>>> THIS PROGRAM IS PART OF WQED'S PITTSBURGH HISTORY SERIES.

>> HEY.

IT'S LUCKY PROGRAM NUMBER SEVEN.

OUR FIRST OF THE NEW YEAR.

WE'RE GONNA PREMIERE THIS ON WEDNESDAY EVENING JANUARY 12, 2011, BUT YOU KNOW WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGY YOU MAY CATCH IT LATER ON YOUR DVR OR ON-LINE, OR MAYBE THIS IS A REPEAT.

WE DO DO THAT.

IF THIS ISN'T ALL NEW TO YOU, REMEMBER THERE'S A CERTAIN SWEETNESS IN THE FAMILIAR.

WE BEGIN OUR PROGRAM TONIGHT WITH A TRIP TO PHILADELPHIA FOR BREAKFAST AT CARMAN'S COUNTRY KITCHEN, A WONDERFUL PLACE.

I'VE HAD TWO GREAT BREAKFASTS THERE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING BACK.

THEN, BEING THAT IT'S JANUARY, AND MANY OF US MAY HAVE BEGUN THE MONTH WITH PORK AND SAUERKRAUT, I THOUGHT, LET'S CHECK IN AT MAX'S ALLEGHENY TAVERN ON THE NORTH SIDE.

GOOD SAUERKRAUT.

WE'LL SHOW YOU SOME NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN FOOTAGE AND WE'LL SHARE OUR STORY FROM "NORTH SIDE STORY.

"ME THEN WE'LL END UP BACK HERE AT KLAVON'S.

TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THIS GREAT PLACE AND ITS INCREDIBLE HISTORY.

SO THE NAME OF THIS PROGRAM IS "IT'S PITTSBURGH AND A LOT OF OTHER STUFF."

AND TONIGHT THE "OTHER STUFF" INCLUDES SOME BROTHERLY LOVE.

MY NAME IS RICK SEBAK.

I'M YOUR HOST AND NATIVE PITTSBURGHER.

AND WE HOPE YOU'LL STICK AROUND.

IF WE'RE LUCKY, THINGS MAY GET STICKY HERE.

>> "IT'S PITTSBURGH AND A LOT OF OTHER STUFF" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE BUHL FOUNDATION, SERVING SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SINCE 1927.

>> OKAY.

IF YOU'VE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO OUR EXPLOITS, YOU MAY KNOW THAT IN 2010, WE SHOT AND EDITED A PROGRAM FOR PBS CALLED BREAKFAST SPECIAL.

IT WAS ABOUT PLACES ACROSS AMERICA WHERE YOU COULD GET A MEMORABLE MORNING MEAL.

WE SHOT WAY TOO MUCH MATERIAL.

THERE WERE EIGHT OR NINE STORIES THAT WE SHOT THAT WE DIDN'T SQUEEZE INTO THE PROGRAM.

THIS FIRST STORY IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THOSE.

THIS WAS SHOT IN PHILADELPHIA, JANUARY 30, 2010.

I THINK IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I EVER HAD DUCK FOR BREAKFAST.

RICK IN SOUTH PHILADELPHIA, AT THE CORNER OF 11th AND WHARTON, THERE'S A PLACE CALLED CARMAN'S COUNTRY KITCHEN.LL >> I HAD HEARD ABOUT IT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

IT'S ON A BUNCH OF LIKE WEBSITES OF "PLACES TO GO IN PHILLY."

IT'S ON A BUNCH OF LISTS OF HIDDEN TREASURES, THAT TYPE OF THING.

>> IT'S THE KIND OF PLACE YOU EITHER CLICK WITH OR YOU DON'T CLICK WITH.

>> I JUST LOVE THE FOOD.

IT'S LIKE THE FOOD'S PERFECTLY DESIGNED.

>> WE HADN'T BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE.

AND SO ANYTIME THAT WE HAVE LIKE A NICE SATURDAY OFF, WE'RE LIKE "CARMAN'S?"

>> AND I CAME FOR THE FIRST TIME ABOUT A MONTH AGO, AND SINCE THEN I'VE BEEN BACK THREE TIMES.

>> THE FIRST MEAL I EVER HAD WAS ALLIGATOR, AND IT CAME WITH BLACK BEANS AND GRITS AND BACON, I THINK.

AND IT WAS THE BEST MEAL I'D EVER HAD.

>> THIS WOULD BE JUST A CORNER PLACE IF IT WASN'T FOR CARMAN AND HER PERSONALITY AND HER OUTLOOK AND WHAT SHE WANTS THIS PLACE TO BE.

>> CARMAN IS CARMAN LUNTZEL WHO ONCE HAD SEVERAL NIGHTCLUBS IN FLORIDA, BUT SHE OPENED THIS UNUSUAL BREAKFAST PLACE ON JANUARY 1, 1989.

>> THE STANDARD BREAKFAST FARE JUST DOESN'T DO IT FOR ME.

I ALWAYS WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND WOULD WISH I HAD MORE FROM WHAT I ATE THE NIGHT BEFORE.

AND IT CHANGES EVERY WEEK 'CAUSE I WANT TO EAT SOMETHING DIFFERENT NEXT WEEK.

>> AND EVERY WEEKEND SHE DOES FOUR SPECIALS AND THAT'S ALL THAT'S ON THE MENU.

SHE'LL DO A FRENCH TOAST.

SHE'LL DO EITHER A PANCAKE OR WAFFLE.

SHE'LL DO OMELETS, AND THEN SHE'LL TAKE SOME PROTEIN AND JUST KIND OF COME UP WITH SOME FUNKY KIND OF WAY OF SERVING IT.

