That ought to cure it!

Perley

PJT:

I only ever directed one show in Bangor, and that was

"Dear Liar" for Acadia Rep before it became Penobscot

Theatre Company-1978? Worked with Dick Sewell on a

few occasions.

Did a lot in college. MOST of what I did was in NYC.

Gave it up when I came home to Maine, but I was a judge

for the Maine Drama Festival for about five years.

Kay has no problem remembering me or my family.

White pages. Good Address.

OldBangor

Then you're not Larry Siegal or Bill Raitton?

I got a call from Penobscot Theater Company when it was across from the Bangor House for a reading that I didn't apply for that was a syphlitic doctor in one of Ibsen's or Chekov's plays.

"A Doll's House, Hedda Gabler?"

The director explained that he had turned Chuck Cronin down for the part because he was just too handsome, which reminded me of that trip to Fran's camp at Green Lake when I was 21 and on vacation from New York.

She urged me to come back to Bangor as Chuck was getting too old to play male leads and, the theater group really needed a new handsome leading man.

Needless to say I didn't get the part.

You mean to say that you have the resume that you have posted above and you've blanched at me wearing a fashionable outfit to go out with you to a very nice gentleman's dinner and drinks club on the upper East Side of Manhattan?

Gimme a break.

There's nothing worse than a reformed whore!

Perley

OldBangor

Come to think of it I guess it was Arcadia Repertory Theater back then.

I just wrote an e mail to Scott Levy of the Bangor Opera House about a possible staged reading or full production of any one of my full length comedy scripts about same sex marriage and otherwise.

He wrote a note back telling me that they have an annual contest for play scripts that cost ten dollars to enter.

I wrote thanking him and said that wasn't exactly what I had in mind.

Either he isn't from Bangor or he's very young.

Perley J. Thibodeau

PJT:

Don't know what to say to your last couple of posts....

All I know is that when I was in New Yawk I never had

to drive a cab or wait on tables -- I made my living well

and had no shortage of work. My sexual preferences

were described by friends as being "depressingly normal".

Got very tired of actresses as girlfriends because, well,

they were Actresses!

Go on! Send your script to Scott along with a Tenner. It

couldn't hurt! 25 years later and he's supposed to know

who the f*** you are? Gimme a Break!

My invite to you still requires gender-appropriate attire.

Not much to ask. Also good behavior. My lady friend will

be there, so it ain't no date, Perley. Gramercy Park neighbor-

hood. You could do worse.

OldBangor

OldBangor

I supplied a couple of facts to the police reporter (nameless) for the New York Post about a really high class but acutallly small time con artist whom he was being paid to do an article on for the glossy Elle Magazine.

The names of the con artist's victims were really world class big time but, I knew him from a successful undercover stake out I volunteered to do for the Central Park Police.

Peter's story was just one that I happened to fall into.

Well, the police reporter got my name from I Police Plaza and he wrote the story mentioning me, and spelled my name wrong, but he insisted that he take me out to dinner to thank me for the inside info.

I insisted that I don't enjoy eating out and, have turned down among other invitations ones from the granddaughter of the Wall Street Billionaire who saved New York financially back in the 70's, is the largest fund raiser for the Democratic Party in New York State, is listed prominently in Who's Who in America, and was Bill Clinton's Ambassador to France when Bill instead chose someone else to be the Secretary of The U.S. Treasury.

Oh, and it recently came out in the papers that he was having a quiet affair with Jackie Kennedy when she was living over here at 1040 Fifth Avenue and working for Doubleday.

I sent the newspaper articles to Kay.

The New York Post with it's calling everyone a pervert, bizarre, and weird whether they are or not is another story that I have covered nicely in one of my movie scripts under the title of New York comPost.

He still insisted that he take me out to dinner and even though I was fully aware of the fact that the New York comPost employs writers who are all perverts, bizarre, and weird I acquiesced and told him I would go to dinner with him.

He let me name the spot and even though I really wanted to take him to one of Manhattan's many free Public Soup Kitchens where the real folks eat, I instead opted for him to meet and dine with me at Burger King which was the next best thing right here on E. 86th Street in my neighborhood.

The writer turned out to be only questionably as straight as he had professed to be, and all the other assumptions on my part fell into line, also.

He told me his brother is gay but, he never sees him.

I didn't have the heart to tell this poor little wretched looking soul that my professional composite with me in feathers and bathing suits was favorably pinned on the call board in the squad room at Manhattan Homicide North where the really big guys investigate. But, maybe he actually knew that.

To make a long story short, he and I were completely surrounded by homeless street people munching on the dollar menu, and yet my being with him was my biggest embarrassment of the day.

If I had ever been more uncomfortable in my life then I just don't want to remember it.

Coming from a large family that always ate in a formal dining room with lace tablecloth and curtains has to this day turned me off to eating in public establishments with strangers, and that includes my wearing white faux furs and dining for free at the Waldorf Astoria.

As for Gramercy Park, it's not what it used to be, as neighborhoods here in Manhattan are all rebuilt now and so expensive that nobody can afford to live in any of them.

Actresses versus Bryn Mawr Girls, and I've known a few who were both, reminds me of the story of the girl asking the potential John if he thought she was a cheap whore, and he replied: "We've already established that fact, now we are just trying to settle on a price."

Perley J. Thibodeau

Mainelyme

PERLEY, I have been following the discussions and hints, I believe I know who old Bangor is.......I will be anxious to finally learn the answer. It has been fun following the exchanges betwen the two of you. It has been suspenseful!

PJT:

I'll take that as a "NO".

OldBangor

Kat:

Not unlike a dinner theatre murder mystery, eh?

Perley:

We have an Audience!

OldBangor

OldBangor:

Not entirely.

If you want to go to a Soup Kitchen or Burger Kings for a Double Whoppper, Large Coke and Fries as just a couple of wild and crazy guys baching it, then you're on!

Remember, Patrick:

"Life is a banquet and most poor fools are starving to death.

Live, that's the message!"

"Auntie Mame"

and

Mainelyme

PJT:

That's it for me for today.

All sick and tuckered.

OldBangor

PJT:

That's it for me for today.

All sick and tuckered.

OldBangor

Did we all make it through the night?

Cough-cough-hack-hack.

ooohhhhhh!

Mainelyme

PJT:

Kaff! Kaff! Kaff!

Doc and Pharmacy this morning.

Kaff!

It's the FLU! It's Pneumonia! NOOOOO!

It's:

SUPERCOLD!!!!!!!!

OldBangor

OldBangor:

Strange.

My doctor just looked at me then issued a paper to have a blood test for cholesterol.

