1934
Before proceeding any further into this new class year, let's all take a good clear look at a sparkling promise of the not-so-distant future. Talkin' about June 1950 .... and Reunion! Here's a quick once-over on the big picture. The dates are June 16-17-18. The classes involved are '10, '14, '15, '16, '34 (ah there!), '35, '36 and '40. Thus we find ourselves fitting happily into the pattern of the new Dartmouth or Robinson Reunion Plan, with two groupings of classes that were in college together coming back on the weekend after Commencement. During Commencement weekend of June 9-10-11, the 50-year and 25-year classes (1900 and 1925) will be specially honored along with 1890 and 1895. Neatly sandwiched between the two reunion periods will be Hanover Holiday, running from June 12-15. Well, that's enough to whet the appetite for our Sweet Sixteenth, and we urge all to lay plans now for the big event. Line up that sitter, see the kennel man about boarding the pooch, check your gas and oil. In no time at all, it seems, we'll be Headin' Back. Meanwhile watch this space for The Word as plans develop. And above all else make up your mind that this year, by gum, you're not going to miss it.
Now for a backward glance at last June and the Monroe Picnic, which someone dubbed the Fifteenth Preunion. Well, it was a jolly old time, as predicted, and drew a right merry gang of guys and dolls. Good people like the Bob Allaboughs, Stu Barber, the Johnny Bathricks, the Dave Beasleys, the George Copps, Jerry Danzig with pretty Hope Thomson, the Peanuts Davieses, Em Day, the Orv Dryfooses, the Ray Elys, the DuckyGolmores, the Bill Gilmores, the Dick Gruens, the Dick Hermans, the Ray Hulsarts, the AlJacobsons, the Mike Josephs, the Bob Kolbes, the Al Markses, the Harry McCanns, LesReeve, Fred Robbe, the Bill Schermans, the Herm Spitzers, the Van Thomes and the AlYankauers in addition, of course, to the thoughtful hosts, Edie and Bob Smith. Yessir, quite a clan. And all hands appeared to be having huge fun under a beautiful June sky as Softball, croquet, small-talk and beer kept things humming at a happy pace. The ball game showed keen competition and skillful play but was marred by some very uncertain umpiring on the part of a buffer state yclept Jackson. This poor wretch, having pulled a rock on his first decision, endeavored to even things by slanting his next tough one the other way. Of course it wasn't long before he had so compounded the felony that his verdicts were stripped of the last shred of honesty, and he was lucky to leave the field in one piece. Anyway, some good players performed and we saw enough to convince us that those other classes are headed for nothing but headaches in the reunion round-robin next spring.
A feature of the day was the dramatic change in the weather which saw the soft June sunshine yield temporarily to an amazing hailstorm, complete to stones as big as ice-cubes. It was really beautiful, in an eerie sort of way, and added a closing fillip to a mighty interesting afternoon. Dick Herman, whose affairs had brought him East at just the right time, won the title of Classmate Farthest From Home, he being a San Francisco merchant of leather goods and textiles. (As a matter of fact, textiles and clothing won the attendance prize, what with the presence of Sanforized's McCann, Amalgamated Textile's Hulsart, Kolbe's Kolbe, Howard Clothes' Marks and J. P. Stevens' Jacobson.)
Yes, that was a real nice clambake, and we're deeply indebted to the Smiths for lending us their lovely setting.
Next event scheduled for New Yorkers is the first of the new series of Class Dinners, coming up on October 19, still ahead of us as we write but well behind you as you read. Other dinner-dates are set as follows: Thursday, December 8; Tuesday, March 28; Wednesday, May 17, all to be held at the Dartmouth Club of New York. Put those down on your calendar right now, even though you may not be within range of 01' Manhattan. Could be you may get there on one of the designated evenings and the Gotham gang would be delighted to have you drop in. There's a good possibility of a co-ed cocktail roundup in mid-winter, too, but that will require further planning.
