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July 3, 1935 “I fell almost asleep last night while writing.”

July 3, 1935 “I fell almost asleep last night while writing.”

July 2, 1935

My Good Sweet Dear Goldkind:

It is midnight and I just went to bed. But since I have not written to you in three weeks, I feel very conscious of guilt and will write now. Thanks for mail received. Hope you received those I sent.

On Wednesday, June 12, Leonard returned from a successful trip to the Illinois Supreme Court. We had dinner together but I went home immediately to alter a dress.

Thursday I had dinner at the family of my new boss.

Friday, June 14, I had Sabbath dinner again with the Samuels in Hyde Park.

Saturday, I had dinner with Leonard, then we stopped at his office and went home.

Trudel's Skates

Trudel’s Skates

Sunday, June 16, we had beautiful weather. I sat three hours in sunshine in a park. For the first time in 14 years I went roller-skating, but only 2 blocks. The shoes with the skates which I had borrowed were too tight. But it was fun.

Trudel on Rollerskates

Trudel on Rollerskates

After one hour walk we had a wonderful dinner and then we sat for about one hour in my room where I gave Leonard a fashion show of all my clothes.


Continued 7/3

Good morning. I fell almost asleep last night while writing.

Monday, June 17, I spent all day at home.

Tuesday, I had a date with Aunt Henny. After waiting for her for one hour I went home again. It was raining too hard – she could not come!!!

Wednesday I worked overtime and ate downtown. In my ½ hour lunchtime I got soaked shopping for a birthday present for Leonard.

Because of everything I did [in the past few days] my back and shoulders still hurt.

Thursday at home. Sewing.

Steamer Theodore Roosevelt

Steamer Theodore Rosevelt


Friday, June 21, Gwen and Eddy picked us up for a boat ride. Grace Gray had arranged a party of 12 people in the captain’s cabin. This boat trip took 2 ½ hours. I wore the altered chiffon dress, a new hat, white shoes, linen coat, white purse and gloves and a lot of makeup.
Flora Mae and LJG

Flora Mae & LJG

Afterwards we ate downtown in a very nice place. Unfortunately it was raining all evening.

LJG Plays Tennis

LJG Plays Tennis

Saturday, June 22, Leonard played tennis for the first time in three years and of course was very tired afterwards. We had dinner at a very nice rooftop restaurant with a very good with a nice floor show. Excellent orchestra and very good food, except that Leonard found a long, rusty nail in his steak. Fortunately he did not get hurt.

Sunday, June 23, I was with you in thought at the cemetery. [I believe that was the second anniversary of Trudel’s mother’s death. -Ed.]

Chinatown Squad

Chinatown Squad

That day we spent time with Flora Mae. Also met Hans Kösterlitz. After dinner at a park, we went on a “merry go round” operated by foot and then on a “wippe [teeter totter or see-saw].” Leonard was 210 pounds on one side and Flora Mae and I (together) about 200 pounds. Up and down and down and up. It was hilarious.
On Gray's Roof

Flora Mae, LJG, and Trudel

We stopped on the way home at a movie, “Chinatown Squad,” and a very good stage show.

Sunday, June 30, We picked up Flora Mae and spent afternoon on Gray’s roof. Fireworks on way home. Weather very hot, too hot to even go swimming.

On Gray's Roof

On Gray’s Roof


On Tuesday, July 2, I had a date with a nice girl from Nürnberg I had met at Samuels. She helped me tie together 43 little packages I had wrapped for Leonard’s 43rd birthday which is July 4 (tomorrow).

1000 greetings and kisses,

Trudelchen


Trudel’s translations and notes did not include a letter specifically mentioning what they did on July 4, LJG’s Birthday, but her photo albums did include at least one photo taken that day.

Trudel, Flora Mae and LJG

Trudel, Flora Mae and LJG in the park on July 4, 1935



You may enjoy taking a look at the letter Trudel wrote exactly one year earlier.
Follow this link:http://is.gd/qZxq2E

 

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November 25, 1935 – A new job, a trip, and more movies.

November 25, 1935  – A new job, a trip, and more movies.

Trudel continues to translate in “diary style.”

Trudel's Workspace at Sully's

Trudel’s Workspace

Hats on Racks at Sully's

Sully’s

11/4

I started working for Sophie Sullivan in a little shop in the Seneca Hotel. Part time.

I saw the movie Broadway Melody of 1936 Very nice.

Sully

Sully

Poster Broadway Melody of 1936

Click for YouTube

Went to a Halloween Party as a witch in a dress made of a potato sack. I Made a big red tam for Leonard and red patches on his white jacket, with a red bandanna as tie and match box as holder.

I Spoke to Alex* on the phone 11/20, Thanks for Jewish paper and marzipan. Since I work on the two jobs I am very tired in the evening.

I saw an excellent move about South Africa Sanders of the River with Paul Robeson.

Robeson in Sanders of the River

Click image to hear Paul Robeson in Sanders of the River

More Robeson from Sanders of the River:
My Little Black Dove
Rallying the Tribes
The Canoe Song
The Complete Film


11/25
As you see, Leonard and I are on our way to Wooster Ohio to meet Alex.

Trudel and Alex

Trudel and Alex

Trudel & LJG in Wooster


Visiting in Wooster



*Alex was Trudel’s sister Erna’s fiance’ who was visiting America on business.


