Bette Davis Takes A Fall

Monday, October 20, 1952

Dear Andrew and John,

We've started around on the virus again. Arlene was running a temperature Saturday and Sunday but wouldn't stay in bed. Yesterday was such a beautiful day, though, that we didn't want to wait any longer. Before I went to church with Arlene at 10:30, I gave the Boehms a call and told them we would pick them up about 1:00. Came back from church a bit piffed because I missed Communion for the first time since New Year's 1945--on a Sunday, that is. Don't know what happened; when the bells rang at Communion time the altar boys hopped up and went for the water and wine instead of the plates. The people looked at one another but no one attempted to do anything about it. We left home at 12:15, just Ann, the little ones and myself and went in at Cousin A's and Cousin C's for a minute to see their newly decorated kitchen. We were back at 2:30, gave them a tour of the place and sat around and talked. They stayed and ate with us and didn't leave till 7:15. I made the round trip taking them home, taking my time, and was back in the house at 9:10. I'm glad we did it yesterday; it was 65° and the route all the way is lined with trees that have just turned. You no doubt had a quick glimpse of autumn as your winter set in with a bang. Over night the temperature here fell to 40° and when I called Ann this morning to tell her Aunt Til had called me to say hello, Ann said it started to snow at 9 this morning and at that time - 12:15 - it was still coming down. I'm sure it won't lay. Tonight, the weather man says 26° so we're getting into your territory. The only thing is, yours is there to stay and ours is so changeable. I think Cousin A and C. liked the place except they wouldn't want to live out there. They acknowledged that with a car town was very accessible. Cousin Anna even took a glass of our special blend $1.69 a half-gallon sherry.

Arlene got her pup on Saturday morning and I have to admit it's a pretty nice hound. Four months old, housebroken, even though it stays in the cellar, and all white with black dots and a black ear. Name of Lady MacBeth but we call it Mac for short as everyone refers to her as him. Mike tolerates him, I mean her; Kathy loves her and leaves her; but Stevie eats it up. He trails it around the yard and shares his cookies with her. I don't think it will grow as large as I mentally predicted as we find it is dalmatian with just a dash of bird dog. In her gallops around the yard, every once in awhile she'll stop, raise one paw, straighten the tail and point a bird perfectly. Maybe you'd get used to her.

We did the usual grocery shopping in Jacksonville on Saturday, I mean Friday night, but drove in as far as Parkville Saturday afternoon to the 10-cent store. We got around to TV promptly at eight so as not to miss Jimmy Durante with Frankie Sinatra. It was a very good show and Frankie kept out of it most of the time. Somehow Show of Shows continues just as good and the guest hostess was a bit different this time - Alicia Markova, the ballerina. She did a 15 minute bit toward the end from Les Sylphis or whatever that ballet is. Gunther's Playhouse had another 2 hour film "International Lady" with George Brent, Illona Massey and Basil Rathbone. It was an A, with nothing but familiar supporting actors but I managed to see a 1942 copyright date. A little earlier in the evening we missed "Bicycle Thief" which I told you was presented last summer for the first time on TV. So, as I've said, they're going around again and you'll be just in time for some good ones.

In one of the envelopes or in with the movie review of the Times I'm going to put a review of Bette Davis' new "Two's Company" show I mentioned not having heard when I wrote about Tallulah last week. Coming in to town in the car this morning - I have the radio on for the news and heard that Bette collapsed in Chicago last night where Two's Company was putting on its first performance. She had to be carried from the stage in the first scene by two stagehands, the commentator said, but was back to finish the end of the show and made a curtain call to tell the people "You can't say I didn't fall for you."

Streett Baldwin died yesterday afternoon; was only 58, the papers say. He was coming around Saturday even though he couldn't speak but contracted pneumonia and that finished him.

That last paragraph of yours, Andrew, about the visit from our mutual "cousin" was something. The letter just came this morning. I couldn't resist telling Ann about it lunchtime. I asked Cousins, A & C if they had heard anything and they said no, their trip to Chase never materialized. We'll have to have Aunt Hannah out sometime and see if she will tell us the score because I'm sure she knows.

