I still remember the night like it was yesterday.
I was sitting upstairs at the old office at 12th and Porter streets (I miss that place) until 2 a.m. putting together our massive 65th anniversary edition. Someone came up with the crazy idea of spotlighting 65 longstanding South Philly businesses. Sure, it was an exhausting, never-ending process, but the reward came that Thursday afternoon when the paper finally arrived at the office. We couldn’t stop talking about it (the paper, not the all-nighter the production department pulled the day before).
The majority of the people involved with that issue are no longer part of the SPR family, but the newspaper has lived on to celebrate another milestone. Somehow, in what seems like a blink of an eye, we turned 70.
Just like the 65th, we are putting together something special. Walk around the neighborhood — whether its Lower Moyamensing, East Passyunk, South of South or Queen Village — and there is a common theme: South Philly is home to some pretty famous people. We’re talking hundreds of them. Many of them appear on murals all around the neighborhood. Well, in honor of our 70th, we are going to take a look back at some of the big names who have achieved stardom on the local and national levels. Some of them have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, while other names may generate one of those, “I didn’t realize he or she was from South Philly” responses. Call it a highlight reel of subjects who have helped to make the South Philly Review maintain its award-winning status.
There will images of old covers, too, serving as a look back at some of the newsworthy moments from previous decades. Who can forget Winter Storm Jonas when it literally blanketed the South Philly neighborhood? Catholic School mergers, the demolition of the beloved Spectrum and Vet, development in the Philadelphia Navy Yard, former state Sen. Vince Fumo sentenced to jail, visit from the Pope … the stories and the memories go on and on.
But this time around, just like our 50th anniversary, we are celebrating the occasion South Philly style — a 70th Anniversary Celebration at Galdo’s Catering, 1933 W. Moyamensing Ave., on Nov. 29, the same date of our anniversary issue. Mark your calendars to come out and enjoy some of your favorite South Philly food paired with live entertainment from The Business. The fun will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door, and can be purchased at nmg.ticketleap.com/70th.
Looking forward to another trip down South Philly Memory Lane.
Until next week …
-By Bill Gelman
