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The Era -- Day By Day

LizzieMaine

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And speaking of the past not being past --

In 1939 today's a lazy autumn Sunday, unless you have to work. And when you get home, pick that big fat Sunday Eagle off the stoop and take a look --

822 are confirmed dead in the sinking of the British battleship Royal Oak, according to Nazi sources the fifth British warship sunk in a six-week sea war. 370 members of the vessel's crew of nearly 1200 are confirmed as having been rescued, according to the British Admiralty. The announcement accompanies a denial that the HMS Hood was also hit by submarine attacks. British authorities continue to withhold the specific location where the Royal Oak went down.

Meanwhile, the British front line on the ground seems a "rural retreat" according to AP correspondent Drew Middleton, who is on that front line with the Tommies. Middleton describes a crude blockhouse built in a farm pasture, equipped with a periscope, as the Allied headquarters, manned by a grumbling garrison of Irish and British forces. No guns chatter, no shells fly, but a cow munches contentedly in the grass.

Berlin reports indicate heavy anti-aircraft gunfire was heard this morning suggesting Allied planes were attempting to target the German capital. But there was no air raid alarm sounded, and no bombs fell.

The Soviet Union and Turkey are expected to sign an agreement allowing Russia certain naval access to the Black Sea
and the Dardanelles. Specific terms of the deal have not been announced, but the agreement is expected to be less extensive than originally expected.

A former member of the Communist Party claims that Soviet agents in the US have "liquidated" certain persons who have left the organization. Robert C. Pitcoff, who worked for four years with the Soviet trading agency Amtorg claimed in testimony before the Dies Committee that two of his fellow employees, whom he named only as Ruthenberg and Kosoff, "disappeared" before their return to Russia.

Minnesota Senator Lundeen, a member of the Farmer-Labor Party, today suggested that the United States seize British possessions in the Carribbean as payment for outstanding war debts. Lundeen's proposal brought a barrage of opposition during Senate debate over the repeal of the arms embargo.

A test pilot was killed yesterday in the crash of an experimental high-speed monoplane on Long Island. Pilot Harry Huslman died when the plane, built by the Seversky Aircraft Corporation, went down near East Farmingdale. It is believed that either the motor cut out during descent, or the plane overshot the runway. The aircraft went down with such force that it plowed over more than 200 feet of trees and brush near the aircraft factory.

Sally Rand's bubble has burst, with the noted fan-and-bubble dancer filing a bankruptcy petition today listing assets of $8067 against debts of $54,631. Miss Rand's most recent enterprise was the Gay Paree attraction at the Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco, but she was also in evidence with her "Nude Ranch" at the San Francisco fair earlier this season. Miss Rand faces a lawsuit from New York impresario Billy Rose, who contends that the "Nude Ranch" was his idea.

In college football yesterday, the big Army-Columbia game proved something of a fizzle, as the teams played to a tie at Baker Field. The most exciting game of the day was probably the Notre Dame victory over Southern Methodist, 20-19.

Whether you're sixteen or sixty, put your feet in our hands! Natural Bridge shoes for women on sale, $5 and $5.50, at Abraham & Straus' Basement!

10,000 Polish-Americans cheered Mayor LaGuardia and Governor Lehman during Polish Day observances at the World's Fair, as the dignitaries vowed that "Poland will rise again!""

In other Fair news, General Motors president Alfred Sloan confirmed that the popular Futurama attraction will continue at the Fair in 1940. Nearly 5,000,000 visitors toured the GM Pavillion this year for a ride thru the World Of 1960.

New York City's death rate scored its lowest total ever during 1938. Big declines in infant mortality were noted in Brooklyn, especially in the Williamsburg-Greenpoint district, where the figure came in at 47 deaths per 1000 live births, down from 67 per 1000 in 1937.

THIS Can't Happen To Your Husband if you use Pilgrim Laundry. "This" being his transformation into a terrifying chimera with the head and face of a snarling bulldog, pulling desperately with useless human hands at his suddenly too-small shirt collar. That's what you get for patronizing The Laundry Of Doctor Moreau.

Today marks formal dedication ceremonies for the new North Beach Airport, built by the city and the WPA near Flushing Bay at a total cost of $43,218,000. The new airport was built on landfill consisting of more than 17 million cubic yards of garbage.

