Dempsey's: Good prices, good memory

6/17/2000

A live lobster dinner, $2. Filet mignon, $1.35. Brook trout, 90 cents. Prime rib, $1.25. A cocktail from the bar, 35 cents.

Those were prices Louis and Martha Fisher saw on a menu at Jack Dempsey's Restaurant when they visited New York a few (ahem) years ago.

''Jack Dempsey himself came over and signed the menu and chatted with us when he heard we were from Toledo,'' Louis recalls. ''He had a soft spot for Toledo.''

Dempsey defeated Jess Willard, July 4, 1919 in Toledo's most celebrated sporting event.

Louis is 96 and Martha 91. ''But Jack Dempsey is gone now,'' Louis says, ''and so are those prices.''

A crash and ...

Some things don't happen the way anyone would expect. Dick Steinert of Toledo tells of an accident he witnessed last month at Central and McCord.

An ''older lady'' turned onto Central, against a red light. A young man in a pickup truck could not avoid hitting her, Dick says.

The woman sat stunned, then got out of her car and walked toward the truck's driver.

''As she approached the young man, he looked up from his severely damaged truck and studied her. Then, without hesitation, he turned toward her and, with arms outstretched, he embraced and comforted her.

''It was a simple act of kindness and he made it look so easy. The effect was immediate and profound, both on the lady and those who saw it.''

Scott's 'Harvey'

The 1960 Senior Class Play at Scott High School was Harvey.

The class of '60 will hold a reunion next weekend at the Quality Inn on Reynolds Road. Rumor has it that the big white rabbit last seen in Harvey will be there.

Ray Anthony update

Lots of readers had some memories of the 1955 wedding in Toledo of actress Mamie Van Doren and musician Ray Anthony. Most had something to recall about blond bombshell Mamie.

But Dale Craig of Perrysburg assures us that Anthony still is going strong on the bandstand and cut a new compact disc with swing music favorites, such as ''Chattanooga Choo Choo,'' ''In the Groove,'' and ''Sing, Sing, Sing.''

''Ray is a friend of mine. I will join him on a Big Band Cruise on the Queen Elizabeth II, which will feature his orchestra,'' Dale said.

''Ray lives in L.A. and still plays a lot of dates on the west coast, still blowing a great trumpet.''

A real fan

Retired judge Bud Restivo was watching a baseball game on TV when daughter Janet walked in.

Janet: "What inning is it, Dad?"

Bud: "The eighth inning."

Janet: "What's the score?"

Bud: "Zero to zero."

Janet: "Oh, good. I didn't miss anything."

Some day

In one Toledo family, seven people, Bill, Jim, and Sheila Earle, Darcy Suwinski, and triplets Zacharay, Connor, and Rose Dudacek, have birthdays June 21.

The Last Word

''With the price of gasoline, that's all I can afford.''

Ben Vaznelis of Toledo was explaining why he mows his grass with an old push-type reel mower instead of a power mower.

Got a funny or unusual story? Call Mike Tressler, 724-6107, or send to The Blade, Box 921, Toledo, O. 43660, or e-mail: mtressler@theblade.com.