I have been thinking about my grandmother a lot lately. The one I never knew.
Her name was Sarah Day D'Imperio, and she married my grandfather a century ago. She was a Unadilla girl. Old-timers, and they get fewer and fewer as the tempus fugit, remember her as the prettiest girl in town. I can vouch for this, because of the one or two hand-tinted old portraits I have seen of her.
Sarah was a musical genius. In her youth, she could read any piece of sheet music put in front of her without preview. Her piano-playing talents were the talk of the town. She died in Bassett Hospital of leukemia in (we think) 1936 and is buried with her father, Marshall Day, in the Walton cemetery under a misspelled tombstone.
I can't help but be drawn to this young beauty who graced her future generations with an affinity for fine music. How I would have loved to sit transparently in the quiet corner of 1 Martin Brook St. in Unadilla and listen to my grandmother play on an old upright the sweet songs of the 1920s for her friends and neighbors.
"Side by Side" would have had them all in full voice. "You're the Cream in my Coffee" would have no doubt elicited chuckles from her friends. "My Buddy" would have flowed from my grandmother's delicate fingertips like tonic ripples. Oh, how I would have loved to hear her play. Her talents as a musician were so renowned that she was requested to accompany many of the vaudeville shows that came through this area. She played in theaters throughout the Susquehanna Valley, accompanying dramatic readings, one-act plays and musical comedies.
One place that she was requested to play at more than once was historic Chapel Hall in Franklin. A remnant of the historic Delaware Literary Institute, it has stood sturdily on Institute Street in Franklin for a century and a half, propped up by its iconic white columns and anchored in its Greek Revival heft.
The Franklin Stage Company is the current tenant of Chapel Hall. What a treasure they are. The group puts on full-scale theatrical productions that any town 10 times the size of Franklin would be proud to call its own. It hosts community events and readings by local celebrities (like Tom Morgan, the "Sage of the Empire Hotel," and Delaware County's own "Good Humor" man, Jim Mullen) and acts as the perfect Norman Rockwell backdrop for the weekly Franklin Farmer's Market. In the "good old days" it was the home for numerous traveling vaudeville shows.
In the 1920s, my grandmother would somehow make the journey from Unadilla to Franklin (she never owned a car) and play piano all night long for the Shakespearean vignettes, baggy-pants comedians and weepy melodramas so popular in that era. When a vaudeville show or local theatrical production closed, it was a tradition for the cast and crew to "autograph" the walls behind the stage. This was an old theater tradition. I heard about this recently and went out to Chapel Hall to have a look.
"Was it true?" I asked. "Are there names still on the wall from four generations ago?" The answer is yes. There they are, proudly scribbled in pencil, yet as clear as if they were written yesterday. The actors from musicals in 1927. The stage crew from a drama in 1924. Producers, costumers, lighting men and more.
Dozens of names scribbled on the ancient walls of Chapel Hall. And I have been told that the tradition continues even today, with newer and younger thespians gaining inspiration from the signatures of nearly 100 years ago.
And there, several times on the wall, is the delicate, florid signature of Sarah Day D'Imperio, pianist. From the 1920s and earlier. Amazing.
Sunday at 5 p.m., I will be "performing" at Chapel Hall in Franklin. Actually, I will be telling stories. I have done my "one-man show" all over the state and am delighted that I have been asked to appear in Franklin. It is a nostalgic hour of tales of growing up in the black-and-white days of the 1950s and 1960s in small-town America.
If you are able to attend, I will look forward to seeing you. And do me a favor. See if you can catch a twinkle in my eye as I unreel my childhood stories. If you do discern a little glint in my eye, you can now know why it is there.
Before the show, just before I start my performance, I intend to go behind the curtain, pick up a pencil and sign my name up on the wall with all of the many other performers who have "played Chapel Hall." My name will be right there next to the name of Sarah Day D'Imperio.
After 90 years, I will finally feel like I have met her, the grandmother I never knew.
