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.
Trudel continues to translate only brief summaries of her original letters. The two entries she made for August 1936 only hint at the changes she had made in her life. But we can fill in some of the blanks from her photo album. Last month she mentioned sitting on the roof of the Seneca Hotel because it was so hot. Since posting that I found a photo of the Roof Garden at the Seneca in her album, which I have included here.
Although she doesn’t mention it in her translations, her photo album for the period includes photos on Chicago’s lake front and in the parks. I have included some of those as well.
The biggest and the best
8/3/36
Last night we went for the first time in the Chez Paree, the biggest and best nightclub here. Very elegant people, good dinner, excellent entertainment.
The Chez Paree
The most elegant people…
Chez Paree
8/20/36
Sully sold her business. I would like to take over, but the hotel has to settle with her first.
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.
YouTubes and clips from some of the movies Trudel saw
Rose Marie with Janette MacDonald and and Nelson Eddy
YouTube of the full length film.
Wings over Everest
News clip about the 80th anniversary of Wings Over Everest, with scene from original film.
Trailer for Public Hero #1 Click image.
Public Hero #1
Escape Me Never 1935
Dante’s Inferno
scene from the 1935 film “Dante’s Inferno,” with Spencer Tracy and Claire Trevor. For more information, visit moviedavid.blogspot.com!
After having completed 250 handwritten 8 1/2 x 11 pages, on whatever paper she had, Trudel wrote on page 251,
“Now that I have translated the letters of my 1st year in Chicago will pick out only the highlights. You all know that I eat + sleep every day. It is really not important which restaurant when or where. So here goes “Diary Style” only different or interessant occurrences.”
Trudel Explains
And, so, here Trudel’s regular detailed letters end. But her story does not end here. There are another 50 pages of notes covering another year and a half. Fortunately some of the gaps can be filled by photos from her albums and other sources.
Tridel amd Flora Mae-July 4, 1935
With Flora Mae and Leonard
Some of the summaries of her letters from this point on are cryptic. There are major omissions. Strangely she does not mention what she did on July 4th, my father’s birthday, the first she celebrated with him, even though in her previous letters she wrote about shopping for presents and wrapping them. Fortunately there are photographs taken that day, as well as throughout the month and the coming years.
Click image for YouTube
LJG and others
7/17/35 Previous week saw excellent movie, “Unfinished Symphony,” with Martha Eggerth, a part of the life of Schubert.
Very, very hot summer.
Working again at C&R. Nothing special otherwise.
7/27/25 On Sunday Senator Searcy picked us up by taxi. We went to Gray’s (very early) then 11 people in two cars to a beautiful private home several miles north of here, through forests, small towns, along the lake, etc. A beautiful day with lots of good food, swimming, boating, and playing croquet.
At the beach
Enjoying the Lake
C&R Ad
Notes: Trudel doesn’t mention whether she saw the German or English version of “Unfinished Symphony.” An English version is supposed to have been released in 1935. However, I could only find posters and YouTubes from the German version. Clicking in the thumbnail of the poster will take you to one video. Clicking on he highlighted name of the film will take you to another. I have noticed that in some browsers you go directly to the video, in others a short ad may run first. My apologies for Google’s mercenary policies.
Senator Searcy
Earle B. Searcy was a real estate broker; member of Illinois state house of representatives 45th District, 1921-23; member of Illinois state senate 45th District, 1923-45.
From The Political Graveyard.com
Sunday: Visited with Flora Mae. It was the warmest day so far this year, so we walked a little and went home early.
Make blue skirt 6 inches tighter.
Monday: Breakfast downtown which costs only about ½ of here in the neighborhood and is much better. Aunt Henny and I spent 2 hours together and visited several people in their offices. We ate at a very reasonable restaurant and she went home with me, where I started a hat for her and made one for a friend of hers. She went home at 11:30 pm. In the meantime, Eugene Weil called and gave me the address of a hat shop where I might get a job.
[Trudel’s translations do not mention that she is not working although she mentioned there being less work in her previous letter.]
Tuesday: Went early to apply for a job there. Waited for one hour for the boss, left my address and phone number. “Maybe” if they get busier.
Now in a beautiful neighborhood with beautiful stores. Stopped in one store to ask if they could use help for sewing alterations. Hired me to start next day for a few hours. One has to be lucky and I really was. Afterwards I straightened out my room.
Wednesday: Worked from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Thursday: Worked from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Friday: From 9:00-1:00 and again from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Then the pleasant bus ride to Samuels for Shabbat dinner. There I met a very nice refugee girl who also lives on the north side like I do, and we went home together via Leonard’s office.
Saturday: work from 9-1. Then to visit Rose La Marque. Aunt Henny visited me all afternoon.
In the evening Leonard and I went to a movie, “Let ’Em Have It.” Very good. Afterwards I helped Leonard in the office by finding the books he needed and opening them on the right pages. He worked until 7:00 Sunday morning. I went home much much earlier.
Sunday: We met Mr. Goodman, his former partner and picked up Flora Mae. She and I played in the yard while the two men wrote speeches for Mr. Goodman’s case in the State Supreme Court in Springfield, where Leonard defended him the next day. He expects to be back on Wednesday.
*After over 250 handwritten pages of translations, Trudel decided to translate only the highlights.
