It’s now been 26 years since James D. Griffin served as Buffalo mayor. He will forever be remembered for the quintessential Buffalo advice he proffered during the Blizzard of 1985 – “grab a six-pack and stay home.” James D. Griffin, Buffalo mayor from 1978-1994, wearing one of his signature Buffalo ties and drinking a draft … Continue reading The legacy of Mayor Jimmy Griffin
“Blunt-talking Griffin,” says the headline, “meets issues head-on along campaign circuit.” Forty years ago today, September 4, 1975, State Sen. James D. Griffin was seeking the Democratic nomination for Erie County executive against Amherst supervisor, sporting goods store owner and 1946 Buffalo Bisons quarterback Al Dekdebrun. Dekdebrun won the primary, but he lost to Republican … Continue reading Buffalo in the 70’s: ‘There’s no flowery rhetoric’ in Jimmy Griffin’s campaign
Kleinhans, AM&A’s, Riverside Men’s Shop and others all sold their own version of the Buffalo ties that were popular with the men of Buffalo in the ’80s (and especially with the mayor), but few had as wide a selection as the Squire Shop on Main Street in Snyder– which was the original home of the … Continue reading Buffalo in the 80s: ‘The Original (Jimmy Griffin) Buffalo tie’
He remains one of the most popular figures in Buffalo’s history. He was also one of the most vilified. Jimmy Griffin was Mayor of Buffalo from 1978-1993. No one has ever held the post longer, and it’s a pretty good bet that no one ever had more fun doing the job. He got things done. … Continue reading Photos from Buffalo’s Jimmy Griffin years
Buffalo, NY – As Mayor, Jim Griffin raised over $20,000 for local charities by sponsoring a decades’ worth of annual runs in South Park. Fast forward 20 years, and the late mayor’s name is now once again in the spotlight in the running world as his family, the Buffalo Bisons and the Alzheimer’s Association of … Continue reading Griffin name continues to help charities with Run Jimmy Run Charity 5k
Run, Jimmy, Run! He battled with many in the media, which resulted in the media painting Jimmy Griffin as a dour, frowning guy. This is the face many knew better!
From Channel 4’s coverage of the day the infamous Mayor Jimmy Griffin/WBEN Reporter Brian Meyer scuffle inside the Mayor’s office.
Van Miller spent the 60s as the play-by play voice of the Bills and one of Ch.4’s top sportscasters, but he was also one of WBEN Radio’s most popular personalities as well. Van hikes the ball to Jack Kemp Van interviews radio comedy legend Jack Benny (above) and Hollywood beauty Jayne Mansfield (below). Ch.4 had … Continue reading Around the TV dial through the 60s
It was vestige of the Vaudeville days—wives and husbands as co-emcees on radio and television, usually hosting otherwise normal shows, only with a special kind of schtick to fall back on. The successful and beloved team of George Burns and Gracie Allen, the married stars of one of radio’s most successful network programs from 1936-50, … Continue reading Husband & Wife teams and For the Ladies…
Forty-five years later, it’s hard to imagine Mighty Taco as anything other than a Buffalo institution, but in 1973, three Army buddies opened what was Buffalo’s first taco stand inside a tiny store front on Hertel Avenue, right in the heart of North Buffalo’s Little Italy. “We’d have old North Buffalo Italian ladies come in … Continue reading Explaining the mystique: WNY’s love affair with Mighty Taco
