Grace Patricia Kelly

Circa 1955

(November 12, 1929-September 14, 1982)

Grace Kelly was born into an exceptionally prominent, wealthy and athletic family in Philadephia where she spent the first twenty years of her life before finding Hollywood stardom and marrying into European royalty.  The Kelly family left an indelible mark on the city's civic, athletic and architectural history. 

The Patriarch (John "Jack" B. Kelly Sr.):  The son of Irish immigrants, he started as a  bricklayer and built a massively successful brickwork contracting company, John B. Kelly Inc.  He was a three-time Olympic gold medalist in rowing (sculling), a near-winner of the 1935 Philadelphia mayoral race and served on the Fairmount Park Commission.

The Mother (Margaret Majer Kelly):  A former cover girl and Temple University graduate, she made history as the first coach of women's athletic teams at the University of Pennsylvania.  

The Siblings:  Grace grew up alongside three highly competitive siblings: an older sister, Margaret  ("Peg"); an older brother, John B. Kelly, Jr. ("Kell") who followed his father's rowing footsteps to bcome an Olympic medal-winning champion and city leader; and a younger sister, Elizabeth Anne ("Lizanne"). 

The Talented Uncles:  The family also boasted deep creative roots in the city.  Grace's Uncle Walter C. Kelly was a prominent vaudeville star and he Uncle George Kelly was a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright who heavily influenced Grace's early interest in acting. 

Grace's Childhood Home 

The center of gravity for the family was their stately Georgian Colonial mansion located in Philadelphia's charming East Falls neighborhood.  

The Address:  3901 Henry Avenue 

The House:  Built by Grace's father's brick construction firm in the lae 1920s, the 4,000-square-foot 6-bedroom home featured a sprawling garden, a tennis court, a basement den dubbed the "Kelly Tavern" and a closet door where the family famously etched the growing heights of the children.  

An Historic Proposal:  It was inside this very house during Christmas of 1955 that Prince Rainier III of Monaco proposed marriage to Grace kelly.  Their formal engagement announcement to the global press followed on January 5, 1956.  Here they are posing with Kelly's parents and showcasing her first Cartier ruby and diamond ring.

Royal Restoration and Present Day Status of the Kelly Home

After being sold out of the family in 1973, the home fell into severe disrepair under the subsequent owners.  In 2016, Grace's son, Prince Albert II of Monaco, repurchased the property for $755,000.  Using old family photographs, the royal family meticulously restored the home to its exact 1930s elegance, including replicating Grace's original childhood bedroom.  The home is not a public museum and is entirely closed for regular interior tours.  It operates as a private residence for the Monegasque royal family when they visit Philadelphia.  It acts as the regional offices for the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and hosts private events for The Princess Grace Foundation-USA.  Traverls can easily view the exterior structure and its Pennyslvania Historial Marker for the public sidewalk.

Other Kelly Landmarks in Philadelphia

Kelly Drive:  This scenic, major thoroughfare running along the Schuylkill River in Fairmount Park was officially renamed in honor of the Olympic rowing legacy of the Kelly family. 

Old Academy Players:  Located nearby in East Falls, this theatre is where Grace Kelly made her very first amateur acting debut as a young girl.  

Grace Kelly had two older siblings, Margaret "Peggy" and John Jr. and a younger sister, Elizabeth "Lizanne".  Both sisters were active in Philadelphia's social circles and remained close to the actress throughout her life, later serving as bridesmaids at her April 18, 1956 royal wedding to Prince Rainier of Monaco.  

Margaret was born Margaret Katherine Kelly in 1925.  She was Grace's older sister.  "Peggy" was highly involved in charitable and social events in Philadelphia.  She had two daughters, Meg and Mary Lee who frequently served as flower girls for the Kelly family, including at Grace's wedding.  

Elizabeth was born Elizabeth Ann Kelly in 1933 though passed November 24, 2009.  "Lizanne" lived a quiet and grounded life away from the Hollywood spotlight.  She was an avid athlete and a well-known local volunteer in Philadelphia.  In 2009, she passed away at the age of 76 after a long illness.

Grace Kelly's older sister, Margart Katherine "Peggy" passed on November 23, 1991 in Pennsylvania. John Kelly, Jr. (often known as Jack Kelly Jr.) passed in 1985. 

