a. THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Mel Allen By HASKELL COHEN (Copyright 1978, J.T.A., Inc.) You don't hear too much about him anymore, but his fans, still legion ; haven't forgotten the Voice of the Yankees, Mel Allen ne Is- rael. Allen hasn't been on the air for the Yankees since 1965, not on a regular basis, just marginally, but he still retains the mellif- luent voice that made him the "Voice of the Yankees." His side-kick, Red Barber, often proclaimed the_ best announcer in baseball history, succinctly describes the demise of the Yankee mouthpiece in these pithy words, "He gave the Yankees his life and they broke his heart." Allen, the son of tradi- Famous Voice of the Yankee4 tional Jewish parents sur- named Israel, grew up in the Alabama area. His voice apparently came naturally to him since the Israel fam- ily boasted of several can- tors. As a matter of fact, in his early youth, Allen seemed destined to become a hazan. However, his love for sports pushed him into equal to them in knowl- edge and voice. the Canada Dry Bottling Co. He still does commer- cial voice-overs. Last year he did the Uni- versity of Miami football games and conceivably might be back with the Yanks for a pre-or post- game show, since George Steinbrenner, the New York owner, holds great re- spect for the man who gave so much of his time and energy to the perennial American League cham- pions. Why didn't Allen catch on with one of the other teams in baseball? Mel just didn't want anybody but the Yanks. Charley Finley, the oddball -owner of the Oak- land nine chased Allen for a time, but Mel didn't bite. He was a Yankee all the way. As for the Yanks, he al- most made it back with them a few years ago. Gabe Paul, then top dog on the club, spoke to Allen about just such possibility but the discussion ended when Gabe asked, "Mel, how old are you?" There are those who will tell you the decline of the New York Yankees started when Allen was shunted aside. He announced Yan- kee contests from 1939 through 1965, the great years in. Yankee history. Once he was dropped the Yanks dropped with him in the broadcasting field, the standings, only to re- where he and Barber turn to their winning ways emerged as the finest in recent years. baseball duo reporters in Nobody knows exactly sportscasting history. why the Yankees dropped Nobody since these men Allen. Oh, there are some backed out of the field who claim he couldn't stop has come along to emu- talking. Once he got going late either Allen or on his favorite nine, the Barber. And the likeli- words came out in a torrent hood is there never will and never ceased. His be a talk team in sports biggest trouble was not talking, whether he was broadcasting or relating to fellow workers. Not too long ago he went on the air with Mary Albert, of NBC's popular young sports announcer, who reverently asked before air time. "Mel, 26400 W. 12 MILE RD. AT NORTHWESTERN HWY. please try and keep your an- INTHE RACQUETIME BLDG. 355-3733 swers short. We only have a few minutes of air time." and "Sure, Marv, anything Not a nice approach from you say, just cut me off any- a fellow Yankee to a man time," replied the air sage. still a few years younger Chinese-American Dining I remember back to our than Paul. With Paul in 33459 W. 8 MILE AT FARMINGTON RD. New York Bnai Brith Cleveland now, and Stein- Livonia Sports Lodge dinners, brenner at the Yankee 477-0656 some years ago, when I helm, backed by Al Rosen, was president of the the "Voice" may once again lodge, and had to tug fur- be brought back to his hey- tively on Allen's jacket to day. THE DONG FAMILY