The Era -- Day By Day

[LizzieMaine]

Motorized Nazi units advancing steadily across the rocky roads of central Norway are said to be threatening Allied positions in two sectors of the front below Trondheim. The fully-equipped mechanized units covered fifty miles in less than a day in a northwestern thrust. They are now reported to be about fifteen miles south of Allied concentrations at Stoeren, just thirty miles from German-occupied Trondheim.

Meanwhile, the Italian newspaper "Messagero" reports that King Haakon of Norway may be preparing to depart on a British cruiser to seek refuge in England. The report, which lacks official confirmation, also states that Crown Prince Olaf has been wounded in the right arm.

A pilot and two passengers were killed today in the crash of an amphibian plane in Long Island Sound. Fifty-one year old George Daufvitch of East Elmhurst, son of a former mayor of Long Beach and 35-year-old William A. Bowerman, a Civil Aviation Authority inspector station at Roosevelt Field died in the crash, as did the pilot, identified as Eric Radke, whose body is still tangled in the wreckage. According to eyewitnesses, the plane was flying at an altitude of about 500 feet over Plum Point when the wings buckled and the plane plunged into the water. The craft was registered in Daufvitch's name, and the three men were making the flight in order to test Radke for a seaplane pilot's license.

The Dodgers will not become the first major league team to travel regularly by airplane after all, with team president Larry MacPhail calling off a planned deal with United Airlines to fly the team out of LaGuardia Airport on two twenty-one-passenger Douglas trimotors. MacPhail says the deal collapsed after the airline could not promise him two planes leaving at the same time from each city on the National League circuit, and that after negotiations were complete, the airline "raised the prices" on him. MacPhail has long been a booster for air travel, and estimates prepared by Dodger traveling secretary John McDonald state that a full route of the National League western circuit would mean just fourteen and a half hours travel time, compared to the more than fifty-five hours it takes to make that run by train. MacPhail experimented with air travel during his tenure running the Reds, but did not fully commit to an airline plan. He had hoped to roll out the experiment for the Dodgers at the start of the upcoming western swing, but those plans will now be shelved for the time being.

Thirteen firemen, including a battalion chief, were overcome by smoke inhalation while battling a fire at the corner of Fulton and Jay Streets downtown. The fire was confined to the ground floors of 437 Fulton Street, location of the Gotham Men's Shop, and did not spread to the upper floors occupied by the Fawcett and Fawcett Dental Supply Company, and radio station WARD. Burning suits, cotton wear, and cardboard cartons burned rapidly, generating thick clouds of smoke that hampered firefighting efforts.

A Methodist youth group protested a speech by Representative Martin Dies in Atlantic City, declaring its opposition to the Dies Committee and what it stands for, and criticizing the general conference of the church for inviting Dies to speak. The National Council of Methodist Youth distributed circulars denouncing the Dies Committee as "the mouthpiece of disgruntled people who wish to use its avenues of publicity to smear their enemies." Representative Dies dismissed the protest, stating that "there should be no surrender to those who wish to modernize the church."

Former world heavyweight boxing champion Primo Carnera is being sought by authorities in France as a deserter from the French Army. Carnera, though born in Italy, became a French citizen before beginning his boxing career, and as such was subject to military service. French officials say he failed to report when drafted, and is now a fugitive from justice. Carnera, who now lives in Italy, did not comment on the French statement.

("Hah!" says Joe. "If she knows so much, howcum ya gotta fill in a form?" And Sally looks out the window and says, "I wonder if she knows if Petey'll hit a homer today?")

The 1940 edition of the World's Fair will mix "hayseed and tinsel," doffing its 1939 white tie in favor of a more down-to-earth shirtsleeve approach. Emblematic of the change is the replacement of Salvador Dali's highbrow exhibition of surrealist art with a new attraction called "Twenty Thousand Legs Under The Sea." But "NTG's Congress of Beauty," sexpottiest of 1939's sexpot shows has been eliminated, with its site now occupied by the "American Jubilee," touted as a star-spangled plaza of wholesome entertaintment. Fair president Harvey D. Gibson will eschew last year's top hat and morning suit for the opening ceremonies, and plans to dedicate the 1940 Fair on May 11th in ordinary business clothes.

The president of the Brooklyn Borough Gas Company says she prefers to hire married women for positions with the firm. Miss Mary Dillon spoke before 300 students yesterday at the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences, stating that the combination of a career and raising a family is not only possible for women, but is the ideal situation.

Old Timer Almeda C. Browne of 397 Argyle Road is organizing a reunion of the classes of 1886 and 1887 of PS 25, and remembers what made the Good Old Days Good -- "we just lived and enjoyed it!"

With the Gulf Screen Guild Theatre program having concluded for the season last week, the detective adventures of Ellery Queen will now be heard for the same sponsor thru the summer, every Sunday at 7:30 pm on WABC.

The Dodgers continue their rampage across the National League, knocking back the Giants 4-1 at the Polo Grounds for their seventh straight win, on the back of strong pitching by Luke Hamlin and more hard hitting by Cookie Lavagetto, who rapped two doubles and knocked in three runs to pace the Brooklyn attack. Only a Mel Ott home run in the fourth spoiled Hamlin's shot at a shutout. The crowd of 38,122 may have been the largest non-Sunday regular season crowd ever to see a game under Coogan's Bluff.

The Dodgers and Giants close out the current series this afternoon, with Whit Wyatt getting the start for the Flock versus Harry Gumbert for the Terrymen. Charlie Gilbert was out of the lineup yesterday with a sore foot, with Dixie Walker getting a start in his place. No word yet on whether Gilbert will be ready to play today.

The Dodgers take an off day tomorrow for travel, resuming play on Tuesday in Cincinnati.

With a week to go before the 1940 running of the Kentucky Derby, Bimelech, undefeated juvenile of the 1939 racing season, is considered the favorite.

The Right Honorable W. L. Mackenzie-King, Prime Minister of Canada, gets the front of the Trend section this week. "He lacks mannerisms and hair."

Figures compiled by the WPA have determined that the Average American College Girl, Class of 1940, measures thusly: Height, 5 feet 5 inches. Weight, 125 pounds six ounces. Bust, 34 inches. Waist, 26 inches. Hips, 37.4 inches. Ankles, 9.25 inches. Height of hips from floor, 32.6 inches. The averages were compiled by the WPA as part of a project intended to aid in the standardization of sizes for the manufacture of clothing.

Alfred Lunt and Lynne Fontanne open a new show on Broadway tomorrow, with the curtain going up on Robert Sherwood's "There Shall Be No Night" at the Alvin.

Now at the Patio, Robert Montgomery and Edward Arnold in "The Earl of Chicago," paired with Frank Morgan in the comedy western "Henry Goes Arizona."

Free dinosaurs are available for the asking at the Hal Roach Studios in Hollywood, as the prop department disposes of the leftovers from the recent filming of "One Million Years BC." The studio says "a little Brontosaurus" is just the thing to brighten up any apartment.

(Careful with that carbine, kid. You'll shoot yer eye out.)

(In panel 8, is Bill about to "varnish" Sunny's hair? If not, what is Mary doing in panel 10? I'M CONFUSED.)

(Next Wednesday?? OK, so tomorrow they'll recap today. And Tuesday, Dan and Irwin debate using the elevator or taking the stairs.)

(With all the elephant nonsense lately, Jo has had so little opportunity to troll. It's nice to see she hasn't lost her touch.)

 

[LizzieMaine]

And in the Daily News...

Il est grand temps.

Life is hard.

Life is really, really hard.

"They passed me in the hall!" "Dick Tracy" turned into "Barney Miller" so quick we never even noticed it. Nice to see you, Officer Levitt.

Axel has as many followers as that outfit in Brooklyn. And Maw Green, making sarcastic comments from her black, featureless void, actually made me laugh with that one.

That's not vitamins, kids. That's ayahuasca.

In a surprising career move, the role of the steamboat captain will be played by Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. Still needs to work a bit on the dialect, though.

This is how they did it before "Tommy John Surgery."

Note that little Judy is only five years old, and Uncle Walt really needs to have a talk with her about going into the houses of random strangers. Even in 1940 that wasn't a good idea.

Awww, that's exactly what kids in my neighborhood used to do when we didn't get our way.

