Could everyone write one simple essay about something that once happened in Saltaire…that they saw or were a part of…and put it on one big website? Somebody should collect a lot of stories before we all forget. Otherwise it is like a line in “On The Beach” : The history of the war that now would never be written.” -(JO'H)

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

"SHOW BOAT" EXCURSION TO JONES BEACH, 1957

DENNY DWYER comes up with two pictures from the excursion to "Show Boat" at the Jones Beach Marine Theater in 1957. They made the trip in 1957 and 1956 or 1958. One of the O'Sheas had a picture from the other summer, but we never got a copy of it.
click images to enlarge and enhance.
Courtesy Denny Dwyer

Yes, that is none other than Bob Moses with the girls, in the top picture. Thanx Denny, and keep the pictures coming, all.


Courtesy Denny Dwyer


And the picture below we already had:
Jones Beach, 1957
The girls on this August 1957 trip to the Jones Beach Marine theater include from loft:

Denny Dwyer; Merry Aherne (Wetherall), __________; Jeannie Connelly; ________
___________ __________ Mary Lou Kuracheck (Quiggins), _________
and Mary Kate Rigney.

We need help here, folks.

Denny Dwyer sez: that is Sue Fitzgerad third from left, and Marsha Clay, the little one, center.

Captain Frank responds: That is Captain Andy from "Show Boat," at the Jones Beach Marine Theater. Nancy Olds, Saltairian and granddaughter of Bob Moses is under Captain Andy's left arm.
By the way, sez Capt. Frank, some of us boys went on those trips, too. We went two summers in a row.

As for "Gramps" Moses, he would visit his Daughter and her family, the Olds Family, and he would take our family out on the bay in his boat every Tuesday in those days.



Merry Aherne Wetheral sez: Diane Good is the 2nd girl from the right. Her dad was the pastor at St.Andrews at the same time as the Torrey family. They split the summer. Nancy Olds is on the right end. I remember the girl to the right of Jeannie but I can't think of her name. I'm trying to remember. I think her family rented.Denny: Do you remember Kitty Latham? She was there at least one year. She was not related to Dick and Nancy.
---Merry Wetherall
M. Denise, “Denny” Dwyer responds:
Merry, I remember the name Kitty Latham but that's all. Other than 1956 and 1962 when I worked for a family there our stays in Saltaire were scattered. So I don't remember everyone that well. The only name we're missing is familiar but I have trouble with names in general. How are you? ---Denny

Capt. Frank is back with goodies:

Merry: I am very relieved that Nancy is the girl at the far left and not Mary Kate Rigney, I thought I remembered her better:-) When "Gramps" Moses appropriated all the original playground equipment for Saltaire, Nancy got her own swing set with see-saw. I think I recollect when she got the cut on her knee a day or two before the show. No, I didn't push her! "We were so much older then......"
--Frank

JOH: thanks for the nice Dylan quote, Frank. I also see the band aid on Nancy’s knee. I originally put the name Mary Kate up there, as an educated guess. I withdraw it. Resolved: That is Nancy Olds with the wounded knee.
What house did the Olds live in? Own or rent? Most Saltairians know bob Moses only as the villan of history. How many recall that he was involved with Saltaire doings? Had friends in Saltaire?

17 comments:

Capt. Frank said...

You might want to throw Nancy Olds under Captain Andy's left arm. A couple of us guys were there too.

jimmy said...

who was Capt Andy?

And: someone has a similar picture from another summer with Bob Moses himself.

Unknown said...

Suzie Fitzgerald is next to Merry and Marsha Clay is little one in the front. Denny Dwyer

Unknown said...

This may have been taken by Moses, though he is in one of them. I'll try to locate the others and send them in.

Denny Dwyer

Unknown said...

Again from Denny. Who ran the stores that year? the second from the right may be their daughter.

jimmy said...

Denny: I believe Severe was running the store in 1957. They wre too old to have little kids; maybe they had grandkids, but I don't recall that.
JOH

frank@mina.us said...

Bob Moses had two daughters. Besides Barbara Olds, there was another in Babylon with two children, at least on was a daughter, maybe both. Once in a while they came over with Gramps on Tuesdays. Nancy's older brother Johnny was along sometimes also. I only saw her oldest brother Robbie, the first summer they were in Saltaire. He was severely "mentally challanged" and institutionalized thereafter. No one ever mentioned his name again.
Capt. Frank

Capt. Frank said...

PS: It's possible that one or two of the girls is/are Nancy's cousins if you run out of names.

Capt. Frank said...

PPS: Gramps didn't take out our family. I was the only one who went along because Nance and I were "going steady" :-)

Unknown said...

I,m not sure who the unidentified girls are. But was thinking Merry or Danny or Jeff Weinlandt would know.

Denny

Anonymous said...

There's consensus as to who the third child to the left of Marsha Clay in the Bob Moses picture - it's Frank Mina.

Anonymous said...

Diane Good is the 2nd girl from the right. Her dad was the pastor at St.Andrews at the same time as the Torrey family. They split the summer. Nancy Olds is on the right end. I remember the girl to the right of Jeannie but I can't think of her name. I'm trying to remember.I think her family rented.
Denny, Do you remember Kitty Latham? She was there at least one year. She was not related to Dick and Nancy.
Merry Wetherall

Unknown said...

Merry, I remember the name Kitty Latham but that's all. Other than 1956 and 1962 when I worked for a family there our stays in Saltaire were scattered. So I don't remember everyone that well. The only name we're missing is familiar but I have trouble with names in general. How are you?
Denny

Capt. Frank said...

Merry,
I am very relieved that Nancy is the girl at the far left and not Mary Kate Rigney, I thought I remembered her better:-) When "Gramps" Moses appropriated all the original playground equipment for Saltaire, Nancy got her own swing set with see-saw. I think I recollect when she got the cut on her knee a day or two before the show. No, I didn't push her! "We were so much older then......"
Frank

Anonymous said...

Nancy Olds mother was one of Bob Moses two daughters

Capt. Frank said...

Jimmy,
The Olds family lived next door in the "red" Braynard house. That's why we were such good friends and shared our "private" swing set. They bought it from a family mnamed Alexander, maybe in 51-'52. They also had a girl my age, but we didn't fool around then. Dick and Nancy Olds sold to Dr. Braynard around '62. The last I saw of them the "Sea Ef" was taking them away and people were standing on the dock heaving empty coke bottles at him. I think they were still Ray Severe's at the time :-)

Capt. Frank
PS: I believe that Nancy returned for the memorial service for Norma Ervin but I was sick in bed and couldn't get to the beach. Sorry to have missed what would have been quite a reunion.

Scott Piehler said...

Hi there! I've been researching Jones Beach shows, and if the trips were made in 56 & 57, it was indeed Show Boat. However, Broadway writer Peter Filichia tells me the 1958 production was "Song of Norway."

Thanks for helping me ID the '57 show!

Scott