The Era -- Day By Day

[FOXTROT LAMONT]

I dash back it was The Billy Mitchell story and Cooper was Mitchell. Some actor played MacArthur, a jury member in the American's court martial. Cannot pick much memory with Hawaii 5-0 man. sorry. He wasn't MacArthur.

 

[FOXTROT LAMONT]

When I was young and impressionable, Errol Flynn was a hero of mine. I loved all that swashbuckling stuff. My father once met him in Jamaica and had nothing but good to say about him. I even read Mr Flynn’s autobiography, “My Wicked, Wicked Ways”, when I was a teen. (amazes me that I somehow turned out okay.) It was only later that I learned how seriously creepy Flynn was —even by the different standards of his day. I seem to recall something about how, after his death, when they were selling his house, they discovered two way mirrors so he could spy on his guests. Ugh. Terrible when heroes fall.

Rumour has it Flynn fled Australia after killing a man. Why he never served WWII is mystery. Studio, Hollywood
string pulled my guess. Same Sinatra. Saw the Victor Mature-Rita Hayworth snap and he's enlisted able bodied seaman.
Gable, Montgomery, Stewart were pilots.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Flynn had a number of ailments that got him deferred as IV-F, not the least of which was a history of -- ah -- Cupid's diseases. Sinatra had a punctured eardrum, an occupational hazard for anyone who ever stood in front of a band while Harry James was playing.

 

[LizzieMaine]

("NO ERL SHOEHTAGE?" chatters Joe. "T'EN HOWCOME WE"EH FREEZIN"?" "I'm gonna KILL 'at lan'loehd!" growls Sally, applying a pipe wrench with vigor to the tepid radiator. "Mama KI'LANLOED!" echoes Leonora. "HSSSSSSS!" adds Stella.)

Russian forces have bypassed Georgievsk, key railroad junction 275 miles southeast of Rostov, and are driving into German defenses north and south of the town. According to frontline dispatches today, Soviet troops, employing the successful enveloping tactics they have used thruout their smashing offensive along the lower Don River and in the Caucasus, have recaptured Lysogorskaya, 12 miles southwest of Georgievsk and Oblynoye, nine miles north of the rail junction. A Red Army communique further reported the capture of 17 more places in the northern Caucasus, along with thirteen others reported in last midnight's communique. Hundreds of Germans were killed in the offensive, hundreds more taken prisoner, and large amounts of war materiel fell into Russian hands.

Two U-Boats were sunk and nine others out of 13 sighted were attacked by planes of the Allied Coastal Command in breaking up a wolf-pack attack on a convoy. Reports from London indicated that the convoy, made up of British, Polish, and Norwegian naval units, arrived in port under air escort from British, Canadian, and United States aircraft, but added that its arrival was "not without losses."

American forces on Guadalcanal have attacked enemy positions on the ground and from the air, scoring "small advances" in a series of actions beginning yesterday. American planes bombed and strafed Japanese positions before ground troops began moving into enemy territory. Japanese resistance was reported to be "weak."

The owner of a Brownsville salvage company who built a bonfire to provide heat for workers processing the massive piles of scrap metal in a vacant lot at East 57th Street and Avenue J made a court appearance today on charges of disorderly conduct, and Magistrate Abner Surpless in Flatbush Court has subpoenaed the Fire and Health Commissioners to explain just why he was arrested. Salvage dealer Harry Robbins was represented in court by City Councilman Walter Hart, who told the Magistrate that the Health Department had told his client that there would be no objection to the smoke from such a fire. But Fire Commissioner Patrick Walsh informed Robbins that a fire permit would not be issued unless he could stretch a hose line from the closest hydrant to insure the fire didn't spread. When Robbins tried to arrange this, Hart stated, he was told at his local fire station that it would be "foolish to connect a hydrant, since the water would freeze as soon as it got into the hose." Acting on that advice, Robbins went ahead and kindled his fire on Saturday, insisting that it was necessary to "keep the workmen from freezing to death." Hart pointed out that Robbins is operating under a War Department contract to process the mountains of steel and iron scrap gathered in last year's borough-wide salvage campaign, and has already moved, entirely at his own expense, more than 2,000,000 pounds of metal. Magistrate Surpless ordered the case continued to next Thursday, at which time Fire Commissioner Walsh and Health Commissioner Dr. Ernest L. Stebbins will be brought in to testify.

(They've missed the boat by not appointing Butch to replace Mr. Henderson as Price Administrator. He'd get things done.)

Mayor LaGuarida commended "a certain bartender" in his weekly broadcast for refusing to serve liquor to an 18-year-old sailor. The young seaman had written to the Mayor to complain he was refused service because of his age, even though he is "old enough to fight." Although the sailor threatened to write to the President if he did not get satisfaction from the Mayor, the Mayor sided strongly with the bartender, telling the sailor "I think you'll have time enough later to order a drink."

In Evanston, Illinois, a postmaster who refused to cash a money order made out to a dog has apologized for his error in interpreting the regulations. Tippy, a six year old pooch resembling a cocker spaniel appeared at an
Evanston post office bearing a money order fof fifty cents, made out in his name, which he had received as a Christmas gift from his master, now a lieutenant in the Army. Tippy returned home with his money order uncashed, but upon checking the regulations again, the postmaster notified the dog's family that he could cash the order if a member of the family came along to sign for him. "A dog," declared Postmaster George N. Taylor, "falls under the same category as a minor or someone who cannot read or write."

(At this rate, "Casablanca" will get to Brooklyn sometime in June. Oh, and there are still many descendants of Sarah Hamilton around Rockland, Maine.)