The Old Timers don't get much of a page this week, crowded out by airport dedication and war news. Old Timer James Dempsey of 978 St. Johns Place remembers the days when the land out near the Kings County Hospital, past Malbone Street, was filled with squatters and billygoats.

A big map graphic shows why the Baltic region is of such vital concern to Germany and the Soviet Union, pointing out essential naval access and supply routes which have become points of contention since the start of the war.

The Eagle editorial writer congratulates the city's latest Parole Commissioner, retired baseball star Lou Gehrig, expecting that his inspirational deeds on the diamond and the quality of his character will be of great help to youngsters who have fallen afoul of the law.

Complete Dignified Funerals from $150 to $250 from Walter B. Cooke's Brooklyn Funeral Homes, with three locations in the borough to serve you.

The Social pages include several announcements for "card parties" sponsored by various neighborhood women's clubs. "Card Party" was a common euphemism for "Bingo Game," designed to keep the sponsors out of trouble with the police. It's one thing to raid a run-down old theatre in Red Hook, but the Ladies of Bay Ridge must keep their skirts spotless.

Dr. Brady says -- something about not knowing about what appetite is. Maybe you could ask one of your many fat girlfriends.

In this week's Trend section, a rather dull discussion of David Lloyd George's career and his sudden decision to insert himself into the debate over Hitler's peace proposals. Pep it up, fellas, I usually look forward to some snide attitude from this section. Well, here's a discussion of the return of the corset in fall fashion, showing women at work wearing nothing but heavily boned undergarments. Jeez, you guys, grow up.

In Los Angeles, identical twins ended up in court after a brawl, but the court couldn't tell which one started the fighting. Tom Trimble is accused of enraging his brother Arthur by calling him "fish face," and violence ensued.

Be in Manhattan tomorrow night at the Music Box Theatre for the opening of Kaufman and Hart's hilarious new play "The Man Who Came To Dinner," with Monty Woolley heading the cast.

Brooklyn's latest Bright Young Woman? That's Sylvia Fine, comedy writer behind the success of "The Straw Hat Revue." Three years ago she was an obscure music teacher, and now look at her. She grew up in Flatbush in a musical family, but was always the funniest of the bunch.

Keep an eye out next spring for baseball's rising young star Harold Reese, who helped the Louisville Colonels beat the Rochester Red Wings in this year's Little World Series. They call him "Pee Wee," and he's destined to replace Durocher at shortstop for the Dodgers in 1940.

Fall baseball continues at Dexter Park today as the Bushwicks take on a team of Minor League All Stars in an exhibition doubleheader. Yankee farmhands Marius Russo and Phil Rizzuto are expected to star for the All Stars.

Get a McDermott Custom Built Home in Valley Stream, just $5990. Hey, that's right out near the Drive In Theatre. Wonder if you can see the screen from there.

The A&P grocery chain is celebrating its 80th Anniversary this week, as huge supermarkets are gradually taking over for the company's familiar red-fronted neighborhood stores.

Ah, here's more Old Timers stuff, as E. Coulman out in Ridgewood remembers the Blizzard of '88 and playing inkwell pranks on his classmates at PS 24.

A special pull-out section commemorates the opening of the 40th annual National Auto Show at the Grand Central Palace. The 1940 cars are bigger, better, wider, faster than ever, with tip-toe shifting and Hydra-Matic drives and Weather Eye temperature control and all manner of other new doodads.
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And finally, the funnies. Here's Red Ryder looking for his missing horse, little realizing a sinister man in a red shirt riding that horse is going around killing innocent ranchers and robbing trains. Uh-oh, Little Beaver.

Big Chief Wahoo takes his niece to school and sits in for a string of old vaudeville jokes with the teacher. The Great Gusto is clearly proving a bad influence.

Jane Arden Girl Reporter and Jim have the eavesdropper in custody, and Jim punches him in the face to shut him up when the steward comes nosing around.

Leona Stockpool assigns Bill Biff to be her bouncer for the big party she's throwing, but she doesn't tell him it's one of those fashionable "Hard Times" parties where everyone comes dressed like a bum. So Bill throws out all the guests.

George Bungle, trudging home after yet another run on the treadmill of frustration that is his life, gets distracted by a duck on a pond, and ends up taking a dunk.

