July 14th, Wed.
Dearest Jeannette,
Say, kiddo, you sure write some letters! Lil read them to me...but don't worry parents didn't even get a peek! Hey, when you come back you have to educate me!
Sounds as if you are having a rip-roaring time! Don't give all the fellows too hard a time! Just get them hard! Oops! What did I say????? Oh, well, all between sisters!
Just flew home last week! Only a few days here so far but what a difference in the weather. New York from the newspapers is sweltering. Glad that I'm only dying in Calif. At least my family is around me!
Wow, our room or I should say YOUR room is certainly changed! It looks just like you. For my taste, I prefer modern and very simple lines. But then I don't live here anymore.
Don't you think that you will be back in time for the party on the 21st? That is definitely set for the anniversary and my engagement party. So far, parents have been very nice about the prospect of Benny as a son-in-law considering that they haven't met him as of yet! At first, Daddy wouldn't even discuss anything plans, etc. But after one week home I got him buttered up to the point where we even had an intelligent discussion as to the wedding size, time, reception, etc.
So this is the tentative plan! Of course, Benny doesn't know a thing about all of this...poor guy...but then he is only the groom! Parents now want me to be married this Oct. Don't trust me in New York with Benny after we are engaged!! Mother thought it was quite scandalous because Ben came over to my apartment for breakfast a few times, and then he and Johnny (Marie's hot-stuff) come over for chow every night! Grounds for a shot-gun marriage! So in order to avoid all this shocking behavior...she thinks that the sooner married, the better for me! Well....I have no objections since it would be easier and then once married I could really go looking for a permanent job!
But as I said...Benny knows nothing as of yet. And his main problem is of financial nature! He's broke. But then aren't we all? And you know parents...when he comes, they will expect him (and he should) take the whole family out a few times. There are so many obligations and they all have to be observed...and worse of all...they all cost money. Too bad I just can't ask people to give me money for a wedding gift!
Well, we got as far as tallying up the expected wedding guests and the list which is supposed to be cut down to the minimum is already 400-some to attend. A small, quiet simple wedding???? Anyway, that is what I would like...but you can't battle against mother! So most likely I'll be married somewhere in Beverly Hills area and then have the reception in the Beverly Hills Hotel. Simple...???
Natch, you and Lil will be in the procession! Or would you rather be my ring-bearer? Don't want any flower girls...too many people. Am going to try to keep the bridal party down to about five...that is a good number! Oh, expressed a wish not to display gifts..and Mom said that if people knew, they wouldn't give me such nice things! Isn't that silly...if that is the way people feel about giving me anything then I don't want anything from them.
Poor Benny, he's in NY working hard. He has a very important case right now that is absorbing all his time, so up to now I haven't heard one word from him. I told him not to write until the case was finished...and now - sob - I wish he had written me anyways!
Well, so I'll be married this fall...if Benny agrees. I still think that it is good policy to let him know and decide. Don't know if Marie and Elaine will be able to come out then as they too have financial problems and money doesn't grow on trees.
I hope to go to Salt Lake about Aug. 6th for a week and visit Benny. Then he will accompany me back to LA. for the party. Everyone in town is speculating on my “engagement”! But so far I've been keeping a very straight face and denying it like a trouper! Really want to surprise the people in this town!
Honey's pups are just adorable! I would really love to have one, but now that I’m contemplating getting married, I don't see how that would and could be possible since I'll have a husband, a new apt., and a new job on my hands. That would certainly keep me busy!
Sorry about not writing you for so long. But no one thought to tell me when you were leaving, what you were doing, or what your address was. So up to now I didn't know a thing about you.
The weather is stifling now...really hot for a change. Just thankful that I'm not in NY now. Heard that it is terrible now. And that horrible humidity.
With an out-of-town guest, I went to all the movie studios. This guy from Siam – and with a wife and five kids – was a fast Casanova! Boy, what a man! If his wife only knew? He is in the film distributing business, so had access to all the studios. The most embarrassing thing was that people were always mistaking us for a married couple. Horrors! I sure wasn't acting very warmly toward him...guess occidentals think that Orientals are frigid!
But seeing the studios was worth it. Went through Allied Artist, 20th, Metro, and Paramount. Saw so many stars and all the fantastic sets used in the latest pictures. At 20th, I saw Marilyn Monroe, Don O'Connor and saw the actual shooting of Ginger Rogers, Reggie Gardner, and Gene Tierney for “The Black Widow”. At Paramount, saw them filming “To Catch a Thief” with Grace Kelly, Hitchcock and Gary Grant. Talked to Grant for some 15 minutes. Also saw “There Were No Angels” with Humphrey Bogart! This guy who I went through the studios with was quite an extrovert...more like the Jimmy Yao type which means quite vain! He wanted his pictures taken with all the stars and then when he could finagle it, he would put his arms around them as if he were their “bosom” buddy! Some character! as sure glad to take him to the airport!
Haven't seen much of the people in town yet. Just Mom's women’s club friends as they gathered here for a typical ladies' luncheon and card party. It was so raucous and noisy, I couldn't hear myself think! I don't see how mom goes through this so many times per week! But that kept me busy for two days as I did all the cooking for the luncheon.
Well, kid, do write again and soon. Love to hear from you,
Much love,
Al
No reread – excuse?
Say, kiddo, you sure write some letters! Lil read them to me...but don't worry parents didn't even get a peek! Hey, when you come back you have to educate me!
Sounds as if you are having a rip-roaring time! Don't give all the fellows too hard a time! Just get them hard! Oops! What did I say????? Oh, well, all between sisters!