 

[Fading Fast]

...Former world heavyweight boxing champion Primo Carnera is being sought by authorities in France as a deserter from the French Army. Carnera, though born in Italy, became a French citizen before beginning his boxing career, and as such was subject to military service. French officials say he failed to report when drafted, and is now a fugitive from justice. Carnera, who now lives in Italy, did not comment on the French statement...

I'd like to be there when they try to fit 6'6" 275lbs. Carnera into an off-the-shelf uniform.

...Figures compiled by the WPA have determined that the Average American College Girl, Class of 1940, measures thusly: Height, 5 feet 5 inches. Weight, 125 pounds six ounces. Bust, 34 inches. Waist, 26 inches. Hips, 37.4 inches. Ankles, 9.25 inches. Height of hips from floor, 32.6 inches. The averages were compiled by the WPA as part of a project intended to aid in the standardization of sizes for the manufacture of clothing....

And we all know how well that standardization effort worked out. Bet no one back then anticipated vanity sizes like size zero.

...Free dinosaurs are available for the asking at the Hal Roach Studios in Hollywood, as the prop department disposes of the leftovers from the recent filming of "One Million Years BC." The studio says "a little Brontosaurus" is just the thing to brighten up any apartment....

Somewhere, a Sinclair Brontosaurus is thinking about adopting.

... (Next Wednesday?? OK, so tomorrow they'll recap today. And Tuesday, Dan and Irwin debate using the elevator or taking the stairs.)...

Also, "Watch your English..." Really?

Dunn and Tracy are from the same school of the "ends justify the means" of law enforcement.

... (With all the elephant nonsense lately, Jo has had so little opportunity to troll. It's nice to see she hasn't lost her touch.)

Growing up in my very-little-formal-education world, the word chiropodist was pronounced (sadly, like George Bungle does) as "shur-op-o-dist." That said, it was mainly grandmothers who went to them and we never really understood what a "foot doctor" did for them anyway.

... "They passed me in the hall!" "Dick Tracy" turned into "Barney Miller" so quick we never even noticed it. Nice to see you, Officer Levitt...

The unloaded-gun-in-the-dog's-mouth trick followed by the escape-as-a-jockey-on-the-dog's-back trick sounds even more unbelievable when telling it, after the fact, to your captain.

... In a surprising career move, the role of the steamboat captain will be played by Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. Still needs to work a bit on the dialect, though....

At this moment in history (or in a few weeks anyway), that might have been Chamberlain's best career move.

... Note that little Judy is only five years old, and Uncle Walt really needs to have a talk with her about going into the houses of random strangers. Even in 1940 that wasn't a good idea....

No kidding. Separately, my experience is that the majority of domestic cats and dogs get along or, at least, don't fight, but it was a common norm of the GE to see dogs and cats as rivals ready to fight on sight - any idea why?

 

[David Conwill]

The president of the Brooklyn Borough Gas Company says she prefers to hire married women for positions with the firm. Miss Mary Dillon spoke before 300 students yesterday at the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences, stating that the combination of a career and raising a family is not only possible for women, but is the ideal situation.

I've only just started reading about her, but Miss Dillon was quite a remarkable person from the looks of it!

Read along, if like me you hadn't heard of her before: https://www.brownstoner.com/history/walkabout-miss-dillons-gas-company-part-one/

 

[LizzieMaine]

One of the best things about doing these is uncovering such stories. There's an entire world of The Era that has been completely forgotten -- and you'll only find it in the kinds of records you'll find in the popular press of the time.

In other observations today, Mrs. Trohs kicking that guy in the face with a stiletto heel might be the most graphic thing we've seen in the funnies yet. At least when Axel's thug whipped Annie you didn't actually have to see it. And when Doolb got shot in the head, there was no visible gore. But the guy on the other end of that shoe is going to need some serious reconstructive dentistry, to say the very least.

I have been pondering what "whiffleless garlic tablets" might be, and the only conclusion I can reach is that they don't make you fart. I have never heard "whiffle" used in that sense before, but I shall now begin to use it as often as possible.

Little Judy's benefactor there is the spitting image of my third grade teacher, Mrs. Alden. The resemblance is absolutely uncanny.

As far as cats and dogs, I think that's as much a comic strip/movie comedy/children's fairy book trope as it is something that's actually observed in reality. My mother remembers a dog trying to interfere with a litter of kittens when she was little, and the mother cat leaping atop the dog's back and riding him down the street much like Mr. Trohs rides his St. Bernard. Clearly there was no "fight" at all from the cat's point of view, and I doubt that dog ever tried to assert himself around a cat ever again.

I'm now very curious about those Hal Roach dinosaurs. A quick search of eBay found none of them up for sale, which is a pity. Not that I have any money to spend right now, but I think a dinosaur would be a fine addition to my front porch.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Eleven major Brooklyn contracting firms and eight individuals connected with them have been indicted by an extraordinary grand jury on charges of paying more than $250,000 in bribes to public officials to rig bids on more than $5,000,000 in public works contracts let out by the Borough President's office and the Procurement Department of the Treasury Department. Assistant Attorney General John H. Amen, in announcing the indictments named the Mill Basin Asphalt Corporation, the Highway Improvement and Repair Company, M. J. O'Hara, Inc. and the M. J. O'Hara Contracting Company, the B. Turecamo Contracting Company, the Brooklyn Alcatraz Asphalt Company, the Pomonok Asphalt Paving and Mineral Company, the Borough Asphalt Company, the D. J. McCoy Asphalt Corporation, the Cranford Company and the Cranford Material Corporation, and executives of each of these firms. Mr. Amen charges that these firms conspired in an illegal conspiracy to control paving contracts in Brooklyn, and in doing so cheated the city out of an estimated $500,000 since 1936. Eight defendants were ordered held on $3500 bail, and the corporate defendants given until May 15th to file written pleas.

It is also alleged that the conspiring firms short-weighted the city under the rigged contracts, in many cases delivering a lesser quantity and quality of materials than called for under the agreements. Amen also alleges that since at least September 1, 1936, the eleven firms, while presenting themselves as separate and independent companies, have in fact been pooled and controlled by a joint ownership.

Norwegian military quarters stated today that twin German mechanized columns driving for the vital Rombaas-Stoeren Railroad have been stopped in the mountains, short of their objective, by Allied resistance, and that the Allied positions north of Trondheim have been "greatly improved." The United Press reports that ten to twelve thousand Allied troops are "digging in" on the Namsos front.

A Republican congressman from Montana was named as a member of the "Action Committee" of the Christian Front, and several Senators were reported to be on "intimate terms" with various of the sixteen defendants now on trial on seditious conspiracy charges in Brooklyn Federal Court. Representative Jacob Thorkelson was identified by name in a ten-page document signed by defendant Macklin Boetteger after his arrest in January, a document which also quoted defendant William Gerald Bishop as having "stumped for Thorkelson's election. According to Boetteger, Bishop also boasted of his personal friendships with Senators Robert Rice Reynolds of North Carolina, Arthur Vandenberg of Michigan, and Burton K. Wheeler of Montana. (Rep. Thorkelson had by this time already been identified by Walter Winchell as "the mouthpiece of the Nazi movement in America," and was already well known for having read selections from "The Protocols Of The Elders of Zion" into the Congressional Record.)

Evidence that kickback money extorted from members of Hod Carriers Union Local 65 found its way into the defense fund raised on behalf of the Murder For Hire gang has been uncovered by District Attorney William O'Dwyer. According to information revealed to the Eagle by "reliable sources," the money was exacted from union members as a $1-per-member assessment by Gesuale Capone, brother of the murder mob's contact man Louis Capone, as a "token of appreciation and gratitude" to Harry "Happy" Malone. Malone is under indictment for the murder of two union members who had refused his order to assassinate a crusading union reformer who sought to drive mob influence out of the organization.

The US Supreme Court today tossed out a suit by seven Eastern steel firms protesting the Secretary of Labor's determination of minimum wages for steel manufacturers doing business with the Government under the Walsh-Healey Act. Justice Hugo Black, writing the 8-1 majority decision, declared that no rights of the steel companies were being infringed under the law. The original ruling by Labor Secretary Frances E. Perkins set minimum wages under the Act at 45 to 62 1/2 cents per hour in six specified regions thruout the country.

