7/17-7/23/55

Sunday July 17 We spent the day at Woodlawn. I played some with Warren Burd and then doubles with Warren, Sylvia Cooke and Eugene. It was over 90°. Sylvia had a little cold and did not play. She made a criss cross puzzle. 

July 18 Played some tennis with Eugene in hot weather. His forehand was very good. 

July 19 No cavities - bill $9 The family went to Orchard Beach with Sarah & the kids. Sylvia's cold is much better. She will go in the water for a little while. Lillian has a cold now. The chiefs of the 'Big Four'  Eisenhower, Bulganin, Eden and Faure had their first session at Geneva to work out a peace program. Russia promised to donate to Eisenhower's 'atoms for peace' pool. Eisenhower proposed a system of arms inspection to forestall sudden attacks. Eden recommended a mutual defence [sic] pact and a unified Germany. Faure asked for arms cuts and an intern'l fund to aid under developed companies. 

July 20 The car's battery was dead today, and I called the AAA and then had a charge. Sylvia drew "Desiree" by Selinko which she hadn't finished. "Joan Foster, Jr" by A.R. Colver, "Girls Who Did" Ferris & Moore, "Sue Barton, Student Nurse" and "Sue Barton, Staff Nurse" by H.D. Boylston. The family was supposed to go to Orchard Beach but Eugene turned up with a sore throat. 

July 21 I split with Levitan as Eugene went to play with Bobby R. Sylvia rode her bike. U.S. and Russian farm delegations are visiting each other's countries and being received enthusiastically. 

July 22 Temp 96° hottest day of year. We picked up Sam & Molly who had just returned from the country and brought them here for lunch. Then all went to the Kingsbridge to see "Interrupted Melody" with Eleanor Parker and Glenn Ford and "The Bamboo Prison". Eisenhower asked Russia for exchange of all military blueprints and also aerial inspection.The Federal Court of Appeals barred loyalty evictions from Gov't housing. 

July 23 Picked up Sam & Molly and drove to Rockaway Park. We bathed in cool temperatures as it hit the nineties in the city. Yesterday was record high for the year 96.8°. The kids enjoyed the bathing immensely, riding the high waves joyously. We met Sheppie & Ray on the beach then went up to Rosie's apt when we saw Kate and Abe Stein and Marilyn and Millie. On the way to Rockaway we stopped off in Bellerose and saw Lil & Susan.

7/10-7/16/55

July 10 Sunday We had dinner here with Jerry & Madeline who just returned from Florida. Later Lil, I and the kids played scrabble.

July 11 Eugene drew "Rocket Beyond the Earth" M. Caidin, "The Lights in the Sky are Stars" F. Brown, "The Complete Chess Player" F. Reinfeld, "The Joe Louis Story" J. Louis. He played with Bobby R. who was over here. Three Americans who had refused repatriation after the Korean War returned here with statements that Red China was a "Hell". 

July 12 Sarah R. and the kids drove Lil and the kids to Orchard Beach where all the kids swam around. Pres. Eisenhower killed the Dixon Yates pact, target of all liberals. A municipal power plant will be built. 

July 13 I drove them Eugene to Bobby's then Sylvia and I drove to St James where we played tennis. ,,,. I also played with Louise and beat H. Levitt.  

July 14 Mom and pop took Lil and the kids to Bellerose for a re-union. They went to Korvette [sic] there where Lil bought an iron $7 while pop bought a fan. I beat Levitan at St James.

The box score of the baseball All Star Game, played on July 12, was taped in here, and dad wrote this entry, and the 7/15 entry, around it. 

July 15 Lil and Sylvia went to the Valentine to see "Daddy Long Legs" with Fred Astaire and Leslie Caron, which they enjoyed very much and "The Man from Bitter Ridge". Eugene watched the ball game.The "Times" and the "News" each fired reporters who had been called members of the C.P. at one time and now invoked the 5th Amendment before the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee. 