..the sisters and their brother watched their sister become a princess ..

Grace Kelly:  From Hollywood Royalty to Real Life Royalty

Grace rose to fame in Hollywood through her role in High Noon and she won an Academy Award for her work in The Country Girl.  Additionally, she started in various Alfred Hitchcock thrillers including Rear Window, Dial M for Murder and To Catch a Thief.

Grace Kelly at 9 years of age and her younger sister, Elizabeth is on her left.

Grace Kelly with Elizabeth on the day of her wedding.

 

 

Grace Kelly

Hollywood Actress to Monaco Princess 

Grace Patricia Kelly

(1929-1982)

Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco

Kelly was an American actress and Princess of Monaco as the wife of Prince Rainier III from their civil marriage on April 18, 1956 followed by an extravagant religious ceremony on April 19, 1956. Prior to her marriage she achieved stardom in several significant Hollywood films in the early to mid-1950s.  She received an Academy Award and three Golden Globe Awards and was ranked 13th on the American film Institute's 25 Greatest Female Stars list. 

Kelly was born into a prominent Catholic family in Philadelphia, PA.  After graduating from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1949, she began appearing in New York City theatrical productions and television broadcasts.  Kelly made her film debut in Fourteen Hours (1951).  She also gained stardom from her roles in High Noon (1952) and Mogambo (1953), the latter of which earned her the Academy Award for a Best Supporting Actress nomination.  Kelly played the supporting character, Linda Nordley, alongside Clark Gable and Ava Gardner.  The part of Linda Nordley was a deglamorized leading role for Miss Kelly.  Mogambo, the adventure film was shot on location across equatorial Africa and at studio soundstages in the United Kingdom. 

She won a Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in The Country Girl (1954) with Kelly playing the leading role of Georgie Elgin opposite Bing Crosby.

She made three Alfred Hitchcock suspense thrillers:  Dial M for Murder (1954), Rear Window (1954) and To Catch a Thief (1955).   When Kelly won the Academy Award for Best Actress for The Country Girl in 1954 she also starred in the three Htichcock films all within three years!

In 1956, Kelly starred in High Society with Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. 

Both Crosby and Sinatra had profound respect for Kelly's off-screen demeanor, speaking of her in a 1976 reflection:

"She has taste, style, very good instincts, dignity and most respectable principles.  Grace was also kind, considerate and thoughtful of everybody connected with her films .. from the actors right on down to the grips.  I just have to consider her a most perfect person. When you look at Grace she reminds you of a cool breath of fresh air."

Bing Crosby

"Grace was the most incredible human being I've ever known.  Everything she touched came alive. A gracious, wonderful woman who was a princess from the moment she was born."

Frank Sinatra

Trivia:  Grace Kelly wore her engagement ring in the musical romantic comedy, High Society and was her last film before marrying Prince Rainier III.

The ring made by Cartier was set with a stunning 10.48 carat emerald cut diamond flanked by a pair of baguette-cut diamonds. 

In 1955, Prince Rainier III of Monaco proposed to Grace Kelly with a diamond and ruby eternity band representing the colors of Monaco.  Prince Rainier was deeply smitten from the moment he met the Hollywood starlet, telling his inner circle that he knew she was the one.  Though they only met briefly in 1955, the Prince wrote her poetic, romantic letters from afar before traveling to the United States to propose during Christmas that year.  They were married a few months later in what the media dubbed "the wedding of the century".  As Princess Grace, she left her acclaimed Hollywood career behind to dedicate herself to Monaco and raise their three children Caroline, Albert and Stephanie.  While their royal union was undeniably a strategic and political alliance Monaco required an heir and financial stability.  Grace's family provided a significant dowry and the two developed a genuine and profound affection for one another. 

The Prince was completely heartbroken when Princess Grace perished in September 1982 following a tragic car accident.  Following her death, Prince Rainier spoke only about his deep love for her and preserved her memory by establishing the Princess Grace Foundation to honor her lasting commitment to the arts. 

..their story was one of the world's great love stories..

Kelly retired from acting at age 26 to marry Rainier and began her duties as Princess of Monaco.  Princess Grace's charity work focused on young children and the arts.  

