Nagle’s for lunch. March 18, 2015. By Jean Bredin, Blogfinger staff.
Nagle’s stays open year round, but it is most memorable in the summer when the lines stretch out around the corner waiting to step up to the window for ice cream. It is an old fashioned touch, because in the New York metro area, years ago, you could go to the window of a luncheonette or soda shop to order an egg cream, a malt, or an ice cream. And remember, since the egg cream originated in New York, it has no egg and no cream.
Nagle’s is also memorable for its summer Saturday night music al fresco on the corner of Main and Central. That’s my kind of town.
Also click on the link about there nighttime scene at Nagle’s.
–Paul Goldfinger , Editor @Bloginger
Here is a link to a BF piece called “Magical Summer Nights at Nagle’s.”
FRANKIE RANDALL, a Jersey boy from Passaic who made good just like another Frankie from Hoboken:
MICHAEL CRAWFORD from Phantom of the Opera:
Your story brought back memories of my youth growing up in New York City.
Every day, after school, I walked to the candy store and had a chocolate egg cream (8 cents), and pretzel rod (2 cents.)
I do hope Nagles comes back to life…it was a popular destination for so many people who were willing to stand on long lines for their ice cream cone….
In 1923, Clayton M. Nagle moved from 52 Pitman Avenue to a drug store at 35 Pilgrim Pathway. This was located at the 4-story Clarendon Hotel where Fred Engel began this business about 1911 and was retiring. Nagle operated his location all year. On 5 Dec. 1934, at about 11:20 PM, Nagle was preparing an ointment that caught fire. He sustained burns while unsuccessfully attempting to extinguish it. The result was a massive blaze that destroyed the hotel. The collapsing façade nearly struck some firemen.
He was able to relocate to another drug store at 43 Main Avenue. This was occupied by Stephen D. Woolley, the first pharmacist in Ocean Grove, who was conveniently retiring that year. Nagle called the place the “Nagle’s Main-Central Pharmacy.”
I first learned of Frankie Randall (1938-2014) when he came across the river from Passaic with his trio (piano, bass and drums) to perform at the Rutherford High School assembly. My buddies from the jazz band were listening very carefully because Frankie (on piano) and his guys were playing the new “cool” jazz. Our drummer, also a Frankie, was astonished by the minimalist touch of the bass and drums.
I don’t recall Randall singing, but I learned later that he could sing like Sinatra. He was a good looking guy and he had a career in show business and worked with many of the big names on records and TV.
This album called “Frankie Randall Sings and Swings” was arranged and conducted in Hollywood by one of the greatest jazz arrangers and conductors Marty Paich. The album is hard to find.—Paul Goldfinger, music editor @Blogfinger.net