 
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Posted by on November 25, 1935 in diary, family, immigrant experience, Letters, Memoir

 

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December, 1935 – Happy New Year

December, 1935 – Happy New Year

Although it was an exciting time, Trudel’s notes from December 1935 have only two dated entries. Remember to click on the images. Most will expand to a larger or more complete image or a YouTube.


LJG Trudel Wooster

Leonard and Trudel in Wooster

12/8/1935

Belated thanks for the very pretty napkin rings and birthday letters.

Our trip to Wooster [to visit with my sister’s fiance’] was my birthday present. It cost a lot of money and took Leonard away from his work. He has to finish a brief, have it printed, and it has to be in the state Supreme Court on Monday.

LJG DESK

LJG at his Desk



Thursday we had Thanksgiving turkey dinner at Bishops.

Ed and Gwen Bishop's Home

Ed and Gwen Bishop’s Home

12/22/1935

Saw A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a wonderful movie. We saw the live play a year ago.

Midsummer Night's Dream

Click on image for YouTube


Aunt Henny

Aunt Henny

Undated notes
Aunt Henny stayed with me for a few days before going to Florida.

I am still working on two jobs and like both very much.

Happy New Year
Best Wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year!
Love,
Trudelchen

 
 

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January 8, 1936 Happy New Year – A little belated.

January 8, 1936  Happy New Year – A little belated.

January 8, 1936

Happy New Year, a little belated.
I stayed home today because I have a very sore throat.

Sullys

Sully’s Hat Shop

I took care of “Sully’s” hat shop while she was in N.Y. Aunt Henny kept me company a few hours there every day until she went to Florida. Henny was as sweet and nice as when I first came to Chicago. She finally left by bus for Florida.

C-R Hats

C-R Hats

On the 24th, we had a nice party at C-R Millinery, which is named for its owners and was my main job. Every girl brought a 10¢ present, put on long strings, put it all in a big sack and each of us pulled a string and got a little gift package. Besides we each paid 25¢ for food: cold cuts, bread, salad, cucumbers, potato salad, coffee, cake and ice cream. The company donated a box of candies for each worker. One boy brought a radio, so we had music and danced a little. Mr. Roedelsheimer came for the 1st time since a severe operation and that added much to the fun of the party. Mr. Cohn always has a long, sad face.

Grand Terrace

The Grand Terrace

After the party, I stopped by Sully’s where everybody was drunk already. I went home, changed clothes and met Leonard at Bishops and received nice Xmas gifts.

New Year’s Eve and day we spent also with the Bishops. We went to a very different nightclub, called ‘Grand Terrace,’ the first time I was at a place like that where black and white people are together. I have to tell that the black people, including the wife of Joe Louis, behaved much better than the white folks. The orchestra, waiters and actors are black and very good, nice and clean.

I got a letter from Aunt Henny. Even in warm Florida she got a bad cold with back pain. Nothing special.


Trudel’s comments about the Grand Terrace, which was at 3955 South Parway and was reputedly one of Al Capone’s clubs, ring true. See the following notes from a website devoted to a woman named Audrey Vallette, a contemporary of Trudel’s whose path may have crossed with Trudel’s before Audrey’s tragic death.

Earl Hines Orchestra

Earl Hines Orchestra

“Swankiest of the Blackbelt night clubs, and one of the oldest. It is richly furnished and there is plenty of room for black, white, and intermediate shades. The floor show is elaborate and contains some of the most attractive colored chorines west of Harlem, as well as lively tap dancers and vaudeville teams. Music is furnished by Hines’ band, which is nothing if not “hot.” Saturday night is the big night at the Grand Terrace. Many of the patrons are white, this place being too expensive for the hordes of Negro nighthawks, but there are enough dusky damsels and high-brown gentlemen to give the place color.”

(Drury, John. Dining in Chicago, New York: The John Day Company, 1931, pp. 252-253.)

Gene Krupa

Gene Krupa and Benny Goodman at the Grand Terrace

“During 1936 at the Grand Terrace Ballroom, where Fletcher Henderson was appearing with his own band, Benny Goodman played in front of the band with Gene Krupa sitting in on drums. This is perhaps the first time that black and white jazz musicians played together before a paying audience.”

For more information about Audrey Vallette see the website The Unsolved Murder of Audrey Vallette.

 

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January 26, 1936 “It is awfully cold here.”

January 26, 1936  “It is awfully cold here.”

Trudel returns to diary style in her notes:

1/26/36

Awfully cold for weeks. 20˚ below 0 Fahrenheit = about 30˚ below Celsius. And we are making straw and light felt hats.

Garbo  - Karenina

A Spring Hat in Winter


I may have to have my tonsils removed anyhow in Spring. The doctors here are all money hungry and so far I have not found one I would trust. A school friend of Leonard’s has an apothecary, not a drugstore, and we go to him for advice instead of a doctor.

We recently saw “Anna Karenina” with Greta Garbo and Fredric March!! I did like the book much better.

Had a bad cold but I am OK again.

We saw “Mutiny on the Bounty”
http://youtu.be/OtmV2tpbnjA

and laughed a lot seeing Eddy Cantor in “Strike me Pink.”

Strike Me Pink

Strike Me Pink


Mutiny on the Bounty 1935

Mutiny on the Bounty

 
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Posted by on January 26, 1936 in Chicago, immigrant experience, Memoir

 

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