And Aunt Jean tells us that Mildred Spatz will get to take a trip to Washington DC with her uncle if she keeps up an average of at least 75 in school. Aim high, kid.
 
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...The Social pages include several announcements for "card parties" sponsored by various neighborhood women's clubs. "Card Party" was a common euphemism for "Bingo Game," designed to keep the sponsors out of trouble with the police. It's one thing to raid a run-down old theatre in Red Hook, but the Ladies of Bay Ridge must keep their skirts spotless.....

:)

...Dr. Brady says -- something about not knowing about what appetite is. Maybe you could ask one of your many fat girlfriends.....

What?

...Well, here's a discussion of the return of the corset in fall fashion, showing women at work wearing nothing but heavily boned undergarments. Jeez, you guys, grow up....

Hard to believe, one, once freed of it, women would ever go back and, two, my experience and knowing many other men, our general desire is not to have women wearing, basically, body armor that's complicated to, um, consensually remove.

...In Los Angeles, identical twins ended up in court after a brawl, but the court couldn't tell which one started the fighting. Tom Trimble is accused of enraging his brother Arthur by calling him "fish face," and violence ensued.....

Seriously? Not being an identical twin, I'm only supposing, but insulting your twin's looks doesn't seem like a smart or effective plan.

...Be in Manhattan tomorrow night at the Music Box Theatre for the opening of Kaufman and Hart's hilarious new play "The Man Who Came To Dinner," with Monty Woolley heading the cast....

The movie with him in it is outstanding. We don't seem to have actors like him in movies anymore.

...Get a McDermott Custom Built Home in Valley Stream, just $5990. Hey, that's right out near the Drive In Theatre. Wonder if you can see the screen from there....

Puts Sally Rand's $54,631 of debt in perspective.
 

LizzieMaine

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Doc Brady went on at length yesterday about how he "likes them fat," which suggests he must know something about "appetites."

Obviously he would feel not the slightest frisson on visiting Sally's pavillion out there in San Francisco.

Sally-Rands-Nude-Ranch.jpg
 

Farace

Familiar Face
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I have to say, being new here it took me a bit to realize what's going on in this thread, but now I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Interestingly, completely unbidden by my Conscious, my Subconscious has begun reading the daily digests sort of in the manner of a radio program à la Paul Harvey. I can't say I'm upset by that.
 
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Fading Fast patiently, but excitedly, waiting for Lizzie's "Brooklyn Eagle" day-by-day update:
source.gif

Kidding aside, Lizzie, thank you for your - substantial - work and effort at this. I - and I'll bet others - now look forward to it every day.
 

LizzieMaine

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Unofficial British sources say five -- or as many as seven -- German bombers were shot down today over Scotland in an attempted raid on the naval base at Firth of Forth. Shrapnel rained down over Edinburgh, but no civilian injuries are reported, and indications are that all of the bombs dropped fell harmlessly into the sea. Additional planes are reported to have been driven back by the Royal Air Force. There are also reports that three German flyers were captured from another plane near the Pentland Hills.

Usually reliable sources indicate that Chancellor Adolf Hitler may be sending a message to Soviet leader Josef Stalin by courier today. There is no indication as to the possible contents of this communication, nor is there any official confirmation that such a message was even sent.

Reports out of Berlin claim that the same submarine that sunk the British battleship Royal Oak last week also damaged the cruiser Repulse. Meanwhile, there are reports out of Norway that fishermen are claiming to have seen a Nazi ship sunk by British planes off Vaagsoe Island.

31 inmates at Brooklyn's filthy and overcrowded Raymond Street Jail fell ill on Saturday with food poisoning. First Deputy Commissioner David Marcus of the Department of Corrections states that hash was the principal item of food served on that night's menu. The Raymond Street Jail has been condemned by both grand juries and public officials as unfit for human habitation.

Mayor LaGuardia is angry over the looming prospects of another milk strike, and takes the side of the farmers in an ongoing dispute with milk distributors, whom the Mayor and the farmers contend have broken the price agreement that ended the last strike. The Mayor was reported to be shocked to learn that farmers were getting $2.08 1/2 per hundredweight instead of the $2.15 per hundredweight stipulated under the current contract. (Last month, you may recall, Borden and Sheffield Farms, the city's largest milk distributors, announced a retail price increase of one half cent per quart.)