Went to Dr. Robbins and had Xray and cleaning

July 16 We took a drive and ended up at the Westchester Airport but did not see any planes arrive as it was too late. First we had visited the new "Adventurers" and had hot dogs, french fried and drinks. The kids played a few games.

6/26-7/9/55

Note: post title is not a typo!

June 26 Sunday We drove to Rye where we played some games. Sylvia [a boat] and Eugene [a straw hat] won rabbit races and got prizes. I got a lei for a basketball shot. We got home early and I drove Molly and Sam over here. We watched television and then played scrabble. Lillian had an upset stomach ...

The prizes we won were written in between the lines, above our names. 

June 27 Eugene Lil & I drove to the midtown area to buy an ice chest but could get no place to park. We drove to Wall & William and got flashlight and film at Goldsmith's but no ice chest. We then drove to 149 st and got one at the Strauss Stores $3.50. Silleman Evans is dead at 61 and Borah [sic] Minevich at 52. 

June 28 Drove Lillian to Dr Holzman where she had her basal metabolism. Then we drove around for some business. Lillian got some plastics. Eugene and I played tennis in the afternoon then I beat H. Levitt. After supper we drove to mom and pop's to say goodbye. Rachel & Mayer were also there. Dr Edward Bernecker is dead at 63 and Harry Agganis at 25.

June 29 I went with Eugene to Adler's where he got a pair of summer sandals $4. Lillian's metabolism is -6 and Dr Holzman wants to see her tomorrow morning. 

June 30 to July 9 We left on our trip at 9 AM, first taking Eugene and his friends to school then stopping at Dr Holzman's where he said Lil should eat sea food and not have an operation during the summer. We arrived in Syracuse 8:30 PM. The next day we spent bathing at Green Lake at [sic] picnicking over there. Sadie and Bernie grilled delicious hamburgers. We left Saturday and stayed at a cabin in Camp Woodland two miles from Clayton NY ($8). Eugene played baseball there with the proprietor's thirteen year old twins. We stayed at Camp Woodland. Sunday we took the Thousand Island boat trip; - a 3 1/2 [hour] sail in the Saint Lawrence River. Monday we drove to Niagara Falls on the Canadian side after crossing the Internal Bridge at Alex Bay. [International Bridge at Alexandria Bay] We stayed at Mrs. Dougan's near the falls. -$8. In the morning we drove to Whirlwind Gorge and the Cable Car ride across the Niagara River (Eugene wouldn't go) We crossed to the American side and went down to the bottom of the falls in a subway where we were swept with spray. We drove to Tonowanda where we stayed at the Simmons Motel $10, where the water was treated with sulphur [sic]. We reached Cooperstown late Wed. night but managed to get lodging at a home in town with the help of a tourist house owner who was filled. The night at Mrs Mallons was $11. Thursday we took in the Hall of Fame and Farmers Museum. We stayed at the Waggon Wheel cabins at East Branch $8. Friday we reached Evelyn's place on Brigg's Highway and stayed at Wagner's Sun Ray House across the way $7. We had a nice time at Ev's. Isabel is very pretty. We used the swimming pool. Also took a ride to Liberty where we shopped. Saturday we left at 2:30 and arrived home at 6 PM. We picnicked mostly using our stove and ice-chest during the trip. We spent about $160. Sylvia mostly drew during the trip and looked at her postcards. This is her obsession. She bought about 60 during the trip. In the city there was a heat wave reaching 95° several days. 

Wimbledon Trabert d. Nielsen 6-3,7-5,6-1. L Brough d. B.B. Fleitz 7-5,8-6. 

