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July 30, 1937 – I arranged for a little party

July 30, 1937

Dear ones,
As you know we finally moved to a 2½ room apartment on the 19th floor of the LaSalle Towers.

La Salle Towers

On Leonard’s birthday, July 4th, I arranged for a little party, the first time in my life alone and in my own home. Leonard, who always told me he won’t have anything to do in the kitchen, has been a very big help since we moved here.

Although the apartment is cleaned by the building – maid service is included in the rent – he uses the carpet sweeper frequently and most of the time washes the dishes. He also went shopping for his party, going out 3 times and coming home with help since he could not carry everything, including a stepstool, carpet sweeper, can opener, etc. Besides enough food for a regiment instead of just a buffet dinner, well, we had enough to eat for a week. He is really very neat and clean except for his cigar ashes.

Trudel’s First Party

Doddo’s recipes and cookbook arrived just in time since I am preparing a big dinner every night and as you know I never cooked at all. Last week I had 10 people for dinner which consisted of the following:
Appetizer: tomatoes stuffed with egg salad, topped with anchovy and a little parsley, followed by real homemade chicken soup, then wiener schnitzel with white asparagus, Cucumber salad made with sour cream which is very hard to get here.

Best Tasting Frankfurters

Flora, Madge and the Welches at 73rd St. Beach

For dessert I tried to make my favorite chocolate cake. Since I did not do my shopping in advance, I used a cigar box instead of a cake pan, lined with plenty of wax paper. Also I forgot to get plain wafers and had to use salt crackers, besides without a kitchen scale I had no idea of the difference between a German or an American pound. Well, by that time I was so tired and angry at myself that I just made a Jello, too. And the cake did come out so well that Madge asked for the recipe. I made It again when the Weils had dinner with us. I never thought I would enjoy cooking so much.

73rd Street Beach

Madge gave me the recipe for Leonard’s favorite while driving, but I remembered enough to look it up in my new (old) cookbook. I made it that evening and Leonard emptied the whole platter of bread Krimselchen without leaving even a little crumb for me. I never taste my food while cooking.

The next evening we were at the Welches on their beach. Enclosed sending you 18 photos, most of them on the beach at Welch’s building. One day we went to the South Shore Country Club, one of the biggest, most elegant country clubs in the U.S. We had lunch there as guests of Aunt Flora.

South Shore Country Club

South Shore Country Club from Friend’s Apartment

Luncheon at South Shore Country Club

One evening we had dinner at an old beautiful farm house a few miles outside Chicago.

I do not play any cards and have no intention to learn it. I rather sew and find many other more interesting things to do. After Leonard’s family left I spent an evening at Samuels again. They know of so many people who have come here lately.

Fortunately I am on a 3 week unpaid vacation. Otherwise I could not do all that.

In 6 weeks I will be a citizen!!

Please send me a silver toothpick for Leonard, but no electrical appliances – they are better and cheaper here.

Love,
Trudel

Beach Party at the Welshes

73rd street and the lake

Parties at the Edgewater Beach Hotel and the South Shore Country Club

Movies from Trudel’s Sumter trip

In March, 1937, Trudel wrote a letter about her trip to Sumter, where she first met members of LJG’s extended family, many of whom came to Chicago and are included in the photos and video above. My cousin, Al, recently found the film I included in this post and a film of some of the events Trudel wrote about in March. I have added that video to the March letter.

Trudel originally began this letter by asking,” How do you like my new stationery?” Unfortunately I don’t have a copy of the original stationary.

http://wp.me/p1yA95-p9

2 Comments

Posted by Leonard Grossman on July 30, 1937 in Chicago, diary, immigrant experience

Tags: apartment, Birthday, Chicago, family, Food, parties

January 7, 1937 – “It was the most wonderful New Years Eve ever.”

07 Jan

January 7, 1937

Starting this letter before my husband comes home for dinner, trying to answer your last 4 letters.

Also I gave up my “business” because it was costing too much. I intend to continue making hats here in our 1 room at the Devonshire Hotel.

Our 1 Room at the Devonshire

I even started working again for C-R where I stopped in to just say “hello” and they asked me if I would like to come back to work.

Of course it is better to earn some money instead of playing cards or something and losing money. All I did for the last 4 weeks is moving and I am glad I will have now regular hours again.

C-R Millinery Co

Ernale’s English gets better with every letter. Keep it up. Leonard is so happy when he can read and understand your letters by himself.

Devonshire Hotel

Can you keep the letters I write you for a little longer? I would very much like to have them since they are like a diary, but really have no room for them until we move to a bigger place, which we intend to do soon.

[Continued after dinner.]