A Midwood youth who escaped from a Dobbs Village reform school two weeks ago now faces grand larceny charges after stealing $350 from his mother. Sixteen-year-old Edward Nelson, a skinny 5-foot-6-inch boy with glasses, was picked out of a Manhattan lineup today by his mother, who had noticed the money missing from its hiding place in her home at 349 E. 15th Street. Nelson was sent to the Children's Village School reformatory after he was convicted in Brooklyn Juvenile Court last November on a series of three burglary charges, but broke out on December 28th, stole a car, and made his way back to Brooklyn. His mother had been advised by the authorities of his escape, and told him he needed to turn himself in. On New Years' Day he left the family apartment, taking along his mother's $350. He was picked up early this morning by Patrolman Martin Stein, who noticed the youth sleeping in a parked car at the corner of 7th Avenue and 6th Street, with a glass cutter, a screwdriver, and other burglary tools on the seat beside him. The youth had only 31 cents in his pocket when he was arraigned this morning in Adolescent Court, telling police he had spent the rest in night clubs.

Wendell Willkie today denounced the appointment of Edward J. Flynn as minister and special ambassador to Austrialia as "crassly cynical." The 1940 Republican presidental nominee further termed the appointment "revolting to all decent citizens," and congratulated Senator Robert Taft (R-Ohio) and Senator Charles McNary (R-Oregon) for their announcement that the circumstances of Flynn's appointment, and his past activities as Democratic National Committee chairman, will be "investigated thoroughly." Mr. Willike encouraged both Republicans and Democrats to "rally to their support."

"Woman Worker" writes in to mock a recent letter from a defense worker calling for a ban on the wearing of slacks by women. Noting that she too is employed in defense work, she points out that "the management wisely recommends that we wear slacks. I wear them. I may not look like Susie Twinkletoes in the chorus, and if Mr. Anti-Slacks doesn't want to look at me, he should remember that he is supposed to be turning out munitions, not attending a musical comedy." She adds that not only will she wear what she pleases now, she will also do so after the war, whether Mr. Anti-Slacks likes it or not, "and he might as well just make up his mind to it."

("Who knows, we might find a solution to the whiskey shortage!")

(Hey, with everybody training in the north, maybe a few Dodgers could help out the Rangers! I bet Reiser would love a chance to slam his head a few times on the ice.)

Skater Sonja Heine is expected to gross a cool million dollars by the time her present tour with the Hollywood Ice Revue concludes later this month at Madison Square Garden. The skating revue will hit only five cities this year, Indianapolis, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, and New York, and turnout along each stop so far has exceeded all expectations. The show grossed $416,784 in Chicago alone, for thirteen sell-out performances. Miss Heine will appear in nine evening performances at the Garden starting a week from today, with one Sunday matinee. Tickets are reported to be selling briskly for each performance.

Jack Benny and all his radio gang will entertain the boys tonight at the U. S. Maritime Service Training Base at Sheepshead Bay. The show is strictly for those boys, with no broadcast scheduled.

(That's it, Mary. Play it cool.)

(You wouldn't be so cold if you'd worn slacks.)

(Mr. Pinson hated Irwin so much he couldn't bear to go on, so welcome yet another new non-Norman Marsh artist, Mr. Alfred Andriola. He comes to us from a short-lived "Charlie Chan" strip, not carried in New York, and from the comic books, where he drew a strange superhero called "Captain Triumph," a fellow in a T-shirt and jodhpurs who was aided in his crimefighting by the ghost of his dead brother. So don't be so smug, Irwin, you might die soon.)

(DON'T WORRY MOTHER MY CRACK LEGAL TEAM IS ALREADY ON THE JOB. WHEN YOU TESTIFY, REMEMBER TO SAY YOU PUT ME UP TO IT.)

("But we SHOT you!" "HAH! NOTHING CAN STOP AN AGENT OF THE OPA! LET'S SEE YOUR OIL RATION CARD!")

 

[LizzieMaine]

And in the Daily News...

"Don't let the door hitcha..."

And Mrs. Betty Smith came all the way from Kansas City to prove it.

"And we didn't even get a chance to explore the antique Belgian courtyard!"

"Somebody's gonna pay for this!" "Don't worry son, we'll find 'em." "No, I mean I've got the bill all ready. Do you know what it COSTS to send out an ambulance?"

Slowly turn the wheels....

"Be a shame if I dropped this rifle and it accidentally went off..."

"And to think he used to be a dollar-a-year man! They wouldn't give me fifty cents for him now!"

45 minutes at 350 degrees ought to just about do it.

Hey, there's a shortage of trained nurses, all right?

Meet Laura.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Oh, and...

Has anybody seen Whirlaway lately?

 

[FOXTROT LAMONT]

Flynn had a number of ailments that got him deferred as IV-F, not the least of which was a history of -- ah -- Cupid's diseases. Sinatra had a punctured eardrum, an occupational hazard for anyone who ever stood in front of a band while Harry James was playing.

Thank you Miss Elizabeth. Syphilis stick for in-liked and frankfurter's eardrum I imagine were occupational
hazards that make sense and I wonder if Frankfurter Sinatra shared similar stick issue with erroneous.
Corky is sharp stick clued on cues. The train arrived at the station. And Corky's celibate choice is honourable.
Chap is without question a gentleman and I need to latch onto an Irvin.

 

[Fading Fast]

...

Russian forces have bypassed Georgievsk, key railroad junction 275 miles southeast of Rostov, and are driving into German defenses north and south of the town. According to frontline dispatches today, Soviet troops, employing the successful enveloping tactics they have used thruout their smashing offensive along the lower Don River and in the Caucasus, have recaptured Lysogorskaya, 12 miles southwest of Georgievsk and Oblynoye, nine miles north of the rail junction. A Red Army communique further reported the capture of 17 more places in the northern Caucasus, along with thirteen others reported in last midnight's communique. Hundreds of Germans were killed in the offensive, hundreds more taken prisoner, and large amounts of war materiel fell into Russian hands.