Dumb Dan Morgan is dead at 82. [a sort of box was drawn around this to separate it, apparently]

 

Wimbledon [written again, for some reason]

chess Russia 25 US 7 at Moscow. Reshevsky d. Bottwinik, World Champion, 2 1/2-1 1/2

At the top of one of the pages of this entry, dad wrote "Total mileage 1350. Cost $155". The second "We stayed at Camp Woodland" was inserted between the lines; apparently dad didn't notice that he had already written that. I remember playing baseball with some kids when we stayed at some cabin. "Waggon Wheel" was apparently the actual name, not a typo; at least, I found a post card on-line with that name. 

6/19-6/25/55

June 19 [Sunday, although dad didn't note it] I got sport shirt and pyjamas for Father's Day. We drove to pop's where we gave Canadian Club, socks & tie. We had a nice dinner together with Lil & family. Eugene won a chess game from pop. When we left we drove to City Island and spent an hour there having ice cream & hot dogs. 

June 20 We got a parking ticket for obstructing the crosswalk in front of our house. Jack Fleck, an unknown won the Nat'l Golf Open beating the great Ben Hogan in the playoff. 

June 21 At the 10th Anniversary of the founding of the UN at its birthplace, San Francisco, President Eisenhower pledged U.S.'s cooperation for a new kind of peace with the atom as a productive servant, before the delegates of sixty member nations. 

June 22 Lloyd Paul Stryker is dead at 70. 

June 23 Lillian visited Dr Holzman and found she had an adenomal cyst of the goitre thyroid. The Scelba gov't resigned today. India & Russia formerly called for a nuclear weapons ban and recognition of China's rights on Formosa and the U.N. Frank Hayes is dead at 46. 

Part of the words "adenomal cyst" are crossed out and the word "thyroid" written, in pencil, in what I believe is mom's handwriting, on top of the word "goitre", scanned in below. 

    

 

June 24 I started my vacation today while Lillian finished up work today. Scientists at a congressional hearing on the Salk 'polio' vaccine voted 8-3 to continue giving shots during the summer. Archie Moore Lightheavyweight champ K.O.'d middleweight champ Bobo Olson in the 3rd round. Eugene drew "Shambleau and Others " C.L. Moore, "Fighting Caravans" Z. Grey, "City" C. Simak, "Far From the Customary Skies" W. Eyster, "Calculus" J.V. McKelvey. A.A.Troyanovsky died at 73 and Amon Carter at 75. Sylvia had a club party here to which five girls came out of ten invited. Susan G, Susan C, Lucy G, Roberta G, Eileen D. They danced, had refreshments and romped. I drove them home. 

June 25 Eugene and I simonized the car this morning. We took Jerry and Madeline to Cross County Center in the afternoon. Sylvia met two Quannacut girls Abbey Bernstein and Judy Sapadin at the "Y" - 53 st. They had some hamburgers, French fried and eggcream then came here. They went out to play miniature golf then played Monopoly here. We drove Abbey home at 108 st. and Brdway [sic] then put Judy on the Subway at 53 st. & 7. She lives in Forest Hills. Soviet planes downed a U.S. plane off Alaska. Three crew members were wounded. Hy Turkin is dead at 40.

6/12-6/18/55

June 12 Sunday Molly and Sam were over here for dinner then we drove to Milton's. Andy is adorable Seth is very nice. We left after a terrific hail storm. 65 were killed and 75 injured in the worst racing car disaster ever. A flaming car exploded in a crowd of spectators at Le Mans France. Eisenhower signed our pay rise bill with re-classification. Walter Hampden is dead at 75. 

June 13 G.M. signed a similar agreement to Ford with the U.A.W. giving partial security to laid off workers. Carmen Basilio K.O.'d 'Tony DeMarco in the 12th round to win the latter's 70 day old Weterweight [sic] championship. 

June 14 Peron is engaged in a battle to the death with the Catholic Church in Argentina. 

June 15 The 17 day railway strike ended in England with mediation set. Two Catholic prelates were deported from Argentina. Eugene went to a party given by the Math Society and team and enjoyed the refreshmemts.

