Photo Friday: Hasty Tasty, 50th and France, 1959

05/12/2011

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The Hasty Tasty was "among the most charming cafes in Minneapolis during the '40s and '50s," according to the authors of Minnesota Eats Out:  An Illustrated History. The Edina location didn't have the famous glass staircase of the Lake and Hennepin location, or the chalet-style charm of the 3601 Lyndale store, but its proximity to the Edina Theater made it a popular spot for students. The menu offered a vast selection of sandwiches from A to Z.

As noted in past posts, this photo is part of the historic City of Edina tax assessor records, now housed in our museum.

Quiz: The Hasty Tasty was two doors west of the theater. The Norm Cleaners stood between them. What other restaurants operated from this location? First correct answer wins an Edina Mill shirt.
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Photo Friday: 1959 Brown Derby restaurant, 50th and France

05/06/2011

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Brown Derby Restaurant, 1959
I love this photo. Debbie Reynolds and Tony Randall's The Mating Game is showing at the Edina Theater. Arthur Murray's Dance Studio, a 50th and France institution still going strong, is on the right. Guy standing in the Brown Derby doorway looks like he's wondering why someone is taking a photograph.

The answer: the photo was taken to document buildings for tax assessment purposes. We have the documents at the Edina History Museum. I will (try to) post photos from the collection every Friday because they're so great and deserve to see the light of day.

The original 1934 architectural drawings for the Edina Theater show the Brown Derby in that same location. I'd have to do more research to find out when it closed. Many people have told me that they never set foot in the door because the restaurant served beer (probably of the 3.2 variety), and their parents didn't think children belonged in a bar. (I'm guessing a few parents visited the place out of sight of their youngsters.)

If this photo sparks any memories, please comment or send me an email.
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Roving around 50th and France

01/30/2010

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Susan Hawthorne with puppy Rover
Susan Hawthorne with puppy Rover
I have been exchanging emails with Susan Hawthorne Plank, who helped organize the Edina-Morningside High School Class of 1959's 50th reunion. As we talked about life on 50th and France, she wrote about some of her memories. With her permission, here's one that may spark your own reminiscences.
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"My favorite Clancy's story --and every word is true:  We had a dog named Rover (1/2 collie, 1/4 lab, 1/4 Chesapeake).  This was before dog-leashing laws.  Rover was a fairly big dog and not an "inside dog."  He stayed fairly close to home or in the garage until about 4 p.m. Then he'd stroll over to 50th and France and begin his evening by going into Clancy's and lying in the entry, observing all his friends who would come and go.

 My mother would feel a responsibility if they were going out for the night to track down Rover and perhaps pick him up and bring him home.

She'd call Clancy's and ask if Rover was there.  Whoever answered would typically say, "I'll look.....yes, he's in the lobby."  Or perhaps, "No, Rover's left. He's probably gone to the theater."

That was the next part of the night.  When the theater opened, Rover would go over there and lie in that lobby through both shows.  Sometimes we'd hear him come home after the second show.  But sometimes he didn't.

We knew then that he had gone home with the cashier.  She loved Rover, and occasionally would take him home overnight, shampoo and spiff him up, and then return him on her way to work the next day.  I think she lived in a small home or apartment in Minneapolis. and loved his company.  As I said, Rover was an outside dog and never got the shampoo and perfume treatment at our house!!!!

When dog-leashing laws came in, it was hard on Rover.  Many's the time my mother had to go to the dog pound to bail him out.  I'm sure he missed his 50th and France social life and especially that nice theater cashier!"

Rover's primary home was with the Hawthornes, who lived at 5301 Minnehaha Boulevard: parents Bower and Jane and four daughters Susan, Sarah, Priscilla and Prudy.

Please share your stories with us! What do you remember about 50th and France businesses and life in Edina?

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