Spring, Sonja Henie Sued, Basketball, Jimmy Durante, Martin and Lewis, and A Baby Girl

Tuesday, March 25, 1952

Dear Andrew and John,

Today is Maryland Day with most of the offices and schools closed. You will notice I'm double spacing to make it seem like more and it's easier to read. The weather won't give spring a chance. I wrote of the balmy conditions last Tuesday and that night it went into the twenties; then Friday it shot up to 80° but was cold and rainy over the week end and all day yesterday. The plum blossoms are ready to break but they're always early. Mommie was working on a letter to you last night when I got home from school and she mentioned she was including news of the first crocus. Actually, in a walk around the house Sunday between showers, I could count more than a dozen in various colors and some just coming up. The group of tulips under the kitchen window looks strong and shoots are on the way. We noticed some forsythia in full bloom but ours is still in the bud stage. I got down on my hands and knees at the two spots where the azaleas held forth but no green. Otherwise, the yard is a soggy mess. Ann picked up a bag of humus in the ten cent store and has something planted in the green box on the kitchen radiator. Little green flowers are quick to appear and Kathy is just as quick to take each one to Ann. I told Ann it was foolish to get the make-things-grow stuff when we have Stephen every hour on the hour and the Fuller Sweet-Air spray. One of the little monsters living in the old engine house and one of the Ives reduced the front hedge to a shambles. I had a few words with them in the front yard and sometime within the next 24 hours all the air caps on the car's tires were lifted.

For some reason we've overlooked a medium sized catastrophe when no doubt some of your other correspondents have related. Two Fridays ago - no, it mast have have a Thursday because I was beginning my last Class at school about 8:30 p.m. when we heard sirens and bells screaming and ringing from all directions. We guessed an air raid practice but it was still going on when I headed for home at 9:30. I switched on the radio and heard that one of the stands in the 5th Regiment Armory had collapsed; full of people waiting for the start of the Sonja Henie ice show. The final result was 300 injured but in some miraclous, make it miraculous way, none was killed. Sunday's paper stated the lawsuits against Sonja and company have now reached $5,500,000.00. It was the fault of the contractor who either tours with the company or subs the work from city to city. The inspectors found they had no cross beams in the stands; had used nails much too small and the overload was twenty times what they considered normal. Sonja was scheduled to open in New York last week but cancelled her whole run for N. Y. city when the bond was required to be increased from $300,000 to one million dollars. She says she is continuing the show for a time around the country. She split with Arthur Wirtz (?) you know and this is her own set up. It was fully covered with Lloyds of London.

I forgot to mention above that one hyacinth was fully formed and ready to burst over the week end and, to take it out of the hands of Jane and/or Edward, Ann brought it into the house where it has been smelling up the kitchen since Sunday.

I'm still working on that roll of Kodachrome; only eight left. I thought we were going to run them off Sunday but we all went to a basketball game. It was the Maryland finals for Arlene' s team at St. Elizabeth's and they won - the kids are really good. There was a small balcony whose only occupants besides ourselves were another husband and wife. Stevie didn't want to be held and as the space up there was cleared of seats and the railing was very low, I covered more ground than either team.

It was a good TV week end. Jimmy Durante, Saturday at 8:00, had Margaret Truman as guest. One amusing skit had her as a contestant on his quiz show. Blindfolded she was to fill in lines on a blackboard puzzle. Then Jimmy came up and turned the thing sideways where it spelled out "I Like Ike". Her voice was terrible but her acting good and she did a buck and wing with Durante and Eddie Jackson. Maybe you'll see it as they are constantly saying, "this show is being broadcast to the armed forces overseas". Show of Shows was very good as it was Sid and Imogene's return from a mid-winter vacation and the hostess was Virginia Grey. We also saw our third Gunther movie of new English film selections and again did not fall asleep. You can tell they are "A" pictures and this one lasted from 10:30 till 12:20. I can't remember if I mentioned the name of the second one, but to repeat, it was Richard Todd and Valerie Hobson in "The Interrupted Journey". Dagmar is on with a canteen show from California each Saturday night from 12:15 to 12:45 but we have not taken this one in. Sunday evening was Martin and Lewis. Jerry's father, Danny Lewis, did a five minute spot of song but wasn't so much. Cousin Claire 'phoned during this program; said she was writing you a letter but couldn't find much to say; also that she hadn't shipped your package as yet but had the ingredients at the store but someone suggested that she not send sweet stuff - I hastened to say to the contrary even though you might have a temporary surplus.

