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Much more
than merely an advertising flyer, Panorama is a magazine dedicated especially
to the people, places and happenings in the Mid-Anthracite Coal Region.
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Comment by Ed., (sfp): Panorama Magazine has obtained a copy of a VHS videotape showing everyday scenes in McAdoo, PA in 1937. Although I was not yet here in that year, many of the faces and all the locations are very familiar. The account is quite true to life and shows the town much as I remember it, a still bustling and busy place before the era of anthracite coal began its decline. More than just of local interest, the tape captures vignettes of life in a hardscrabble coal town in later Depression times, and might very well be a welcome and instructive inclusion on national educational television. See below for details of the various scenes, the local players and ordering information
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| INTRODUCTION (By the creator of the tape, John Ficek, ... Ed.) |
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My name is John J. Ficek, Jr. and I wish to introduce you to a videotape of McAdoo, Pennsylvania, ca. 1937. Two reels of 16 mm film were found in the home of my father, John J. Ficek Sr. after his death. I had the film transferred to videotape in an effort to make it available (at cost, I might add), to anyone who wishes to have a copy. The video depicts scenes of various businesspeople, streets, stores, vintage automobiles (the latest being a 1937 DeSoto and a 1937 Plymouth). There is even a little skit of a staged bank robbery and kidnapping. The filming was done, without a doubt, by a person who had limited skill working a movie camera. It may even have been my father. I don't know. And there is no sound. Some of the scenes flit by in a second or two, others have had the faces cut out; There is poor lighting and exposure. Since it was filmed over 50 years ago, all the people are now in their sixties, seventies, eighties or deceased. With the help of family members and friends I have tried to identify some of the folks and places as best I could. Perhaps someone viewing the video can help identity others. I, myself, appear in the staged bank robbery scene, a ten or eleven year old boy with glasses, for a split second, to the left of the screen. Please enjoy. If you have a good four-headed VCR capable of slow motion and the ability to "freeze" a frame, you will enjoy it all the better. However, on this later reissue of the video, I have reproduced some of the scenes in slow motion on my own, and hence this video is twice as long as the earlier one. To help with identification of people, press your VCR counter button so that it reads 0000. I have provided the approximate frame count numbers to coincide with people I have been able to identify. Newer model VCRs have time frame counters (minutes and seconds); Older ones digital number counters. Use whichever applies to your VCR. Again, these numbers are only approximates:
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| Counter | Counter | Description |
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14 14 - Opening scene is Miss McAdoo, believed to be a Miss Matweecha
or Olga 28 28 - McAdoo High Band, Frank Gallagher, conductor. 154 81 - Frank Gallagher, conductor, Majorette is Catherine Miller. Sophie 215 95 - On fire truck, Frank DeMeers and son, Edward. 221 100 - Harry Marsh, proprietor of Marsh's Poolroom, ("Marshie's"), 305 105 - Peter Sacco (with cigar). Andy Pollock with accordion, Jack
Bogash with 312 135 - "Timber" Tomaino, center, dark hair, raising hat 340 154 - Margaret Schaller (young blond girl). 351 160 - Grace Gallagher (little girl on right). 401 168 - Mary Hydusheck (chubby girl in center). 408 170 - John Burnard (Prop. Burnard's Lumber Yard). 519 234 - Bavolack's Grocery. Butcher cutting meat is Mr. Ributsky (Rubasky?).
Mr. 600 248 - John Skwier 621 264 - Storeowner Mr. McDonald Sr., August (Gus) Bunsa, Dave McDonald. 645 276 - Nick Zukovitch, Corner Meat Market at Blaine and Tamaqua. 706 293 - Charles McBride. Little girl is a McBride girl who perished in a fire. 726 305 - ______ Cardamone with plaid sweater. 735 310 - Harmon Scarpati in front of Leader Store. 814 336 - Peter Pensock at his garage in alley behind St. Patrick's School
and old Kleen 910 388 - Joseph Midash, plumber, his wife, Alfreda, their daughter.
Hubert Hartz 1017 416 - John Midash, owner of Midash's Barroom, school board member;
perished in 1022 424 - Joseph Artim, Sr. entering store. Michael Miholick at door.
Louis Benya with 1120 465 - Alex Sockolosky and his family. Before TV, he owned the only
local radio 1254 520 - Easter lilies would indicate time of year as March or April 1937. 1320 536 - Fudge's service station, now Russo's. Painting oil drum is
John "Buzzy" 1346 666 - Stella DeBa1so, beautician. 1415 585 - Mr. And Mrs. Steve (Stephen August) Payer (paints and wallpaper). 1455 598 - Dindoffer's Store. Tamaqua & Washington streets. 1540 630 - Anilosky Funeral Parlor. 1555 636 - ''Beanie'' Gillott (driver). 1608 640 - Walko's Cafe. Identified are Joseph Walko, "Tusk"
Phillips, and "Baker" 1640 672 - Hillcrest Bar. Gus Podrazza with c1arinet, Harry Cook with
banjo. Mr. 1737 711 - Mr. And Mrs. Patsy Marsicola and daughter at business establishment. 1808 721 - Grace Gallagher on fire truck. Girl in middle believed to
be Mary Potera 1840 745 - Mackin's Garage on Tamaqua Street. Servicing car1935 Chevrolet
is Eddie 2043 805 - John Tihansky, loading truck, John Dougherty (white hair),
prop of Kleen 2015 785 - Barber giving shave is Mickey Panko. 2l20 841 - Postie's Bottling Works, Joe "Horsey" Postupack on truck. 2154 872 - Jupina Funeral Parlor with mock funeral. Identified are Michael
Jupina. 2433 958 - John Skotek, upholsterer, demonstrating. 2540 1000 - Bill Tihansky at his McAdoo Garage on Sherman Street. Car
is a 1937 2623 1026 - Joe Nilo, barber, with Rocco Gentile, apprentice, his assistant.
StephenVinczi, 2706 1060 - Mr. John Burnard and Mr. Perhonitch. 2817 1062 - Chief of Police of McAdoo at the time, Mr. Donish, and Mrs.
Steve (S. A.) 2854 1117 - John Ficek, Jr., little boy, lower left corner. Seen later
in the slow motion 2938 1144 - Paul Clark, policeman. Eddie Danishefsky with sailor hat. |
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154 81 - Little blond-haired girl, last in band line, playing clarinet
and seen better in 519 234 - Bavolack's Grocery Store. Butcher cutting meat is Joe Ributsky
(Rubasky) 814 336 - Peter J. Pensock at his Plymouth car dealership garage in the
rear of 13 South 1962 - Goldstein's Hardware Store on West Blaine Street; "Red"
Anthony Chirko 2623 1026 - Leaving Nilo's barber shop are Steve Vinczi and Peter J.
Pensock, not George |
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Ed. Note: Mr. John Ficek, Jr. produced the videotape. Contact him at: Panorama Magazine has the tape for sale @ $20 at: |