Working at Neisner's in the early '50s

I was born at home in Waukegan at 218 S. Utica St. The house is no longer there.

At 16, I worked at Neisner's in the early 1950s and yes, I remember the lunch counter. Mr. Orbach (Jerry Orbach's father) was manager, cook and waiter there. He did it all! He had a big heart. If we were short of money, he would let us run a tab for lunch or cherry Cokes. He always told us young girls he had a son that was going to be in the movies. We later heard about Jerry Orbach.

I remember the myna bird as well. We called the bird Danny. I remember Margaret Carver (Maggie), who was a Navy wife, worked in the pet department. She was the one who taught Danny to talk. She taught him to say "pretty boy, pretty boy" and "Hello Margaret." I worked in the toy department and ladies' wear.

At the corner of Washington and Genesee Street was a Walgreens. That is where we caught the bus to North Chicago. Every payday I would buy bus tokens (10 for $1). In those days, Neisner's was open 9 to 5 weekdays and Saturday. On Fridays they were open until 9 p.m.

Before Neisner's I worked at the Genesee Theatre. I worked the candy and popcorn counter. We had boy ushers who dressed in wine-colored suits with bow ties. Out the side door of the Genesee Theatre was a restaurant called The Spot. We would go there to eat on paydays.

Dolores Stevens