The Era -- Day By Day

LizzieMaine said:

Meet Lena Frosch, young Abe's proud mama.

She's got a pretty long record in the bail-bond racket herself, and it would appear that she also has dealings with some of the boys over in Brownsville. Evidently she lets her son handle the penny ante stuff -- the neighborhood bookies, the drugstore sharpsters, the petty operators -- to get him broken in for the day when he can take over the family business.

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Didn't guess that, but there you go. Hard to get on the straight and narrow with that upbringing. Heck, Michael tried and, despite his promises to Kay, we all know how that turned out.

I'd not want to bet against Mama Frosch having a straight razor and a run of piano wire in her coat pocket. She looks able to handle any business concerns that come up.

Reports from Paris say French warplanes and anti-aircraft fire drove off a German air raid that resulted in a fifty-five minute alarm before the all-clear sounded. Tracer fire was seen, but no actual bombs were dropped.

The government of Rumania dissolved itself today, less than two months after it was formed. Premier Constantine Argetoianu resigned after holding office only since September 28th, when he took power a week after the assassination by Fascist militia of Premier Armand Calinescu. The fall of the Argetoianu government followed a Rumanian decision refusing to increase its exchange rate for the German mark by 50 percent, although it is unclear if the two decisions are related.

The war is costing Great Britain $23,580,000 a day -- the costliest war in that nation's history, according to reports released today. Most of the expense stems from shipping losses relating to vessels destroyed by German submarines and sea raiders.

Happy Franksgiving! A six-year-old girl from Frankfort, Kentucky will join President and Mrs. Roosevelt for turkey and all the trimmings as a representative of the Warm Springs Foundation for Infantile Paralysis Sufferers. Little Ann Smithers has been a patient at Warm Springs for about five months, and has only recently regained the ability to sit up in a chair. Today is observed as Thanksgiving Day in 28 states, with twenty five states resisting the President's proclamation moving the holiday ahead a week. Five states will observe both days.

A New Jersey man kidnapped by holdup men and forced to act as their getaway driver was shot and killed this morning during a botched robbery at a Brooklyn bar. 38-year-old John Edward Glass of West Englewood, N. J. was shot by one of the two gunmen after Glass threw a glass of beer in the criminal's face. There were ten patrons in S. Kowzan's Bar and Grill, 708 5th Avenue, when the holdup occured around 2 AM. One of the gunmen ordered the bartender to hand over the contents of the cash register and then to serve a round of drinks on the house -- and when Glass accepted a beer, he turned and flung it in his captor's face in an attempt at escape. The other gunman shot Glass in the head and chest, and the two robbers fled. Glass died at 6:25 AM at Methodist Episcopal Hospital.

A conspiracy to rig the price of sand and gravel in New York City has led to the indictment of 12 individuals, eight corporations, and the Long Island Sand and Gravel Association by a federal grand jury in Manhattan. The indictment charges that the conspirators colluded to force a price increase of from 20 to 35 percent that would have affected eighty percent of the sand and gravel sold in the city in violation of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.

The long-awaited testimony of Mrs. Florence Camp, sweetheart of German-American Bund leader Fritz Kuhn, will take place tomorrow in Manhattan General Sessions Court. Kuhn is accused of embezzling funds from the Bund treasury and spending much of the money on Mrs. Camp's moving expenses. In testimony yesterday, a red-faced Kuhn admitted he lied to Mrs. Camp when he promised to marry her once circumstances were "astrologically propitious."

A former pants-presser from New York was shot and killed yesterday in Hollywood. George Schacter was shot in the head, neck and chest while he sat in his car, victim of what police say looks very much like a "gangland rub-out."

All vehicular traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge was halted yesterday at the peak of rush hour by a fire burning in the tar between the bricks on the Manhattan-bound traffic lane. Traffic was diverted for nearly an hour, causing massive traffic jams in Manhattan.

A college fraternity in Richmond, Virginia, hearing word of Sally Rand's bankruptcy, has offered the bubble dancer a job as their house mother.