She has been regarded as an influential figure in cinema and was often associated as the "Hitchcock blonde".  One author described her screen image as characterized by elegance and glamour. On January 31, 1955 Kelly appeared on the cover of TIME magazine. Kelly was described in the article as the "Girl in White Gloves".

In 2012, Grace's childhood home was made a Pennsylvania historic landmark and an historical marker was placed on the site.  The home is located in the East Falls section of Philadelphia.  It was built by her father, John B. Kelly Sr. in 1929.  Grace lived in the house until 1950.  Prince Rainier III proposed to her there in 1955.

The Kelly family sold the property in 1974.

3901 Henry Avenue

The Royal Palace

The civil ceremony was held in the Throne Room of the Prince's Palace of Monaco, one day prior to their lavish religious ceremony at Saint Nicholas Cathedral.  This dress was made of taffeta, pale pink in color, covered by cream-colored Alencon lace, designed as a "fitting bodice with high rounded collar and a flared skirt". She wore kid gloves and a Juliet cap. The dress for the legal civil ceremony was designed by Helen Rose, a costume designer in the wardrobe department of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer who also designed the gown for the main religious ceremony. 

The civil marriage was legally solemnized in the presence of 80 guests which included representatives from 14 nations.

The wedding dress of the American actress, worn during her wedding on April 19 is cited as one of the most elegant and best-remembered lace masterpiece bridal gowns of all time and one of the most famous since the mid 20th century.  The dress consisted of a bodice with an attached under-bodice and skirt support. There were two petticoats, one being an attached foundation.  The wedding attire included a headdress, veil, shoes and the lace-and-pearl-encrusted prayer book which she carried down the aisle.  The dress was a high-necked, long-sleeved gown with a fitted torso and billowing skirt.  Grace Kelly worked closely with Helen Rose to come up with the design.  The two women looked to costumes in the MGM archives for inspiration. The materials included "twenty-five yards of silk taffeta, one hundred yards of silk net and 125-year-old Brussels rose point lace. The Juliet cap was bejeweled with seed pearls and orange blossoms.  The veil, made of tulle, measured an expansive 90 yards.  

In 2005, the Philadephia Museum of Art discovered that her wedding shoes held a lucky penny, hidden in the right shoe.  The wedding dress train of 3 feet was described as "flowing like a river of whipped cream among the plush red floor".

On April 1, 2006, The Philadelphia Museum of Art presented an exhibition titled Fit for a Princess: Grace Kelly's Wedding Dress that ran until May 21, 2006.  The exhibition was in honor of the 50th anniversary of the wedding.

Some 50 years on, Kelly's 1956 wedding gown is still influential.  It has come in for praise in recent times because the wedding dress that Catherine Middleton wore on April 29, 2011 when she married Prince William was said to have been inspired by it.  

Grace Kelly's iconic wedding dress took six weeks to create.  The monumental project required a dedicated team of 3 dozen seamstresses working around the clock.  It had over 400 yards of fabric in total, including roughly 300 yards of lace. An intricate detail is that hundreds of thousands of hand-sewn seed pearls were used to complete the bodice.

In 2009, a plaque was placed on the "Rodeo Drive Walk of Style" in recognition of her contributions to style and fashion. 

"Grace Kelly was the best actress I've ever worked with in my life.  That woman was total relaxation, absolute ease.  She was totally THERE.  She was an extraordinarily serene girl".

Cary Grant, co-starred with Grace Kelly in To Catch a Thief.

Grace Kelly holding her Oscar statue for Best Actress in the film, The Country Girl (1954) at the 27th Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles.

Circa March 30, 1955

Bob Hope giving Grace Kelly a congratulatory kiss on the cheek.

"I would like to be remembered as someone who accomplished useful deeds and who was a kind and loving person.  I would like to leave the memory of a human being with a correct attitude and who did her best to help others."

Princess Grace Patricia Kelly Grimaldi

..  to be continued ..

Irving and Mary Cohen

Circa 1926

Irvin Cohen met Mary Gossin in Rochester, New York in 1925.  He took her ice skating, canoeing on the Genesee River and to the movies.  In February 1926, they were married and in 1927 they bought their first theatre in the small town of Wayland, New York.

