Elizabeth Coane Goodfellow invented the lemon pudding pie, the forerunner of the lemon meringue pie. MOVIEHOUSE PRODUCTIONS presents a tribute to Mrs. Goodfellow with its fanciful “Three Slices of Philly Pie”. “Slices” of old Philadelphia neighborhood life are presented in the Northeast’s Wissinoming section, in North Philly’s Brewerytown and in West Philadelphia.
Podcasts
Two Philly Shorts: The Baseball Ladies of Fishtown, 1943 Congressional Limited Crash
Moviehouse Productions interviewed two Philadelphians about their remarkable stories from long ago. Ida Fleming discussed hand-making major league baseballs in the Great Depression from her Fishtown home. Pennsylvania Railroader Albert “Jeff” Carlin eye-witnessed the disastrous 1943 crash of the Congressional Limited at Frankford Junction.
Digging for Gold: The Story of Harry Gold, NE Philly’s Atom Spy
A profile of Northeast Philadelphia’s Harry Gold, a key player in the notorious 1950’s Rosenberg Atom Spy Case. Gold’s involvement led to the indictment, trial and eventual execution of the Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, the only Americans executed in “peace time” for espionage. Because of Gold’s involvement in this infamous affair Gold’s important public health work is largely overlooked.
Diane’s North Philly
Moviehouse Productions paints a nostalgic picture of growing up in North Philadelphia’s Broad Street and Lehigh Avenue section in the 1950’s and ’60’s. The story is told by Diane P. Brown, a proud lifelong N. Philly resident. The video offers a fond look back at a close knit area…strong family and neighbors, the hustle/bustle of a thriving business center, the excitement of being a soulful sounds music center and living with walking distance of a baseball shrine.
Sites visited include N. Philly’s garment center at Broad and Lehigh, the Uptown Theater, Broad and Dauphin and Connie Mack Stadium, 21st and Lehigh.
Philly’s Midvale Steel: A Father’s Day Story
A son remembers his father’s experience at Philly’s Midvale Steel During World War II. Midvale was an important component of America’s “Arsenal for Democracy”.
Remembered: Philadelphia’s Old Strawberry Mansion Neighborhood
“Radio Rick” Spector’s mom, Sylvia, poses with his sister , Marsha, 1943. The picture was snapped at “Rodeo Ben’s”, America’s premier purveyor of western wear, 3209 Columbia Avenue, Strawberry Mansion, Philadelphia.
Old Strawberry Mansion was a historic North Philadelphia neighborhood. Moviehouse Productions’ special guest is Shelly Rosen who related her experiences growing up in the “Mansion” between 1940-1956.
The western boundary of Strawberry Mansion has been updated to include a section of 34th Street just south of Lehigh Avenue.
Mom’s Special Day
Moviehouse Productions Rick Spector shares several perspectives on “Mother’s Day”. Included are a look across cultures, a classic Mother’s Day poem and the bittersweet story of Mothers Day founder Anna Jarvis, who was a Philadelphian. The tribute concludes with memories of Rick’s mom, while growing up in Philly’s Oxford Circle neighborhood in the 1950’s.
“Working in Philly” Stories: Bond Bread and the Aldine Theater
Philadelphia is a hard working town. MOVIEHOUSE PRODUCTIONS presents two tales from our city’s busy and productive past.
Bob Frank and Hal and Elsie Oetzel shared memories of NE Philly’s Crescentville’s Bond Bread “Great North” plant.
Allen Goodkin ushered and was assistant manager of the Aldine Theater, 19th and Chestnut Streets, 1933-1942. Goodkin reminisced about the fine art of ushering in this video.
Growing up in West Oak Lane, Philadelphia
Let’s tune in the adventures of Joel Spivak, who lived in Philly’s West Oak Lane neighborhood from the mid 1940’s until 1960. Joel was quite an urban explorer. He remains so to this day. In fact, long ago Spivak adopted Cole Porter’s “Don’t Fence Me In” as his anthem. Joel’s an architect, artist and author and he’s also contributing mightily to the revival of South Street. Spivak’s working on a history of that vaunted thoroughfare. Joel is a published authority on trains and trolleys and is the founder of Philly’s National Hot Dog Month.
1971 Rizzo-Longstreth Philadelphia Mayoral Debate
Once again, Moviehouse Productions and Paramount News collaborate on a historic Philadelphia video. This time; the titanic October 16, 1971 debate between Frank Rizzo, former Police Commissioner and Democrat and Republican Thacher Longstreth, long time city councilperson and Chamber of Commerce Chair.
