DITTIES: Back in 1926, brothers Billy and Eddie Gorman entertained Bradfordians with songs about, of all things, local news.

“Bradford received two visitors who work fast,” read The Era. “They had not been here long before they knew a lot about what is going on, and at Shea’s theatre they sang in original rhyme about topics in the current news.”

A few of their little ditties were printed: “Kendall Avenue bridge has been all burned away, And we know just who burned it but don’t know who will pay. We have noticed improvement this time around town. But East Main street has still got big holes in the ground. And the old ‘Pennsy’ Depot’s about to fall down.”

One was about a visit from Prohibition officers, who were said to have roughed up some local citizens in their search for hooch. “Those federal booze agents were too rough ‘twould seem. If you don’t think they acted rough ask ‘Spuck’ Covine. They came here in a bus without anyone knowing. And then in our ‘dry’ city rough stuff started showing. If they come back they’ll find River street is still flowing.”

They made light of discussions to add a pool to the Bradford YMCA, “Bradford has no place to swim so they say. We need a pool at the YMCA. Park Lake is too far to go through the week, Brook Lake is too far to swim so to speak, And one needs a gas mask in our Tuna Creek.”

Yikes.

The brothers were vaudeville entertainers from Chicago who performed all over the U.S. They would get up in the morning, go to the editorial room of the newspaper in the town where they were performing, and create their original act.