Two U-Boats were sunk and nine others out of 13 sighted were attacked by planes of the Allied Coastal Command in breaking up a wolf-pack attack on a convoy. Reports from London indicated that the convoy, made up of British, Polish, and Norwegian naval units, arrived in port under air escort from British, Canadian, and United States aircraft, but added that its arrival was "not without losses."

American forces on Guadalcanal have attacked enemy positions on the ground and from the air, scoring "small advances" in a series of actions beginning yesterday. American planes bombed and strafed Japanese positions before ground troops began moving into enemy territory. Japanese resistance was reported to be "weak."
...

WWII went on until '45 and was a bloody war with many casualties on both sides. And while the Allies did, overall, advance in the years leading up to victory, they had many setbacks in both theaters.

Yet, the war news in the Eagle is almost always positive. You wonder if the media censored itself or if the gov't drove it, but someone in '42, like Sally or Joe, had to wonder why, if everything was going so well, did they read in the same paper that we needed to draft more men and no one could say when it would be over?

...

Mayor LaGuarida commended "a certain bartender" in his weekly broadcast for refusing to serve liquor to an 18-year-old sailor. The young seaman had written to the Mayor to complain he was refused service because of his age, even though he is "old enough to fight." Although the sailor threatened to write to the President if he did not get satisfaction from the Mayor, the Mayor sided strongly with the bartender, telling the sailor "I think you'll have time enough later to order a drink."

In Evanston, Illinois, a postmaster who refused to cash a money order made out to a dog has apologized for his error in interpreting the regulations. Tippy, a six year old pooch resembling a cocker spaniel appeared at an
Evanston post office bearing a money order fof fifty cents, made out in his name, which he had received as a Christmas gift from his master, now a lieutenant in the Army. Tippy returned home with his money order uncashed, but upon checking the regulations again, the postmaster notified the dog's family that he could cash the order if a member of the family came along to sign for him. "A dog," declared Postmaster George N. Taylor, "falls under the same category as a minor or someone who cannot read or write."
....

How are these two stories connected, you ask? The boy, who is legally able to be a soldier, feels he should be legally able to order a drink and the dog, who is legally able to serve in the military, feels he should be legally able to cash a money order. At least the dog got satisfaction.

...

(At this rate, "Casablanca" will get to Brooklyn sometime in June. Oh, and there are still many descendants of Sarah Hamilton around Rockland, Maine.)
...

Hopefully, it will get there before the war is over. Joe and Sally went into Manhattan to see it - or did they?

Hard to picture adorable and sweet Priscilla Lane running a gambling den.

Since you want to be honest with your fans, Ms. Crawford, do you plan on beating your future children with a wire coat hanger or not?

...

A Midwood youth who escaped from a Dobbs Village reform school two weeks ago now faces grand larceny charges after stealing $350 from his mother. Sixteen-year-old Edward Nelson, a skinny 5-foot-6-inch boy with glasses, was picked out of a Manhattan lineup today by his mother, who had noticed the money missing from its hiding place in her home at 349 E. 15th Street. Nelson was sent to the Children's Village School reformatory after he was convicted in Brooklyn Juvenile Court last November on a series of three burglary charges, but broke out on December 28th, stole a car, and made his way back to Brooklyn. His mother had been advised by the authorities of his escape, and told him he needed to turn himself in. On New Years' Day he left the family apartment, taking along his mother's $350. He was picked up early this morning by Patrolman Martin Stein, who noticed the youth sleeping in a parked car at the corner of 7th Avenue and 6th Street, with a glass cutter, a screwdriver, and other burglary tools on the seat beside him. The youth had only 31 cents in his pocket when he was arraigned this morning in Adolescent Court, telling police he had spent the rest in night clubs.
...

Where's Spencer Tracy's Father Flanagan when you need him?

...

Wendell Willkie today denounced the appointment of Edward J. Flynn as minister and special ambassador to Austrialia as "crassly cynical." The 1940 Republican presidental nominee further termed the appointment "revolting to all decent citizens," and congratulated Senator Robert Taft (R-Ohio) and Senator Charles McNary (R-Oregon) for their announcement that the circumstances of Flynn's appointment, and his past activities as Democratic National Committee chairman, will be "investigated thoroughly." Mr. Willike encouraged both Republicans and Democrats to "rally to their support."
...

Kudos to Willkie. I'm sure it won't go anywhere and Flynn will soon be in Australia, but I applaud the effort.

...

"Woman Worker" writes in to mock a recent letter from a defense worker calling for a ban on the wearing of slacks by women. Noting that she too is employed in defense work, she points out that "the management wisely recommends that we wear slacks. I wear them. I may not look like Susie Twinkletoes in the chorus, and if Mr. Anti-Slacks doesn't want to look at me, he should remember that he is supposed to be turning out munitions, not attending a musical comedy." She adds that not only will she wear what she pleases now, she will also do so after the war, whether Mr. Anti-Slacks likes it or not, "and he might as well just make up his mind to it."
...

And a kudos to this woman too.

...

Skater Sonja Heine is expected to gross a cool million dollars by the time her present tour with the Hollywood Ice Revue concludes later this month at Madison Square Garden. The skating revue will hit only five cities this year, Indianapolis, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, and New York, and turnout along each stop so far has exceeded all expectations. The show grossed $416,784 in Chicago alone, for thirteen sell-out performances. Miss Heine will appear in nine evening performances at the Garden starting a week from today, with one Sunday matinee. Tickets are reported to be selling briskly for each performance.
...

Come on the Eagle, report this like you are actually a newspaper. Is Ms. Heine's earnings limited to the $25,000 war cap or, because this is not a salary, but revenue from her shows, is it subject to different tax rules? Once again, the Eagle missed the story.