June 16 Many cities including New York participated in a mock H-Bomb test. Millions of Americans were presumed killed and more millions wounded. Top leaders of the country were dispersed in about 30 hideouts with President Eisenhower directing affairs from a secret headquarters. 

June 17 Lillian got summer shoes at Alexanders' $4. A revolt touched off by the repression against the Church in Argentina got under way led by rebels in the armed forces. Hundreds were killed and injured as churches were burned. 

June 18 We picked up Molly and drove to Woodlawn. Sylvia was in Tibbetts Brook Park attending an outdoor party for Susan Cohen. They had delicatessen and punch and played games. I went on the courts with Eugene and his first stroke hit the ball over the fence. On the second he crashed into the backstop and fell to the ground. He bumped his nose and scraped his arm. When he felt uncomfortable we called a city ambulance but by that time he was better. We went on again later and his tennis improved as we played. In the evening Lil and I went out with Sylvia. I got sneakers at Davega then we got knishes hot dogs and whipped cream cakes in Burnside. Carlyle Blackwell is dead at 71 and John Golden at 81.

I do not remember hitting the ball over the fence. I definitely remember running into the fence.

6/5-6/11/55

June 5 Sunday Mom and pop Lil Harry and the kids over and stayed for supper. The girls played games and danced. Syl & Eugene played the piano. We watched the ball games. 

June 6 Eugene came home tired after playing handball with several boys. 

June 7 Ford and the U.A.W. after long arbitration reached an agreement for a three year pact providing cash benefits for laid off workers in answer to the union's demand for a guaranteed annual wage.

Dad wrote "arbitration" but it was a negotiation; no arbitrators were involved. 

June 8 Nehru received an unprecedented welcome in Moscow.  

June 9 A boy stabbed a Community Center teacher in the latest juvenile delinquency case.  

June 10 Sylvia's class went to North Tarrytown to see Washington Irving's home, Phillipps [sic[ Castle and surroundings. Lillian bought bedspreads for the kids. Klein's $10.

June 11 On a rainy day Sylvia and Nancy went to the Kingsbridge to see "Battle Cry" with Van Heflen and Aldo Ray and "Dial Red O". Bobby R came up here to see Eugene.

5/29-6/4/55

May 29 Sylvia and friends went to the Paradise to see "The Glass Slipper" with Leslie Caron and Michael Wilding. Also Alec Guinness in "The Detective". 

May  30 Lil and the kids went to the Lido where they saw Disney's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea". Also "New York Confidential". A dock strike in London and other ports in England as a national railroad strike was called. 

May 31 Met Lillian at the Subway and we drove to Cross County where we shopped at the First Nat'l food market. I also got a pair of summer shoes at Beck's $4. 

June 1 Met Lillian and we shopped at Deitch's then Alexander's where I got a sport jacket $7 and we bought denims for Eugene $2.19. Eugene drew "Danny" W.&S. Cunningham, "The Pleasures of Chess" Assiac, "The Atom Spies" (non-fiction) O. Pilat, "Adventure Calls" ES Smith, "Basic Astronomy" P van de Kamp, and "Costigan's Needle" J. Sohl. China freed four American fliers after a long campaign to free them and others. The Supremes followed its last years ruling that public school segregation was unconstitutional with a direction that desegregation must be effectuated within a reasonable time. The regional Federal Courts are to oversee this program. 

June 2 Eugene went to "Science" Field Day today. He watched a student track meet, then played soft ball. Russia and Yugoslavia issued a joint declaration after the Tito-Kruschchev talks advocating prohibition of atomic weapons, admission of Red China to the U.N.  

June 3 Eugene, Red, Jerry and Marty played handball and were challenged by a 'kid' who beat them all. 

I remember that well; he was much smaller, and surely younger, than we were, but much more skilled. 

