Bill Bender writes: "My parents, Arthur and Eleanore Bender, had their wedding reception at the Alms in 1940. Dad told me more than once of an occasion he was in the elevator at the hotel when Phil Harris and Alice Faye joined him in the lift. It was obvious that Ms. Faye was having an issue and made her exit in a 'huff' ahead of her husband. Mr. Harris turned to dad with a smile and arms up toward the elevator ceiling and in his famous raspy voice said: 'Dames ... ain't they somethin'? and left several feet behind Alice."

Frank D'Elia, senior production engineer at WABC radio in New York, remembers: "From 1960 through 1965 my family spent several months each summer in Cincinnati and the Alms Hotel was our home away from home. My Mom and Dad were members of the Metropolitan Opera Chorus in New York ... (and became) a part of the Cincinnati Summer Opera's chorus.... I have memories of the apartment (complete with Murphy bed) and of days spent around the swimming pool.... That was my first experience ordering food around a swimming pool and a cheeseburger and iced tea never tasted quite so good."

John Wilson bolstered Frank's point: "The Alms became the Opera stars' place of summer residence.... At the Alms pool, the wonderful baritone Sherrill Milnes would exchange pleasantries, but once (only) briefly, as he had to study his music for the evening performance."

Irma Schuster included a ticket for a New Year's Eve dance on December 31st, 1958, at the Marie Antoinette Ball Room, Hotel Alms. "My husband-to-be proposed to me that night."

Carol Thieman sent a charming swizzle stick depicting a uniformed cocktail waitress from the Mermaid Lounge at the Alms. "We have fond memories of the Mermaid Lounge. Many evenings spent there - before children - drinking and dancing."

This from Patty Winter Long: "I was born in 1929. My father, Earl J. Winter, and my mother lived at the Alms Hotel in 1928. Dad was public relations director for Xavier University. Many dances were held at the Alms for various X.U. functions, so instead of a sitter, my first few months were spent in a dresser drawer at the Alms."

Mike Finn of Columbus adds: "My grandfather, James J. Finn, also worked at the Alms. He started there in 1891 after arriving from County Sligo in Ireland.... The hotel hired many Irish immigrants.... One fellow I communicated with was Jimmy Finn (no relation), who said he was the very best dishwasher at the Alms.... I could tell he was very proud of this title."

"It was a great hotel!" Both sisters had wedding functions there.... Classmates and I appeared on a show called 'Hello Teacher' at WKRC on a Sunday; we were 8th graders from St. Agnes in Bond Hill.... I later went to St. X. and ended up in class 2-A in 1949-50 with a guy named Nick Clooney. Regards, Dan Dougherty."

Marie Caruso has a sweet memory: "I sold Girl Scout cookies to the Alms Hotel chef in the late '50s.... He bought 50 boxes and I won the contest!"

Both Jack Avril and Gordon Strauss remember that "Madame Halina Feodorova taught dance there for decades for fifth- through eighth-grade boys and girls. She was a famous Russian ballerina who moved here in the teens for whatever reason ... very elegant, very tough."

There are many more memories of the Alms and other hotels, now long gone. We'll continue Monday.

Nick Clooney writes for The Post every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. E-mails sent to Nick at nickclooney@cincypost.com will be forwarded to him via regular mail.