Peoria Pizzas

Pizza! 

We have many great pizza places around Peoria. Photo above is Davis Bros. pizza.

Peoria has a lot of fantastic local joints. 

Oliver's, Aggatucci's, and Leonardo's continue to thrive. 

Seems like any time is a good time to eat pizza. Some people even like cold leftover pizza for breakfast or midnight snack.

Also good are chain pizza places like Pizza Ranch, Aurelio's, Monical's, Papa Murphy's (take and bake), and Firehouse Pizza.

A terrific pizza place is Tyroni's in Bartonville. There is also Dave's Pizza in that town, but I have not tried it yet. 

Photo below is Tyroni's pizza.

I miss Imo's from St. Louis. They were located in downtown Peoria. The pizza was very thin, greasy and flimsy but tasted good. 

Shakey's Pizza Parlor was a favorite with many, but they left Peoria many years ago. Photo below is some Shakey's pizza in a to go box.

We also had Pizzeria Uno's downtown. I loved their deep dish pizza. 

Pegassus in Morton is also on my top list. 

But I usually default to Leonard's or Aggie's.

There once was a place in East Peoria called George's that was also very good. And I always liked Vince's in Pekin. 

And it was fun to eat pizza outside at Peoria Pizza Works in Peoria Heights. Probably still is but I have not been there in awhile. 

I learned how to replicate Gino's East from Chicago. It was fun to make and took no special skills, just good ingredients and patience. 

A local company, Butch's, makes frozen pizzas that are excellent.

Send me your favorite pizza locations and recipes and it might wind up in this blog. 

Now, I wish I had a true pizza oven! Maybe I'll get one.

 



leemalcolm.com

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www.bonanza.com/booths/Neon_Clocks_USA

Maid Rite Clock

Who loves Maid­Rite?

We used to have several around the Peoria area. These “loose” hamburgers were always served with a spoon because the meat frequently spilled out of the bun.

Traditional toppings are mustard, pickle and some chopped onions. I found a recipe that is very close to the original and I make it frequently.

The closest we have now in the Peoria area can be found at The 50's Diner in the Metro Center.

We make a clock featuring Maid­Rite or can create a custom made clock for any business, person, place or thing using your supplied photos, logo ot graphics. 

All these clocks are hand made in the USA...old school.

Check out a few at:

bonanza.com/booths/Neon_Clocks_USA

http://imagetime.blogspot.com/2011/11/maid­rite­clock­made­right­by­image.html







leemalcolm.com

1290wirl.com 

Sports Injuries and Risk Taking

Sports injuries is a topic that is getting a lot of publicity and sparking much conversation these days.

Now some members of the politically correct crowd are whining about football and other sports injuries. 

I've had my share of sports injuries - all minor fortunately. 

Another example of common sense almost gone. 

Anyone who participates in sports runs the risk of injury. Solution? Ban all sports. (Sarcasm) 

 As kids we played pond hockey, neighborhood baseball and football with little or no protective equipment. 

And guess what – we lived through it. 

I understand the risk for injury is higher in college and pro sports. But risk occurs everywhere, even when crossing a street. 

Put me in coach!

leemalcolm.com 

1290wirl.com 

www.bonanza.com/booths/Neon_Clocks_USA

Ringo Drummer and Singer - plus John and Yoko Sex Change Announcement

Ringo Starr was a great drummer and he could sing pretty well too.

This Day In Rock & Roll History

Each weekday on WIRL we do a feature called "This Day In Rock & Roll History" on Goodtime Oldies 1290 and 102.7 WIRL, Peoria IL.

Here are a couple Beatles related items from today, Friday April 1:

1970: Ringo Starr enters Abbey Road Studios alone for what would be the very last Beatles session, overdubbing percussion on "The Long and Winding Road," "Across The Universe," and "I Me Mine."

Producer Phil Spector wraps things up by applying strings to all three.

Also in 1970: John Lennon and Yoko Ono play an April Fool's joke on an already confused press by announcing that they would undergo mutual sex-change operations.

Read this story here:

http://womc.cbslocal.com/2015/04/01/wayback-wednesday-john-lennon-and-yoko-ono-announce-dual-sex-change-operation-in-april-fools-prank-45-years-ago-today/

Ringo had a bunch of solo hits including: Back Off Boogaloo It Don't Come Easy Photograph Let the goodtimes roll!

