The Era -- Day By Day

[LizzieMaine]

Senga is the kind of person who will come to a bad end no matter what she does and no matter how she does it, because she just isn't as smart as she thinks she is. A lot of people in the world today could learn from her example.

Raven is doing exactly the right thing in giving April IV fluids, since dehydration is the most severe symptom of cholera. But the delerium didn't look good. This makes me wonder if we're going to learn soon that Raven is some kind of defrocked medical person on the run trying to redeem herself. That would be an interesting twist.

A gorgeous shot of catcher Al Todd and catcher-manager Gabby Hartnett modeling the Cubs' nifty 1940 duds. Photo appears to be taken at Braves Field -- excuse me, "The Bee-Hive" -- in Boston.

Yeah, those suits would be just the thing for an August afternoon in St. Louis.

 

[Fading Fast]

Senga is the kind of person who will come to a bad end no matter what she does and no matter how she does it, because she just isn't as smart as she thinks she is. A lot of people in the world today could learn from her example.

Raven is doing exactly the right thing in giving April IV fluids, since dehydration is the most severe symptom of cholera. But the delerium didn't look good. This makes me wonder if we're going to learn soon that Raven is some kind of defrocked medical person on the run trying to redeem herself. That would be an interesting twist.

A gorgeous shot of catcher Al Todd and catcher-manager Gabby Hartnett modeling the Cubs' nifty 1940 duds. Photo appears to be taken at Braves Field -- excuse me, "The Bee-Hive" -- in Boston.

View attachment 236616

Yeah, those suits would be just the thing for an August afternoon in St. Louis.

I don't know about those uniforms. You might have killed most other uniforms for me after posting the picture of that perfect Dodgers uniform the other day.


The problem is today's Sengas wouldn't learn anything even if they did read about 1940 Senga.

No comment on Nick the poetry fan?

 

[LizzieMaine]

Nick has intellectual gifts the rest of us can only envy. I imagine that as Axel's empire goes down in flames around him, Nick will stand at center stage reciting "The Boy Stood On The Burning Deck..."

Zipper-front uniforms need to make a comeback. They were a major fad in the '40s, and lingered on as late as the '80s with some clubs, but haven't been seen since.

 

[PrivateEye]

My high schools cafeteria had a vending machine that sold sandwiches just like that (don't remember the brand name).

The only people I remember eating them were kids after gym or sports games when the main cafeteria was closed.

The freshness was highly suspicious.

The fact that they offer a choice between "Ham" and "Fresh Ham" is a bit concerning...

 

[LizzieMaine]

When I took the Greyhound New York to Los Angeles in the early '80s, 90 percent of what I ate for three days was those kinds of sandwiches, sold at all the bus stations. They were edible, and they tided you over to the next stop, but they were not exactly the ultima-thule of the sandwich maker's art.

I think the distinction in ham there is between slices of a ham off the bone -- "fresh ham" -- and boiled-in-the-can ham, the kind where you open the can and it comes out a rectangular blob suspended in aspic. Yum!

You can see from that list, though, just how much people of the Era loved cream cheese. I loved cream cheese growing up, but I hardly ever have it now unless it's smudged between halves of a stale bagel.

 

[Fading Fast]

 

[LizzieMaine]

The French Ninth Army has been crushed, and its commanding officer captured, according to a communique from the German High Command, with Nazi forces knifing sixty miles closer to the English Channel. General Henri Geraud and his entire staff are reported to have been taken prisoner by German mechanized units which fought their way into Amiens, Abbeville, and Arras. French Premier Paul Reynaud calls the breakthru "a disaster," and blames it on "unbelievable faults" on the part of defenders who were "badly officered, badly trained, and thinned out." The Premier went on to state, however, that "if tomorrow someone came to me saying 'a miracle is needed to save France,' I would believe that a miracle would come, for I believe in France."

Meanwhile, German forces advancing on Paris are now reportedly within sight of the Eiffel Tower.

As "the Battle of the Bulge," as it is now being called, rages in Northern France, British military experts state that while the Allies may yet reverse the German momentum, that battle can be lost without losing the war. An authoritative British source states that the British Expeditionary Force is "fighting well on positions assigned to it, and is in good heart."

All Navy establishments were ordered today by Acting Navy Secretary to speed up all shifts, and increase civilian shipbuilding employees by at least 15,000 within three months. Those jobs will be distributed among Navy yards at Brooklyn, Portsmouth, Mare Island, Philadelphia, Boston, Charleston, Norfolk, and Puget Sound. There are currently 66 warships currently under construction or projected for construction, including eight battleships.

News of the Nazi advances in France pushed Wall Street ever lower today, with the stock market plunging another twelve points, with total losses of $10,000,000,000. Stock prices were at their lowest ebb in nearly two years in heavy trading.

"Abe Reles is a liar and he knows it," declared Frank "The Dasher" Abbandando today in Kings County Court, as the defense took over in the trial of Abbandando and fellow accused "Murder For Hire" operative Harry "Happy" Maione for the 1937 slaying of underworld "stool pigeon" George "Whitey" Rudnick. Abbandando claimed under cross-examination by Assistant District Attorney Burton Turkus that Reles concocted the story of his and Maione's involvement in the death of Rudnick "to save himself." Malone also testified, flatly denying any involvement in the Rudnick murder, and also denying any involvement in sixteen other murders, one attempted murder, four rapes, and assorted incidents of extortion, slugging, assaults, and shylocking.

The convicted slayer of German consular secretary Walter Engelberg was sentenced today to ten to twenty years in Sing Sing Prison. Twenty-four-year-old Ernest Walter Kehler, who fought in the boxing ring under the name of Ernie Haas, was convicted on March 11th of first-degree manslaughter for beating Engleberg to death in the bedroom of his Flatbush home last December 6th.

Former police lieutenant Cuthbert J. Behan intends to fight his dismissal from the force by Commissioner Lewis J. Valentine, stating that the Commissioner's ruling is "a case of spite and not right." Behan intends to file a court appeal of his dismissal, noting that he was found not guilty in a court of law of charges that he removed police documents from the Bergen Street station in 1938, and that one man should not have the right to override that decision. Behan says he will consult his lawyer before taking further steps on an appeal.

A convicted bigamist will serve two and a half to five years in prison following his sentencing today in Kings County Court. Thirty-one-year-old Albert Gudstein of Manhattan was convicted in March of marrying 20-year-old Lucy Pellagrino of Williamsburg on January 4th of this year under a false name, while still legally married to another woman. Gudstein's ruse came to light when he used his false name, that of Dr. Robert DiGiorni of Columbia University, on the return address of a letter to Miss Pellagrino's family, only to have that letter routed instead to Columbia -- which sent the letter on to the family with a notation that there was no such person at the college.

Joan Fontaine and Lawrence Olivier open Thursday at Loew's Metropolitan in "Rebecca."

John Barrymore -- conspicuously minus Elaine Barrie -- has been signed to star in the title role in "The Great Profile," a comedy to be produced by Darryl F. Zanuck for Twentieth Century-Fox. The Profile himself closed on Broadway over the weekend following a tumultuous, critically-acclaimed run in "My Dear Children," in which the actor "ad libbed sparklingly," and following his final performance in that show traveled immediately to Hollywood, where shooting on the film is to begin today.

Today is Brooklyn Day at the World's Fair, with the Third Largest Community In America taking its place in the spotlight. Brooklyn residents will attend in force, attracted by the special $1 combination ticket promotion, and a series of Brooklyn-oriented events including tonight's Brooklyn Quiz featuring local celebrities answering questions submitted by local people. At 6 pm, Brooklyn's own "Miss Forsythia," young Barbara Evans of St. Paul's Place, will plant the borough's official flower in front of the New York City building. Brooklyn headquarters for the day will be established in the Hall of Special Activities, formerly the Netherlands Pavilion, and Brooklyn residents will be seated together in a special section for this evening's performance of "The American Pageant."