The Dodgers, foiled in their efforts to make their first Western trip of the year entirely by air, will make the final hops of that tour by plane. Club president Larry MacPhail announced that arrangements have been made for the team to travel by rail from Cincinnati to Pittsburgh to St. Louis -- and then to travel from St. Louis to Chicago and from Chicago back to LaGuardia Field by air.

("Hey!" says Joe. "Howcum the big guy's beatin' up Andy Gump? What'd he ever do?" And Sally looks over and says, "Must be Mazie's brother. See th' resemblance?")

The spring season's officially underway at Coney Island, with Steeplechase Park having opened yesterday for its 44th season. The park will operate on Sundays only thru Decoration Day, after which George C. Tilyou's famous Pavilion of Fun will be open every day. This year Steeplechase will feature more than $400,000 worth of new equipment, replacing that which was destroyed in a boardwalk fire last year. Operators hope that the improvements will encourage World's Fair tourists to visit the park.

(Ah, how time flies. Ten years ago, these two young ladies were the little girls who would come on at the start of all the Our Gang, Laurel and Hardy, and Charley Chase two-reel comedies to announce "Dear ladies and gentlemen! Hal Roach presents, for your entertainment and approval..." And now they're all grown up and SMOKING. I ask you.)

("Weeeee thaaaaank you!")

("Other than that, it's perfect!"

The Dodgers capered up the Polo Grounds' center-field clubhouse stairs like happy college boys yesterday after topping the Giants 5 to 3 for their team-record-tying eighth straight start-of-the-season win. Dolph Camilli's line drive homer into the right field stands in the ninth inning broke up a 3-3 tie to give the Flock the margin of victory. Camilli's two-run shot came after Cookie Lavagetto softened up Giant hurler Harry Gumbert by his patented stunt of fouling off one pitch after another before drawing a walk. Whit Wyatt went the distance for Brooklyn to earn his second win of the season.

The Dodgers open their first Western swing of the campaign at Crosley Field tomorrow against the Reds, with Tex Carleton scheduled to start. Should the Dodgers win, they'll tie the modern National League record for consecutive season-opening victories.

The Bushwicks had their official season opener at Dexter Park yesterday, taking a doubleheader from the Philadelphia Stars of the Negro National League, 6 to 4 and 10 to 0 before a crowd of 15,000.

Barbara Stanwyck and Robert Taylor star in "Smilin' Through," on this week's "Lux Radio Theatre," 9 PM on WABC.

("George Bungle! What do you mean humiliating me by chasing that LOW ELEPHANT all over town! You should HEAR what these SNIPPY NEIGHBORS are saying! I can't HOLD MY HEAD UP in public!")

(For those who came in late...)

("Burglary! Gosh, that's swell! Can we steal a car too?")

 

[LizzieMaine]

And in the Daily News...

I bet she doesn't take any crap at auditions.

(Future storyline for "The Gumps.")

OK, so now what? Over to you, Pat.

On the one side, all that. On the other, an angry ten-year-old girl. Guess we know how this'll come out.

I wanna see Mamma Trohs go up against Helen Flint.

Bim's a sap, but he's an endearingly soft-hearted sap.

Ohhhhhhhh Tuuuuuuuuuuuuula.....

And that's how Emmy's stayed in business all these years.

Annnnnnnd we're off! OK, so who ends up broke first? Skeezix or Harold?

 

[Fading Fast]

Eleven major Brooklyn contracting firms and eight individuals connected with them have been indicted by an extraordinary grand jury on charges of paying more than $250,000 in bribes to public officials to rig bids on more than $5,000,000 in public works contracts let out by the Borough President's office and the Procurement Department of the Treasury Department. Assistant Attorney General John H. Amen, in announcing the indictments named the Mill Basin Asphalt Corporation, the Highway Improvement and Repair Company, M. J. O'Hara, Inc. and the M. J. O'Hara Contracting Company, the B. Turecamo Contracting Company, the Brooklyn Alcatraz Asphalt Company, the Pomonok Asphalt Paving and Mineral Company, the Borough Asphalt Company, the D. J. McCoy Asphalt Corporation, the Cranford Company and the Cranford Material Corporation, and executives of each of these firms. Mr. Amen charges that these firms conspired in an illegal conspiracy to control paving contracts in Brooklyn, and in doing so cheated the city out of an estimated $500,000 since 1936. Eight defendants were ordered held on $3500 bail, and the corporate defendants given until May 15th to file written pleas.

View attachment 231537

It is also alleged that the conspiring firms short-weighted the city under the rigged contracts, in many cases delivering a lesser quantity and quality of materials than called for under the agreements. Amen also alleges that since at least September 1, 1936, the eleven firms, while presenting themselves as separate and independent companies, have in fact been pooled and controlled by a joint ownership....

An absolutely evergreen NYC story that hits the papers in some version or another no less than every few years. I'd bet (a lot) that all it would take is some digging now and the story could be written today (and will be this year or the next or the one after - no longer time period will be needed).

For whatever reason, government-and-private-contractor dirty dealing can't seem to be eradicated resulting in tremendous fraud that costs the taxpayer money and the gov't and large contractors credibility. In the '70s in NYC, it was so bad that it was just assume all bids for gov't projects were rigged and that all gov't officials and contractors were corrupt.

...Evidence that kickback money extorted from members of Hod Carriers Union Local 65 found its way into the defense fund raised on behalf of the Murder For Hire gang has been uncovered by District Attorney William O'Dwyer. According to information revealed to the Eagle by "reliable sources," the money was exacted from union members as a $1-per-member assessment by Gesuale Capone, brother of the murder mob's contact man Louis Capone, as a "token of appreciation and gratitude" to Harry "Happy" Malone. Malone is under indictment for the murder of two union members who had refused his order to assassinate a crusading union reformer who sought to drive mob influence out of the organization....

This is another evergreen story as union dues in NYC are always being stolen either by the mob or union management. Like with the rigged bidding in the above comment, all it takes is a year or two for the next dues-corruption story to break.

To be fair to the mob, in more recent years, it's been more of the union's own management stealing dues or taking bribes in return for lavish lifestyles, cushy jobs, favors for family members, etc. As always, like the taxpayer above, the average dues-paying union member gets screwed. And as with the gov't and bid rigging, the unions and the gov't seem unable to stop this well-known and long-tenured corruption.

Add the first two together and you have a better understanding of why people are so cynical.

...The Dodgers, foiled in their efforts to make their first Western trip of the year entirely by air, will make the final hops of that tour by plane. Club president Larry MacPhail announced that arrangements have been made for the team to travel by rail from Cincinnati to Pittsburgh to St. Louis -- and then to travel from St. Louis to Chicago and from Chicago back to LaGuardia Field by air....

The death of rail travel in America was a long, slow and sad process.

... View attachment 231540
("Hey!" says Joe. "Howcum the big guy's beatin' up Andy Gump? What'd he ever do?" And Sally looks over and says, "Must be Mazie's brother. See th' resemblance?")...

...
("Other than that, it's perfect!"...

Can't get more true to life than this. Lichty was an astute observer of people and things.

...The Dodgers capered up the Polo Grounds' center-field clubhouse stairs like happy college boys yesterday after topping the Giants 5 to 3 for their team-record-tying eighth straight start-of-the-season win. Dolph Camilli's line drive homer into the right field stands in the ninth inning broke up a 3-3 tie to give the Flock the margin of victory. Camilli's two-run shot came after Cookie Lavagetto softened up Giant hurler Harry Gumbert by his patented stunt of fouling off one pitch after another before drawing a walk. Whit Wyatt went the distance for Brooklyn to earn his second win of the season....

Since I don't know how long this winning streak went, rooting for it to continue is providing a little baseball frisson to our otherwise current baseball void.

...Barbara Stanwyck and Robert Taylor star in "Smilin' Through," on this week's "Lux Radio Theatre," 9 PM on WABC....

Check out the well-done 1932 version with Leslie Howard and Norma Shearer the next time it runs on TCM

... (For those who came in late...)

("Burglary! Gosh, that's swell! Can we steal a car too?")

However you look at it, basically, we lose a day of comics with this Sunday-to-Monday recap nonsense.

