How many of us follow the advice of the title of today’s “Voice from the Bullpen,” and actually think about places that Jamestown has, or more nostalgically, had, that allow us to Eat, Drink and Be Merry? Today, I’m going back once again, focusing on the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, where we would go to enjoy all of these “vices.” Some current businesses will also be included as they were around back then and are still around today feeding us, quenching our thirsts, and entertaining us, as they’ve done for so long.

There were so many great eating establishments in Jamestown during these three decades, and places where we could get some great deli food to take home and put together some fantastic sandwiches and quick meals. I remember eating at places like The Chanticleer Diner, The Ritz, The Colonial Whip, Johnny’s Lunch, McDonald’s (Lakewood) had opened up on Fairmount Avenue, The Red Barn, Carroll’s, Jim Dandy’s, Cala’s Restaurant, Galati’s Restaurant, Eat’s Cafe, Lisciandro’s, there was the Triangle Restaurant (Lakewood), who can forget Mike and Sam’s Pizza, and every so often we would drive up to Dogs-n-Suds (Stow) on Route 384 to be served (ala Colonial Whip style) at our cars, by carhops. We could also get some of that great Deli Food at Carlson Viking Foods, Columbia Markets, and Pearson’s Market as well. Supermarkets of that time (the A & P, Rockman’s, Super Duper, Loblaws) gave us the real delicious foods though, having had all the foods our moms needed to create amazing feasts, as our mothers were fantastic cooks and we didn’t go out that often for dinner. We preferred to eat at home, as there was nothing like Mom’s home cooking. Family meals were a huge part of our culture back in the 50s, 60s, and even the 70s, so the “eat” portion of Eat, Drink and Be Merry usually took place at our kitchen or dining room tables. Needless to say, we had no problem with the “Eat” part of the adage. (I know there were many more places where wonderful food was served in Jamestown, but, again, eating out wasn’t a huge part of our world back then. These places I remember because my family went to them more when we did eat out.)

There were also some well supported drinking establishments back in those two decades, though I was much too young (born in 1953) to support them myself. My parents might have argued that I made up for that after reaching my eighteenth birthday (YES 18, back then) in 1971, but I will only agree to disagree with them. They were probably (oh, heck, not probably) right!

For all of the over “twenty-oners” out there who enjoy an adult beverage on occasion, there were, and still are, some great places to spend time with friends and enjoy a libation or two in and around the area. Some of the well-established watering holes of Jamestown’s (and this is just a very small sampling from the large list of local favorite taverns in our city) past included the three Bowling Alleys (Ten Pin Lanes, Satellite Bowl … presently the Jamestown Bowling Company and The Fountain Bowl) within in the city limits, The Pub, The Ranch, The Four O’Clock Club, Ye Olde Inn (where you could get a great fish fry on Fridays too), The Dexterville Speak Easy (also known as the Buffalo Grill), Scorchy’s, The original Grog Shop, The Silver Dollar, Digie’s, Stravato’s, The Alibi, Michael’s Tavern, The Puzzle Lounge, Penna’s, The Brookwood, The Bonniwood, The College Inn, The Grapevine (the place where Vern and Sandy met), Pejo’s (presently Waddington’s Tavern), Papa Joe’s, Mickey Rats and many more other pubs/taverns to meet friends and wet your whistle in and around Jamestown. Some of these places still stand and operate, many have closed, and if we do support our favorite “watering holes” today we all need to remember to DRINK RESPONSIBLY, and have a DESIGNATED DRIVER.

There were plenty of places to “Be Merry” in and around (just a short ride away) Jamestown back in the 50s, 60s and 70s, just as there are today but there were different things offered back then that aren’t around much anymore today. There were three Drive-In movie theaters right around Jamestown (Pic-17, Lakewood and Falconer), and three movie theaters within the city of Jamestown. Way back there was an amusement park in Celoron, of course there was roller skating in Celoron and later Jamestown, there were the aforementioned Bowling Alleys in Jamestown, there were Minor League Baseball games at Municipal Stadium (Diethrick Park today), there were summer Gala Days in Busti, Stockton and Frewsburg, there was a community swimming pool and pony rides at Allen Park, there was (still is) Midway Park, there was (still is) Alleghany State Park with picnicking, canoe and rowboat rentals, tandem and single bicycle rentals, hiking trails and camping opportunities, there was (still is) Point Gratiot Park in Dunkirk. There was (still is) the annual Chautauqua County Fair, there were and are fishing opportunities on Chautauqua Lake and Lake Erie, not to mention the many creeks and streams which are stocked with fish each year. There were, and still are, many ethnic and cultural festivals which include(d) wonderful food, great music, bright costumes, spirited dances and most importantly tremendous fellowship, as people share(d) their ethnicity with pride with their fellow citizens.

There are many places to Eat, Drink and Be Merry in and around the area today, but it seems like people and things back in the 50s, 60s and 70s were slower, more relaxing, and many were more entire family inclusive. Today, the world seems much faster, and the activities include much more rushing and a “let’s get there and get it done” mentality, maybe because we try to do so many things and need to hurry up with one so we can get to the next one. We’ve lost some of the togetherness stuff done back in the decades when I was growing up.

How many discussions and/or games happen in cars while traveling today? How many take those family drives where we can experience those moments? (I know what gas costs, but seeing many families where every member has a cell phone, seeing the lines at fast food drive throughs and places that sell “today’s” coffee, at “today’s” coffee prices, and seeing how much is spent on other things that didn’t even exist in the 50s ’60s and 70s, the price of gas necessary to fill up your gas tank for a family ride around the lake, or out in the country, is peanuts.) How many families have sit-down, home-cooked dinners and suppers, especially on Sundays? How many have the kids help bake cookies and cakes and let them lick the beaters, the spatulas, the spoons, or the bowls, or run their fingers over them and lick the batter or frosting off them after the cake or cookies are in the oven?

Whenever I hear the expression “Eat, Drink and Be Merry,” I think back to what it was like as a kid, and what it is now, and realizing that times are definitely different and we have to change with the times, I think some things, not all, should stay the same. I just think that kids, and parents too, today are a bit cheated by not taking part in some of the entire family activities, and some of the “slower activities” that life in the 50s, 60s and 70s offered.

So my wish this week is that everyone maybe strike a balance of what was then and what is now, and fully take advantage of the opportunities to “Eat, Drink, and Be Merry.”