Jamie Farr may have left Toledo in 1952 to seek stardom in Hollywood, but the actor never forgot his roots and the people who made him the city’s most famous son.
For nearly 30 minutes, Mr. Farr — known throughout the world for his role as the cross-dressing Cpl. Max Klinger on the television series M*A*S*H — entertained more than 150 well-wishers, fans, and dignitaries with zingy one-liners and nostalgia about growing up in Toledo’s north end, near the old Autolite plant.
“I would like to come home but all the homes I lived in no longer exist. They are empty lots,” he told the audience gathered near the shelter in the city park at 2140 N. Summit St. named in his honor.
PHOTO GALLERY: Jamie Farr returns to Toledo for plaque dedication ceremony
The 83-year-old entertainer of movies, television, and stage productions was the center of attention Saturday as city officials rededicated the park and unveiled a new plaque to replace one stolen off a brick pillar 10 years ago.
“I felt like Robert E. Lee, except they didn’t melt Robert E. Lee. They melted me for the brass they got out of it,” he joked about the marker.
Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson called out Mr. Farr for taking time to chat with youngsters as he made his way to take his seat near the podium.
“We are grateful for you to continue to be that bright light and spread the word about how wonderful our community is,” she said. “He exemplifies all this is good about the city of Toledo. We are very grateful for you to take that Toledo pride, that thing that makes us Toledo, and to take it around the world and to show us all what it is to be a Toledoan.”
Born Jameel Farah on July 1, 1934, in the former Mercy Hospital, Mr. Farr grew up in an ethnic Lebanese neighborhood in the north end where he worked in his father’s grocery store and graduated from Woodward High School in 1952.
Although, he moved away to earn his fame in movies and television, he has never forgotten his North Toledo roots.
He shared memories during the ceremony of his mother working as a seamstress, his father working long hours in the family-owned corner store, delivering the Toledo Times to customers on his paper route, and buying hot dogs at Tony Packo’s on Front Street.
He paid homage to the late Gene Cook, a longtime city councilman and general manager of the Toledo Mud Hens, for sending Mud Hen jerseys and baseball caps to be used as props on the set of M*A*S*H.
Set near Galena Street, the park was called Riverside Park until 1998, when city council approved renaming the park after Mr. Farr. A plaque honoring the actor was added a year later. In July, 2007, the metal marker went missing.
City officials teamed up with Tony Packo’s, the Mud Hens, and WTVG-TV to create a new plaque and set up Saturday’s festivities, which included free hot dogs and music by the Woodward High School marching band.
Mr. Farr said he has received honorary doctorate degrees from colleges and recognized with congressional awards, but having a park named for him ranks among his highest achievements.
“Maybe in the future some kids will come here and read the [biography] and maybe it will inspire them,” he said.
Diane Reichow traveled to Jamie Farr Park from South Toledo for the chance to meet the entertainer and ask him to sign the Jamie Farr bobblehead dolls that she and her husband, Harry, got at Friday’s Mud Hens game.
Big fans of Mr. Farr, the Reichows said they watch M*A*S*H reruns religiously.
“I love him because he was born and raised in Toledo. He is is Toledo’s favorite son. He is very comical,” Mrs. Reichow said.
Contact Mark Reiter at markreiter@theblade.com or 419-724-6199.
First Published August 26, 2017, 7:02 p.m.