...
I bet she doesn't take any crap at auditions....

No freakin' kidding. Also, it's a lesson in the old adage to never point a gun unless you're willing to use it. And have you noticed how much more popular being a jewel thief was back in the GE?

...
(Future storyline for "The Gumps.")...

She's just too early for reality TV.

... OK, so now what? Over to you, Pat....

Well, Pat's first move should be to punch "Ha Ha Revenge" guy in the face.

... On the one side, all that. On the other, an angry ten-year-old girl. Guess we know how this'll come out....

Dan Dunn should be taking notes.

... View attachment 231553 I wanna see Mamma Trohs go up against Helen Flint....

...ATTACH=full]231555[/ATTACH] Ohhhhhhhh Tuuuuuuuuuuuuula...?

On loan from Harold Teen:

... Annnnnnnd we're off! OK, so who ends up broke first? Skeezix or Harold?

Broke would be the best and cheapest outcome for either - just don't get married. Making more money is much easier than unwinding a marriage.

 

[LizzieMaine]

A prominent Brooklyn clubman revealed the existence of a $250,000 slush fund maintained by a cartel of eleven contracting firms to pay bribes to public officials in connection with the paving industry contract-fixing racket. Sources close to the Amen Office have disclosed that 50-year-old John F. Winters of 633 Winter Street himself a contractor as well as a sales manager for a book publisher, noted yachtsman and member of the Crescent and Montauk Clubs, told two Amen special grand juries about the fund and how it was created by the contracting combine at a meeting held at the Columbus Club in 1936, stating that the participating executives agreed to contribute shares into the fund, which would be "distributed to the right people" to ensure that "the right decisions were made" on public paving projects.

Winters did not sign a waiver of immunity in testifying to the grand juries, and thus will not be liable to prosecution for his role in the creation and operation of the fund. Winters, who has heretofore been known only as "Mr. W" in connection with his testimony, is reported to have furnished the grand juries with exact details concerning how much money was contributed to the fund and by whom, as well as the dates and exact sums of bribes paid to named public officials. Winters is connected by marriage to the D. J. McCoy Contracting Company, one of the eleven firms named in the indictment issued this week.

German forces have taken control of the vital Norwegian railway town of Dombaas, 100 miles north of Trondheim. The capture of the town means that Germany now controls the rail line between Oslo and Trondheim, and has secured the southern approach to the latter city.

A 36-year-old daredevil is in custody after an aborted attempt to parachute off the World's Fair Trylon. Roy Yost managed to climb to a small platform located within 20 feet of the 610-foot spire before Fair security spotted him, and he remained on that platform for over an hour without jumping. Three World's Fair policemen and the Fair's foreman of steel construction used construction equipment to reach Yost and pulled him off the platform. Appearing in Flushing Court, Yost told Magistrate Thomas Aurelio that he had hitch-hiked to New York from Hollywood to climb the Trylon hopes of drumming up some publicity for himself, but he then began to worry that his parachute wouldn't open, noting that he had tried the stunt earlier and was concerned when a chute strapped to his test dummy failed to open. The stunt earned Yost five days in jail.

The Fulton Street L moved one step closer to its demolition today when Supreme Court Justice Charles Lockwood signed a formal condemnation order on the structures. Hearings on the order are expected to begin within two weeks, and the actual demolition work, according to Borough President John Cashmore, will begin within sixty days.

A former Assistant District Attorney in the office of former District Attorney William F. X. Geoghan will serve one and one half to three years in Sing Sing Prison for obstruction of justice and bribery in connection with an abortion case. William F. McGuinness had pleaded guilty to the charges but sought at the last minute to change his plea to "not guilty," but that move was denied by Supreme Court Justice John McCrate. McGuinness was charged with conspiring with Dr. Arthur Nussbaum of 97 Brooklyn Avenue to dismiss a charge against Dr. Nussbaum in 1937, and with accepting a $50 bribe to do so. Dr. Nussbaum, also indicted on those charges, pleaded not guilty and has not yet been tried.

The Ford Motor Company has been found guilty of violating the Wagner Act in connection with the dismissal of 94 union members who struck at its St. Louis plant in 1937, and has been ordered to reinstate those workers with full back pay. The company has also been ordered to recognize the CIO United Auto Workers as bargaining agent for the St. Louis plant, and to dissolve a St. Louis division of "The Liberty Legion of America, Inc.," an anti-union organization formed within the plant and fully controlled by agents of the Company, which had been used to intimidate and attack union organizers.

"Brooklyn Day" at the 1940 World's Fair will be something worth seeing, according to Marjorie Hillis Roulston, chairwoman of the Women's Committee for Brooklyn Day. The popular author of "Live Alone and Like It" and other books says that the Brooklyn Day celebration on May 21st will feature plenty of interest to borough residents, with special activities including a Brooklyn quiz featuring Brooklyn celebrities on stage -- and featuring questions about Brooklyn past and present submitted by you the residents. Send your questions now to "Brooklyn Quz," care of the Eagle. Brooklyn residents will also be eligible for a special $1 Brooklyn Day ticket book including admission to an assortment of special attractions and concessions. These books are now available at all local department stores, and are going fast.

("I got a question!" says Joe. "How long till Geoghan gets indicted?" "Aw," says Sally, "they ain't gonna answer that. Be nice if they did, but they ain't.")

(And they don't even try to sell you Dodger merchandise or anything. Now that's class.)

Thousands will mark May Day tomorrow with a parade thru Manhattan in support of peace, jobs, and civil rights. Dozens of labor, youth, and women's organizations are expected to take part in the march, which will begin on 8th Avenue at 1 PM, following a course from 24th Street to 5th Avenue to Broadway to Union Square, where there will be speeches and entertainment, including choral singing and folk dancing. Over 1500 police officers will line the parade route "to prevent any unlawful acts or disorder."

One of the sixteen defendants in the Christian Front seditious conspiracy trial in Brooklyn Federal Court testified that he quit the Front when it became "too anti-Semitic" for his liking. 19-year-old John F. Cook of 2058 53rd Street also testified that he heard even more anti-Semitic preaching as a member of the Front's Action Committee, and when he joined the National Guard's 101st Cavalry, he was told to his face that that unit was "a Christian Group that would fight against the Jewish people." Cook told the Court that the Front issued him a 30-caliber Springfield rifle, and that when his mother found it under his bed, she ordered him to get it out of her house. Instead, he admitted, he hid the rifle behind the summer dresses in her bedroom closet. FBI agents searching the house found that rifle, along with a quantity of anti-Semitic literature. Cook told the court the pamphlets were given to him by fellow defendant William Gerald Bishop.

Number one Glamour Girl of 1939 Brenda Frazier took a tour of Police Headquarters yesterday in the company of John "Shipwreck" Kelly, reputed boyfriend du jour. Miss Frazier wore no hat, had a visible run in her right stocking, wore a leopard-skin coat and wedgie shoes, and chewed gum vigorously thruout the tour. She firmly refused to permit any photographs.

(Arturo Godoy? Jimmy Gleason playing the fiddle? Why haven't I ever seen this picture?)

The Eagle Editorialist is shocked, shocked to learn of the Amen Office's expose of the Public Contracts Scandal, and points out that Borough President Cashmore has pointed out that all these contracts were awarded before he took office. (Pretty convenient that Mr. Ingersoll passed away before all this came to light, wouldn't you say so Mr. Schroth?)

("Better packing you could do, I'm just saying...")

The Western swing that begins today in Cincinnati marks the biggest adventure for the Dodgers in years, says Tommy Holmes. With eight straight wins to start the season against the Bees, Phils, and Giants, the Dodgers now face tougher competition from the Reds, Cardinals, and Cubs, and even the Pirates will be no pushovers. Tommy says gaudy winning streaks are all well and good, but a pennant winning club needs consistent performance over the whole long season.

Free-agent pickup Roy Cullenbine has an interesting statistic. The $25,000 Kid has walked at least once in every game he's played so far, with a total of 12 bases-on-balls in eight games. He's reached base 18 times in a total of 33 plate appearances, and if walks counted as hits, Cullenbine would be batting a flossy .545. Mr. Holmes wonders, with a record like that, why Roy isn't batting leadoff?

