~ Malden Musings ~ Malden 1967, Part 1

By Peter Levine

Back by popular demand! “Malden Musings” Redux! My take on Malden 1967 in two parts. Malden in 1966 was designated as an “All American City.” All American banners were flying high across our main streets and Malden had the swagger of a city on the rise; the future looked bright going into 1967, and in honor of the 57th anniversary of the Summer of Love here is a snapshot of Malden as we appeared in that lazy, crazy, hazy yesteryear:

• “Torby” Macdonald represented us in Washington. Malden’s John Volpe was Governor. Walter Kelliher was Mayor. Paul H. Phaneuf was the Superintendent of Schools. The legendary Bill Tighe was the football head coach at the High School. The equally legendary Eddie Melanson was the Director of Athletics and Physical Education.
• Straight outta Malden Catholic, Dante Diserio, (the late) Chris Maher (who would later go on to form the popular Boston punk band, the Suede Cowboys), Joe Petruzzelli aka Joe Pet (who would later go on to fame playing with Aerosmith’s Joe Perry and Boston legend Rick Berlin) and Anthony Ciulla form the garage/psyche band Jagged Edges.
• Michigan Governor George Romney is trying to persuade Massachusetts Governor John Volpe not to enter the 1968 GOP New Hampshire Presidential Primary. Romney figures having Volpe in the primaries will draw his support away. Volpe is being mentioned in some circles as a GOP Vice Presidential candidate in 1968. Volpe has deep Malden ties and calls the All-American City home.
• The Vietnam War is raging. It is dividing the country. Tens of thousands gather in Washington (and around the rest of the country) to protest. Malden is no exception.
• On May 29, Army SSGT Edwin Casaletto of Malden dies when his jeep crashes while on Tour of Duty in South Vietnam. His name can be viewed on Panel 21E, Row 9 on the Vietnam Veterans Wall. Many brave Maldonians will go off to fight in Southeast Asia; you can view memorials to the ones that did not come home scattered across the city.
• Cable TV came to Malden in 1968. C.A.T.V., as cable was called in those days, may be “piped” into the homes of Malden subscribers via a community antenna service come the new year. Malden, Medford and Somerville are the first communities in the Metro Boston area to take any definite steps towards bringing the miracle of C.A.T.V. to their residents.
• There was no Square killing, environmentally hostile, citizen unfriendly building in the middle of Pleasant Street!
• Muhammad Ali is stripped of his Heavyweight Boxing title for refusing to be inducted into the army.
• The 4th of July winners at Trafton Park as reported by Councilor John Drummey and Chairman Mike Trodden were (future Boston Bruins star) Andy Brickley, who won the boys six-year-old race, and Mike Duggan and Danny Murray, who won the three-legged boys race ages nine to 11. At Forestdale, the age 9-11 boys sack race was won by Greg Lucey and partner Ricky Taich. Cathy Winslow won the 11-12 girls sack race, and Mark Angrisano participated in the bean bag game for boys three to five.
• Waitresses are wanted at the Kernwood in Dartmouth Street.
• In early ’67 Malden resident Albert DeSalvo (aka the alleged Boston Strangler) is sentenced to life in prison. DeSalvo lived on Florence Street and would frequent many of the bars in the area, such as the West End Grille and Charlie Brown’s on Pleasant Street.
• Dr. West’s Medicine Show and Junk Band featuring Lisbon Street’s Norman “Spirit in the Sky” Greenbaum have a Billboard Top 100 hit in 1967 with their “psychedelic” number “The Eggplant That Ate Chicago.”
• The average cost for a gallon of gas is 33 cents. The average cost for a new home is $14,250. The average yearly income for an American is $7,300.
• The Monterey International Pop Festival is taking place in California featuring most of the ’60s icons, including Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Janis Joplin, the Steve Miller Band, Simon & Garfunkel and the Grateful Dead. Malden’s Dan Doherty is there and remembers MOST of it!
• Dandy Donuts on Pleasant Street announces that they are now selling “Dairy Freeze” in cones for 15 and 25 cents.
• On July 8-16 the Lone Ranger will appear at Pleasure Island in Wakefield.
• By midsummer the Boston Red Sox have captured the hearts and minds of ALL New England (and almost everybody in Malden) with their thrilling rush to the pennant. Cellar dwellers for the previous 25-plus years, Dick Williams and his team of “cardiac kids” will go on to change the baseball culture in New England and usher in the era of excellence (for the most part, anyway) that we all enjoy today.