You can always pick us up anywhere at 1290wirl.com.







leemalcolm.com

1290wirl.com

www.bonanza.com/booths/Neon_Clocks_USA

Steam That Hamburger!

Steamed hamburgers are hard to find. You might want to give this a shot as I think you will like it. They are easy to make, juicy but not greasy.

Here is how to do a Steam-burger at home without an actual steamer (This would be good for 1-3 burgers):

1. Put ¼” water into a fry pan or pot. Cover & boil.

2. Add ground chuck patties.

3. Cook 3-5 minutes per side.

4. Place in bun or between two pieces of toast, garnish & enjoy.

Try it. Let me know how you like it.

If I were to ever open a food joint in the Peoria area or Ottawa, or somewhere else, here are the main items I would put on the menu:

* Steamed Hamburgers (best burger you’ve ever had)

* Tenderloins (Peoria Style – The Best)

* Grouper Sandwich – Mouthwatering good (Florida Style)

* Pizza – (Patterned after Alfano’s in Ottawa, Galesburg, Knoxville IL)

* Grilled Cheese on Texas Toast with sliced tomatoes on the side

* Veggie Sandwich

* Spinach based salad



Feedback always welcome. 

Happy hamburger steaming!

leemalcolm.com 

1290wirl.com 

www.bonanza.com/booths/Neon_Clocks_USA

Being a Radio DJ in the 1970s and in 2016

A Snapshot Of My Radio Days ... Then and Now 

The first radio gig for me came about in Ottawa, Illinois. 

I grew up listening mainly to WLS and WCFL in Chicago. Once I decided I wanted to get paid to play records I began hanging around the local station. 

One day a guy got sick and the owner asked me if I might try to fill in. So I jumped right in and began spinning 45's on big Gates turntables. If a record was slightly warped I would place a coin on the tone arm to prevent it from skipping. 

Later the station moved from that small white building on Ottawa's south side to a space above a laundry mat in a little downtown strip. I liked it because a Dairy Queen and another burger joint were located just across the street. 

I worked 7 to Midnight. Sometimes during a long record I would phone in and hop across the street and grab some chow. If ever a record was going to skip, that would be the time. 

 In 1975 I landed a part time shift at WIRL in Peoria. 

The first songs I played were Jackie Blue by The Ozark Mountain Daredevils and Born To Be Wild By Steppenwolf. 

By then we mostly played songs from cartridges, or "carts" as we called them. 

When I arrived the on-air lineup included Robyn Weaver, Bill McClugage, Charlie O'Dey, Wayne R Miller, Larry O'Brien, Evan Luck and Keith Donnell. After a few months they promoted me to the afternoon shift. In those days, jocks would hang around the station for hours. 

The studios were located in a very nice building on Grosenbach Road in East Peoria. 

Sometimes in winter it could be a challenge to get there as it was up on a hill. Occasionally helicopters were used to bring in air people for their shifts. During good weather we had parties and played volleyball in the big backyard. 

I also worked mornings in Detroit before that city went completely in the hole. We had a great staff and the best equipment available. Our studios were on the 16th floor of The Fisher Building with corporate offices on the 21st floor. 

Sometimes we could see drug deals and other crimes happening on the street below. One of my co-workers was held up and robbed at gunpoint while coming into the building for work. 

 I returned to Peoria after my parents became very ill. They lived in Ottawa, just a 90 minute drive away from Peoria. 

 I like our current facilities in downtown Peoria. Except for the elevators where I got stuck one day for 40 minutes. The view is good and the equipment is top notch. Everything comes off a hard drive these days. 

Technology is great when it works. But on those rare occasions when something takes a dump, it can ruin your day. 

(CLICK images for LARGER view)

We have high end talent all around. 

This is my third time at WIRL, Peoria IL. The station is now Goodtime Oldies 1290 & 102.7 WIRL, also available online at 1290wirl.com plus we have a free application for Droids and iPhones. 

Things have changed big time but the music plays on.

(CLICK images for LARGER view)

leemalcolm.com 

1290wirl.com 

www.bonanza.com/booths/Neon_Clocks_USA

In Praise of Hot Dogs

With Springtime Here, A Young Man's Fancy Turns To Hot Dogs.

What will it be? 

Nathan's, Ballpark, or another brand?