I had to take some papers down town last Friday and dropped in on Aunt Hannah; told her we were over a few Sundays back to pick her up and she said she has been spending the weekends with some relative or friend. She looks very bad and right then had a severe cold.

Ed and Marie Pierpoint had baby girl last Friday and Ann is just about as tickled as they for she briefed Marie with pictures and experience through the last two weeks and with Stevie getting to be the big slob, she can't wait to get her hands on another. As far as we know, there's nothing in the offing, if that's the word. Stephen is, just as John says, at that stage when you can throw 'am around and they like it. The other two roll all over him but he doesn't take anything off them, good natured as he is generally. And you should hear little button nosed Kathy when she climbs on the couch where Mike may be sitting reading, smooths her dress down while she turns to him with her little voice and says, "Want to fight, Mikie?"

I've been pretty lucky this year and haven't missed a day of lent. Of course, a couple of days I had to walk with the snow and bad weather but the car makes it so much easier. I just have to get Ann her license so she will be able to get away from home with the kids. Abe is going to buy a new 1952 Plymouth. His Dodge is pretty well beat and he is getting a pretty good deal from Biemiller. But you should hear the prices. He is going to have a four door Cranbrook which is equal to ours in general outward appearance. Without seat covers or radio or any of the extras it will still cost him $2,100.

How about film? I sent off a couple more flash bulbs to you and will try to get more in the next package. I was so disgusted with that Polaroid film, that I included in last week's letter after I got home. I took those three if I may use the word pictures and pushed the buttons down for the fourth; when I pulled the remainder or approximately three feet of combination sensitive paper stripped right out leaving the pods somewhere in the works. I haven't even taken the camera out of the drawer to see the mess it must contain. For you, John, I could get 50 or 100 feet of 35 mm. and make 36 picture rolls for 10c or 15c a throw. And Andrew, if you could use some 616 or whatever size you suggested, can I get it easier. There's no trouble and Wards or Sears is always available by mail. I have always wanted to go over to the new Sears store on North Avenue and had to pass up a chance on Saturday to go with Ed Pierpoint because Mommie was preparing supper. Let me know; I have plenty of substantial shipping containers.

We received your letter about the National Geographic picture on yesterday. I'll see tonight if I can locate the rest of the article and whether there are more pictures. Ann says there is another letter home today.

I am also forwarding another article if I can suitably package it. For the many years I have been here at the office, we have been using, in lieu of corncobs, reprocessed wallpaper with the paste left on. The Warrington has gifted us with a carton of soft-weaver and I am mailing a sample to use in conjunction with your honey buckets and spring colds.




END OF LETTER

Editor's notes:

Aunt Hannah is the former wife of Charles' Uncle.
Claire Boehm is Charles' cousin.
Ed and Marie Pierpont are neighbors and friends of the Conners.
Abe is a lifelong friend of Charles.

The "old engine house" is across the street from Charles' house. It was the firehouse that operated before 1930 and was reconditioned for apartments.
The "last class at school" refers to classes that Charles taught on evenings at the Baltimore Institute.
"A" pictures are movies that had a big budget as opposed to a "B" movie.
"Buck and Wing" is a solo tap dance emphasizing sharp taps.
The Warrington Building was owned by Charles' employer.


Next posting: April 1, 1952

Copyright 2012 Stephen A Conner

A Crayon Sketch, Lousy Weather, Gossip and Studio One

Tuesday, March 18 4 p.m.
50° Barometer 31.0 in rising
First taste of spring

Dear Andrew and John,

Your letters are still coming through like clockwork. We received yesterday the letters written one week previous. We have prayed that the trip proved uneventful and that you saved the government a lot of ammunition. I can sympathize with Knox's loss of a Rollei camera because I know what they can do and am enclosing some of Ward's propaganda in one of your envelopes so he can contemplate the down payments.

