.jpg)
The Patio Podcast
The Patio Podcast is a wistful exploration of my hometown's enduring attachment to Hess’s Department Store. In candid conversations with residents, historians, collectors, former shoppers and employees, The Patio hopes to shed light on Allentown, Pennsylvania’s multigenerational interest in one single place.
Does nostalgia this visceral unite a city, or hold it back? How has Max Hess Jr.’s marketing genius endured? What happened to his famous chandeliers? And how good was all that whipped cream pie, really? The Patio Podcast is a new collection of Hess’s memories, meant for the here and now!
The Patio Podcast's original music: Theme created and produced by Dave Meyers with Vocals by Sam Cummings
The Patio Podcast
Episode 12: Stories from Society of the Arts (SOTA)
These nine short stories cover decades of Hess’s history. Each holds unique insider information that will close out this first season of The Patio Podcast!
The stories come from members of Society of the Arts (SOTA), which include individuals who worked with Max Hess Jr.; regularly shopped in The French Room; were hand-picked for special projects by Mrs. Berman; attended many of the "Old Allentown" society events and pool parties; fought for merchandise during Hess’s Clearance Sales; and one who purchased the former Hess Mansion from the family and restored it to the landmark property we know today.
As you will hear, they include:
- Shirlee Neumeyer
- Matilda “Tillie” Vastine
- Ilene Hochberg Wood
- Penny Holman
- Donna Leibensperger
- Merry Landis
- Trudy Egan
- Terri Bartholomew
- Teri Johnson
Society of the Arts (SOTA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultural organization founded in 1964 with a mission to support the Allentown Art Museum's presentation of outstanding artistic programs. SOTA is dedicated to advancing and promoting the mission of the Museum in the community and beyond.
Throughout their nearly 60-year history, SOTA has contributed generously to the Allentown Art Museum with gifts have included funds for the purchase of more than 350 works of art for the Museum’s collections through the SOTA Print Fund, the creation of the SOTA Education Endowment, and financial support for Special Exhibits, “Art Ways” and other Museum educational needs.
SOTA's Executive Officers, led by President, Priti Merchant, welcomed me to a recent meeting to capture a multitude of Hess’s memories from their members. THANK YOU for having me!
** THIS ENDS SEASON ONE OF THE PATIO PODCAST!**
WE WILL TAKE A SHORT SUMMER BREAK TO MAKE NEW MEMORIES AND PREPARE FOR SEASON TWO. CATCH UP ON ALL EPISODES AND SHARE WITH LOVED ONES BY VISITING HESSPATIOPODCAST.COM.
The Patio's original music: Theme created and produced by Dave Meyers, with Vocals by Sam Cummings.
Follow us on Instagram @HessPatioPodcast
Connect on Facebook with The Patio Podcast
Visit our website www.hesspatiopodcast.com