12-14-2008
( Reply#: 2482 ) |
Pro2am |
Paddy,
Hilarious post! And very accurate.
Though I lived (and still do) in Hammond, I remember Hot Dog John's. I've spent most of my working career in East Chicago. Also, I used to drive the Boulevard to my girlfriend's in Robertsdale a lot back in the late '60s. I recall passing the place many times.
I don't know if it is still there; probably not. But I know that it was there for a long, long time, even though I never personally visited it, thus I never experienced the gastrointestinal ecstasy you so well described. :-)
Mike Rapchak Jr. |
12-14-2008
( Reply#: 2484 ) |
Tom J |
Man, I love this thread! No, I don't think I ever went to Hot Dog Johns, but I still enjoy hearing you guys talk about it.
Paddy, you are a great addition to this website! Thanks for your contributions.
Who remembers Arnie's Dog House? I love their Polish sausages!
Tom
A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days!
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Tom%20and%20Georgeann/img014.jpg[/IMG] |
01-14-2009
( Reply#: 2663 ) |
HassoBenSoba |
When I was a sophomore at Noll I would stay after school
for Band practice, which didn't start 'til 7pm. With all
that time to kill, my buddy Frank Mosca and I would walk
east down Chicago Ave to Hot Dog John's; this was during
Feb and March (of 1967), so the weather was nice and cold.
Walking into that cozy little place was quite an experience.
We'd each grab two dogs, with mustard, onions and chili,
then head back to Noll.
A legendary little establishment that is now a....what...
pawn shop?...nail parlor...? I forget.
Larry Rapchak
|
01-14-2009
( Reply#: 2670 ) |
duane |
Wow...winter of '67 was when we had that awesome snowstorm that shut everything down for a few days....the skies over the region actually got clean(er) for a short while. Somewhere I've got pictures of my brother, sister and me standing in a 4 foot snow drift.
I'm pretty sure Hot dog John's is long gone, and I don't even know if the building is still there. Certainly, the First National Bank building across the street which took up 1/2 block, and Lewin's clothier's next door taking up much of the rest are both long gone to the demolishers ball. |
01-15-2009
( Reply#: 2674 ) |
seejay2 |
It's gone; long gone, but I don't know what is there now....Cj |
03-03-2009
( Reply#: 2805 ) |
Annelee |
Larry Rapchak - I remember you and Frank Mosca - you two played many a game of "RISK" at my house with my brother Brian. I was sometimes "allowed" to play too (usually when my mom was around and told you guys to let me join the game :)
I never went to "Hot Dog John's," as I was a Mortonite and hung out in Hessville. "Fabulous Hot Dog" was the joint I remember - great tacos too! |
03-11-2009
( Reply#: 2820 ) |
tom w |
Hi guys. Hey did you know that there was a Johnnies Hot Dogs acros from Bishop Noll by the toll road in Hammond? So Hot Dog John's and Johnnies Hot Dogs were less than a mile apart. Anyone here from Irving school? Take care all.
Tom W 55-58 |
03-12-2009
( Reply#: 2826 ) |
duane |
Yes, I remember Johnnies hot dogs. I went to Bishop Noll so would go past this place frequently. Also, there was a fish place next to Johnnies. As a Catholic family, we would order fish there on a regular basis....on Friday's of course.
I remember that soon after Vatican II (when the Pope said eating meat on Fridays was no longer a mortal sin) the fish place went out of business!
Do you remember Delocks just on the other side of the Toll Road? |
03-14-2009
( Reply#: 2831 ) |
tom w |
Hi Duane;
Yes, I remember the first rainy, cold day that Buddy (?)Delock pulled his pickup up on the corner and started selling veggies and fruit. I remember the old wooden tables and the plywood sign that just said "DELOCKS". Hand painted too! That to me was the true American story and I really respected him for it' Thanks for that memory. Tom W Hammond Tech 55-58 |
07-20-2009
( Reply#: 3394 ) |
cindyhr |
My Brother in law, Bob Taylor, owned Hot Dog John's for a few years back then. Don't know if anyone knew him or not. He wasn't the only owner. But his kids worked there too. They sure was some good hot dogs. |
08-10-2009
( Reply#: 3492 ) |
rmkekeis |
Hot Dog John's was great. Also White Castle and Taco Joe's in the Harbor. |
08-14-2009
( Reply#: 3550 ) |
Carol |
Hot Dog John's - what I wouldn't give for two of their hot dogs wrapped in Wonder Bread wrappers. My dad worked at Youngstown and on his 3 to 11 shift would bring some home with him. Trying to sleep after a couple of them wasn't easy. |
08-14-2009
( Reply#: 3552 ) |
BobK |
I wasn't crazy about their hamburgers but loved the chili dogs. I guess that's why the name Hot Dog John's instead of Hamburger John's. Dad would bring a whole bun container home full of them. I think he ate at White Castle every day too. He worked day and night and when he was home in the evening he'd watch TV and eat a half gallon of ice cream. He wasn't fat and died of a massive heart attack at 80.
