Opinions

Letters to the Editor

Sept. 1-7, 2016

Posted

Thanks for the memories

To the Editor:

Your article “Malverne and Lynbrook’s vaudeville histories” by Art Mattson in last week’s Herald sparked a lovely trip back in time to childhood memories of growing up in Malverne.

When I was young, one of the vaudevillians mentioned in your article, world renowned orchestra leader Frank Britton Wenzel, used to come to our house to teach some of his signature routines to my father, Bob Bennett. I would dance around the living room and sing to the music being hammered out on the piano as they perfected their skits. My dad had been drafted onto the entertainment committee headed by Frank that coordinated routines to be performed at local social functions.  There is a clip of one of these zany performances in a movie about the history of Malverne narrated by Wenzel and Fran Purcell, former Malverne mayor. It used to be shown on Malverne television from time to time.

I also remember Frank’s brother Norman, who was our piano tuner. I used to call them Uncle Frank and Uncle Norman. Your story reminded me of the last time that I saw Frank. I had been asked to sing at a fundraising event for the Republican Club with my dad. Uncle Frank had retired from public life and hadn’t been seen for a while, but I was thrilled and flattered when he came out that evening to cheer us on.

In addition, I have memories of my parents, who also grew up in Malverne, telling childhood stories of these vaudevillian celebrities who lived in the neighborhood. My mother, Doris Costenoble Bennett, recalled riding bicycles with friends past local homes trying to catch a glimpse of the stars from “Hellzapoppin,’” a long running vaudevillian Broadway smash hit. My dad used to play tennis on the backyard courts of these local stars. 

Thank you for the work you did in honoring these former neighbors and entertainment greats. 

Susan Bennett Panzarella

Malverne