("HELLO FOLKS!" bellows Joe, as he and Sally step smartly thru the gate. "HELLO JOE!" bellows Joe's foreman from down at the plant, who's also playing hookey from work for the day.)

Hair should be washed once a week, unless you have very dry hair, for best results with the new style of loose, soft curls. Mr. Stephens, head beautician of the P. Richard Salon, 70 Pine Street, offered that advice today to members of the Eagle Home Guild, while also warning against wearing hair in tight buns at the nape of the neck, a practice which can cause hair loss by stressing the roots.

The Dodgers will be cracking down on ticket scalpers in the leadup to the coming Decoration Day doubleheader against the Giants. Team President Larry MacPhail says he has reason to believe large numbers of tickets for the twinbill have been bought up by speculators, and is asking for an increased police presence at Ebbets Field to arrest scalpers in the act. The team will also make 5000 reserved-tickets in the lower and upper left-center-field sections available for advance sale to "real fans only, limit two to a customer." Those tickets will be released tomorrow at the Dodger offices at 215 Montague Street. ("I can't skip off work another day," says Joe. "I can duck off at lunch," says Sally, who tends the dry-goods counter at Weil's Cut-Rate Department Store on Court Street. "Maybe Petey will be there, woikin' in the office 'cause he wants to help out however he can while he's hoit. He's like that y'know." "Just get the tickets," grumbles Joe. "I'm goin' ta bed.")

(And so began radio's long, sad decline.)

The editor of the Brooklyn Tablet, John L. Scanlan -- who is also the assistant publicity director of the Brooklyn Unit of the Christian Front -- writes in to defend the Front from Methodists who criticize it as a Fascist-oriented, un-American organization. Scanlan states that it is correct to state that the Front have no love for democracy, because America itself is not a "democracy", it is a "republic," but he insists the Front is necessary to protect America from "the real storm troop organization," which he identifies as the Abraham Lincoln Brigade which fought against Franco in Spain. He also states that Catholics who oppose Father Coughlin and the Front are actually Communists.

On the other hand, one Hyacinth Ringrose of Manhattan writes in to praise the Methodists who denounced "that mountebank Coughlin" as "splendid followers of the Master who was wholly of the race of Israel."

(A&S Goes To The Races!)

The Dodgers lost their third straight yesterday, falling to the Cubs 6 to 4, and Tommy Holmes says the team is very clearly in a severe slump. Hits are scarce, pitching is sketchy, and now even baserunning has turned inept, with the Flock blowing their chance at a big inning when Pee Wee Reese and Ernie Koy -- the two fastest men on the club -- were cut down trying to stretch hits for extra bases. Fans who blamed third-base coach Chuck Dressen for failing to control Reese didn't realize that Dressen did everything but pull out a pistol to get Pee Wee to stop. The door to Durocher's office was closed to reporters after the game, but the smell of sulphur hung heavy in the air.

Van Mungo was supposed to get the start today to close out the Cubs series, but Durocher has decided that now is not the time to try experiments, and if weather allows the game to be played, Whit Wyatt will take the mound for Brooklyn. Leo is also not happy with Hugh Casey, whose loss yesterday was his third straight. "I don't know what to do with him now," says Lippy.

("Of all people!" growls Sally. "Dim Dam Dallessandro!" "They call him 'Dim Dom,'" corrects Joe. "I know what I said!" spits Sally.)

(In the Bungleverse, all elephants are trolls.)

(And Crusading Asst. DA John Blackston thus begins his Crusade Against FAKE NEWS!)

(Which reminds me, we haven't seen the Face Eating Dog in months. BRING HIM BACK!)

 

[LizzieMaine]

And in the Daily News...

Hannah Williams was a very fine singer-comedienne in the snappy-peppy Broadway vein before her marital adventures, and hopefully she'll go back to the stage. And never, ever take a kid to a concert.

Ohhhh how I loved Breyer's Vanilla. No ice cream ever has come close. And they went and changed it and it's not the same. If you live long enough, everything you love will be sullied.

"Why sure, you smooth devil."

Don't start measuring yourself for a balcony quite yet, Nick.

"Clam Street?" Is that at the corner of Quahog Boulevard?

Pat is just full of ideas these days.

Mama! Good to see you haven't lost your edge.

Ha! Gootch was Skeezix's childhood best friend, and clearly word is out back home.

Ha again! You tell 'er, Emmy! Now slap her sassy face!

It's the fleeting moments of insight that make Harold such a tragic figure.

 

[Fading Fast]

The French Ninth Army has been crushed, and its commanding officer captured, according to a communique from the German High Command, with Nazi forces knifing sixty miles closer to the English Channel. General Henri Geraud and his entire staff are reported to have been taken prisoner by German mechanized units which fought their way into Amiens, Abbeville, and Arras. French Premier Paul Reynaud calls the breakthru "a disaster," and blames it on "unbelievable faults" on the part of defenders who were "badly officered, badly trained, and thinned out." The Premier went on to state, however, that "if tomorrow someone came to me saying 'a miracle is needed to save France,' I would believe that a miracle would come, for I believe in France."

Meanwhile, German forces advancing on Paris are now reportedly within sight of the Eiffel Tower.



As "the Battle of the Bulge," as it is now being called, rages in Northern France, British military experts state that while the Allies may yet reverse the German momentum, that battle can be lost without losing the war. An authoritative British source states that the British Expeditionary Force is "fighting well on positions assigned to it, and is in good heart."

All Navy establishments were ordered today by Acting Navy Secretary to speed up all shifts, and increase civilian shipbuilding employees by at least 15,000 within three months. Those jobs will be distributed among Navy yards at Brooklyn, Portsmouth, Mare Island, Philadelphia, Boston, Charleston, Norfolk, and Puget Sound. There are currently 66 warships currently under construction or projected for construction, including eight battleships....

That map will shortly need a Dunkirk denoted on it. Also, clearly that "Battle of the Bulge" would not be able to hold its name for history.

...The convicted slayer of German consular secretary Walter Engelberg was sentenced today to ten to twenty years in Sing Sing Prison. Twenty-four-year-old Ernest Walter Kehler, who fought in the boxing ring under the name of Ernie Haas, was convicted on March 11th of first-degree manslaughter for beating Engleberg to death in the bedroom of his Flatbush home last December 6th....

Justice might not have been better or fairer, but it was definitely swifter back then.

...Former police lieutenant Cuthbert J. Behan intends to fight his dismissal from the force by Commissioner Lewis J. Valentine, stating that the Commissioner's ruling is "a case of spite and not right." Behan intends to file a court appeal of his dismissal, noting that he was found not guilty in a court of law of charges that he removed police documents from the Bergen Street station in 1938, and that one man should not have the right to override that decision. Behan says he will consult his lawyer before taking further steps on an appeal....

Hey, that's the exact same argument the eight White Sox players, accused of throwing the World Series in 1919, used to denounce their expulsion from baseball by edict of the commissioner despite being found not guilty in a court of law.

...Joan Fontaine and Lawrence Olivier open Thursday at Loew's Metropolitan in "Rebecca."...

A must see for everyone, including Joe and Sally despite whatever reason one of them will have for not wanting to go.

