My Old Neighborhood: Ashburn, Chicago, 1966-1999

White Castle Sliders, Andy's Cones & Cupid Candies

I slipped in a photo of White Castle in the previous post and Mike Olson, as well as writing titan Charles Gramlich, pined over the fact that they've never had sliders. Well, maybe Charles didn't bring it up at all, but never mind. While it's fresh in my mind, here are some photos I took last Saturday while waiting for H&R Block to open.

Sign of The Times

The economy must indeed be bad. The Miami Motel is no longer advertising it's "Four Hour Nap." And yet I can still get ten White Castles for $4.88. I'm conflicted.

Man In The Purple Doorway

I spent the night at Larry & Tycelia's Saturday, we watched a John Hodiak film, then in memory of Larry's longtime friend, the late Ray Dennis Steckler, we sat through THE INCREDIBLY STRANGE CREATURES THAT STOPPED LIVING AND BECAME MIXED-UP ZOMBIES. What's wild is that there is one scene where Cash Flagg(Steckler)--oh, and you have to say the name as if you are jumping off a trampoline, Cash FLAGGG--is standing in a seedy part of town and I realized that this was Hill Street and the trolley car was called Angel's Flight. The area is quite different than 1964, but through various mystery books and films, Hill Street is one of the few recognizable parts of LA to me, having never been there. Yesterday we cut out, Larry offering me a ride so he could see some south side action. We drove around Bubbly Creek, the Ashland Avenue Market, and stopped at a White Castle on 32nd and Robinson. There was this old man in a yellow coat moving in and out of the place, climbing over snowbanks, back and forth, in and out. Never asking anyone for money, just conversation. A guy behind the counter pointed, after Larry asked, said the guy lived across the street in a two-flat. Spent a lot of money at White Castle each day. When we left, I gave the guy a buck. Told him I was Jonny Algiers. He had a chunk of cancer on his nose. A block away, I took some photos of a tavern and I will post the photos, as the surrounding buildings and porches looked fantastic, but Larry took a few digital shots of me hunkered on this stoop in front of a hideously painted door. I've seen that color used often, mostly with yellow. The worst example being a McDonald's on Lawrence Avenue, and sure enough, as Lasrry and I drove up Archer Avenue, there was one other building with that same Pepto-Bismo Purple trim. Gotta admit, visiting the northside is fun, but wandering the south side is better.

My Planned Response...

I should have thought of this sooner. When I see the White Castle lady tomorrow and she asks for my order I shall dance like Robert Mitchum and recite whatever arcane crap he said above. That'll show her...

Reaching My Nadir

A cop friend always says that when he catches a guy whacking off he refers to the perp as "approaching his zenith." Well, tonight, on yet another sub-zero night, the full moon turning orange with the eclipse...the cashier at the White Castle asked me if I wanted the senior discount. Without malice, not a blind person or a maniac. She just said I looked as if I could use a senior discount. Put me in a room with tiny furniture and no shirt. Call me in the spring. Oh, and just because I have no other reason to post it, can anyone tell me why it was so dat-blasted important for Dan Duryea to spend $53.00 on a phone call?...Wayne

aaaawwwwwooooooo

i'll likely find a photo to go with this, but i am again working a 12 hour shift. the last three out of five full moons i have been working 12 hour shifts. the full moon makes the woods and the cal sag channel very bright. what is the government hiding? when will rumsfeld quit reading my emails and, well, self-gratifying himself?
Much later, after what turned out to be a fourteen hour shift, there was a white castle's stop. for sliders. sid will probably comment on whattaburger. even a man who is pure of heart, and says his prayers at night, will become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms and a white castle is in sight...