A 29-year-old woman was beaten and robbed today by a supposed "laundryman" who followed her home to her apartment at 836 Crown Street. Mrs. Edith Hendlin was treated for scalp lacerations at Unity Hospital, and transferred to Kings County Hospital for a possible skull fracture. Mrs. Hendlin told police that she had just stepped out of the self-service sixth-floor elevator and was about to enter her apartment when a man approached her, identified himself as "the laundryman," and then dragged her into the apartment where he struck her on the head with a dull-edged weapon and stripped her of her wedding and engagement rings.

Brooklyn stands to lose two seats on the City Council under the proportionate-representation system, with voter registration for the coming election down by 137,873 from 1937 levels.

Old Gold's Zip-Top Pack for Freshness! Just lift the tab at the arrow point and ZIP the top is off!

A German refugee dancer who landed today in Jersey City aboard the liner Scanmall had given a command performance for Adolf Hitler. Miss Marie Hollis told reporters that she was not paid for her performance, but that the Fueher sent her flowers.

A prominent Brooklyn physican was named today in a suit for separation by his wife, who claims the doctor brutally assaulted her in her home. Dr. Sutherland Miller, well known in borough society, is accused of abandoning his wife last July 28th after assaulting her, causing injuries that have left her with impaired vision in one eye. Dr. Miller denies the charges, and claims that he is not legally married to her -- alleging that she is still married to her previous husband, from whom she was separated under a Mexican divorce obtained in 1937.

Pirates operating in Long Island Sound boarded a fisherman's boat and came away with more than a hundred fish. Thirty-eight-year-old fisherman Thomas Higgins claims the brigands pulled up next to his rowboat in a motorboat, stole his catch, and when he resisted, struck him in the leg with a boathook.

200,000 people turned out as Mayor LaGuardia formally dedicated the new North Beach Airport, scheduled to open for business on November 1st. The new field, built on the edge of Flushing Bay, will be the hub of all the city's air activities. As the Mayor spoke, praising the city and WPA workers who constructed the magnificent new field, skywriting planes overhead smoked out the message "NAME IT LAGUARDIA AIRPORT."

Tuesday is COURTESY DAY AT NAMMS! WEDNESDAY IS BROOKLYN DAY, BROOKLYN'S BIGGEST SALE! ALL MERCHANDISE ON SALE! EVERY DEPARTMENT EVERY FLOOR! SEE OUR 12 PAGE COLORED CIRCULAR! SEE THE UNUSUAL WINDOWS! FOUR WAYS TO PAY! GET THE NAMMS HABIT! IT'S THRIFTY! Yeah, but do you hafta yell so loud?

Toscanini was triumphant in his opening broadcast of the season on Saturday, according to Eagle music critic Miles Kastendieck. I wouldn't know, I was listening to Benny Goodman.

SENSATIONAL! ACTUAL SHOTS! ROYAL OAK TORPEDOED! (Well, actually, this is footage from an English "naval thrill drama" called "Torpedoed" in which the Royal Oak appeared and was "torpedoed". See the terrific battle scenes in which the great ship goes into action and is TORPEDOED before your very eyes!) TODAY! EXCLUSIVE! TRANS-LUX THEATRE, Broadway at 49th.

Eddie Cantor is playing a vaudeville engagement at Loews Metropolitan starting this Thursday. It's the radio and movie favorite's first Brooklyn appearance in years, and excitement is running high. With Cantor will appear members of his radio company, including Bert "The Mad Russian" Gordon, the piano team of Fairchild and Carroll, and Sidney Fields as "Mr. Guffy."

At the Patio this week, I think I'll go see Elsa Maxwell in "Hotel for Women," and Ann Sheridan in "Angels Wash Their Faces," with the Dead End Kids. I'd rather see Elsa Maxwell with the Dead End Kids, but you take what they give you.

Lou Gehrig was sworn in today by Mayor LaGuardia for his new job as a Parole Commissioner. With his wife Eleanor at his side, the retired baseball star said he'd be spending the next couple of months resting and studying up on criminology and psychology so as to be prepared when his new duties begin on January 1st.

Five Communists will remain off the November City Council ballot, despite support for their inclusion by Republican elections commissioner Jacob A. Livingston. Livingston accused the Commission of trying to, in effect, ban the Communist Party thru manipulation of technicalities.

