Notes of Concern…
….Jackson Blair


HARVARD MEETS VANDERGRIFT

I grew up in a small western Pennsylvania town named Vandergrift. It was a beautiful little community perhaps best known for its winding streets, beautiful trees, and notoriety as a “workers paradise” written about by the famous Ida Tarbell.

It is not my intention to discuss my hometown other than to recommend those interested in some exciting history related to management and labor “dances” during the Steel Age and the eventual transformation of people and communities when that industry began to fail, would be well advised to read anything about Vandergrift, Pennsylvania they can find.

A number of famous and accomplished people had their origins in Vandergrift. There was Angelo Donghia, the famous interior decorator who, among other things, dressed the luxury liner S.S. France; Martieri of Rome, a couturier whose designs were sought by the famous and whose collections were featured on runways around the world; William J. Perry, U.S. Secretary of Defense and so many others.

It was my pleasure to encounter another of those who would make this list of famous natives of Vandergrift, Tony Gallo.

Anthony E. Gallo is a resident of Washington, DC and a gifted playwright. One of his more famous plays, in fact, is titled “Vandergrift” and has been showcased in many venues around the world.

However, I encountered Tony Gallo at the venerable Harvard Club in Boston, Massachusetts last week. Gallo was offering a reading of his play Margherita within the walls of a very historic place. I had shared with Tony that I would try to attend this event, but was unsure when we last talked that I could.

The summary provided to those in attendance described the play this way:

“This historically- based two-act drama examines the 25 year relationship between Margherita Sarfatti and Benito Mussolini between 1911 and 1936. The play takes place during a three-day encounter in 1939. Margherita, the most influential woman in Il Duce’s life, is trying to leave the country when her former lover knocks at the door. She is well aware of what he wants. He knows what she wants. “


I entered the club and found my way to the hall where a beautifully prepared tea and coffee and juices had been set out for the attendees. The club is very classy, heavy with beautiful woodwork, and the oil paintings of famous Americans hanging on the wall looking down at those that visit.

I took a seat on a leather sofa and watched the action. It was a quiet group, seemingly representative of those who love history and plays and have an Italian connection as The Italian Center of New York City and their Boston Office was the sponsor of this event.

Margherita requires four players to handle the six roles. For this reading the Playwright had secured the services of four really gifted players: Helenmary Ball as Margherita, James Howard as Benito Mussolini, Brian Doyle as James Bullock and also as Major Klemmer, and Julian Ball as both the Narrator and Luigi.

Howard was especially effective as Benito Mussolini. His face is very familiar, as he has played a variety of character roles on television and in film.


I observed Tony “working the room” and greeting all the guests. He is a polished, friendly and engaging fellow. When he got to me and started talking I could see recognition begin to cross his face. With a “my God its you”, he embraced me and welcomed me over and over.

I was glad to see someone from Vandergrift. Someone from Vandergrift was pleased to see another native. Both of us were standing inside the Harvard club acting, well, like a bunch of western Pennsylvanians! And both of us knew what it meant to be at The Harvard Club on this particular day for two guys from a little town further from Harvard and Cambridge than the miles would suggest.

In a brief period, we had discussed most of my relatives, with a special mention of my aunt, Hazel Orr, who had been principal of Tony’s school in the Vandergrift Heights. We talked also of my cousin Virginia Young (Putty) who had been a classmate of Tony’s and we ventured into a discussion of Chiefs of Police Mike Calizzi and Dwight Johnston (another uncle of mine).

He talked of how much help Renny Clawson of Vandergrift had been and of how they hoped to do a play about his ancestor Jim Whitworth (an important player in Vandergrift history) in the future. We talked about Bob Johnston, retired independent school headmaster and I provided Tony with Bob’s contact information.

Tony understands networking and he is an excellent communicator. My guess is that he was communicating with Bob Johnston before the week was out.

Lest it seem we totally ignored all those gathered for Margherita, I should say all of this nostalgia occurred in about a ten-minute break and then it was back to work for Tony. He had important guests to greet, introductions to make, and a panel discussion to anticipate.

The afternoon ended with a panel on Mussolini’s Italy in which our Tony Gallo was one of three panelists. The other two being Allan C. Brownfield, a nationally syndicated columnist and Robert Trifiletti, executive director of The Italian Center.