Comments for Toledo History Box - 20th century Toledo as seen through the eyes of the Toledo Blade and News-Bee

Comment on Toledo’s Westwood Art Theater by Steve Brack

Steve Brack — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 22:24:30 +0000

I worked for a time in the 1990s at the Ma Chere Academy, a beauty school on Sylvania at Lewis (the five-points interstection). I can remember passing by the Westwood on my way to & from work every day, and, if I recall correctly, one of our students was renting an apartment over the theater.

Comment on Carlo Sommer and the Crusade of Love by Carla Orvis Hunt

Carla Orvis Hunt — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 04:30:52 +0000

Wow, fascinating! I stumbled on to this post when I got online to do some research about Carlo’s early years as a magician. I’ve been reading Ram Dass’s Be Love Now, and Carlo’s influence on my early life has re-occured to me lately. My name is Carla Orvis Hunt, and I was raised around Carlo; my mom brought me to meetings, I spoke often with him on the phone through my teenage years (I was a talker even then:~), and I recently (last year or so, when I was home visiting my mom) read his book LOVE for the first time since I was an adult. I thought to myself, you know, this is all true. People thought he was so strange then; now people are paying so much money for counseling, meditation, yoga, cleanses…. it’s funny. ~~ It’s interesting to see how the post above morphed as people spoke. It kind of reminds me of the various characters / Carlolites I grew up around – some curious, some abundantly joyful, some in need of love and lashing out. ~ What I’d like to add is that, as a little girl (and I saw Carlo weekly from the time I was born until I was about 12), Carlo didn’t scare me at all. He simply loved me; he was like a smart papa bear, only growling if you were in danger. I knew it like I knew nothing else. Yeah, there were some weird moments with drama among his students / devotees, but Carlo himself was never weird. Unless, of course, you consider preaching such an eccentric idea as love weird, or spending money on commercials that – imagine that – generations remember weird. Which, as a matter of fact, when I was about 12, I did think it was weird; I surrendered to peer and family pressure, and anger that my mom would give him money when we didn’t have much, and refused to go to meetings. Looking back now, I realize that didn’t matter, that I stopped going I mean. I would say he still loved me, but the truth is that it’s not so much that he loved me, as that he was immensely loving and, when I asked, directed his guidance toward me. … Now, a professor of writing and a writer, and a soul who believes that we are love, in my thirties, I find myself thankful for those early years. I am his namesake, and he was also immensely helpful to me, as I grew up in in a some-ways tough situation. I don’t remember meeting much of his actual family, I”m sorry to say, but I send my greetings to them. Should anyone want to get in touch with me (though I’m not sure I can answer many questions about Carloism other than what I saw and heard) to say hello or whatnot, I can be reached at carlaorvishunt@gmail.com. ~

Comment on Now: Jamie Farr. Then: Jameel Farah by Ken Alt

Ken Alt — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 16:01:49 +0000

I was doing some geneology research on my Uncle Fred Shama who’s sister married a Faroh. It appears that the name was changed to Farah and moved to the Toledo area. I’m wondering if Jameel Farah is some how related to the people who spell their name Faroh?

Any info whould be appreciated.

Comment on Carlo Sommer and the Crusade of Love by Who is Carlo Sommer? | My Sissy Says

Who is Carlo Sommer? | My Sissy Says — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 01:21:01 +0000

[...] to my sister’s Valentine’s Day post to see his freaky commercial, or you can see it here, in an interesting article on [...]

Comment on The double blow: Tiedtke’s and Buckeye Beer close by steve causey

steve causey — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:21:06 +0000

i have a old buckeye beer with the head old deerhead neon sign that i think its worth money ive had it 40 yrs

Comment on Carlo Sommer and the Crusade of Love by Justin H

Justin H — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 20:47:00 +0000

This is awesome, thanks for the research and stirring up the pot about a Toledo enigma. It’s always so great to hear things about Toledoans. As a child I had no concept of the difference between local and national tv, so of course my only world was that of whatever tv I watched. And Dr. Carlo was part of the entire world for me then. How neat to find out the reality behind our little corner of it and what he did with his portion. Cheers to all…. “Loves.”

Comment on Tomato pudding: a Toledo original? by angierubin

angierubin — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 19:53:39 +0000

thanks to sandy isenberg. used to make this years ago, and loved it!!!!!

Comment on Carlo Sommer and the Crusade of Love by Kelly Y

Kelly Y — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 18:58:06 +0000

Georgann, really, is it necessary to try to denigrate Pat? You truly did not get Carlo’s teachings or you would know better. Carol taught us to love and respect each other. If Pat T wants to remember things in this light let her. Carolyn DID NOT get wealthy, and even if she did, she earned it. Carlo was a hard task master and she dealt with him every day, as did Tish, Bill, and anyone who lived in the apartment building. You are right, he was scary, because he asked you to look at the truth of things, most especially what was inside of yourself. He challenged us to live life on life’s terms but making the hard choices to see ourselves as we were, to accept where we were, and then if we wanted to change it, to do so and not just talk about it. He said if we wanted something, that was bull, because if we did we would have it already. What is this so called truth you are speaking of? The truth is, we are what we are because we have chosen to be that way, period. If we can decide to watch our thoughts, change them, challenge them, then we can be what we say we want. We have what we want based on our daily thoughts and our recognition of them. Most people sleep their days away, blissfully ignorant to the fact that they control every aspect of their lives. He also taught us self-responsibility, something most people do not ever want to accept. Most people want to thank a higher power for the good and blame the bad stuff on the devil, never accepting that all along they were the ones responsible the whole time for all of it. Enough of the soap box. Just do not criticize when you have nothing to be proud of yourself. Love you.

Comment on Carlo Sommer and the Crusade of Love by Tony S

Tony S — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 20:29:25 +0000

Carlo was my great uncle and this is very interesting to read about him. His brother, Gene just passed away last April and he was the last of his living brothers. Thanks for the kind words

Comment on Tomato pudding: a Toledo original? by Jim

Jim — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 14:18:22 +0000

Great site. I look forward to your postings…keep up the good work!

I think I will pass on the Tomato Pudding…I can hear my arteries crunching as I read about it. However, you are spot on regarding Rudy’s vs. Packos. I was never a fan of Packos at all, but love Rudy’s. Makes me hungry just thinking of them.