Another "mercy killing" case is under investigation in Manhattan, where a 26-year-old WPA worker is accused of drowning his five year old stepson out of fear that the boy would end up in a mental institution like his mother. Laurence Rogeau of 223 E. 12th Street is charged in the death of James Fitzpatrick, whom he is accused drowning in a bathtub. Mrs. Rogeau was committed to an institution after the birth of another son seven months ago, and doctors attributed her illness to the effects of childbirth, indicating there was no prior record of insanity in her family. Rogeau told police he had read stories in the newspapers about two prior "mercy killings," including the case last week of Louis Repouille, and had discussed the stories with others.

Helen Kracke of Brooklyn has three full-time jobs. She manages a 600-acre farm in Madison County, is the top-rated sales representative at Kinney Chevrolet on Coney Island Avenue -- and one of the top-rated Chevrolet sales reps in the country -- and takes care of her father, Chairman Frederick Kracke of the Board of Assessors.

The Football Giants racked up a win yesterday over the Philadelphia Eagles at the Polo Grounds, by a score of 37 to 10. 34,471 turned out to see the fame, the biggest pro-football opening day crowd the stadium has ever housed. The Giants remain in first place atop the NFL Eastern Division, followed by Washington and the Football Dodgers.

The Brooklyn Hispanos upset the national pro soccer champions St. Mary's Celtics by a score of 3 to1 in American Soccer League action at Celtic Park.

Theodore Roosevelt Jr. will speak on the topic "Neutrality," tonight at 10:15 over WOR.

Robert Quillen, in his column explaining news to young people, declares that gangsters and racketeers of the North have nothing over the Southern gangsters of the Ku Klux Klan. He describes hooded night riders terrorizing small towns in South Carolina, beating and whipping Negroes in the streets, while police and merchants do nothing to stop them. And he notes that "Bund members with more deadly purpose could do as much. The unprepared are helpless before the organized." This is pretty strong stuff for kids just coming down the page from the comforting homilies of Aunt Jean, and it's gutsy that the Eagle carries such a column.

Whew.

Getting over to the comic page, we see the swami trying to run out on Mr. Bungle, while George pulls at his robe, which appears to be made out of a patriotic-themed shower curtain, but the swami will have none of it. "It's goofy!" he protests, even as McGoinigle the Talking Ghost Mouse challenges him with "Who's going to put who out of here?"

Mary Worth makes friends with Kate the Cook at the Stockpool estate, and tries to get her to see that Leona isn't a rotten brat at heart, she's just been spoiled by publicity and a lack of discipline. Their discussion is interrupted by a young man with wavy blond hair and a checked sport coat who appears about to sing out "Tennis, anyone?" but does not.

Dan lands his enormous twin-engined crime lab plane with pinpoint accuracy on what appears to be a public highway alongside the lake. Because you can do that when you're a cop.
 
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...Usually reliable sources indicate that Chancellor Adolf Hitler may be sending a message to Soviet leader Josef Stalin by courier today. There is no indication as to the possible contents of this communication, nor is there any official confirmation that such a message was even sent....

So a message of whose contents we know nothing, may or may not have been sent.

...200,000 people turned out as Mayor LaGuardia formally dedicated the new North Beach Airport, scheduled to open for business on November 1st. The new field, built on the edge of Flushing Bay, will be the hub of all the city's air activities. As the Mayor spoke, praising the city and WPA workers who constructed the magnificent new field, skywriting planes overhead smoked out the message "NAME IT LAGUARDIA AIRPORT."....

The 1939 "original" terminal, the Marine Air Terminal, is an Art Deco gem and it is still active today. The exterior looks pretty much the same and the interior has held on to a lot of its original Art Deco details. The airport has grown a lot since the thirties - it now has four terminals that are currently being redone with the intent to incorporate them all into one contiguous terminal.
MAT-Historic-Buildings-Survey.jpg

...Helen Kracke of Brooklyn has three full-time jobs. She manages a 600-acre farm in Madison County, is the top-rated sales representative at Kinney Chevrolet on Coney Island Avenue -- and one of the top-rated Chevrolet sales reps in the country -- and takes care of her father, Chairman Frederick Kracke of the Board of Assessors....

