John Ettline was born 114 years ago
on the 12th day of March, 1906.
John graduated from York High.
He was an all around athlete
He was an all around athlete
and played on the school's
football and baseball teams.
John attended junior college
until his father needed to
pull him out to help with
the family farm in Foustown,
the Cousler Park area north
of York. His education cut
short, John was nevertheless
regarded as an extremely
intelligent man.
short, John was nevertheless
regarded as an extremely
intelligent man.
John loved music and dancing, and it's no stretch
to understand why he was inspired to buy the
Shady Dell and turn it into an ice cream
parlor and juke joint for teenagers.
To celebrate John's birthday this year, I picked
three songs I think he would have enjoyed.
three songs I think he would have enjoyed.
MAURICE WILLIAMS
AND THE ZODIACS
Let's get the birthday party started with a vintage clip of the Carolina based
one-hit-wonder group Maurice Williams And The Zodiacs doing their late
1960 chart topper "Stay" on The Village Square, a nationally syndicated
music television show that aired every week in the mid to late 60s.
The Village Square originated in Charleston, South Carolina, but
by the time this performance was taped in 1966, the show was
being produced at a studio in Charlotte, North Carolina.
one-hit-wonder group Maurice Williams And The Zodiacs doing their late
1960 chart topper "Stay" on The Village Square, a nationally syndicated
music television show that aired every week in the mid to late 60s.
The Village Square originated in Charleston, South Carolina, but
by the time this performance was taped in 1966, the show was
being produced at a studio in Charlotte, North Carolina.
"Stay" - Maurice Williams And The Zodiacs
(Nov./Dec. 1960, highest chart pos. #1 Hot 100/#3 R&B,
1966 perf. on The Village Square)
1966 perf. on The Village Square)
THE FIVE DELIGHTS
The Five Delights were a mixed race (Latin & Caucasian) New York doo-wop
group that also made records as The Mood Makers and The Watusi Warriors.
In 1958 The Five Delights released a single with the ballad "There'll Be
No Goodbye" on the A side. To celebrate John's birthday I'd like to get
Shady's Place hoppin' and boppin' with the rockin' rollin'
B side-- "Okey Dokey Mama!"
group that also made records as The Mood Makers and The Watusi Warriors.
In 1958 The Five Delights released a single with the ballad "There'll Be
No Goodbye" on the A side. To celebrate John's birthday I'd like to get
Shady's Place hoppin' and boppin' with the rockin' rollin'
B side-- "Okey Dokey Mama!"
"Okey Dokey Mama" - The Five Delights
(1958, B side of "There'll Be No Goodbye")
SHELLEY FABARES
A tradition was inaugurated one year ago on this date when readers
reacted quite favorably to the following video. It's fresh and lovely
Shelley Fabares as Mary Stone on The Donna Reed Show singing
"Johnny Angel," a song that seems ideally suited for this occasion.
"Johnny Angel" - Shelley Fabares
(Mar./Apr. 1962, highest chart pos. #1,
scene from The Donna Reed Show)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOHN.
WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU!
Happy birthday,John! Thanks for being such a positive influence for the youth! ❤️
ReplyDeleteHi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteI'm sure John would appreciate those kind words. 114 years is a figure I can't even fathom. Time Marches on.
Thanks and have a nice day, dear friend JM!
Hi Shady,
DeleteI was reading more about John and it seems like those of his generation didn't finish school for different reasons, but were very intelligent. I often miss people of John and even Nan's generations. There was always wisdom in Nan's and great grandma's stories. Great Grandma was born in 1910, Nan 1923. Nan was silent generation, not sure about John and great grandma.
The song choices were lovely and fitting as well. They brought me a lot of cheer on a very trying day. Our county is under quarantine, but I am to report to work like normal. I have to, I need the money. I'm keeping healthy and clean.
Have a great Thankful Thursday, dear friend.
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteWhat a great comment from you, dear friend. Thank you! You know how much I appreciate longer comments, especially from an experienced writer like yourself, that give me something to respond to and keep the discussion thread going.
You pegged John Ettline correctly. Although his formal education was cut short by a need to help with the family farm, John was a very intelligent man. I used to sit in the Dell snack bar and listen to John as he spoke off the top of his head on a variety of subjects. Like a great orator, John always stood. You never saw him sitting down. He could address practically any topic, his favorites being local, state and national politics, the military and sports, and rattle off facts and statistics as if he were reading from cue cards or a teleprompter. Beyond intelligence, John possessed wisdom and "people smarts."
I know how much you miss your Nan, and thanks for mentioning your great grandma. Born in 1910, she was only a few years younger than John, around the same age as Helen, a couple of years older than Margaret Schneider and three years older than my dad. I learned some interesting details about The Silent Generation. Members were born between 1928 and 1945. This would include my brother who will soon turn 81. The oldest member of the Silent Generation is now 92 years old and the youngest is, or is turning, 75 years old in 2020. Instead of trying to change the system, members of the Silent Generation chose to work within the system, keep their heads down and work hard. Having been children during The Great Depression, they learned to be frugal, thrifty, even miserly.