The postman dropped by the house the other night to ask if I would buy stamps or if I could buy stamps for Doctor from them and not here in town. I told him Ca-Ma-Sil used a postage meter and that the rest of the stamps didn't amount to more than 10 or 15 a month. He said that strange as it may sound that would mean a lot of business for him. So I've gotten permission to get most of our regular stamps out there. I noticed they have an Esso gas dispenser next to the store so I dropped by Friday, being pretty low. Mr. Sewell was coming out of the store with a pan of something as I went in and I said I wanted to get some gas. He said just to help myself and give the money to Ma; that if she wasn't in the store, just to yell and she'd answer. And that's what happened. I also found the mail doesn't come out on the Ma and Pa. It comes twice a day, delivered by truck, morning and afternoon. The postman's route, he told me, measures a little over 50 miles and he has 1,475 stops or potential ones. That's really something and I'm glad we're about the first on the list.

Stay well till you get the heck out of there and I'll get off a few more letters until I hear from you that you're sure you're moving out the end of the month.

END OF LETTER

Next Posting: October 21, 1952

Copyright 2012 Stephen A Conner

Swimming Pools and When To Say "Excuse Me"

Monday, August 4, 1952

Dear Andrew and John,

I don't have such to tell you. No sale for the house as yet and I'm starting to getting a little of the jitters. I 'phoned Cousin Ann today and learned that Cousin Claire has been ordered to stay home for a week or two and was just then leaving for the doctor's. Right after that (noontime) I called Aunt Helen and told her we hoped August 18th was a definite moving date and she said she had heard from you and that Uncle Andy was doing very well, better than they expected.

I picked up the family at Annie Clapsaddle's on Friday. Or rather I stayed to dinner first and when Ann suggested we leave a little after seven I noticed there was no objection from Mrs. C. Stevie, they said, had the time of his life. They had one of those inflatable swimming pools and he would run across the yard and fall full length in the water. Every time he takes a bath now he buries his head in the water and bubbles away. When I walked out in the back yard out there I found Kathy two inches away from a pit black wasp blowing in his face. The wasp didn't hurt her but went right over and bit Mike. I put iodine on it and it is still sore but not painful. By the time we got one block away, they were all asleep and didn't awaken till seven on Saturday morning. Stephen was standing on the back seat of the car looking out the window, too quietly I thought, and when Arlene turned to investigate from where she was reading, she found him sound asleep standing up.

Saturday it was rainy in the morning and hot and humid in the afternoon. We stayed close to home except for store shopping for groceries. Sunday was also quiet and we took a short ride about six coming back the new highway at Montgomery Road where the Varsity has opened a new place called the "Pig'N Whistle". I read an ad in the Argus about an opening special on home made ice cream at 95¢ a half gallon and as I had my rider money I treated the family. For some reason I have been off ice cream for about a year and I bet you're ljst the opposite, especially if you can't get it. Back to Saturday night movie TV, the two non-commercial movies presented by ABC were pretty sad; No. 1: Almost Sixteen with Gale Storm and Robert Henry; No. 2: Criminal Investigator with Robert Lowery and Edith Fellows. The Gunther Playhouse was a little better. You may have seen "Raw Deal" with Dennis O'Keefe, Claire Trevor, and Marsha Hunt. One of those he breaks out of jail and they hunt him down while he's hunting somebody else.

We were still laughing over Aunt Hannah's Monroe Street slogan and John's back slapping. The slogan has also been going around, Edmondson Village by Christmas. I don't know if Ann told you about Mike and his children's bright saying, but I'll repeat it. He was engrossed in a book and Kathy was sitting beside him on the couch. She made a very unladylike noise through her little bottom and Michael, without turning away from his book said, "When you do that, Kathy, you're supposed to put your hand over your mouth and say 'Excuse me'."

More as the week and other things progress, we hope.

END OF LETTER

Editor's Notes:
Charles' family is moving from Catonsville.