While many women were successful in all sorts of businesses back then, I love that she was a top-rated Chevrolet sales rep.

...The Football Giants racked up a win yesterday over the Philadelphia Eagles at the Polo Grounds, by a score of 37 to 10. 34,471 turned out to see the fame, the biggest pro-football opening day crowd the stadium has ever housed. The Giants remain in first place atop the NFL Eastern Division, followed by Washington and the Football Dodgers.....

Football season started much later back then.
 
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...
Another "mercy killing" case is under investigation in Manhattan, where a 26-year-old WPA worker is accused of drowning his five year old stepson out of fear that the boy would end up in a mental institution like his mother. Laurence Rogeau of 223 E. 12th Street is charged in the death of James Fitzpatrick, whom he is accused drowning in a bathtub. Mrs. Rogeau was committed to an institution after the birth of another son seven months ago, and doctors attributed her illness to the effects of childbirth, indicating there was no prior record of insanity in her family. Rogeau told police he had read stories in the newspapers about two prior "mercy killings," including the case last week of Louis Repouille, and had discussed the stories with others.

Helen Kracke of Brooklyn has three full-time jobs. She manages a 600-acre farm in Madison County, is the top-rated sales representative at Kinney Chevrolet on Coney Island Avenue -- and one of the top-rated Chevrolet sales reps in the country -- and takes care of her father, Chairman Frederick Kracke of the Board of Assessors.

The Football Giants racked up a win yesterday over the Philadelphia Eagles at the Polo Grounds, by a score of 37 to 10. 34,471 turned out to see the fame, the biggest pro-football opening day crowd the stadium has ever housed. The Giants remain in first place atop the NFL Eastern Division, followed by Washington and the Football Dodgers.

The Brooklyn Hispanos upset the national pro soccer champions St. Mary's Celtics by a score of 3 to1 in American Soccer League action at Celtic Park.

Theodore Roosevelt Jr. will speak on the topic "Neutrality," tonight at 10:15 over WOR.

Robert Quillen, in his column explaining news to young people, declares that gangsters and racketeers of the North have nothing over the Southern gangsters of the Ku Klux Klan. He describes hooded night riders terrorizing small towns in South Carolina, beating and whipping Negroes in the streets, while police and merchants do nothing to stop them. And he notes that "Bund members with more deadly purpose could do as much. The unprepared are helpless before the organized." This is pretty strong stuff for kids just coming down the page from the comforting homilies of Aunt Jean, and it's gutsy that the Eagle carries such a column.

Whew.

Getting over to the comic page, we see the swami trying to run out on Mr. Bungle, while George pulls at his robe, which appears to be made out of a patriotic-themed shower curtain, but the swami will have none of it. "It's goofy!" he protests, even as McGoinigle the Talking Ghost Mouse challenges him with "Who's going to put who out of here?"

Mary Worth makes friends with Kate the Cook at the Stockpool estate, and tries to get her to see that Leona isn't a rotten brat at heart, she's just been spoiled by publicity and a lack of discipline. Their discussion is interrupted by a young man with wavy blond hair and a checked sport coat who appears about to sing out "Tennis, anyone?" but does not.

Dan lands his enormous twin-engined crime lab plane with pinpoint accuracy on what appears to be a public highway alongside the lake. Because you can do that when you're a cop.
 
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^^^^
Young James Fitzpatrick would be 85 if he were still with us. I’ve known lots of people who lived to see that age, and then some.

I tremble at the thought of the terror that boy experienced as his stepfather drowned him.

Which is worse? That the killer cooked up the “mercy killing” defense, when his actual motive was just to be rid of the little guy? Or that he actually thought his actions were merciful?
 
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It's something to do while I eat my Corn Chex every morning! Even though the Eagle is actually an afternoon paper. Time travel is still not as precise as we'd like.

I rotate through different breakfast cereals - my "corn" one has always been Kelloggs Corn Pops, but I'm open to Corn Chex - how do they compare?
 
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...At the Patio this week, I think I'll go see Elsa Maxwell in "Hotel for Women," and Ann Sheridan in "Angels Wash Their Faces," with the Dead End Kids. I'd rather see Elsa Maxwell with the Dead End Kids, but you take what they give you.....

