OUR NEIGHBORHOOD The Way It Was.......

A reader's letter from years ago provides a glimpse of what it was like to work at the Glendale Studio, where silent films were made. For those who enjoy the fun of local history, we will share the story of a Brooklyn brewery owner and how two local parishes got their names.

Just to add a dash of spice, we will mention a police raid that led to the brewery owner's being summoned to testify in court and drop the name of a famous gangster.

Our story begins in 1866 and involves Leonhard Eppig, who was joined by Hubert Fischer in founding a brewery at 24 George St. in Bushwick.

Eventually, Fischer left and Eppig continued as head of the operation, known as Leonhard Eppig's Germania Brewery.

Looking through our files, we found some interesting information that originally appeared in the "Our Neighborhood the Way It Was" column in the Nov. 28, 1985 issue of this newspaper.

In 1884, the Schwaben Volksfest held an outing at Euler's Broadway Park in Brooklyn. At that time, they had a law in Brooklyn that lager beer could not be served on Sunday, but that the milder "weiss" (white) beer was permissable. The police raided the park, claiming that lager beer was being served.

The following day in court, the judge called Leonhard Eppig, owner of the Leonhard Eppig Brewery at 24 George St., Brooklyn, who had supplied four kegs to the Schwaben Volksfest, to testify. Eppig testified that he had supplied a "special" beer. Lager beer was then aged five to six months, whereas weiss beer was aged two weeks.

Although Eppig did not not state that he had supplied lager beer, neither did he state that he had supplied weiss beer. The Commissioner of the Alcoholic Beverage Board concluded that lager beer had been supplied and he revoked Euler's license.

Eppig was a wealthy man and a very religious one—as well as a major benefactor of the church. When the Roman Catholic parish was started nearby on Jefferson Street, it was named St. Leonard's— in honor of Leonhard Eppig's son. When another parish was started on Bleecker Street near the brewery, it was named St. Barbara's, to honor Eppig's daughter.

Leonhard Eppig died in 1893 and he is buried in a large tomb in St. John's Cemetery, along with some of the other German brewers who were Catholic.

His son, Leonard, succeeded his father in running the company. When National Prohibition went into effect in 1920, he ceased operations at the brewery on George Street.

During Prohibition, which lasted until 1933, it was illegal to commercially brew beer with an alcoholic content that exceeded one-half of one percent. Breweries that remained active were able to do so as "cereal beverage" producers.

The former Eppig brewery became the Interboro Cereal Beverage Corporation. Reportedly, the operation was headed by Jacob Levy with Arthur Flegenheimer—more notoriously known as gangster Dutch Schultz, "the Beer Baron of the Bronx"—as an associate.

Later, after the repeal of Prohibition, the plant was acquired by the Ehret family, who had operated the Hell Gate Brewery on 92nd Street between Second and Third avenues in Manhattan—at one time, regarded as the largest brewery in the U.S.

Utimately, the former Germania Brewery on George Street was purchased by Schlitz, known as "the beer that made Milwaukee famous." Schlitz operated the brewery until 1973.

As for "weiss" beer (or weissbier), it has experienced a certain increase in popularity in this country in recent years. Two of the more popular brands of German-style (as opposed to Belgian-style) weiss beer are Paulaner and Franziskaner.

For those with an interest in the different kinds of beers, the Greater Astoria Historical Society will hold a lecture on the "Beer Gardens of Queens" at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15.

As announced, the lecture will provide a look at the history of beer gardens and how they became a favorite pastime in the early 1900s.

In addition, the program will include a taste of different beers with a discussion of what makes each brew unique.

There is a small charge for this event and reservations, which are required, can be made by phoning 1- 718-278-0700. Persons interested in taking part must be 21 or older.

The Greater Astoria Historical Society is located at Quinn's Gallery, 35-20 Broadway (fourth floor) in Long Island City.

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Every so often, a reader will ask about the movie studio that once operated in Glendale, from 1915 to 1925.

Originally, the site—on the north side of Myrtle Avenue at what is now 88th Lane—had been a picnic park.

The first movie company to use the studio in Glendale was Mirror Films, Inc., followed by Whitman Bennett Studio.

Looking through our files, we came across an interesting letter from 1986 that mentions George Ehret, the owner of the aforementioned Hell Gate Brewery. It was written by reader Linda Braner of Jericho, L.I., who had worked as a secretary at the movie studio.

In her letter, Ms. Braner recalls what it was like to work for a motion picture studio during the era of silent films and also recounts her father's work on a valuable invention that was lost in a mysterious burglary.

