Page 23 - Italian American Herald - June 2022

ITALIAN-AMERICAN HERALD
JUNE2022 | ITALIANAMERICANHERALD.COM 23
Barbara Ann Zippi-Och, Executive Producer Text/Cell/WhatsAp 610 566 4883 CiaoBellaLivingItalianStyle@gmail.com
! ! Sharing * Heritage * Culture * Traditions * Foods * Connecting * Family * Friends * People * Firms * Non Profits !
On The Way to Cape May ~ Honoring Al Alberts ~ Centenarian Celebration ~ 1922–2022
Spanning many generations, some know Al Alberts from The Four Aces w/5 Gold Records: Three Coins In
a Fountain, Tell Me Why, Love is a Many Splendored Thing, Stranger
in Paradise, It’s No Sin. To others, growing up mid 1960’s til 1994, he hosted a regional community service tv program for Channel 48, then onto WPVI - TV 6, called Al Alberts Showcase. This weekly, hourly show aired throughout the year & covered the Tri-State area. Every episode featured multi-generational, multi-cultural & ethnically diverse talents before ever being required to
University when he returned from war, what many don’t know is that Al Alberts (Albertini) was a Radioman aboard
the Battleship Destroyer Charles F Hughes & saw active combat duty. His poem, published here, is his firsthand account of the actual battle, & it’s life- threatening attacks among 3 war ships in August 1944. Even back then, Al’s love for music was overwhelming. The poem was first published in the Navy Military newspaper of the time & is written to read to the tune of, Twas The Night Before Christmas.
do so. Minority & women directors & producers were new in the 1970’s & Showcase production crew members from WPVI TV 6 were groundbreaking along w/Al who required his wife, Stella Zippi Alberts, be named Executive Producer along w/him in contract negotiations.
Military service also was the start of The Four Aces. A little known fact, Alberts was a member of The Navy Dance
Band Orchestra & while on a lay-over
in Newfoundland, Canada, Alberts met fellow Navyman Dave Mahoney, whose ship was also in port, in the lounge playing piano. Musicians at heart, w/Alberts from South Philadelphia, Mahoney from Chester , PA suggested his buddies Lou Silvestri & Rosario “Sod” Vaccaro join them to form a group. The two promised to unite when back in the States. The
“Of The Three That Started”
The life-threatening battle read to the rhythm of Twas the Night Before Christmas
The life-threatening battle read to the rhythm of
Twas the Night Before Christmas
We encountered the enemy Three e-boats in force
They were ready and waiting We held true to our course.
Our guns trained starboard Through the enveloping black, And the stillness was shattered, The command was “Attack !”
Our opening salve Followed a line so true Of the three that started Now there were two
The battle continued That perilous night
It was kill or be killed, And God was our might.
The firing was merciless, Round after round
‘Til we wounded another And ran her aground
Deserted by her crew In the face of our guns Of the three that started Now there was one.
The last of the schulls
Of the Fuhrer’s Third Reich, Bewildered and battered Found themselves in a plight!
With nothing before them But death or defeat
They scuttled their ship Started using their feet
The battle was over, The battle was won
Of the three that started Now there were none!
By Al Alberts (Albertini) August 1944
Al’s Song by Al Alberts
The Words & Music of My World
My favorite 4 Aces Album Cover
love of military far behind, In 1964, during Al’s solo career, he headlined American Motors “RambleRama Tour” an All American Broadway Show for American Service Personnel Overseas. 59 performances in 60 days across countries of Europe
plus entertaining aboard the USS Independence for the Air Force in the Bay of Naples, Italy.
