1950: THE COUNT IN EWING TOWNSHIP

While I never saw Count Felix at the Sherwood, I spent many hours there during my years working just up the street at 1812 North Olden Avenue when the Trenton Bearing Company was located there. The Sherwood was THE place for many of us who worked in Ewing, as was the Glendale and Jack and Bobs. Wow, am I gettin' old!

2012: FINALLY! A PHOTO OF TRENTON'S "COUNT FELIX"

Many many thanks to regular visitor Dennis Rue for sending these two graphics. The photo of Dennis' mom with the count is the best one I have seen thus far. Most have been washed out photos. Also of interest is the photo of Dennis' mom at the Club Veldof (Remember that old timer?) and also long gone radio station WTNJ. Our choir recorded "You'll Never Walk Alone" at the WTNJ studios that were on Bellevue Avenue. (Please correct me if I'm in error on TNJ's location.)
Tom:

The old gray matter in your head is correctorooney.
WTNJ was in a big house on the north side of Bellevue a door or two away from the corner of Prospect St. It was as I remember next to Poulson Van Hise Funeral Home ( the original)and the same block as Mercer Hospital.
Seeing my old Sacred Heart buddy Jack Walsh reminds me of the terrible rug he wore. This photo is apparently when his heirisute appendage was original. Jack died last year, and was quite a character around in the 50-60's. We would go out to Mercer Airport and watch him in feats of strength pull and airplane with one finger. Drive a car over his stomach etc. A great friendly Irishman.
PS: WTNJ moved to East State St. in the block of Lee Overalls, between So.Clinton, and Wall St.
Regards
Mike Kuzma

Anonymous said...

I don't recall that station at all; when did they fall from favor?

Oh! For a picture of The Count, dressed in a tux with a WWII gas mask with a hole for the cigar while he played some Chopin classical number on the organ. Or his wood block puzzles he would do with his back to the bar and a towel around his head ... "Where did you learn that stuff? ... and Count deadpanned ... "Jail". Another time he caught me off guard with his "telephone" and after a few rings "It's for you Eddie" .. as I wondered who could possibly call me at .... the geyser of water got me in the puss. They say that Ernie Kovacs learned his early routines from him and what a treasure we had; slapstick for sure and Count ... you are missed and there will never be another like you.

Ed Millerick aka "Your Apostle"

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Anonymous said...

Trying to get The Count? My buddy and I thought and thought of how to get a rise out of him. He always had the perfect comeback in the "thrust and parry" of the humor and try as you would it was always "checkmate" with Felix on top. So we thought some more and after the military ... well our hair was quite long. My bud's Mom made us some "togas" and without saying a word, we took our usual spot in the corner. Needless to say The Count never batted an eye; absolutely nary a reaction till an "old time" local walked in and looked at the two long haired "sheeted" types, silent at the end of the bar. He finally asked Felix ... "what's with those guys? ... and he just deadpanned "I, am Jesus Christ and those are my Apostles, what of it? .... this went on for a week or two and I think he got some mileage out of it. One day he said if he ever wrote a book, this was worthy of a few paragraphs.

Ed Millerick

RECEIVED VIA EMAIL AUGUST 1:

It was great reading about the Count's place...as Midshipmen on leave, we took our dates there often...even left the Count USNA cap for his collection around the top of the walls...I had forgotten the quarter glued to the bar, but will never forget my date going to the ladies room and being asked to "move over, you're blocking the light down here!" He was really a funny guy, but I thought a tragic alchoholic, who like my brother, died too young, robbing the world of a really great spirit!

Sam Valenza USNA '59
Thanks, Sam, and welcome to the website. Your personal "Count Felix" experience is quite amusing and interesting.
Tom Glover

1946: COUNT FELIX: A LOCAL LEGEND

Thanks Mike McNicol for correcting me with my statement that Fexlix was involved with "Centanni" in Chambersburg. I have no idea where that idea came from. I have never been to any of his gigs. This ad is from a December 1946 Trenton Times Christmas-New Year page.

Babs said...

Thanks for posting this ad. Count Felix was my talented, fun-loving Uncle Felix. He had his bar on Anderson Street with my Aunt Etta. I never made it there as an adult patron, but enjoyed his musical abilities, pranks and jokes growing up. I wonder if you remember my mother and her two sisters from THS. Evelyn, Ruth, and Etta Davidow?
Tom, thank you for what you do. I work with many historical societies as a book designer for Applewood Books in Carlisle, Massachusetts.

Barbara DaSilva

Friday, December 30, 2011

Many thanks for the interesting insight, Babs. It is much appreciated. Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you return often. As to the Evelyn, Ruth and Etta Davidow, as a Hamilton High class of 51 alumnus I only recognize the Davidow name.

Tom Glover

mments:

Michael said...

Tom:

Hate to correct such an expert as you, but in the past year, I sent you a post, clarifying the mistake with Felix Nowicki.
He was not with Centanni, that was an Italian bar located a few blocks away behing Merlo Printing
Co. just steps off So. Clinton near Liberty,and behind the old Prior Donuts.
Felix, who I knew well had as his neice says, a "fun" bar at the corner of Woodland, and Anderson. A few blocks from Cent'ani, which if memory serves me means "100 years" in Italian. Typcially said as "Chen Don" when toasting a goomba, or Paisan.
Felix's brother Eddie was an appraiser who worked for me at one time and came from a proud Polish background.
The Davidow's were in the Wallpaper business.

Mike Kuzma

Friday, December 30, 2011

Anonymous said...

My father was a regular with Count Felix and consequently, I accompanied him on many, many occasions. The phone that squirted water in your face, the quarter that was permanently glued to the bar. The "robot" at the front door whose hand would find its way where it didn't belong on an unsuspecting customer. The microphone in the "john." Felix was a phenomenal musician who saw the hilarity of everyday life. He had a theater organ in the middle of the bar he would play at night. My mother sang with him accompanying and my father, who didn't know a note of music was challenged by Felix to play a piano duet. Felix taught him music and my father studied and eventually played with him. I got my start in music because of his mentoring and made a career of it. A very excellent remembrance. Thank you Tom!

Warren Rue

Friday, December 30, 2011