Hello Bronxer's;

Many of us that grew up in "The Cold War Day's" Back in the Bronx remember how we viewed the world of "US" or "THEM". The so called "MADD SYNERIO" was not the one we took for granted in a humor magazine with the likeness of Alfred E. Newman. Yes... "MAD" was a favorate at every Bronx Candy Store.
In this case, there was a Bronx Candy Store that went under the slang of "Commie's"... I didn't pick up on the Cold War Joke till much later when I talked to a fellow friend and Bronxer named Ray Janos, who works presently in the Music Recording field.

As Ray says... The name of the owner/partner of This Bronx Candy Store "Commies" was a man named Janos Starker. So who's Janos Starker you might ask?

Well... Janos Starker is a very well reknowned Cello player. He was well known in Eastern Europe for his stellar performances... then he desided to emmigrate or defect to the United States. While settling down in his new country, between his Cello performances, he had to make a secondary living... hence forth, he opened up his candy store on 194th. and Marion Ave. He had a lot of neat stuff,(This was where I got my MAD Mags) and Yes... he knew how to make Great Malts and Chocolate/Vanilla Egg Creams too!

When things got slow, or when he needed to practice his skill... the sound of classical cello music would be heard from the back of the store. As time went by, I saw less and less of him, and a partner took over eventually. Talk about a celeb in our mists?!

Today... The recorded works of Chello Mastro, Janos Starker can be heard on the radio/TV or purchaced at most stores, our gain... their loss.


Ain't The Bronx Something Else;

Al


More on Janos Starker:
http://www.cello.org/cnc/starker/mayerbio.htm