2. When he set up his labor and
public relations firm in 1950, he still maintained his office in the Academy
Building, 17 Academy Street, Room 915.
Seymour Pierce, a retired Newark
mailman, remembers delivering mail to Ellenstein's office. He recalled for
this footnote: "He was tall, gray, and handsome. He could have portrayed a
politician in the movies."
Ellenstein's Son, Robert
Little did Pierce know that in
those very years when he delivered mail to the former Newark mayor that
Ellenstein's son, Robert, was a budding movie actor who would go on to fame on
both television and the silver screen.
He had majored in theatre arts at
the University of Iowa.
An Incident at The Tavern
In the late 1940s, Ellenstein's
son visited his father at the Newark City Hall. He brought along with him
a former University of Iowa classmate, Al Bodian (my younger brother) who
related this anecdote to me for this footnote.
Then an ex-mayor and city
commissioner, Ellenstein invited his son and my brother, Al, to accompany him to
the Tavern Restaurant for a late luncheon. Arriving at the Elizabeth Avenue
eatery, they were stopped at the door by the Tavern host who said my brother Al
could not enter because he was not wearing a jacket.
The ex-mayor looked the Tavern
host in the eye and ordered: "Give him yours!! A jacket was quickly found
and the trio entered the restaurant.
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