Henry, Susie & Quincy POINT AFTER DELI SUSIE DONG'S WISH ALL THEIR MANY FRIENDS & CUSTOMERS A VERY HEALTHY AND HAPPY NEW YEAR mmiTR Is N mo ts THE ONE AND ONLY . . . NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OTHER- DIMITRI'S 316 N. WOODWARD, 2 Blks. N. of 11 Mile Royal Oak :3(1d: - 542-4880 YOU _4Iff_9i.s trI c tia.S -4tt ett.Slo A VERY HEALTHY AND HAPPY NEW YEAR Daily Specials & Dinners PREPARED BY OWNER & CHEF NIKOS Complete Children's Menu . and LOW Family Dining Prices , OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK. 7 a.m. T011p.m. SERVING THE ABSOLUTE FINEST IN • BREAKFASTS• LUNCHES• DINNERS SEE OUR GREAT LO - CAL SPECIALS • ICE CREAM • DESSERTS • BREAKFASTS • LUNCHES • DINNERS • DAILY SPECIALS • COMPLETE LUNCH SPECIALS ... $2.25 WE SPECIALIZE IN FRESH BROILED FISH I PRIVATE ROOM FOR SATURDAY NOON PARTIES I COMPLETE CARRY-OUT MENU • GREEK DISHES & SALAD cut down on his introduc- tions. While Mel MC'd beautifully, our dinners generally ended at mid- night. These days we knock off the same affair, annually, by 10:30 p.m. JERUSALEM (ZINS) — Former Prime Minister Yit- zhak Rabin has minimized differences between Menahem Begin and De- fense Minister Ezer Weiz- man over foreign policy, and the chances for the Labor Party to return to power. "Li'Shana TcWa Tikatavu" — May you be inscribed (in the Book of Life) for a good year. COUNTRY INN • B-B RIBS •• B-B CHICKEN • ITALIAN DISHES — BEER & WINE- 45199 CASS. UTICA 731-4440 "In The Big Red House" . ( 2,1000P Owl ettqmictio, mid C:flietidq o (__) 744oppii g c44 Cat t Jew cljeaft RIIISHAW INN IN THE ORCHARD MALL 6407 ORCHARD LAKE RD. AT MAPLE 851-6400 Carry Outs Available_ DROP ANCHOR AT THE NEW SEA SHELL METRO DETROIT'S NEWEST I SEAFOOD RESTAURANT FRESH FISH DELIVERED DAILY 10% OFF YOUR BILL ONE POUND Restaurant & Lounge P ( piecceiPat is, $895 LIVE LOBSTER TWO POUND LOBSTER OUR FAMOUS SHORE DINNER WHOLE LOBSTER. SCALLOPS. SHRIMP, FRESH LAKE SMELTS, BOWL OF NEW ENGLAND CHOWDER. POT. & VEG. 875 $1 1 9 5 FRESH WHITEFISH ... $5.95 STEAMED CLAMS .$4.25 dz. 1686 JOHN R, lust N. of 15 Mile Open Mon.-Sat. 689-1258 AAA. VW1:101,\AAVVIoN ■ ',WWW1 01AAWMANAViVeV1°1 1 ■ •10W.M. Stephen Becharas • . . and The Staff Of Nevertheless, Allen was and still is a gentleman. It was a pleasure talking to him at all times. You al- ways knew you had to have plenty of time on your hands if you engaged -him in con- versation. Nothing wrong with that. Most people were aware of his glibness and stuck it out. daeeiazid 19469 W. 1 0 MILE RD. (1 Block E. of Evergreen) 352-7466 . -- It was galling to watch some of the inconsiderate Yankees give Allen the brush, or turn on their heels and stomp away from him while he was in the middle of a sentence. Mickey Man- tle in particular was a con- stant - offender in this re-- spect. But then Mantle found it hard to relate with people most of the time, anyway. Sincerely With Their Many Friends and Customers A Very appy New Year Unlike so many of his Jewish associates in the broadcasting field, Allen found time to visit Israel to associate with guys like Chaim Glovinsky, then and to this day Mr. Sports of the Holy Land. While he has dropped out of the limelight with the Yankees, except for sporadic appearances on Old Timers days, it will not be necessary to pass the hat around for Allen. At 65, with a voice 20 years younger, he owns a radio station in Birming- ham, Ala. managed by brother Larry, and does public relations work for No bifference Friday, September. 29, 1978 53 We thank you for your gracious patronage . . . and most sincerely wish the very best In health, joy and prosperity to all L.