A Congregational Church pastor sees "Franksgiving" as an offense to The Founders. The Rev. Dr. Moses Richardson Lovell of Brooklyn's Central Congregational Church called the change in dates for the holiday an "affront to those who originally set aside the date in the spirit of reverent awe and humble gratitude," and condemned the change as a reflection of "an alien influence that already has elsewhere ridden roughshod over the best traditions of people by secularizing their holy days." (Sheesh. Red-baiting the President on Thanksgiving Day. How wholesome. How reverent. How civil. Have some turkey, Rev. You sound like you could use the tryptophan.)

A formal announcement that Thomas E. Dewey will seek the Republican nomination for President in 1940 is expected within the week. The Manhattan District Attorney has formed a campaign committee headed by Nassau County GOP leader J. Russell Sprague. Mr. Dewey will make a nationwide tour of leading cities starting December 6th with a speech in Minneapolis.

Plans to unite New York City transit operations under municipal control moved one step closer to realization with a plan declared "operative" under which the city would acquire the Interborough-Manhattan system for over $151 million in municipal bonds. A $175 million plan to acquire the BMT is in the course of negotiation, and should be declared "operative" within a month or two.

After-Thanksgiving Sale at Martin's! Buy in November -- Pay in January! Misses' Furred Coats $58! Fur coats at $112! Dress Clearance, $8.90! Big savings on Women's Accessories! Friday and Saturday Only! Martin's, Fulton and Bridge Street, Brooklyn

The case of Bob the Dog, a Spitz sentenced to death for biting three people, will be transferred to a different judge after two previous rulings upholding the sentence against the animal, owned by Mrs. Helen Browne of 809 Ditmas Avenue. Justice Edward Riegelmann will decide Bob's fate, with legal arguments for the revocation of his death sentence revolving around the fact that the third bite occured before the current "three bite" law went into effect.

WOMEN! Try this natural way to a youthful figure -- START BOWLING NOW! Visit one of these fine Brooklyn alleys and BOWL!

The Eagle editorialist deplores the wave of book burnings across the country, noting that the burning of copies of "The Grapes of Wrath" by the East St. Louis Public Library follows similar incidents in Kansas City and Buffalo, and takes pride in the Brooklyn Public Library for its stand against such censorship.

M. E. LeDoux of Brooklyn writes in to suggest that "Franksgiving" may be merely a test by the President to see how willing the American people are to turn their backs on tradition, because "no third term" is also a tradition.

Golbasto, King of the Pygmies is on hand to entertain the kiddies in the A&S Toyland at Abraham & Straus. He's the Biggest Little Personality Ever!

Gossip columnist Clifford Evans has a long list of Thanksgiving Thank Yous -- headed by thanks to Leo Durocher, who put the Dodgers in the first division where they belong.

Bob Hope is in top form in "The Cat and the Canary," says Herbert Cohn, who ventured into the City to see it at the Paramount. He praises Hope for turning the old melodrama into a rollicking comedy without spoiling any of the mystery elements.

Before you go to the Midwood for the big $1.25 Thanksgiving dinner spread, head to the Flatbush Theatre for what looks like a really first-class vaudeville show featuring two of my favorites: Ramona, six-foot-tall pianist/vocalist formerly featured with Paul Whiteman, and comic impressionist Eddie Garr, a big Broadway talent who's been heard to fine effect on the Rudy Vallee program. Also, Borah Minnevitch and the Harmonica Rascals and six other all-star stage acts. I think I'll pass on the feature picture though -- Jackie Cooper and Freddie Bartholemew in "Two Bright Boys." (I'd like to see them meet up with Leo Gorcey sometime...)

Long Island University and Catholic U. mix it up this afternoon at Ebbets Field in Thanksgiving Day football action.

The Indoor Baseball Dodgers and Giants split a pair last night at the New York Coliseum.

"What Does American Democracy Mean To Me?" is the topic for tonight's "America's Town Meeting Of The Air," 9:30 pm on WJZ.

George and Jo rant and rave about snippy neighbors and Jo admits that she hid the diamonds when everyone was arguing. Homer From Upstairs hears this and sticks his potato nose thru the hole in the ceiling and here we go again. I hope the diamonds turn out to be fragments of a broken gin bottle or something.



Oh, this is gonna be good.