In the years to follow, they would purchase or build other theatres in towns throughout Central and Western New York State such as the Strand in Hornell, New York, the Plaza in Corning, New York and another theatre in Mount Morris, New York.  While operating these theatres, they also raised a family of two sons, Gary and Macy and one daughter, Jacqueline.

In 1937, they built their first new indoor theatre, the Steuben, in Hornell.  It was known as one of the most beautiful theatres in the northeast. In 1940, they purchased the historic Allendale Theatre in Buffalo which they remodeled in the 1950s and leased to several different operators.  

In 1949, they built the Van Buren Drive-In in Dunkirk, New York which they operated until it was sold to the Dipson Theatre chain in 1979.  In 1950, they built the Sheridan Drive-In in Tonawanda, New York which was closed in 1981.  

In 1957, they purchased the Transit Drive-In from a group of Buffalo area businessmen.

Since then, the Transit Drive-In Theatre has been managed by three generations of the Cohen family.  Irving and Mary's older son, Gary managed the Transit from 1957 to 1963.  Macy, their younger son, managed the theatre from 1963 to 1986, increasing the parking capacity from 600 cars to 990 cars by 1973, introducing in-car heaters and a 12 month schedule from 1972 until 1977.

The Transit has faced several setbacks over the years.  The original screen tower blew down during a wind storm in 1971.  It was replaced by the current Selby screen tower, a 98' x 60' mammoth tower.  A fire closed down the concession building on september 8, 1973, but not the drive-in.

"The show will go on!" was the word from Macy Cohen on that day! 

In the 1980s and 1990s, cable television, pay per view movie channels, video rentals and multiplex shoe box theatres presented more serious challenges. Macy's oldest son, David managed the drive-in from 1979 to 1983 and Macy's daughter, Linda managed the snack bar from 1984 to 1986.  

Jacqueline's oldest son, Rodney visiting from Delaware in 1980, worked one summer at the drive-in while staying with his grandmother, Mary to get "a taste of the business experience" as he put it. David's son, Aaron became the 4th generation of Cohen's to work at the drive-in while visiting his Uncle Rick over the summer in 2006.  

In 1987, Macy's youngest son, Rick began managing the drive-in and immediately began a more agressive, dedicated approach to the business.  "I was told by my family and others that the drive-in was a dinosaur, a thing of the past and that we'd never see the nights with over 1,000 admissions again" recalls Rick Cohen with amusement. As a 19 year old in 1987, Rick converted the theatre over to FM stereo sound and installed a platter film system to improve presentation quality.  All the original speaker poles were repainted.  The original 1950s neon marquee was completely rebuilt and Rick still does his own neon repairs.  Car shows, movie premiers, velcro wall jumping, hay rides, pony rides, concerts, contests and other special events were held over the next several years to bring excitement back into the theatre. With a better quality sound system and a brighter picture crowds were coming back. 

On one night in 1991, the drive-in brought in over 2,000 admissions for a showing of "Die Hard 2".  In 1994, the drive-in added a second outdoor movie screen.  In 1995, they added a 19-hole miniature golf course, naming it "The Greens Under the Screen".  In 1996, they added a third screen tower.  On June 29, 2001 the Transit Drive-In became the largest drive-in theatre in New York State when their fourth screen was opened.  In 2008, the Transit Drive-In celebrated their 56th summer of movies and fun under the stars.

Nights with over 1,000 admissions happen virtually every weekend.  It is strongly recommended that patrons arrive up to an hour before the advertised show time during the summer on the weekend nights to grab the best parking spaces, use the playground, play miniature golf, have dinner at the refreshment stand or simply enjoy the sunset while waiting for the films to begin.

No Extra Charge for the Sunset!

Today Rick Cohen is in his 21st season managing the drive-in and he expects to keep on running the outdoor movies for many more years.  

A few of Rick's favorite quotes are as follows:

"The world really doesn't need any more doctors, lawyers or accountants.  What it really needs are more dedicated, loyal drive-in theatre managers."

"Would you like butter topping on that?"

"Vans park in the back rows."

"Please don't let it rain this weekend."