...Today is Brooklyn Day at the World's Fair, with the Third Largest Community In America taking its place in the spotlight. Brooklyn residents will attend in force, attracted by the special $1 combination ticket promotion, and a series of Brooklyn-oriented events including tonight's Brooklyn Quiz featuring local celebrities answering questions submitted by local people. At 6 pm, Brooklyn's own "Miss Forsythia," young Barbara Evans of St. Paul's Place, will plant the borough's official flower in front of the New York City building. Brooklyn headquarters for the day will be established in the Hall of Special Activities, formerly the Netherlands Pavilion, and Brooklyn residents will be seated together in a special section for this evening's performance of "The American Pageant."

("HELLO FOLKS!" bellows Joe, as he and Sally step smartly thru the gate. "HELLO JOE!" bellows Joe's foreman from down at the plant, who's also playing hookey from work for the day.)...

I'm looking forward to Sally and Joe's post-Fair review conversation. Then, on Thursday, it's off to the Metropolitan for those two to see "Rebecca."

...The Dodgers will be cracking down on ticket scalpers in the leadup to the coming Decoration Day doubleheader against the Giants. Team President Larry MacPhail says he has reason to believe large numbers of tickets for the twinbill have been bought up by speculators, and is asking for an increased police presence at Ebbets Field to arrest scalpers in the act. The team will also make 5000 reserved-tickets in the lower and upper left-center-field sections available for advance sale to "real fans only, limit two to a customer." Those tickets will be released tomorrow at the Dodger offices at 215 Montague Street. ("I can't skip off work another day," says Joe. "I can duck off at lunch," says Sally, who tends the dry-goods counter at Weil's Cut-Rate Department Store on Court Street. "Maybe Petey will be there, woikin' in the office 'cause he wants to help out however he can while he's hoit. He's like that y'know." "Just get the tickets," grumbles Joe. "I'm goin' ta bed.")...

My guess, that counter would fall apart without her. I'm sorry if you've told us before, but what factory does Joe work in?

...On the other hand, one Hyacinth Ringrose of Manhattan writes in to praise the Methodists who denounced "that mountebank Coughlin" as "splendid followers of the Master who was wholly of the race of Israel."...

I can't untangle this. I have a feeling that both the Catholics and the Jews are being denounced, but she lost me.

...Fans who blamed third-base coach Chuck Dressen for failing to control Reese didn't realize that Dressen did everything but pull out a pistol to get Pee Wee to stop......

To this day, this still happens and, while it drives the coaches nuts, it's fun as heck as a fan to see: player head down, going full speed; coach with both arms as straight up as they can be almost forcing his shoulders to separate from his torso.

... (In the Bungleverse, all elephants are trolls.)...

Get off the dope or whatever you're on Tuthill and wrap this storyline up.

... (And Crusading Asst. DA John Blackston thus begins his Crusade Against FAKE NEWS!)...

In the future, Leona should take all of John's meetings.

...
Ohhhh how I loved Breyer's Vanilla. No ice cream ever has come close. And they went and changed it and it's not the same. If you live long enough, everything you love will be sullied.



"Why sure, you smooth devil."....

"Specks of these real vanilla beans," "finest Maracaibo chocolate" early green shoots of Brooklyn's recent foodie culture explosion.

That said, I'm in for both. My sweets-loving grandmother often had Breyer's Vanilla in her freezer, which we'd have as a pre-going-to-bed snack when I stayed over.

... Don't start measuring yourself for a balcony quite yet, Nick.....

One of my favorite WWII memes is mobsters as patriots: sure, they'll break the law, but attack the US and they'll fight against the invaders with all good patriots. Nick is foreshadowing that meme right now.

...
"Clam Street?" Is that at the corner of Quahog Boulevard?....

I've watched way too many film noir movies to accept short-man's plan - throwing an exploding bottle at an armored car is not a plan. When real (in movies ), months go into these plans with experts in different aspects hired in and, still, the plan fails. This is just nuts.

... Mama! Good to see you haven't lost your edge....

Owing to Mama's recursive craziness, tomorrow she'll be apologizing and throwing money and luxury at her friend not to rat her out to her society "friends."

... It's the fleeting moments of insight that make Harold such a tragic figure.

One more time - and this time, with passion: Leave, leave now, cheapest $200+ you'll ever lose.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Joe is a long-suffering packer on the line at the Crown Pickle Works on Boerum Street, alla way up there in Williamsboig. Four years he's been woikin there, four years every day ridin' th' trolley. Alla way ta Williamsboig. Fa thoity-eight bucks a week, a pocket fulla transfers an' a free jar o' pickles every Sattaday. I ask ya. They ain't even that good a pickle. The stories he could tell ya. Stuff floatin' in th' brine vats. One time this guy Drippy Pinkus woiks downneah, a skimmah -- he skims tha' skum offa th' brine -- Drippy finds a guy's finga floatin' inna vat. A finga. What happened to tha rest of him? I ask ya.

 

[belfastboy]

Senga is the kind of person who will come to a bad end no matter what she does and no matter how she does it, because she just isn't as smart as she thinks she is. A lot of people in the world today could learn from her example.

Raven is doing exactly the right thing in giving April IV fluids, since dehydration is the most severe symptom of cholera. But the delerium didn't look good. This makes me wonder if we're going to learn soon that Raven is some kind of defrocked medical person on the run trying to redeem herself. That would be an interesting twist.

A gorgeous shot of catcher Al Todd and catcher-manager Gabby Hartnett modeling the Cubs' nifty 1940 duds. Photo appears to be taken at Braves Field -- excuse me, "The Bee-Hive" -- in Boston.

View attachment 236616

Yeah, those suits would be just the thing for an August afternoon in St. Louis.

I remember wearing uniforms like that. I played for a crusty old ex pro player...not sure why he coached because it seemed pretty evident he hated kids....well maybe it was just me. I was the rookie and back up catcher and one July afternoon I came off the field soaked in sweat. I stripped the gear off, unbuttoned my jersey and flopped on the bench. As he walked by he growled at me....."button up your jersey, you could at least look like a ballplayer".....and I thought I was having a pretty good game that day.

 

[LizzieMaine]

A new wave of optimism swept over France today as reports reached Paris that French forces have retaken Arras, and have swept an advance German force out of Abbeville, just twelve miles from the English Channel. The French Ministry of Information also announced that the bridges across the Somme have been blown up, and a strong stance taken by French troops to prevent a southern advance by the Germans. "I am full of confidence," declared General Maxime Weygand, Allied commander-in-chief, "if each man does his duty with a fierce energy."

The government of Great Britain has been given dictatorial authority over all industry and commerce in that nation, imposing a 100 percent tax on excess profits, along with complete nationalization of the banking system, and full authority to draft civilian labor into work essential to national defense. The measures approved by Parliament grant the Crown full authority over "all persons and all property in the British Isles" for "full service and direction of the Government." That authority will remain in force for the duration of the war.

Harry "Happy" Maione's murder defense today collapsed like a house of cards after his key defense witness repudiated his testimony and admitted to committing perjury. Witness Carmine Scaffio, who earlier in the week had testified to support the defense argument that Maione and co-defendant Frank "The Dasher" Abbandando were the victims of an elaborate frameup in the death of underworld informant George "Whitey Rudnick", but today Scaffio returned to the stand to claim that everything he said on Monday was a lie, and that he had been compelled to lie by "Happy's brother," Carl Maione. Scaffio was arrested following his testimony on a perjury charge, and will be questioned further by District Attorney William O'Dwyer.