>> THAT'S OUR OLD FRIEND HOLLY MOORE WHO HAS THE WEBSITE HOLLYEATS.COM.

HE RECOMMENDED THIS PLACE.

>> IT'S REALLY FUNNY CAUSE SHE TAKES ALL THE PROTEINS, WHATEVER SHE'S DOING -- DUCK BREAST, ROCK SHRIMP, FLORIDA STONE CRAB, WHATEVER -- AND SHE ALWAYS SERVES IT WITH EGGS AND TOAST, SO IT QUALIFIES AS A BREAKFAST.

>> IF I'M REAL EXOTIC, THEY ALL WILL ORDER IT.

YOU KNOW BECAUSE THEY, THAT THEY WANT TO TRY.

>> SHE DOES THIS ONE THAT A WILD ASS CHILI WHICH IS KANGAROO, BEAR, OH, LIKE MAYBE THREE OTHER EXOTIC ANIMALS, AND IT'S REALLY GOOD.

>> WELL, LIKE ALLIGATOR TAIL, WHEN I TELL THEM IT COOKS UP LIKE VEAL, IT SLICES LIKE VEAL, BUT IT'S, IT FEELS LIKE THE VEAL HAS BEEN SLEEPING OVERNIGHT WITH A COUPLE SCALLOPS.

>> I LIKE THAT IT'S LIKE THIS IS BUSINESS.

YOU COME, YOU EAT WHAT WE HAVE, OR YOU GO.

>> AND IT'S ALWAYS DELICIOUS.

>> AND IT'S ALL, I MEAN STUFF THAT YOU WOULD NEVER THINK TO GO TOGETHER, YOU'RE LIKE, REALLY?

THEN YOU'RE LIKE, REALLY!

>> IT'S CHALLAH BREAD THAT CARMAN IS COOKING AND THEN TOPPING WITH SOME BAKED PEARS, SOME DATES AND SOME FRESH CRANBERRIES.

>> PRESERVES IS WHAT STANDS OUT TO ME.

SHE USED TO ALWAYS HAVE BLACKBERRY, BLUEBERRY, STRAWBERRY, RASPBERRY, PEACH, PEAR, PLUM, APRICOT, RHUBARB AND CHERRY HOMEMADE PRESERVES FOR YOUR WHI, WHEAT OR RYE PLEASURE.

>> THIS GUY, JARET, IS CARMAN'S SON.

HE GREW UP HERE.

>> I WORKED HERE FROM THE AGE OF 11 TO STILL LIKE 23, AND THEN OFF AND ON, FILLING IN FOR WHENEVER ONE OF THESE TWO GUYS DIDN'T WORK.

>> THESE TWO GUYS, THOMAS AND ALEXIS, HAVE BEEN TAKING CARE OF THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE FOR A LONG TIME.

>> YOU KNOW, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH I DON'T REMEMBER HOW I STARTED WORKING HERE.

I THINK IT MAY HAVE BEEN THROUGH HIM.

>> YEP, THROUGH ME.

>> AND IT'S LIKE TEN YEARS LATER NOW.

I ACTUALLY SPEND MORE TIME WITH THESE TWO THAN ANYBODY ELSE IN MY LIFE.

I'M NOT KIDDING YOU.

>> I LOVE THOMAS.

I LOVE ALEXIS.

I THINK THEY'RE AWESOME.

>> WE'RE LIKE A DYSFUNCTIONAL LITTLE FAMILY.

>> ONE OF THE SERVERS WILL USUALLY BRING THE BIG WHITE-BOARD MENU TO YOUR TABLE.

>> MAPLE FARM DUCK BREAST THAT CARMAN'S FINE GRILLING.

>> YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING HAS A KIND OF A CARMAN FLAVOR TO IT, YOU KNOW.

SHE HAS CERTAIN THINGS SHE LIKES TO USE IN HER, IN HER OMELETS, AND -- >> ONE OF MY FAVORITES IS ON HER MENU TODAY WHICH IS THE DUCK BREAST, IS ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS.

>> I HAD TO BRING THE DUCK UP FROM NORTH CAROLINA.

THEY WERE AFRAID THAT I'M GONNA RUN OUT.

THAT'S WHY THEY'RE BEING NICE TODAY.

>> SO IT'S LIKE PHENOMENAL FOOD BUT IN A REALLY FUNKY, QUIRKY SETTING, AND THEN WITH LIKE THAT FAMILY ATMOSPHERE, BUT IT'S THE "MODERN" FAMILY, YOU KNOW, I MEAN.

>> THE "MODERN," DEFINITELY.

>> JUST A MOTLEY CREW OF PEOPLE.

>> AND IT'S ALWAYS CREATIVE AND FUN AND COMPLEX, LIKE CARMAN.

>> IF I'M IN TOWN, I'M HERE.

>> I GOT THE DUCK.

>> I GOT FRENCH TOAST.

>> ALWAYS GETS THE FRENCH TOAST.

>> I THINK I'M GONNA GET THE OMELET.

>> I'VE NEVER HAD THE PANCAKES HERE, SO I TRIED THESE PANCAKES AND THEY WERE AWESOME!

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> SHE'S MY HETEROSEXUAL CRUSH.

IF I WERE STRAIGHT, I'D BE ALL OVER HER.

>> THANK YOU, MY HOMOSEXUAL CRUSH.

>> JARET, DID YOU TELL HIM YOUR STATISTICS ABOUT SERVICE STAFF?

>> OH, THAT IS TRUE.