...

(Mr. Pinson hated Irwin so much he couldn't bear to go on, so welcome yet another new non-Norman Marsh artist, Mr. Alfred Andriola. He comes to us from a short-lived "Charlie Chan" strip, not carried in New York, and from the comic books, where he drew a strange superhero called "Captain Triumph," a fellow in a T-shirt and jodhpurs who was aided in his crimefighting by the ghost of his dead brother. So don't be so smug, Irwin, you might die soon.)
...

Dan really is mean to Irwin.

...

And Mrs. Betty Smith came all the way from Kansas City to prove it.
...

The heck with all that (although, the guy has a good point about the sales tax as does the lady from Kansas City), the one thing I'd do would be to go for a ride in the Mayor Mobile, with the siren on!

...

"And we didn't even get a chance to explore the antique Belgian courtyard!"
...

Good one, Lizzie. Also, where exactly do you find a castle like this in America? When Europe was building its castles, tepees were state of the art buildings in America.

...

Meet Laura.

Heck, I think we just found the "Woman Worker" who wrote the letter to the Eagle today about women wearing slacks at work.

Oh, and...

Has anybody seen Whirlaway lately?

Since, I think, Whirlaway wasn't a gelding, he's safe. That's where the big money is in racing (these days for sure, but siring was valuable back then, too).

 

[FOXTROT LAMONT]

These papers are really first class sheets. Home front news tops. Society issues with wartime entertainment for example. Strip tease ladies like the lady the other day telling it to the judge about front row GIs yelling at her demanding more so she obliged the national war effort. Wonderful.

 

[LizzieMaine]

All military news comes to the American press via the OWI, which strongly emphasizes that it is not a "censorship bureau," with no legal authority to tell papers not to publish specific information, but there is a strong encouragement for the press to follow the OWI line. The biggest wartime press scandal we've had yet, you may recall, was last year when the Daily News and the Chicago Tribune published certain sensitive information concerning the naval situation in the Pacific, to considerable dismay from the Authorities -- there was some consideration of going after Colonel McCormick on sedition charges, but in the end nothing came of it. That's as far as anyone has gone so far, but there is, indeed, a lot of war left ahead.

Newspapers are not as heavily censored as newsreels and radio, both of which have the heavy hands of film studios and radio networks and sponsored applied along with the OWI supervision. None of it is *called* censorship, but everyone understands that's what it is. War has its exegiencies.

Joe and Sally do wonder what this year will bring, Joe will be thirty years old in a few months, with a year-and-a-half-old daughter and a wife who is at present not working, and a job in a criticial war industry, and he's been coasting along as a safe III-A so far. But whether that will hold out or not remains to be seen. He doesn't particularly want to be a soldier -- Sally is the one with the killer instinct, not him -- and as he waits for the latest letter from his pal Solly in North Africa, he tries not to think too far ahead.

 

[LizzieMaine]

("I dunno about t'is," squints Sally, as she gazes at the electric space heater Joe is unwrapping on the kitchen table. "Y'remembeh allem fiehs inna papeh las' winteh -- it's t'ese t'ings 'at cause'm." "Its e'iteh t'is, owr we freeze t'deat'. Don' worry, it's gonna be fine." "Wheah'dja get it?" queries Sally. Joe shifts his eyes and mutters "Davega." "DAVEGA!" thunders Sally. "YA WANNA BOIN US OUTA HOUSE AN' HOME?" "Well," sighs Joe, throwing up his hands, "at least we'd be wawrm.")

US planes in the Solomon Islands shot down four Japanese Zero fighters today, bringing enemy aircraft losses in the present campaign to 680. The latest victories were scored between Santa Isabel and New Georgia Islands, northwest of Guadalcanal, when a force fo twelve Zeros attacked a force of Douglas Dauntless dive bombers escorted by Grumman Wildcat fighters.

Japanese soldiers on Guadalcanal, ordered to take the island or die, and forbidden to return home without accomplishing their mission, have named the famous battleground "Death Island." Marine officers returning from the scene of battle revealed today that the name was used in Japanese documents captured after Japanese troops retreated. The officers, all captains, said that the Marines remaining on Guadalcanal are doing their best to insure that the Japanese forces "die trying."

A Bensonhurst man who faces the electric chair for a double murder during a barroom brawl in August of 1940 could be reprieved and receive a new trial following a hearing tomorrow before Judge Peter Brancato. Convicted killer David Sileo, now in the Sing Sing death house. was sentenced over a year ago to die by Judge Brancato, but new evidence in the form of a letter from a man who claims he witnessed the incident in the New Utrecht Avenue saloon that lead to the deaths of Orlando Rava and Peter D'Aula has led Judge Brancato to reopen the case on the possibiity that the shootings may have been an act of self-defense. James Sica of 8125 17th Avenue, who was held in the case as a material witness, but did not testify, stated in his letter that Rava and D'Aula had held him early on the morning of August 2, 1940, and that he trailed them to the bar to try to get at least some of his money back. He stated that he saw the confrontation between Sileo and the two men, and that before Sileo fired, Rava "made a move on him."

(Ah, the old "Vapo-Rub Defense...")

Democratic National Committee chairman Edward J. Flynn declared today that not only does he welcome a full Senate investigation of the "Belgian Paving Block affair," he has himself demanded such an investigation. Flynn, who announced his own nomination as minister plenipotentiary and special ambassador to Australia three days before President Roosevelt submitted his name to the Senate, asserted that he has already been "vindicated" by two grand juries and a Supreme Court justice in the matter of his use of city-owned paving blocks and WPA labor in the construction of a driveway at his Lake Mahopac estate. Flynn also pointed out that Paul Kern, former Civil Service Commission chairman, who made the original accusations in the affair, had been dismissed from his position by Mayor LaGuardia, and charged that others have attempted to make political capital of the case. "At last," Flynn declared, "I shall have an opportunity to state publicly my knowledge, or lack of knowledge, of the facts and circumstances of this matter before a committee of the United States Senate, the highest forum in our country. Flynn's nomination faces strong opposition in the Senate, mostly from Republicans, although some Democrats have also expressed the view that the nomination is "an unfortunate choice."