Next Posting: August 6, 1952

Copyright 2012 Stephen A Conner

Conjunctivitis and The Fourth Of July

Monday, July 7 1952

Dear Andrew and John,

In some respects we had a nice quiet weekend and since last Thursday we received several letters from each of you and the pictures, Andrew. I am still waiting to see what Pavelle does to the black and whites of the kids. I got the word from you, John, that the color prints had been done by a private set-up and I'm sure no commercial or grind-'em-out company would take the pains to see the color rendition was so perfect. I put an ad in the Argus, as I told you, about the Polaroid and didn't get a single nibble; offered it at best price over $50 and included attachments plus "will deliver".

When I got home last Thursday we put the little ones to bed and Arlene baby-sat while we took the Clapsaddles up on their offer. Arrived at the Marling House a few minutes past seven and they came right on our heels. As we were seated on that single table strip by the bar, Aunt Hannah was at the next table with someone she introduced as Mrs. Hayes. She left soon afterward but said she had a
letter from one of you. Next to the night out Ann and I had together, which I think we appreciated more because we made our own decisions, we really had a very good time. It was, my first taste of the M.H., you know, and those rum buns you talked about were delicious. As Earl paid for everything, we each had two drinks and the crab imperial a la carte (cheaper that way) with the salad that came along and yet I saw the bill at $17.90. I haven't been able to figure it out; seems a little high to me. I believe I told you Marling sold out several months ago but his head is still on everything including the ballet pictures on the walls. They have taken the hula gal with the running lights off the bar. From there we walked while deciding on a show, Ann and Annie was discussing Pat and Mike or St. Anne and the Something or Robin Hood or The Batchelor and Somebody; but the picture we saw was "Brave Warrior" with Jon Hall at the Mayfair and you can guess who picked it; I kept quiet. After that - home; Ann was a bit bothered by her eyes and they did look red and swollen. On the way she told me she had stood in front of the sun lamp for 20 minutes but had put paper over her eyes. That, combined with the movie and the fact she hasn't had her glasses available since Kathy snapped them in the middle brought on the consequences. She got to sleep for an hour but was up two o'clock walking the floor; then she walked outdoors and finally when she couldn't stand the pain I took her over to St. Agnes Hospital at 3:15 in the night, or rather morning. The doctor pronounced it acute Conjunctivitis or eye infection and put some drops in to ease the pain. She lay there for about an hour, after which he squeezed a tube of a cod liver oil and something mixture in each eye and gave her a shot in the arm; another rest and we went home but the pain didn't stop and neither of us slept. Toward morning the ice bags helped somewhat and she quieted down. What had Ann (and me, too) worried was that after we left the hospital she couldn't raise her eyelids and when she pried one up with her finger, couldn't see a thing. This was no doubt caused by swelling of the lids or something internally but by the afternoon of the Fourth we were both relieved when she could open them a little more than a slit and could see. The infection broke Saturday and stuff has been draining out ever since. I put the drops in all day Saturday and Sunday and with the aid of dark glasses Ann could go out for short periods at a time before applying cold packs. On the morning of the Fourth, I took Mike and Kathy down to the high school to watch the goings on while Ann tried to rest and Stevie napped for his usual two or three hours. We got there too late for the sucker scramble but Abe awarded each a couple of consolation lollipops and that suited Kathy for the rest of our stay down there. Jane and Edward showed up and while Edward didn't want to enter any of the games, Mike and Jane lined up with 100 others for something for kids under 8. The object was to hold a paper plate in the mouth, balance a marble on the plates, and run the length of the field and back. The gun went off and Mike and Jane streaked down and back with the plate clutched in one hand and the marble in the other. They were disqualified but had a lot of fun. The only other contest they entered was for "over 8 " -- a peanut collection; from which they emerged with a handful of peanuts. Then home we went to lunch and a little rest.