 

This marker commemorates the amusement park's history and Babe Ruth's visit to Celoron Park in Celoron, New York

In 1891, a group of investors from Warren, PA purchased property from the estate of Mary Prendergast for the purpose of creating a summer resort.  The property located on the south side of the southeast tip of Chautauqua Lake known as Prendergast Point was renamed Celoron in memory of the French explorer, General DeCeloron.  By 1983, a steamboat dock, a toboggan slide down to the water, bath house and the Hotel DeCeloron had been built.  It was fast becoming a popular destination.  

By September of 1893, the Jamestown Street Railway was on it way to creating what would come to be known as the Celoron Amusement Park. setting in motion a "roller coaster ride" of events.  

Celeron Park opened in 1894,the "People's Park in Celoron" was quickly deemed the Coney Island of Chautauqua and became a major draw.  Featuring impressive rides, sporting venues, concert halls, zoos and a number of other entertainment and amusement options, summer crowds would take the railroad from Jamestown to Celoron Park to explore the offerings all of which sat against the scenic backdrop of Chautauqua Lake.

Originally purchased in 1874, the 67 acre tract of property passed through several hands before being purchased by Almet N. Broadhead, President of the Celoron Amusement Company.  One of the main attractions was the 125-foot Ferris wheel called "The Phoenix".  The Phoenix was added to the park beginning in the 1896 summer season and it would operate in the park until 1951 when it was disassembled and sent to the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds.  The ride would operate for over 55-years on the banks of Chautauqua Lake providing thousands of amusement-goers with spectacular views from its peak.

Celoron Park

Circa 1898

Skateland Roller Rink

 Greyhound Roller Coaster

Celeron Park Band Stand

Perhaps Celoron Park's most cherished story with the exception for the career of ride ticket-seller and future actress, Lucille Ball was the exhibition baseball game featuring famed American slugger, Babe Ruth.  Known for his legendary hitting ability, Ruth took the 1921 off-season to participate in a number of exhibition games across the Northeast.  Joined by the pitcher, Bob Muesel, the "Babe Ruth All-Stars" took on the semi-pro Jamestown team, beating them 14-10 in a game that saw Babe Ruth get two hits during his visits to the plate.  Exciting as the game was, it was during the warm-up that Ruth's famed hitting power was best demonstrated.  According to the Buffalo Times article on October 19, 1921 ..

"In giving an exhibition of long-distance hitting, Ruth knocked a ball into the lake, a distance of over 500 feet."

The amusement park at Celoron remained a popular tourist destination throughout the early 20th century, surviving both the impact of WWII and the Great Depression.  However, following WWII the park saw a sharp decline in attendance.  

With the introduction of the Interstate highway system, vacationing families began to flock to other locations.  Regional gems like Celoron Park began to close.  Making matters worse, a tornado in 1959 tore through the amusement park destroying many rides.

In 1962, the park was purchased by an unknown Pittsburgh-based businessman who began scrapping many of the rides and structures, ending a 68-year stint for the amusement park.  Though the amusement park is no longer,  the "Lucille Ball Park" commemorating one of the area's premier citizens and former park employee now occupies their spot once filled with rides and games which drew visitors from all over the area and beyond.

Celeron Park is gone though the memories remain through enlarged black and white photos seen at the Harbor Hotel in Celeron.  Many photos include Lucille Ball who worked at the park before she became famous and became the Queen of Comedy. 

 

 

 FORGOTTEN HOWARD JOHNSON MEALS

In 1959, a young French cook named Jacques Pepin stood over a kettle of clam chowder big enough to bathe in.  His job was to make 3,000 gallons taste the same in Maine as in Florida. That was the secret of Howard Johnson's not the orange roof.  Today, people remember the roof and forget the food.  

Pepin famously turned down an opportunity to cook at the White House for President John F. Kennedy to work for Howard Johnson's in the 1960s.  During his decade-long tenure he perfected their commissary production, helping scale and standardize their famous chicken pot pies and other menu staples for the masses.  Before immigrating to the United States, Pepin established a name for himself in France as the personal chef to French President Charles de Gaulle. 

The signature dessert for kids was a scoop of their famous ice cream accompanied by a cookie. A child's perforated menu was offered so that after ordering you could punch out the lines and wear it as a ballcap.  