"Brooklyn Day" at the World's Fair was a "festival of glamour," as Hollywood star Madeline Carroll and "Forsythia Queen" Barbara Evans vied for the attention of spectators as Brooklynites flooded the grounds for a day-long celebration of the borough. Borough President John Cashmore was thoroughly outclassed as more than a thousand spectators paid little heed to his speech, so busy were they looking over the celebrities assembled for the "Brooklyn Quiz," who raised a total of $160 for Brooklyn charities by correctly answering a total of sixteen questions from among those submitted by residents. Conspicuous by his absence was Dodger president Larry MacPhail, who had agreed to appear -- but did not.

("That fathead," snorts Sally. "He hoid I was gonna be there, an' he was afraid ta show his face." "I wisht he'd hadda been there," adds Joe. "I was all ready to yell at him. GET MEDWICK! I was gonna yell. I was gonna stan' right up an' yell it. What a bum." "Oh well," Sally continues. "My dogs are killin' me. I shoudla wore sneakers." "I still wanna get my money back," grumbles Joe. "That Twenny Thousan' Legs Unna th' Sea was a phony. There wasn' no more'n ten legs inna whole thing." "When did you go in that?" snaps Sally. "I though you said you wasn' goin' anywhere near them kinda shows this year." "I got pushed in," Joe protests. "Alla people inna crowd, they was shovin' an' all, an' I couldn' get outa th' way. It was terrible. You was off gettin' a ice cream or somethin', an' I was just stannin' there mindin' my own business when these three big guys come up an start pushin', an' before ya know it I'm inside. I'm jus' glad I got out in one piece. Them guys was rough. Say, I oughta call up O'Dwyer about them guys. He might wanna know 'bout that kinda stuff." "I bet he already does," growls Sally.)

Seven thousand workers have already applied for jobs at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, following an announcement that up to 15,000 workers will be added to the payroll under the expanded National Defense plan announced this week. The Yard presently employs 11,500 persons, on a single eight-hour shift. With the expansion of the payroll it is anticipated that a second eight-hour shift will be added.

The Dodger Knot-Hole Club program will continue, according to club president George C. Wildermuth, who reassures the 5,000 participating members that they will continue to see free baseball at Ebbets Field on selected dates thru the summer. The future of the promotion was thrown into doubt following a public spat between team president Larry MacPhail and Dr. Abraham Lefkowitz, principal of Samuel Tilden High School, over the participation of girls in the program, a public disagreement that led MacPhail to threaten to terminate the entire club. Wildermuth says MacPhail simply "saw red" when confronted by Dr. Lefkowitz, and that given how upset he has been lately over the team's recent poor performance on the field, his reaction was understandable. Wildermuth states that from here on, it will be made clear that girls are not eligible for the club, and tickets will not be issued to them by participating schools. (Sally fumes. "Yeah, he knew I was gonna be there, an' he was hidin' out, the louse.") Wildermuth also states that boys participating in the program will be required to "practice clean speech, sports, and habits, and to obey all rules of the club and the Brooklyn baseball team."

(And also, wear sneakers.)

"Mrs. L" writes to Helen Worth furious over an incident in which her young daughter was slapped by a neighbor for misbehaving. The incident has led to extensive neighborhood gossip, with the neighbor spreading the story all over and people are taking sides over it. What can be done? Helen comes down firmly on Mrs. L's side, declaring that NO ONE has a right to touch a child except members of that child's own family. "To strike a three year old girl is not neighborly," she storms, "it is OUTRAGEOUS! Consider yourself fortunate that you have now learned this neighbor's measure, and from this point you can write her off your books. She sounds like a total loss to me!"

(Well, let's wait and hear her side of the story at least. I look forward to her letter.)

A "well mannered man" helped out with taking tickets at a benefit concert by the Ash Choral Society at St. Paul's Parish House last night, and then helped himself to a large share of the proceeds. Police say the man left the hall with $40 in bills from the cash box, leaving behind $26 in coins. Organizers of the benefit, which was intended to raise funds for the American Bureau for Medical Relief in China, say they were impressed with the man's courtesy and assumed he was there in some official capacity.

(#metoo)

Rookie outfielder Charley Gilbert paced the Brooklyn attack yesterday as the Dodgers got back on the winning track with a 4-3 win over the Cubs. Gilbert scored two of those runs himself, and knocked in a third, and manager Leo Durocher says the youngster is in the lineup to stay. But Lippy is less satisfied with his pitching staff, which continues to yield home runs to a distressing degree. Yesterday, Whit Wyatt dished up a fat one to Cub Jimmy Gleeson, who promptly launched it into Bedford Avenue. Such scenes are being repeated far too often for Leo's liking, and he's particular sore at Wyatt, who persists in throwing a "dinky slow curve" that batters can't wait to send flying. Durocher met with his catching staff yesterday and warned them not to call for that pitch under any circumstances when Wyatt is on the mound.

Dolph Camilli knocked in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth, swinging a bat much lighter than his usual model, and thinks he might stick with that one for a while. Van Mungo gave up six hits but no runs in a five-inning relief stint, but there's no word yet on when he'll get his promised start.

Today the Pittsburgh Pirates move into Ebbets Field, with Fat Freddie Fitzsimmons expected to get the start for Brooklyn, his third outing of the year.

Charlie Chaplin's long awaited satire on dictators, still known only as "Production No. 6," is reportedly ready for release, but there is no word from United Artists on when that will happen, or what the picture will be called when it finally appears. Chaplin himself is said to be carefully observing the European situation before making a decision on when to release the film, and there is talk that, depending on the course of the war, he may reshoot the ending or possibly even shelve the entire production. Chaplin has already spent $1,500,000 on the picture, but he is said to be willing to take the loss if circumstances make it inadvisable to release the film.

Now showing at the Patio, it's Erroll Flynn and Miriam Hopkins in "Virigina City," paired with Barbara Read and Alan Mobray in "Curtain Call."

It is unlikely that the Securities and Exchange Commission will close the stock market to halt plummeting prices. While officials have been preparing for such an emergency since the Germans seized Czechoslovakia in early 1939, the SEC is not expected to act unless a worsening war situtation continues to send prices downward.

Gracie Allen's campaign for President is making headway out west, where the comedienne took the rostrum at the convention of her Surprise Party, held in Omaha, Nebraska last week, where local supporters presented her with a kangaroo -- her party's insignia -- made of coal. Miss Allen hints that she may have something to say tonight that will influence the campaign of Republican Thomas E. Dewey when she broadcasts with George Burns tonight at 7:30 on WABC.

(The storyline may have overstayed its welcome, but I dearly love today's dialogue. "WHAT CRUST!" "GIVE A HAND WITH SUCH BUMS!")

(Poor Leona. That's how I react every election.)

(Maybe you'd have better luck if you put the slumping body down, and pulled up your pant leg.)

 

[LizzieMaine]

And in the Daily News...

"Maione stuck to his alibi like a leech." And I had no idea there was any such thing as a "millionaire steeplechase jockey."

Well, let's think. Tracy will go into intelligence -- yeah, I know. Smilin' Jack will be shot down on his first mission and spend the war in a POW camp. Pat will become a commando who will permanently damage his smile by going around with a knife clutched between his teeth. Nick will be commissioned as a colonel, will be promoted to general, and be lauded for slapping George S. Patton in the face. Moon will be a tough sergeant in the ETO and will earn the Bronze Star even as all the WACs warn each other to steer clear of him. Andy will be a captain in Public Relations in charge of a entire company of mimeograph operators, and Skeezix, bless him, will be a common grunt who loses his pay every month in crap games. But what about Harold Teen? Four years on KP.

This "Cesar Romero guy" plot might be one thread too many. I keep forgetting about it.

Awwww, don't worry, kid. Maybe you'll run into Mazie Goober. She'll straighten you out.

