Johnny Ray in Detroit angle was the
fact that Morrie and Al had sold
Johnny his contract back for the then
staggerihg sum of $25,000 ... Two
months later, Johnny was on the
national charts with five out of the
nation's 10 top recordings.
CLUB TROCADERO on Fenkell
around 1940, hired a group that audi-
tioned there and was made up of a 9-
year-old boy, his father and uncle
Bossman Herman "Turk" Prujansky
hired the trio for $180 a week ..
Somebody told a truant officer, who
came to the club and took the young-
ster off the stage because he was under-
age ... However, the dad and uncle
claimed he was a midget and got away
with it to the extent that the boy was
allowed to perform ... This was one of
Sammy Davis Jr.'s favorite stories.
COUPLE CAME into Irving's
Delicatessen on Greenfield and 11 Mile
and asked for Beef Flanken Aficionados
... as written by restaurant writer Molly
Abraham ... then with the Detroit News
... Beef Flanken, yes ... but the other? ..
Nobody knew what they were until
someone told Rose Guttman, owner
with husband, Irving, that aficionados
was a word meaning "devotees" or
"fans."
BACK IN 1978, Darbys opened on
Pontiac Trail and 15 Mile ... but not for
long ... and it wasn't the same Darbys
that burned down in 1968 ... And was
not owned by Sam Boesky ... Reason
why the name Darbys could be used
again was because Sam's attorney
neglected to renew the name, which
must be done at intervals.
PEOPLE WHO were there have
never forgotten the dinners they used to
get at Mayfield Chop House on
Griswold in Detroit ... Delicious entrees
were accompanied by marinated herring
or shrimp; onion or other soup, its
famous salad with anchovy and
Roquefort dressing, or creamy garlic,
and double-baked potato scooped out
and crispy on top.
THE YEAR 1972 saw ... Marvin
Chin opening Port-O-3 on Telegraph
(former Devon Gables) ... Black Forest
in Royal Oak going bankrupt ... Pietro's
(former Hugo's on Woodward) closing
its doors ... Shakey's Pizza owned by
brothers Ernie and Lou Grant, chang-
ing its name to the Railroad Crossing,
with liquor ... Golden Mushroom slated
as name of the new dining and cocktail
spot opening at former Rascal House
site on 10 Mile ... Michigan Palace
opening as a 1,500-seat house with
Duke Ellington and Joe Williams ...
Esther Allan's record album, Reflections,
reaching the final voting stage in the
JANUARY 11TH through FEBRUARY 19TH
JOIN US FORA SOUTH SEAS ADVENTURE IN DINING AND
ENJOY A VARIETY OF ISLAND FAVORITES INCLUDING...
Bahamian Coconut Fried Shrimp, Jamaican Banana Leaf Wrapped Snapper,
Yucatan Caribbean Cassolette, St. Barts Macadamia Encrusted Mahi Mahi,
Columbian Club de Pesca and Yellowfin Tuna with fried plantains
from Cozumel to name but a few.
FOOD SO GOOD YOU'LL THINK YOU'RE IN PARADISE!
Items listed above may not be available every day.
MER1WFMERS
namnrau=
401 Depot Street
Ann Arbor
734'769.0592
25485 Telegraph
Southfield
248.358.1310
RiveR eRab
ehardeq's eRab
5498 Crooks Rd.
Troy
248•879•2060