I know what I'll do.

I have an appointment with my Urologist tomorrow so I'll see if he'll issue an opinion.

I don't dare tell my Dentist Friday afternoon for fear she'll refuse to clean my teeth.

Yes, I still have them.

I tell all of them that I used to party with doctors and lawyers, now I'm only seeing them on a professional basis!

Perley

That reminds me of a story.

My mother, the oldest one in the family and I were sitting and talking in the living room just before mama passed on

The sister said, "Remember old Dr. Caulfield? He was right from Ireland and he really had a thick brogue."

Mama nodded agreement.

The 62 year old sister said," I told you one time that I was sick and you sent me to him but, there wasn't anything wrong with me. I lied because I just wanted to hear him talk."

Mama didn't change the expression on her face when she replied," And you're the one who didn't get a new pair of shoes because of it."

"Old" Dr. Caulfield delivered every one of mama and papa's eleven children.

Mama said he always had a bunch of dogs with him and the dogs would be jumping up and down on the bed while the children were being delivered.

The first ten babies cost ten dolars each but, I was the eleventh and last one and I cost twenty-five dollars.

That started it right there!

Perley J. Thibodeau

Mainelyme

PJT:

Did you know Father Harvey? Despite our not being of the

Catholic Persuasion, he delivered the eulogy at my Dad's

funeral and hit one out of the ballpark. They had been very

good friends for a long while. He's now gone as well.

OldBangor

OldBangor:

Please don't get me started on Father Richard E. Harvey

I have screenplays to finish and really can't take the time to write a book.

It seems to me that I do remember his givng a eulogy for a non Roman Catholic and when I read that fact I almost passed out!

J. Palmer converted to Catholiism toward the end of his life,and he used to come to the city once in a while and take me out to lunch

We always exchanged Christmas cards, and phone calls as Palmer was one of the people who was so good to me in many thoughtful ways.

I always silently gritted my teeth when ever he started to tell me that he had become a very good friend with Father Harvey.

Let's just leave it at that!

Please go to Find A Grave-Click on non famous records and then type in J. Palmer Libby.

That and my prayers are all I can do now to thank a few friends for all that they have done for me through their kindnesses.

Perley

PJT:

Father Harvey didn't conduct the service, he delivered a

eulogy for my amazing father. There's a difference there.

How about Father Collins the "Rough" priest?

Or Father Honan and his fabulous wine collection?

You see, it was in the nature of my family to have friends

of all kinds from all areas of life. I've always rather Liked

that about us....

BTW: Figured it out yet? A simple yes or no will do.

OldBangor

OldBangor::

I guess I do vaguely remember reading about Father Harvey speaking at a non Roman Catholic person's funeral.

It could be in apology for the fact that he made a very cruel, unkind and thoughtless remark to my stunned and grieving mother when my late brother Junior was seriously wounded and almost killed in Korea during that war.

Unless of course Uncle Perley's niece had him baptized Catholic before he died and she took all of his money back to Arizona, too.

Come to think of it that would be highly doubtful as Monsignor Nelligan wouldn't let her marry a Protestant in the rectory of the church, and for a graduate of John Bapst High School who originally wanted to become a nun she always hated the Catholic Church worse than poison.

Of course, I know for a fact that everyone reverts back to their childhood religion just before they pass over.

I consider myself a Catholic but, I'm not taking any relatives with me when I go and, I'm not meeting any of them when I get there!

PERLEY C. CAMPBELL

BANGOR - Perley C. Campbell, 91, died Oct. 23, 2004, at a local Nursing Home. He was born in Bangor, Dec. 10, 1912, the son of Robert and Catherine (Wallace) Campbell. Perley retired from the Maine Central Railroad. He is survived by three nephews, Edmund, Perley, and Joseph Thibodeau; four nieces, Dorothy Reid, Phyllis Johnson, Charlotte Lane, and May McHugh. Graveside Services will be held 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2004, at Mt. Hope Cemetery with the Rev. Richard E. Harvey officiating. Friends are invited to meet at the office of the Superintendents Lodge, Mt. Hope Cemetery at 12:45 p.m. Arrangements by the Greenlawn Funeral Directors, Bangor.

Perley

OldBangor:

No, I still haven't been able to figure out who you are!

Is that concise enough?

Perley

PJT:

Don't know what to say to that because I don't

understand half of it. You also ignored most of

my message.

OldBangor

Is your family name on a fancy (street) in Bangor?

No, I didn't know those priests.

I didn't go to church all the time when I was little because all the perfume, cologne and sen sen breath freshener used to mask the faithful's previous night's breath used to make me sick, so I always left right after mass.

I do remember Father Joseph Butler sitting on the rectory steps of St. John's Church and smoking cigarettes back in the 1940s.

Mrs. Kalel next door to us on Chruch Lane told mama that he used to go down to Dolly Jacques' on Hancock Street and drink for free.

Dolly was a devout parishioner of the church, and used to sit in the front row, being a large monetery contributor to the cause.

I've been told from people who knew that Marie Wilson aka/ Dolly Jacque Nichols was a very pretty girl the day she came from the country and opened a House on Hancock Street.

I've also been told that there were many families in town who wouldn't have had a meal on their tables if Dolly hadn't provided it for them.

Dolly died from diabetes at the city hospital (poor farm) on lower Main Street with both legs surgically removed.

She was buried with full honors at the altar, as was her ex husband Howard Nichols.

Father Harvey said, "If I hadn't been in Rome at the time then Howard Nichols never would have been buried at the altar!"

I never heard what he had to say, if anything about Dolly Jacques!

Perley.

I have to go over to the park and feed the Raccoons now.

There's a long cold night ahead.

As sick as I am.

Step aside St. Frances-Here comes sinner Perley!

That's Francis!

PJT:

I'm getting mighty sick of this site.

Still sick. Going to go lie down.

I think R. Harvey mellowed and

"Saw the Light" in his later years.

Otherwise, my Dad wouldn't have

had anything to do with him.

OH! Yes, as I told you, I do live at

a nice address where we moved

in 1954. Still in the family. And my

last name IS in it!

OldBangor

PS: G'nite anne_of and Sideshow Bob!

OldBangor

If you want to discontinue these discussions it's alright with me.I

If you don't.

I assume the answer to a previous question is yes.

I'll check the telephone book as soon as I put the groceries away as I just got home from the park.

The most obvious question that I never thought to ask is, were your parents ever in Civic Theater, Savoyards, or Community Theater?

Perley

OldBangor;

I think I figured it out but, I really don't have access to a Bangor phone book proper, and I'm not going to pay to have you "searched."

