by KYW's Steve Tawa

A historic marker -- not official, but nevertheless reflecting the lore of South Philadelphia -- has been installed at Pat's King of Steaks, at 9th and Passyunk Ave., to honor the institution that has been generally credited as the creator of the Philly cheesesteak.

The family that has run Pat's since 1930 was grateful for the recognition. Current owner Frank Olivieri Sr., the son of co-founder Harry Olivieri, started working at the cheesesteak stand when he was 11:

"And in six months I'll be 70 -- in November."

And the price of a cheesesteak back then?

"It was 20 cents, with no tax."

And how does Frank Sr. eat his steak?

"I eat it wit' cheese. Not with -- wit'. "

When he was 15 or 16, he says, he concocted the idea of using Cheez Wiz:

"My father would never let me put cheese on cheesesteaks, because of the people that came that were kosher. They wouldn't want cheese and meat on the same grill. He went away on vacation, and I bought a double boiler, and put Cheez Wiz in the pot. I'd make the steak and put the cheese on later, without putting it on the grill."

The white marker on the sidewalk outside the steak shop is one of more than two dozen that local historian and author Celeste Morello has cooked up for similar iconic places. Another marker identifies the site of the former Palumbo's, further down 9th Street.