As we've so often seen before, Pat really is just an actor at heart.

SIC 'EM BOY! GOOD DOG!

At this point, Mr. King needs to start putting a little box at the end of each strip showing the daily decline in Skeezix's funds.

On the other hand, a hitch in the Army might do you good. Enlist now, while you can.

The image of Uncle Willie sleeping in the altogether is one I did not need.

 

[Fading Fast]

Harry "Happy" Maione's murder defense today collapsed like a house of cards after his key defense witness repudiated his testimony and admitted to committing perjury. Witness Carmine Scaffio, who earlier in the week had testified to support the defense argument that Maione and co-defendant Frank "The Dasher" Abbandando were the victims of an elaborate frameup in the death of underworld informant George "Whitey Rudnick", but today Scaffio returned to the stand to claim that everything he said on Monday was a lie, and that he had been compelled to lie by "Happy's brother," Carl Maione. Scaffio was arrested following his testimony on a perjury charge, and will be questioned further by District Attorney William O'Dwyer....[/QUOTE]

Holy Cow! That's TV-courtroom drama worthy.

..."Brooklyn Day" at the World's Fair was a "festival of glamour," as Hollywood star Madeline Carroll and "Forsythia Queen" Barbara Evans vied for the attention of spectators as Brooklynites flooded the grounds for a day-long celebration of the borough. Borough President John Cashmore was thoroughly outclassed as more than a thousand spectators paid little heed to his speech, so busy were they looking over the celebrities assembled for the "Brooklyn Quiz," who raised a total of $160 for Brooklyn charities by correctly answering a total of sixteen questions from among those submitted by residents. Conspicuous by his absence was Dodger president Larry MacPhail, who had agreed to appear -- but did not....

Heck, I'd go just to see Madeline Carroll; the rest of the Fair would be a bonus.

...("That fathead," snorts Sally. "He hoid I was gonna be there, an' he was afraid ta show his face." "I wisht he'd hadda been there," adds Joe. "I was all ready to yell at him. GET MEDWICK! I was gonna yell. I was gonna stan' right up an' yell it. What a bum." "Oh well," Sally continues. "My dogs are killin' me. I shoudla wore sneakers." "I still wanna get my money back," grumbles Joe. "That Twenny Thousan' Legs Unna th' Sea was a phony. There wasn' no more'n ten legs inna whole thing." "When did you go in that?" snaps Sally. "I though you said you wasn' goin' anywhere near them kinda shows this year." "I got pushed in," Joe protests. "Alla people inna crowd, they was shovin' an' all, an' I couldn' get outa th' way. It was terrible. You was off gettin' a ice cream or somethin', an' I was just stannin' there mindin' my own business when these three big guys come up an start pushin', an' before ya know it I'm inside. I'm jus' glad I got out in one piece. Them guys was rough. Say, I oughta call up O'Dwyer about them guys. He might wanna know 'bout that kinda stuff." "I bet he already does," growls Sally.)...

And Joe, know when to stop - you had a weak story to start with and you tried way too hard to sell it. Sally saw through you the whole time.

...The Dodger Knot-Hole Club program will continue, according to club president George C. Wildermuth, who reassures the 5,000 participating members that they will continue to see free baseball at Ebbets Field on selected dates thru the summer. The future of the promotion was thrown into doubt following a public spat between team president Larry MacPhail and Dr. Abraham Lefkowitz, principal of Samuel Tilden High School, over the participation of girls in the program, a public disagreement that led MacPhail to threaten to terminate the entire club. Wildermuth says MacPhail simply "saw red" when confronted by Dr. Lefkowitz, and that given how upset he has been lately over the team's recent poor performance on the field, his reaction was understandable. Wildermuth states that from here on, it will be made clear that girls are not eligible for the club, and tickets will not be issued to them by participating schools. (Sally fumes. "Yeah, he knew I was gonna be there, an' he was hidin' out, the louse.") Wildermuth also states that boys participating in the program will be required to "practice clean speech, sports, and habits, and to obey all rules of the club and the Brooklyn baseball team."...

The lesson here hasn't changed all these years: no good deed goes unpunished in NYC. Quite often, people or businesses trying to do something free and fun or charitable for the people or the City end up getting mowed down by the City's bureaucracy or some aggrieved group that wasn't included. Sometime there's some merit to the complaints, but often, it's just no good deed going unpunished.

... Durocher met with his catching staff yesterday and warned them not to call for that pitch under any circumstances when Wyatt is on the mound....

Why announce that publicly unless it's not true; otherwise, you're giving the batters an advantage against one of your pitchers? If it's not true - good meta strategy by Durocher.

... (Maybe you'd have better luck if you put the slumping body down, and pulled up your pant leg.)

I hear ya, but doubt Dunn has Ms. Colbert's gams.

...[ "Maione stuck to his alibi like a leech." And I had no idea there was any such thing as a "millionaire steeplechase jockey."....

"Titian-haired Jewish inamorata" Possibly, the only time in history those four words appeared in that exact order.

... View attachment 236982
Well, let's think. Tracy will go into intelligence -- yeah, I know. Smilin' Jack will be shot down on his first mission and spend the war in a POW camp. Pat will become a commando who will permanently damage his smile by going around with a knife clutched between his teeth. Nick will be commissioned as a colonel, will be promoted to general, and be lauded for slapping George S. Patton in the face. Moon will be a tough sergeant in the ETO and will earn the Bronze Star even as all the WACs warn each other to steer clear of him. Andy will be a captain in Public Relations in charge of a entire company of mimeograph operators, and Skeezix, bless him, will be a common grunt who loses his pay every month in crap games. But what about Harold Teen? Four years on KP.....

Well done Lizzie.

... As we've so often seen before, Pat really is just an actor at heart.....

"...or they'll wire the place for sound." Does he mean inspect it with a fine-tooth comb? Was that a common idiom?

... At this point, Mr. King needs to start putting a little box at the end of each strip showing the daily decline in Skeezix's funds....

Also, at some point, you go from being a good guy to a sucker. Yes, it's nice that his instincts are kind, but like it our not, our world chews up people who don't think, judge and learn from past mistakes. Hence, the expression a fool and his money.... It's all part of adulting.

... On the other hand, a hitch in the Army might do you good. Enlist now, while you can.....

Do anything, but don't marry this woman. I've already conceded to myself that he and Skeezix will lose all their money, but I'm still hoping this idiot won't marry Senga.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I hope for Mr. Scaffio's sake that he remains in protective custody for a very long time, because otherwise, the nickel hasn't been minted that his life is worth.

These last few days have been interesting insights into Mr. MacPhail's personality. Red Barber once said "there is a thin line between genius and insanity, and Larry MacPhail lived his whole life upon it," or something to that effect, and you get a sense of the "insane" side here -- going into a high dudgeon over this Knot Hole thing, blowing off a golden opportunity for positive PR at the Fair. Ball clubs didn't have the kind of elaborate media-handling/PR operations in 1940 they have today, they just had one overworked "press relations" person, and I imagine yesterday was not a good day for the person who fills that office on Montague Street. Finley, Steinbrenner, all those guys were amateurs compared to Laughing Larry.

I'm really surprised they doubled down on the "No Girls" thing with the Knot Holers -- but I suspect the issue isn't over.

That's an odd usage of that phrase by Pat -- I've always interpreted it as referring to a sudden and unexpected deployment of intrusive technology in a place. Unless he's saying when the Invaders take over the ship they would install their own signalling equipment on it and use it to alert other patrols further downriver?