As for your statement that Father Harvey must have mellowed in his old age.

It's a long story but, when the daughter of one sister and I took the baby son of another sister to be his God Parents in Baptism Father Harvey said, Perley isn't a Catholic name is it?

The baby's mother said that my middle name was James.

That must have made it alright because he then told everyone that I don't go to church.

My very rich and Protestant Aunt in Portland heard that and she said, "Well, Harvey isn't a Catholic name. I know Harveys in Portland and they are all Protestant.

Suffice it to say that Father Harvey had married the baby's father and mother and the baby got baptized with my grown niece and me as the God Parents.

The last time I talked to Palmer on the phone he started in that I should attend church every Sunday and it just sounded like he and Father Harvey had discussed me at length, and that would have broken the sanctity of the confessional on Harvey's part.

I could tell you the rest of the book but, suffice it to say that I don't feel your mother and father did themselves any honors by befriending Richard E. Harvey!

And furthermore, I don't know who got him to say the prayers for Uncle Perley Campbell at the Campbell lot in Mount tHope or why he did it but, my grandfather Robert F. Campbell was Congregationalist and I was told by an excellent authority on the subject that he hated Catholics.

Another example of "Dick" having his nose stuck in where it didn't belong!

Perley

PJT:

Still pretty sick today, but here goes...

My parents were involved with Civic Theatre and the

Savoyards to the extent that they KNEW everyone and

were financial patrons. Also, my Mom was in Quipus

who sponsored a few of the shows. My Grandmother

and Great Aunt were also in Quipus. My Mom would

have been involved with ad sales for the programs and

publicity but not directly with the productions. Dad would

have been a great actor/singer but he was in other areas

of public service on top of running a successful business.

THERE! Not bad for a guy on medication!

Okay, if you think you've got it, put up the number of the

street address, not the name of the street. I'm still trying to

decide if I want my name up here or not.

Hope you're better. I'm definitely not.

OldBangor

OldBangor:

Have to go to the Urologist.

Take your cold medication and go back to sleep.

I will write later this afternoon when I get back.

Perley

I'm really glad you two are getting along so well. Must of been your New Years resolution.

OldBangor:

I'm back and have every right to continue to laugh at all those junk mail Viagra ads that keep showing up in my e mails.

But, every six months seems like a very short period for doctor visits considering the fact that I'm "perfectly alright."

As a matter of fact, all of my doctors assure me that I'm alright but, none of them can tell me why I feel so rotten.

As soon as stem cell research reaches the right point I'm going to apply for a whole new brain transplant.,

That should do it.

I called Fran one time toward the end of her final illness and I said something and then asked, "What do you think?"

She replied simply," I don't think anymore!"

You really brought it home to me by mentioning Quipus.

Other than the South American Natives who tied the knots I thought that I was the only person left who remembered what used to be Bangor's extremely active social and historical women's club.

They used to present their own plays at the Park Street Church, and Doris Foster, Fran Stanley, Ina Ladd Brown and many of the same ladies active in early Civic Theater used to perform in them.

I remember the year the Paul Bunyan Statue was erected the News did a whole thick complete issue of the history of Bangor.

It had Joyce McKenney and Norma Lancaster, I think Donna Chandler and other members of the Quipus wearing historical period costumes.

I lost all that when I left Bangor.

Are Joyce and Paul McKenney still around? Joyce was a beautiful girl from England and Paul worked for Shurtleff Sugar in Brewer.

Paul was a great guy who was also in Auntie Mame..

I came into Civic Theater in June 1960 just about the time that Quipus was winding down.

The show was Auntie Mame and it was sponsored by the then named, "Sunshine Club For Crippled Children, which was a women's section of the Shriners and their hospital in Boston.

Dot (Mrs. Henry Chaison) was the producer, Fran was the star, and Herb Billet was the director, and there were over forty speaking parts and dozens of wardrobe mistresses and other back stage workers.

It entailed the members of the entire Bangor Social Scene, and was a great time for me to join the group as I got to meet everyone all at once.

Kay, Margo Cobb , Tom Blanchard and I are about the only ones that I can ascertain are still around from the original cast.

I don't know if Kay was at the June tryouts or not but, I remember she was the prompter when we started rehearsing on city hall stage in August and Fran had come in from her camp at Green Lake.. So, technically I don't know if Kay or I had been in the theater first.

I'd ask her but, she'd holler at me!

When I was in New York in the winter of '62 Fran got the Quipus to sponsor Truman Capote's "The Tree House," at the old city hall as a way of continuing her role of Auntie Mame by directing Dick Lail (Patrick Dennis) as the young male lead.

Other than that, I think the Quipus did what The Junior League just did and died a nobel but, silent death.

I'm still trying to find a Bangor White Pages but, haven't been successful so far,

Do you have the name of a prominent local medical doctor as a part of your immediate ancestry?

If so, then that might just tell me.

But, if you are who I'm thinking you are then your first name doesn't start with a D, and you lived outside of Bangor for a while.

Perley

OldBangor:

Or was he an eye doctor?

Perley

Perley:

To my knowledge, Junior League and Quipus still exist. The really

highest end club, the Athene Club, which my Grandmother belonged

to, has folded and their endowment went to some good cause.

Paul McKenny is gone, but Joyce, God love her, is still around.

At my mother's funeral, she gave me a great big HUG! She told me

that my Mom and Dad were the greatest people she'd ever known.

I agreed with her! How could I not?

Aw, shit, Perley. Just put up the Street Number and iffin it ain't correct

I'll tell you. There WAS a Doctor with the name, but he was from away

and not related. "John". We have no Johns in my family!

Do that, and we'll take it from there.

I'm starting to think in my cold-medicated stupor that I'd like, perhaps, to

broadcast my name to the HEAVENS!

When Fran was on her way out, she re-established her close relations

with my mother. I remember it, because we had to fend for ourselves in

my household for a number of weeks while "Mom" was tending to "Fran".

When we're on the interweb, I can give you more details.

The Oldest Bangor in History!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If ever I return for a visit to Bangor we'll have to meet at Mount Hope Cemetery

You can show me your ancestor's graves and I can show you the graves of my Uncle James Mac (Mc) Farland and his brother John who are both buried near the deadhouse across from General Veazie and a little ways from Hanibal Hamlin.

I won't have to get a haircut and put on a suit and tie for that meeting.

As for the identification; I'm still working on it!

Perley

I hope you do Perley!! The suspense is driving me "mad". lol . I do hope OldBangor and you feel better soon.

Gosh, whitnmeme.....

I wonder how it will all turn out?

You might never get to know my name, but then

maybe you will.