And J. B. Dook heads into the closet to "pack his things," but in reality has a convenient escape window all ready. Who has a window in a closet? And who thought it was a good idea to give Irwin a job on the force? Weren't there any plastic surgeons available?

S. Kowzan's Bar and Grill. Probably not a place you want to go at 2 am.

LizzieMaine said:

Reports from Paris say French warplanes and anti-aircraft fire drove off a German air raid that resulted in a fifty-five minute alarm before the all-clear sounded. Tracer fire was seen, but no actual bombs were dropped....

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Knowing what we know happened, these positive reports feel almost like the Germans were just toying with the French.

LizzieMaine said:

...In testimony yesterday, a red-faced Kuhn admitted he lied to Mrs. Camp when he promised to marry her once circumstances were "astrologically propitious."...

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I grudgingly give him credit as it's a more creative excuse to avoid marriage than the usual "we just need to wait until I get a raise."

LizzieMaine said:

...A former pants-presser from New York was shot and killed yesterday in Hollywood. George Schacter was shot in the head, neck and chest while he sat in his car, victim of what police say looks very much like a "gangland rub-out."

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All these gang rub-outs and general mob violence in the news that we see daily in these reports explains why there were so many mob-based movies - people were seeing the mob violence daily. Today, it's either better or kept quieter.

LizzieMaine said:

...Plans to unite New York City transit operations under municipal control moved one step closer to realization with a plan declared "operative" under which the city would acquire the Interborough-Manhattan system for over $151 million in municipal bonds. A $175 million plan to acquire the BMT is in the course of negotiation, and should be declared "operative" within a month or two....

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It's interesting to see what we know today as the MTA (Metropolitan Transit Authority) come together. And, today, it is still one of the largest issuers of NYC municipal bonds. Also, you can still see "IRT" and "BMT" and other old-subway-line signage in parts of the subway system - some literally done in mosaic in the original tile work, others being old heavy metal signs that just live on.

LizzieMaine said:

...The case of Bob the Dog, a Spitz sentenced to death for biting three people, will be transferred to a different judge after two previous rulings upholding the sentence against the animal, owned by Mrs. Helen Browne of 809 Ditmas Avenue. Justice Edward Riegelmann will decide Bob's fate, with legal arguments for the revocation of his death sentence revolving around the fact that the third bite occured before the current "three bite" law went into effect....

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A general principal of a fair rule of law is that laws shouldn't be applied retroactively. Free Spitz!

LizzieMaine said:

Oh, this is gonna be good.

...

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Leona really is "Alice Adams" on mean steroids.

LizzieMaine said:

... Weren't there any plastic surgeons available?

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LizzieMaine said:

S. Kowzan's Bar and Grill. Probably not a place you want to go at 2 am.

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And here it is today (with the two smarmy brokers who recently sold it in 2018 - I couldn't find a good pic of it without those guys' faces):


About $400,000 in 1939 dollars.

The modern Brooklyn real estate market really is insane. Our former sound guy here owned a junky old building in Williamsburg and sold it just before the bubble really inflated. He's been kicking himself ever sense.

That neighborhood does look a lot friendlier without the El, though.

LizzieMaine said:

The modern Brooklyn real estate market really is insane. Our former sound guy here owned a junky old building in Williamsburg and sold it just before the bubble really inflated. He's been kicking himself ever sense.

That neighborhood does look a lot friendlier without the El, though.

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The Els are great for film noir movies - they wouldn't be the same without them - but here in the real world, it's better when they are gone.

Fading Fast said:

The Els are great for film noir movies - they wouldn't be the same without them - but here in the real world, it's better when they are gone.

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The ones in Chicago (We refer to it both as the "L" and the "El.") are still a lot of fun to ride, although growing up, the 1920's era 4000 series Cincinnati Car Co. cars (growling traction motors, throbbing compressors, and hissing air brakes, as well as the brass air whistle) were a sublime treat. I'd postpone trips for hours just to board them when I was a kid. Even when I was ten I knew that their days were numbered, so I rode at every opportunity.

I can only imagine the thrill of riding those old open gate wood cars in New York. Most commuters would disagree, but I think that it's a great way to view a big city.

