Originally broadcast on September 13, 2025, on The Hungarian Hour (WCSB Cleveland 89.3 FM)
In this special rebroadcast of The Hungarian Hour* (WCSB Cleveland 89.3 FM), hosts Walt Mahovlich and Elizabeth Papp Taylor are joined by John M. Kundtz.
John shares the remarkable “rags to riches” American immigrant story of his great-grandfather, Theodor Kundtz.
Tune in to hear how Theodor arrived in Cleveland with nothing and went on to build a massive manufacturing empire that profoundly shaped the city’s early Hungarian community and the historic Irishtown Bend neighborhood.
Key Topics & Highlights:
1️⃣ The Journey to America: Discover Theodor’s origins in Metzenseifen (modern-day Medzev, Slovakia) and his arduous 1873 journey across the Atlantic in the muddy, unsanitary lower quarters of the S.S. Denmark.
2️⃣ Building an Industrial Empire: Starting as an apprentice cabinet maker in the Flats, Theodor took his pay in equity when his employer struggled, eventually buying out the company and renaming it the Theodor Kundtz Company. He became the sole supplier of ornate cabinets for the White Sewing Machine Company and expanded into school desks (”Eclipse”), high-end wooden bicycle rims, automobile bodies for local car makers, and church furniture.
3️⃣ Shaping Irishtown Bend: To staff his growing factory at 122 & 124 Elm Street, Theodor sponsored workers from his home country, driving early Hungarian immigration to Cleveland’s near west side.
4️⃣ A Legacy of Philanthropy: Remembered as a “friend of the worker,” Theodor was heavily involved in the community. He founded the Hungarian Savings and Loan Company, financially backed Hungaria Hall, and helped fund a George Washington monument in Budapest.
Community Call to Action: The Cleveland Municipal Stadium Seats.
Theodor’s company manufactured all 62,781 of the original seats for the Cleveland Municipal Stadium. There is an ongoing community initiative to locate a few of these surviving seats for installation in the future Irish Town Bend Parkas a memorial to Theodor and the Hungarian laborers who built them.
Resources Mentioned in this Episode
Tori in Amerika: The Story of Theodor Kundtz: A private biography of Theodor written by Christopher J. Eiben in 1994. While hard copies are rare, an audiobook version is currently in development and expected to be available in mid-2026.
How to help: If you have any of these stadium seats (ideally 2 to 4) in your garage or attic - Message us 👇
Comments or Questions? Send us a text
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