During this 30 year run, thousands
of acts auditioned on Broad Street in South Philadelphia. Excerpts from autobiography, Al’s Song, published 2004, “A Special Thanks To” section credits, “Shirley & Tony Di Gironimo
for extending Showcase the use of
their banquet facilities, J & A Caterers, Philadelphia PA for auditioning 200 to 300 new talents a night for SHOWCASE for year & years & years!...” (Currently owned by 3rd generation as JNA Institute of Culinary Arts. Proud to be included
rest is “Recorded History” as The Four Aces’ success reached International fame as an American harmony group w/choreography. Never leaving his
in the “Special Thank You” section, “Barbara Zippi, our niece, for working w/us as our secretary in the beginning years of SHOWCASE. For the years
we spent in Hershey Park, she had the responsibility of coordinating the talent for three shows a day & a one hour television remote per week. It was a heavy task & she handled it efficiently. Everybody loved Barbara!!” My written contribution to Uncle Al’s autobiography states, “Tapings at Channel 6, Auditions at J & A Caterers, Summers in Wildwood backstage at The Surf Club & Enrico’s Nightclub , On Location in Hershey Park, PA, holidays at Palumbo’s, TV remotes; how could
Landmark’s here & in Italy are part of
my heritage from my mother’s brother, Raymond Acciavatti’s work as a contractor for the historic Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia; to the Park located in South Philadelphia in
honor of my uncle Anthony “Tony” Di Prospero, Founder & 1st President of the Columbus Civic Association in PA; to uncle Al Alberts, lead singer of The Four Aces, internationally recognized
Al Alberts Showcase TV Family Showstoppers, Gold Nuggets & Teenypoppers | Circa 1970’s
it be work when it was such a learning experience to be able to participate
on every level of the business. It took great organizational skill, hard work & determination on Aunt Stella’s behalf to bring everything together for that one hour on TV or that live stage performance. Her talents gave Al the freedom to work his magic on an audience. Watching Aunt Stella develop as a producer, director & talent coordinator, taught me how valuable surrounding yourself w/knowledgeable people can be & that a woman can command power & respect w/hard work & determination.
for gold record recording of Three Coins in a Fountain, a world wide tradition
for anyone visiting the Trevi Fountain
in Rome. He hosted many return trips
to sing there & was always proud of his Italian heritage. There is a marker at the Delaware County Veterans Memorial in honor of The Four Aces in Newtown Square, PA noting their names & achievements.
Founder & Executive Producer of Ciao Bella Living Italian Style & Associate Producer of Italian American Herald newspaper; “It is with honor & pride that
Designed by Nephew George Deckman
Becoming aware of our Freedom’s protected by Veterans, past & present,
it wasn’t until my association w/The Welcome Home Veterans Radio Show & Host Joe Griffies, WIBG 1020 AM 101.3 FM, Saturdays from 2 to 4, that I understood what my uncle, Al Alberts, experienced as a young man enlisting
in WW II as President Roosevelt announced the USA at war over the radio. Like countless WW II Combat Veterans, he never shared anything about his military service until his autobiography, Al’s Song was released. And, even then, it was ‘just a chapter’ in his life. With a Degree in Journalism from Temple
In this Centennial Year of Al Alberts legacy, 1940 graduate of South Philadelphia High School growing up at 1829 Chadwick Street, his immigrant dad, Vincent “jim” Albertini was from Ascoli Piceno, Italy & his mother, Vicenza “Bessie”, born in Phila w/family from Scafati. Brother Angelo, also a musician & Navyman was a pharmacist in Broomall, PA and his Sister, Rita Deckman, currently resides in Cape May County w/son, George, worked
I have always said working for Aunt Stella & Uncle Al was my college education,
I learned from The Masters. Excerpt from my published Dear Uncle Al letter in Al’s Song...Barbara Zippi now
I contribute to my uncle’s book. During his Al Alberts Showcase career, he was known to hundreds of thousands of Tri State area families in Pennsylvania, Delaware & New Jersey as “Uncle” Al.
in Administration for the Springfield School District in Delaware County.
To me, he REALLY WAS MY UNCLE AL”.
Truly, his legacy has spanned 100 years! Here’s to continuing his legacy sharing memories & hearing from the many talented Showcase Alumni who once appeared on Al Alberts Showcase. Today’s younger generations know Al’s recording of On The Way to Cape May.
Arrivederci
Dinners in Wildwood with Stella’s brother & wife, Tony & Rita Zippi, my parents.
Ciao Bella! Lady Z
Tweens to Seniors: “Building Bridges, Connecting People: Tales on Culture, Heritage & Traditions of all Nationalities”and “2022 Adventures In Abruzzo: An Exhibit & Video Presentation” Bookings accepted * Local to International Public Relations, Television, Social Media, Newspapers & Events Contact CiaoBellaLivingItalianStyle@gmail.com
Historical Museums & Associations, contact CiaoBellaLivingItalianStyle@gmail.com for contributions of Al Alberts Memorabilia as past of the Centennial Celebration.