Sorry I did not write sooner. We are very busy at work and I just wrote two long letters in English and in the next 12 days I have to finish 18 hats. Some alterations and some new. And then I will have to make some decent hats for myself since I will be leaving for Sumter on March 16.
Hats
Madge invited a lot of the meshpoche so I can meet them. I had some nice clothes made by Rose LaMarque, so Madge and her husband Ray will not have to be ashamed of me. The dresses are mostly black or dark color since everything gets very dirty here and I do not like to spend a lot of money on cleaning bills.
Leonard went shopping with me for other things. He has a wonderful taste but unfortunately not that much money. Just like home!!
Gone With the Wind
Before leaving for South Carolina, I want to finish reading “Gone with the Wind” which plays mostly in Atlanta, Georgia, where Leonard was born. Unfortunately Leonard will be too busy and will not be able to go south with me.
Last night we had dinner at Frances and Felix Welsch, Leonard’s very nice cousins where Aunt Flora stays when she is in Chicago.
It is very hard to explain “corn on the cob.” You do not have that, only the big corn cobs that are fed to the animals on a farm. This corn is very sweet and delicious, with some butter and salt on top.
If the movie “Camille,” with Greta Garbo, should come to Frankfurt, try to see it. It is excellent.
[I have discovered a couple of letters that were not posted in order. Here, from January, 1937 is is the first of them. Later it will appear in the correct place in the order of letters but for convenience here is a link to the letters that appeared before it in January, 1937. LAG]
Jan 23 ‘37
Hope I answered all your letters. Now I have a whole big stack of mail to be answered.
I bought some black wool material and will have a winter coat made from it. Madge, my sister-in-law, sent me a lovely watch for my birthday. It is to be worn on the lapel of a suit.
Have gone to bed very late every night this week.
Monday I finished a hat for a friend, Tuesday as usual with Trudel Batzner, Wednesday delivered a hat to friends and had dinner with them, and the 4 of us went to a movie, and then back to their house for something more to eat.
Trudel Batzner
Thursday met a niece of Engelbert Hriss with whom I had been trying to get together for one year.
Leonard had to go to a political meeting and Trudel B, that girl [the niece of Englebert Hriss] and I visited together until midnight. Last night, Friday, Aunt Flora, Leonard’s favorite aunt who lives in Indianapolis, was here in town and invited us for dinner. She was staying with Leonard’s cousin on the far south side, all wonderful people.
I took home a couple of hats to be remodeled. Glad to have a good reason to go there again. Since his divorce, Leonard had withdrawn from all his relatives and friends. He wanted all of them to be friends with his ex-wife and daughter and he did not care about himself.
Trudel
The price for hosiery is between $0.65 and $1.25. But in the summer I wear only knee hose which is about 35 cents a pair. Besides I wear a lot of “footlings.”
Ernale please write me a letter describing exactly what you do at work, in English. Maybe Aunt Flora can help find a job for you here.
Love,
Trudel
Trudel Batzner (later Nachmann) became my mother’s closest friend and they remained close the rest of their lives. Oddly, there is no account of their first meeting in any of Trudel’s letters. LAG
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.
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!
Trudel continues to translate only brief summaries from her letters, “diary style,” she calls it. In the coming months there are a few few full length letters so keep watching.
Rose LaMarque
6/1
I finally moved in with Mrs. Rose La Marque at the Seneca Hotel, after being sick for a week and in bed.
I am working for Sully only now at her hat shop, which is also in the Seneca.
The Seneca Hotel
Sully
Sully’s Hat Shop
Saw a nice movie “The Golden Arrow” with Bette Davis.