The crayon sketch came through in good shape, John, and it so happened that I have recently acquired a can of Craft-Tint, an acrylic spary or rather spray. It's one of those Gulf-Spray type bombs, same size and shape. This particular one is intended to fix charcoal and crayon prints. I hope you don't mind that I gave your picture the works and it turned out beautifully. By that I mean you can notice no difference--no gloss or sheen or anything but you can figer, I mean finger (it's getting late and I'm hurrying) it without fear of smear. I had picked it up, the spray that is, to give the wiring on the car-a protective coat for moisture resistance. I couldn't get the exact type I wanted and took this Craft-Tint which has now done double duty.

And your cash came in last week, Andrew, the twelve you have earmarked for us and Arlene. Thanks a lot and here's how we hope to work it. We are going to try to make it to Pierre's and will give Arlene her two but we want to cut the remaining ten in half and over the week end we got the bank books together and will open or try to reopen your account, Andrew, with five and put your money order, John, and insurance check in with the four or so balance you have. Andrew has not yet received his thirty insurance premium or dividend but, from what I read in the paper, there is still hope till the end of March, if you want to wait that long. If you want to write them or want me to do so, the only address is Washington 25, D. C.

The weather was extremely nasty for over a week; colder than has been all winter, with gales of wind that hit 70 miles an hour on three different days; set boats loose in Baltimore harbor and beat the city up in general. There was ice and below freezing temperature this morning but it changed noontime as though someone pulled a switch and this is more like it. We rode out as far as the Clapsaddle's on Sunday and the car was all over the road from the wind but the sun was shining during the afternoon and it was cozy inside. Earl has quit his job in Detroit again and was in Baltimore on Sunday. Our Ann had a call from Ann Clap this morning and Earl wants her to give up everything in Baltimore and go back to Detroit where he is again heading sometime today. By the time we got back home--we didn't take our coats off over there but went for a ride in the country--Stevie had a temperature of 102º. By a process of elimination we found it to be his throat and reached for the bottle of Dr. Gallagher's special sulfa which bounces back and forth between us and the B's. It happened to be over there but there was some left and two doses broke the fever by Monday morning. I didn't see him last night but he was in good spirits this morning. That Kathy is something, too. I think Stephen has a pound of two on her now but she talks a blue streak and gives with the eyes, hands and feet at the same time. She came on the telephone the other day and gave me a breathless account of falling downstairs on her button nose and all covered with blood. I couldn't wait till Ann took the 'phone away from her and informed me that was only what she had predicted if she wasn't careful. Kathy did take a bumpy fall down the back stairs last week and landed in the diaper pail with only a bruised cheek. Yesterday Mike was first on the 'phone and he put out a rapid account of how Kathleen had crawled on the sink which had fallen over on her. Ann had to translate that one, too, and substitute the Christmas present plastic model which Kathy stood on and put her foot through, throwing her to the floor.

Some persistent cuss has taken over the gas station across the street again and good luck to he for he'll need it. They tell me Mickey Folker's or rather Tucker's father is very ill with some kind of heart trouble. He's pretty young, still in his thirties, hut when I'm up with one of the kids two or three in the morning the lights are burning over there. I don't believe he has worked for some time. Has Ann told you the news on Florence. You remember she was going with that slob, Dorsey. Now she has put Kenney (Kenny), the big boy, in a home, and her new boyfriend is none other than Dorsey's father. She is no longer living back in that hole but with the Dorseys.

When I filed your income tax forms I put a little note on each one that you were on active duty and where, and told them you had been informed of the tax due It is my opinion that you won't have to or shouldn't pay the $6.60 because Willis, Mr. Hahn's son-in-law, owed over $150 when he entered the service and he has been out for over five years: they have never asked for it and he hasn't volunteered.

Please let us know the condition of things at you new base; not just the location and such but about the miscellaneous supplies and snack situation. If there is anything we have plentiful of here, it's easy enough to put in the mails. I'm not going to promise but with this still in the typewriter I shall say that I'll try to get something in the way of a picture or pictures in the letter before I mail it tonight when I get home. Yesterday 'was St. Patrick's day and on Sunday, the day before, they announced lenten restrictions were off for the day. I worked last night as usual and when I get home would have an egg and some toast, but last night Ann surprised me with cheeseburgers, which she had made, pepsis and cake; It really went good watching Studio One, last night "The Vintage Years". It was light and pretty smooth with no particular notable in the cast. Worthington Miner, as you may have read, has gone over to NBC and you can notice a difference.


