9/7-9/13/52

Sept 7 Sunday Beat Al Levitt and Dimitri on asphalt. These are the games Eugene saw. The 1st game broke the time record for a 9 inning game 3 hours and 38 minutes. He got home at 8:45 PM. This evening we went to Fordham and had sundaes at Krum's.

These were the first two games of a five game series, due to earlier rainouts, I believe. The Giants really had to take 4 of 5 to get close; they only won 3, including this doubleheader. I was supposed to leave whenever my friend Larry had to leave; he did not stay to the end, but I did. When I got home, I told Mom and Dad, after being asked, that, of course, Larry stayed the whole time also. I don't know if they believed me; Dad could have written "They got home at 8:45", but he didn't. 
My favorite memory of the Polo Grounds is at the end of that game. I stayed to the end, but went to the top of the ramp in order to run out as soon as it was over. I got on a packed full Polo Grounds shuttle to the Jerome Ave. El, the short train creaking and squealing as it rounded the bend leaving the station; we were tilted back, with a beautiful view of the ballpark silhouetted by its light towers. It was quite memorable, perhaps even more so because the Giants won both games. 

Sept 8 The kids returned to school. Eugene's class is 9 S.P.2. His teacher is Mr. Peretti. His room is 415. He takes Spanish, English, Math, Social Studies, Science, Music & Art. Sylvia's teacher is Miss Dunn. Class is 5-8. Room is 417. Gen. Naguib, military head of Egypt in a sudden coup seized political control installing himself as Premier and dictator.

                        National Singles
Sedgman d. Mulloy 6-1, 6-2, 6-3
M. Connolly d. Doris Hart 6-3, 7-5
Vets H. Hopman d. 
Sedgman and Hart d. L. Hoad and Thelma Long 6-3, 7-5

This is the way Dad wrote it; I would guess that he wrote it at least partially from the New York Times story, which says that Hopman won the Veteran's Singles, but doesn't say who he beat. I remember asking Dad before the match (which took place on Monday, because of earlier rain, so I couldn't watch it on TV) if Mulloy had a chance; he was 38 and had never reached the US National finals before. Dad said, essentially, no chance, and he was right.

Regarding school, Romeo J. Peretti was a memorable character. 

Sept 9 Israel agreed to accept $822,000,000 in reparations for Jewish losses and suffering from West Berlin.

Sept 10 McCarthy won the much publicized Wisconsin Rep. primary easily over Leonard Schmitt by 3-1. Bella Dodd testified before the Senate Internal Security Comm. She charged there were 1500 Communist teachers in the U.S. She named many, 10 of whom have been subpoenaed.

Sept 11 Billy Rose withdrew his suit for divorce at the last minute and Eleanor Holm was granted a separation in the much publicized case. Eugene drew "The Chicago White Sox" W. Brown, "Baseball Personalities" - Jimmy Powers, "The Ship Without a Crew" - H. Pease and "Teen Age Stories of the West" - S. Payne. Sylvia drew "Betsy and the Proud Horse" Mary Urmston, "The Jolly Season" - Lilla Stirling, English Fairy "Tales" F.A. Steel, "The Long White Month" - Dean Marshall.

Sept 12 1952 was called the worst polio ever by the U.S. Public Health Service. The kids had their first piano lesson.

Sept 13 Lil took Eugene to Dr Holzman for his check up Sylvia went along. Eisenhower made his peace with Taft who announced his support. Dr Holzman said Eugene was better but he must continue his pills, take zymakaps (one a day vitamins) and refrain from overactivity. His weight was 93 - a gain of four pounds and height of 5 ft. 1 in. a gain of 3/4 inch - since June. 

8/31-9/6/52

Aug 31 Sunday We spent a cloudy day indoors with radio, television, cross word puzzles etc. Played Eugene a chess game. He played a lot in camp and was winning easily but got careless towards the end. Sylvia has been reading the diaries lately.

Sept 1 Labor Day An all day rain and storm kept us in and we missed the Forest Hills matches. The kids resumed thier piano practicing, doing well. We took in chow mein at night. Arky Vaughn [sic] and Heraldo Weiss are dead at 40 and 35 respectively.

Sept 2 Eugene played punchball with his friend Larry R. who had called him up yesterday on coming home from the country. In the afternoon he played with Bobby R. who was here. Sylvia played nok hockey. Mom and pop stopped over here on the way from their month vacation upstate and had lunch. They had a wonderful time. Stevenson in Labor Day speeches, called for repeal of the Taft-Hartley Law and said he would confer with Russia for the sake of peace.

Sept 3 Eugene played with Larry and Bobby again with Sylvia in the park. State Sen Elmer Quinn is dead at 57. I read "Man of the World" - Don H. Clarke's Autobiography. Lillian read "Fortress in the Rice" Ben. Appel. The T.U.C voted by 5-1 to sustain the governments' re-armament program against the Bevanites charge that it would impoverish the country.

Sept 4 The kids played in the park. The State Crime Commission subpoenaed the bank books of 300 politicians, labor leaders, business men and hoodlums in a probe of bribery by racketeers. Gilbert Gabriel is dead at 62. 

Sept 5 Barry Gray was attacked and beaten by two hoodlums. Count Sforza is dead at 79. Susan was stricken with a mild form of Polio. 

Susan recovered completely. 

Sept 6 Eugene and Larry R went to the Polo Grounds to see the crucial Giants-Dodgers double header as the Giants are staring to creep up again. Eugene refused to go to the bleachers as he cannot see from there. The Court of Appeals upheld Bridges' perjury sentence and loss of citizenship. It will be appealed to the Supreme Court. Gertrude Lawrence is dead at 51. 