It's all up to Perley....

OldBangor

OldBangor:

Their brother Ben is buried in Mount Pleasant but, that's a different story.

whitnmeme:

What, return to Bangor for a visit or get a haircut and put on a suit and tie?

Perley

PJT:

Look, gotta go sleepy-bye now.

Too sick to keep awake.

Put up the three numbers, and we'll see what

happens tomorrow.

Our "audience" want's to know!

I think you've probably got it right........

OldBangor

I have faith in Perley Old bangor. You both have wonderful memories. I like reading what you two back and forth,, Feel better soon OB

I forgot the word "say" after two. sorry about that

OldBangor:

I just got done talking to an old friend in Bangor-no not Kay-and he came out with an excellent explaination for the map and compass routine.

I said if that is who OldBangor is then I'll tell him to stay right where he is and I'll be back in Bangor on the next Greyhound bus!

However, the age range just doesn't match.

You've snce busted that theory when you said three numbers and I only have the number 28.

Are you listed as having both a New York and Bangor general address with no street number or name, and it's shared with another guy?

Also, did you and I meet after a rehearsal of Madwoman of Chaillot back in 1965?

It was at Peter's Candle Lighter and I was with Denny Metro and his acting crowd.

You were smaller and younger than I and had dark hair, and a know it all attitude insisting that you were a friend of Fran Stanley, and you had ridden horseback with her on many occasions before she passed away.

Couldn't be as that guy had to have been more than fifteen to be in that place after dark.

You wouldn't be flattered if I told you more.

Perley

Sorry I missed your question to me Perley. I want you to return to Bangor for a visit. So that I can meet you in person. You fascinate me. No need for a suit and tie. As for the hair cut, is your hair in your eyes?

whitnmeme:

Only if I comb it from the nape of my neck up over the crown of my head and down over my forehead.

Oh Perley I have images now!! LOL

whitnmeme:

Well, all isn't lost!

Perley

OldBangor:

You didn't answer my pertinent questions.

Are Laura and Tom Bailey (Bangor Steam and New Franklin Laundry) atill around?

Laura was from Scotland, and really had a delightful Scottish burr

Laura and Jim Bigganne were great platonic friends.

I know Jim passed very young as I've seen notices from his family in the News.

Bangor was a very liberal thinking and diverse population and it almost makes me cry when I read the vicious postings of the new people on this blog.

Perley

PJT:

I remember attending "Mad Woman", but I doubt my parents

would have allowed me to go to Peter's Candlelighter at ANY

hour of the day. Three numbers in my street address. D is my

first initial, and my first name is usually a last name. My last

name is a simple direction, and I live at a nice address.

Mad Woman of Chaiot was at Peakes Auditorium when that was

brand spanking new! Must have been one of the very first shows

to be staged there!

I didn't know the Baileys, but my Dad did. Don't remember anyone

named Bigganne.

Bangor is still diverse and a great place to live. Don't judge today

by what you find on here.

OldBangor

PJT:

Chaillot.

OB

OldBangor----I have been following the hints with interest-I think I have it figured out but I don't want to give it away,soooooooooooooo I will just say that your last name is the same direction as where the State of California is located..(starts with a W.).your first name is the same as the name of a town about Lincolnc(starts with a D).....in terms of the address----white pages indicate a very nice residenial of Bangor. Am I close?????

OldBangor:

I just got back from grocery shopping which travel and time wise is comparable to traveling the fabled North West Passage.

The Madwomen was the very first production to christan the Peakes stage. It was in the fall of '65 and I played the Stock Broker in it.

John Ballou was the Bank President, Duff Gillespie from UMO was the Surveyor, and Dave something or other who ran the Deli across from the Post Office was the Prospector who was out to destroy Paris and hence the world.

Fran brought that to Civic's attention on the telephone one afternoon when I was visiting her on Madison Street, and scheduled herself to play Aurelia, the chief Madwoman but, she was floundering health wise, and so Faith Dort came to play the part.

Sue Stone was a madwoman, as was Joannie Grindle of WLBZ. I think Laurel Clements-Clements Chicks- and Aileen Pilot Keith was one two, or had I heard Fran cast her in the role only on the telephone?.

Denny Metro designed the costumes and they were so expensively elaborate that it was mounted like a lavish musical comedy.

The stage setting bore no relation to the downtrodden of the world who were depicted in the script.

J. Palmer did the sets, and I cut out every damned green leave all the previous summer that covered that street scene tree that in turn covered the top of the whole stage.

I went to work for Freeses right after that and Bill Freese who hired me told me said he saw Lois Ingeneri and me dancing the Charleston at the cast party at the Old Officer's Club at Dow Field.

I asked him how he liked the show and he said it was absolutely beautiful. Then asked, "What was it about?"

I told him to do away with the beautiful set and lavish costumes, add the disembodied voices of the friends of the birds, trees, flowers etc that director Margo Cobb cut from the script and he'd know without my telling him.

The Music Man was performed at Peakes the next spring.

My saying that I met you in Peter's Candlelighter could have happened in '67 when I was twenty seven and you were seventeen.

That would have been "Camelot" that Denny also costumed lavishly.

I came down to New York for a visit while I was waiting for my new convertible to arrive, and I got back in time for the car, and to be John Ballou's dresser for that show.

It was right after that I arranged an interview with my friend Boothbay Playhouse Director Franklyn Lenthall (long story) and Denny, Dick Wyman and I went down in the white and gold car for the interview.

Denny got the job as set designer, and took Chuck Waggoner with him as an assistant.

Both were supposed to come back to do the sets for Three Penny Opera that fall but, Denny left us high and dry and Chuck wasn't experienced enough to know what was happening.

Kay and I and members of the cast finished the sets, and Kay put the notice in the playbill that, The sets were by "Chance."

Perley

Oh, and Jim Biggane was a very handsome and personable young music student from Northern Conservatory , later teacher who played the male romantic lead in Community Theatre's production of Gigi, somewhere around '69 '70 or 71.

Perley

OldBangor::

I have to put the gorceries away.

If what I just found is you then I don't know your mother father or you by name.

I'm sorry.

As for the fancy address, I used to go to all night parties at the Mayor of Bangor's house which was a huge victorian white gingerbreading house on the corner of that street.

I can't remember which way the numbers run but, my parents bought bottle gas from Hicks who lived on that street, and when mama mentioned it he replied that there were dumps on that street, too.

Perley

PJT:

This is probably my last post today as I have some other fish

to fry.....

Never said "fancy". Said "nice".

There was a Hicks on the street, but he didn't sell LP Gas. You

must mean Hincks, and they didn't live on this street.