END OF LETTER

Editor's notes:

Mr. Hahn: worked for Charles' employer
Mr. B's: Mr. Bellis the next door neighbor
Ann Clapsaddle: Ann's High school friend

Next posting: March 25, 1952

Copyright 2012 Stephen A Conner

Tasty Cakes, Visiting Friends, T.V. Repair and Betty Hutton

Wednesday, March 12

Dear Andrew and John,

At noontime today Ann told me she got a letter from one or both of you in which you say you are leaving for Seoul on Monday, the 10th, so this will no doubt find you there. Time magazine last week -- I just saw it yesterday -- had a picture of the repair work going on there -- not much, just a few natives, but I will try to send it on with the article.

With regards to your banking Andrew, we will be glad to put anything you send us in the Catonsville National or wherever you say. Ann will see if they will take the old account book and reopen it or even if we have to get your signature on a card, the mails will do and, as I remember, they will open the account in the meantime. As I also told you, John's insurance check came but nothing yet for Andrew and I noticed an article in this morning's Sun where the two hundred and some millions in insurance premiums for men now in the service won't be mailed out till later in March. Still no word from Sam French which is good, I think. I believe I did tell you I tucked an envelope, self-addressed to you, John, at 25 Bloomsbury, and with first class postage, in the back cover of the manuscript and pasted a couple of stickers with your name and address inside the folder.

Thanks for the extra five for the beer, John, but Ann has given up liquid refreshment for Lent and she suggests we put it into the fund with the rest of the cash and all of us chip in and have a real feast when you get out. I will try to get a few more pictures to you and soon. I made out Mr. Kistner's income tax and bought a roll of Kodachrome 35 mm. As soon as everything, I mean everyone is clean enough at one time, I intend to run through the entire roll and I hope it is within the coming week. I guess I did tell you I still have the Polaroid. For the past two weeks they have been offering fresh dated film in New York, now down to 70c a roll which is quite a drop from the regular list of $1.75. I might run through a few rolls before I advertise it again, if I can get them.

Last Friday I wedged two Chocolate Tasty Cakes into a Ca-Ma-Sil can but it beat them up too badly and considering the time required in transit as they would have to go by parcel post, I gave up the idea; though they probably remain just as long on Tony's shelf. However, I did see something which I dispatched air mail yesterday and hope it arrives.

We decided Sunday morning to have Aunt Hannah out for the day so as soon as Arlene and I returned from church we all got dressed and took off because the telephone operator wouldn't give me the number at 1807 poplar Groves Street and I couldn't think of the name of the people (which turned out to be Kratz). We got there about 11:20 and I rang and rang but no answer. Downstairs only a dog was home. I'll have to drop in at the Hub and see her. By the way, there is no more Hub. It is now only The Hecht Company. They consolidated all their stores, accounts and everything and one ad serves for all their business establishments. On the way back from Aunt Hannah's we passed West Edmondale and saw they have a road of sorts in where Ellen and Gerry Bures live. We were there over an hour. I'm beginning to think more and more than Ellen is a bit of a sadist or whatever you call it. As we were ready to leave she said not before I fix a drink. Gerry said to remember only a drop for him. She put about three ounces in each glass and I observed thinks pretty clearly because I didn't want any, with driving and the kids. I made mention of Gerry's remark above for he has only to sniff the stuff and he's off as we and perhaps you noted on one occasion several years ago when we served him a thimble of Duff Gordon. Well, we were talking away and Gerry drank his down. A few minutes later Ellen handed him hers which she had on the side and he said that wasn't his, but she insisted and he finally downed that one two which gave him six ounces in about ten minutes. We left shortly afterward and his eyes were popping and glasses fogging after each hiccup.