We finished some duck which we had at Bill Thompson last night. He has a friend who raises fowl on his roof.

Aunt Henny sent us a big box of grapefruit and oranges and Leonard’s sister sent a shoebox full of nuts.

Big Bill Thompson

Hope you started the new year OK. For me it was the most wonderful NY Eve ever. We left our room at 10:30, I in my beautiful brocade dress from 2 years ago and Leonard in a tuxedo, which was awfully tight on him.

First we stopped in the bar here in the hotel and had 2 drinks with some friends in the building. Then we went downtown in a hotel where we had dates with various friends. It was terribly crowded. Then we went to the Morrison Hotel, where I had my 1st date with Leonard, but did not stay because they asked for $6.50 each just to sit down.

We met some friends and the 6 of us went to a very big nightclub where I had not been before. We saw 2 very wonderful floor shows and at 4:00 a.m. we ate breakfast there. At 6:30 a.m. we met our friends again, in our hotel bar. At 8:00 a.m. we went to another place but I had only 1 cup of coffee.

When we came home we ate some herring and bread and butter and finally went to bed at 10:15 a.m. I felt so good, although I had about 18 drinks in 12 hours, that I would have liked to go skiing. But too warm, no snow, no skis.

Love,

Trudel

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Posted by Leonard Grossman on January 7, 1937 in Chicago, diary, immigrant experience, Letters

Tags: apartment, Chicago, Chicago weather, work

November 7, 1936 – ” I went to a Halloween Party in a sack. . . .”

07 Nov

Trudel continues to translate only short snippets from her letters. Although she mentions a typewriter, a copy of the typewritten letter she refers to has not survived. My mother was a very practical woman, in her way. When she finished translating the letters that had been written in German, which she had held on to for about 60 years, she threw away the originals. She thought she had translated the most interesting and important parts, and now she was clearing away clutter. There was no one left, she thought, who would be able to or want to read them in German. She never suspected how wonderful it would have been to have them to fill in blanks or to clear-up misunderstandings that may have resulted from her translation.

But as Thanksgiving approaches, I must express my gratitude that in her mid-80s she undertook this project at all, and that we have what we have.

11/7/1936

LJG’s Desk

In Leonard’s office, for the first time in several weeks, I discovered a new typewriter and will use it right away to start this letter.

I went to a Halloween party dressed in a sack again as a witch. Saw so many German Jews I know.

Like Trudel’s?

Since, because of the election business was very bad all over, I got myself a job again in a very elegant store on Michigan Ave, as the only milliner.

Michigan Avenue Shops

None of the candidates or parties supported by LJG won in 1936. FDR won a second term, Big Bill Thompson lost his last campaign. The “Progressive” wing of the Republican Party began a precipitous decline. The Democrats consolidated their control over the City of Chicago which continues to this day.

When I was growing up I found “No Third Term” buttons in my father’s memorabilia but I have it on good authority that in 1944 he saw the light and voted for Roosevelt. There was no going back.

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Posted by Leonard Grossman on November 7, 1936 in Chicago, diary, immigrant experience, Letters

Tags: Chicago, Halloween, hats, Lake Michigan, politics, working

October 20, 1936 – Soon the election will be over.

20 Oct

While Leonard is busy with the election campaigns, Trudel goes to the movies.

Trudel continues to translate her letters diary style.

Movies, Movies!

10/20

Poster from Schoenemädel (1933)

Last week saw a German movie, “Schwartzwald Mädel” (Black Forest Girl) pretty nice.

Anthony Adverse

Saturday saw “Anthony Adverse.” Very good.

Maybe Leonard will have more time after the election.

Never-ending election.

November 3 the election will be over and I am really looking forward to it. Maybe Leonard will have some more time to be with me.

For the past few months Trudel’s fiancé, has been actively involved in election campaigns in addition to his law practice. He ran for judge and lost, he campaigned for Len Small, who lost and then died, and he campaigned for Big Bill Thompson and the Progressive party. We will have to see what happens in that campaign.

In these short posts, we have to read between the lines.

Shortlink this page: http://wp.me/p1yA95-mS

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Posted by Leonard Grossman on October 20, 1936 in Chicago, diary, immigrant experience, Memoir

Tags: election, movies

July 11, 1936 – Sitting on the roof of the hotel and it is very hot.

11 Jul

July 11, 1936

Townsend Plan

Sitting on the roof of the hotel and it is very hot. Leonard will go to Cleveland next week as a delegate of the “Townsend Party.”*

A birthday letter for Leonard arrived by Zeppelin punctually the day before the 4th.**

From Rose Marie

We saw a very good movie, “Rose Marie,” with Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy.

