Interview with Joseph Biancanelli
IntervieweeInterview with
Joseph Biancanelli
(American)
InterviewerInterviewed by
Bruce M. Stave
(American, 1937 - 2017)
InterviewerInterviewed by
Sondra Astor Stave
Date2006 September 12
Mediumdigitized audio cassette tape
DimensionsDuration: 57 Minutes, 12 Seconds
ClassificationsInformation Artifacts
Credit LineConnecticut Museum of Culture and History collection
Object number2009.85.2
DescriptionAudio cassette tape of an interview with Joseph Biancanelli. He was interviewed on September 12, 2006 by Bruce M. Stave and Sondra Astor Stave for the G. Fox Oral History Project at his office in Hartford, Connecticut.
Biancanelli was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised on Long Island. He attended State University of New York at Oswego. He worked in the travel business and for American Airlines. His wife was from the Hartford area, which is why he moved to Connecticut.
He opened a travel agency office, Capitol Travel, in the Richardson building in Hartford in 1982. He was trying to build a portfolio of corporate accounts, and he approached G. Fox & Co. several times, but they already had an agency. In 1985, he was able to have G. Fox as a client, and his office moved from the Richardson building to the G. Fox building. He ran G. Fox Travel and Ticketmaster until G. Fox closed in 1992. He managed both corporate and leisure accounts. At the time of the May Company ownership of G. Fox, Harry Black managed the independent businesses housed at G. Fox, such as the travel agency, an optician, and the jewelry department. Biancanelli stated that these businesses gave a percentage of the commissions to G. Fox in lieu of rent. Even though the vendors were not employed by G. Fox they were still given employee discounts and parking.
After G. Fox closed Biancanelli moved his business to West Hartford Center and changed the business name to Connecticut Vacation Center. He was able to retain his other corporate accounts. He ran the business for one year before selling it to Henry Wrotniak. Biancanelli then worked for American Express running call centers.
Biancanelli discusses his perception of Hartford in the 1980s. He started to notice changes in Hartford after Travelers was purchased by City Group and the closures of Sage-Allen and G. Fox. Hartford became more of a commuter city - people came in to work, then left at the end of the day.
Biancanelli described how the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks affected the travel industry.
The interview ends with Biancanelli describing how he feels about Capitol Community College moving into the G. Fox building and how that is bringing younger people into Hartford.
Biancanelli was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised on Long Island. He attended State University of New York at Oswego. He worked in the travel business and for American Airlines. His wife was from the Hartford area, which is why he moved to Connecticut.
He opened a travel agency office, Capitol Travel, in the Richardson building in Hartford in 1982. He was trying to build a portfolio of corporate accounts, and he approached G. Fox & Co. several times, but they already had an agency. In 1985, he was able to have G. Fox as a client, and his office moved from the Richardson building to the G. Fox building. He ran G. Fox Travel and Ticketmaster until G. Fox closed in 1992. He managed both corporate and leisure accounts. At the time of the May Company ownership of G. Fox, Harry Black managed the independent businesses housed at G. Fox, such as the travel agency, an optician, and the jewelry department. Biancanelli stated that these businesses gave a percentage of the commissions to G. Fox in lieu of rent. Even though the vendors were not employed by G. Fox they were still given employee discounts and parking.
After G. Fox closed Biancanelli moved his business to West Hartford Center and changed the business name to Connecticut Vacation Center. He was able to retain his other corporate accounts. He ran the business for one year before selling it to Henry Wrotniak. Biancanelli then worked for American Express running call centers.
Biancanelli discusses his perception of Hartford in the 1980s. He started to notice changes in Hartford after Travelers was purchased by City Group and the closures of Sage-Allen and G. Fox. Hartford became more of a commuter city - people came in to work, then left at the end of the day.
Biancanelli described how the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks affected the travel industry.
The interview ends with Biancanelli describing how he feels about Capitol Community College moving into the G. Fox building and how that is bringing younger people into Hartford.
Collections
Funding Note: In 2006, the Connecticut Historical Society received a grant from the Beatrice Fox Auerbach Foundation Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving to support the collection of oral histories, the cataloging of G. Fox & Co. materials and Fox and Auerbach family materials, and the creation of web pages. Additional funding for the oral histories was provided by The Prospect Fund, The Brookside Fund, and The Maple Tree Fund. The Connecticut Historical Society gratefully acknowledges these generous supporters. Without such generosity, this project would not have been possible.
Status
Not on view