The parade was at 3:00 this year, or actually at 3:30 for a little rain held things up but passed over. We had no company on the porch and Ann watched for a little while but found the light too much. They had a good many bands and floats and I do think it was the largest yet. Earl added a big top of canvas to cover the entire section around the snowball stand and with about nineteen relatives working hard they managed to keep the line from blocking the view. The fireworks weren't up to usual; didn't start till 9:15 and were all over at 10:00. Stevie loved them and had his finger sticking at in the air spouting "See, see" till he was hoarse (one of his few words). Kathy enjoyed them, too, from the porch, and Mike didn't comment one way or the other but after a few big ones, he arose from his chair and announced "Mother, think I should rest for awhile" and went in the house but watched out of the window. Saturday was another pleasant day with temperature in the eighties and low humidity and we did practically nothing. Ann stayed in most of the time and I clipped a hedge and cleaned up the cellar and some weeds besides washing the car. Yesterday Arlene and I went to nine o'clock Mass in the chapel as they are still working on the church. I was in there on Friday and they seem to be rounding the ceiling which had to be repaired. At 9:05 Father Hughes came down into the hall and announced the priest that was due from the Monastery had forgotten about it and they 'phoned someone else was coming. The substitute didn't show up till 9:30 and was in the uniform of a Navy lieutenant chaplain. At the time for announcements he told the people not to think it strange that he appeared in uniform, that he was a chaplain. As if that explanation wasn't bad enough, he added, "For those who do not know what a chaplain is..." and went on in detail to elaborate. Guess he thought he was really out in the sticks. Ann made it to church and back OK but I knew she couldn't see well yet because she walked up the road with the glasses on to get a pack of Camels. She had to use a vending machine and came back with Chesterfield - didn't notice the mistake till she came into the house. Being in for three days like that, I suggested a ride as far as Friendship airport yesterday evening about 6:30. She felt well enough and we were down in less than 25 -minutes; this was our second visit. Nothing much doing on Sundays but I'd like to visit their dining room or cocktail lounge sometime. We bumped into Mr. Hahn and Willis, Betty and their kids seeing Willis off on a trip to Columbus. On the way back we picked up Auntie Florence, Mr. Bellis' sister, and now we know where she lives with the Dorsey's. It's one of the Schatz Bros. place on Valley Road after you turn there at the golf course and head toward town and Wilkens Avenue. I've always known it as the Lippe chocolate people's place.

Saturday evening we turned on TV to see two movies; at 9:00 CBS is putting on weekly shows in place of Ken Murray or as his summer replacement. Anyhow, from 9 to 10 it was Paison - which I haven't spelled correctly but you know what I mean, that Italian film and very good. After that, the Gunther Playhouse was Louis Hayward, Richard Carlson, Joan Fontainne and Tom Brown in "The Duke of West Point" copyright 1937. So Gunther has apparently given up on English films and is obtaining more recent American first releases. I found it entertaining and it must have been one of Joan Fontainne's first appearances though she had a rather large part.

Have to teach four nights this week as Mrs. Brown asked me and she is vacationing again. TV and radio is given over almost entirely to the Republican convention and there are only a couple of parts of it I would like to see. Abe left Saturday morning for two weeks to Toledo, Detroit and Chicago now that his car is pretty well broken in.

Just before I started this, Mrs. Burton 'phoned and asked me to call her back when the others had gone to lunch. She said she heard the present tenant of our future home was preparing to leave, had found a house about 5 miles away and the movers were there to look over things and finally that she might be out in about three weeks so that the possibility is still there we could be it by the first of August.

END OF LETTER

Editor's Notes:
Charles works for Dr. and Mrs. Burton who have promised him the use of a larger house near their farms. Charles also teaches night for a business school - The Baltimore Institute.
The Bellis' live next door at 23 Bloomsbury. Jane and Edward are bout the same age as Charles' children.
The Fourth of July parade always passed their house on Bloomsbury.
Ann Clapsaddle is a high school friend of Ann.
Abe Scop is a lifelong friend of Charles.

Next Posting: July 14, 1952

Copyright 2012 Stephen A Conner

Ear Troubles, Ann's Birthday, And Forever And A Day

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