WHEN I WORKED HERE, IN I THINK IT WAS 1997, AND I THINK I DID IT ALONE I'M NOT SURE IF I DID IT ALONE OR NOT BUT I HAD THE HIGHEST ZAGAT RATING FOR SERVICE THIS RESTAURANT EVER HAD WITH A 24.

>> A LITTLE BIT OF CREAM AND SWISS CHARD WORKS REALLY, REALLY WELL TOGETHER.

>> WELL, MAYBE I SHOULD DO THAT.

>> I HAVE A SAUSAGE MADE BY MARTIN SAUSAGE COMPANY.

EVERY WEEK I TRY TO PAIR IT.

BUT IT'S CHICKEN-WHITE-WINE AND PARSLEY.

A LITTLE BIT OF GARLIC IS IN THAT ALSO.

IT'S NICE.

BUT I ALSO HAVE FOR YOUR FRENCH TOAST, THE BEST PORK SAUSAGE IN THE WORLD.TO >> OKAY, THAT'S WHAT I'M HAVING OVER HERE.

>> I HEARD THAT.

>> YOU KNOW EVERYTHING I'VE HAD HERE'S BEEN PRETTY EXCEPTIONAL BUT I THINK THE ONE THING THAT I KEEP HOPING THEY'LL BRING BACK EVERY TIME I COME IS THIS FRENCH TOAST THAT WAS DIPPED IN CHOCOLATE MILK AND THEN COOKED.

THAT WAS AMAZING.

>> YOU NEVER THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE COMBINATIONS SHE, SOME OF THE THINGS SHE DOES, SHE'LL PUT BAKED BEANS IN PANCAKES.

WHO WOULD'VE EVER THOUGHT OF THAT?

>> THERE'S THINGS LIKE THAT THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE IDEA THEY DON'T LIKE, LIKE BRUSSELS SPROUTS IN AN OMELET OR SOMETHING, AND SINCE THEN THEY LOVE IT BECAUSE PEOPLE ALWAYS -- THED OM WAS A BAD COOK.

>> AND JANET'S CLASSIC LINE, CAUSE SHE'S A VERY PICKY EATER.

AND SHE'LL BE LIKE, I DON'T LIKE PORTOBELLO MUSHROOMS.

THEN SHE'LL TAKE A BITE OF HER OMELET, AND BE LIKE I LOVE PORTOBELLO MUSHROOMS.

>> YOU KNOW IT'S JUST AMAZING, THE COMBINATIONS YOU CAN PUT TOGETHER, BUT IT ALL BECAUSE YOU'RE DOING WHAT YOU LOVE.

I'M COOKING FOR PEOPLE.

I'M MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS, AND I DON'T LIVE FOR THE RESTAURANT.

I JUST LIVE FOR MY JOB.

I LIKE MY WORK THAT MUCH.

>> IT'S LIKE THIS PLACE IS NOT MASSIVE AND IT'S NOT A CHAIN, SO I WOULD EXPECT TO WANT TO SEE AND KNOW WHO'S CARMAN, YOU KNOW, AND WHY IT'S LIKE THIS.

AND IF I SEE HER AND GET TO KNOW HER, THEN I KNOW THIS IS WHY THIS PLACE IS SET UP THE WAY THAT IT IS.

>> SO I STARTED COMING BACK EVERY WEEK.

THAT WAS ABOUT THREE, FOUR YEARS AGO.

ATD THEN BECAME FRIEND OF CARMAN'S, AND SHE'S LIKE OUR RABBI, CARMAN IS.

COME IN FOR ADVICE ON ANYTHING.

>> MY CUSTOMERS WOULD NEVER EVER TOLERATE ME NOT BEING IN THE KITCHEN.

SO -- >> THE BEST TIME TO COME TO THIS RESTAURANT, WHEN IT'S NOT REAL CROWDED, CARMAN COMES OUT AND JUST SITS WITH YOU, WHILE YOU'RE EATING.

>> YEAH, THAT'S THE MOST FUN.

>> AND SHE TELLS YOU THE MEANING OF LIFE.

>> RIGHT.

>> THAT'S THE BEST TIME TO COME.

>> RIGHT.

>> I GET TO HAVE CUSTOMERS THAT I LIKE.

I GET, I GET A WONDERFUL CHOICE.

I MEAN THEY COME FROM ALL OVER.

THEY'RE ALL NATIONALITIES, THEY'RE ALL BRIGHT.

THEY GRADUATE FROM COLLEGES, THEY'RE PROFESSORS, THEY'RE YOU KNOW CRIMINALS.

I JUST LOVE THEM ALL.

>> IT'S JUST SHE HAS ONE OF THE NEATEST PLACES IN THE COUNTRY.

I MEAN I DEFY YOU TO GO ANYWHERE, NOT JUST IN PHILADELPHIA, BUT IN THE COUNTRY, AND FIND ANYTHING THAT IS EVEN CLOSE TO WHAT CARMAN'S COUNTRY KITCHEN IS.

>> WHEN WE LEFT CARMAN'S, I REMEMBER IT WAS JUST STARTING TO SNOW.

BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY TROUBLE GETTING BACK TO PITTSBURGH.

THIS NEXT STORY TAKES PLACE ON PITTSBURGH'S NORTH SIDE AT THE BAR AND RESTAURANT CALLED MAX'S ALLEGHENY TAVERN.

NOW WE SHOT THERE IN 1997 FOR OUR SPECIAL CALLED NORTH SIDE STORY.

AND WHAT THIS IS IS BERNIE DIEGLEMAN THE COOK AND HER EXPLANATION OF ALL THE SPECIAL INGREDIENTS THEY ADD TO THEIR REALLY TASTY SAUERKRAUT.

