Wednesday, March 28, 2007

The Schwarzwald Inn Gallery of Fame: the formidable Joe & Larry Schmidt


Singing brothers and favorites of the gals, tenor Joe (left) and baritone Larry (right) boasted a repertoire spanning "From Wagner to Verdi to Irving Berlin". Seen here at "the Schwarz" with boxer Sonny Liston and the young George W. Bush.

Rumors of the Schmidts' ties to organized crime were always denied by the two burly brothers and their attorneys, and although frequently indicted neither brother was ever convicted of a felony.

(Click here for the next entry in the Gallery of Fame.)

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I actually remember this night because it was the first time in anyone's memory that an African American came into the place as a customer as opposed to being a dishwasher or porter. But Joe and Larry, both of whom had been (quite good) boxers in their youth were somehow personal friends of Sonny Liston, so they invited him and that was that. you didn't argue with Joe or Larry. You didn't talk loud while they were singing either. Not if you didn't want a black eye you didn't.

I vaguely remember this George kid, little did I know he would one day be president. He was very drunk if I recall. Don't know how he wound up at the Schwarzwald.

Tim said...

Dan-
RU familiar with the Olney facebook page? 2500 members, and I've been posting links to your blog there.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Olney-Philly-neighborhood/148276257792?v=wall&ref=mf

Dan Leo said...

Yep, Tim, I'm a member in good standing of that page, and thanks for the links!

Anonymous said...

My mom, Maryann, was a waitress at the Schwarzwald Inn for most of my childhood. She is now 69 and lives in Little Egg Harbor Township, NJ with her husband, John Loomis, former editor of the Olney Times. Does anyone remember her? She was the young, cute waitress who had 4 kids. We usually had our Easter dinner there while Mom was working. --Joanne

Jim Holleran said...

I went there offten for football baquets for the Olney Eagles, I remermber when Chuck (Concret Charly) Beddneric spoke at one Still have an autographt picture and later went to a few weddings there

Little Mickey O'Rourke said...

My Father worked at the Schwarzwald for years, 60s, 70s, as a bartender. His name was Mickey O'Rourke. I would visit him there on Friday or Saturday late afternoons to pick up my $10.00 for the week and would eat the biggest, juiciest cheeseburger or the most elaborate open faced grilled cheese I have seen in my life. I have never in my life had a cheeseburger or grilled cheese like the ones I had there. It was quite a good feed for a 13 year old growing boy.

Anonymous said...

As teenagers, my brother and I used to bus dishes there. They would call us in Thanksgiving and when knew would be busy. We lived a block away on Clarkson Avenue.