Only eight horses are expected to run in Saturday's Kentucky Derby, the smallest field in the modern history of the race.

(Not to be outdone.)

Clifford Evans says he heard that when one of the killers of Puggy Bernstein climbed into the car after burning the unfortunate thug to a cinder, he started comparing photos of his child with those of other occupants of the getaway vehicle.

(Since the laws of physics seem to have placed in temporary abeyance here, why don't George and Sugarfoot take a drag off that air hose themselves?)

(I wonder if Leona is wearing a leopard skin coat and wedgies, no hat, and has a run in her stocking?)

(Y'know, Dan, prowling by stealth is usually more effective if you aren't constantly talking to yourself.)

 

[LizzieMaine]

And in the Daily News...

And he didn't even need the internet to come up with this.

A couple of good updates today. We haven't heard from America's Fun Couple in ages, so it's good to see they've not lost their edge.

The bacon craze has been around for a long time.

Mr. Gray clearly has something on his mind.

Ever consider questioning veterinarians? Or looking up the city dog-licensing records? Or maybe the dog-riding licenses?

Who could resist such a virile hunk of physiognomy?

Wilmer tells Miss Snipe, Miss Snipe tells Tula, and.....

"Say, you should come with me! You'd love Covina! Nothing to do all day but hang around the Sugar Bowl and mooch free sodas! You'd fit right in!"

So much for Hollywood.

Who needs a gun when you've got a wrench?

 

[Fading Fast]

A prominent Brooklyn clubman revealed the existence of a $250,000 slush fund maintained by a cartel of eleven contracting firms to pay bribes to public officials in connection with the paving industry contract-fixing racket. Sources close to the Amen Office have disclosed that 50-year-old John F. Winters of 633 Winter Street himself a contractor as well as a sales manager for a book publisher, noted yachtsman and member of the Crescent and Montauk Clubs, told two Amen special grand juries about the fund and how it was created by the contracting combine at a meeting held at the Columbus Club in 1936, stating that the participating executives agreed to contribute shares into the fund, which would be "distributed to the right people" to ensure that "the right decisions were made" on public paving projects.

View attachment 231732

Winters did not sign a waiver of immunity in testifying to the grand juries, and thus will not be liable to prosecution for his role in the creation and operation of the fund. Winters, who has heretofore been known only as "Mr. W" in connection with his testimony, is reported to have furnished the grand juries with exact details concerning how much money was contributed to the fund and by whom, as well as the dates and exact sums of bribes paid to named public officials. Winters is connected by marriage to the D. J. McCoy Contracting Company, one of the eleven firms named in the indictment issued this week....

Winters is, effectively, protecting himself from the American justice system but leaving himself expose the Mob's justice system: interesting choice.

...The Fulton Street L moved one step closer to its demolition today when Supreme Court Justice Charles Lockwood signed a formal condemnation order on the structures. Hearings on the order are expected to begin within two weeks, and the actual demolition work, according to Borough President John Cashmore, will begin within sixty days....

Despite all the "L" demolition we read about in the '30s & '40s, there are still plenty of "L's" operating in NYC today - just not in Manhattan (with the exception of some in its upper-most parts). Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx all have their share: they definitely have a time-travel-to-the-'40s (and film-noir movie) feel to them.

...The Ford Motor Company has been found guilty of violating the Wagner Act in connection with the dismissal of 94 union members who struck at its St. Louis plant in 1937, and has been ordered to reinstate those workers with full back pay. The company has also been ordered to recognize the CIO United Auto Workers as bargaining agent for the St. Louis plant, and to dissolve a St. Louis division of "The Liberty Legion of America, Inc.," an anti-union organization formed within the plant and fully controlled by agents of the Company, which had been used to intimidate and attack union organizers....

You know they drew straws to see who got to tell old Henry that news.

...One of the sixteen defendants in the Christian Front seditious conspiracy trial in Brooklyn Federal Court testified that he quit the Front when it became "too anti-Semitic" for his liking. 19-year-old John F. Cook of 2058 53rd Street also testified that he heard even more anti-Semitic preaching as a member of the Front's Action Committee, and when he joined the National Guard's 101st Cavalry, he was told to his face that that unit was "a Christian Group that would fight against the Jewish people." Cook told the Court that the Front issued him a 30-caliber Springfield rifle, and that when his mother found it under his bed, she ordered him to get it out of her house. Instead, he admitted, he hid the rifle behind the summer dresses in her bedroom closet. FBI agents searching the house found that rifle, along with a quantity of anti-Semitic literature. Cook told the court the pamphlets were given to him by fellow defendant William Gerald Bishop...

There's a lot of stupidity to unpack with the one starting with the "I'm okay being an anti-semite just not that much of an anti-semite" insanity and ending with hiding the rifle (from his mother) in her closet behind her dresses.

...

(Arturo Godoy? Jimmy Gleason playing the fiddle? Why haven't I ever seen this picture?)...

Nor have I. Separately, "Till We Meet Again" played recently on TCM and is an enjoyable remake of "One Way Passage." O'Brien is particularly good in it.

...
(Not to be outdone.)...

Everybody wants to share some of the glow.

... View attachment 231758 (Since the laws of physics seem to have placed in temporary abeyance here, why don't George and Sugarfoot take a drag off that air hose themselves?)...

You've all but written the outline of a '60s drug-era rock song.

... (Y'know, Dan, prowling by stealth is usually more effective if you aren't constantly talking to yourself.)

Not kidding at all, as I was reading it, I was thinking why isn't Marsh using "thought bubbles" here.

... A couple of good updates today. We haven't heard from America's Fun Couple in ages, so it's good to see they've not lost their edge...

Re the Brits - calm exterior, plenty of passion raging below.

Re the Barrymores - we saw a latter version of this with a different John: Lennon and Yoko.

... Who needs a gun when you've got a wrench?

Umm, Pat, your move.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Albert Anastasio, sought by authorities in connection with the disappearance of International Lonshoreman's Association activist Peter Panto, has been identified by District Attorney William O'Dwyer as "the kingpin of the waterfront rackets," according to a reliable source close to the DA's office. It is stated by that source that the District Attorney named the notorious Brooklyn mobster following a lengthy interrogation of more than a hundred delegates and officers of Brooklyn ILA locals. O'Dwyer is reported also to have tagged another fugitive, Anthony Romeo, also known as Tony Spring, as Anastasio's "contact man" within the ILA. The source states that O'Dwyer believes Anastasio has profited to the tune of $35,000 to $45,000 in kickbacks gained thru his involvement in waterfront racketeering.

Meanwhile, two of the first three defendants to come to trial in connection with the Murder For Hire gang have been denied a request for a change of venue. Harry "Happy" Malone and Frank "The Dasher" Abbandando had sought the shift, claiming that due to heavy publicity given the case in the local press, they would be unable to receive a fair trial in a Brooklyn court.

German troops have solidified their control of the vital Norwegian rail junction of Dombaas, and are now moving thru that center en route to the port of Adalsnes, a key landing point for British forces. Reports from London confirm that British troops have fully withdrawn from Dombass "to prepared positions."

You won't find a Brooklyn rooter anywhere who isn't convinced the Dodgers will win the pennant this year following yesterday's no-hitter by Tex Carleton against the Cincinnati Reds for the Flock's ninth consecutive victory. The tall, gangling righthander from the Texas cattle country mastered the Reds at Crosley Field, baffling the Rhinelanders with his whipping sidearm delivery as he led the Dodgers to equal the modern-era record for a season-opening winning streak. Everywhere you go in the borough, from shoeshine stands to board rooms, from front stoops to back yards, you'll hear the voice of Brooklyn proclaiming their faith in President Larry MacPhail, Manager Leo Durocher, and all the athletes under their command. Fans hailed Tex Carlton's sterling performance -- and raised hosannas also for Pete Coscarart, whose three-run homer marked the only scoring of the contest.

("PETEY!" shouts Sally, shooting her fist in the air, and jolting poor Joe's feet out of the oven.)