I REMEMBER IT OPENED MY EYES TO HOW WONDERFUL PICKLED CABBAGE COULD BE.

I'M ALSO REALLY HAPPY WE SAVED THESE TAPES.

>> OUR SAUERKRAUT COMES IN FIVE-GALLON CONTAINERS.

THE SAUERKRAUT IS REMOVED FROM THE CONTAINER AND PLACED INTO HOTEL PANS.

WE ADD SLICED ONIONS, APPLESAUCE, CARAWAY SEED, AND FRESH PORK PIECES.

THE PANS ARE THEN SEALED WITH PLASTIC WRAP AND COVERED WITH ALUMINUM FOIL.

THY ARE BAKED IN A 300-DEGREE OVEN FOR SIX HOURS.

AFTER THE COOLING PERIOD, THE SAUERKRAUT IS MIXED, IT'S PLACED IN CONTAINERS, AND IT'S READY FOR USE.

IT'S OUR FINISHED PRODUCT.

IT TASTES LIKE GOOD GERMAN SAUERKRAUT.

>> TH WAS UNSEEN FOOTAGE.

IT THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE INTERESTING IF WE TOOK A LOOK AT THE FINISHED STORY FROM NORTH SIDE STORY ABOUT MAX'S.

IT MIGHT HELP A LITTLE BIT IF GH YOU REMEMBER THAT THE NORTH SIDE WAS ONCE A SEPARATE CITY CALLED ALLEGHENY, AND THERE WAS THIS GERMANTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> GERMANTOWN OR DUTCHTOWN OR DEUTSCHTOWN IS THE NORTH SIDE NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR HERE THAT WAS SETTLED LARGELY BY GERMAN IMMIGRANTS IN THE 19th CENTURY.

YOU CAN STILL GET SOME GREAT GERMAN FOOD IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, CERTAINLYT THE PLACE CALLED MAX'S ALLEGHENY TAVERN.

>> AND WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TONIGHT?

>> I'LL HAVE THE JAEGERSCHNITZEL.

>> WELL WHEN YOU THINK OF ANY GERMAFOOD, ONE OF THE FIRST DISHES THAT COMES TO MIND IS SAUERKRAUT.

>> BERNIE DIEGELMAN IS A LINE COOK IN MAX'S KITCHEN AND SAYS THEY PUT THEIR EXTRAORDINARY SAUERKRAUT IN LOTS OF DISHES.

>> WE HAVE A REGULAR REUBEN.

WE HAVE A POTATO REUBEN, WE HAVE KIELBASA AND SAUERKRAUT.

WE HAVE PORK CHOP DINNER WHERE THE KRAUT IS SERVED UNDER THE CHOP, AND IT CAN ALSO BE SERVED AS A SIDE DISH.

>> EVEN IF YOU DON'T GET THE DELICIOUS DARK SAUERKRAUT, THERE ARE LOTS OF SPECIALTIES TO TASTE.

>> HERE ARE YOUR APPETIZERS TONIGHT.

>> WONDERFUL.

>> THERE ARE SEVERAL DINING ROOMS AND A BAR, AND JAN PUGLIN, THE BARTENDER, CAN TELL YOU EVEN THE BAR ITSELF IS UNUSUAL.

>> WELL, THIS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD -- THAT THE BAR WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT FOR THE ST. LOUIS EXPOSITION WHICH WAS 1890-SOMETHING.

AND AFTER THE EXPOSITION WAS OVER, THEY SHIPPED IT HERE.

MAYBE IT WAS 1870-SOMEING, I DON'T KNOW.

I'M NOT UP ON MY HISTORY.

I WISH I WOULD HAVE DONE SOME HOMEWORK.

I WISH I WOULD'VE KNOWN THIS.

I WOULD'VE RE-READ THE MENU.

I HAVEN'T READ IT IN YEARS.

>> THE MENU HAS THE HISTORY O THIS PLACE, AND THEY'VE KEPT HI OLD FLOOR AND COOLERS, AND PEOPLE EVEN TALK ABOUT THE OLD WOODEN PHONE BOOTH.

>> IT'S NOT EVEN SO MUCH THAT THEY TALK ABOUT THE FUNKY OLD PHE BOOTH.

THAT ORIGINALLY THE ONLY PAY-PHONE WE HAD WAS IN THE MEN'S ROOM.

AND IN FACT, BEFORE I STARTED WORKING HERE, MY ROOMMATE AT THE TIME WORKED AS A NURSE UP AT ALLEGHENY GENERAL, AND MARY CALLED ME AND SAI"HEY, WHY DON'T YOU COME TO THIS PLACE AND MEET ME AFTER WORK?"

AND THEN I HEARD A FLUSH.

AND I'M LIKE "WHERE ARE YOU?!"

AND SHE SAID, "I'M AT THIS PLACE, MAX'S ALLEGHENY TAVERN, AND THE ONLY PAY-PHONE IS IN THE MEN'S ROOM."

AND OCCASIONALLY WOMEN STILL GO IN THERE TO MAKE A PHONE CALL.

SO THEY SAY.

>> DAVE, YOU READY?

DAVE, I'M TAKING ALL THAT FRUIT OUT SO ANNIE DOESN'T KNOW HOW LONG YOU WERE HERE.

>> THANKS.

>> SHE TOLD ME I HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON YOU TODAY.

>> I THINK WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL IS EVERYBODY HERE IS REALLY CLOSE.

YOU KNOW IT'S LIKE A FAMILY KE ATMOSPHERE.

WE'RE ALL CAUGHT UP IN EACH OTHER'S LIVES.