Police and FBI agents are searching today for the assassin who killed Carlo Tresca, flamboyant cape-wearing Italian radical who was a prominent foe of Mussolini. Tresca was gunned down yesterday last night on 5th Avenue as he left the offices of the Italian-language newspaper Il Martello ("The Hammer,") by a man who leaped from an automobile, fired four shots, and then vanished into the night. Dimout conditions prevented bystanders from getting a clear look at the killer or his vehicle. Tresca had just left the newspaper office accompanied by Giuseppe Callabi, 415 Central Park West, who is said to be the primary financial backer of the paper. Fascist agents are said to have marked Tresca for death as far back as 1931, and the editor himself began carrying a gun for self-defense, only to abandon the weapon after he accidentally shot himself. Tresca was convicted by the U. S. Government in 1923 of publishing "obscene articles about birth control" in his paper, but was released from Atlanta Federal Prison after four months when it was revealed that the Italian ambassador had instigitated his arrest as an act of political vengeance. Fascist operatives seeking to kill Tresca were themselves threatened by members of the Black Hand, who supported the editor's campaign to rid Italy of Mussolini. It is these threats which have brought the FBI into the case, out of a fear that underworld reprisals against those responsible for Tresca's death will lead to a wave of political assassinations among rival Italian factions in the city.

(It's actually a very simple system. The hard part isn't' counting your points, it's finding what you want to spend them on.)

Gypsy Rose Lee, the "garter" of "Star and Garter," will talk literature with tough seamen as part of a literary tea to be held at the headquarters of the National Maritime Union, 346 17th Street, Wednesday afternoon at 2:30. Miss Lee, author of two best-selling mystery novels, will appear alongside fellow authors Quentin Reynolds, Cecil Brown, Michael Sayers, and Albert E. Kahn. The event will mark the dedication of a new bookstore and reading room for union members at the headquarters building. Among those expected to attend are several mariners who survived the torpedoing of their ships.

Borough President John Cashmore will kick off United Nations Week on the steps of Borough Hall next Monday, joined by delegations representing Greece, Russia, Norway, the Fighting French, China, Czecholsolvakia, and Yugoslavia, all in national dress, along with soldiers, sailors, fliers and marines of all the Allied nations. Entertainment will be provide by six bands representing various Brooklyn civic organizations, and more than 100 "pretty girl winners" selected by audiences at local theatres will "add glamour to the occasion."

(That's it, always look at the bright side.)

Mrs. Rose Trumbull writes in to say that the real problem with young people today is that they are not taught religion in school. "The Board of Education should teach religion," she insists, "or at least a study of the Bible in our schools, and children would naturally learn to respect authority there." She further calls for an end to teaching children "false doctrines of freedom and education," and instead insists that the "Four R's" be taught -- with the fourth R standing for Religion.

The unmistakable odor of sour mash drew a policeman and a fireman to what appeared to be a vacant garage in Bay Ridge, where they discovered a 500 gallon still. Patrolman William Meyer of the 4th Avenue Precinct and an unidentified off-duty fireman forced their way into the garage at 740 64th Street and found the still, 6000 gallons of mash, and a portable oil burner -- but no sign of the operator. Along with the equipment and the mash, 6 50-gallon drums of fuel oil were seized in the raid.

(Spring training at the Half Moon Hotel???? I wonder who'll get the Abe Reles Memorial Suite?)

(Well, it couldn't be Leona, she's way over 17....OW! I'M SORRY, BUT IT'S TRUE!)

(NEVER PICK UP HITCHIKERS!)

(All right. A phony count, another one of Lord Plushbottom's cousins, and Marlene Dietrich. Mr. Andriola is off to quite a start.)

(THAT'S RIGHT, AMERICA'S NUMBER ONE HERO DOG IS LOYAL TO HIS FAMILY! Hey, did you bring the horse meat?)

(And don't forget to get in that last Hitler salute so we're sure who the villain is.)

 

[LizzieMaine]

And in the Daily News...

(If Ed Flynn doesn't get to be Ambassador to Australia, you could always give it to Errol.)

"Persuaded." It was a gentler time...

"My, what a fine dog!" HMPH FIGURES SANDY MAKES A GOOD IMPRESSION ON A SPY SABOTEUR CROOK AND LOUSE.

"Oh, my dear, you really must try our solution -- we just eat straight out of the cans!"

"And besides, who's gonna feed my dog??" "Oh, I've been meaning to tell you..."

C'mon, Tilda -- don't you read the ads? Three tablets a day of Ironized Yeast will fix you right up.

Ah, a punch in the moosh -- the universal language!

Yep, she's definitely in show business.

I'd hate to serve in Kayo's Junior Commando unit.

"Sure, sure. But first, do it again!"

 

[Fading Fast]

...

