April 30, 1998 Ð Disney to Build Glorious Hole
Mayor Ed Rendell and representatives of Walt Disney Inc. yesterday announced the construction of a gaping, block-wide hole in the heart of Center City. ÒToday is an exciting day for those of us who think that a massive, empty crater is exactly what Philadelphia needs,Ó said Rendell at a press conference at the planned site on 8th and Market St. ÒThanks to Disney, those dreams will soon become a reality.Ó
 Disney operations manager Ted Rickey was similarly upbeat. ÒThe name ÔDisneyÕ is synonymous with thrills, excitement, and wholesome family fun,Ó he said. ÒAnd what better way to bring those things to the people of Philadelphia than a colossal, echoing void?Ó The projectÕs architect, Geoff Shanley of Ehrlich & Foster LLC, said that the fun would likely begin within the year. ÒItÕs just a matter of digging, really,Ó he said, gesturing towards blueprints for the 25-foot-deep hollow. ÒI expect that visitors will be able to enjoy the Disneyhole by June of Õ99.Ó
Some in the area, though, questioned DisneyÕs ambitious new attraction. ÒI donÕt really know why youÕd want a big-ass hole smack in the middle of the city,Ó said Frank Mancini, whose pizzeria would lie less than a block from the cavity. ÒI just hope it brings in as many people as they say it will.Ó Rendell, in his prepared remarks, seemed certain that it would. ÒFamilies will come from all over the world to this very spot,Ó he said proudly. ÒBecause thereÕs just no resisting the Disney nameÑor the sheer size of what I believe will be a truly glorious hole.Ó
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October 3, 1961 Ð Fraternity Pledge an Eating Machine
Members of the University of Pennsylvania's Pi Lambda Phi fraternity are expressing astonishment at the eating ability of freshman pledge Edward Rendell. ÒLast week, we took all of the newbies into our basement for the big pickle-eating challenge,Ó mildly nauseated Pi Lambda Phi president James Chadwell said yesterday. ÒUsually, the pledges get sick after six or seven, but not Rendell. He ate the fifteen we'd given him, and then started in on the other pledges' pickles. It was downright frightening.Ó
 Other fraternity members told similar stories of the voracious 17-year-old. ÒOn Thursday, we handcuffed and blindfolded [the pledges], fed them bowls of cold spaghetti, and told them they were eating worms,Ó recalled queasy junior Thomas Hargrove. ÒThe whole time, pledge Rendell was chowing down like there was no tomorrowÑand I'm not even sure he knew it wasn't worms.Ó According to fraternity treasurer Gregory Espach, ÒI've never seen anything like this Rendell fellow. We try and try to make him sick, but we end up getting sick just watching him. He's like something out of a monster-movie.Ó
Rendell, a native of New York City, said that he had simply been blessed with an unusually hearty appetite. ÒI guess I just enjoy food a little bit more than the average Joe,Ó he shrugged, gnawing on a hunk of beef jerky while strolling down Locust Walk. ÒI don't see what's so strange about that, do you?Ó Chadwell, though, said that there was indeed something unsettling about the soon-to-be member of Pi Lambda Phi. ÒIn my four years here, I've never seen a pledge who can take everything that the older brothers dish out. Literally.Ó |
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