PEOPLE FEEL REALLY COMFORTABLE HERE.

>> THAT WAS 1997.

I CALLED MAX'S TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH OF AN UPDATE I SHOULD DO, AND JAN PUGLIN ANSWERED THE PHONE.

SHE SAYS SHE STILL TENDS BAR THERE THREE DAYS A WEEK.

SO I ASKED ABOUT BERNIE DIEGELMAN, AND JAN SAYS BERNIE STILL COOKS THERE.

IT'S A SOLID, STABLE PLACE.

JAN DID SAY THAT THE PHONE BOOTH IS GONE, AND SO IS THE PAY PHONE IN THE MEN'S ROOM.

CHANGES IN TECHNOLOGY.

BUT YOU KNOW, HERE AT KLAVON'S, THE WOODEN PHONE BOOTHS ARE STILL HERE.

KNO THE PHONES DON'T WORK, BUT RAY KLAVON SAYS PEOPLE WILL GO IN THERE AND TALK ON THEIR CELL PHONES.

IT'S NICE.

WE FIRST CAME TO KLAVON'S IN 1996.E.

THIS PLACE WAS A TOTAL SURPRISE.

AND YOU KNOW SURPRISES ARE MY FAVORITE PART OF MY JOB.

I REMEMBER IT WAS A HUGE SURPRISE TO FIND OUT THAT LOTS OF PEOPLE LIVED IN THE STRIP IN THE EARLY PART OF THE 20th CENTURY.

BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE LIVING IN THE STRIP, THERE WERE NEIGHBHOOD GROCERY STORES AND VARIOUS SMALL BUSINESSES TOO.

JAMES AND MARY KLAVON RAN A PHARMACY ON PENN AVENUE STARTING IN THE EARLY 1920s.

THEIR GRANDSON RAY KLAVON SAYS THEIR PLACE IS STILL HERE, UNTOUCHED.T >> IT'S BEEN CLOSED FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS NOW SINCE THEY PASSED AWAY.

BUT IT'S A GREAT OLD PLACE, COME IN AND SEE IT.

>> WOW, THIS IS AMAZING.

>> OH, I LOVE THIS PLACE, OF COURSE, WITH ALL MY MEMORIES FROM CHILDHO.

THERE WERE EIGHT CHILDREN IN OUR FAMILY.

I HAVE FIVE SISTERS AND TWO BROTHERS.

AND WE LOVED TO PLAY DOWN HERE AND HELPED MAKE SODAS WHEN WE GOT OLD ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO REACH ALL OF THE PARTS.

UNFORTUNATELY THE SODA FOUNTAIN DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE.

THE LIGHTS STILL WORK, A FEW OF THEM ANYWAY.

THE THREE BUILT-IN SODA BOOTHS, AND THE THREE BUILT-IN PHONE BOOTHS WHICH ARE TERRIFIC.

AND HERE'S THIS BIG ENAMEL SCALE THAT STILL WORKS I THINK.

I DON'T KNOW.

LET ME TRY.

AH, DOESN'T WORK.

I WISH IT WERE TRUE, BUT AS CHILDREN WE USED TO LOVE TO GET THE KEY AND OPEN THE BACK DOWN AT THE BOTTOM.

YOU GET A CIGAR BOX AND PUT IT UNDERNEATH, AND WHEN YOU'D OPEN IT UP, THE PENNIES WOULD JUST POUR OUT INTO THE CIGAR BOX.

NOW THIS IS LIKE A FILE CABINET.

THIS IS THE WAY THEY SOLD GREETING CARDS BACK THEN.

YOU WOULD GO THROUGH, FLIP THROUGH AND FIND THE ONE THAT YOU WANTED, THE NAME OF IT HERE, AND THEN THE DRAWERS, AS YOU CAN SEE HAD, HAD THE CARDS, YOU JUST FIND THE ONE YOU WANT.

THE OLD ANTIQUE CARDS ARE STILL IN HERE.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO A DEAR SISTER."

GREAT.

THESE OLD BUILT-IN CAST-IRON STOOLS, I REMEMBER MY GRANDFATHER TELLING ME, THAT THEY WERE MODELED AFTER A COCA-COLA BOTTLE CAP.

AND WHEN WE WERE LITTLE, IF WE'D RUN ALONG AND SPIN THEM, LIKE THIS, BOY, DID WE GET IN TROUBLE.

"DON'T SPIN THOSE THINGS!

ITATTLES AND MAKES TOO MUCH NOISE!"

BUT THIS IS THE PRIDE AND JOY OF THE WHOLE PLACE -- THIS SODA FOUNTAIN, THIS SPECTACULAR SODA FOUNTAIN.

IT'S 18 FEET LONG -- I MEASURED IT.

AND I'VE REALLY NEVER SEEN MARBLE LIKE THIS BEFORE THE GRAY AND GOLD MARBLE WITH THE BLOOD-RED VEINS IN IT, JUST BEAUTIFUL.

AND THEN OF COURSE, THE TOP, THE SERVICE COUNTER MATCHES THE FOOTREST IN THE GREEN AND BLACK MARBLE.

IT'S A GREAT OLD SODA FOUNTAIN.

IT WAS JUST A LIVELY PLACE, THERE WERE PEOPLE ALL OVER THE PLACE.

AND I REMEMBER THE POLISH PEOPLE COMING AND SPEAKING POLISH WITH MY GRANDPARENTS, AND WE WERE JUST AMAZED THAT THEY COULD UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER.

>> SO THAT WAS 1996.

JUST A NOTE.