Democratic National Committee chairman Edward J. Flynn declared today that not only does he welcome a full Senate investigation of the "Belgian Paving Block affair," he has himself demanded such an investigation. Flynn, who announced his own nomination as minister plenipotentiary and special ambassador to Australia three days before President Roosevelt submitted his name to the Senate, asserted that he has already been "vindicated" by two grand juries and a Supreme Court justice in the matter of his use of city-owned paving blocks and WPA labor in the construction of a driveway at his Lake Mahopac estate. Flynn also pointed out that Paul Kern, former Civil Service Commission chairman, who made the original accusations in the affair, had been dismissed from his position by Mayor LaGuardia, and charged that others have attempted to make political capital of the case. "At last," Flynn declared, "I shall have an opportunity to state publicly my knowledge, or lack of knowledge, of the facts and circumstances of this matter before a committee of the United States Senate, the highest forum in our country. Flynn's nomination faces strong opposition in the Senate, mostly from Republicans, although some Democrats have also expressed the view that the nomination is "an unfortunate choice."
...

Is there someone available, someone with a brain, who can present the damning case against him?

...

Police and FBI agents are searching today for the assassin who killed Carlo Tresca, flamboyant cape-wearing Italian radical who was a prominent foe of Mussolini. Tresca was gunned down yesterday last night on 5th Avenue as he left the offices of the Italian-language newspaper Il Martello ("The Hammer,") by a man who leaped from an automobile, fired four shots, and then vanished into the night. Dimout conditions prevented bystanders from getting a clear look at the killer or his vehicle. Tresca had just left the newspaper office accompanied by Giuseppe Callabi, 415 Central Park West, who is said to be the primary financial backer of the paper. Fascist agents are said to have marked Tresca for death as far back as 1931, and the editor himself began carrying a gun for self-defense, only to abandon the weapon after he accidentally shot himself. Tresca was convicted by the U. S. Government in 1923 of publishing "obscene articles about birth control" in his paper, but was released from Atlanta Federal Prison after four months when it was revealed that the Italian ambassador had instigitated his arrest as an act of political vengeance. Fascist operatives seeking to kill Tresca were themselves threatened by members of the Black Hand, who supported the editor's campaign to rid Italy of Mussolini. It is these threats which have brought the FBI into the case, out of a fear that underworld reprisals against those responsible for Tresca's death will lead to a wave of political assassinations among rival Italian factions in the city.
...

This, clearly, is not over.

...

Gypsy Rose Lee, the "garter" of "Star and Garter," will talk literature with tough seamen as part of a literary tea to be held at the headquarters of the National Maritime Union, 346 17th Street, Wednesday afternoon at 2:30. Miss Lee, author of two best-selling mystery novels, will appear alongside fellow authors Quentin Reynolds, Cecil Brown, Michael Sayers, and Albert E. Kahn. The event will mark the dedication of a new bookstore and reading room for union members at the headquarters building. Among those expected to attend are several mariners who survived the torpedoing of their ships.
...

She's still going strong as we start 1943.

...

(Well, it couldn't be Leona, she's way over 17....OW! I'M SORRY, BUT IT'S TRUE!)
...

Leona, be reasonable and leave Lizzie alone; you can't be 17 as that would mean you were working at the Club Buccaneer at 15...OW!, SHE CAN KICK TOO!

...

"Persuaded." It was a gentler time...
...

How didn't Hawaii get at least one detention home in the first round?

I'm sure it's just coincidental that right below this line in the article, "Infected woman, particularly prostitutes, will be given vocational guidance and efforts will be made to get them jobs," is a classified ad for, "Chambermaids: No experience necessary."

Meanwhile, Hollywood censors still have married couples sleeping in twin beds and won't allow the use of the world "pregnant."

...

"My, what a fine dog!" HMPH FIGURES SANDY MAKES A GOOD IMPRESSION ON A SPY SABOTEUR CROOK AND LOUSE.
...

"I can't hear you over my massive pile of fan mail; you know what fan mail is, don't you?"

...

"Sure, sure. But first, do it again!"

Meet-cute 1943 war-factory style.

 

[FOXTROT LAMONT]

Twin beds I recall that looker Myrna Loy in separate beds with Powell and countryman Cary.
And Elizabeth Montgomery-my Samantha in Bewitched! poor Darren never jack the lad there.
Thank you Miss Elizabeth for the brief above. War censor is a peace carry over here.
Cork cuestick is now within rights honourable or not. A watch is also a compass with pitch sunshine.
A need for flight and ground escape. Catherine Deneuve.

 

[LizzieMaine]

("Huh!" huhs Joe, as the space heater crackles desperately on the kitchen table. "Wit'a busted skull an' a busted shouldeh, Reiseh musta had some real miracle doctehs t' get inna Awrmy. "Safest place for him.," sighs Sally. "At leas' t'ey c'n make 'im weeah a helmet!" Suddenly, with a spark and a puff of ozone, the heater shuts off, and the lights along with it. "DAVEGA!" roars Sally. "SEE, I TOL' YA!" "I'll go lookit t' fuse box," sighs Joe. "Wheah's my ovehcoat?" "Stella's sleepin' undeh it." "Oh. Well, t'is blanket'll do...")

The shortage of evaporated milk grew grave in Brooklyn yesterday, as one mother, whose husband is away in the service, found it necessary to appeal to the police for help in finding milk to feed her baby. The woman, who told the Eagle that she had only left on hand for one more feeding, added that her neighbor, whose husband is a major in the Army, had already approached a local army post in search of help. "We don't mind doing without coffee, sugar, meat, or any other rationed item," she said. "But when a baby on an evaporated milk formula has to go without it, it is worse than heartbreaking." She acknowledged the important to seeing to it that the Army receives adequate supplies to keep up morale, but argued "what do you think it does to a man to know that the 3-month-old son he left behind can't be fed his formula?" Milk company officials in the city insist their deliveries are normal, but borough grocers are complaining that the deliveries "do not arrive." Hoarders who are stocking their shelves with canned milk should be aware that their efforts will be for naught, as the milk will be useless within a year. It won't go sour due to the canning process, but as it ages, it will become thick and stringy, and quite unsuited for ordinary use. "But a year is too long to wait for retribution -- it is now that they must realize the damage that they do."