I always liked going outside and grilling hot dogs. I've used gas grills, old-fashioned charcoal grills and fire pits. I preferred the charcoal grills because of the unique flavor.

You can also make a good one inside on the stove. Or you can split them and throw them in the oven with cheese in the split.

My preference is New York Style with only mustard.

But I also like Chicago style with all the good stuff including tomatoes, pickle spears, relish and onions depending on my mood at any given item. Add chili if you like.

Here in the midwest we are fortunate to have many great hot dog joints. If you want to do them at home, add any aforementioned preferences and let it rip.

Good eats but maybe not that healthy. My thought is to use all-beef. Add some potatoes that you either fry or boil. Salad? Yes. Ketchup? No way. Mustard.

You can go online and check out all sorts of cooking styles for dogs or you can just whip your meat on the grill and get her done.

Soon we'll discuss hamburgers...another favorite of mine and most Americans.

leemalcolm.com 

1290wirl.com 

www.bonanza.com/booths/Neon_Clocks_USA

Who Rocked to the Jukebox?

My first exposure to a Jukebox happened at the Starved Rock Yacht Club in Ottawa, Illinois when I was a little kid. 

My parents were members and we would go there frequently. 

The club sat where the Illinois and Fox Rivers intersected and it had a very cool Jukebox. You could stick in a dime and select a song. 

Or you could fire in a quarter and choose three songs. 

Later when I got into radio I said "I don't pay to play music because I get paid to play it." But those were fun days. I especially liked to watch the Jukebox mechanism move back and forth and select the chosen 45's. That might have been more fun than actually listening to the songs. 

Big brands of the Jukebox were Rock-Ola and Wurlitzer. 

I still love those amazing machines. 

These days we create custom neon clocks, hand made in the USA. 

********************************************

Pictured below are examples of Jukebox related clocks that will enhance your business or home decor.

www.bonanza.com/booths/Neon_Clocks_USA

leemalcolm.com 

1290wirl.com 

How I Got My Love for Neon and Clocks

I grew up in a family-owned sign shop in the 1960's and 70's. 

There I developed an interest and appreciation for hand-made neon advertising clocks, signs, and hand-painted signs.

I never had the talent to make a sign or letter a truck. My dad, grandfather and uncle had that talent. My bother also has that talent. 

Mainly I dug holes and helped mount signs.

But I can do something built on that foundation.

We offer a variety of licensed neon clocks -- 20, 24 and 36-inch in  diameter. 

PLUS we can custom design a neon clock for any business, person, place or thing using good quality photos, logos or graphics that you provide. 

Have a special interest, hobby, passion, obsession? We can make a clock for you that celebrates it. Something you'll be proud of. An item that will display your delight and will spark conversation.

Every time anybody looks to see what time it is, that clock will reinforce the message of what's important to you.

The Tucson and Whitehall clocks in this booth (see link below) are examples of clocks personally designed by me. 

Contact me for details on how we can make a one-of-a-kind neon clock for you!

http://www.bonanza.com/booths/Neon_Clocks_USA

leemalcolm.com 

1290wirl.com 

Go Fly a Kite

This is kite-flying season! 

I always thought it was fun to make a kite but I have not done it in a long, long time. There are regular kites, box kites, bat kites and many more styles that you can easily find online along with instructions. 

As a kid I did not have this luxury. We simply made it up as we went along.

Mostly we used newspaper. But you can also make a traditional kite with a garbage bag. Other materials are dowel rods and string and that’s about it. Or you can simply visit a store and buy one.

Kids love kites so why not make one for a child? They’re fun to fly. Plus, you get some exercise while running along to get the kite airborne. Just be sure to avoid wires, trees and other obstacles or it’s bye-bye kite.

Kites were actually invented in China by a couple of philosophers. In the old days they were used for practical purposes including messaging for rescue missions, testing the wind and other stuff. 

No one actually knows if Ben Franklin ever conducted his kite experiment related to electricity. Kites were instrumental in the research of the Wright brothers when developing the first airplane in the late 1800s.

We used to have Kite festivals in Peoria’s Detweiller Park.

So…go fly a kite, OK?

"Fly a Kite" from Mary Poppins on YouTube:

http://bit.ly/19r87xS

leemalcolm.com 

1290wirl.com 

www.bonanza.com/booths/Neon_Clocks_USA