The tension in the bottom of the ninth inning fairly crackled as with two outs, hard-hitting Ival Goodman stepped to the plate. Goodman, a granite-faced Oklahoman who swings a mean left-handed bat, was just the type of hitter who used to give old Tex fits, and when on a 1-0 count, Carleton snapped off a fastball right down the middle the crowd inhaled deeply as Goodman connected for a hard, sinking liner to right field. But calm as you please, Dixie Walker trotted in three steps, and grabbed the ball just below his knees for the final out. Tex leaped in the air, clicked his heels, and threw his yellow glove high in the air as his teammates rushed the mound to congratulate him. Infielders Coscarart, Camilli, Reese, and Lavagetto surrounded the pitcher and led him in a mass embrace back to the cheering dugout as the Cincinnati crowd rose in a standing ovation.

Two young Italians who robbed a Bath Beach synagogue during Passover services are in custody, after two patriarchs of the congregation noticed that the two strangers were not wearing prayer veils. 24-year-old Alfred Grans of 1667 Benson Avenue and his 29-year-old brother Frank of Manhattan were arrested following the service by two detectives who traced them, with the aid of the patriarchs, to the Jewish Community Center building at 79th Street and Bay Parkway. Inside their car, the detectives discovered seven overcoats stolen from the cloakroom of Yeschiva Synagogue during the services. Questioned by detectives after the two congregation leaders picked them out of a lineup, the Grans brothers claimed they were at the service "out of respect for our Jewish friends."

The announcement of a $1,000,000 reward offered by a coalition of fifty persons from Pittsburgh for the capture alive of Adolf Hitler reminds Dodger President Larry MacPhail of his involvement in a post-Armistice plot to capture the former Kaiser. MacPhail, who was a captain in the A.E.F. at the end of the World War, conspired with several other officers to raid the castle in Doorn, Holland where the former Kaiser was lodged. The group commandeered an Army truck and drove from their base in France into Holland, and managed to reach the castle undetected. They then penetrated the security around the building and made their way past the guards to penetrate the former Kaiser's living quarters. They were finally intercepted by Wilhelm's household staff, but before they could be ejected from the castle, Capt. MacPhail pocketed a souvenir -- an ashtray bearing the imperial seal of the Hohenzollerns. That ashtray now can be viewed in the Dodger offices at 215 Montague Street, as a conspicuous ornament on the former Captain's desk.

(Just another example of Brooklyn not getting the big movies.)

H. W. R. writes to Helen Worth to ask if anyone out there could give her pet turtle a good home. He started out small, but like most turtles will, he grew -- and he is now too large to live comfortably in a small apartment.

The Gowanus used-car lot owned by mobster Joe Adonis has lost its license to operate after motor vehicle officials determined that false statements were made on the license application. White Auto Sales Company of 266 4th Avenue was ruled out of business by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles on the basis of the fact that the involvement of Joseph A. Dodo, alias Adonis, was not disclosed when a dealership license was obtained. The treasurer of the White company denies that "Mr. Dodo's" involvement was ever concealed, and claimed that action was only being taken now due to publicity. The Bureau also ruled that Adonis's invovlement with the firm violates license provisions that bar any person with a felony or misdemeanor conviction from dealing in motor vehicles.

The director of "Buck Benny Rides Again," now showing at the Times Square Paramount, will be spending time in Brooklyn this week. Herbert Cohn says director Mark Sandrich is a Bensonhurst boy made good, who graduated from New Utrecht High School in the days when it was a boys-only establishment. Mr. Sandrich declines to admit to his age, stating only that he is "fortyish," but looks ten years younger. While in New York this week for the premiere of the Buck Benny film, he had lunch with Fred Allen to go over story ideas for a Benny-Allen "feud" picture now in the works at Paramount. Sandrich says that picture, a "farce musical," will not be a radio story per se, although it'll feature the Merry Macs, from Allen's program, and of course Rochester from the Benny show, along with Mary Martin, who has herself been known to broadcast, as the female lead. Beyond that, however, he will not say.

Now at the Patio, "The Grapes of Wrath" paired with "Free, Blonde, and 21." 1940 America in a nutshell.

(Do you get the feeling that Mr. Lichty has recently moved?)

Tex Carleton has a lot to smile about these days. Two years ago they said he was through after a disappointing season with the Cubs, and he spent all of 1939 as a 33-year-old has-been with a bum elbow, playing out the string in the American Association with the Milwaukee Brewers. But the Dodgers saw something in the old sidearmer, and picked him up for a song from Milwaukee during spring training -- and he's rewarded their faith with the best game of his career. And when the Dodgers get back to Brooklyn, Larry MacPhail be waiting for him with a fat new contract to take effect at the expiration of his current pact on June 15th. The Red Headed One won't reveal an amount for the new deal, only saying that "the sky's the limit."

Hugh Casey's got a hard act to follow this afternoon when he takes the mound in Cincinnati against Bucky Walters of the Reds. A Dodger victory will set a new modern-era National League record for the fastest start in a season, and try and find somebody who doesn't think they'll do it.

Did you know that Brooklyn hands assemble nearly all the typesetting machines in the world? The Mergenthaler Company supplies ninety-nine percent of the global market for Linotype machines, employing 2500 Brooklyn people in the largest factory in Metropolitan New York. The machine that makes the type used in nearly all the world's commercial printing was invented right here in 1886 by Othmar Mergenthaler of 27 Ryerson Street, and the factory has grown quite a bit over the fifty-four years since. It takes highly-trained workers a full five days to assemble a single machine, with all the parts manufactured right in the Mergenthaler plant.

Television programming over W2XBS will see a change as of May 15th, with NBC terminating Saturday and Sunday night telecasting for the summer months, and extending weeknight telecasts by half an hour each night. Plans for a regional NBC television network are also near completion, with the network planning to relay W2XBS programs via the Philco station in Philadelphia and the General Electric station in Schenectady.

(Don'cha hate when that happens?)

(Nice try.)

(Something tells me that when the US finally gets into the war, Dan will not be selected for service in the OSS.)

 

[LizzieMaine]

And in the Daily News...

1-1 that before the summer is over, Mrs. Crawford tries to jump off the Trylon. And come on, News, if you're New York's Picture Newspaper, I wanna see Brenda chewing gum in her leopard skin coat and wedgies with a run in her stocking, not some dopey stock photo from the Stork Club.

Good to see Chef Oscar Levant again, and of course, you can't go wrong with a breaded veal cutlet. But please don't put onions in the sauce.

And there's a lesson here to all would-be international warlords: don't forget to return your empty bottles.

Awwwwwwwww! And won't Mama be happy!

Tracy must be having a bad day. He didn't immediately shoot this guy in the face.

Raven's never going to let this go, and neither is Pat.

Say this for Tula -- she doesn't let the grass grow under feet. Senga could take a tip.

White flannel pants before Memorial Day, Moon? How gauche.

I can remember when the only thing that got Harold excited was a gedunk sundae.

 

[Fading Fast]

Albert Anastasio, sought by authorities in connection with the disappearance of International Lonshoreman's Association activist Peter Panto, has been identified by District Attorney William O'Dwyer as "the kingpin of the waterfront rackets," according to a reliable source close to the DA's office. It is stated by that source that the District Attorney named the notorious Brooklyn mobster following a lengthy interrogation of more than a hundred delegates and officers of Brooklyn ILA locals. O'Dwyer is reported also to have tagged another fugitive, Anthony Romeo, also known as Tony Spring, as Anastasio's "contact man" within the ILA. The source states that O'Dwyer believes Anastasio has profited to the tune of $35,000 to $45,000 in kickbacks gained thru his involvement in waterfront racketeering.

Meanwhile, two of the first three defendants to come to trial in connection with the Murder For Hire gang have been denied a request for a change of venue. Harry "Happy" Malone and Frank "The Dasher" Abbandando had sought the shift, claiming that due to heavy publicity given the case in the local press, they would be unable to receive a fair trial in a Brooklyn court....

All this mob/union/waterfront corruption has me wanting to see "On The Waterfront" again, which, conveniently, is on TCM tomorrow at 3:15 PM (ET) - DVR set.

...("PETEY!" shouts Sally, shooting her fist in the air, and jolting poor Joe's feet out of the oven.)..)

It's May, is he still warming his feet in the oven or does he just prop them up there all the time?

... as the Cincinnati crowd rose in a standing ovation....

Nice of the Cincinnati fans. Also, yellow glove?