Put up the three numbers, and that'll tell me whether you've got it

or not. Only remember one Mayor on the street, and that was right

next door!

One of the reasons I remember Mad Woman is that it was, as you

said, lavishly costumed. The set WAS striking. If I recall, it was one of

the first times I saw really good stage lighting in Bangor on a par with

what I'd seen in the "city". Peakes today seems limited and a little

primitive, but THEN it was a huge leap forward for Bangor. And the

tax protesters wanted it axed from the new high school!

Put up those three numbers. Perley, although I probably won't see them

until tomorrow.

OldBangor

OldBangor:

No.

I don't want everyone to see it!

Perley

OldBangor:

I'm running late and making pasta with homemade white clam sauce.

The street is intersected by another street.

Is that what you mean that Tom Hincks didn't live on your street?

It seems to me that the mayor's house was #11.

Was your dad in the same business as Roland E. Lancaster, or was that before your time?

Perley

Kat:

You seem to have checked-off most of the boxes.

Perley:

My street is intersected by a LOT of streets. I don't remember

Roland Lancaster, but my Dad WAS in the same business as

Alden "Al" Lancaster, husband of Norma, but on a larger

scale than Al was. He was another of the great ones now

long gone.

If you put up the three numbers, that's okay by me. Kat and Meme

are the only ones paying attention, anyway! Busy today, so I

might be a while with a reply.....

OldBangor

OldBangor

Glad you're busy today.

That means we both feel better.

There's also the ever present Stevie Dee of Tinkersville.

"Oh there's no man with endurance

Like the man who sells insurance."

My father used to sing that old song around the house.

Perley

PJT:

Guilty As Charged!

(...took you long enuff!)

OldBangor

I used to be as happy as a squirrel in a tree;

Till a man who sold insurance made a nervous wreck of me,

He followed me persistently, and if I’m put away,

The “Bird” who sold insurance made me what I am today.

* * * * *

OldBangor

Oh, there’s no-one with endurance like the man who sells insurance

He gets his man in the end.

Before he’s thru he’ll say to you, “Are you prepared to die?”

And if you say that you are not, he’ll calmly ask you why;

You will find him almost heartless in accomplishing his ends,

For as soon as he gets you or me, he holds up all your friends.

Oh, there’s no-one with endurance like the man who sells insurance;

He gets his man in the end.

Perley

PJT:

Tell me, Perley, was your DAD one of these

awful people?

OldBangor.

OldBangor:

Roland E. Lancaster must have been Norma's father in law as her husband and Mr. Lancaster had the same last name ad were in the same business.

He was our agent on Church Lane for years, then Harold Butler, Vernon Somers, and Maurice C. King (blech) in Brewer.

The last one was Bridgie Tracy's son in law Agnes

OldBangor:

Roland E. Lancaster must have been Norma's father in law as her husband and Mr. Lancaster had the same last name ad were in the same business.

He was our agent on Church Lane for years, then Harold Butler, Vernon Somers, and Maurice C. King (blech) in Brewer.

The last one was Bridgie Tracy's son in law Agnes

OldBangor.

Let's try this again;

Roland E. Lancaster must have been Norma's father in law as her husband and Mr. Lancaster had the same last name and were in the same business.

He was our agent on Church Lane for years, then Harold Butler, Vernon H. Somers, and Maurice C. King (blech) in Brewer.

The last one was Bridgie Tracy's son in law, Agnes Tracy's husband Eugene (Porky) Flynn.

Now that's old Irish Bangor!

Perley

OldBangor.

I have to go now.

I'm going up to 102nd Street and 3rd Avenue to get three yards of material that I saw there yesterday.

It's for a new costume.

"The show must go on!"

Perley

OldBangor

I just realized I didn't mention Johnny Karnes who worked for Prudential.

He was our insurance man also, and he lived on the corner of Grove and Garland Street.

He used to go fishing with Peter Burke who lived on the corner of Church Lane and Gridley Street.

Also Nate Cohen and his brothers who owned the fruit and produce shop up in that square just in back of the Olympia Theater and the Fire Station on Union Street across from the Bangor House.

He told me years later when he was retired that he never had to lock his car door when he parked it on Frazier, Grdley Street or Church Lane because there was never anything missing from the car when he got done his rounds and came back to it.

It's a well known fact that an Irishman always wants to pay for their own funeral.

Bangor was a thriving city in the forties when I was growing up.

Its citizens were really made to feel that they were a part of something.

Perley J. Thibodeau

Mainelyme

PJT:

Just remember, there was always a BIG difference between Life

Insurance agents and General Lines agents. It was the first group

about whom that "song" was written. My Dad could GET you life

insurance if you wanted it, but he was a General Lines broker for

over 42 years (...car, home, business, etc.) He was a board member

of the Maine Independent Insurance Agents Association for, like, ever,

and was President twice. They had annual conventions in September

each year, for a long time at the OLD Samoset before it burned. When

my Grandfather passed away in 1979 at age 84, he was the oldest

active broker ever in Maine. Retirement wasn't in his philosophy.

Tell me, now. I KNOW there was a Thibodeau in Bangor with his name

on a small agency. Was it your Dad or a relative?

Last of all, Bangor is STILL great. If you could overcome your reluctance

to re-visit, you would see this. It ain't the same, but there are certain

things that just won't die.

You lived on Pearl Street? Named after my ancestor by marriage Charles

Pearl, an auctioneer and entrepreneur of the mid-1800s. He married a D....

well, you get the picture....

OldBangor

OldBangor

My parents owned their home on Church Lane, had furniture, a buick car, and paid insurance premiums on all of it.

No, that must be the W.L. Thibodeau Insurance Agency that you are referring to and I really don't know whether we were related or not.

All Thibodeau families think that they are the only ones qualified to use that name and, so only make an acknowledgment to each other in passing.

The name Thibodeau is a derivation of the German Theobold or Theobald and goes back to the first Christian King of France, Charles the Bold (Bald) who was the grandson of Clovis (465-511) who was the first Christian King of the Franks, a group of Vikings living in what is now the country of Austria

As for the name Pearl Street.

My father built the house that the city stole from me at 13 Pearl Street in 1955 and we moved into it on February 11th,1956 when I was fifteen going on sixteen.

That spring WLBZ Radio had a running contest in which they played the opening notes of a popular record, and the listeners called in to "Name That tune."

I still won't tell what I did to get the first call in but, the name of the song was "Ain't Misbehaving" by Something Smith and The Redheads, and I identified it correctly.

My next in age up brother Joe, who has always worshiped, protected, and who was never mean and jealous to me (Harrumph) was sitting in the easy chair listening to the radio when the announcer said, " You named the tune correctly."

