FATHERLY PHILOSOPHY

  I, like many of you, are thinking about
my Dad today. And when I do I can't help
but smile!
  A smile would definitely be part of
his legacy as those who knew him can
attest.
   Dad never got much of an education, in
school that is. He had to go to work after
his Dad passed away. But I can't remember
a problem he couldn't solve. And he usually
did that with common sense!
    After a short stint as a Breaker Boy my
Dad entered the world of entertainment.
He wasn't a "star." But he did his part to
make a few. He became a movie
projectionist!
    Dad showed the first sound movie in
Hazleton and eventually worked with a
few of the folks he had shown on screen.
    For several years he worked backstage
with road shows traveling with the likes of
Howard Keel, Hume Cronyn, Jackie Gleason,
and on Broadway with Steve Lawrence and
Edie Gorme.
     He left the big names and big stages when
my Mom became ill and could no longer
travel with him. His policy was "Family
First!"
     He came back to his home town
where, at the time, a new movie theater had
just opened. And he stayed there through
the years as the single screen theater evolved
into a duplex, then a 3, then a 4, and finally
a 5 screen operation.
      Movie star Jack Palance spent the
evening in the projection booth with Dad
when, after 68 years, he decided to retire.
       He passed away just a year later. But
left behind a Fatherly Philosophy highlighted
by that smile I'm remembering today.
       But that's not all.
       He lived his favorite song, "Young At
Heart", throughout his life and his photo should
be included in the dictionary under the word
"patience." 
       He loved our family's vacations in
Wildwood as evidenced by his answer in
"The Grandpa Book" when asked how he'd
spend a week if he could do anything he
wanted. He wrote "I'd like to be at the
seashore, get a boat, and go fishing with a
big $1.00 cigar and just relax."
       Funny thing is I remember fishing
with Dad at the shore. His rod in one hand
and a White Owl cigar in the other.
       The only time I ever saw him even
nearly upset was when he hooked a fish!
       He's admonish the fish for being
greedy and biting his bait, then remove the
hook, release his catch, take a puff on his
White Owl, and get back to relaxing!
       Great memories of a great Dad (and
Grandpa)!
       Hope you're young at heart and that
all your NEWS is good!