.... View attachment 231966
(Just another example of Brooklyn not getting the big movies.)...

...Hugh Casey's got a hard act to follow this afternoon when he takes the mound in Cincinnati against Bucky Walters of the Reds. A Dodger victory will set a new modern-era National League record for the fastest start in a season, and try and find somebody who doesn't think they'll do it....

...
Good to see Chef Oscar Levant again, and of course, you can't go wrong with a breaded veal cutlet. But please don't put onions in the sauce.....

Yesterday, based on Childs menu, I ate at H&H for lunch, but today - breaded veal cutlet - could get me back, That said, I'm not enthused about the date or walnut muffin (shouldn't that be an "and" not an "or -" and, regardless, it's a boring muffin).

... And there's a lesson here to all would-be international warlords: don't forget to return your empty bottles....

Annie, don't worry, Nick will believe you because he knows that you and he are the only real brains around.

... Raven's never going to let this go, and neither is Pat...

That's not (Tracy-Hepburn) playful banter. Good to see Pat fighting back - he didn't choose this fight with Raven, but since he's in it, good to see him swinging.

... Say this for Tula -- she doesn't let the grass grow under feet. Senga could take a tip....

Tula's good at her job, but man, she won't let the full $1000 go. It's gone Tula; he's only getting $175; live with it.

... I can remember when the only thing that got Harold excited was a gedunk sundae.

You want to reach into the paper and warn Harold directly. It's hard to even watch this.

 

[vitanola]

Those I. E. S. Lamps, with their 100-200-300 watt three way lamp in the reflector and three sixty watt lamps on the sockets on the arms were part of the electrical industry’s “better Light for Better Sight” campaign. They could fill the gloomiest of rooms with a clear, shadow free light, and could also, at the turn of a knob, offer cozy “mood lighting”. They were ubiquitous for a bit more than a decade, and are quite common today. These lamps war well worth restoring simply as practical luminaries.

 

[LizzieMaine]

The Allies have abandoned their central Norwegian base at Andalsnes, according to a statement today by British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, while concentrating the Anglo-French fleet in the eastern Mediterranean, and at the same time preparing for possible German thrusts against the Balkans, or even Britain itself. In remarks before the House of Commons, the Prime Minister emphasized that despite the withdrawal from Andalsnes, the Norwegian campaign would not be "a mere sideshow" for the Allies. Mr. Chamberlain also stated that he and First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill intend to provide a full report on the Norwegian situation next week.

A thirty-year-old convict dying in a Yonkers hospital after police shot him three times in a botched escape attempt summoned the chief of the Homicide Squad to his bedside today to confess to the murders of three policemen and the wounding of a fourh. Norman Zeff rasped out the full story of the killings to Assistant District Attorney Jacob J. Rosenblum shortly before dying of his wounds this afternoon. In his deathbed statement, Zeff described the 1934 murder of Bergen Street patrolman Philip Clarius, who was shot by Zeff following a holdup at a neighborhood grocery store, along with the 1934 slayings of Detective James Garvey of Manhattan and Patrolman John Monahan of the 78th precinct, and the wounding of Detective Frank Gleason. The latter three shootings were connected with the hiring of Zeff and a criminal associate by Brooklyn gangsters to murder mobster Harry "Glass Eye" Halperin at a fee of $500 apiece. The unnamed "Gang Lord" who hired Zeff and his colleague was said to have wanted Halperin eliminated because he had interfered with mob-controlled crap games, policy operations, and loansharking in Brownsville. Zeff admitted in his confession that he and his associate would hold up grocery stores and delicatessens as a way to pass the time while waiting to make their move on Halperin. Halperin escaped, only to be shot by another gunman in 1937.

That gunman, Max "Little Larney" Ludkowitz, faces indictment today by an Amen grand jury for Halperin's murder, an indictment brought about by Assistant Attorney General John H. Amen based on the "inadequacy" of a prior investigation of the Halperin slaying by former Assistant District Attorney William McGuinness, now serving a sentence at Sing Sing Prison on corruption charges.

A terrorist plot to bomb a Brooklyn synagogue was revealed today during testimony in the Christian Front seditious conspiracy trial in Brooklyn Federal Court, in a statement by defendant Michael J. Bierne. The document, read into the record by the prosecution, stated that defendant William Gerald Bishop had planned to bomb the unnamed temple in an attack along the lines of the methods used by the Irish Republican Army.

Elevator operators at the Brooklyn Municipal Building are protesting the removal of their chairs by the building custodian. Eleven of the fifteen operators in the building, all women, are promising to take their complaints to to the Department of Public Works, but custodian John F. McGowan defends his decision to remove the chairs, stating that in the event of a problem with the doors, the operator cannot rise from her seat quickly enough to prevent injuries to riders.

(After all, it's only May. It could still snow. Look at April.)

Mrs. M. H. Morris of 307 Sherman Street wins $5 in the Eagle's Recipe Contest:

(What, no beer?)

Clifford Evans says pari-mutuel wagering may be too popular for its own good -- he says the ease of betting using the method will make horse players out of people who have no business going anywhere near a track. Raising the admission price at the tracks is the method he thinks can solve the problem.

A retooling of the classic 1931 weepie "One Way Passage" as "Til We Meet Again" opened yesterday at the Brooklyn Paramount, and Herbert Cohn found that the story has lost little of its warmth in the updating, with George Brent and Merle Oberon rated as improvements over William Powell and Kay Francis in the original. Frank McHugh and Eric Blore provide just enough comedy relief to keep the picture from going completely soggy. In the co-feature "Grandpa Goes To Town," latest installment in the Higgins Family series, the real-life family of James, Lucille, and Russell Gleason are joined by guest star -- if that is the word -- Arturo Godoy, who steps from the boxing ring to the soundstage for plenty of slapstick and "wizened gags."

The Eagle Editorialist objects to the Pullman Company's idea to expand sleeping arrangements from upper and lower berths to upper, middle, and lower berths, but figures it'll happen anyway. "We live today in tiers and when we die we are buried in tiers, so why not travel in tiers?"

(Other than that, Mr. Lichty, how do you like the new place?)

Tommy Holmes says it's just as well the Dodgers lost yesterday in Cincinnati -- because it takes the pressure off and lets the team concentrate on settling in for the long run of the season. The outcome of the game was never really in doubt after Ernie Lombardi's grand-slam off Hugh Casey broke up the proceedings in the fourth, leading Manager Durocher to shrug his shoulders and say "When you get it, you might as well get it good."

Meanwhile, Reds manager Bill McKechnie is convinced his club and the Dodgers are the whole pennant race for 1940. "The winning club is represented in this room," said Bill, joined on the dais by Leo Durocher for a post-game sports rally hosted by a Cincinnati booster group.

The Dodgers close out the Cincinnati series today with Whit Wyatt expected to face Paul Derringer. It's actually Hamlin's turn, but Durocher plans to save Luke to open the series against the Pirates tomorrow afternoon in Pittsburgh. Leo is also considering putting himself back in the lineup for the Forbes Field series, since rookie Reese "hasn't been hitting much of anything."

Next Wednesday will be a night to remember for fifty Eagle carrier boys, who will be guests of honor for Fred Allen's broadcast. The newsies will trade banter with the star comedian during the broadcast, and then receive a private tour of the NBC studios.

(When Tootsie finally settles down to earth, Oakdale will find her and ride her triumphantly back into town, just to annoy Jo. And meanwhile, George will pull up to the next ravine, crevasse, or gully, and pitch Sugarfoot over the edge. Please let it happen.)

(Leona knows you don't get to be a celebutante by playing coy with the press.)

("Hey Joe! Lookit! Dan Dunn's out on the ledge! Onna fourteenth floor!" And Joe leans back and picks his teeth with the tine of his fork, and says "That's nuthin'. You see that guy was gonna jump off the Trylon?")

 

[vitanola]

One of the best things about doing these is uncovering such stories. There's an entire world of The Era that has been completely forgotten -- and you'll only find it in the kinds of records you'll find in the popular press of the time.

In other observations today, Mrs. Trohs kicking that guy in the face with a stiletto heel might be the most graphic thing we've seen in the funnies yet. At least when Axel's thug whipped Annie you didn't actually have to see it. And when Doolb got shot in the head, there was no visible gore. But the guy on the other end of that shoe is going to need some serious reconstructive dentistry, to say the very least.