I excitedly whispered to Joe that I won, and Joe who has always worshiped, protected, and was never ever jealous or mean to me (Harrumph) immediately said, "You didn't win you're only pretending to!"

The announcer said, "We'll be sending you a coupon for a six bottle case of Royal Crown Cola. Give me your address.

So I said, "13 Pearl Street and my name is Perley J. Thibodeau."

The announcer said, "Oh, Perley on Pearl Street."

Joe heard it on the nearby radio and dropped his smile saying, "By God you did win!"

And that was the first time I ever heard that dreaded combination.

But, the RC Cola was good, and being the sweet person that I am I probably even shared it with Joe.

(Harrumph)

Perley

OldBangor

Someday I'll tell you about the Mac (Mc) Farlands!

Perley

PJT:

The announcer must have been Eddie Owen!

AHHHH! Royal Crown Cola! We liked it better

than Coke or Pepsi.

OldBangor

OldBangor

Eddie Owen and his noon time "MId Day Melodies."

Every day he played the very same record of the Missouri, Emperor's, and Merry Wdow Waltz.

For variation he'd even play, "The Tales of The Vienna Woods."

I loved it!

It was a toss up between that and George Hale's, "RFD Dinner Bell"

I made a mistake-yes I did-It wasn't WLBZ that had the contest it was WGUY.

Which one was 1040 on the dial?

Perley

OldBangor

I didn't mention, "The Beautiful Ohio Waltz, " as any example over three makes for a too long and complicated sentence.

Perley

PJT:

WLBZ: 620

WABI: 910

WGUY: 1040

GUY went off at sunset per FCC regulations.

Named after Guy Gannett the owner.

NO overnight radio!

OldBangor

OldBangor

Au Contraire;

Late at night we could listen to the New York City Stations (Milk Man's Matinee-Make Believe Ballroom) until the dawning light would make the radio signals fade out again.

There was even WWVA Wheeling, West Virgina late on Saturday Night which plays a prominent mention in my next almost finished movie/stage script "Makin' Whoppee."

"Louisianna Hayride" and "Grand Ole Opry."

Don't anybody tell me that Bangor, Maine wasn't sophisticated and cosmopolitan!

Perley J. Thibodeau

Mainelyme

I just love reading what you two gentlemen write. I can vision every thing you two chat about. It takes me away to a different time. Call me weird, but I do enjoy it.

meme:

(I assume you also have a "pepe" in the house...)

And DON'T get me started on WEIRD with Ed Driscoll !

PJT:

Yes, you're right, but mostly in the wintertime. My own

favorite was WKBW in Buffalo with Joey Reynolds or

WMEX with Arnie "Woo-Woo" Ginsberg out of Boston.

I did my homework to those stations. In the summer, even

after dark, those clearchannel 50,000 watt AM stations were

really hard to pull-in. It took winter with snow on the ground

and long, dark nights for them to be nice and strong over

the radio.

meme: Was it YOU or was it KAT who called me up today and

said it was a "wrong number"?

OldBangor

OldBangor

I remember those long dark snowbound nights best of all!

Perley

OldBangor

Maybe it was a wrong number.

But, then again maybe it wasn't

There really were other ways for me to find out your name without making an open game about it.

I always got sexually oriented telephone calls whenever my picture was in the Daily News, and they increased a hundred fold when it became common knowlege that both mama and papa were gone and I was living in the house on Pearl Street all alone.

There were times at one two in the morning when it sounded like I was taking a survey of the sexual fantasies of the male population of Bangor.

Perley

PJT:

It was a woman who called today at noonish. I thought it

might have been KAT or meme. "OOOPS, Wrong Number"

was what I got. That's what I was talking about. If YOU

want to call me up, that's up to you, Mr. T.

Were you in Bangor for the "Big Storm" over New Years

1962-63? My Mom and Dad had the PARTY that year which

included the Dunnetts, Eames, Woodmans, Boles, JWB himself,

Lancasters, Contis, etc. Fred and Lois Anne came all the way

over from the East Side on their snowmobile which was a new

thing at that time. Everyone else walked. No Driving Possible

with that much S-N-O-W!!!!!!!!! That is one New Years I will NEVER

forget!

OldBangor

Perley:

Just to tie-up any loose ends, JWB travelled from

the East Side along with the Woodmans on a

toboggan towed behind their snowmobile.

Now THERE'S an Image for you!

Can't you just hear his LAUGH????????

OldBangor

OldBangor

You know it's strange you mentioned that storm because we were supposed to get a big storm the other day and it turned out to be heavy rain.

That reminded me of my taking the last flight out of Dow Field New Year's Eve and there wasn't a cloud in the sky.

When we got to New York the captain of the plane came on the loudpeaker and announced that due to the heavy rain we would be landing in LaGuardia Airport instead of Idlewild.

I took the bus back to the airline building on 42nd Street, and dressed in an olive three button Madison Avenue suit with button down white collar and gold silk knit necktie I got into a conversation on the uptown subway car with the most gorgeous white girl in a Leopard Skin fur coat and matching turbin.

Yes, we dressed like that on the subway in those days.

When I got back to my West End Avenue apartment I took off all my clothes, turned the radio on to WPAT, Paterson, New Jersey laid down on the red carpeted living room floor and heard the radio announcer say Bangor, Maine, refugees stranded at Pilots Grill and stae police warn people to stay indoors.

It was right i the middle of the cold war with Russia and I couldn't think of what to do.

I figured there was no sense to call mama and papa as what ever happened the telephone lines must be down, so I spent an uncomfortable night worrying if they were alright.

I found out the next day that it had been a very sudden and unexpected snow storm.

The dock workers were on strike, as was the newspapers in the city and the next spring when only half the city papers were still in business to publish again came back onto the stands, the Daily News or Mirror published pictures thay couldn't publish while on strike.

One was of a boy atop a snow bank that was even with the street sign that said,

"Winter Street."

Kay lived on that street at that time, and I don't know if I ever told her that or not.

I cut my holiday vacation short because I had foolishly switched jobs from Warner Brothers to Best and Company Store on Fifth Avenue and had to get back to work.

They let me go three days later as I never would have taken that job if they had only told me that I was Christmas help.

But, I was at the old fashioned cash tubes in the credit office by then and I knew the Chrismas Sales were zilch, and they went out of business right after that.

o, I wasn't in Bangor for that big storm but everyone was still talking about it when I went back the next spring.

Perley

OldBangor

Although that party at your parent's house was an extreme I do have to say that was the type of parties I attended with the same crowd and then some that you just mentioned.

