MARVIN THE MAVEN RETURNS FROM OVERSEAS

Hi folks. It's been awhile. Sorry for not posting sooner, but I just returned from India where I was opening up a new deli. I brought over some Max and Benny's halavah, and I must admit that it was a big hit. The people of India have been eating halavah for centuries, but they seem to have taken a special liking to Max and Benny's halavah. Bagels are a big hit in India, especially among the younger call center set. However the jury is still out on lox and cream cheese.   

Marvin the Maven

THE GREAT MARSHALL HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR TEAMS

Many of the Max and Benny's customers have noticed the photos of the Marshall High School Junior basketball teams that are on a wall in the Back Room of the restaurant. These teams, coached by the legendary Lou Weintraub, dominated their Chicago Public League competition from 1939 through 1944. Our uncle, Jerry Schlan, who is now 88 and lives in South Florida, was a member of the 1939-40 team along with West Side basketball legends Whitey Siegel, Izzy Acker and Alex Eisenstein.

During that era, the Chicago Public Schools had two Leagues, a Junior League for boys who were 5'8" or under, and a Senior League for the bigger boys. The Marshall Juniors put together an amazing string of ninety-eight consecutive wins from 1939-1944, capturing four city championships along the way. This winning streak remains a national record, and the Marshall teams from those four seasons are now enshrined in the Chicago Public Schools, Illinois Basketball Coaches and the National Basketball Halls of Fame.

Lester Schlan and Richard Reeder