1950s (decade)

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Revision as of 18:57, 28 October 2026 by Jacques (talk | contribs) (Add Amato's Holiday House (1953, 1958))

In the 1950s pizza in Madison came mostly from Italian restaurants — The Grotto and the Italian Village on State Street, and Bunky’s and Amato's on Park Street — and from Paisan’s, which opened on Park Street in 1951 and then on University Avenue as a "Shrimp House & Pizzaria". No business with "pizzeria" in its name appears in the papers until 1960.

1950
  • February: the Grotto's Lenten specials include pizza with anchovies and "Pizza Pie with Rigotta (Italian Cottage Cheese)", with trays "to go out — large or small"[1].
  • July: the Grotto, Al and Mary Schiro, proprietors, offers pizza pie with mushrooms, anchovies, bacon or Italian sausage[2].
1951
  • May 11: "EXTRA! Italian Village Restaurant Introduces Famous Italian PIZZA!" — the Italian Village, 651 State St.[3]
  • November: the Grotto's pizza is 70¢: "Treat your friends to our famous PIZZA after the game"[4].
  • December 9: Paisan’s, "Madison's Newest Italian Restaurant", at 317 N. Park St., announces its "Shrimp House & Pizzaria" at 821 University Ave., "now open for business", with pizza in "choice of 10 recipes"[5].
1952
  • March: Bunky’s, at the corner of Park and Regent, serves "Pizza Pie on Fridays"[6].
1953
  • August: Bunky's, 3 N. Park St., has "Pizza Pie Every Wed."[7]
  • December: Amato’s Holiday House, 515 S. Park St., announces it has been "remodeled! enlarged!"[8].
1954
  • April: Matt Lombardino, who had run the Italian Village, opens Lombardino's Garden Restaurant, later Lombardino’s, at University and Highland avenues. Its May ad offers "Genuine Italian Pizza & Spaghetti"[9][10].
  • October: "Paisan's PIZZA — We invite you to compare ... we're sure you'll say ... 'the finest in Madison'!" — 821 University Ave.[11] The Italian Village calls itself "Headquarters for Pizza": cheese, anchovy, mushroom or shrimp[12].
1955
1957
  • April: Jimmie Schiavo's advertises "Complete American and Italian Dinners, Pizza"[15].
1958
  • November: Amato’s Holiday House, 515 S. Park St., advertises "Madison's Finest PIZZA Served or Carry Out"[16].
  • November: Carlo’s Carry-Out Food Service, 435 State St., advertises "We deliver"[16].

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ (1950, February 24). The Grotto Lenten specials: pizza with anchovies, pizza pie with ricotta; trays to go out. The Capital Times. p. 7. Newspapers.com image 518406698.
  2. ↑ (1950, July 8). The Grotto, Al & Mary Schiro: pizza pie with mushrooms, anchovies, bacon or Italian sausage. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 14. Newspapers.com image 402327446.
  3. ↑ (1951, May 11). "Extra! Italian Village Restaurant Introduces Famous Italian Pizza!", 651 State St. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 22. Newspapers.com image 400557812.
  4. ↑ (1951, November 2). The Grotto Restaurant, 636 State: choice of pizza 70¢; "our famous pizza". The Capital Times. p. 11. Newspapers.com image 521609197.
  5. ↑ (1951, December 9). Paisan's, "Madison's Newest Italian Restaurant", 317 N. Park St., with its Shrimp House & Pizzaria, 821 University Ave., "now open for business". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 29. Newspapers.com image 400685379.
  6. ↑ (1952, March 8). Grotto and Bunky's ("Pizza Pie on Fridays") advertisements. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 7. Newspapers.com image 402633003.
  7. ↑ (1953, August 24). Bunky's, 3 N. Park St.: "Pizza Pie Every Wed.". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 10. Newspapers.com image 396741094.
  8. ↑ (1953, December 11). Amato's Holiday House "remodeled! enlarged!": "Our modern kitchen now freshly decorated, too!"; parking; private parties. The Capital Times. p. 30. Newspapers.com image 518620508.
  9. ↑ Kreisman, B. I. (1954, April 3). "Lombardino Has A Dream, And Lo, It Comes to Pass." The Capital Times. p. 13. Newspapers.com image 518688905.
  10. ↑ (1954, May 14). "Madison's Italian Corner at Highland and University Avenue for Genuine Italian Pizza & Spaghetti" — Lombardino's Garden Restaurant, 2500 University. The Capital Times. p. 34. Newspapers.com image 518611845.
  11. ↑ (1954, October 19). "Paisan's Pizza — We invite you to compare", 821 University Ave. The Capital Times. p. 26. Newspapers.com image 518348350.
  12. ↑ (1954, October 22). The Italian Village, 651 State St.: "Headquarters for Pizza": cheese 1.00, anchovy 1.25, mushroom 1.35, shrimp 1.65 (ran Fridays Oct.–Dec. 1954). Wisconsin State Journal. p. 32. Newspapers.com image 404939017.
  13. ↑ (1955, May 9). Town of Burke liquor license applications: Robert Bidgood and James J. Schiavo, 3115 E. Washington Ave., premises known as Bob's Twin Gables. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 11. Newspapers.com image 396850542.
  14. ↑ (1955, June 19). Jimmie Schiavo's, East Washington Ave. at Hwy. 30: spaghetti and steaks, "Madison's Largest Lazy Susan on Wheels". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 14. Newspapers.com image 396966438.
  15. ↑ (1957, April 7). Jimmie Schiavo's, 3115 E. Washington Ave.: "Complete American and Italian Dinners, Pizza". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 61. Newspapers.com image 406853447.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 (1958, November 7). Carlo's Carry-Out Food Service, 435 State St.: "We deliver". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 24. Newspapers.com image 397160527.
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