Rudy Vallee Turned Down an Opportunity to Appear in Sandusky in January 1933

In December of 1932, J. Leroy Weier of the Lake Shore Tire Company, asked musical star Rudy Vallee to consider appearing at the opening of a new building in Sandusky. A reasonable search did not turn up exactly which building or business was opening in Sandusky in the winter of 1932-1933, but Mr. Weier had several local business interests at that time, including the Lake Shore Tire Company and the Weier Brothers salvage yard. It seems that the famous entertainer was going to be in Cleveland, Ohio for the Automobile Show in January of 1933. Mr. Weier had hoped that Rudy Vallee could appear in Sandusky, during the same week as the Auto Show. It turns out that Mr. Vallee had to return promptly to New York City for the radio broadcast sponsored by the Fleischman Yeast Company.  Though Mr. Vallee seemed optimistic that he may be able to appear in Sandusky at a later time, it does not seem that he ever made it here.

During the 1920s and 1930s, radios were sold at the Lake Shore Tire Company. In the historical business files of the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center is an undated promotional item that was given away by the Lake Shore Tire Company. Inside the small notebook were pages on which a person could jot down the call letters, city, and state of radio programs, and make notes about those programs.

In the 1920s and 1930s, the Lake Shore Tire Company stocked a variety of radio accessories, including tubes, condensers, batteries, condensers, speakers and sockets.

Lake Shore Tire Company

The Lake Shore Tire Company operated in Sandusky, Ohio from about 1915 to 1931 on the 1000 block of Hancock Street.  The business was run by Fred Brobst and J. Leroy Weier. The company started out selling tires for trucks and automobiles, but by 1927 the Lake Shore Tire Company was listed in the Sandusky city directory as a sporting goods store. In the mid 1920s, the Lake Shore Tire Company sold radios and radio accessories. This ad from the December 21, 1923 issue of the Sandusky Register told of the joys a family could have by listening to radio programs.

 In the vintage photograph from the Lake Shore Tire Company below, we see that the Lake Shore Tire Company once sold Imperial and Pullman tires. A handwritten slogan reads: “We’re the guys who put the miles in mileage.”

Lake Shore Tire Company July 4th Parade Float

 

The float pictured above was sponsored by the Lake Shore Tire Company for a parade in Sandusky on July 4, 1918. Men are dressed in World War I military uniforms, some bearing weapons. A simulated cannon on the float appears to be made of tires carried by the Lake Shore Tire Company. Lake Shore Tire Company was in operation in Sandusky from about 1915 to 1931, and was run by Fred Brobst and J. Leroy Weier.

The Lake Shore Tire Company sponsored the float below in the 1919 Fourth of July parade in Sandusky.

Names of deceased local servicemen from World War I are listed on a tablet in the back of the truck.

Floral urns, similar to those still found in Washington Park are found in the four corners of the truck bed. An article in the July 5, 1919 issue of the Sandusky Star Journal, reported that the Lake Shore Tire Company’s float was one of the most beautiful floats in the parade. 

As the parade passed at West Monroe and Jackson Streets, the band played “Onward Christian Soldiers.” Area men who had served in the war marched directly behind the band. Over 150 soldiers and sailors, along with two Marines, participated in the parade. Following the parade, Ohio Congressman Randolph Walton, gave a speech in front of the Erie County Courthouse. He said, in part, “The boys of Erie County are deserving of all the honors that can be given them. The outstanding characteristics of the American fighter were cheerfulness and unselfishness.”