I have been pondering what "whiffleless garlic tablets" might be, and the only conclusion I can reach is that they don't make you fart. I have never heard "whiffle" used in that sense before, but I shall now begin to use it as often as possible.

Little Judy's benefactor there is the spitting image of my third grade teacher, Mrs. Alden. The resemblance is absolutely uncanny.

As far as cats and dogs, I think that's as much a comic strip/movie comedy/children's fairy book trope as it is something that's actually observed in reality. My mother remembers a dog trying to interfere with a litter of kittens when she was little, and the mother cat leaping atop the dog's back and riding him down the street much like Mr. Trohs rides his St. Bernard. Clearly there was no "fight" at all from the cat's point of view, and I doubt that dog ever tried to assert himself around a cat ever again.

I'm now very curious about those Hal Roach dinosaurs. A quick search of eBay found none of them up for sale, which is a pity. Not that I have any money to spend right now, but I think a dinosaur would be a fine addition to my front porch.

We had a neighbor, a physician, who brought his dog, a pit bull, to his new marital home. After three infant children came in something of a lump, the poor dog was consigned to a kennel in the yard, practically ignored and starved for attention. One day he met our cat, who climbed on, dug is claws in, and went for a ride. They developed quite a routine . Whenever the dog was particularly unhappy, he’d come to the fence, wimpier and bark to call Kitzel. The cat would climb on and away they’d go. Thank heavens the yards are rather substantial (for the 1860s) in our neighborhood. They also ended up napping together frequently.

I firmly believe that there are no bad dogs.

 

[LizzieMaine]

And in the Daily News,

The best job in all journalism is Page Four editor of the News.

Tula, is that you?

Nick may be a ruthless gangster, but by golly he's an *American* ruthless gangster.

"Fluffy Luff?"

"Call me whatever you like. When I get done they'll be calling *you* 'Lefty.' Or 'Stumpy.' Or 'Flipper.'"

Hey Baby -- This guy...

...wants to know where you got that hat.

BEEFCAKE!

"Today He Is A Man?" I thought that happened months ago.

Moon's a dope, but he's also the spiffiest dresser on the comic page. Who sold you that shirt, Joe Adonis?

 

[Fading Fast]

...Elevator operators at the Brooklyn Municipal Building are protesting the removal of their chairs by the building custodian. Eleven of the fifteen operators in the building, all women, are promising to take their complaints to to the Department of Public Works, but custodian John F. McGowan defends his decision to remove the chairs, stating that in the event of a problem with the doors, the operator cannot rise from her seat quickly enough to prevent injuries to riders....

Uh-huh.

...
(After all, it's only May. It could still snow. Look at April.)..

While this sounds like normal consumer / advertising stuff - and it is as we all get that the coal company doesn't want to inventory the coal over the summer - the funny thing is that this has a tie to the recent crash in the oil / energy markets. Basically, the coal company in 1940 was simply trying to save on the inventory (storage and financing) costs implied by "contango," a fancy term that (oversimplified) means that it's cheaper to buy something today than to agree to buy it at a later (future) date (say next September). "Contango" does produce an advertising opportunity as you can promote "cheaper prices now," as many consumers don't think about storage and financing costs.

Extreme contango is what happened when oil sold for negative $40 a barrel for May delivery two week ago. So, the situation that all but broke the energy markets two weeks ago is a version of why these 1940 coal companies want you to buy now for the fall (they'll even finance it at "budget" terms - at a cost that will more than cover the company's implied storage and financing costs in the "contango" pricing). So little really changes.

...
Clifford Evans says pari-mutuel wagering may be too popular for its own good -- he says the ease of betting using the method will make horse players out of people who have no business going anywhere near a track. Raising the admission price at the tracks is the method he thinks can solve the problem....

Pari-mutuel wagering, as noted before, is an elegant solution to, what had been, the corrupt and chaotic system of multiple bookies takings bets all around the racetrack (at different odds). It's fair and transparent, which Evans isn't wrong will increase betting's popularity.

That said, one, it can still be a ripoff (as it is today) if the "take" the amount the track (or, today, the state...hmm) takes out is too high (~5% in 1940 and ~17% today - yup, that's a monstrous take today) and, two, nobody has to bet if they don't want to. But he is also correct in that admission pricing to the track is no different than the old camera-film pricing model - sell the camera below cost so that you can make money selling the film (ditto, printers and ink today).

...A retooling of the classic 1931 weepie "One Way Passage" as "Til We Meet Again" opened yesterday at the Brooklyn Paramount, and Herbert Cohn found that the story has lost little of its warmth in the updating, with George Brent and Merle Oberon rated as improvements over William Powell and Kay Francis in the original. Frank McHugh and Eric Blore provide just enough comedy relief to keep the picture from going completely soggy....

I'd disagree with Cohn as I thought Powell was stronger than Brent and I'd put Francis and Oberon in a tie. But the real up-trade was Pat O'Brien in the Steve Burke role in the '40 version versus Warren Hymer in the '32 version.

...The Eagle Editorialist objects to the Pullman Company's idea to expand sleeping arrangements from upper and lower berths to upper, middle, and lower berths, but figures it'll happen anyway. "We live today in tiers and when we die we are buried in tiers, so why not travel in tiers?"...

I'm sure they tried it out (and maybe even used it for troop trains), but to my knowledge, this insanely stupid idea was never rolled out, in a big way, to the public. But we eventually got a taste for it, in spirit anyway, in coach seating in airplanes these past twenty or so years.

... View attachment 232180
Tommy Holmes says it's just as well the Dodgers lost yesterday in Cincinnati -- because it takes the pressure off and lets the team concentrate on settling in for the long run of the season. The outcome of the game was never really in doubt after Ernie Lombardi's grand-slam off Hugh Casey broke up the proceedings in the fourth, leading Manager Durocher to shrug his shoulders and say "When you get it, you might as well get it good."...

Fortunately, footage survives of Kermit watching the streak-ending grand-slam homer in the fourth (he was right to be nervous yesterday):

...

(When Tootsie finally settles down to earth, Oakdale will find her and ride her triumphantly back into town, just to annoy Jo. And meanwhile, George will pull up to the next ravine, crevasse, or gully, and pitch Sugarfoot over the edge. Please let it happen.)...

I'm onboard with anything that ends the Tootsie storyline.

...
(Leona knows you don't get to be a celebutante by playing coy with the press.)...

Thoughts on Leona's hat, Lizzie?

. The best job in all journalism is Page Four editor of the News....

Agreed - awesome job. But, also, props to Beverly (of the Barbisch-Leslie story) for referencing her love triangle to a 1933 movie, "Design for Living," about a threesome, although that one was (shockingly for the time) two guys and one girl, but point taken:

... View attachment 232192
Tula, is that you?...

... Nick may be a ruthless gangster, but by golly he's an *American* ruthless gangster....

And he sincerely believes it to his core.

... "Fluffy Luff?"..

I didn't miss that name either - I assume we'll learn more about her and her, um, interesting appellation.

Also, $175 in 1940 is about $3200 today.

No one today - and no on in 1940 - is buying a speedboat or paying of his/her mortgage with that reward.

... View attachment 232196 Hey Baby -- This guy...

...wants to know where you got that hat....

.. BEEFCAKE!...

As you like to say, "hey kiddies, comic strips." Also, Caniff was enjoyably way ahead of his time on the sexual revolution/women's roles/etc., but he's not, like so many today, one dimensional as he sees the different sides and angles to it.

 

[Farace]

View attachment 232186 View attachment 232181
Those I. E. S. Lamps, with their 100-200-300 watt three way lamp in the reflector and three sixty watt lamps on the sockets on the arms were part of the electrical industry’s “better Light for Better Sight” campaign. They could fill the gloomiest of rooms with a clear, shadow free light, and could also, at the turn of a knob, offer cozy “mood lighting”. They were ubiquitous for a bit more than a decade, and are quite common today. These lamps war well worth restoring simply as practical luminaries.

I don't know the brand, but I have a very similar lamp here in my living room. I love it, though those big mogul-sized 100-200-300 bulbs are getting to be tough to find. They have a larger base than a standard bulb.