Lost Cleveland Memories

 

Imagine an NFL championship game pitting two future Hall of Fame quarterbacks. And to add some spice, one of the quarterbacks is married to a glamorous movie star who is embroiled in a titillating Hollywood scandal. But be sure to dress warm, the game time temperature is only 3 degrees!​

Forgotten Champions:

 The 1945 Cleveland Rams

It’s 1920, the jazz age is in full swing, prohibition is the law of the land and the New York Yankees have just signed Babe Ruth.  The Cleveland Indians have set their sights on a World Series title, but to get there they will need to overcome an unspeakable tragedy.​

Tragedy and Triumph: 

Ray Chapman and the 1920 Cleveland Indians

They came from Cleveland

Have fun with Cleveland history!

For over seven years retired executive, local historian, wit and master storyteller Dennis R. Sutcliffe has been rekindling forgotten Cleveland memories.  


PROGRAMS:

Book Dennis for your community center, senior center, public library, local historical society, church group or club in the Cleveland, Akron, Lorain and Lake County areas.

In the 1930’s stormtroopers were marching in Parma and local auto-workers were being recruited for jobs in German factories.  Learn how Rabbi Silver’s League for Human Rights led the fight against the fascists in our town.

Follow Alan Freed on his journey to Cleveland and beyond as Rock and Roll is being born. Dance at the Moond​og Coronation Ball!  Program includes audio clips from nine early Rock and Roll favorites.

The King of the Moondoggers:  

Alan Freed and the Birth of Rock and Roll

This highly interactive program will test your knowledge of Cleveland’s hometown heroes.  Some of the celebrities are easy to identify, while others present more of a challenge!

Incidentally...none of the pictured celebrities are included in the program.  They would be far too easy!

Rabbi Abba Silver’s Battle Against the Cleveland Nazi’s

E. 105th and Euclid:  

Cleveland’s ICONIC CROSSROADS

Bloody Corner and Beyond:  

Cleveland’s Prohibition Era Mob Bosses

Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, two kids from Glenville High School, created the world’s most enduring Superhero. Meet the original Superman and learn how he was influenced by the boy’s lives in Cleveland!

Originally known as Doan’s Corners, the area began as a stagecoach stop on the road from Buffalo to Cleveland. In the first half of the 20th Century it became an entertainment Mecca offering Clevelander’s a taste of New York City high-life. By the 1970’s it was referred to as an “inner-city Disneyland’ and was the flash-point for battles with the city’s power structure. Today it is part of the sprawling campus of Cleveland Clinic. Program includes audio clips from famous celebrities who performed in the neighborhood."

TRUTH, JUSTICE AND THE Cleveland WAY

 The Early Work of Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster

All of the proceeds of Dennis’ s Lost Cleveland programs will be used to fund the work of the A-T Children’s Project.


Dennis and his wife, Mary, have five beautiful grandchildren. Two of their grandsons (Dylan and Sean) have been diagnosed with ataxia-telangiectasia, more commonly known as A-T.

A-T is an extremely rare, genetic disease. A-T causes progressive loss of muscle control, immune system problems and a high rate of cancer.  Sean is already a cancer survivor. He was treated for B-cell lymphoma when he was 2 years old.

Because A-T is so rare, it gets little attention and even less funding. The A-T Children’s Project (atcp.org) was started to raise funds for research and life improving therapies for children with A-T.

The Prohibition Era was the bloodiest period in Cleveland History.  Try to keep track of the mob hits as rival gangs brutally battle to control the city’s rackets.  Many of the mob leaders didn’t survive the period, a few lived to a ripe old age, and some became respected icons in the community and beyond.