I'm glad these song choices for John's b-day gave you a lift in the midst of your difficult days. I think you are wise for trying to live as normally as possible while taking the necessary sanitary precautions.
Thanks again for putting so much effort into your comment, dear friend JM. Have a great Friday and weekend!
It looks like John, Nan, Helen, Margaret, and great-grandma were born during "the Greatest Generation." According to Wikipedia:
DeleteThe term The Greatest Generation was popularized by the title of a 1998 book by American journalist Tom Brokaw. In the book, Brokaw profiled American members of this generation who came of age during the Great Depression and went on to fight in World War II, as well as those who contributed to the war effort on the home front. Brokaw wrote that these men and women fought not for fame or recognition, but because it was the "right thing to do."[2] This cohort is also referred to as the World War II generation.[3]
Makes sense to me! It looks like starting in 1890, that's when they started tracking generational names. I'm going to have to do some research because that's really cool.
Have a great Saturday!
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteThanks for returning with additional info about generational names. According to the cohort parameters, The Greatest Generation included my mother who was born in 1918. When I worked in television news, Tom Brokaw was the NBC Nightly News anchor. Hard to believe he turned 80 last month. I can't help wondering how many Americans still do something because it is the right thing to do. It will soon be time to name the generation that follows the current Gen Z. I wonder what they'll name it.
Thanks again for coming over to expand our discussion, dear friend JM, and have a super weekend!
He was smart enough to buy and run a successful business! And influence a generation in a positive way.
ReplyDeleteHi, Alex!
DeleteThanks for coming early to John's birthday party, good buddy!
It's true. John possessed intelligence, "people smarts" and wisdom. Dell rats were lucky to have known him and to have been influenced by him.
Thanks again for coming, Alex!
Tom,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful tribute to celebrate John's 114th birthday! I didn't know him in this life, but someday I'll get to in the next. Thanks for sharing some great oldies from yesteryear. The only one I didn't know is "Okey Okey Mama". Have a fabulous afternoon, my friend!
Hi, Cathy!
DeleteThanks for being here for John's birthday celebration again this year, dear friend!
The thought of you becoming a Dellette someday, somewhere, somehow, is exciting. I'm sure John and Helen would welcome you into the fold. I picked the R&B record "Okey Dokey Mama" because I like it and to remind us that folks in my neck of the woods used to say "okey dokey" or "okey doke" as a way of agreeing with someone or saying "okay." The informal term was also spoken by residents of the Minneapolis area in one of my favorite films, the 1996 black comedy thriller Fargo.
Thank you again for dropping by, dear friend Cathy, and have a wonderful weekend!
These were wonderful pics. I didn't know the Okey Dokey Mamma but loved the name for sure! "Stay" is a favorite of mine and also reminds me of the movie, "Dirty Dancing". But the best so far is the Shelly Fabrares song. What a perfect pic for your John who is now an angel. These songs are timeless and so is the story of the man who started the Shady Dell. You've kept his legacy alive. I love to hear everyone's story because everyone has one to tell but not every person gets to tell it or have somebody who'll make sure it's shared. I'm sure John and Helen love that you're doing that for them. So a big happy birthday to John! Take care Shady!
ReplyDeleteHi, YaYa!
DeleteI wanted to check your update on Whispering Pines before settling in to read your comment more carefully and reply. I have been sick in bed all day today and it's difficult for me to make the normal blogging rounds. Just when I thought your life couldn't get more complicated, your dear mother took a tumble. I am very sorry to learn of the mishap and hope she can get back on the road to wellness even if it is a three month journey. I'm sure you remember the worrisome weeks and months when Margaret Schneider suffered a series of falls.
Turning to your comment on my birthday post for John, I'm glad you got so much out of the songs, distracted as you are coping with twin medical crises in Chicago. I was excited to come across that sync edit video of Maurice Wms. and group performing on the Carolinas based Village Square music TV program. I grew up never even hearing about the show which specialized in bringing young viewers the best artists and sounds of the "Carolina Beach Music" genre.
As you do every year at this time, you touched my heart and the hearts of other original Dell Rats with your kind words about our leader, John Ettline. Shelley Fabares' signature song "Johnny Angel" does seem ideal for this annual post, and I think I will continue the tradition year after year. I'll refer to it as "John's song."
Thanks again for making time for a visit. Please take good care of yourself, your mother and your sister, dear friend YaYa!
Hi friend Shady. Happy Birthday to John. March is a good month :) I for sure watched the Donna Reed Show. Had a crush on Paul Peterson. I think I remember this episode. Hope you and the Mrs. are well. So far so good here. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteJanet’s Smiles
Hi, Janet!
DeleteThanks for coming to John's birthday party, dear friend! I also appreciate you sharing that you watched The Donna Reed Show. Like Shelley Fabares, Paul Petersen tried his luck as a recording artist and scored a couple of major hits: "She Can't Find Her Keys" and "My Dad." Minor hits included "Keep Your Love Locked (Deep In Your Heart)," "Lollipops And Roses" and "Amy." My favorite Paul Petersen record never made the chart. It's the cool car song "She Rides With Me," co-written and produced by Brian Wilson who sang and played on the recording along with The Blossoms backing singers and members of the famous Wrecking Crew session orchestra.