Fred passed away while I was still in Bangor but, is Lois Ann still there?

She was a Chase from Veazie as was Jean Cunningham, and Donna Chandler, and they had a male cousin named Sonny who had a few Asian children.

Perley

PJT:

Your timing's a little bit off, because it snowed for two

days straight and was pretty much over by Dec. 31 in

the morning. My Dad and I spent all day shovelling out

to get ready for the PARTY which happened that night.

It was another week before all of the side streets were

cleared-out.

Oh, and they're STILL talking about it! I think it was 48 inches,

but I will bow to superior knowledge.

OldBangor

OldBangor

Wasn't it Chrismas Night?

I kniow I was home for Christmas Day and had to be back to work the next work day.

Perley

PJT:

Well, Lois Anne would give you a whack on the side of your

head because her maiden name was Hopkins. Fred lived

longer than my Mom who died in 2003. As far as I know,

Lois Anne lives on today but I don't know how she's doing.

My fault for being remiss.

Don't know about you, PJ, but this has been great fun for ME!

Two nicer or more loyal friends than the Woodmans have ever

lived!

OldBangor

OldBangor:

It must have been because I had many girl friends but, Fran Gallagher from Brooklyn and I went down to Times Square for New Year's Eve and we stayed over on Fifth Avenue at the Library because I didn't want to get into that crowd.

No, that wasn't the night because I was back in Bangor and working for N.E. Whitney and flew out of Bangor at four in the afternoon, got into New York and the Grand Central Y.M.C.A and met Fran at the information booth at Grand Central Station then we went over to Times Square.

I think I spent the New Year of 61-62 all alone because my girl friends got mad at me for not paying as much attention to any one of them as much as I supposedly paid attention to the others.

Margo and I were making out resumes for Fiorello tryouts at Peakes one night and I kept asking Margo about what shows I was in and Margo was doing the same to me.

Finally I said, "Why did we do all these things if we can't now even remember them?

Perley

OldBangor

You're right, they were all Hopkins but, didn't they come fromthe Chase Road in Veazie?

Perley

OldBangor

You know it's quarter to twelve and I've only written three sentences to the script I'm now working on?

I'm the one who had to cancel my dentist apointment today.

Time does fly when you're having fun!

Perley

OldBangor:

The storm was 62 going into 63.

It was the New Year's Eve of 63-64 that Kay got me the blind date with Donna Fields, Rae and Carla's daughter and the four of us along with Donna's male cousin went to the beautiful Shriner's New Year's Eve Party at the Brewer Auditorium.

Mama always always told me not to have all my good times in one night, and you know I've tried to take her advice but, I'm having all those good times to night just thinking about the all again!

Perley

OldBangor:

I gotta go to bed!

Chio !

Perley

PJ:

Well, yes, but this DOES help with inspiration, doesn't it?

It was 1962-63/winter of. YOU figure out where you were.

All I know is it snowed for two days non-stop and my Dad

and I cleared a path from the side door of the house to the

street JUST wide enough for single file. It took us a LONG

WHILE to do this. As you know, my street is very wide. It

had been cleared to only one travel lane. Having this party

at all was a huge accomplishment. But everyone came!

Did you see my previous post in re: JWB on a towed sled?

Believe me, these people were NOT going to be kept from

having their FUN! And they DID!

OldBangor

OldBangor:

Yes, I did and I agreed that the best parties in town were ones that they were all at.

It was Christmas Night 1963.

Am I right about Lois Ann, Donna, Jean Cunningham, and that Sonny all being Hopkins from Veazie?

Also, that Cox kid that was on the city council and we called Junior to be snide was a relative of theirs, and one of his ancestors had been on the council'.

His mother was Ann Cox who was the Republican for the voter registration office at city hall.

Perley

OldBangor:

By the way.

Do you live on the section that Claire and Ed Porter lived on the corner of, and Phylis Webber-Frost-Fuller and her husband David lived on about halfway down from Claire and Ed's?

Was Ed the mayor that you said lived next door?

We used to have fabulous all night cast parties there after the Community Theater and EMMC Follies Shows.

Claire was a wonderful person, and we exchanged notes after I came back to NewYork.

Weren't we lucky to have known all those dear souls?

Perley

OldBangor:

Christmas Night 1962 going into 63.

I swear my movie scripts are "automatic writing" and all my dearly departed friends are behind my fingers as they hit the letters on the keyboard.

Perley

OldBangor:

I have to read the obituaries now.

Maybe I didn't make it through the night.

Oh, I do hope the News publishes at least one picture of me wearing a dress.

If only for all the guys in Bangor who don't dare to!

Perley

PJT:

You still haven't figured it out totally, have you?

Mayor next door was John Conti.

Claire Porter was, well, Claire Porter! Whenever

I ran into her I was always GRABBED!

The Cox comes in because Fred's sister Anne

was married to him. You're 100% correct on the

Hopkinses, but Jean was also at one time married

to the Mack of the Mack Baking Company -- "The

Big Loafers". Remember them?

Are you SURE you know who I am? Put up those

three numbers, PJ, I want to see them!

The Woodmans grew up diagonally across from

my Dad's family on Montgomery Street.

OB

OldBangor:

I was at Jan Conti's house one day for a picture for the News of Jan on a camel as Princess Issafizzle and I was her faithful servant Salarmie

She had an Arabian dancing outfit on and I was wearing Chris Hutchins' Camel Driver's outfit.

I looked very English-Scottish-Irish.

I wish I had the glossy I had and lost when I left Bangor. The guys from Yemen in the local grocery store would get a big charge out of it.

They're the ones who took the pin up pictures of me to Mecca.

It was for Kismet, and I was doing the publicity

I can't remember where she lived.

It wasn't the big mansions where Claire and Ed Lived.

I mentioned who lives on that section of the street with out mentioning the obvious now, but you didn't pick me up on it.

It seems to me that Claire and Ed's house number was 11.

You have three numbers so you are further down the road toward what, the Silver Road and Webster Avenue North?

If you were always GRABBED everytime you ran into Claire then you must have been worth GRABBING!

Yes, I remember the Mack Baking Company in Brewer

Some one said I reminded them a little of Van Johnson singing on stage which was surprising because everyone else saw Danny Kaye.

Jean said her first husband looked like Van Johnson. It seems to me I met her son and he was a big blond type but Jean was also.

She said she only went out with officers from Dow Field but, that might have only been cocktail party talk

Okay, are the numbers 235-334?

Age55-59?

That's not the section of the street that you know who lives on.

I had thought originally that you were Rick Warren.

BLACKOUT!