I'll catch you in two…'Big Chuck' D'Imperio can be heard on weekdays beginning at 6 a.m. on WDOS-AM 730 in Oneonta, and also on Thursday nights from 7-9 p.m. on WSRK-FM 103.9 for his "Oldies Jukebox Show." You can find "Big Chuck" on Facebook under Upstate New York Books. He invites you to contact him at wdosbigchuck@aol.com. His columns can be found at www.thedailystar.com/bigchuck. You can find "Big Chuck" on Facebook under Upstate New York Books.
Big Chuck
Related Photos
-
"Big Chuck" D'Imperio
Discussion
Welcome to our story comments feature. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including the unpopular ones. We only ask that you keep your conversations clean, civil and on the topic of the story you are commenting on.
Coinciding with our websites redesign, we launched our new story comments feature through Disqus.
Disqus gives users the ability to log into our story comments feature so that they may be able to track their conversations, receive emails when their comments get a reply or to even have your comments update onto your Facebook or Twitter accounts.
For the time being, our story comments feature will continue to have the ability to post comments anonymously. We reserve the right to require registration in the future using your name and verified email address.
Not all comments are deemed printable. Some are disqualified at the newspaper’s discretion for a number of different reasons. Please follow our Online Rules of Conduct at all times.
RULES OF CONDUCT:
We reserve the right to remove comments that are unacceptable, to wit:
1. False and inacurate statements.
2. Personal attacks. Explicit name-calling.
3. Harassing, harmful, vulgar, obscene and defamatory language.
4. Threatening statements or statements that suggest violence.
5. Hate speech of any kind.
6. Intolerant comments on religion, race, age, gender, sexual preference or disabilities.
7. Accusations of criminal activity.
8. Content that is harmful to children and minors in any way.
9. References to any type of sexual activity and other private matters.
10. Random and inflammatory statements that are off topic.
11. Advertising of any kind.
12. Typing in all caps.
WE ENCOURAGE REASONABLE AND COURTEOUS COMMENTS THAT:
1. Create conversation on issues of interest and concern to fellow readers and local community members.
2. Express opinions and contrarian views.
3. Stimulate debate with respectful language.
4. Stay within the boundaries of these rules.
WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SUSPEND OR TERMINATE ACCESS FOR:
1. Violating any of these Online Rules of Conduct.
2. Deliberately disrupting discussions with repetitive messages, meaningless messages or spam.
3. Misrepresentation of identity or impersonating another user.
WE WELCOME:
1. Flagging violations of these rules that you observe to our attention.
MONITORING:
We monitor comments regularly Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Approval of comments outside of this time (including weekends) will be sporadic.
I Was Just Thinking: Upcoming show will connect me with my grandma
- Big Chuck
-
-
George Wallace gives us the 'one-finger salute'
This is Black History Month. I regret that I was never involved in the Civil Rights movement.
-
When delivering papers was all in a day's work
I walk to work in the morning. Shortly after 5 a.m.
-
Readers who write get a little feedback
Well, it's that regular interval where we stop for a minute and take a look at some of the offerings from the mailbag over the last six months. And it has been busy. And please, do not hesitate to drop me a line if something stirs you in one of my columns.
-
I Was Just Thinking: Inventors, writers and others pass on in 2011
Plenty of ink was spilled this year reporting on the passage of such giants as Steve Jobs, Andy Rooney, Elizabeth Taylor and a couple of baddies named bin Laden and Gadhafi. But let's take a peek behind the final curtain and see who else merits a tip of the hat.
-
I Was Just Thinking: Stella turned me into a pet person
I never really understood being a "pet person." I just didn't get it. My wife, however, is incomplete without a pet. When I met her, she was in the waning days of a relationship with her dog, "Jake," who was a venerable elder presence in the house until she passed away many dog years beyond her typical span.
- Monday, December 5, 2011
-
I Was Just Thinking: Waiting for a friendly wave that never came
My earliest recollection of taking a train ride was when my dad would take me and my brother Jim and sister Fran on the train from Sidney down to the Afton Fair. Mom would greet us at the crossings along the way with a baby in her arms and a big wave to the four of us.
- Monday, November 21, 2011
-
I Was Just Thinking: Local youngster created amazing tribute to veterans
When I think of veterans, I often think of the older ones who fought in World War II. I honor all vets from all wars, but as my radio listeners know, I just love to hear stories from the old warriors of the Greatest Generation.