June 4 We drove to Palisade [sic] Amusement Park where Sylvia went on rides, Eugene played games, we had drinks and ice cream and hot dogs and Eugene won a prize for knocking six milk bottles off a table with three balls. We were sent home by showers. Lil & I visited Mrs. Thau at the Grand Ave Nursing Home.

5/22-5/28/55

May 22 Sunday We drove to Woodlawn with the Gallins' where I played tennis with the kids. We had a restful day listening to the Giants win a double header over the Pirates. We took a little drive before coming home. 

May 23 Took a day vacation and met Lil at the Subway. We shopped and went to the library. Lillian read "The Sojourner" M.K. Rawlings, "High Towers" T.B. Costain. We both read Caruso's biography by Ybarra. 

May 24 The Senate upheld the President's veto of the postal pay rise bill. 

May  25 The Supreme Court ruled witnesses may invoke the 5th Amendment. The gov't announced that all vaccines had been found to be safe, except for two Cutter Lab lots. 

May 26 The gov't proposed stiffer safety standards in the manufacturing of the 'polio' vaccine which were opposed by the drug companies. 

May 27 Sylvia and some friends went to a "How to Invest" show at a downtown armory then went up to the top of the Empire State Bldg and had lunch. They had a great time. Eugene played handball with Jerry and Red. The Conservative Party won the British elections increasing their vote by 2% while Labor lost slightly. Khrushchev and Bulganin led a pilgrimage to Tito's Yugoslavia to kiss and make up. The apologized for what they called Beria's fabrications. Tornadoes in Kansas killed over 100 and wounded 700, Peron separated the church from the state in Argentina with repressions against protesting Catholics. 

May 28 Eugene went over to Bobby's

5/15-5/21/55

May 15 Sunday We drove downtown where I shopped. We had knishes, cheese bagel & coffee & and milk at Yonah Shimmels. Then we drove to Harold & Thelma's where we saw the adorable 2 month old Karen, Andrea who resents her, Lilly and Harold's Aunts Lydia and Ruth. 

May 16 The 'Big Four' and Austria signed the Austrian state treaty freeing Austria after 17 years of occupation. 

May 17 Rocky Marciano, undefeated heavyweight champ, retained his title by a T.K.O. over Don Cockell of England in the 9th round. Cockell stood up to under terrific punishment to win the admiration of all fans but showed little else but courage.

May 18 Don Mueller was blanked after tying the Giant record of hits in 24 consecutive games set by Freddy Lindstrom. Former Supreme Court Justice Roberts is dead at 80 & James Agee is dead at 45. 

May 19 Eugene picked up the racquet I ordered from Hy Eisenberg $21.50 also another racquet restrung and one repaired $4.50. 

May 20 Eisenhower vetoed our pay rise because it was too high. We were against it because of the reclassification. Sylvia's friend Eileen Danies took 10th place in the Nat'l spelling bee in Washington. Eugene has been playing handball with Marty L. He also plays chess with Arthur S. during study period. 22000 first and second grade pupils in New York became the first to get the Salk Anti-polio vaccine here. 25% of the ones who had signed up failed to appear. 

When Dad wrote "we", I believe he meant his Union. 

May 21 We visited the Arons' and had a lovely day. We had dinner then drove to Plum Beach on a cool evening where we walked near the beach. Sylvia and Helen had a nice time while Toby went after Eugene. George Sloan is dead at 61. ...

5/8-5/14/55

May 8 Mothers Day I got Lil a blouse and the kids got her perfume for Mothers Day. We got mom a set of fruit knives and flowers. Lil Harry and the kids over also and we had a delicious dinner. Lil bought us a coleus plant. Pop & Sylvia performed a card trick. Sylvia did Susan and Peggys hair. We had the Giant Pirate double header on - split. 

May 9 The wanton killing of a 15 year old boy, mistaken for a rival gang member by a 17 year old has brought the problem of juvenile delinquency to a head here. Polio vaccine shots have been ordred halted pending a study of the manufacturing process. 