In her letter, which originally appeared in the Feb. 27, 1986 issue of the Ridgewood Times, Ms. Braner writes:

"When I was an infant, our family was living on Irving Avenue and Suydam Street. My father was working on a life-saving invention for the trolley car. His shop was down in the basement of the three-story building where we lived. Wunderling's Saloon was on the first floor.

"It had been suggested to my father that he make an appointment to see George Ehret of the brewing firm who might be interested in the patent.

"Mr. Ehret made an offer of $5,000, but friends of my father felt it was worth much more and he did not accept.

"Several months later, there was a burglary and all the drawings and the model car were stolen. Not too long after that, a patent was issued for a safety device on the trolley car. My father later learned that for each trolley that used the device, a royalty of $50 was paid.

"Enclosed is a letter that I wrote in 1956 to Guy Lombardo which referred to the movie, Three O'Clock in the Morning, which was made in Glendale at Mastodon Films.

Old Timer's note—To anyone of a certain age, New Year's Eve will always bring back memories of Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians, who played "the sweetest music this side of Heaven."

Long before Dick Clark began his association with New Year's Eve, there was the late Guy Lombardo. His band's annual appearance at the Roosevelt Grill—and later, the Waldorf Astoria—in Manhattan was a television tradition for many years.

He also was known for his shows at the Jones Beach Marine Theatre. He resided in Freeport, L.I., where Guy Lombardo Boulevard was named in his honor.

Guy Lombardo's Diamond Jubilee was a television program during the 1950s. Ms. Braner's letter appears below.

"Have been listening to your Diamond Jubilee Hour and needless to say, have enjoyed it very much. Would like to tell you about a memory song that goes back to the silent movie era.

"Every time I hear 'Three O'Clock in the Morning'—which is not too often—a wave of nostalgia sweeps over me. This song takes me back to my very first secretarial position.

"I was employed by the New York office of Mastodon Films, whose motion picture studio was located in Queens—the old Mirror Studio—and the studio manager needed a secretary. Since it was not too far from my home, living in Queens at the time, I was transferred to the studio.

"In those days, the transportation to Queens was mostly by trolley. Being very young, naturally I was thrilled at the prospect of working directly in a motion picture studio and being assigned to Mr. Richard C. Thorpe, who is now one of the top directors for MGM on the coast.

"The picture being made at the time was Constance Binney in Three O'Clock in the Morning. Whenever I had some spare moments and permission, I would watch the action. Most all pictures in those days had a big scene with lots of music, extras, etc. This one had a masquerade ball and everyone was in costume.

"Miss Binney wore a Spanish costume with mantilla, etc. (She is now living in Whitestone and recently had a full-page spread by the Long Island Press showing her home and a picture Miss Tallulah Bankhead). Miss Binney was the star of the picture and Mr. Thorpe was the romantic lead.

"The orchestra was playing 'Three O'Clock in the Morning' and I was watching the dancers outside the office door. One of the extras who was a regular performer when sets of this kind were being shot asked me to dance and we waltzed on the sidelines to the strains of 'Three O'Clock in the Morning.' His being a good dancer made this waltz an even more memorable one. I remember his name—Mickey Michalich—and wonder did he ever continue in the movies.

"Some time later, I had the privilege of borrowing the costume Miss Binney wore in the picture.

"The position at the studio did not last too long. Hollywood was the place to make pictures now. The studio was idle for a while, then it became a sports arena and then a roller skating rink. It was finally torn down to make way for the [parkway].

"Whenever I pass the spot where the old studio stood, I think of the stars who performed there; my boss, Mr. Thorpe, who became a successful director; and 'Three O'Clock in the Morning,' this beautiful waltz I danced to.

"It would take me back to hear 'Three O'Clock in the Morning' played on your Diamond Jubilee Hour. May I?"

Old Timer's note—We are left to wonder whether Mr. Lombardo fulfilled Ms. Braner's musical request.

In her letter, she identifies her employer as "Mastodon Films." It is our understanding that Mirror Films, Inc. produced two-reel educational films under the name Mastodon Pictures. Mirror Films, Inc. experienced financial difficulties and went out of business in 1924. The movie studio in Glendale was rented to a company named for director Whitman Bennett, which moved its operations to California by the end of 1925.

The sports arena that followed the movie studio was Sportland, located at 88-43 Myrtle Ave. It had bowling alleys and a basketball court. During the construction of the Interboro Parkway (now known as the Jackie Robinson Parkway) in the 1930s, Sportland was among the buildings that were razed.

If you have any remembrances, comments or reunion announcements that you would like to share with our readers, write to the Old Timer, c/o Times Newsweekly, P.O. Box 860299, Ridgewood, NY 11386-0299.

To send a submission via e-mail, our e-mail address is Old Timer@timesnewsweekly.com.