• Overflow crowds were reported at the Hibernian Hall, the VFW, the American Legion, the Jewish War Veterans, the Irish American, the East Side AA, the Italian American Citizens Club, the Italian American War Veterans Post and the DAV Hall for the Sunday pennant-clinching game versus Minnesota in September.
• Meanwhile in Boston night spots like ‘Your Father’s Mustache,’ ‘The Improper Bostonian,’ ‘The Mad Russian’ and the ‘Candy Lounge’ are reporting large Friday and Saturday night crowds for the game.
• Born in Malden 1967: Paul “Quadzilla” DeMayo (rest in peace), world class bodybuilder.
• Born in Malden 1967: Gary DiSarcina, professional baseball player.
• Interracial marriage is declared constitutional by the Supreme Court in the Loving v. Virginia case. This decision barred Virginia and by implication other states from making interracial marriage a crime.
• Suffolk Sq. guy Ed “Mingo” Ames, formerly of the Ames Brothers, scores a huge international hit with “My Cup Runneth Over.”
• Principal Inez M. Carter of Beebe Jr. High School at the Beebe Graduation Ceremony gave the “Lions Club Citizen Athlete” award to Steven Caiazzo and Irwin Zalko. At the same award ceremony, John “Trixie” Trischitta, Gary Campsmith and Paul Gennetti received a certificate and letter in baseball.
• In July diploma recipients at the Rockland Nursery School included Jill Weiner, Mike and Kevin Hannon (brothers of Mary “Ms. Pisa Pizza” Hannon!) and Paul Lussier.
• “Bewitched,” “The Beverly Hillbillies” and “Hogan’s Heroes” were making people laugh. To this day nobody can figure out how a program about a German P.O.W. Camp during World War II could be funny!
• At Beebe, Judy (the future “Fabulous Judy”) Repucci, Diane Marsinelli and Donna Angelo made the seventh grade honor role.
• Israel is fighting for its life as they battle Egyptian forces across the Suez in what will become known as the “Six Day War.”
• In June, Rabbi Judea B. Miller of Temple Tifereth Israel on Salem Street announced that the Synagogue will hold a special service and prayer for the State of Israel still fighting for its life. In July a swastika is discovered painted on a brick wall on Holden Street.
• Mister Sub at 220 Pleasant St. is offering a “Special of the Week” – pizza’s (any combo) for $1.25.
• At the third Malden Babe Ruth League Auxiliary Awards Banquet held at the Moose, Bob Rotondi, Pearl Verge and Joe Devincentis handed out trophies to 85 boys, including Jimmy Mirley, Franny Molis and Perry Verge Jr. “Captain” Carl Yastrzemski, coming off a Triple Crown season for the pennant winning Boston Red Sox, spoke at the banquet.
• Boston Red Sox star shortstop Rico Petrocelli’s wife, Elsie, gave birth to twins at Lynn Union Hospital in June (Rico had strong Malden ties).
• The MHS Class of 1967 graduates 585 students with Peter “Panama” Carroll receiving the $100 “MHS Custodians Scholarship.” He also received a JV letter in hoop and was “Head Manager” of the football team. He also “enjoys playing basketball,” according to his yearbook information.
• Speaking of the class of 1967: Richie Cremone (he of “Cremone’s Restaurant” fame) played defensive center for the football team, is a Patriots fan, is a member of the Saint Peter’s Holy Name Society and served on the Art Committee. Vietnam War hero (the late) Kevin Crowe pitched for The Voke Baseball Team, worked at New England Metal Spinning and liked to listen to The Mamas & The Papas. Joe Dellagatta (rest in peace, Joe) liked to listen to The Beach Boys. Math was Henry Gennetti’s favorite subject. Jean Tomasello was voted best female athlete. Paul Condon was named best lineman.
• Converse Rubber at 392 Pearl St. is hiring General Factory workers and Production Unit Assemblers (“male and female”).
• In July, Manager Dick Williams, new dad Rico Petrocelli and second baseman Mike Andrews appear at the Tulsa Gas Station on the corner of Medford Street and the Fellsway (Rigano’s Towing) to sign autographs and smoke cigarettes. Mike Scibelli, Frank Levine, Jimmy Damiano and I remember this vividly.

As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” – 1967 was, once again, a very good year. Granted I was only 10 but the world started opening wide for me in the Summer of Love. Jimmy Damiano and I found a second home at Devir Park – spending every daylight hour on Bruce Field aka Craddock Park honing our baseball skills until we graduated to the Bandstand. Saint Rocco ’67 with brother Joe, my first 10-speed racer (moms bought it at the Schwinn shop on Commercial St.), Billy Callahan’s legendary 4^th of July celebration (and parade) and watching construction workers break ground for the Irish American Club! The best of times, no debate! Stay tuned for Part 2 coming real soon.

—Peter is a longtime Malden resident and a regular contributor to The Malden Advocate and can be reached at PeteL39@aol.com for comments, compliments or criticisms.