There are a few Staten Island neighbors out there with a thousand good ideas. Probably the most prolific is philanthropist Alice Diamond, perhaps our biggest fan of Staten Island’s cultural institutions. Not far behind is retired Judge Philip Straniere. Phil bounced an idea off me — a Staten Island Performer Hall of Fame. It’s a good idea. So many neighbors love learning about celebrities who passed through our community. Instead of me getting between you and the judge, I am giving him my From the Editor space today to explain his plan. Take it away, Judge . . .

By Hon. Philip Straniere

A short time ago I sent Advance Editor Brian Laline a text asking what he thought about starting a Staten Island Performing Arts Hall of Fame. I noted we have a Sports Hall of Fame, so why not one for the arts?

Rather than generating Brian’s usual response to some of my ideas — write it on a slip of paper, swallow it, and don’t waste any salt and pepper on it — he asked for more details.

I thought perhaps photo plaques at the St. George Theatre. I would have suggested Snug Harbor, but I would like to be alive when it opens.

Mickey Burns originally proposed the idea to me. But since Mickey was a big part of the reason why New Dorp kicked Curtis’ butt every year in football during our high school years, I decided to steal the idea.

I started thinking about who should be included in the Hall. What would be the criteria for inclusion?

Being born here like folk singing legend Joan Baez?

Living here for a period prior to becoming famous like Paul Newman and Martin Sheen?

Doing something as a celebrity that had an effect on Staten Island, such John Lennon and Yoko Ono doing a concert at Madison Square Garden to raise funds to help pay for the relocation of Willowbrook State School residents?

Does the person’s fame have to be on a national or international scale, or can you be a local legend like Vito Picone, Al Lambert or Mickey Burns?

Would a nominee have to be dead to be considered, or could you be honored while still alive?

I began putting names into the Google-machine to check out whether my memory as to certain people was accurate. I quickly came up with a list of potential honorees.

Immediately coming to mind was silent screen star Mabel Normand (1893-1930), who was born and raised in New Brighton. She was a popular star of Max Sennett studios and appeared in films with Charlie Chaplin and Fatty Arbuckle. In the late 1910s and early 1920s she had her own film studio and production company.

Axel Stordahl (1913-1963) from Port Richmond, is famous for being the arranger of music at Columbia Records. He had success working with a skinny singer from Hoboken named Frank Sinatra, arranging several hundred of Sinatra’s records. Stordahl also composed several entries in the Great American Songbook.

Character actor Alan Jenkins (1900-1974) was born on Staten Island as Alfred McGonegal). You may not remember his name but if you’re a fan of TCM you would recognize him and his voice as he appeared in over one hundred films including “42nd Street” and as a recurring character in a number of the Falcon movies. He was the voice of Officer Dibble in the Top Cat films.

Actor Robert Loggia (1930-2015) attended New Dorp High School and Wagner College. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in “Jagged Edge.” Baby Boomer’s will remember him as Elfago Baca in that series for Disney television.

His 60-year career included roles in “An Officer and a Gentleman,” three Pink Panther films, and Family Guy as himself.

Laura Dean (1945-) achieved fame in the area of dance and is an award-winning choreographer. Internationally recognized she composed 30 music scores and more than one hundred dance works.

Also from the world of dance is Gerald Arpino (1923-2008) who was a choreographer and co-founder of the Joffrey Ballet. He moved the dance company to Chicago after Robert Joffrey’s death. He created commissioned ballets for the troupe.

Randy Graf (1955-) is a Tony Award winning actor by way of Port Richmond High School and Wagner College. Her Tony was for “City of Angels.” She was nominated for a Tony for “A Class Act.” Graf originated the role of Fantine in” Les Misérables.”

Jazz guitarist Chuck Wayne (1923-1997) resided here for over 40 years. He created a systematic method of playing jazz guitar. He served as music director for Tony Bennett and played with George Shearing.

Composer of the influential Broadway musical “Hair,” and Tony Award winner, “Two Gentlemen of Verona,” Galt MacDermot (1928-2018) spent 40 years of his life on Staten Island. Additionally, he composed the soundtrack for “Cotton Comes to Harlem” and won Grammy Awards for the song “African Waltz” and the “Hair” soundtrack.

West Brighton’s David Johansen (1950-2025) may be the only Islander who is attached to a song that probably is played at every wedding in the United States. Who can sit out “Hot, Hot, Hot?” He had an extensive film and television resume to go with his numerous performer incarnations.

These were some of the names that just popped into my head. I’m sure another trip to the Google machine will reveal many others.

Oh by the way: Have any more celebs you’d like to add to Phil’s Hall of Fame? How about baseball legend Bobby Thomson, who hit the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World.” Or Bobby Darin, who summered in South Beach and who, according to the Broadway play, “Just in Time,” was actually born on Staten Island. Christina Aguilera was born here and lived in Grasmere. Ghostface Killah from Stapleton was a founding member of Wu-Tang clan. We can’t forget Colin Jost or Pete Davidson of SNL fame, or the Impractical Jokers crew with Colin’s brother, Casey as producer. Paul Newman lived in St. George’s Ambassador Apartments in the ’50s. Martin Sheen lived there, too, and his son Emilio Estevez was born there. Who else ya got?