By Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer Published Jun 14, 2023 at 10:01 AM

A month after installing a new vertical sign on the historic eponymous theater, The Pabst Theater Group has created two T-shirts depicting the sign as a fundraiser for  Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission (MADACC).

The shirts are part of the Pabst for Paws effort to raise money to help support MADACC’s work to create an outdoor exercise and play area for the pups there who have been unwanted, abandoned, mistreated or injured.

One shirt – created and sold by Brew City Brand – shows the sign and bears the legend, “New Milwaukee History.” The shirt comes in a pale tan color.

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The other, in charcoal gray, shows a sitting dog clutching the sign in its mouth.

“As our population of stray dogs from Milwaukee County continues to be near capacity, we are striving to improve their quality of life and ensure they go back to their family or a new home in the best mental and physical health possible,” said MADACC Executive Director Karen Sparapani.

“Outdoor spaces are critical for the overall well-being of shelter dogs and our new space will help dogs learn about the world in new ways. Playful physical experiences help the dogs explore their personalities and help our staff gain vital insights for the best adoption matches. When it comes to the care of our animals and increasing access to lifesaving resources, we are so grateful to the Pabst Theater Group for their continued support.”

The shirts are $25 each, while supplies last, with proceeds benefiting the MADACC project. You can order them online here.

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PTG has set up a GoFundMe page to help MADACC raise enough money to complete the project. You can find that here.

“Our new Pabst Theater blade sign celebrates the theater’s treasured history in the city while positioning it as a modern-day beacon for Milwaukee’s downtown and Theater District,” said Pabst President and CEO Gary Witt.

“While the blade sign represents the Pabst Theater’s undeniable impact on the city, it gives us greater joy to know that we can also shine a light on the amazing work that groups like MADACC do. MADACC’s tireless efforts to assure safe, temporary shelter and basic veterinary and humane care for over 12,000 animals in Milwaukee County make buying this shirt a great investment in their work.”

Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.

He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.

With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.

He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.

In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.

He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.