tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225491699553262434.post4531578766048064982..comments2024-02-26T22:28:55.877-05:00Comments on Mnemosyne's Magic Mirror: Restaurants Have Histories, Just like Families . . .And They Often IntertwineMeldon J. Wolfgang IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04425729470673688915noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225491699553262434.post-31421592072902886882021-01-03T15:13:53.988-05:002021-01-03T15:13:53.988-05:00Hi Bill, it's Rick the bartender [SUNY Albany ...Hi Bill, it's Rick the bartender [SUNY Albany '81]. I do have many fond memories of the years I bartended at Jack's ['79, '80 and '81] and the seasoned waitstaff ["Smalls" or "Smally", "Jimmy the Greek"? my memory is slipping] who initially did not like how slow and inexperienced I was behind the service bar. <br /> I also remember NOT getting Andy Rooney's autograph [he famously never gives them] and actually getting Bob Dylan's autograph [after Mr. Rosen stated "nobody bother Mr. Dylan - and everybody snuck by when Mr. Rosen was not looking and asked him anyway]. I enjoyed the London Broil as a staff meal until Jack noticed and suggested I get the "Turkey ["Neck"] a la King, which was still delicious. Thanks for the trip down 'Memory Lane', I may have to schedule a visit there soon in 2021! -- Rick CoffeyAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09384282613354890171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225491699553262434.post-29477431400446728722017-03-31T23:33:27.149-04:002017-03-31T23:33:27.149-04:00Thanks for your posting. I worked at Jack's Oy...Thanks for your posting. I worked at Jack's Oyster House from about 1980-1985 while I was in college (and immediately after, during what would now be called my "gap year") as a bartender, busboy and eventually waiter. My outfit as a waiter was the same as you describe it at Keeler's--white shirt, black bow tie, black jacket, pants and cummerbund, and white apron. At the time we also had all male waiters, many of whom had been there for 20-30 years, and many of whom had also worked at Keeler's before it closed. At the time I worked there, old Jack himself was still working every evening in the kitchen, even though he was well into his 90s. I was fortunate to serve some famous people who were passing through Albany--baseball legend Mickey Mantle, singer Bob Dylan, journalist Andy Rooney, pro wrestler Andre the Giant, and famously mediocre baseball player "Marvelous Marv" Thronberry. At the time I worked there--more than a decade after Keeler's had closed--it was still an almost daily topic of conversation among the waitstaff and many customers. --BillBillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03150207493814792775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225491699553262434.post-1916663752452164582017-03-31T23:32:26.387-04:002017-03-31T23:32:26.387-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03150207493814792775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225491699553262434.post-27910338437833333732012-07-11T16:58:19.369-04:002012-07-11T16:58:19.369-04:00Thanks for dropping by and commenting. Restaurants...Thanks for dropping by and commenting. Restaurants - and the family traditions and milestone events associated with them - often get overlooked by family historians. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, knowing the "family food hangouts" can tell you a lot about the people, their friends and their social milieu. Plus, checking out the ones that are still around can be fun in its own right, as Heather demonstrates above!Meldon J. Wolfgang IIIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04425729470673688915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225491699553262434.post-1249662854234696892012-07-10T14:33:16.502-04:002012-07-10T14:33:16.502-04:00I agree with you, this is really nice post. As we ...I agree with you, this is really nice post. As we all know that every object or building has his own history and this is really good story about the history of this restaurant. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.millerhaus.com" rel="nofollow"> The Miller Haus</a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02108714366708183787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225491699553262434.post-82416846478948344452012-07-10T13:13:47.173-04:002012-07-10T13:13:47.173-04:00Very timely post since two days ago we stopped in ...Very timely post since two days ago we stopped in Maine to eat lunch at a place owned by the same family since 1872. I was reading their history off the menu, and googling the genealogy after the meal while everyone else was enjoying the sea views. I know my parents and grandparents ate there. I don't know if my great grandparents or their parents ate there, too, but it would be fun to know.Heather Wilkinson Rojohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17704949156266722016noreply@blogger.com