The box scores, and my story about the game, will be in the next post. Bleacher tickets were cheaper, but the Polo Grounds bleachers were very far away from home plate. 

8/24-8/30/52

Aug 24 Sunday On an idyllic day, Stan Hotez took us to Woodlawn where I beat him at tennis. We picked a great deal of berries - our first of the season. We all played some ball on the lawn with Sylvia insisting on playing as much as anyone else.

Aug 25 Lost to Berman. The kids played at St James.

Aug 26 Lillian's birthday I gave Lillian a small radio and the kids and I have her a bouquet of gladioli. Eisenhower speaking at the Legion's convention in Madison Square Garden that the nation faced its greatest peril ever from Russia. He stated our goal must be to free the enslaved people behind the "Iron Curtain". The Legion called for the investigation of the A.C.L.U. as a "Red Front".

The following box score was taped in here, and the reason noted. 

Aug 27 Herbie took Pauline, Marline, Arnold, Lil and the kids to Tibbetts. They took the bus back. Muriel Draper is dead at 65. Haywood Patterson is dead at 40. 

Aug 28 Eugene drew books from the Adults branch for the first time - "Highroad to Adventure" - H. Pease, "Soul of the Sea" - L. Sobolev, "A Treasury of Sports Humor" - D. Stanley and "The Red Sox" - Al Hirshberg. Sylvia drew "Peachtree Island" M. Lawrence, "A Baker's Dozen" selected by M.G. Davis, "The Tune is in the Tree" M.H. Lovelace and "The Red Fairy Book" - Lang. Stevenson, speaking before the Legion attacked "McCarthyism", racial bigots, veterans lobby, false patriotism. 

Aug 29 Split with Berman. Lil got herself some black shoes at Miles $2.99. We both read "Janos; story of a doctor" by John Plesch. An absorbing Autobiography by a Hungarian doctor and consort of the greatest figures in art, music, politics, science including Hauptmann, Einstein, Kreisler, etc.

Aug 30 Powell reversed himself and pledged support to the Democrats after civil rights pledges. North Korean capital Pyongyang was blasted in the biggest raid of the war. 

8/17-8/23/52

Aug 17 Sunday Lil and I went out to Ten Mile River to see Eugene who seemed cheerful and was in good health although all skin and bones when we hugged him. Just as we left for home on the bus, mom and pop came along from the Gradus House in Lake Kiamesha where they are staying.

Aug 18 Played a little tennis. Lillian is still suffering from the upset stomach which hit her Saturday.

Aug 19 Lillian was better today. She met Ray Steindler for lunch and then to the Jewish Memorial where Ray's mother is ill.
Yesterday Lil went to the Fordham where she saw Jennifer Jones and David Farrar in "The Wild Heart" and "The Steel Fist" with Roddy McDowell. She did not enjoy them. Lillian read "The Cry and the Covenant" - Morton Thompson - about Semmelweiss [sic] and Laura Hobson's "The Celebrity".

I don't know why Dad started a new paragraph in the middle of this entry. 

Aug 20 Lillian went to the Valentine to see "The Clouded Yellow" with Jean Simmons and "Sound Off". Mark Sullivan is dead. Lawrence Giannini is dead at 58. 

Aug 21 Beat Eddy. Lil and the kids came over bringing Sylvia with her. She had had a great time. They all went to eat lunch at the Towers delicat. Quintets Quintuplets were born in Brazil to Jose Albano. Martial law was imposed in Iran after several days of demonstrations and clashes between left and right wingers. The N.Y. Peace Institute held a peace rally at Randall's Island with 10,000 attending . Paul Robeson headed the list of speakers and entertainers. Threatened violence died not materialize. Kurt Schumacher is dead at 58.

Aug 22 Sylvia is back to St James park. Eugene returned to N.Y. at about 6 o'clock Lil and Sylvia meeting him at the bus.

Aug 23 Eugene had a slight sore throat and went to St James to sit in the sun - against his will. Sylvia played nok hockey. I rallied some with Jerry Minster. Molly came over with Sam following her after work. The Teachers Union in convention for the first time decided not to defend teachers who were Communists.

8/10-8/16/52

Aug 10 Sunday Sylvia was at 99.5 today. She felt well and was in and out of bed. Lillian played some monopoly with her and I played her anagrams. Otherwise we watched television.

Aug 11 Sylvia was normal today and out of bed. Lil got her an apron to embroider which made her happy. In the afternoon they went down together. Jeffrey Farnol is dead at 74.

Aug 12 Sylvia drew "New Friends for Susan" - Yoshiko Uchida, "Cherries are ripe" D. Reynolds, "The Trolley Car Family" E. Clymer and "Pippi Long Stocking" A. Lindgren. Trygvie Lie was criticized as a discharged UN employee was awarded $6,990 back pay.

Aug 13 Sylvia still takes her doll to bed. It usually falls off some time in the early morning with a wail. 

Aug 14 We were delighted to hear from Eugene that he was having a good time. He expects to make 1st Class Scout if he can learn to swim. 

Aug 15 Sylvia was second in the intermediate nok-hockey tournament at St James and won a beautiful "Sunken Treasure".

Aug 16 Lil and Harry came over and took Sylvia to stay with them for several days. Dick Marlowe of Buffalo pitched the first perfect game in thirty years against Baltimore. 

Interesting that Dad didn't note that it was a minor league game.