Posted by Anna Naggert ’23
Studying members within a community provides a window into its heart and offers unique historical stories of a vibrant and supportive neighborhood. The West Side of Saratoga Springs is such a community. Born in 1926 to an Italian-American family, Mario Izzo made unique contributions to the West Side through the Sundial Shoe Store, where he worked with families across generations for their shoe needs, and through his hobby as a photographer.
Mario Izzo opened the Sundial Shoe Store on 58 Church Street on November 19, 1953. He shared the space with his dad who ran Ralph’s Shoe Repair Shop. Mario and his dad were a team. During an interview for the West Side Oral Narrative Project in 1999, Mario shared his memories with Leona “Lee” Casey Signor. He said, with a laugh, “My father fixed soles, and I sold soles.” Mario said he worked for 35 years selling shoes or, as he humorously put it, “selling soles,” before retiring in 1989 from “smelling feet.”
Mario began his hobby of taking pictures as an experiment in his sophomore year in high school when he built a pinhole camera in the photography club (Fulver 1944). In addition to taking pictures, he also developed and enlarged images in a dark room that he built. His images captured rare glimpses of days gone of the cultural and historical foundations of the West Side, some of which continue to be valued today. An example is the Saint Michael’s Festival, sponsored by the Principessa Elena Society, which Mario captured through his lens. The festival was an annual West Side gala with a parade, food, dancing, fireworks, and challenges such as catching the greased pig or climbing the greased pole for special prizes (Lewis 2007).
He also took pictures of historic buildings slated for demolition, such as the Grand Hotel. And he captured major fires, which were frequent during the 1950-60s. Mario explained that he would close his shoe shop or have his dad watch his shop when he heard the sirens so that he could chase the fires (Post 2002). Mario said when he would show his pictures of fires around, “people would think I would set those fires so I could take pictures” (Izzo 1999). He assured Lee, with a laugh, “I did not set the fires…” The fires, damaging the much loved Convention Center and hotels and stores, significantly affected the lives of the community
He also took pictures of historic buildings slated for demolition, such as the Grand Hotel. And he captured major fires, which were frequent during the 1950-60s. Mario explained that he would close his shoe shop or have his dad watch his shop when he heard the sirens so that he could chase the fires (Post 2002). Mario said when he would show his pictures of fires around, “people would think I would set those fires so I could take pictures” (Izzo 1999). He assured Lee, with a laugh, “I did not set the fires…” The fires, damaging the much loved Convention Center and hotels and stores, significantly affected the lives of the community
References
Fulver, Jean. 1944. “Photo Club Experiments.” The Saratogian, November 4, 1944. Accessed on November 21, 2021. https://fultonhistory.com/Fulton.html.
Izzo, Mario. 1999. Photographic Collection. Feast of Saint Michael Festival. West Side Oral Narrative Project. Saratoga Room, Saratoga Springs Public Library, Saratoga Springs, NY.
Lewis, Elia. 2007. "Principessa Elena Society a part of west side history since 1900. Saratoga Springs History." Saratoga Springs History, September 18, 2007. The Saratoga Springs History Museum. Saratoga Springs, NY.
Post, P. 2002. “City resident Izzo documented fires with camera.” The Saratogian, June 6, 2002. Accessed on October 2, 2021. https://www.saratogian.com/2002/06/09/city-resident-izzo-documented-fires-with-camera/
The Saratogian. 1960. “Izzo Runs Sundial Store.” October 26, 1960. Accessed on November 21, 2021. https://fultonhistory.com/Fulton.html
The Saratogian. 1961. “Shoe Store Plans Fete.” The Saratogian, October 26, 1961. Accessed on November 21, 2021. https://fultonhistory.com/Fulton.html
Fulver, Jean. 1944. “Photo Club Experiments.” The Saratogian, November 4, 1944. Accessed on November 21, 2021. https://fultonhistory.com/Fulton.html.
Izzo, Mario. 1999. Photographic Collection. Feast of Saint Michael Festival. West Side Oral Narrative Project. Saratoga Room, Saratoga Springs Public Library, Saratoga Springs, NY.
Lewis, Elia. 2007. "Principessa Elena Society a part of west side history since 1900. Saratoga Springs History." Saratoga Springs History, September 18, 2007. The Saratoga Springs History Museum. Saratoga Springs, NY.
Post, P. 2002. “City resident Izzo documented fires with camera.” The Saratogian, June 6, 2002. Accessed on October 2, 2021. https://www.saratogian.com/2002/06/09/city-resident-izzo-documented-fires-with-camera/
The Saratogian. 1960. “Izzo Runs Sundial Store.” October 26, 1960. Accessed on November 21, 2021. https://fultonhistory.com/Fulton.html
The Saratogian. 1961. “Shoe Store Plans Fete.” The Saratogian, October 26, 1961. Accessed on November 21, 2021. https://fultonhistory.com/Fulton.html