~ Malden Musings ~ Malden circa 1985

By Peter Levine

The year 1985 was a very good year. There may not have been any “blue-blooded girls, of independent means” but it definitely will go down in my ledger book as a stone-cold blast!

• The Celts were still in the Bird Era!
• Summer Street Fruit & Variety had some of the best produce on the North Shore! The Morelli family opened for business sometime in the early ’50s.
• The Sox were competitive but still under the “Curse of the Yawkeys.” John Henry killed the Yawkey curse in 2002.
• The Malden Y at 5:00 on Wednesdays and Fridays was the only place on earth you wanted to be if you played hoop.
• You bought the best and most inexpensive fruits and vegetables at Rosebud Farms (only trouble was, you had to eat them that day or they would go bad on you. I kid).
• The MHS Boys Tennis Team was State Tournament–bound with outstanding players, such as Dave Bouley, Pat Doherty, Johnny Baglio, Sal Sciaudone and Jim Isbell.
• Nelson’s Bakery served as an anchor in Maplewood Square, delighting the close-knit neighborhood for decades with their signature mince pies, Danish kipsies, apple gems and banana nut bread.
• On a personal note, I am rooting for Maplewood Square to make a bigly comeback! Hoping that the Community Vision for Maplewood Presentation jump-starts the revitalization! Fingers crossed!
• One stop shopping at Forgione Market! A pound of bruschetta, sliced provolone and a loaf of French Bread! Fuhgeddaboudit! On the way out, stop next door at Forgione Liquors for a case of Schlitz!
• At Pleasant Smoke Shop you bought quality cigars, played your number, purchased newspapers and magazines – from the New York Daily News to The Boston Globe to The Boston Phoenix to The Sporting News – and engaged in spirited conversation with owners Steve and (the late beloved) John Strauss.
• Bert Paquette & The New Gamblers were (literally) the house band at the Do Re Lounge on Ferry Street. More a “clubhouse” than a lounge, the bar was dark, the tables mid-century chic, the drinks well poured and most of the clientele talked in whispers.
• Lenny at the Elmwood Pharmacy sold more Budweiser on a 1985 Sunday afternoon out the back door than he did out the front door during the whole week!
• It was the golden era at Donut Villa! John’s donuts and coffee blew the competition away – with the dynamic duo of Dawn and Maria serving the best breakfast in the hood! On a side note, I am almost positive John didn’t start wearing his Patriot’s baseball hat/gear until TB came aboard (insert smiley face).
• If you played hoop in Malden in 1985, you played with some of the most competitive and most talented ballplayers on the North Shore – on sacred ground, such as Amerige Park, Devir Park, Linden Park, Miller/Harvard Street Park, Ferryway Green and Green Street Park. Most guys/gals knew how to play the game the correct way. They played within themselves, having grown up with Celtics culture: team first. Take the good shot, make the extra pass, box out, play D, and if you didn’t hustle the entire game, you were “spoken to” both during and after the game.
• Jake’s Pub, Max’s, Jessell’s Grille, the Hole-in-the-Wall Pub, & the Auld New Lounge. If you know, you know.
• There was Joanna’s Coffee Shop, Donut Man Coffee Shop and Donut House, but I don’t remember them. Can anybody shine some light on these coffee houses?
• I saw the following bands at The Channel in Southie: Eek-A-Mouse, Toots and the Mayalls, Extreme (four times), The Blushing Brides, Yellowman, the Hoods, the Outlets, Ball & Pivot, the Stompers, Lou Miami and many, many more.
• Oak Grove Variety thrived in ’85, survived in ’95, was alive in ’05, went lean by ’15 and is still adored in ’24. I know that was silly, but it was fun to write!
• Gulliver’s Travels was in Maplewood Square. Edson Shoe got swallowed up by Boda Borg. Sunnyhurst on Highland Avenue is now doggie daycare. Donald Francis Salon is but a vintage sign behind the MATV studios. Henry’s Lounge disappeared. Lebanon Street Variety has changed hands too many times to count. All gone but for fond memories.
• Gloria Food on Main Street, Malden Square misses you bigly! My go-to was their Italian roast beef sub with everything on it. Haven’t had a better one since! Fuhgeddaboudit!
• The 2nd Annual Greater Boston Basketball School for boys and girls 8-17 was going on at the Roy Finn Gym with Camp Director Don Brunelli and Program Director Dana Brown large and in charge.
• My Honey Fitz Restaurant was a pillar in Malden Square. But they were not really known for their cuisine. Brawls, good, stiff drinks and partying until you dropped or heaved were what they were actually known for.
• Oh yeah, the Fitz was also known as the favored watering hole for most Malden pols – public policy made over pints of Guinness and shots of Black Velvet! Could the decision to place “The Beast That Ate Pleasant Street” been made between those four walls over well-poured pints? Anything is possible. Insert smiley face.
• MHS Class of 1971’s Charlie Farren released two albums in ’85 with his band, The Enemy: “America Rocks” and “Sally’s Got a Poker Face.” When he wasn’t headlining all the major rock clubs in the Greater Boston area his band was sharing the stage with the likes of The Kinks, Huey Lewis, Jethro Tull, Sammy Hagar, Eddie Money and Warren Zevon.
• The team roster for Chisholm’s Sporting Goods in the Malden Men’s Recreational Basketball League – a team full of Malden paisans and goodfellas: Johnny Salmon, Rod “Puggy” Forbes, Billy Hanifan, John Furlong, Tommy Kelly, Dennis Cakert, Bobby Trodden, Anthony Jesi, Billy Greeley and Terry “6th Man” Matthews.
• In 1985 Richie Correale (Seals) and Mike DiMauro (Colts) were MBRL Rookies of the Year.
• In the kitchen at the Highland Café, Dave “Malden Musings Hall of Famer” Angelo was pumping out nearly 500 pizzas on any given Friday night. The bar was always full. The veal parm was to die for. On Friday nights Anna (Puleo) was on the phone taking pizza orders. Ernie Ardolino Sr. greeted you as if you were a long-lost member of the clan. Jukeboxes were still in each booth. And the world-famous pizza had already reached iconic status.
• Shawn Brickman pitched the game of his life, winning the Inter-City League Championship as his “Miracle (Meffa) Mustangs” defeated the Melrose Rams, 3-1. Legendary Mustang player/manager Eddie (2010 ICL HOF) DiGiacomo, to this very day, calls Shawn one of the most clutch pitchers he has ever coached or witnessed in the ICL.
• My pally, Malden’s pally, your pally – (historian, attorney, goodfella and much more) the late Frankie Russell – graduated from MHS in 1985. I miss Frankie but get to chat with his moms Denise at least once a year, which helps. Frankie loved Malden and put his heart and soul into everything he wrote and every adventure he went on. His last book – published in 2018 – “An Early History of Malden,” is still available on Amazon and is a must read if you dig Malden history.
• The Clash released “Cut the Crap” in ’85 – an ignominious way for these punk rock icons to go out and be remembered. The release broke Sean Lucey’s heart (and mine).
• Malden San Rock Festa was 56 years old.
• Future professional baseball player (Aztecs) Carmine Cappuccio and future bocce star (Chiefs) Chris Bennett were named Sportsman of the Year in the BRL.
• Addiction Recovery Resource Specialist Paul Hammersley from the Health & Human Services Department graduated in 1985. After hitting a bump or two in the road (including sporting a “mullet” for a short period of time), “The Hammer” has become a Malden “Most Valuable Player” with a beautiful daughter, Bella, and an equally beautiful wife, Lisa. Maybe you know them? If you don’t, you should. Fine, fine people.
• Steve “Psycho” Lyons (can we even nickname people that anymore – insert smiley face) was the guest speaker at the 20th Annual Malden Babe Ruth League Banquet.
• We had a stylish bounce in our step when we proudly sported the Larry Bird–endorsed “Converse Weapon.”
• Carmine (Cappuccio) was also named BRL MVP out of the Eastern Conference, and out of the West, Billy “The Ageless Wonder” Roderick (Chiefs) and Jason Knox from the Colts split the award.
• In the photo: possibly a (1970s?) 4th of July Parade snaking its way through Maplewood Square with the aforementioned Gulliver’s Travels in the background. Do I spy Neil Kinnon sporting Chuck Taylor’s sitting on the roof?