Right now, though, let's slip out of the Big City for a pleasant change, and ease down to lovely Lookout Mountain, Tenn., where the news is of the Dick Houcks, and it's all good. The Chattanooga Times for September 20 features the interesting story of Katherine Jean Houck, a young lady whose birth on June 4 caused something of a stir among the medical fraternity down that way. It seems that little Kathy, showing at the outset a typically feminine aversion to excess poundage, checked in at the trim weight of one pound 11½ ounces, and it took some skilled handling and some ultra modern hospital equipment to bring her up to her present hale and hearty seven or so pounds. The photo accompanying the clipping is ample testimony to the marvelous job accomplished and the new Miss Houck is now back home with sister Janice, six, and a still newer member of the household, 21-month-old Richard Jr., whose adoption took place in August. Ricky, the husky subject of a charming snapshot we have, is one more reason why we wish it had not become necessary for the editors to impose a ban on pictures of youngsters in these pages. Well, suffice it to say, things are humming at Chez Houck these days!
Way out on the Coast Wendy Williams is now West Coast Radio and Television Director in Leo Burnett Company, Inc., the advertising agency, and his main activity is specializing in the handling of the Pillsbury account. Well now, Wendy, it so happens that we have here a freshly minted slogan you might want to snap up. Keyed around the theme of strength for growing bodies, it goes like this: "Get Pillsbury's, for the Flour of Youth!" What's that you say—get the hell back to the insurance biz where we belong? Okay, only we thought that maybe.... aw shucks, okay.
Mention of west coast radio and tv is all the cue needed to report one of the pleasantest surprises that came to us all summer. Right spang in the midst of that terrific hot spell which melted New York for two torrid weeks early in July, who should pop into our oven but Bill Gay, he of the cool breeze-swept patio in comfortable-climated California. Bill was in town as the Hollywood representative for Foote, Cone & Belding, looking over eastern developments in radio and video. Understand he had occasion to chin a bit with CBS's Jerry Danzig and NBC's Ted Thompson before heading back to that patio. Bill also managed to set aside an evening, of his very crowded few, for a mighty pleasant sip session with Bill Scherman, Ducky Gilmore and ourself.
Still another radio biggie is the feature of a piece in the Sunday Magazine Section of the New York Mirror for September 18. The article profiles the collaboration of the youngest husband-and-wife producing team in radio, Gail and Harry Ingram. These talented two produce, write and direct the Basil Rathbone show, "Tales of Fatima," and are rolling along most successfully.
Next news is the announcement that BillSheffeld has a further distinction to add to his long-distance commuting championship. He has been named counsel for General Electric's apparatus department, with which he has been associated since 1945. Prior to that he served as company attorney for the Garlock Packing Co., in Palmyra, N. Y. and earlier had engaged in private law practice.
It has been some time since we reported '34 visitors to the Inn, so the following span a wide stretch of spring to fall traveling: the Hank Bryans from Wilmington, the JoeSwenssons from Newington, Conn., Dave Beasley from Ridgewood, Don Sandy from Hartsdale, N. Y., Sey Dunn from Geneva, the JakeHekma family from Greenwich, and the HerbSteyn family from Briarcliff Manor.
It is our final pleasure to pass along a most satisfying report on the Bill Gilmore situation. At the end of September we were able to visit Bill at St. Luke's Hospital, Amsterdam Ave. and 113th St., N. Y. C., and the lad looked fine, felt fine and was fine. That is, under the circumstances. By now he is probably home for the long strength-regaining period, and we suggest that your mail be directed there accordingly. Bill Jr. is likewise progressing nicely.
On this happy note it is time for us to fold up shop for another month. So take thirty, men, and kinda keep us posted now, won't you?
THREE SEGMENTS OF 1934'S GAY PICNIC HELD AT THE HOME OF EDIE AND BOB SMITH IN JUNE AS A PRE-REUNION
DOOR PRIZE: At the annua! Hollywood Advertising Club "Hucksterado" in Los Angeles this summer Wendell Williams '34 (right), West Coast radio and television director for Leo Burnett Co., pulled down a table radio as a prize and received it from the hands of Jack Rourke '40, radio and television producer, who was Master of Ceremonies.
Secretary and Treasurer,
110 Fulton St., New York 7, N. Y.
