; THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 30 Friday, April 25, 1980 VINCENZO'S LISTENING POST A MOST AMAZING story is that of Lou Sarko and his Arrow Wrecking Co. . . . Lou was only 12 years old when his father, Julius, now 86 and living in Palm Springs, Fla. with wife Laska, originated, with Lou's Uncle Sam, a com- pany called Red Arrow House Wrecking Co. .. . This was 1922, and they had gotten the name from the famous Red Arrow Division both had served in during World War I. After his three-year un- paid apprenticeship, Lou went to work for Julius and Sam . . . 15 years old and earning a whopping 80 cents a week that took care of his school books, allowed him to go to a show, buy popcorn, etc. This was on Michigan and Scotten in Detroit . . . The last 34 years, Arrow has been on Wyoming and Michigan in Dearborn. Today, Arrow Wreck- ing is one of the nation's biggest ... Lou is accom- panied by his and wife Bessie's two sons ... Alan, admitted to the bar but choosing to be with dad instead ... and Leonard. They aren't called wrec- kers anymore . . . The cor- rect title is demolition engineers. Where Julius and Sam had only five people work- ing for them . . . Lou has 100 . . . with upwards of 500 being used at one time or another. There's nothing Arrow won't do . . . they'll demolish anything . . . even ships for the Navy and bridges .. . both of which have been done by them . . . Phis work- ing in 33 states and Canada . . . Just a phone call and Lou's Arrow Wrecking can do work the world over. During World War II, Lou was a demolition ex- pert with the 10th Moun- tain Division of the Fifth Army in Italy . . . blowing up mines set by the Ger- mans ... to make way for the infantry. Looking over a book put out by the Detroit Historical Society, Lou and Arrow Wrecking have torn down more than half of downtown Detroit . . . Remember the Majestic Bldg.? . . . The Hammond Bldg.? . . . The McKesson-Robbins Bldg. on whose grounds today stands Cobo Hall and Veteran's Memorial? First crane used was (and don't cry, you folks who re- member), in the demolition of the old Vernor's GingerAle Bldg. on Wood- ward . . . A 10-story build- ing was torn down with one crane and a half-dozen men. In Arlington, Texas, Gen- eral Motors called in Lou to take 500 stacks off the roof of their building . . . without walking on it . . . Sound im- thOCKY'S Restaurant & Pizzeria Italian-American Cuisine Danny Raskin's possible? Lou and Arrow Wrecking became the first to use helicopters. Another first was putting a crane on a building .. . This they did by lifting it up with another crane. Lou's desk is an all- marble piece from the ladies' room of the old Majestic Bldg.. . . The top was part of its wall and the legs are from balus- trades that held up the banisters. Lou is 65 years old and thoughts of retiring are as remote as his digging for whales in Alaska. What took Julius and Sam a month to wreck (homes by hand) back in 1922, now is a simple three-hour job for Lou, who always wonders what he'll find next . . . One time in Boston it was a 3,000- year-old mummy . . . From the way Lou is going, he may have found the Foun- tain of Youth. CONGRATS . . . to Sol and Sylvia Segall . . . on their 40th anniversary .. . to Dr. Joseph Beninson at Henry Ford Hospital . . . on his 62nd birthday . . . to David Tugender . . . on reaching the magic age of 21. IT'S OFFICIAL . . . This Saturday will be "Irving Guttman Day" in South- field . . . as per proclamation by Mayor Don Fracassi .. . Irving will be honored Saturday evening at a tes- timonial dinner-dance .. . at Adat Shalom . . . by Israel Bonds on behalf of his Eins- tein Lodge and Chapter and Greater Detroit Bnai Brith. BELATED CON- GRATS . . . to Sidney F_ rumkin on his birthday. EVERY YEAR, the two local chapters for National Jewish Hospital and Re- search Center National Asthma Center hold a door-to-door drive . . . De- troit League, headed by Lucia Robiner (Max), president, has been at it 45 years, and Northwest De- troit Chapter, presided over by Martha Burnstein (Mor- ris), has 25 years under its belt. In matters of membership numbers, few organizations can match these groups on fund raising . . . Detroit Chapter has 241 . . . North- west with its only 33 mem- bers alone has already raised around $20,000 through bake sales, etc. This is a very worthy cause . . . and volunteers are needed for the door-to-door "March For Breath," May 1-31 . . . Person to contact is Flo Rose, 399-1751. TIME OF CONCERT by Flavio Varani, very fine Brazilian pianist, this Sun- day at Temple Beth El, Telegraph and 14 Mile, is 1:30 p.m. . . . Donor Lunch- eon by Beth El Sisterhood begins at 10 a.m. at Mendota B•t. 6 & 7 Mils Rds. 869-5674 0 0 0 00 0 00 0 0 o % • ••• ... • • ••• • lOMERSET i • DINER THEATRE • cictruit's Origiihil chimol Ille,ort , :I Alfr ed) • • • • • • • • • Jimmt,