Monday, May 12, 1952
Dear Andrew and John,
The snapshots Andrew mailed on May 4 were received already on the 9th and were excellent. The side view of you, John, and the full length, Andrew, were particularly good. Maybe it's the lighting due to the good weather, maybe it's the film, but they're the best yet. Speaking of color film, I see in the new M. Ward photo catalog that Pavelle is offering 1-7/8 X 2/3/4 round corner color Prints for 36¢ each but must be made in units of 2 each; also, they're making duplicate 35mm. Kodachrome transparencies for 25¢ each. I see in the N. Y. Times where this Minifilm outfit in
New York is offering "Kodachrome Reloads" of 20 exposures each -- 5 for $10. Whatever this is I can't imagine as Eastman is the only one who can process them because of the 20 different operations necessary and they're being advertised as fresh dated.Mike's ear troubles were a little worse than we anticipated. He first complained on Thursday and lay on the couch all day Friday with heat on his head but had no temperature until Friday afternoon when Ann got a 102 reading. Dr. Gallager said he'd try to make it by 6 but if he did not, to bring him down and he'd take him right away. We had to wait an hour at his office and then the diagnosis was a severe inner ear infection. So he promptly shot Michael's bottom with a few hundred thousand units of penicillin as the fever at the office was recorded at 104°. He also prescribed 100,000 unit tablets which Mike is still taking. It seems to be great stuff as the temperature was normal by Saturday morning but he didn't start to feel frisky till yesterday afternoon.
Saturday night's Gunther Playhouse movie was Forever And A Day. You no doubt saw it but I'm sure it must be four or five years old. I noticed they played up it was the first time presented on TV in the U.S. but omitted as they usually say "a first run". Anyway, to refresh your memory or maybe surprise you, I jotted down the actors as they appeared, following a short prologue which stated that the pick of English and Hollywood stars "clamored" for these bit parts. It was certainly a big production and lasted a full two hours; even Arlene stayed up till The End. I won't give you the whole story but it started in England during World War II with Kent Taylor or is it Kent Smith, an American visiting there to sell the family home, which is now occupied by Helen Parrish. Reginald Gardner as a hotel clerk in the beginning and Victor McLaugallan(??), hotel doorman. During an air raid and with the usual dramatic scenes, Helen Parrish conducts Kent what's his name on a tour of the place and tells him its history since it was built in 1804 (accompanied by flashbacks that were very good, blending from the exact spot now, and then). In the order of their appearance were these stars we recognized; the above mentioned, plus Herbert Marshall, as minister; Edmund Gwenn, cab driver; C. Aubrey Smith, the original ancestor, an Admiral; Dame May Witty, his wife; Ray Milland, their son; Gene Lockart, lawyer; Anna Lee, ward of Claude Rains; Reginald Denny, a lawyer; Charles Laughton, butler; Ian Keith, 3rd generation head of the house; Buster Keaton and Sir Cedric Hardwick, plumbers; Edward Everett Horton, a knighted son; Cecil Kelloway, relative; Brian Ahern, another decendant who marries a maid, Ida Lupino; down another generation into World War I, Eric Blore, butler; Leo Carroll, laywer; Una O'Connor; Merle Oberon, who marries Robert Cummings and is the mother of Helen Parrish. But back again for a few minutes; at the time Merle Oberon was in the act of meeting with Robert Cummings, also staying at the house were Richard Hayden, Nigel Bruce, Roland Young, Elsa Lancaster (a maid) and so many more throughout the entire show we couldn't recall. For instance, Roland Young's wife and the wife of Tan Keith were so familiar. Even the smallest part was played by someone you had seen before. I think the last one I couldn't remember was the fellow who won the best character Oscar for "How Green Was My Valley". The preview for next Saturday showed "The Wooden Horse" with Leo Genn and looks recent. Now that I think of it, C. Aubrey Smith has been dead a couple of years and Dame May Witty much longer.
One more thing I should mention about it is that the picture was billed in a 3" X 4" morning Sun ad as Forever And A Day with Charles Laughton, Robert Cummings, Ida Lupino and Ray Milland. Charles Laughton lasted a minute and a half at the most. The others -- a little longer.
Today is Ann's birthday and while we've passed them up in favor of the kids, Aunt Tillie came out yesterday with a cake for Ann, who didn't tell her but she has been keeping away from sweets again. It was a dull day outside and rainy with wind, but a storm that was really something hit us about 9 p.m. I waited till it died down to take Aunt Til home and driving across on North Avenue it was a mess as this morning's paper said. Every block had trees uprooted wires down and several fires started.
This morning I had to go downtown to get some checks countersigned and said hello to Aunt Hannah. I promised to pick her up some Wednesday evening after work when I have the car and take her out home for dinner. She still looks bad. She wants to send you something and I said I would try to remember any suggestions. So, if you have any, make one because she is insistent.
Aunt Rose is visiting the Bellis family but I remarked to Ann yesterday that we hadn't had Jane and Edward beating on doors for a few days though the others were all very much in evidence. When the rain stopped for a little while about six o'clock yesterday, I went out on the side porch as Tim and, Jane started to come in, asking about Michael. I said he was still under the weather and Tim spoke up and said Edward was, too, as he had whooping cough. I practically dropped my teeth and said it was certainly a shame Michael wasn't well enough for visitors. Ann got all agitated, too, and as she had to go to Tony's for a load of bread she verified with Mrs. B. that it was true and at the same time stopped Cassie from coming in the back door. Maybe it's not so bad but I'd just as soon the kids didn't get it.
END OF LETTER
Editor's notes:
Aunt Mathilda "Tillie" is Ann's Aunt.
Aunt Hannah is Charles' Aunt.
Aunt Rose is the Bellis' Aunt.
Next Posting: May 15, 1952
Copyright 2012 Stephen A Conner
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