What's amazing is how many old movies there were. I've been a fan since being a kid in the '70s. I watched them on TV back then; in the '80s, I continued to hunt them out on TV and also went to "revivals," by the late' 80s and, then, '90s it was AMC and TCM playing 24 hours of them (AMC changed formats long ago) and I've always read books and articles on them. Yet, in these day-to-day postings of yours, names regularly come up that I never heard of, like today, "Hotel for Women." I am familiar with "Angels Wash Their Faces," but don't remember much at all about it. Maybe I've only heard the name.

I just read about "Hotel for Women" on IMDB and it sounds good and gets a very respectable 7.0 rating, yet, I've don't remember ever seeing or hearing about it. Must not be on TCM's rotation.
 

LizzieMaine

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^^^^
Young James Fitzpatrick would be 85 if he were still with us. I’ve known lots of people who lived to see that age, and then some.

I tremble at the thought of the terror that boy experienced as his stepfather drowned him.

Which is worse? That the killer cooked up the “mercy killing” defense, when his actual motive was just to be rid of the little guy? Or that he actually thought his actions were merciful?

That really is an awful story from every angle you look at it. The stepfather told the kid --- who seems to have been a normal five year old in every way -- that they were going to play "cowboys," and tied him up with neckties before shoving him into the water. And the mother, who clearly has what we would call today "post-partum depression," and is undergoing god-knows-what kind of treatment in the institution, has no idea what's going on. The stepfather is 26 years old, on relief, and taking care of a five year old boy and possibly a 7 month old baby, and obviously must have some kind of issues going on himself to have done with he did. I just hope the baby was with grandparents or in a foster home or something.

This is the history you don't read about in the approved texts -- no big world-shaking issues going on, just a lot of sad, desperate people in desperate situations doing inexplicable desperate things. "A million stories in the Naked City..."
 

LizzieMaine

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"Wash Their Faces" was a sequel to "Angels With Dirty Faces," where the Kids meet Pat O'Brien and James Cagney, and Rocky turns yella when he goes to the chair. "Wash" doesn't really follow up on any of that, and it's unclear if the Kids are even supposed to be the same characters or not. Sheridan's leading man is none other than rising young star Ronald Reagan, who really isn't half bad with what he's given to do, which mostly involves telling Leo Gorcey to shut up and listen.

The Patio appears to be a better grade of neighborhood house that gets the first crack at big pictures after they've finished downtown. So we should be getting "Wizard of Oz" sometime next spring. If you lived on Midwood Street or Rogers Avenue and didn't feel the need to go all the way downtown see the newest thing as soon as it came out, waiting till it showed up at the Patio would be an agreeable enough -- and cheaper -- way to get your movie fill.

I get the feeling that "Hotel For Women" was cooked up by a couple of writers who were told that the studio had just signed Elsa Maxwell, because she's famous and everybody's talking about her so find something she can do. I imagine it comes across like a down-market "Stage Door," with imitating being the sincerest form of Hollywood and all.
 
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That really is an awful story from every angle you look at it. The stepfather told the kid --- who seems to have been a normal five year old in every way -- that they were going to play "cowboys," and tied him up with neckties before shoving him into the water. And the mother, who clearly has what we would call today "post-partum depression," and is undergoing god-knows-what kind of treatment in the institution, has no idea what's going on. The stepfather is 26 years old, on relief, and taking care of a five year old boy and possibly a 7 month old baby, and obviously must have some kind of issues going on himself to have done with he did. I just hope the baby was with grandparents or in a foster home or something.

This is the history you don't read about in the approved texts -- no big world-shaking issues going on, just a lot of sad, desperate people in desperate situations doing inexplicable desperate things. "A million stories in the Naked City..."

Eighty years from now people will shake their heads at the rationalizations we craft these days.

Still, though, the stepfather was charged with murder, as he would have been in 1859, as he would be today, and, we can hope, as he would be in 2099.
 

LizzieMaine

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Where The Tourists Meet The Sea
Laurence or Lawrence Rogeau, however spelled, doesn't seem to have left behind much of a historical trail. The last mention I can find of him is that he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder five months after the killing, and was sentenced to 20 years in prison -- he shows up in the 1940 Census as a resident of Sing Sing. James' mother was still in a mental hospital at that time. And no mention of the fate of the baby, who is almost exactly my mother's age.
 

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