- Monday, November 7, 2011
-
I Was Just Thinking: Remembering my small glimpse of the Cuban Missle Crisis
I read recently in a newspaper that the U.S. was beginning a "year-long observance of the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis, culminating in October 2012." Fifty years? I'd been following the crisis on TV as my mom and dad fretted over the news being presented by the dour-faced men in gray business suits who gave us the news each night on our brand-new Zenith television set.
- Monday, October 24, 2011
-
I Was Just Thinking: A remote-controlled cooler sounds enticing
Here they come! I am ready to gird myself against the onslaught of junk mail that is starting to roll in for the holidays already. I do not buy from catalogs. Never have. Don't even read them. North Face? L.L. Bean? Omaha Steaks? Vermont Country Store? No thanks. Except for one.
- Monday, October 10, 2011
-
I Was Just Thinking: I never took a hike in my life; would do it again
"Take a hike!" That is what my father used to tell me when he'd had enough of my smart talk as a kid. Unfortunately, I never took that hike. In fact, I don't think I've ever hiked in my life, either formally or informally.
- Monday, September 26, 2011
-
I Was Just Thinking: Local traffic's got nothing on LA
I will never complain about traffic again. I just got back from a wonderful vacation with my daughter, Frances, in Los Angeles. I had lived there many years (and a million people) ago. While I was there from 1974 to 1980, I saw this exciting and vibrant city through the eyes of a longhaired wanderer. It was great.
- Saturday, September 10, 2011
-
I Was Just Thinking: 9/11 is behind us but we'll never be the same
Since the horror of Sept. 11, 2001 is now a decade in the past, many will use this as a time to reflect on how our nation has changed since my generation's Pearl Harbor was visited upon our country.
- Saturday, September 3, 2011
-
I Was Just Thinking: 'Radioathon' was about more than just donations; it meant love, sharing
Over the years I have been involved with many fundraising efforts at our radio stations. As far back as the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. We raised a thousand dollars in change and turned Main Street Oneonta into one large collection bucket.
- Monday, August 29, 2011
-
I Was Just Thinking: No mystery about good works done by PEO
I get a lot of requests for speaking engagements. A lot. Most of the time I actually know who the audience will be. I've addressed more than 50 historical societies, dozens of reading groups, several museum groups and enough Rotary and Kiwanis luncheons to make me feel like the Toastmaster General of the U.S.
- Monday, August 15, 2011
-
I Was Just Thinking: Back-to-school used to be a simpler affair
Have you seen the "back-to-school" sales now going on in stores? Ahem, hello? It's still summer! Which got me to thinking about back-to-school shopping when I was a kid in the 1950s. The list seems almost infantile by today's standards.
- Monday, August 1, 2011
-
I Was Just Thinking: Messages from the (virtual) mailbag
Well, it's mail call time again. Every six months I like to recap some of the correspondence I have received from readers. I welcome any and all emails!
- Monday, July 18, 2011
-
I Was Just Thinking: St. Mary's was part of Oneonta life
One of the longest-running chapters of Oneonta history just came to an end. Officially.
- Tuesday, July 5, 2011
-
I Was Just Thinking: Small-town memories have universal appeal
This Friday, July 8, I will be presenting my one-man show, "My Town is a Cathedral," at the Oneonta Theatre. It is sponsored by the Green Toad Bookstore and is a benefit for the Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care. The show is a gentle look at growing up in Smalltown U.S.A. in the black-and-white days of the 1950s and 1960s.
- Monday, June 20, 2011
-
I Was Just Thinking: Father's Day gifts reflect the man ... or the times?
Well, Father's Day 2011 is history. Hey, dads, did you dodge a bullet this year? Gift giving for dad is always problematic. Being a father now for nearly 30 years, I can certainly identify with the touchy situation that my own dad was put in on Father's Day back in the 1950s. As they always say, "What do you give a man who has everything?"
- Monday, June 6, 2011
-
I Was Just Thinking: How a softball game can conjure youthful memories
While listening to a sports report at the radio station last week, the high score tallies for local youth softball games struck me as unusual. Eighteen, 20, 27 runs and more. Geez, I thought. What does a game like that look like?
-
George Wallace gives us the 'one-finger salute'