Thank you again for being here for John's birthday celebration, dear friend Janet!
Hi Shady! Wouldn't it be great if John were here to sit in on his Birthday celebration with us! But...I'm sure he's watching and dancing up above. He was so special, purchasing a large home, and turning it into a grand dance club and eatery. John catered to the teens, allowing them to be themselves, laugh, cry and dance in his home/establishment. Even towards the latter years, I can picture him behind the counter where Helen spent the majority of her adult years, serving and visiting with the teens. He sips a coke, listens to his juke box, and feels nostalgia all around him of the days of Dell.
ReplyDeleteI love the very COOL song, "Stay". The Five Delights, huh! "Okey Dokey Mama" is so upbeat, I can picture dancers on the floor having a great time to this one. I like it!
Who doesn't love Shelley Fabares! This is a superb choice for John's heavenly Birthday, Shady. Shelley's soft, yet determined voice is as pretty as she is. I have always admired her, and still do.
Happy Birthday, John! This is a wonderful celebration for a good friend, Shady! Take care, dear friend...I read in one of your comments that you were ill in bed of a day! Hope you are doing better now! ♫
Hi, Suzanne!
DeleteHow are you, dear friend? Thanks so much for dropping in again this year for John's birthday celebration!
You could be the author of this blog, Suzanne, because you know John and Helen and the Shady Dell almost as well as I and other original rats do. Thank you for sharing your impressions of John in his final years without Helen by his side working her snack bar and listening to her jukebox. By the way, those two pictures of teenagers are making their debut in this post. The black & white pic of the couple sipping sodas might as well have been snapped at the Dell because it looks an awful lot like Helen's snack counter. I picked the color illustration because the jukebox reminds me of Helen's and the diner booth gives you an idea of how the restaurant section of the house looked in the years when the Dell had an extensive menu and served full meals. Those booths were later removed and a foosball table installed in that room and later a pool table.
I'm pleased that you like the golden oldie "Stay" by Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs. I was thrilled to find this nicely restored clip from The Village Square, a Carolina TV show I didn't know about until a few years ago. I plan to keep using "Johnny Angel" as "John's song" on his birthday because it seems perfect for the occasion. The song sounds innocent, but is open to interpretation. For example, do you notice the subtle, momentary look of panic on Donna Reed's face when her TV daughter sings the words "I'm in heaven, I get carried away. I think of him and me and how it's gonna be"? :)
Yessum, I was sick as a dog yesterday, spent much of the day in bed, and just beginning to recover today. I don't know what hit me, but it has been years since I was that ill. Thanks for the well wishes.
I hope you and Scootie are doing swell and in good spirits. Stay tuned for my next post on Monday when a familiar face and a much loved character returns as co-host. Thanks again for coming to the b-day party, dear friend Suzanne, and have a safe and happy weekend!
You picked some great tunes for John's birthday celebration. I had to play Johnny Angel a couple of times.
ReplyDeleteHi, Cheryl-Lee!
DeleteWelcome back to Shady's Place, dear friend! "Johnny Angel" is a teen pop classic that has stood the test of time. I never tire of hearing it or watching sweet Mary Stone perform it in that scene from Donna Reed. I'm glad you enjoy the song, too.
Thanks again for dropping in, dear friend Cheryl-Lee, and enjoy the rest of your month!
Greetings from (still) very wintery Alberta, friend Shady:) Good day to hunker down and hibernate some more … thing is though: Got to go to work in order to make sum money for Thunderbutt and I:) Wishing you a happy and healthy week end. Love, cat.
ReplyDeleteHi, cat!
DeleteThanks for coming to John's party, dear friend!
WHAT??? It's still winter in Alberta? In Florida it's been summer for the last week or so. I wish I could hibernate with Theo Thunderbutt and give him lubbins all day long. Please be careful out there on the slippery highways and byways, dear friend. I wish you a happy and healthy week as well, cat, and thank you again for coming down!
Happy Birthday John.
ReplyDeleteGlad to know you are feeling better.
I am on lockdown as I can not normally be around groups of people. So it is Big Time Oh No You Didn't lock down in Tucson.......
Be safe and well.
parsnip
Hi, Gayle!
DeleteHow are you, dear friend? Thanks for being here for John's annual birthday observance!
Yessum, it was rough sledding in Florida for a couple of days, but I am feeling better and stronger today. Thank you! I'm sorry you are on lockdown. This whole situation is surreal and is likely to get worse before it gets better.
Thanks again for coming to John's b-day party, dear friend Gayle! Stay indoors, enjoy your fur babies and keep well.
My Dad would have been 107 on March 14th so this is a Happy Birthday week to 2 special people. I love the songs you chose and i think he is looking down and smiling that he made you(and others) feel like the Glen was a home away from home. Stay safe and may the toilet paper be with you
ReplyDelete