Holiday traditions and
memories to last forever

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

Rick Spector has a job where he puts smiles on people’s faces.
Spector heads Moviehouse Productions and has been presenting nostalgia-theme programs to live audiences since 1983.
"People like to reminisce," he said.
Last week, Spector debuted Philadelphia Holiday Stew at a meeting of the Rhawnhurst Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC).
Dozens of senior citizens braved the winter weather to attend the luncheon program at Congregation Ner Zedek synagogue, at 7520 Bustleton Ave.
Spector used digital images, live commentary and music to capture memories of Christmas and Hanukkah over the years in Philadelphia.
One of the themes of Philadelphia Holiday Stew was that, while Christians and Jews celebrate very different holidays, they have the same fond memories. The crowd enjoyed Bing Crosby’s White Christmas and a light-hearted song about a dreidel, a small top spun by children in a game played during Hanukkah.
"It’s a feel-good kind of stew," Spector said.
Elaine Griffin is project coordinator for Rhawnhurst NORC, which is a program of the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Catholic Human Services and the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.
Launched in September 2005, it offers home maintenance, snow removal, leaf raking and a variety of other services for seniors in the 19152 ZIP code and portions of 19111.
While Griffin arranges programs that are generally informative and educational, she also likes to mix in some fun, and she thought the December holidays presented the perfect opportunity.
"We’re an ecumenical group," she said. "We celebrate everything."
This week, thanks to the folks at Redemption Lutheran Church and Rhawnhurst Presbyterian Church, the Rhawnhurst NORC delivered homemade holiday cookies to local seniors.
For the group’s monthly luncheon, Griffin thought Spector would be the perfect guest, since he did such a good job back in February with his Philadelphia A-Z program. He also has programs on Philadelphia architecture, movie theaters, sports, radio and television, and food and restaurants. There’s also a quiz and a look at famous and infamous Philadelphians.
"He knows everything about Philly," Griffin said.
Spector enlisted the help of local residents Angela Powers and Pearl Wilder to provide recipes for two holiday favorites — baked apple pie and kugel.
In the slide show, Spector took a look at Christmas in Philadelphia 50 years ago. Back then, the front page of an Evening Bulletin from 1957 was filled with stories about President Dwight Eisenhower, the Cold War and Elvis Presley receiving a military draft notice.
Many Philadelphians did their shopping at a cluster of stores near Eighth and Market streets.
"Market Street was the department store center of the world," Spector said.
Many of those shoppers stopped by the old Horn & Hardart Automat for food, a good cup of coffee or another refreshment. Customers put coins in a vending machine-like device and received ready-made meals.
"It was just a wonderful time," Spector said.
In the Northeast, holiday shoppers descended on their favorite department store at Castor and Cottman avenues.
"It its heyday, it was Lit Brothers," Spector said.
What Philadelphia holiday story can be complete without a look at the Mummers and their classic parade costumes? Spector played the original James Bland version of Oh! Dem Golden Slippers and a more upbeat, full string-band version of the classic song.
The sing-along continued with another New Year’s favorite, Auld Lang Syne, by Guy Lombardo and his orchestra. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com

Blast to the past . . .

Rick Spector brings his nostalgia programs to retirement communities, club meetings, apartment building social clubs, churches, synagogues and libraries.
Groups that want to book him for a meeting can contact him at 215-364-3802 or www.moviehouseproductions.com