Saturday I was real proud of myself. Dr. Sherrard cleaned my teeth at 9 a.m. and both he and Mrs. S. sent their regards. From 9:30 till 1:30 with the aid of a $7 add on to my Ward's account and an old pair of pliers, I put turn signals on the car and they work. It was 30° and I was purple but they say you don't mind it when you're doing something you want to do. As I was thawing out and Ann was making ready for the hairdresser, Mr. Bellis came in and begged the services of both me and the car. Becky had been put on the Edmondson Ave. car at one o'clock, to tell the motorman to let her off at North Bend, right at the Westway Theatre, and here it was 2 p.m. but she hadn't arrived at a girlfriend's party. We combed that section till almost three and finally found her getting off the car coming from town where the fellow had taken her to Charles and Lexington and back.

When the repair man came last Thursday to fix the TV Ann had the kids in the kitchen but one would escape now and then to watch. He evidently became nervous and thought it was a good idea to take the set in to the shop, which he did. We spent a quiet week-end and he brought it yesterday (Tuesday) at one. It looks swell and everything it tight and smooth once again and all knobs on. His last operation was to plug in the picture tuba and as he did, Ann says, it blew out with a roar, smoke and smell. He came back this morning with a brand new tube which Ann reports is much clearer and I will give my opinion when I get to see it. So, it should be in good condition on your return.

Aunt Alice, Penny Sue and her little Bill, spent yesterday from 11 to 4 with Ann, who, by the time I got home after six (Dr. didn't go till twenty-five of six) was very sorry for her Lenten pledge. I mentioned Aunt Alice because Ann got her views on the daffodils, which during the past week have grown another inch or so and a scaly-like film for approximately that same height out of the ground had cracked and come off. Aunt Alice says they are not going to bloom because they are unfertile or something, that by this time the shoot which bears the bloom should be coming up between the center stalks and there is no sign of anything, so we'll have to try another batch.

We have been in pretty good shape physically recently. I talked with Cousin Ann last Wednesday, I believe, and threw in the hint that it was a good idea to send some sweet stuff to you. There was a picture of Betty Hutton in the Sun last evening and her comment (or that of the studio) as she returned to this country that it was wonderful how the boys were being treated in Korea. No, I'm wrong, the dateline on this item was - Tokyo; but to go on, she raved about the food and said each of her party was at least five pounds to the good.


END OF LETTER

Editor's notes:
Sam French: publisher of Playbills and plays.
Aunt Hannah: former wife of Charles' Uncle.
Ellen and Gerry Bures: friends of the family
Mr. Bellis: next door neighbor

Next posting: 18 March

COPYRIGHT 2012 Stephen A Conner

Daffodils, Snow, Molly Goldberg, A Communist and Frank Sinatra

Tuesday, March 4, 1952

Dear Andrew and John,

The letter John wrote last Monday, February 25, came in on Saturday -- just five days; and your letter of the 26th, Andrew, arrived yesterday. So the mails this way are fast indeed. Just for the fun of it, I have put in "an extra carbon and will send one copy of this letter to the old APO 660 and see if you get in while you are still in the south. In your letter of the 26th, Andrew, you mention getting and reading a Times. I hope this wasn't the only one received for we have sent the Sunday N. Y. Times movie section each week since the last of January and a few dailies when I pick one up downtown, now that Greyhound has discontinued the Union News stand. I am keeping on file a record of the date anything important or financial comes for you. For example, John's third bond is in; of course we cashed the one, but the other two are in the file and yesterday a small envelope came from Washington - just one - addressed to you, John, with a check for $30. I thought-it was the allotment you spoke of but there is a slip attached--a single piece of paper with a lot of fine print about Veterans Insurance, so this is evidently your insurance premium or rather dividend and no doubt Andrew's will arrive in another day or so. I have put several flash bulbs (#5) in a very strong container and shipped them air mail to 301 because paying all that cash for a few cents worth just about broke my heart. Cousin Claire 'phoned Sunday evening and I talked with her as I answered the 'phone. She is now OK but evidently Cousin Anna was out because she said that Cousin Ann had another severe equilibrium or however you spell it spell and wasn't so good. She wanted to know about sending you two a package and I said sure and gave her the new APO so here's something else to watch for. How about mentioning something that's easy for us to pick up but a little on the rare side there. Milk's no-go but what about canned milk or stationery; don't worry about the cash end on writing supplies or equipment of that type since I can probably get it through the office.

