LIFE WITH WENCHES: James ‘Froggy’ Carr Celebrates 40 Years

BY RORY McGLASSON/ Wench-power was strong on the dance floor as hundreds of mummers celebrated the 40^th anniversary of James Froggy Carr Comic Brigade.

Everyone has read the story: Boy meets girl. Boy and girl fall in love. Boy and girl live happily ever after.

The Froggy Carr story is a little different from a boy-meets-girl tale, though.

I guess you could call the story of the Froggy Carr Comic Brigade tale – a South Philadelphia love story that has lasted 40 years.

The short version goes like this: Boy plays football. Boy dies tragically of brain tumor. His teammates start a mission: To celebrate the life of James “Froggy” Carr.

The “James Froggy” Carr Comic Brigade is born, 1971.

There’s a lot of love, anger, fall outs, heartache, celebration and frustration in between – 40 years’ worth.

However, a green box stuffed full of beer tokens, changing a bylaw that kept membership at 50 men, and moving home are three significant moments most people talked about at the party. What consolidate this Comic Brigade, though, like many in the area, are its core values: trust and respect.

Froggy Carr now has a newish pad at 1429 S. Second Street.

Local writer and 20-year Froggy Carr member Clark DeLeon writes, “Froggy Carr is the Comic club that brought wench-power back to Second Street.”

NEWBIES ...President of Froggy Carr, Michael “Tooth” Renzi, Joe “Bip” Penrose, Jim Murphy, Michael Bachich and Brigade Capt. Joe Renzi. Photo: McGlasson Media

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