Seeing the malls on the “Black Friday” rush, etc. You may wonder if there was ever “Another Time”—Yes there was! “Oh what a time that was!”
The Ambler II is on the move again. In the last scene of Camelot, when King Arthur knew he was fighting his last battle, he told a Squire, “Run as fast as you can and tell all of England the glory that was once Camelot.”
The Ambler is going to amble down Smith Street: from the train bridge to the Ferry Slip, and the years are from the mid 1940’s to the late 50’s. West of the train bridge was Robert Hall, where we bought our “good clothes” and the really only store up that way. As we amble east on the right side was Modern Boys where you could buy a scout uniform and again “good clothes.” The men who ran the store we real gentlemen and treated all us kids like adults. Ahead was the “Hansen Bank,” and everybody knew Mr. Hansen. Then came the Crystal Restaurant, and just down the street was the Coney Island. Both made hot dogs talked about today. Between them was the Rokey theater which brought much joy on dreary winter Saturday mornings (10 cartoons, a cowboy picture and a serial). Across the street was Leiber’s Sporting Goods; Mr. Leiber was a very kind man who taught me much about hunting and fishing. Once when my cat escaped, someone painted her white with oil based paint. Mr. Leiber had hand clippers for $12.00, but I had no money so I asked if I could pay him off in a few weeks so I could shave my cat. He just said, “Bring in the cat.” and he shaved her for me. (I do not know what he did with the clippers). My cat wore a sweater for a month. Joe’s Pet Shop was on both sides of the street since he burnt down and moved. Here you could buy fish, birds, hamsters and all the stuff to keep them. Across the street was Ace Drugs where you could buy all kinds of stuff like clocks, make-up (sort of like a CVS). Across the street on the corner of McClellan Street was Jack and Jill where all sorts of baby clothes were available. On this corner next to Leiber’s was Fischer’s Toy Store. We called it “The Junk Store,” full of toy soldiers, dolls and all sorts of good stuff.
As we amble down further, we came to another theater – the Crescent which became the Royal. Around the corner was the Majestic Theater where on Thursday afternoons you could see Vaudeville. The performers stayed across the street in the Palace Hotel. Down Madison Avenue was the Pink Elephant where Jon Bon Jovi started his career. Across the street was Fishkin Brothers, a store where there were trains, cameras, hobby stuff and hunting and fishing – Wow! What a store (It started out on Smith Street)! The Fishkin family were very nice and supported the City in many ways (Mr. Leiber worked there after his store burned down).
Going along, we come to Reynolds Department Store where you bought almost anything (My mother said during the Great Depression many people were paid in “Scrip” a sort of IOU). Reynolds was one of the few stores who honored them. All money was sent somewhere in tubes which zipped around the ceiling. Close by was Woolworths 5&10 where like in “Alice’s Restaurant” you could get anything you want. Birds, fish clothes, jewelry and a lunch counter, I would always go there just to look – it was some place. There were two other 5&10 stores down the street.
Across the street was Pamel’s Sweet Shop with a soda fountain “big high school hang out.” After the “Five Corners” was Costas’ Lunch where you could get a hot dog at a window on the street. Then came Fagan’s Hardware and Bee Bee Hat, across the street was Seaman’s (Before Jimmy Hardiman was there). Then another theater, the Strand (They had double features on Friday night). On the next corner was Gardella’s Bike Shop with a real super racer in the window. Near there was the Corner Book Store. Next down the street was a supermarket where people waiting for the ferry would buy groceries. Further along on the right was a candy store where it was said (I never saw it) you could buy “Looses” (individual cigarettes). At the end of the street was the ferry and on it was an organ grinder with a monkey, and you could ride to Staten Island for 17 cents. On the side streets were fantastic stores like Fannie Barber’s, Mechanics Toy store, Jags Sporting Goods and Rasmussen’s Fish Market. (I am sure I missed many others!)
Yep, you did not need a Mall. We had Smith Street. “Oh what a time that was!”
I was at a public meeting and got up and spoke – a young woman in front of me said, “You sit down and shut up! You are Old Amboy – We are the New Amboy!” Run Squire, as fast as you can, and tell all of England the glory that was Camelot!
Amboy Ambler II
