Thoughts, Memories & Ravings of Big Daddy Graham
Angelo Cataldi, Loud & Clear
Beginning with his days as a sportswriter for the Inquirer, and his days as a talk-show host at WIP, Angelo Cataldi has been read and listened to in the Philadelphia area for more than 38 years. A Columbia grad, he’s had a couple of television shows in that stretch as well, all of it cantankerous, loud, and funny, and No. 1 in the ratings. But it’s not the Philadelphia professional part of his life we are discussing today; it’s the 22 years that Ang and his beautiful wife, Gail, have owned a Sea Isle home. First, a little background.
Question: Where were you born and raised?
Answer: Providence, R.I., by my father, Angelo Sr., a toolmaker, and my mother, Ida, who lived for 99 years before passing away.
Q: Any brothers or sisters?
A: One sister, Phyllis.
Q: So, let me get this straight. You were raised by two women, Phyllis and Ida. Can you get more old-school than that?
A: I know, they sound like sitcom stars from the “I Love Lucy” days. It’s probably why I collect artifacts from that time period.
Q: I’ve seen it, It’s really cool. So, when do you buy your house in Sea Isle?
A: Twenty years ago,
Q: Why Sea Isle City, with so many Jersey shore towns to choose from?
A: A total accident. We were thinking about buying a home in Ocean City, N.J., and our realtor had chosen five homes to look at. Right before we started our tour, the realtor said she had a home in Sea Isle “I think you should look at before we start,” and we fell in love with the house and the town immediately. I also liked the short ride from Medford.
Q: What was it about Sea Isle you liked so much?
A: It has a small town feel to it. Like the town in the movie, “Jaws.” Yet, this small town is populated in the summer by mostly people from Philly, a big town. With big-city conversations.
Q: Maybe one day you’ll be the mayor of Sea Isle and wear one of those blue blazers with the tiny white anchors on it.
A: Me? The mayor of Sea Isle? No one would vote for me. I’ll tell you what I miss about sitting on the beach.
Q: What’s that?
A: Transistor radios. Back in ’08, people were still lugging those cumbersome DeWalt radios down to the beach and you could walk along the surf and listen to a Phillies game without missing a pitch. That’s how many radios there were. The Phillies had just beaten the Mets three straight and one more win would make complete a four-game sweep. Chase Utley wins the game for the Phils and the entire Sea Isle beach erupted in a huge cheer. Nowadays, everyone listens on their iPhones. Bring back the radios.
Q: Sounds like you spend a lot of time on the beach.
A: I do. Give me a good book and I’ll sit there all day. My family will be back at the house, and I guarantee you no one is saying “I miss spending time with Pop. “
Q: Spend a lot of time in the water?
A: Never. I never go in. One of my toes occasionally touches the water by accident when Gail and I are on one of our walks, but I never go in.
Q: What is it you’re afraid of? The waves? The undertow?
A: Drowning.
Q: Another great line from “Jaws.” Do you like to go out for dinner?
A: Another one of my favorite aspects of Sea Isle. It has four great Italian restaurants. Four! And we hit them all.
Q: Do you have a favorite musical artist when you’re down the shore?
A: There’s only one. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
Q: Another thing that people love to do down the shore is watch a movie at home. You have a favorite?
A: “Back to the Future.”
Q: Really. Did you know that it’s the most-shown film on commercial TV?
A: That goes against the contrarian in me. My father was a contrarian. Growing up in New England, we were packed with Celtic fans, so my dad raised me as a Sixer fan.
Q: Did you have a favorite Sixer?
A: Wilt Chamberlain. The Greatest of All Time. Anyone who says it’s Michael Jordan never saw Chamberlain.
Q: But that was before you became a talk-show host. Who was your favorite Sixer once you went on air?
A: Allen Iverson, and it’s not even close. First of all, he was an amazing player. An MVP at 6 feet tall, and I seriously doubt he was that tall. But off the court? Allen was a godsend. A new controversy every day.
Q: Have you made any new friends in Sea Isle?
A: Well, I just lost one of my best, Bill Sena.
Q: I knew Bill! I used to play ball with him on the Sea Isle courts.
A: He told me that. He also told me you never passed the ball.
Q: I know he never did. Have you ever thought about doing your shows from Sea Isle?
A: I did some and I didn’t like it. I’m down the shore to get away from work.
Q: Speaking of which, all your radio cohorts are down the shore. Producer Joe Wechter is in North Wildwood, Al Morganti in Somers Point, Rhea Hughes is in Tuckerton (“Clamtown”), Ava Graham vacations in Sea Isle, and Joe Conklin owns a home here.
A: Now if I could just get Conklin to move.
Listen to Angelo Cataldi Monday through Friday from 6 to 10am 94WIP.
TWO FUNNY PHILLY GUYS
The amazing Joe Conklin and I will be appearing at Phoenixville’s beautiful Colonial Theatre on Friday, Sept. 24, with Glen Macnow as guest emcee. Go to bigdaddygraham.com to get your tickets.