Fred Allen did a great bit where he had typical New Yorkers lamenting the demolition of the 6th Avenue El in 1938 -- "No more gettin' cigarette butts flicked thru me open window. No more stickin' me tongue out at dames dressed up goin' by..." (Read above lines in Minnie Pious's "Mrs. Nussbaum" voice...)

ChiTownScion said:

The ones in Chicago (We refer to it both as the "L" and the "El.") are still a lot of fun to ride, although growing up, the 1920's era 4000 series Cincinnati Car Co. cars (growling traction motors, throbbing compressors, and hissing air brakes, as well as the brass air whistle) were a sublime treat. I'd postpone trips for hours just to board them when I was a kid. Even when I was ten I knew that their days were numbered, so I rode at every opportunity.

I can only imagine the thrill of riding those old open gate wood cars in New York. Most commuters would disagree, but I think that it's a great way to view a big city.

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There are still plenty of Els in the Boroughs that I ride now and again - for example, up to a game at Yankee stadium. Like you, I greatly enjoy the experience, but once you alight and go down the stairs, you can see the negative impact they have on the neighborhood. Very noir atmospheric, but not that much fun if you live right there.

When I lived in Boston in the late '90s, there were still Els there as well. Same thing: great to look at, fun to ride, not fun to live right under.

Among the lasting legacies of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair is the monorail line running between what was the fairgrounds (pretty much right at the base of the Space Needle) and the downtown retail core.

It covers only about a mile, on twin monorail tracks (trains run both directions simultaneously) at about the level of a third-floor window. The tracks are supported on pylons situated on what might otherwise be a two-way left-turn lane in the middle of Fifth Avenue.

The monorail was in its early years more carnival ride than public transit. And in some ways it still is. (You can pretty well count on tourists making up a large share of the passengers.) The mass-transit of the future didn’t turn out to be Alweg’s monorail, although a handful of monorail lines remain in operation, most notably in Japan.

The trains straddle the concrete rail and make contact with it on wheels running horizontally, wearing what look a lot like automobile tires. That’s far quieter than steel on steel. The shadow cast by the pylons and rails is relatively small, leastwise in comparison to other elevated rail lines.

Several years ago the voters of the city approved a proposal to build a much more extensive monorail system. Long story short, it never came to pass. It got studied, some properties got acquired, and then it died.

I was (and am) familiar enough with the major mouthpiece for the scheme to call us friends. Our circles overlapped going back a couple decades before his monorail promotin’-period, which elevated his already kinda prominent public persona. “One Track Mind” was the headline over one of several profiles of him in the local papers.

Meanwhile, in today's Daily News I think we have a winner in the Cheap Thanksgiving Dinner Derby --



That's a pretty impressive chef there, but I don't know how they're going to fit him in one of those little compartments.

LizzieMaine said:

Meanwhile, in today's Daily News I think we have a winner in the Cheap Thanksgiving Dinner Derby --

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That's a pretty impressive chef there, but I don't know how they're going to fit him in one of those little compartments.

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~$10 in 2019 dollars, but no pie. If memory serves, a full pie is available for 35 cents from its "retail" store, but how much would an eating-in slice cost?

I believe a slice of pie was a nickel, which is pretty good value for the size of the slice you got. Ice cream was extra.

LizzieMaine said:

I believe a slice of pie was a nickel, which is pretty good value for the size of the slice you got. Ice cream was extra.

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So, with one slice of pie, Thanksgiving dinner at H&H comes to 60 cents in '39 or about $10.95 in 2019 dollars. As you said, I think we have a low-price winner.

German mines sunk another British ship today as the 8,886 ton steamer Mangalore went to the bottom off the east coast of England, and official word has also been released that a 5,133 ton Dutch tanker was sunk by a Nazi submarine last week. Reports indicate that the 77 crew members aboard the Mangalore were saved, but only five were confirmed to have survived the sinking of the Dutch ship, with twenty-six crew members still missing. The five Dutch survivors were adrift for a week in an open boat after the U-Boat captain ignored their plea that, as neutrals, they were entitled to be rescued.

London sources state that the two British agents captured by the Gestapo in connection with the beer-hall bombing that narrowly missed killing or wounding Chancellor Adolf Hitler were in Germany on a "mission of peace," investigating whether recent peace proposals by the German government were legitimate. The whereabouts of the two men are unknown at this time, but they are believed to be in Berlin.