 Before drive-throughs, before frozen breakfast sandwiches, before frozen breakfast sandwiches Howard Johnson's served little griddle cakes that came off the supply truck by the case .. corn toasties, orange toasties, blueberry toasties.  They arrived frozen, golden discs of cornmeal batter studded with sweet kernels and the line cook  dropped them on the flat top until the edges crisped, the center turned tender and steaming.  A paddy of butter melted into the surface and a drizzle of syrup ran down the sides.  When the frozen food line was discontinued, the toasties went with it which has resulted in not being able to buy them anywhere today.  A whole category of American roadside breakfast simply disappeared and almost nobody remembers it existed.  

Howard Johnson's had the Shirley Temple and the Roy Rogers kid's drinks. This was the genius of Howard Johnson's.  He understood that the ritual of serving these drinks to kids with special names was the product.  The drink was just the excuse.  Almost no chain puts these on their menu, by name, anymore.  Another Howard Johnson's specialty was the Hawaiian baked ham. In the post-war years, anything with pineapple on it felt impossibly exotic! A few of the very last orange roof holdouts kept Hawaiian baked ham on the menu right up until the end.  

 Howard Johnson's was not just clams and ice cream.  It fed working men, too.  And the open steak sandwich was built for them.  A think tenderloin steak, charcoal broiled until the edges charred, was laid flat across a single slice of toast and covered in a ladle of dark pan gravy.  

 People forgot that Howard Johnson's began as a soda fountain and candy counter. Howard Johnson's offered  the "frappe".  Order a milkshake at Howard Johnson's and you got a New England "frappe".  And there was a difference even if the rest of the country never learned it.  A "frappe" was ice cream, milk and flavored syrup whipped together at the fountain until it was so thick the straw stood straight up on its own. A "frappe" cost a quarter and it was practically .. a meal. It was served with the rest of the steel cup removed from the spinner and placed beside your glass so you got every drop!

There was macaroni and cheese with elbow macaroni folded into a real cheddar sauce, poured into a dish, topped with crumbs and baked until the top browned and the edges bubbled.

Howard Johnson's was most famously known for its fried clam strips and its signature 28 flavors of ice cream.  

The iconic roadside chain also gained legendary status for its New England-style hot dogs served in square, butter-toasted split-top buns and traditional homestyle favorites like baked beans and chicken pot pies.  

For sit-down diners, travelers always knew they could get homestyle mainstays like meatloaf and roast turkey.

Here is what nobody tells you about Howard Johnson's.  The food was almost beside the point.  What Howard Johnson actually invented was the idea that a restaurant in main and a restaurant in Florida could be the exact same restaurant. When you saw that orange roof from a mile away, you were not just seeing a building, you were seeing a promise.  

Every chain you have ever trusted on the highway exit owes its DNA to a man who decided that consistency itself was worth selling.  This man was the one and only

Howard Johnson. 

Howard Deering Johnson

 

Julian Pump

595 Fairmount Avenue

Jamestown NY

Established 1919

Julian Pump and Manufacturing Corporation Automatic Gasoline Pump Manufacturer.  

A. N. Broadhead was President and Treasurer 

The Julian Pump Company was historically owned and operated by the Broadhead family who also held the Broadhead Mills, the Jamestown Shale Paving Brick Company and local real estate. Operating during the 1920s, Julian Pump was part of the robust roster of heavy manufacturing and metalworking companies that defined Jamestown during the era of automotive and industrial expansion.  Today, original signs and gas pumps manufactured by the company are highly sought after by collectors of vintage automobilia. 

Julian Pump memorabilia primarily consists of vintage items from the Julian Pump Company, which manufactured "Square Deal" gasoline.

Julian Pump Co. typewritten letterheads and original cancellation envelopes occasionally surface on auction sites. 

 

Father's Day is a special day dedicated to honoring fathers and father figures for their love, guidance, support and contributions to their families and society.  The deeper meaning of Father's Day is to recognize the important role that fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, guardians and mentors play in nurturing, protecting and supporting children throughout their lives.

In short, Father's Day is a time to say "thank you" to the men who have helped shape our lives through their care, sacrifice and encouragement.