YOU KNOW THAT MOMENT WHEN RAY IS LOOKING AT THE GREETING CARDS IN THIS LITTLE STAND, AND HE SEES THE OLD CIGAR BOX AT THE BACK OF THE DRAWER, AND HE TAKES A PEEK?

I LOVE THAT MOMENT.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT JUST HAPPENED, THAT WE NEVER COULD HAVE PLANNED FOR.

IN 1999, RAY REOPENED THIS WHOLE PLACE AS AN ICE CREAM PARLOR.

SO IN THE YEAR 2000, WE CAME BACK TO DO A STORY FOR A SPECIAL PLEDGE EVENT.PL AND WE WERE ABLE TO CELEBRATE EVEN MORE THINGS THAT WERE HERE AT THE REOPENED KLAVON'S ICE CREAM PARLOR.

>> IT WAS CLOSED FOR 20 YEARS.

MY GRANDFATHER PASSED AWAY IN '79 WHICH IS WHEN IT CLOSED DOWN.N AND I REOPENED IN JANUARY OF '99.

>> WELL, IN '96, WHEN RAY LET US TAKE A LOOK AT THE OLD PLACE ALL BOARDED-UP, THAT BECAME ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF THE STR SHOW.

IT WAS LIKE BEING IN A TIME MACHINE.

WE LOVED IT.

>> JUST SO MUCH FEEDBACK FROM PEOPLE, FROM PEOPLE WHO KNEW WHERE WE WERE AND KNEW WHO I WAS, FRIENDS WHO HADN'T SEEN THE PLACE, THAT JUST RAVED ABOUT IT, OH IT'S SO WONDERFUL!

YOU SHOULD RE-OPEN IT!

AND I HAD ALWAYS SORT OF HAD THAT IN THE BACK OF MY MIND BUT THAT REALLY GAVE ME THE IMPETUS.

AND THEN A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY TOLD ME ABOUT THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM THEY HAVE AT DUQUESNE TO HELP PEOPLE YOU KNOW WHO DON'T KNOW ABOUT BUSINESS, CAUSE I WAS A TEACHER AT THAT TIME, JUST TO HELP YOU GET STARTED AND LEARN HOW TO TO WRITE UP A BUSINESS PROPOSAL AND GO TO A BANK AND GET THE MONEY AND ALL THAT SORT OF THING.

>> THE PLACE IS BEAUTIFULLY PRESERVED.

MARBLE AND WOOD.

OLD CABINETS AND SOME SNAZZY NEW NEON.

>> THE NEON, I KNEW I WANTED NEON.

I LOVE NEON JUST AS A WORK OF ART.

THAT'S WHY ONE OF THE NEON SIGNS ISN'T AN ADVERTISEMENT.

IT'S JUST THAT SIX-FOOT BANANA SPLIT.

AND I DESIGNED THEM AND, YOU KNOW, HAD THEM MADE.

THEY LOOK GREAT, YOU KNOW.

WE DON'T HAVE THE DRUGSTORE PART ANYMORE, THE DRUGS OR PRESCRIPTIONS, BUT IT'S ETTY MUCH YOU KNOW THE WAY THEY HAD IT, THE WAY I REMEMBER IT.

I REMEMBER IN THE ORIGINAL PROGRAM.

>> LIGHTS STILL WORK.

A FEW OF THEM.

>> I WAS TURNING ON THIS LIGHT AND SAYING METHING ABOUT, "WELL, SOME OF THE LIGHTS WORK AND THE FOUNTAIN DOESN'T WORK."

WELL, ALL OF THE LIGHTS WORK.

AND SPEAKING OF LIGHTS, WE FOUND THESE BEAUTIFUL ART DECO LIGHT FIXTURES IN THE BASEMENT.

THERE WAS TWO BIG BOXES THAT HAD "LAMPSHADES" WRITTEN ACROSS, AND WHEN I OPENED THOSE AND SAW THESE BEAUTIF GLASS YOU KNOW WEDDING-CAKE-LOOKING THINGS, I WAS JUST FLOORED.

IT WAS WONDERFUL.

EVERYTHING YOU CAN'T SEE IS NEW.

YOU KNOW IT HAD TO BE ALL NEW WIRING, NEW PLUMBING AND HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING, THAT KIND OF THING.

BUT EVEN THE FREEZERS HERE, NOW THEY AREN'T ORIGINAL FROM 1923.

THEY'RE PROBABLY FROM ABOUT 1950.

AND AS I WAS GETTING READY TO OPEN, I HAD THE MAN WHO TENDS THE FREEZERS AT REINHOLD'S ICE CREAM, THAT'S WHERE WE GET OUR ICE CREAM, MY GRANDFATHER USED THEIR ICE CREAM TOO, WELL, WALT DAVIS, THE FREEZER MAN FROM THERE, CAME OVER, AND I'LL NEVER FORGET THE DAY AS WE WALKED DOWN TO THE BASEMENT TOWARD THE COMPRESSORS, HE STARTED TO LAUGH.

AND I SAID, "OH NO, WALT."

HE SAID, "NO, NO, RAY, I'M NOT LAUGHING CAUSE OF THAT, I'M LAUGHING BECAUSE BACK THEN THEY MADE THESE THINGS SIMPLE, AND THEY MADE THEM TO LAST."

SO HE FLIPPED THE SWITCHES, AND SURE ENOUGH, THEY BOTH CAME ON RIGHT AWAY.

AND I THOUGHT, "WHAT THE HECK?"

HE SAID, "NOW, DON'T GET EXCITED."ECK?

HE SAID, "IT'S WHETHER OR NOT IT GETS COLD."