Harold has always been kind of a chump, but he was never this much of a chump back home. Train to Covina pulls out in ten minutes, kid. BE ON IT.

 

[LizzieMaine]

German forces have reached the vital French English Channel port of Boulonge, and heavy fighting in and around that city is now going on. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, in revealing the war situation to the House of Commons, stated that these developments carry "implications of a serious character," although it is yet too early to tell how the fighting along the French channel coast will turn out. Boulogne is only thirty miles from the British coast, and is but eighteen miles from Calais, the nearest French channel port to England at just 22 miles from Dover. It is said that the loss of Boulogne would be "a terrific loss to the Allies," and would in turn make Calais untenable, thus endangering any attempt to evacuate the Allied army now in Northern France.

Meanwhile, Stuka dive bombers and darting German speedboats opened fire today on Channel communications stations at Dover, but British communiques deny that port installations there were bombed.

Leading British Fascists were arrested today in London, as the Churchill Government mounts a crackdown on Fifth Columnists in Britain. A raid on the headquarters of the British Union of Fascists in London took Sir Oswald Moseley and "nine or ten others" into custody, and a police guard has been placed on the offices of the organization. At the same time, Conservative M. P. Captain Archibald H. Ramsey was arrested by direct order of the Home Secretary, and is being held at Brixton Prison. Capt. Ramsey, a veteran of the World War and a member of a prominent military family, is widely known for his outspoken anti-Semitic views. As the arrests were taking place, Parliament today enacted a law setting out the death penalty for treachery.

French shock troops under the command of Gen. Maxime Weygand slashed today at the flanks of the German offensive thru Flanders, regained a foothold in the town of Cambrai, and battled to break off the mechanized Nazi spearhead stabbing at Channel ports. The "Battle of Flanders" was described in communiques as a "wild and violent conflict," in which lines on both sides were repeatedly pierced by plunging tank and armored car assaults.

President Roosevelt will address the nation by radio Sunday night, in a Fireside Chat on his proposed $1.5 billion defense program. That package today received approval in the full Senate, hastening it to final enactment. The broadcast will be heard over the NBC, CBS, and Mutual networks at 10:30pm Brooklyn time.

An outburst by defendant Harry "Happy" Maione at Assistant District Attorney Burton Turkus interrupted Turkus's demand for the death penalty for Maione and co-defendant Frank "The Dasher" Abbandando today in Kings County Court. "So Reles told you everything? So Reles told you everything?" shouted Maione, interrupting Turkus's closing arguments and requiring bailiffs to quell the disturbance. Maione's outburst followed a judicial reprimand of defense attorney Alfred Rosner for continuously interrupting Turkus's statement with irrelevant objections. Judge Franklin Taylor ordered a bailiff to stand over Rosner and physically restrain him from rising up.

(A 1940 model, yet. What's the real story here, Davega? Overstock? Fire sale? Factory rehab?)

Local Christian Front leader John F. Cassidy testified in his own defense today in the continuing seditious-conspiracy trial of fourteen Front members in Brooklyn Federal Court. Cassidy stated on the witness stand that if a conspiracy existed, it was led by defendant William Gerald Bishop, but he also stated that he saw no evidence of any such conspiracy within the organization. Cassidy testified that Bishop approached him at a Front meeting last summer, identifying himself as "a US Army reserve captain on special assignment from Washington to organize civilian groups to combat Communism," and that Bishop volunteered to train the Front's rifle club in military gun-handling techniques.

Mayor LaGuardia intends to submit to the Federal Communications Commission evidence within the next day or so in support of his allegation that the Columbia Broadcasting System and the Citizens Budget Commission have formed a conspiracy to force an end to the operation of municipal radio station WNYC. The Mayor insists that Columbia is attempting to "hide the facts" in connection with the matter, and that he will prove it with evidence in support of his claim that CBS is planning to seize control of WNYC's 810 kilocycle channel for commercial purposes. Columbia, which operates station WABC at 860 kilocycles, denies the charge and states that it has no interest, has never had any interest, and will never have any interest in the 810 kc channel.

(You can tell it's a prestige picture because there's no second feature.)

("C'mon!" enthuses Joe. "Let's go!" "Not me," says Sally. "You know what I think about that place! That clown they got, with the electric cane! That thing that blows ya clothes up! Not me, mister. You go. You go an' let th' clown poke you a few times, see how you like it!")

(Ah, for the days of the little red schoolhouse....)

Fat Freddie Fitzsimmons may be 38 years old, Fat Freddie Fitzsimmons may have no neck -- but none of that mattered yesterday, as Fitz knuckleballed the Dodgers back into a tie for first place with the Reds by pitching the Flock to a 3-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Freddie baffled the Bucs with his fluttering butterfly pitch after allowing but a single run in the first inning, and held the Pittsburghs scoreless for the rest of the game. The Dodgers immediately neutralized that single run in their half of the first with some adept baserunning by Cookie Lavagetto, who stole second and then scored on a base hit by Dolph Camilli, and moved out in front in the fifth on a two-run single by Ernie Koy.

Dixie Walker was out of the lineup yesterday for good reason -- his four-month-old daughter Mary Ann is critically ill with pneumonia at Nassau County Hospital, and he spent the day at her bedside.

Today Luke Hamlin starts for Brooklyn against Joe Bowman for the Pirates.

Another five thousand special reserved-seat tickets for the Decoration Day doubleheader against the Giants went on sale today at the Dodger ticket office on Montague Street, and are already sold out. After a previous offering of seats in the regular reserved and box-seat sections were snapped up immediately, team president Larry MacPhail authorized release of an additional block of tickets for advance sale. These seats, in the regular grandstand section, were sold as reserved, but for the regular grandstand price of $1.10. The special sales are being made by the club in a deliberate effort to crash the market for ticket speculation.

Tomorrow night marks an historic first up at the Polo Grounds, as the Giants inaugurate night baseball there against the Boston Bees. More than 40,000 tickets have been sold for the contest, and Mayor LaGuardia will be on hand to throw out the first ball. The Dodgers have had night ball at Ebbets Field since 1938.

(And when Uncle Zip shows up he'll say "Elephant? What elephant? I never owned any elephant. What's the matter with you two idiots?")

(Dennie's been studying the "spoils system" in civics class, and he knows what it's all about.)

(YES YOU WILL DAN YOU WILL HAVE TO STOP THAT!)

 

[LizzieMaine]

And in the Daily News....

With everything that's going on lately I keep forgetting this is also an election year.

I've wondered where Childs has been lately, and now I know -- gearing up for a price war. Watch out, H&H -- no more whimsical cartoons! This is HARD SELL!

You just know Mr. Jemail has been holding onto this question for years against the day when he finally runs into Durante on the street.

And while Nick is distracted, Cesar Romero makes his move. Or is he Mischa Auer today? It's hard to tell.

Aw, shut yer hole, Gooseface. He's better lookin' than you are. And odds that Mr. Heve Hoe picks up a hitch-hiking Prince Jefferson Smith and somehow delivers him back to Baby are now being taken.

What acting! If Pat is the new Barrymore, does that mean April is Elaine Barrie?

"Awwwwwww!" says Tracy. "Whooooooza good dog?"

Straw hat before Decoration Day? How gauche.

Moochby and Senga really need to hook up. Unless he's already running a tab with her too.

There aren't too many six-year-olds who can pull off the derby-and-sleeveless-undershirt look, but by golly Kayo can do it.