Just flew home last week! Only a few days here so far but what a difference in the weather. New York from the newspapers is sweltering. Glad that I'm only dying in Calif. At least my family is around me!
Wow, our room or I should say YOUR room is certainly changed! It looks just like you. For my taste, I prefer modern and very simple lines. But then I don't live here anymore.
Don't you think that you will be back in time for the party on the 21st? That is definitely set for the anniversary and my engagement party. So far, parents have been very nice about the prospect of Benny as a son-in-law considering that they haven't met him as of yet! At first, Daddy wouldn't even discuss anything plans, etc. But after one week home I got him buttered up to the point where we even had an intelligent discussion as to the wedding size, time, reception, etc.
So this is the tentative plan! Of course, Benny doesn't know a thing about all of this...poor guy...but then he is only the groom! Parents now want me to be married this Oct. Don't trust me in New York with Benny after we are engaged!! Mother thought it was quite scandalous because Ben came over to my apartment for breakfast a few times, and then he and Johnny (Marie's hot-stuff) come over for chow every night! Grounds for a shot-gun marriage! So in order to avoid all this shocking behavior...she thinks that the sooner married, the better for me! Well....I have no objections since it would be easier and then once married I could really go looking for a permanent job!
But as I said...Benny knows nothing as of yet. And his main problem is of financial nature! He's broke. But then aren't we all? And you know parents...when he comes, they will expect him (and he should) take the whole family out a few times. There are so many obligations and they all have to be observed...and worse of all...they all cost money. Too bad I just can't ask people to give me money for a wedding gift!
Well, we got as far as tallying up the expected wedding guests and the list which is supposed to be cut down to the minimum is already 400-some to attend. A small, quiet simple wedding???? Anyway, that is what I would like...but you can't battle against mother! So most likely I'll be married somewhere in Beverly Hills area and then have the reception in the Beverly Hills Hotel. Simple...???
Natch, you and Lil will be in the procession! Or would you rather be my ring-bearer? Don't want any flower girls...too many people. Am going to try to keep the bridal party down to about five...that is a good number! Oh, expressed a wish not to display gifts..and Mom said that if people knew, they wouldn't give me such nice things! Isn't that silly...if that is the way people feel about giving me anything then I don't want anything from them.
Poor Benny, he's in NY working hard. He has a very important case right now that is absorbing all his time, so up to now I haven't heard one word from him. I told him not to write until the case was finished...and now - sob - I wish he had written me anyways!
Well, so I'll be married this fall...if Benny agrees. I still think that it is good policy to let him know and decide. Don't know if Marie and Elaine will be able to come out then as they too have financial problems and money doesn't grow on trees.
I hope to go to Salt Lake about Aug. 6th for a week and visit Benny. Then he will accompany me back to LA. for the party. Everyone in town is speculating on my “engagement”! But so far I've been keeping a very straight face and denying it like a trouper! Really want to surprise the people in this town!
Honey's pups are just adorable! I would really love to have one, but now that I’m contemplating getting married, I don't see how that would and could be possible since I'll have a husband, a new apt., and a new job on my hands. That would certainly keep me busy!
Sorry about not writing you for so long. But no one thought to tell me when you were leaving, what you were doing, or what your address was. So up to now I didn't know a thing about you.
The weather is stifling now...really hot for a change. Just thankful that I'm not in NY now. Heard that it is terrible now. And that horrible humidity.
With an out-of-town guest, I went to all the movie studios. This guy from Siam – and with a wife and five kids – was a fast Casanova! Boy, what a man! If his wife only knew? He is in the film distributing business, so had access to all the studios. The most embarrassing thing was that people were always mistaking us for a married couple. Horrors! I sure wasn't acting very warmly toward him...guess occidentals think that Orientals are frigid!
But seeing the studios was worth it. Went through Allied Artist, 20th, Metro, and Paramount. Saw so many stars and all the fantastic sets used in the latest pictures. At 20th, I saw Marilyn Monroe, Don O'Connor and saw the actual shooting of Ginger Rogers, Reggie Gardner, and Gene Tierney for “The Black Widow”. At Paramount, saw them filming “To Catch a Thief” with Grace Kelly, Hitchcock and Gary Grant. Talked to Grant for some 15 minutes. Also saw “There Were No Angels” with Humphrey Bogart! This guy who I went through the studios with was quite an extrovert...more like the Jimmy Yao type which means quite vain! He wanted his pictures taken with all the stars and then when he could finagle it, he would put his arms around them as if he were their “bosom” buddy! Some character! as sure glad to take him to the airport!
Haven't seen much of the people in town yet. Just Mom's women’s club friends as they gathered here for a typical ladies' luncheon and card party. It was so raucous and noisy, I couldn't hear myself think! I don't see how mom goes through this so many times per week! But that kept me busy for two days as I did all the cooking for the luncheon.
Well, kid, do write again and soon. Love to hear from you,
Much love,
Al
No reread – excuse?
Summer of ‘54: The Scene | 1: Al: Have I been busy | 2: Jigi: Orchid leis | 3: Lil: Go crazy, kid 4: Wally: Don’t change | 5: Ron: Damn nice of you | 6: Mom: A grand success | 7: Mom: My fashion plate | 8: Lil: Who’d’ve understood? | 9: Jigi: The sexy bastard | 10: Mom: That gleam and glow | 11: Mom: So proud of you | 12: Al: Fast Casanova | 13: Lil: Free coaching | 14: Mom: Simply heartbroken | 15: Al: Most scandalous | 16: Lil: Men!! | 17: Jigi: Gush it up | 18: Mom: Keep it to yourselves | 19: Lil: Bitter today | 20: Lil: Your future brother-in-law | 21: To the convent | The Anniversary Party