HE SAID, "GO UPSTAIRS AND PUT YOUR HAND ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEZER, AND YELL DOWN IF AND WHEN IT STARTS TO GET COLD."

BY THE TIME I GOT UP HERE AND PUT MY HAND ON THE DARN THING, IT WAS COLD ALREADY.

>> SO, IT'S THE BUSINESS IS ARN HUMMING AGAIN AFTER 20 YEARS.

PEOPLE COMING TO AND FROM THE BUSY PART OF THE STRIP OFTEN STOP HERE AT PENN AND 28TH FOR A CONE OR A DISH OR TO HAVE RAY'S SISTER AUDREY MAKE ONE OF HER SPECIAL SUNDAES.

>> THE SUPERBOWL.

I LIKE MAKING THAT THE BEST.

IT'S EIGHT SCOOPS, SEVEN TOPPINGS, SEVEN SPRINKLES, WITH A BANANA AND FIVE FLAVORS OF WHIPPED CREAM.

I LIKE BEING BEHIND THE COUNTER.

I GET TO PICK ON EVERYONE.

>> WELL, EVEN THOUGH IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, THE PLACE STILL HAS HIDDEN SURPRISES.

>> NOW THIS IS THE PART OF THE ICE CREAM PARLOR, THE DRUGSTORE, THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T GET TO SEE.

THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL PRESCRIPTION ROOM.

THIS CABINET UNIT HERE IS CALLED A SCHWARTZ CABINET, AND IT'S FASCINATING THE WAY IT WORKS.

THESE UNITS SLIDE OUT AND THEN PIVOT AROUND, AND IT'S FULL OF BOTTLES.

THIS IS FROM THE TIME OF COURSE THAT THE PHARMACIST ACTUALLY COMPOUNDED THE MEDICINES.

SO THEY NEEDED MANY BOTTLES, S, MANY KINDS OF THINGS TO ACTUALLY MAKE THE MEDICINE, NOT JUST COUNT THE PILLS.

I ESPECIALLY LIKE TO, TO SHOW PEOPLE THIS ONE.

IT SOUNDS SO INNOCENT.

SEDATIVE NUMBER TWO.

AND THE MAIN INGREDIENT IS CANNABIS, WHICH OF COURSE IS MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH IT BACK THEN, BUT IT'S EMPTY.

>> BACK WHEN RAY REOPENED THE PLACE, THERE WERE STILL HUNDREDS OF BOTTLES HERE, MANY WITH PILLS INSIDE, AND SOON STATE REGULATORS CAME AND LET HIM KNOW THAT HE HAD TO GET RID OF ALL THE OLD PHARMACEUTICALS.

>> I CALLED PITT SCHOOL OF PHARMACY.

ONE OF THEIR ALUMNI, DICK LITHGOW, BLESS HIS HEART, CAME DOWN THREE TIMES, MADE THREE TRIPS THAT SUMMER AND WENT THROUGH THEM ALL, FLUSHED WHAT WAS SAFE TO FLUSH, THREW OUT WHAT WAS SAFE TO THROW OUT, AND THEN THERE WERE SOME THINGS THD WERE NOT SAFE, THAT NEEDED TO BE GOTTEN RID OF, DRUGS AND UNSAFE THINGS.

AND I DONATED THEM TO PITT SCHOOL OF PHARMACY MUSEUM, SO THAT WORKED OUT REAL WELL.

NOW WE ALSO HAVE THE OLD PRESCRIPTIONS THAT THE HAD TO KEEP FOR THE GOVERNMENT.

OF COURSE NOWADAYS THEY PUT THEM ALL ON COMPUTER.

BACK THEN THEY JUST KEPT THE ACTUAL HARD COPY, AND THEY SAVED EVERYTHING.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE ALL THE THINGS WE DO HAVE DAY.

WE HAVE A WHOLE DRAWER OF NOTHING BUT EYEDROPPERS.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF EYEDROPPERS.

OF COURSE NONE OF THEM ARE ANY GOOD.

THE RUBBER'S TOO OLD, BUT I MEAN THAT'S WHY WE HAVE IT ALL.

THEY SAVED IT ALL, GOD LOVE THEM.

I FIND MYSELF SOMETIMES THINKING YOU KNOW I WISH I'D KNOWN THAT I WAS GONNA DO THIS.

I WOULD HAVE ASKED MY GRANDFATHER AND GRANDMOTHER A MILLION THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW, YOU KNOW.

>> VANILLA, CHOCOLATE, STRAWBERRY?

>> THE BEST THING IS THE FAMILY, 'CAUSE EVERYONE'S INVOLVED.

>> WELL, RAY'S THE BOSS.

WE GIVE HIM THE BILLS AND THE HEADACHES, BUT WE GET TO HAVE ALL THE FUN.

>> MY FIVE SISTERS, TWOGE BROTHERS, MY COUSIN, MY 84-YEAR-OLD MOM'S USUALLY DOWN HERE EVERY DAY, RUNNING AROUND LIKE A CRAZY PERSON.

>> YOU KNOW, THIS IS VERY TIRESOME.

>> DOING MORE WORK THAN MOST OF US.

>> WELL, WE COME DOWN, IT TOOK US ONE SOLID YEAR JUST TO CLEAN THE DUST OUT OF THIS PLACE.

THAT'S IT.

>> AND IT'S BROUGHT US EVEN CLOSER.

WE ALWAYS HAVE BEEN A CLOSE FAMILY, BUT IT'S BROUGHT US EVEN CLOSER.

YOU KNOW THEY OF COURSE LOVE THE PLACE.

WE ALL REMEMBER IT FROM WHEN, WHEN WE WERE YOUNG.