You know Ann doesn't see my letters and I don't read hers or Arlene's. Each of them got off two this past week so I guess we had something going out every day. If Ann hasn't already told you...... about two weeks ago she took the green flower box which I believe John picked up two years ago and filled it with (I counted them) 21 daffodils just as they peeked out of the ground. She put them on the kitchen radiator and you should see them go. I measured them Sunday at almost 9 1/2 inches - all except one which grew 2 in. very fast and then stopped. Each day that the sun is out she has to turn the box completely around because they will lean at a 30° or more angle toward the window. The gray days they remain straight. Last Thursday and Friday the temperature sored into the fifties. As late as 1 a.m. Saturday morning, so the Sun papers printed, the Baltimore Transit called the weather bureau to inquire about the possibility of snow for Saturday, thinking about chains and other equipment. The weather man said not a chance; so we awoke Saturday morning with about five inches on the ground and more falling. The afternoon warmed up and I dug the car out and took it to church Sunday. Saturday morning I walked up and slid down Frederick Avenue with Ted. He had bare tires on the rear and it took us over fifteen minutes to get over that little hump at Melvin Avenue and release the blocked traffic. Sunday night another three inches fell but it rained all day Monday and is still going strong this afternoon so most of it is gone.

I see Molly Goldberg is back on TV. Must be Thursday evening because I haven't seen it. John Crosby devoted one of his daily columns to the fact that what's-his-name who plays Mr. G was on the communist list and banned by the networks--that it wasn't Sanka who wanted to take the show off a year ago; so Molly pulled the whole thing off and tried to fight it out. She finally gave in, so Crosby says, when she realized they had been off almost a year and it meant keeping the others, who specialized in certain parts, out of work. He mentioned the fellow they have for a replacement and the fact that they have made him up to look like the old one as much as possible but as yet haven't given him much to say--will work him in gradually so people won't dislike the idea. You know, Frank Sinatra still doesn't have a sponsor. Last Tuesday, right in the middle of an act, they cut his show in Baltimore and put on something sponsored by General Electric from the Hippodrome stage; or did I tell you this in my short note last Thursday. Anyway, I see he's only scheduled for a half hour tonight.

Mrs. MacDonald was over last Saturday evening for about an hour and seemed real tickled that she had a letter from you, Andrew. She told us Mag had a birthday last week--seventy something; I didn't know she was the older. That old shack of a house and lot next to Sam the Tailor and across from Woolworth's where Gradys live has had an offer of $60,000 which somebody must want awful badly. - Abe's father has put the - apartment house in the hands of Schatz and is serious this time - about getting rid of it. I think Winnie is living with her mother including husband, of course.

Did Ann tell you the silly one about the school children that goes something like this: the teacher found a puddle outside the schoolroom door and suspected one of the kids. She told them she wanted the guilty one to clean it up but so as not to ridicule that party they were to sit at their desks and put their faces down on their folded arms while it was taken care of and that she would do likewise. They hid their faces and could hear someone tiptoe from the room and return in a few minutes. She had them raise their heads and went to check. There by the first puddle was a second puddle and above it, chalked on the wall, were the words "The Phantom Strikes Again". If you haven't read it, I thought it was cute.

Michael and Kathleen played in the snow for over an hour on Sunday. Or rather Michael did a little playing but Kathy would not move off the back cement piece which I cleaned - over the old well. It was quite a record for Mike for I believe I've told you how Ann says he doesn't like the cold. I saw what she meant on Saturday right after the, storm. He went out the side door, walked around the house and came in the back door, looked at me and said, "Well, that's enough of that".

After this soaking snow and with a few good warm days you'll really see the yard sprout. Right now it's the usual mess and there were no signs of anything other than the daffodils before they were covered. We were thinking of putting something on the bathroom floor and getting the you-know what fixed. I could put down some linoleum blocks, I'm sure, and I noticed that the old toilet from the cellar is under the back porch. The first nice day I will crawl back and ask Buzz or someone if it is worthwhile. This should be done before the floor.

The St. Francis novena began this morning so I brought a book home for Mommie. You are one of our intentions so take things easy.


END OF LETTER

Next posting: March 12 1952

Copyright 2012 Stephen A Conner