A broadcast from Berlin recorded in London today announced that Adolf Hitler has met with Rumania's dictator, Marshal Ion Antonescu, following earlier meetings with the Bulgarian minister of war, and is expected soon to confer with leaders of the Axis-controlled Hungarian government. It is believed by London observers that these meetings are "a desperate attempt to get more troops for his cracking front." It was announced that the meeting with Antonescu resulted in "full agreement on all military, political, and economic problems," and that Germany and Rumania will continue united in the war "to its final victory."

American Federation of Musicians President James C. Petrillo said today that action by Congress to pass protective legislation for musicians would mean the union would not have to resort on a continued ban on canned music. Testifying before a Senate Interstate Commerce subcommittee on the present AFM ban on the making of phonograph records and radio transcriptions, Petrillo insisted that "we make no demands, but we would like to have a law to put us in the position of ASCAP" (the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers, which protects the copyrights of songwriters.) He explained that the AFM is looking for "revenue from every record made by a musician." "Isn't that a matter of a contract?" asked Senator James Tunnell (D-Delaware.) "They won't sit down with us," maintained Petrillo, noting that the last discussions between the union, recording companies, and the broadcasting industry took place in 1937, and accused the National Association of Broadcasters of "giving the public a one-sided discussion of 'canned music." The AFM has barred its members from making records or transcriptions since July 31, 1942, and until the dispute over royalty payments for broadcast use of records is resolved.

Chairman Walter F. O'Malley of the committee on reservations for the Cathedral Club dinner honoring Brooklyn Trust Company President George V. McLaughlin indicated today that all available seats in the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel St. George have been sold. Mr. O'Malley further stated that the dinner, to be held tomorrow night, will be one of the largest testimonial events ever held in Brooklyn, with 1800 persons expected to attend.

(Sorry, Slick, but you can bring in all the mystery witnesses you want, and you still have no excuse for taking a 15-year-old girl on a boat.)

Police guards have been withdrawn from the apartment of a Bronx woman charged a month ago with using her rooms as a gambling joint. Relays of patrolmen had been posted in the four-room flat rented by Mrs. Sarah Bertisch of 867 E. 176th Street, after eleven men were arrest in December at the apartment and fined a dollar each for disorderly conduct. Although the charge against Mrs. Bertisch was dismissed, the patrolmen followed her home and have been sitting around her living room, moving in and out in shifts, ever since. Mrs. Bertisch gave them coffee, sometimes, but after declaring that "too much is too much," she filed a complaint with the American Civil Liberties Union, which sent its legal counsel, Abraham H. Goodman, who also happens to be Republican leader of the 18th Assembly District in Brooklyn, to the apartment to investigate. Afrer Mr. Goodman began taking down the shield numbers of the patrolmen as they lounged in Mrs. Bertisch's living room, they were "withdrawn" last night.

(There's a lot of this going around lately.)

"Yankee Doodle Dandy" will have its Brooklyn premiere on Friday, opening at the Fox Brooklyn Theatre at its full length, at popular prices. Starring James Cagney in the life of Broadway showman George M. Cohen, the extreme length of the production will prevent the presentation of a full second feature, but a timley Technicolor featurette, "A Ship is Born," will round out the program.

The Judy Garland-Gene Kelly musical "For Me and My Gal" comes to Brooklyn tomorrow, opening at Loew's Metropolitan direct from its record-breaking Broadway engagement. Co-feature will be "The Omaha Trail," with James Craig and Pamela Blake.

(War is Educational.)

(No cracks about Clyde Sukeforth, Parrott! I knew him! Yes, he was quiet -- but when he did say something, you listened.)

Ike Pearson of the Phillies, known and not loved at Ebbets Field for hitting Pete Reiser in the head with a pitch two years ago, is now Private First Class Ike Pearson, U. S. M. C., of Parris Island, where, once he completes basic training, he will go to Officer's Training School.

("But why send for me?" "I read your of you in my newspaper. I see how you help Leona Stockpool. I think you may help me get job singing in American cabaret?")

(Idiot, you shoulda grabbed his B-card.)

(HEY WATCH YOUR FEET -- I JUST GOT OUT OF THE HOSPITAL!)

(CUT! Look, Karloff, leave the bug-eye stuff to Lorre.)

 

[LizzieMaine]

And in the Daily News...

Yeah, but is he really as thick as Flip is? And who's Rouge based on? (click on image for larger version that may improve readability!)

Hey Bill, be sure to listen to WNYC next Sunday noon. -- love, Butch.

"Arf." HEY I WAS TALKING TO WOLF THE OTHER DAY AND HE SAID IF HE WAS THERE HE'D EAT THAT GUY'S FACE RIGHT OFF. HE ISN'T WORKING NOW YOU KNOW AND I HEARD HE WAS IN TO SEE TO MR GRAY. PROBABLY JUST A FRIENDLY VISIT. JUST THOUGHT I'D MENTION IT.

Such a spacious ambulance. Get a couch in there, a couple of chairs, some nice curtains on the windows, a kitchenette in the front seat, you'd be all set.

If she starts doing aerials, I'll scream.

Art for art's sake.

Yeah, let's see Taffy Tucker do that.

Meanwhile, Heinie is looking forward to a relaxing POW camp. He's heard they even get shows.

You might live rent free, Willie, but you don't live free.

What, no plant ID badge? AN OBVIOUS SPY.

 

[FOXTROT LAMONT]

Catherine Deneuve. And Flip is an honourable chap but a mere virgin lad next to worldly wise vixen Rouge.

I saw the Sullivans piece. Tragic does not describe parental heartbreak such sorrow brings.

