Rumbles on E. 49th

Rascals and Rogues column writer Ralph Horner continues his chronicles growing up in Cleveland neighborhoods in his newest series, Rumbles on E. 49th.

Growing up on East 49th Street in the 1950s, “the old neighborhood,” could be rough for a kid. In fact, according to a report on juvenile delinquency in the Jan. 8, 1955 Saturday Evening Post, crime and disorder committed by teenagers increased by 45% between 1950 and 1955. Horner recalls what life on the streets of Goodrich-Kirtland Park was like back then.

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Rumbles on E. 49th: Awakenings and epiphanies
In his final Rumbles on E. 49th installment, Ralph Horner recalls the epiphany that changed his life and led him down the successful career path, a life he chose.
Rumbles on E. 49th: 'Hey, stupid' and five-on-one fighting
Ralph Horner shares some of his narrow escapes from fights with rival neighborhood groups while growing up in the Goodrich-Kirtland Park neighborhood in the 1950s.
Rumbles on E. 49th: The mighty dumb Ducals and inner-city logic
Ralph Horner recalls two instances when he and his friends ran into trouble as they attempted to rule the streets in the Goodrich-Kirtland Park neighborhood.
Rumbles on E. 49th: Inner city free enterprise
During events at the Cleveland Arena, Ralph Horner's "associates" would use business parking lots to make an extra buck and take some cars for a spin.
Rumbles of E. 49th: ‘Never mind, dummy’
Ralph Horner was alone on the playground early one morning when his group's rivals, the Gashouse Bots, showed up. Horner averted a fight by playing stupid.
Rumbles of E. 49th: Catch us if you can
Ralph Horner and his buddies were good at eluding the police when they were hanging out at the Superior-Luther playground, except once when one member of the group made one wrong move.
Rumbles on E. 49th: A Most Magnificent Sound
Ralph Horner and his friends hatched a plan to prank the police who sat in their patrol car on East 55th Street and Superior Avenue every night around 7 p.m. The result produced the kind of joy that only teenage boys can feel.
Rumbles on E. 49th: Fun with bus drivers
Riding the electric bus around the neighborhood as a teenager, Ralph Horner and his friends enjoyed pranking the driver. Then, one day, they came up with the "ultimate" prank.
Rumbles on E. 49th: Bob and Ed Right a Wrong
There were three groups of students at Willson School in the 1950s. Ralph Horner witnesses the shortest fight he'd ever seen when one of the "Basement Boys" made an error during a lunchtime movie.
Rumbles on E. 49th: A lesson learned in fighting with humor
After losing his temper while horsing around at White City Beach one day, Ralph Horner learned a valuable lesson: that sometimes humor if the best way to get out of a fight.
Rumbles on E. 49th: The love affair between D'Artagnan and Constance Bonacieux
As an 10-year-old in Goodrich-Kirtland Park, Ralph Horner fell in love with the most beautiful 12-year-old he had ever seen. He envisioned themselves as D'Artagnan and Constance Bonacieux from "The Three Musketeers," only to be challenged by a bully.
Rumbles on E. 49th: A primer on boys’ urban combat; a real life Christmas Story scene
As an eight-year-old on the streets of Goodrich-Kirtland Park in the 1940s, Ralph Horner knew the basics of street fighting other kids his age. He sees his style duplicated by the character Ralphie in the movie "A Christmas Story."
Rumbles on E. 49th: 1950s fighting rules in Goodrich-Kirtland Park
In his newest series, Rumbles on E. 49th, writer Ralph Horner writes about growing up in the Goodrich-Kirtland Park neighborhood, and playing the role of a tough kid to survive.
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