Bob
[img]http://home.comcast.net/~rkekeis/Bob1.jpg[/img] |
08-14-2009
( Reply#: 3556 ) |
Carol |
May we all be so lucky - although I've always said I'd live to be 86. Maybe now that we don't have Hot Dog John's around, I can meet that goal. I didn't even know they served hamburgers! I hope I didn't offend you with that "lucky" remark. Let me explain: all four of my grandparents and both my parents died of cancer. The first grandparent before I was born and the last on my 16th birthday. Neither of my parents made it to their 70th birthday. It's a cruel and painful disease for the patient and the family left behind, so I honestly pray that I may die of a massive heart attack - but not until I'm 86. |
08-17-2009
( Reply#: 3599 ) |
BobK |
You didn't offend me. I hope I go in my sleep or a massive heart attack or something very quick. My Dad had his on the treadmill at the Civic Center. So I've been wondering how good exercise is for you.
Bob
[img]http://home.comcast.net/~rkekeis/Bob1.jpg[/img] |
08-17-2009
( Reply#: 3600 ) |
Carol |
Huge LOL!!!! Sorry 'bout that, but I'm still smiling. I laughted so loudly that my dog starting barking. |
08-17-2009
( Reply#: 3602 ) |
ChuckR |
Loved those dogs at Hot Dog Johnny's as we called in back in early 60's. We'd go there after playing night games of fast pitch softball to load up. One night I swear, a young man and girl all dressed in prom clothing sat on a couple of stools and joined the rest of us as we scoffed down our dogs. One of my pals dad owned a tavern in E. Chgo and would humor us with the story of Charlie, the one legged cockroach that was the diner's mascot. We may have laughed but never stopped eating those chili dogs! |
11-30-2009
( Reply#: 4039 ) |
Andrew Murchek |
quote:
Originally posted by Paddy
I sort of started a separate thead with my self-introduction, and thought that Hot Dog John's deserves its own thread.
Hot Dog John's was located on Indianapolis Boulevard in EC, just north of Chicago Avenue. It was the place where many of us had our first encounter with loaded Chili Dogs.
I won't mention the subsequent experience. For you White Castle fans, Suffice it to say eating a couple of Hot Dog John's loaded Chili Dogs led to the same odiferous results as woofing down too many sliders.
Hot dog stands are rare in my neck of the woods, but the memories of those gastronomical delights remain. When I fly through Chicago, I make a beeline to the nearest airport bar that serves Chigago hot dogs so I can relive this one of my many youthful indiscretions. And then I board my next flight and hope that the impending results don't arrive until after I have landed.
I remember Hot dog Johns.My dad use to take us there all the time. Was just across the street from the Dime store. What memories. |
11-30-2009
( Reply#: 4041 ) |
duane |
quote:
Originally posted by ChuckR
Loved those dogs at Hot Dog Johnny's as we called in back in early 60's. We'd go there after playing night games of fast pitch softball to load up. One night I swear, a young man and girl all dressed in prom clothing sat on a couple of stools and joined the rest of us as we scoffed down our dogs. One of my pals dad owned a tavern in E. Chgo and would humor us with the story of Charlie, the one legged cockroach that was the diner's mascot. We may have laughed but never stopped eating those chili dogs!
I think maybe I mentioned this on another post somewhere a long time ago...but since you brought it up...At EC Roosevelt, we had a teacher named Mr. George Torhan. Around Prom time, he always would say....I don't know why you guys go to Prom and spend so much money to take your dates to a fancy restaurant. You should take her to Hot Dog John's, where two people can eat for 35 cents. (2 chili dogs were 35 cents at the time)! So maybe some couple actually took his advice. |
12-07-2009
( Reply#: 4111 ) |
Jay |
Ah yes, good ole Hot Dog John's. I got introduced to them through my father. On the way from work, he would often stop there and load up on chili dogs so mom didn't have to cook. Funny, but we never had to don gas masks like some of you needed. Maybe we acquired immunities.
We used to call the male proprietor "Hot Dog John" even though we did not know his first name. And we called his wife "Chili Mary" even though we did not know her first name either. If you asked for a weather report, they would reply "Chili today, chili tomorrow, eat more chili."
I wonder why he is no longer in business? Was it death? Was it a disinterested family who sold it?
And although I have tried Johnnie's (across from Bishop Noll), it is not the same as Hot Dog Johns. The best alternative I have found is Portillo's in Merrillville and Chicago.
|
12-22-2009
( Reply#: 4255 ) |
nitti |
I first went to Hot Dog Johnnies with my dad in the mid fifties when it was still owned by a man of greek descent and they were still wrapped in Wonder Bread wrappers.
By the time I went with Larry Rapchak in the late 60's the new owner was using waxed paper and the rich taste of the chili had been given a sharper taste.
Larry and I also would go to Johnnie's on Chicago Avenue since it was across the street from Noll's football field and easy to get to during break from a My Fair Lady rehearsal.
Frank Mosca |