President Roosevelt is investigating the possibility of a special tax to finance an increase of up to $500,000,000 in defense needs that may be required over the next fiscal year.

Fritz Kuhn's "Golden Angel" told a blue-ribbon jury in Manhattan General Sessions Court that the German-American Bund leader "begged" her to marry him. Mrs. Florence Camp denied that she ever solicited money from Kuhn, and that she is, or ever was, a Bund sympathizer. She also told the court that she gave Kuhn three payments totaling $600 toward repayment of a loan he had given her for moving expenses, contradicting Kuhn's testimony that the entire loan of $717 had been repaid.

A $30-a-week clerk was unwittingly tied to a $2,500,000 mortgage for the purchase of a Park Avenue apartment building in a mail-fraud scheme perpetrated by the now-defunct New York Title and Mortgage Company. 60-year-old William Cooper was a clerk for the firm in 1930-31 when he was called into the office, tossed a sheaf of papers, and told "Here, Willie -- sign this." Cooper told a Manhattan Federal Judge today that he had never owned the property at 895 Park Avenue, nor had he knowingly signed the mortgage papers. He said it was a routine practice for the company to require him to sign "all sorts of papers." Cooper reacted with surprise when told by the judge that he owns the property and owes the money for the loan. Cooper is presently employed as a porter at the London Terrace.

Reports that the parents of bail-bond racketeer Abraham Frosch have been threatened since the 24-year-old began talking to Assistant Attorney General John Amen this week following his guilty plea have been brought to Amen's attention by attorneys representing Frosch, and as a result Amen's office is clamping down the lid on any public release of information resulting from Frosch's interrogation. Both Frosch's mother Lena, of 502 Georgia Avenue, and his father Irvin are under idictment themselves on various charges of bail bond fraud. It is believed that Amen's interrogation of the younger Frosch is intended to gain deeper intelligence on law enforcement collusion with illegal gambling operations in Brooklyn, with most of Frosch's clients connected in some way to gambling rackets.

Mayor LaGuardia's chief liason to labor has stepped down. In accepting Nathan Frankel's resignation, the Mayor insisted that the aide's departure has nothing to do with the recent political rift within the American Labor Party in which Frankel and City Councilman Michael J. Quill were widely known to have been involved.

A 29 year old Sheepshead Bay woman found sleeping in a car by Coney Island police yesterday told Magistrate Charles Solomon she was merely sleeping off her Thanksgiving dinner. Mrs. Mary Coolis of 620 16th Street climbed into the car and slept soundly until she was roused by Patrolman John Hadfield, who called her attention to the fact that the car she had selected for her nap was his police radio cruiser. Magistrate Solomon found her guilty of disorderly conduct and fined her $1 or a night in jail. Mrs. Coolis took the night in jail. (Where, we hope, she slept soundly.)

District Attorney-Elect William O'Dwyer is promising that the new broom soon to sweep the Brooklyn DA's office will be a clean one -- stressing that no one attempting to gain a job thru "political pull" will succeed in doing so.

Vice President John Nance Garner is expected within the next week to formally announce his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1940. Garner-For-President Clubs have already been formed in New York, Texas, Oregon, and Wisconsin, and the Garner committee will begin forming additional units once the formal announcement is made.



The Golden Angel, in person. Imagine her dismay when she realized Herr Kuhn was already married.

Former President Herbert Hoover chose to celebrate "Franksgiving" with a turkey dinner yesterday, even though California, where he resides, will officially observe Thanksgiving next week.

Get This GE Record Player, regularly $9.95 as a FREE GIFT when you buy this fine new General Electric console radio with the Built-In Beam-A-Scope and other great features for $69.95! And remember, it's OLD RADIO TRADE-IN WEEK at 30 Davega City Radio Stores!

HUGE BLANKET SALE at SEARS BROOKLYN! Extra Large All Wool Blankets -- Worth Every Bit of $12.00 -- Now $8.98! With Five Year Mothproof Guarantee!

