After a 31-year, record-setting run as “Chicago’s longest-running audience-interactive dinner theater show,” the comedic gangsters and 1920s flappers revue at “Tommy Gun’s Garage” at 2114 S. Wabash in Chicago’s South Loop was one of the many victims of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Northwest Indiana stage name and 2007 Munster High School graduate Pat Pohrte was one of the longtime cast members (“Bugsy”) of the dinner show, and he was determined that the tradition of the Roaring 20s to “eat and be entertained” continue.
The show’s owners and originators, Larry and Sandy Mangen, gave their blessings to Pohrte (familiar to Northwest Indiana audiences for his roles at both Marian Theater Guild and Genesius Guild over the years) and his business partner Mark Virkler, who was the actor from the “Tommy Gun’s Garage” cast who played “Rocco,” to launch their own spin-off version for a similar speakeasy themed dinner show franchise.
One other original member of the “Tommy Gun’s Garage” cast also opted to rejoin Pohrte and Virkler, David Simmons as returning goon “Muscles.”
Now open for two and a half years, the duo moved operations up north to the Jefferson Park neighborhood, to a more affordable storefront at 5901 W. Lawrence Ave. in Chicago, which was formerly the pub Galvin’s Public House. Guests at Vito’s Vault are treated to a 90-minute comedy musical revue that is audience interactive and paired with a three-course menu, which gives guests the choice from five entrees and a full cash bar for $80 a ticket for dinner and show by calling 773-493-4121 or going to www.vitosvault.com.
For one night only, Pohrte is moving his speakeasy to Northwest Indiana with an invitation for 60 guests to join the fun at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 23, with a 7:15 p.m. show at Beatniks on Conkey, 420 Conkey St. in Hammond. It’s a “without dinner version,” with just themed “mocktails” for purchase and a $25 cash-only admission at the door.
“Come step back to 1920’s Chicago and enjoy an evening with Vito Valentino and his mugs and molls, as they transport you to an era where gangsters and flappers reigned supreme,” Pohrte said.
“Guests will be entertained by witty gangster comedy and flirted with by flappers while all enjoy the crooning of tunes from the ‘Golden Age’ of Prohibition.”
Reservations are available at the Beatniks on Conkey box office at 219-852-0848 or www.beatniksonconkey.com.
CHEF GORDON GRILLED
Following the Tuesday, July 21, third season premiere of “Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares” airing on FOX, Freddy’s Steakhouse of Hammond, one of the establishments featured for a makeover this season as reported earlier this month, has posted an online exclamation explanation (as I describe it) after the owners and staff watched the edited first episode.
The following was posted to their nearly 8,000 Facebook followers Wednesday afternoon:
“Watching Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares last night was tough seeing some of the commentary and (owner) Jim getting beat up by Chef Ramsay! A lot of what was shown was for show, not all of that was factual, but a lot of that was truthful, too. What I can say with sincere honesty, family relationship aside, is Freddy’s puts out a great meal and their prices are very reasonable compared to other steak houses in the greater area. Owners Jim and Tammy are two of the hardest working people. Are they and Freddy’s perfect? No. But if you think that any restaurant runs perfect and does not have its ups and downs and daily challenges, well then you have not experienced working in the food/restaurant industry. Staffing, overhead, food costs, spoilage, snow storms, summer storms, competition, summer festival season, wages, suppliers, technology, inspectors, call offs, road construction, regulations and a host of other variables hammer you and sometimes makes you feel like you can barely stay afloat! As I said, it was tough to watch that last night, but I know Jim, Tammy and Freddy’s are better because of the experience. Tammy and Jim have HUGE hearts and give back not only to the community, but sacrifice a lot for friends, family, their employees and their ex-employees. If you know them, you already know this!”
VALPARAISO IN ‘JEOPARDY’
Valparaiso resident Grace Biermann, 27, was featured on episodes of this week’s “Jeopardy!” before being eliminated after two episodes on the July 22 broadcast. She started her run on Tuesday, July 21, on the game show after facing the “Final Jeopardy Challenge” question: “Turning points in this event were the U.S. Navy boarding the Marucla and a cargo ship called the Kislovodsk altering its course.” Biermann answered correctly, “What is the Cuban Missile Crisis?” winning the contest and totaling $32,000 in score gains.
Biermann graduated from Valparaiso University in 2021 with a bachelor of arts in English and Humanities and worked as an instructor of library science at the VU Library until June 2024. In the episode that aired Wednesday, July 22, Biermann’s one-day reign as champion concluded when contestant Ryan Dean correctly answered the “Final Jeopardy Challenge” question, “Words later applied to this 1867 piece include ‘Far from the black forest you hurry to the sea’,” with the correct answer as “Blue Danube,” and his winning $22,400 for the episode and besting Biermann. For more information, visit www.jeopardy.com.
Philip Potempa is a journalist, published author and radio show host on WJOB 1230 AM. He can be reached at PhilPotempa@gmail.com.
