~ Richard Mullen, the Owner of Southold Mullen Motors passed away...

BY DANNY McCARTHY
What lies ahead is copy of text from my original post titled AUTOMOBILES - MERRILY THEY DO ROLL ALONG stemming from my original Twentieth-Century Southold Automobile Dealerships article. ... EXTRA! EXTRA! - READ ALL ABOUT IT! ... I WAS SURE TO ADD-TO THE TITLE OF MY TRIBUTE TO Twentieth-Century Southold Automobile Dealerships TO ALSO INCLUDE: Merrily They Do Roll Along - as a DEFINITE coinciding to the 1981 Harold Prince-directed musical MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG that Stephen Sondheim was composer & lyricist for - and that had a book by George Furth. That production was based on the 1934 play having the same name that was by George S. Kaufman & Moss Hart. - BUT THAT'S NOT ALL. -- This is Relevant OR maybe even "relative" -- EVERYTHING CONNECTS! My Iona College fellow alumnae Terri Finn appeared in that musical in the lead role of "Gussie." Jim Walton was in the cast joined by Lonny Price. Lonny Price was known for being "the nephew" in the beloved 1987 "Dirty Dancing" - and also in "Muppets Take Manhattan" {!} Having worked for Harold Prince, Lonny Price went on to direct Audra McDonald in LADY DAY and Glenn Close in the 2017 revival of SUNSET BOULEVARD. JIM WALTON was in that LONNY PRICE-directed 2017 SUNSET BOULEVARD. Liz Callaway was also in the 1981 MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG Broadway production at the Alvin Theatre. She did successful re-creating with her newer version of "Memory" when she took over the lead role Betty Buckley who won a Tony Award for {Yes! - That show was CATS! AND GUESS WHAT?} Also in that 1981 MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG - JASON ALEXANDER made his Broadway debut!
THIS MY POST ENTERED HERE WAS ORIGINALLY REQUESTED TO BE ENTERED IN THE SOUTHOLD 375TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION VOLUME that included INVITED Southold Town authors' various takes on Southold Town in the Twentieth Century-related history! - and my AUTOMOBILES article WAS published in it! THAT VOLUME IS TITLED: "IN THE MODERN ERA - Essays on 20th Century History in the Town of Southold, Suffolk County, New York." MY ARTICLE APPEARS WITH PHOTOS {OF COURSE}. MY ARTICLE "RUNS" FROM PAGES 54-63 {!!!}
FORMER SOUTHOLD TOWN CLERK BETTE NEVILLE LET ME KNOW THAT "IN THE MODERN ERA ..." IS AVAILABLE AT THE SOUTHOLD TOWN CLERK OFFICE FOR $12 APIECE.
SOUTHOLD TOWN CLERK OFFICE IS LOCATED ON THE SOUTHOLD MAIN ROAD {ROUTE 25} ACROSS FROM THE SOUTHOLD FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CEMETERY.
OFFICE HOURS ARE: MON-FRI FROM 8:00 A.M. TO 4:00 P.M. {EXCEPT HOLIDAYS!} THE MAIN SOUTHOLD TOWN CLERK OFFICE TELEPHONE NUMBER IS: (631) 765-1800.
IF YOU WISH TO HAVE A COPY MAILED, YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH THE SOUTHOLD TOWN CLERK AND A TOWN CLERK OFFICE STAFF MEMBER WOULD LET YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THE ADDITIONAL POSTAGE CHARGE WOULD BE ADDED-ON PAST THE ORIGINAL CHARGE OF $12 AND THE SOUTHOLD TOWN CLERK OFFICE WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE MAILING {!!!}"
"... Much has been written about the contribution of the Mullen family to local automobile history. The Mullen family has taken a journey from Model T’s to Chrysler Imperials to Dodge, Ram, and Jeep vehicles. The business was started in 1927 and has kept up in operation in Southold Town since. Repair work on farm equipment and autos was done and then they began to “deal Plymouth DeSotos.” [17] In 1929, Dick Mullen operated his first garage with Harry Wiegand “in what had formerly been a repair shop for carriage wheels.” [18] Cody repairs were done in the showroom that was opened across from the original old carriage shop at Mullen Motors. “Mullen’s Garage became a dealer in DeSoto and Plymouth cars back in 1933 when more businesses were retrenching rather than expanding.” [19]
Sons Rich and his brother Billy run the day-to-day operations. “Bill in the service department, and Rich, in sales, administration and accounting.” [20] “Together they have five children, and Rich says that at least one of those kids will likely take over the shop.” [21]
In the spring of 2009, “Chrysler was cutting down 789 dealerships after declaring bankruptcy. But the Mullen Motors dealership in Southold dodged the bullet, and will continue selling Chrysler-brand cars and trucks out of the Main Road location, since it has since 1927.” [22]
So the tradition continues. Cars are available at particular locations on the North Fork. You still can “get a good deal” from your local automobile dealerships. As the old Esso/Exxon slogan goes: “Happy Motoring!”
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The "time-is-write..." Out of respect for the family, friends -{&}- customers of MULLEN MOTORS, I've learned of the arrangements for RICHARD MULLEN: Wake at the DeFriest Funeral Home in Southold Wednesday, March 8 (2023) from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm; Funeral Mass at Southold St Patricks Church Thursday, March 9 at 10 am

https://www.findagrave.com/mem...