 

[Fading Fast]

German forces have reached the vital French English Channel port of Boulonge, and heavy fighting in and around that city is now going on. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, in revealing the war situation to the House of Commons, stated that these developments carry "implications of a serious character," although it is yet too early to tell how the fighting along the French channel coast will turn out. Boulogne is only thirty miles from the British coast, and is but eighteen miles from Calais, the nearest French channel port to England at just 22 miles from Dover. It is said that the loss of Boulogne would be "a terrific loss to the Allies," and would in turn make Calais untenable, thus endangering any attempt to evacuate the Allied army now in Northern France....

"French English Channel port of Boulonge"

What does it mean calling it a "French English" Channel port? Are they just saying that's where the ships go to and from? If so, then this line in the story, "Boulogne is only thirty miles from the British coast, and is but eighteen miles from Calais, the nearest French channel port to England at just 22 miles from Dover" doesn't quite make sense.

...An outburst by defendant Harry "Happy" Maione at Assistant District Attorney Burton Turkus interrupted Turkus's demand for the death penalty for Maione and co-defendant Frank "The Dasher" Abbandando today in Kings County Court. "So Reles told you everything? So Reles told you everything?" shouted Maione, interrupting Turkus's closing arguments and requiring bailiffs to quell the disturbance. Maione's outburst followed a judicial reprimand of defense attorney Alfred Rosner for continuously interrupting Turkus's statement with irrelevant objections. Judge Franklin Taylor ordered a bailiff to stand over Rosner and physically restrain him from rising up....

For the second day in a row, this court scene could have come right out of a TV-courtroom drama. Also, that bailiff might need to keep an eye on Maione as well.

...
(A 1940 model, yet. What's the real story here, Davega? Overstock? Fire sale? Factory rehab?)...

If you define a "1940 model" to be anywhere from 1938-40, then yes, it's a "1940" model. Also, what is an "Automatic Reset Defroster?"

I rented several apartment in the '80s/'90s that had refrigerators from the '50s and '60s and they all needed regular defrosting.

...Mayor LaGuardia intends to submit to the Federal Communications Commission evidence within the next day or so in support of his allegation that the Columbia Broadcasting System and the Citizens Budget Commission have formed a conspiracy to force an end to the operation of municipal radio station WNYC. The Mayor insists that Columbia is attempting to "hide the facts" in connection with the matter, and that he will prove it with evidence in support of his claim that CBS is planning to seize control of WNYC's 810 kilocycle channel for commercial purposes. Columbia, which operates station WABC at 860 kilocycles, denies the charge and states that it has no interest, has never had any interest, and will never have any interest in the 810 kc channel....

This should be interesting. I love it when the two sides are diametrically opposed - no squishy grey area between these two yet.

...
(You can tell it's a prestige picture because there's no second feature.)...

Joan Fontaine had a pretty long career, but IMO, she made only three or four movies that really matter (and two in a row) - this is one of the ones that matter. Joe, Sally, I don't want to hear any excuses.

...Dixie Walker was out of the lineup yesterday for good reason -- his four-month-old daughter Mary Ann is critically ill with pneumonia at Nassau County Hospital, and he spent the day at her bedside....

Will MacPhail dock his pay?

... (And when Uncle Zip shows up he'll say "Elephant? What elephant? I never owned any elephant. What's the matter with you two idiots?")...

Why not - it would serve those idiots right. Also, even though I've all but given up on this storyline, I will note that Tootsie is still out there somewhere probably happy to be away from Mutt and Jeff.

... (YES YOU WILL DAN YOU WILL HAVE TO STOP THAT!)

Marsh must have a hectic household as his focus and quality waxes and wanes.

...

With everything that's going on lately I keep forgetting this is also an election year.....

Even caught, I would have thought Scaffo would have stuck by his lie for his life's sake.

"The semi-colon boys," good one Fiorello.

Re "The Neighbors:" a pre-social media version of painting a picture that's better than the reality of your life.

... View attachment 237155 I've wondered where Childs has been lately, and now I know -- gearing up for a price war. Watch out, H&H -- no more whimsical cartoons! This is HARD SELL!....

That is a big shift in strategy. I'm guessing the whimsical cartoons and over-described meals weren't working.

...
You just know Mr. Jemail has been holding onto this question for years against the day when he finally runs into Durante on the street....

No kidding.

Also, we see why, decades forward, as the price of plastic surgery fell, nose jobs became the most common procedure requested until hair plugs overtook it.

... Aw, shut yer hole, Gooseface. He's better lookin' than you are. And odds that Mr. Heve Hoe picks up a hitch-hiking Prince Jefferson Smith and somehow delivers him back to Baby are now being taken.....

Or in a cross-over, he stops to save Dan Dunn at the last second from the approaching Black Hoods.

Also, "Heve Hoe -" really!?

...
What acting! If Pat is the new Barrymore, does that mean April is Elaine Barrie?....

April's too nice, playing the role of Elaine will be Miss Raven Sherman. I remember awhile back that you cast T&TPs. Yesterday, I saw Alan Hale in something - he'd make a heck of a Blaze, no?

... Straw hat before Decoration Day? How gauche.....

If they can wait till the '50s to cast, Barbara Nichols would make a perfect Senga - kinda provocative in a cheap way and completely unaware of the immorality of her own avarice.

... View attachment 237166 Moochby and Senga really need to hook up. Unless he's already running a tab with her too.....

If you can wait until '41, that basically happens when Charles Boyer and Paulette Goddard team up in "Hold Back the Dawn."

Boyer and Goddard as Moochby and Senga in "Hold Back the Dawn." To grifters hook up to cheat others, but of course, try to cheat each other as well.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I think what they're saying with Boulogne is that it's a port that, once taken, would provide a clear route to a port that's even closer to the English coast. A difference of a few miles, but the Germans were punctilious about that sort of thing.

An Automatic Reset Defroster is a gimmicked switch that automatically turns the refrigerator back on once it's done defrosting. Just set the thermostat knob to the DEFROST position, let the frost melt into the meat tray or whatever, and walk away. When the frost is all melted, the switch will turn the refrigerator back to its normal operating position. I've never had one of these units, but I assume the switch is some kind of simple thermal thing that senses the change in temperature and toggles back to on when the temperature has risen enough to indicate the frost is gone. It's not automatic defrost, but it's a stem in the right direction.

MacPhail probably would dock him, the louse, but he won't be able to get away with that for much longer -- by next year, Walker will be "the People's Cherce," the most popular player on the club, and he'll know it and stick Larry right to the wall when it comes contract time.

Alan Hale is the best of all possible Blazes. If Bette Davis would be willing to put on weight she'd make a formidable Cheery, who I hope we hear from again once the cholera story wraps up.

This is the first I've heard of any battle between CBS and WNYC, and I can't figure out why CBS, with a 50,000 watt signal at 860 would have any interest at all in a pokey little daytime-only 1000 watt channel at 810. I think I saw a while back that WNYC is trying to get authorized for nighttime operation, and maybe that'll interfere with some CBS station out of town -- that's the only angle I could think of that would make sense. We shall see.

 

[LizzieMaine]

German sources assert today that Nazi forces have entered Calais, and that strong mechanized forces are just outside the city. The reports from "responsible German military quarters" follow earlier reports that German armored divisions today crashed thru Scheldt River fortifications into Tournai and Ghelt, Belgium, and have engulfed the French town of St. Omer on their path to Calais, channel port just twenty-two miles from the chalk cliffs of Dover. The German drive into Calais gives shape to the evident Nazi aim of staging a full assault on England.

German troops also took full control of the French port of Boulogne, within shelling distance of the Dover coast, tightening their ring around the Allied armies in Northern France. British military sources today acknowledged the "superior German force" has pushed out smaller British detatchments in the city, and those sources also state that the "situation is grave." Not since the time of Napoleon has the peril of an invasion from over the waters been brought so close to England.