>> WE USED TO COME HERE AFTER CHURCH ON SUNDAY FOR ICE CREAM.

AND WTHOUGHT WE WERE PRIVILEGED CAUSE STORES WERE CLOSED BACK THEN ON SUNDAYS.

>> WE HAVE FUN.

MOST OF THE, MOST OF THE FAMILY END UP HERE SATURDAY.

WE HAVE A BALL HERE YOU KNOW, SALL THE KIDS ARE HERE.

>> WE OFTEN FORGET THAT IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY, LOTS OF PEOPLE LIVED IN THE STRIP, AND MOST OF IT WAS UNDERWATER IN 1936.

>> THE FLOOD WAS ON ST PRICK'S DAY.

IT'S STILL CALLED THE ST PATRICK'S DAY FLOOD OR THE GREAT FLOOD.

>> BEFORE THE FLOOD, ALL ROW HOUSES, ALL ROW HOUSES HERE.

THERE'S HOUSES ON BOTH SIDES.

>> AND BACK THEN THEY WEREN'T SURE HOW MUCH WATER THERE WOULD BE, HOW BAD THE FLOOD WOULD BE.

SO MY FATHER AND HIS COUSIN WHO WERE BOTH ABOUT 18 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME, STAYED AND CAME INTO THIS STORE.

THE WATER JUST KEPT COMING UP AND COMING UP, TILL EVENTUALLY MY FATHER AND HIS COUSIN WERE TRAPPED ON TOP OF THE PHONE BOOTHS AND HAD TO BE TAKEN OUT THROUGH THE WINDOW INTO A ROWBOAT, AND THE WATER ENDED UP CRESTING ALMOST AT THE CEILING IN THIS, THIS PART OF T STRIP.

>> WELL, PART OF THE CHARM OF THIS PLACE IS YOU GET SO MUCH HISTORY WITH YOUR ICE CREAM.

>> AND EVEN YOUNG CHILDREN LOVE THIS PLACE.

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY'VE SEEN MOVIES, THEY'VE SEEN OLD PLACE BUT TO ACTUALLY SEE ONE, YOU KNOW, REAL PHONE BOOTHS.

YOU KNOW, SO IT'S AN EDUCATION FOR THEM AND THE OLDER PEOPLE JUST LOVE IT.

>> 'CAUSE NO ONE'S SAD WHEN THEY COME TO HAVE ICE CREAM.

YOU'RE COMING FOR ICE CREAM, H YOU'RE ALWAYS HAPPY.

SO YOU DON'T GET, YOU KNOW, MISERABLE PEOPLE.

THEY'RE ALL PRETTY PLEASANT.

>> THE THING IS THAT YOU KNOW ONCE SOMEONE'S BEEN IN HERE, THAT'S IT.

THEY'RE BACK.

THEY'RE BRINGING FRIENDS, THEY'RE BRINGING FAMILY, "OH WAIT TILL -- ESPECIALLY OUT-OF-TOWN VISITORS, "WAIT TILL YOU SEE WHAT WE HAVE IN PITTSBURGH.

WAIT TILL YOU SEE THIS PLACE.

OH, IS IT GREAT!"

IT, IT'S FUN.

>> YES, IT'S FUN AND DELICIOUS.

AND WE THANK RAY KLAVON FOR ANK LETTING US HANG OUT HERE TODAY.

KLAVON'S ICE CREAM PARLOR, CORNER OF PENN AND 28TH IN THE STRIP IF YOU WANT TO CHECK THIS OUT FOR YOURSELF.

WHAT DID I LE YOUTHIS WEEK?

BE ADVENTUROUS AT BREAKFAST, PUT APPLESAUCE IN YOUR SAUERKRAUT AND YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES AN ICE CREAM FREEZER WILL COME BACK TO LIFE IF YOU JUST TURN IT ON.

I HOPE YOU'LL STICK AROUND FOR THE CREDITS.

THIS IS OUR FIRST PROGRAM TO HAVE A COPYRIGHT 2011.

>> IF YOU WANT TO SEE OTHER PRODUCTIONS FROM RICK SEBAK AND HIS COHORTS AT WQED, CHECK OUT THE MANY DVDS OFFERED AT SHOPWQED.ORG OR CALL 1-800-274-1307.

>> SHE'S JUST ALWAYS BEEN HERE.

I DON'T KNOW.

SHE WAS HERE BEFORE I WAS HERE.

I'M ACTUALLY THE ONE THAT DRESSES HER.

WE TRY TO DO HER LIKE REALLY TACKY SOUTH PHILLY USUALLY.

SHE LOOKS LIKE SHE'S FALLEN MANY TIMES.

SO SHE KIND OF LOOKS LIKE SHE HAS SOME HORRIBLE SKIN DISEASE THAT WE JUST WON'T PAINT HER.

BUT HER NAME WAS OPAL, THEN AT SOME POINT IT CHANGED TO TALUA.

PEOPLE G FREAKED OUT BY HER CAUSE THEY THINK SHE'S REAL THAT ARE WALKING BY.

AND THEY COME AROUND AND SEE HER DISFIGURED FACE.

SO IT'S KIND OF NICE.

I LIKE THAT.

>> TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THESE STORIES, TO LEAVE A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION, GO ON-LINE TO WQED.ORG/ITSPITTSBURGH.

WE ALSO HAVE A FACEBOOK PAGE, AND ON TWITTER, FOLLOW RICK AROUND HERE.

>> "IT'S PITTSBURGH AND A LOT OF OTHER STUFF" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE BUHL FOUNDATION, SERVING SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SINCE 1927.