 

[Fading Fast]

("Huh!" huhs Joe, as the space heater crackles desperately on the kitchen table. "Wit'a busted skull an' a busted shouldeh, Reiseh musta had some real miracle doctehs t' get inna Awrmy. "Safest place for him.," sighs Sally. "At leas' t'ey c'n make 'im weeah a helmet!" Suddenly, with a spark and a puff of ozone, the heater shuts off, and the lights along with it. "DAVEGA!" roars Sally. "SEE, I TOL' YA!" "I'll go lookit t' fuse box," sighs Joe. "Wheah's my ovehcoat?" "Stella's sleepin' undeh it." "Oh. Well, t'is blanket'll do...")
...

Had the same thought about Reiser.

Had the same thought about a space heater from, of all places, Davega.

If the German people don't believe their government's explanation about the temporary setback to the Russians in the East, they can just wait until 1945 and ask the Russians themselves.

You gotta love the story about the most-expensive soldier.

...

Police guards have been withdrawn from the apartment of a Bronx woman charged a month ago with using her rooms as a gambling joint. Relays of patrolmen had been posted in the four-room flat rented by Mrs. Sarah Bertisch of 867 E. 176th Street, after eleven men were arrest in December at the apartment and fined a dollar each for disorderly conduct. Although the charge against Mrs. Bertisch was dismissed, the patrolmen followed her home and have been sitting around her living room, moving in and out in shifts, ever since. Mrs. Bertisch gave them coffee, sometimes, but after declaring that "too much is too much," she filed a complaint with the American Civil Liberties Union, which sent its legal counsel, Abraham H. Goodman, who also happens to be Republican leader of the 18th Assembly District in Brooklyn, to the apartment to investigate. Afrer Mr. Goodman began taking down the shield numbers of the patrolmen as they lounged in Mrs. Bertisch's living room, they were "withdrawn" last night.
...

This is how his fanaticism makes Butch look stupid.

...

(War is Educational.)
...

And the "detention home" goes global.

...

(Idiot, you shoulda grabbed his B-card.)
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Isn't anyone in the office a little freaked out at seeing the pages in the ledger books turning themselves?

And in the Daily News...

Yeah, but is he really as thick as Flip is? And who's Rouge based on? (click on image for larger version that may improve readability!)
...

It really is amazing how much "Terry and the Pirates" was part of the larger culture back then. It clearly wasn't just a comicstrip for kiddies. Growing up in the '70s/'80s, it was still referenced here and there by the men who were, at that time, in their 40s and up. And I said "men," specifically, as I don't remember the women of that age group ever talking about it or joining in those conversations, but it seems from what we're read, "TT&P" and other comicstrips had plenty of female fans. (Thanks for the reading tip, it helped a bit, but hopefully, the scans will get better again soon.)

...

Hey Bill, be sure to listen to WNYC next Sunday noon. -- love, Butch.
...

The 1942 version of today's VIP "climate activists" flying to "renewable energy" conferences on private jets.

...

"Arf." HEY I WAS TALKING TO WOLF THE OTHER DAY AND HE SAID IF HE WAS THERE HE'D EAT THAT GUY'S FACE RIGHT OFF. HE ISN'T WORKING NOW YOU KNOW AND I HEARD HE WAS IN TO SEE TO MR GRAY. PROBABLY JUST A FRIENDLY VISIT. JUST THOUGHT I'D MENTION IT.
...

"You don't scare me one bit." Click. [Hangs phone up.] "Where's Mr. Gray? I bet he'd love to snuggle with his favorite dog. And where are his slippers, I should bring them to him."

...

What, no plant ID badge? AN OBVIOUS SPY.

The heart wants what the heart wants, but Harold, you got the two moneybags Pipdyke girls after you, maybe leave Rosie the Riveter alone.

Catherine Deneuve. And Flip is an honourable chap but a mere virgin lad next to worldly wise vixen Rouge.

I saw the Sullivans piece. Tragic does not describe parental heartbreak such sorrow brings.

Having grown up knowing the Sullivan story from history books and the movies, it's still jarring and heartbreaking to read about it "in real time," knowing their mother is just learning about it now.

 

[FOXTROT LAMONT]

^ Fast- The home front has its tale told. Not a parent myself, I just stand in awe of these past generations.

Terrence does seem the tickler now with clarity and timely focus. Streets above today's fare no doubt.
I remarked in another thread how my wearing a fedora is noted by kids. Starbucks is a sure spot and always do the Indy pitch. Adults have some debt to serve youth at such occasion so it's Jones and Will. You've undoubtedly seen all of Indiana and I know Branagh's Henry, yet these are unknown to these kids. Olivier, absolutely never heard of. Like a martian. So I press the word with Indy and what Bard the traffic they say will bear. I work in the City and dish on Disney has it the mouse is not long for this world.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Comics in general had a much wider female fanbase than people today realize -- the gender split among comic book readers was nearly 50/50. I think the difference is that comic *fandom,* especially of the organized sort, has always been overwhelmingly male, at least until the internet came along. And even then, the boys-club mentality has not gone away. It's the same thing with science fiction "fandom" -- it was always a male thing, until Star Trek came along and showed just how many women were interested but hadn't gotten involved in any "fannish" culture.

As for newspaper comics, everybody read them -- adults and kids, men and women, rich and poor, and everything in between. Thousands of homes in New York buy the Daily News even if they can't stand its politics, simply because they've got to know what happens in the comics.

Caniff isn't the first "celebrity cartoonist" by any means, but he's the "thinking person's celebrity cartoonist." You can't name another, active in 1943, who's had a New York gallery show with the exception of George Herriman of "Krazy Kat," the favorite comic of the cultural intelligentsia, who wouldn't otherwise be caught dead wrapping their garbage in the Journal-American. And Herriman had his gallery show twenty years ago.