Lacking sufficient equipment to train effectively for modern warfare, the men of the 14th Infantry Division of the New York National Guard have been forced to improvise, building a simulated trench mortar out of gas pipe for use in training exercises. Captain Fred M. Graver, commanding officer of Company G, says the only mortars available in the regimental armory are two three-inch Stokes mortars of 1917 vintage, left over from the World War, and they are in such poor condition that they are unsafe to use. The dummy gas-pipe mortar is fitted with a spring mechanism that will actually allow trainees to load and fire wooden shells.

Racket kingpin Louis "Lepke" Buchalter, now serving a Federal sentence at Leavenworth, Kansas on a narcotics conviction, has been indicted by Kings County District Attorney William O'Dwyer for two Brooklyn murders, with fellow racket king Albert Anastasia and fugitive Murder-for-Hire assassin Vito "The Torpedo" Gurino having been indicted as co-defendants in connection with one of those killings. Three other men, whose names have not been revealed, are also included in the indictments handed up this week by a special grand jury, for the killings of Teamsters Local 138 leader Morris Diamond and former truck fleet operator Joseph Rosen. Former Lepke gorilla Albert Tannenbaum -- who was delivered to O'Dwyer from Sullivan County, where he faces a murder rap of his own -- and smalltime loanshark and bookmaker Angelo "Julie" Catalano are said to be the two chief witnesses expected to testify against Buchalter, Anastasia, and Gurino.

The new indictments follow yesterday's conviction of Harry "Happy" Maione and Frank "The Dasher" Abbandando for the murder of George Rudnick in the first Murder-For-Hire case to come to trial. Jurors deliberated for just over two hours before returning the verdict at 5:35 pm.

Yankee manager Joe McCarthy says it would be "wonderful" for the Dodgers and Yankees to meet in the World Series this fall. The Yankee chieftain spoke at a sports banquet last night at Niagara University, where his baseball career began. Marse Joe says he can't explain why the Yanks are doing so poorly this year, but he denies it's because they can no longer handle left-handed pitching.

A mother duck and her eight baby ducklings held up traffic in Windsor Terrace yesterday as they waddled along Terrace Place on their way from Green-Wood Cemetery to Prospect Park. Mama Duck and her brood traversed four blocks, weaving expertly in and out of traffic to the amazement and amusement of motorists before a kindly housewife gathered them up in a basket for the rest of the trip. Mrs. Ida Cassidy of 74 Terrace Place was aided in her rescue effort by neighbor Joseph Abaddo, who borrowed a car to provide a ride to the park, where Mama and her babies were deposited at the edge of the lake, where they paused for a moment as if to thank their benefactors before paddling off.

Cross-examination of Christian Front seditious conspiracy suspect John M. Cassidy devolved into a long debate over legal technaicalities today as Federal Attorney Harold M. Kennedy tried to get to the bottom of exactly what Cassidy did or did not know about the bombs and bomb-making materials seized in a raid on a Front member's home. Cassidy has denied knowing about any bombs manufactured under the direction of defendant William Gerald Bishop, but under cross-examination he acknowledged receiving a report from defendant John A. Vierbock about the use of tin cans in the bomb-making process. Questioned about this discrepancy in his testimony, Cassidy insisted that he was truthful when he denied knowing about bombs, stating that he considered the tin cans to be "bomb containers," not actual bombs themselves.

Ernest Walter Kehler plans to appeal his manslaughter conviction for the beating death of German consular secretary Walter Engleberg. As he was being taken away in handcuffs today to begin his ten to twenty year sentence at Sing Sing Prison, Kehler declared that he got "a raw deal" from Judge Peter J. Brancato during his trial, and that when he files his appeal he will have different defense counsel than Leo Healy and Charles Oberwager, who represented him during his first trial.

"Madder-Than-A-Wet-Hen" writes to Helen Worth living up to her name about "mashers at the movies." She's a 28 year old college graduate, a "respectable acting and respectable looking person," and she can't go to the movies alone without being accosted by some "greasy looking man" staring at her, or trying to push his legs or his arms or his hands up against hers while seated. She holds theatres responsible for allowing this sort of nonsense, and declares she's about ready to "go Carrie Nation" on them if something isn't done. Helen agrees entirely, and suggests that she might consider a crusade to publicly identify and shame theatres that look the other way and fail to put a stop to such harassment. "Just as sunlight will destroy much of vicious bacterial life, so will publicity help to exterminate certain social evils."

("Remember our War Dead! Fix Up Your Car!")

Paramount Pictures will offer a lighthearted program for 1940-41, with upcoming releases "determined to pour escapist entertainment into a distracted world." Fewer features will be produced for the new season, compared to 1939-40, but the production budget will remain the same for the 46 to 50 new films to be made. Paramount officials say they will "leave the problem and propaganda pictures to others," emphasizing music and comedy, with the leading example to be the upcoming Jack Benny-Fred Allen-Mary Martin comedy-musical "Love Thy Neighbor." Three Technicolor spectaculars are also on the program for the new season.

("Finish this sentence in one word or less: 'You're _____!'")

The Eagle Editorialist congratulates District Attorney William O'Dwyer on the conviction of Harry "Happy" Maione and Frank "The Dasher" Abbandando for the murder of George "Whitey" Rudnick. With Maione and Abbandando having a date with the electric chair, the DA is now well on his way toward fulfilling his campaign promise to rid Brooklyn of "vicious criminals and cheap punks."

("Tennis anyone?")

The Dodgers and the Pirates were rained out yesterday, and the Flock is on its way to Shibe Park for a four-game set against the Phillies, who won't be quite the pushovers they were hoping for. The Phils are in a strong fifth place in the National League, one game below .500, and their pitching staff headed by Kirby Higbe and Hugh Mulcahy isn't easily dismissed. Hustling rookie shortstop Bobby Bragan has been surprisingly Reese-like in his performance in the field, and rookie first baseman Dick Mahan, fresh out of Villanova College, has also been a factor to be reckoned with.

The Dodgers are sending condolences to Dixie Walker and his wife Estelle, who won't be making the trip to Philadelphia. Their four-month-old daughter Mary Ann died yesterday at Nassau County Hospital from pneumonia, and the Walkers are taking her body back home to Birmingham, Alabama for burial.

Larry MacPhail and Giants owner Horace Stoneham are in a spat over the new lighting system at the Polo Grounds. The Giants make their debut under the lamps tonight against the Bees, and Stoneham is flexing and pointing to his new 1,254,000 candlepower lighting system as superior to the "the one at that -- ah -- the one in Brooklyn." MacPhail, long an apostle of night ball, sneers at the Giants' lights, saying they're about as good as the ones he installed at a minor league field in Columbus, Ohio in 1930, and adds that he's "put in three lighting systems since then and each one has been bigger than the last." MacPhail, the Mad Mullah of the Mazda Lamps, adds that "we've got lights at Ebbets Field now that Stoneham doesn't even know about," claiming the Dodgers now light up at exactly 1,260,000 candlepower. "Their lights are faulty," laughs Larry, "and ours are efficient. They should have come to me for advice. I'd have shown them."

The war situation has forced the postponement of the Wimbledon lawn tennis championship, originally scheduled for June 21st and 22nd. Organizers now say the tournament will be held on July 19th and 20th.

(Well, one thing's for sure. They aren't getting the cleaning deposit back on that garage.)

("Even if the big shot IS sittin' in our kitchen right now waiting for you to come home. What? What'd I say?")

(OK MISTER! JUST LET ME SLIP THIS BLACK HOOD ON FIRST!)