Pizza News, March, 2009
 Part 2
(Volume X No. 3 Issue 2)
(ISSN: 1533-3795)   

READ ABOUT THE PIE-O-MATIC BELOW

Dateline: Mid 1950s - 132 Middletown Avenue, North Haven CT...
Lew Cenotti shown above with his invention, the worlds first Pizza Vending Machine. Keep in mind, this machine which was invented by Lew in the mid 1950's, was featured at the Worlds Fair, and has yet to be duplicated some decades later.

Lew went on to create and market what was, to the best of my knowledge, the world first frozen pizza, which was sold in grocery stores under the “Pizza King” label.

Some years later, Lew became well known for making the best tasting pizza in all of West Haven, which is located in Connecticut, at “Lew's Apizza”. The family pizzeria was owned and operated by Lew and his lovely wife Louise who provided him with all the love and support that a man could ask for as well as 3 sons, Lenny, Phil and Steve.

Lew also created the extremely popular “Atomic Sub”, similar to today's calzone, but better tasting and always freshly baked when ordered using Lew's hand tossed dough. It was a big seller at Lew's Apizza.

While Lew Cenotti only had what amounted to an eighth grade formal education, he was a man well ahead of his time as his accomplishments mentioned above shows, but he was also Spiritually way ahead of his time. The Spiritual Truths he spoke about, and tried to teach us, his sons, as well as others so many years ago have just become accepted and popular by people all over the world only during the past few years, and many are getting rich giving seminars and selling tapes teaching what Lew taught anyone willing to listen (regrettably most weren’t) for free.

I have yet to this very day, been able to find a pizza that tastes even half as good, both the crust and the toppings, and is anywhere near as large as one of his, or a pizza restaurant that has the wonderful aromas of his fresh baking bread, large meatballs, and the best pizza sauce I ever tasted.

It really did work too. You put in your coins, If I remember correctly, it was about seventy five cents, chose the type of pizza you wanted by pushing the corresponding button, and before you knew it you had a delicious, mouth watering real pizza, which of course was a bit smaller than what you got in Lew's pizzeria.

Here you can see a very small portion of the inside of the pizza machine. It was pretty complex for it's time, although you can’t really appreciate that due to the quality and age of these photos. Also, they were taken with a camera that wasn’t exactaly state-of-the-art equipment even at that time.

The Pie-O-Matic is from

http://www.lulen.com/pie-o-matic.html

Here is Lew's Obituary: Birth: Aug. 11, 1911, Italy Death: Jan. 6, 1991 West Haven New Haven County Connecticut, USA Lewis Cenotti was the son of Angelo and Maria Cenotti and was born in Caiazzo, Italy on August 11, 1911. He lived in West Haven, Connecticut for 60 years. He was a World War Two Army Veteran, serving in the Pacific war zone with the 502nd Medical Hospital Ship. Mr. Cenotti, who retired in 1978 as owner of Lew's Apizza in West Haven for 20 years, invented a pizza vending machine in the 1950's and also founded Pie-O-Matic Corp. in North Haven, Ct. Besides his wife, Louise, he leaves three sons, Lewis "Lenny" Cenotti of Orange, California, Philip Cenotti of Lake Elsinore, California, and Steven Cenotti of West Haven, Ct; and a brother, Stephen Cenotti of Hamden. He was predeceased by a sister, Angela Cenotti; and two brothers, John and Domini Cenotti.   The Cenotti Family Lew and Mrs. Lew

God Bless you Lew. and thank you for all of the joy you brought to people making your pizza!

To contact me:
Albert Grande, The Pizza Promoter,
The Pizza Promoter
600 Queen Street Suite #2406
Honolulu, Hawaii, 96813

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