We have seen several other movies because the theatres are air conditioned, usually 72˚ Fahrenheit which is a blessing in this heat. We always go early before the admission price goes up. Sometimes I go with Trudel Batzner,*** Claire Samuels, or Rose La Marque and of course Leonard, if he can take the time.

Two Trudels

Wings over Everest

We saw “Wings over Everest.” Very interesting pictures from the first flight over Mount Everest.

Also “Love me Forever” with Grace Moore, and “Public Hero #1.” I dreamt all night about it. Next “Page Miss Glory” – nothing special. Then “Escape me Never” with Elisabeth Bergner. Next “Don’t Bet on Blondes.” Nice. Also “Dante’s Inferno” excellent, but I saw ghosts all night. Next “Frisco Kid” very exciting, but funny in 1 scene (for me) which played in the office of a stock broker. [Frisco Kid was funny to Trudel because her father was a stockbroker.] Then “Broadway Melody” very nice.

Love Me Forever

Page Miss Glory

Dante’s Inferno

Broadway Melody of 1936

Frisco Kid

Scroll down for clips from some of these movies.

Sometimes we also go to the free excellent concerts in the park right by the lake.

Petrillo Band Shell

Letter from Leonard typewritten on his office letterhead

July 11, 1936
Dear Father Adler, Lottie and Erna:

Many thanks for your lovely birthday letters which arrived via Zeppelin July 3rd. Both Trudel dear and I enjoyed them. Soon after your letter arrived Trudel came into the office, and we read your letters together. At midnight, just as July 4th began, Trudel gave me the loveliest fountain pen. Said she was sorry she could not give me more. It was enough, with her beautiful love. Can you imagine my surprise on arriving home to find a whole table covered with presents from our “Goldkind”?

There was an Angel Food Cake, with 45 on it and 15 candles and 45 flags. It tasted as good as it looked. A lovely belt, handkerchiefs, cigar holder, pajamas, pipe tobacco, and just lots of other lovely gifts, all from darling “Drekbalch”**** But I don’t think that last name fits Trudelchen. Received a birthday card from Henny that was very clever, wires and letters from friends, and we had a lovely birthday dinner at L’Alglon. It is hot here, very hot. We jumped in the lake for a swim last night. Trudel looks stunning in her new and pretty dresses, but like the Goddess Venus in her bathing suit, and she swims like Neptune’s daughter. You know Neptune was the old God of the Sea.

Trudel and Leonard

Am leaving the city for one week, and before going wanted this letter to go on to you, thanking you from the bottom of my heart, not only for the letters you each so lovingly sent me, but also for the flower from your family garden, which is the flower of my heart and life, my future wife, Trudel. And this year we will be wed. There is much more to write, but Trudel dear tells me she has written you. She is coming down for the theater now, so I must get ready for her. The air is ice cooled on hot days in our theaters, so it is a good place to spend a hot night.

With a heart full of love and thanks to each of you, in which my precious Trudel joins,

Affectionately your son and brother
Leonard.

[Handwritten on reverse:]

Dear Sisters:
Trudel and I are in the Normandie Inn at 1 a.m. Sunday – a.m. is Sunday morning – that is a.m. means morning – after midnight from the Latin ante-meridians.
I just had to open our letter to you for 2 reasons. First each of you are one of the reasons each because your English letters to me were priceless and such letters in English deserve a special thank you. Then there were some wonderful presents Trudel gave me – too many to mention but I must not be silent about the 1) constitution of the United States, 2) the Declaration of Independence, signed on July 4, 1776, the first birthday of our country, 3) President Lincoln’s great Gettysburg Address written in his own handwriting – all beautifully framed for 2 large panels on my office wall – a glorious set of gifts by themselves. And again – a hug and a kiss to each of you for your loving thoughtfulness in writing English.

Devotedly your brother,

Leonard

Notes

Scroll below these notes to find links to clips, trailers and complete movies of some of the films mentioned above.

*Dr. Francis Townsend, a soft-spoken doctor with a senior citizens following, preached the Depression could be ended by giving government pensions to people over 60, thus freeing up jobs for unemployed young people. Unfortunately he was eventually co-opted by the infamous Father Charles Coughlin and Gerlald M. K. Smith in their campaign against President Roosevelt’s reelection. See Francis Townsend – The Man with a Plan on the Pardon Power blog, and Where Left Meets Right, by Ron Grossman.

**Leonard’s Birthday was July 4.

***This is Trudel’s first reference to Trudel Nachman, who became her closest and lifelong friend. Sadly, there is no account of how they met.

****”Drekbalch” is what is typed in my father’s letter. Perhaps Trudel used the term to refer humorously to herself or it is a very odd typo. I can’t find a translation.