Hy Gardner reports that Bette Davis recently paid 25 cents to view the Dionne Quintuplets. And Lippy Leo Durocher is doing the Hollywood bit this week, visiting his pals Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, Ed Robinson, Joan Bennett, Roz Russell, and George Raft. And that "L'il Abner" picture that's in the works may have found its perfect Abner in the lanky person of Buddy Ebsen.

The long-awaited "Gone With The Wind" will open in New York on December 19th at both the Capitol and the Astor.

Now at the Patio, Don Ameche and Alice Faye in "Hollywood Cavalcade," with co-feature "Full Confession" with Victor McLaghlan

The new Brooklyn Mothers' Group is pledging to raise the necessary money to keep kindergarten open in the face of city plans to eliminating funding for the classes. More than half the children attending kindergarten in New York City do so in Brooklyn.

The National Indoor Baseball League is only a week old, and already there's another Dodger-Giant feud burning. The two clubs in the new circuit are sniping back and forth over contract issues and available talent.

Meanwhile on the gridiron, the Football Dodgers and Giants are preparing to meet on Sunday at the Polo Grounds, as the grid Flock closes out its National Football League season with three consecutive road games.

Long Island University wound up its 1939 season on a downbeat with a 35-14 defeat at the hands of Catholic University in the Thanksgiving Day game at Ebbets Field. (So much for "Brooklyn's Next Team of Destiny.")

This isn't a good year to be a New York hockey fan. The Americans have dropped five in a row, and the Rangers aren't much better. How long until baseball season?

The city is cracking down on cigarette smugglers, with the city treasurer's office promising an intensive roundup of those who peddle New Jersey cigarettes in an effort to circumvent city taxes. 35 year old Benny Yagerman of 757 Miller Avenue was arrested yesterday for possessing ten cartons of unstamped cigarettes, and was sentenced to ten days in the Tombs.

Stay up late to hear a description of Hollywood's Christmas Tree featuring Jack Benny, Mary Livingstone, Gene Autry, the Lane Sisters, and others. 11:15 pm over WOR.



I lived in a building like this once.

Mary Worth whisks Cousin Sue away for a glamorous makeover, because an elderly former apple seller knows all about such things. Meanwhile, the Handsomest Man In All Europe arrives for Leona in his limousine. (But Leona has her own limousine. Why would this impress her in the least? I don't understand rich people at all.)

Dook flees thru the woods and heads for the one place he knows he'll get a good reception: Kay's bedroom. Won't Dan be surprised.

LizzieMaine said:

...Fritz Kuhn's "Golden Angel" told a blue-ribbon jury in Manhattan General Sessions Court that the German-American Bund leader "begged" her to marry him. Mrs. Florence Camp denied that she ever solicited money from Kuhn, and that she is, or ever was, a Bund sympathizer. She also told the court that she gave Kuhn three payments totaling $600 toward repayment of a loan he had given her for moving expenses, contradicting Kuhn's testimony that the entire loan of $717 had been repaid.....

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Sometimes, the only thing we know for sure about something is that it didn't happen the way the participants said it did. That's how I feel about Kuhn's and Camp's embezzlement/affair/loan/gift - I don't know what happened, but it didn't happen the way either of those two said it did.

LizzieMaine said:

...A $30-a-week clerk was unwittingly tied to a $2,500,000 mortgage for the purchase of a Park Avenue apartment building in a mail-fraud scheme perpetrated by the now-defunct New York Title and Mortgage Company. 60-year-old William Cooper was a clerk for the firm in 1930-31 when he was called into the office, tossed a sheaf of papers, and told "Here, Willie -- sign this." Cooper told a Manhattan Federal Judge today that he had never owned the property at 895 Park Avenue, nor had he knowingly signed the mortgage papers. He said it was a routine practice for the company to require him to sign "all sorts of papers." Cooper reacted with surprise when told by the judge that he owns the property and owes the money for the loan. Cooper is presently employed as a porter at the London Terrace....

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As it looked when new in 1930 when our $30/week clerk bought it.

⇩ And it pretty much looks the same today.

Clearly he was a saver.