As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” – I leave this week with a “1985 Malden Slice of Life…”

Billy Callahan lived on Highland Court and was our forever Ward 2 Councillor and State Rep. (they broke the Councillor mold when Billy passed). But most importantly, he was a living legend in Malden at the time (and still is). In 1985 the following kind words for Councillor Callahan were spoken by Editor Joseph W. Carroll of “Malden: This Week”:

“As a politician, Billy Callahan, covered all the bases, old style but the way people like their officials to perform. Billy’s day, all 365 of them a year, was spent with an emphasis on visiting hospitals, acknowledging birthdays and anniversaries, paying last respects at the many funeral homes in his district, greeting constituents on the street and of course, kissing babies.

“At campaign time, Billy was known to cover his entire district, door-to-door as many as 4 and 5 times…and at least once with his lovely wife Ann by his side. If Billy’s charm didn’t win support, then Ann’s would for sure.”

Postscript: I thought it apropos to leave this week with lyrics from “Time” by the Pozo-Seco Singers. After writing this “look back” article, it just felt right:

  “Sometimes I’m satisfied, sometimes I’m not.

  Sometimes my face is cold, sometimes it’s hot.

  Sunset, I laugh, sunrise I cry.

  At midnight I’m in between and wondering why.

  … Time. oh, time where did you go?

  Time, oh good, good time where did you go?

  … Time, oh time where did you go?

  Time, oh good, good time where did you go?”

—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.