Perley

OldBangor:

But, Rick and I have met each other many times at the News, the Synphony Ball and other social occasions when he was with his first wife Barbara and John and Margi Bragg, and I was with Kay.

Long time ago, huh?

Perley

OldBangor

Okay, are the numbers 235-334?

Age55-59?

Perley

PJT:

235 is correct, don't know where you got the 334.

58 coming up in Feb.

Wow, I only just looked-in for a minute. Won't be

back 'til tomorrow sometime.

OldBangor

OldBangor

Happy Birthday!

Perley

I didn't call you Old Bangor. I haven't any idea who you are. Yes there is also a "pepe" in the house.

I am laughing about the Ed Driscoll comment. LOL

There's always some woman who causes trouble between two guys and the guys end up never talking to each other again.

PJT:

No problems here, just having a busy weekend....

I'll try to get back on this evening.

OldBangor

Mainlyme-

I'm Margaret Small's granddaughter. I've been trying to find information on her on the internet since my mother and her grew estranged in the 1980's; my mother says I look exactly like her. I would love to hear stories about her or any information you may have. I've heard she was an actress and something of a social climber in the 50's. I would love to hear back from you!

My name is Steve Wong (class of 68 BHS) and i loved the exchanges between DW & perley. But i'm adding this post long afrer the main dialog between the two. I only discovered this blog by accident & found so many inaccuracies that I find the need to respond, especially the ones about the Sings & Wongs.

Most of these corrections are cronologically as per the origional conversations.

J. Howard Foley owned the Bowling Adademy on French St. He is not the Howard Foley (lawyer). I believe he was the Uncle to Howard, cause My daad Carlie had hit Howard's dad in front of St. John church on York St one late rainy Monday nite. Howard's dad was wearing dark clothing. Howard lmuch later told me that was the best thing that could have happed to his dad. The insurance settlement set him up for a comfortable rest of his life, as he was retired. Charlie Milan frequestly bowled ther, as well as my dad. Charlie Milan later opened the place in Brewer.

In recent weeks, Alan Waterman II passed away

The urban myth "Fried Lice" actually happened, & a quite a few times, too. The Oriental Restaurant was opened long before 1920, as that is when My grandfather Quoy Wong came to Bangor to run it. He lived in Dedham , Mass.. where My father was actually born.He bought controlling interest.

Wong's laundry was not on Exchange St. It was located in Pickering Square., across the street from C.H. Rice (hot dog fame). Ralph Downes owned the Deli Sandwich shop (corner of State & exchange St. He did go to Louie's IGA coffer shop & retired to his home on Palm St. I was good friends with most of the shop owners on Exchange St. The Atlantic Sea Grill was on the next block, bot next to the oriental. Bgr Hydro, then the Atlantic Clarion (wood stoves), then the Oriental Rest., Dunnetts, Benny Leavitt beer joint, labor union office in the upstairs stair well & Penobscot Paint. Atlantic Sea Grill on next bloch. Hancock st block (devil's half acre)anchored by the Silver Dollar, Penobscot Exchange Hotel., Millers Rest. When Millers moved to Main St, Oscars moved in.

Across the St on the corner of Washington St & exchange St was a small newspaper stand owned by the Goldsteins. Their son Marvin was my uncle. He married my Aunt Grace.. Marvin's home is so reconizable by any driver in Bangor. He lived on Essex St. If you drove up Cumberland St to the very end, his house is the gray house that is actually two separately deeded houses across the street It has a pillar dividing the two porches.

There was a feud between my dad & Tom. They were in partnership on a farm in Dedham and Thompson's Rest. in Veazie. Harry was in on it too. The farm was bought out by Me Sing, The rest. was bought out by my dad. Harry used his money & bought in on some chinese rest. in aroostook county. Harry & tom still owned Wong's Laundry. When urban renewal occured, , Harry owned Wong's Laundry & part of the feud was solved as Tom always wanted a rest., ie. Sing's rest. He was not pleased when my dad bought him out , but my dad had lots of rest. experience, & tom didn't. In 1965 my dad opened Ho Sai Guy, on the site of Thompson's Rest. Sings Rest opened a few years later ehen urban renewal occored. The actual feud started a few years later when three illegal chinese cooks were deported, & Tom blamed my dad. Uncle Marvin got them to make up about four years later. The CAT irumor , not RATs started about the same time as the cooks were deported. These were my dad's darkest days. Luckily he had saned for a rainy day, like his dad ALWAYS preached. This happed in the early 70's. IHo Sai did not close soon after, as stated. It closed in 1980, almost a decade later. The sourse of the rumor was a fired waitress, but nothing could be proven. My dad also had the state health dept come in & inspect& results published in the BDN. I was present one afternoon when we heard th basement scrren door slam & I went to investigate & saw a car with two young teens leave in a cloud of dust. They threw a live cat down a flight of stairs into the basement. The rumor was that the chinese people ate cats. it might be true somewhere in the world, as Koreans eat dos, as per MASH and in Viet Nam as per Andrew Zimmern (travel channel) & in Peru, Guinnia Pigs on a stick.. If someone was so desperate, thet'd eat people (Donner pass). The Sing's did not start the rumor!

Tom Sing's name is actually Wong. Check out both sides of his tombstone at Mt. Hope When he went through immigration, the agent asked his name & Tom answered Sing Wong. In chinese this means "My name is Wong"

Hanibal Hamlin school was demolished for Doug's Shop & Save.

One statement was the chinese were accepted in Bangor. That is a major fallacy. My dad had it worse My dad would go home with some of his classmates after school & the next day these friends were not allowed to pal around with him any more. I lived through some of these discriminations. Remember Sambo's on Broadway. After proms, me & my date were the only ones not served food. My mom & dad had this happen to them at Denney's in Virginia Beach. And my younest son , in jr. highschool was told by a couple of students that he had to ride in the back of the bus & only able to use the upstairs drinking fountain. This was when Bill Clinton was president. John Huand was the issue starting the chinese bashing.

BTY, My class had its 45th reunion this past summer, & Bob Pilot, a professor living in Raleigh NC was back He is the son of Judge Morris pilot.

And the storm 62/63 was actually two storms back to back. My Uncle Richard was home for xmas & headed back to NYC on the 30th, and about four hours rturned . He got as far as Unity & turned around. The driving was bad & there were no interstates at that time. I laughed & reminissed as you both about most of my friends that you all mentioned Any of the filipinos were real good friends Arvilla & Tony, Primo, etc. Perley, if you get back to Bangor look DW & me. up. I would love to pass an hour or so talking & looking at old photos. My number is the phone book

steve