LizzieMaine said:

...A 29 year old Sheepshead Bay woman found sleeping in a car by Coney Island police yesterday told Magistrate Charles Solomon she was merely sleeping off her Thanksgiving dinner. Mrs. Mary Coolis of 620 16th Street climbed into the car and slept soundly until she was roused by Patrolman John Hadfield, who called her attention to the fact that the car she had selected for her nap was his police radio cruiser. Magistrate Solomon found her guilty of disorderly conduct and fined her $1 or a night in jail. Mrs. Coolis took the night in jail. (Where, we hope, she slept soundly.)....

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I'm guessing she washed down said Thanksgiving dinner with something stronger, hiccup, than soda pop, hiccup.

LizzieMaine said:

...The city is cracking down on cigarette smugglers, with the city treasurer's office promising an intensive roundup of those who peddle New Jersey cigarettes in an effort to circumvent city taxes. 35 year old Benny Yagerman of 757 Miller Avenue was arrested yesterday for possessing ten cartons of unstamped cigarettes, and was sentenced to ten days in the Tombs....

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Every so often, the NYPD makes a similar arrest today of a cigarette smuggling ring / store(s) selling "not-tax-stamped" cigarettes. I'm almost surprised it isn't a bigger illegal businesses (maybe it is) considering how high the per-pack tax is. The combined state and city tax in NYC is $5.85 per pack of twenty cigarettes.

LizzieMaine said:

...Mary Worth whisks Cousin Sue away for a glamorous makeover, because an elderly former apple seller knows all about such things. Meanwhile, the Handsomest Man In All Europe arrives for Leona in his limousine. (But Leona has her own limousine. Why would this impress her in the least? I don't understand rich people at all.)...

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I've never paid "Mary Worth" much attention, but you've got me interested. My first impression is, just like all the movies that were made about rich people during the '30s, the public seemed to enjoy the escapism / seeing the foibles of the rich while they were struggling through the Depression.

Fading Fast said:

I'm almost surprised it isn't a bigger illegal businesses (maybe it is) considering how high the per-pack tax is

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Up into the 1970s bootleg cigarettes and hijacking cigarette trucks was a pretty common thing. I suppose it fell out of favor when the large scale practitioners of the game moved on to some sort of drug business.
A friend of mine has family who live near an Indian reservation. A few years back he told me about a large federal raid with multiple arrests for moving large quantities of untaxed cigarettes through the reservation. I believe that you are allowed to purchase a couple of cartons for personal use to take home after your trip to the casino. If you are suspected of taking more, you will be stopped and your car searched as soon as you leave the reservation. The penalties have made what was once a good way to make a few bucks not worth the potential stay in the graybar hotel.

Fading Fast said:

I've never paid "Mary Worth" much attention, but you've got me interested. My first impression is, just like all the movies that were made about rich people during the '30s, the public seemed to enjoy the escapism / seeing the foibles of the rich while they were struggling through the Depression.

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We're joining Mary's story at exactly the point where the strip changes from a melodramatic serial about an elderly-but-wise Depression-era apple vendor to a melodramatic serial about an elderly-but-meddlesome former Depression-era apple vendor who gets involved in the lives of various rich wastrels. Leona's going to be a fixture in the strip for at least a couple of years here, so Mary better grit her teeth and prepare for the worst.

"Apple Mary"/"Mary Worth" is one of the very few strips of the Era drawn by a woman -- "Dale Allen" is really Dale Connor, who took over the strip when creator Martha Orr retired in early 1939. A man by the name of Allen Saunders was assigned to take over the writing shortly after that -- the "Allen" half of the Dale Allen pseudonum -- and Connor didn't think very much of his taking the trip down the soap opera road, but she will stick with it until 1942.

Saunders is the writer of another Eagle strip, "Big Chief Wahoo," which was originally a comedy strip dealing with a medicine-show con-man with a sarcastic Native American sidekick. The sidekick quickly took over the story, and turned it into a humorous adventure continuity. I've commented on the Sunday strips occasionally, but haven't followed the daily storylines -- right now, Wahoo is involved in an annoying feud with a Mexican bandito named "El Garlico," who matches the Chief point for point in the Hokey Ethnic Stereotype Derby. But this strip, too, is in for some big changes -- in a few months, the Chief will meet an adventuring photographer named Steve Roper, who will, in due time, push the Chief out of the picture and will take over the whole operation for himself.

Ah, the funnies. A cutthroat business.