Things I miss about Detroit
September 28, 2008
Having been away from the Detroit area for some time, I got a bit homesick and started searching youtube for some old videos. Things/people I miss, somewhat inspired by the videos, include:
- Bill Bonds
- Law office of Sam Bernstein commercials
- Ollie Fretter
- Highland Appliance
- Amyre Makupson
- Coney dogs
- Towne Club sodas
- Better Made chips
- Bob-lo Island
- Bill Kennedy at the movies
- Sir Graves Ghastly
- Count Scary (and those 3d movies he ran for a spell - get your glasses at Farmer Jack!)
- Stupid WRIF (’BABY!’) commercials
- Tiger Stadium
- David Newman / 1270 AM
- Faygo pop selection (I get a few down here now)
- Farmer Jack
- Buscemi’s pizza
- Cruisin’ Gratiot (which I never really did, but I liked the memory of wanting to go do it)
- Mort Crim
- The channel 20 ‘kids club’ where you’d get your name on TV for your birthday
- “ON TV” (wasn’t just Detroit, apparently)
- Buddy’s pizza
- Little Caesar’s pizza
- “We’ve got art” DIA commercials
- WJR
Probably some other things will come back to me over time, but I just felt a bit nostalgic this morning. What memories do you have of Detroit?
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Posted in Uncategorized
September 28th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Vernors. Forgot about that one….
September 28th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Mike -
You forgot trips to the Cider Mills in the fall!
- Charlie
September 28th, 2008 at 10:13 am
DUH! excellent one! Man, I’m starting to get homesick, and yet I rarely even *went* to a cider mill after I was about 15.
September 28th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Stroh’s Ice Cream
September 28th, 2008 at 10:48 am
My (and charlie’s) friend Derek wrote in a few more thoughts:
Well – some of them were long gone before you even left (Bob Lo Island, for example). Funny coincidence, Bill Bonds is now doing commercials for Sam Bernstein!
Alas, I haven’t heard an update on David Newman for awhile, so I suspect nothing good is happening in his life. Really a shame. One of the last great interviewers we’ve had. Frank Beckman is on in his spot and is serviceable, but is no David Newman.
If you are going way back, Coleman Young being challenged to a fight by Bill Bonds on the air. (Bonds was great. Even if you hated him, you had to concede that there were few newsmen as good as him. Now, everyone is bland. Do a youtube search for Bonds and watch the air check from the early 80’s. The video is spotty at times, but otherwise the clip is truly priceless.)
Leaves changing colors.
Tigers’ opening day.
Lions being out of the playoff race by October (or September this year)
Macinac Island.
New auto rolr outs each fall.
==================
I found a few Bill Bonds spots on youtube earlier today which had partially inspired this original post! Thanks for the thought reminders Derek, and yeah, many unfortunately were gone even before I left!
September 28th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Having just moved back to Michigan after living in Phoenix for about 4 months, I’d completely agree with the Coney Dogs (other places just don’t have coneys), Little Ceaser’s (they had them in Phx, but it seems better in MI), and would add in Jimmy Johns.
September 28th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
We have some Jimmy John’s around here (2 I know of - 30+ miles from my house!) - they’re not 100% detroit-oriented, but certainly far more prevalent there. And you just made me very hungry for one!
September 28th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
I’ve tried to search for the WXON (TV-20) birthday commericals several times without any luck. Though I never had my 15 seconds of fame on air, the music always got me…I think the lead melody was a kazoo.
If you’re just hopping from one video to another on youtube, you’ll also stumble across the Channel 7 “Stand up and tell ‘em you’re from Detroit” commericals…an absolute classic.
Ernie Harwell
Eli Zaret (though he’s apparently still around)
Don’t know how you forgot to mention the Gardner-White furniture commercials (they’re known for the money you keep) (this is Mark’s contribution)
September 28th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Here, Dog. C’mon, Dog.
Me & Dog want you to Teh-leh-graph Road…Right nowwwww. Get a good deal.
September 29th, 2008 at 7:16 am
Mel Farr Superstarr for a Farr better deal.
September 30th, 2008 at 11:18 am
The useful people mover.
October 17th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Eastern Market , and watching canadian television on channel 9, don cherry
October 21st, 2008 at 4:51 pm
For your appointment or the Reaver company’s free brochure of diamond facts, just dial “Diamond,” D-I-A M-O-N-D!