May 10 Fifty one workers were injured and one missing as the main floor of the New York Colosseum being built at Columbus Circle collapsed. 

May 11 Tommy Burns is dead at 73. 

May 12 More than 125 bodies have been recovered in a Japanese ferry collision. The Dodgers lost to the Cubs after winning 11 straight and 22 out of their first 24 games of the season. We got the news that Uncle Abe in Florida had died. 

This was Abe Kasen, not Abe Edelstein. But another case (no pun intended) of someone (Molly Edelstein) marrying someone with the same first name as their sibling; at least the third in the family. 

May13 Sylvia went to a dungaree party where one boy was present. Eugene and Jerry saw 'Science' lost [sic] to 'Music & Art' in tennis and were disappointed.

May 14 We picked up Molly and drove to Woodlawn where I played with the kids and they played with each other. 

Mantle hit 3 home runs

Sad Sam Jones pitches no hitter - May 12 

The no-hitter box score was taped into the diary. 

 

5/1-5/7/55

May 1 Sunday We all drove downtown where Lil bought a blouse skirt and shoes for Sylvia, rain hat for Eugene and some pillowcases. Then we drove to Sam and Molly's for dinner seeing Antonelli win a sixteen inning game 2-1. Molly had a cold. 

May 2 The Left-Wing May Day Celebration drew 2500 participants. Fast spoke and Robeson sang. Arthur Deakin is dead at 64. 

May 3 William Faulkner won the Pulitzer Prize for the best novel "The [sic] Fable", Tennessee Williams the drama prize for "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", Minotti for opera "The Saint of Bleecker Street". 

May 4 Linda Christian divorced Tyrone Power and was awarded a million dollar settlement. 

May 5 Georges Enesco is dead at 73. Eugene drew "Don Camillo's Dilemma" G. Guareschi, "Analytic Geometry" F.D. Murnaghan, "Botany Bay" Nordhoff & Hall, "Missing Men of Saturn" P. Latham, "Playmaker" [sic] D. Friendlich. Sylvia drew "How Do I Love Thee" (E.B. Browning) H.E. White, "Danny" W. & S. Cunningham.

May 6 Squeezed in between two cars, I got out after ten minutes of maneuvering and found I had a flat tire (a nail). Lillian bought a topper $15,

May 7 We picked up Molly and mama and drove to "Masters" to pick up the two folding chairs Lil bought, then to Abe & Blume's, as Uncle had had a slight stroke. The Federal Republic of Germany, a sovereign gov't now joined the NAto [sic]. Eugene went over to Bobby's while Sylvia went to Sherry Pshenitzky's birthday.

4/24-4/30/55

Apr 24 [Sunday, although dad didn't write it] Lil and Sylvia went to the Dale to see "The Country Girl" (O'dets [sic]) with Grace Kelly and Bing Crosby. Also "Geraldine" with Mala Powers and John Carrol [sic]. Eugene stayed home to watch the Giants-Dodgers. 

Eugene drew "The Mutiny Trilogy" [actually, The Bounty Trilogy] Nordhoff & Hall, "Angels and Spaceships" F. Brown, "Islands in the Sky" A.C. Clarke, "The Sinister Researches of C.P. Ransom" H. Nearing Jr and "The Vicomte De Bragelonne" A. Dumas. 

Glued in between the two paragraphs above were two items; on the left was the box score for the game Sylvia went to on 4/23, with the caption "The Game Sylvia saw". The item on the right has no caption, but dad added many notable occurrences like this game. 

Apr 25 Sylvia went with two schoolmates to the Danies house where Mrs Danies is helping them with their Spanish. I met Lil at the subway and we brought our Electrolux to their office where we found the motor was shot. The Asia-Africa Bandung conference ended with the powers calling for world peace and cooperation. Red China was not supported for a UN seat. However their [sic] was a declaration against colonialism but no reference to Communist colonialism or subversion.  

Apr 26 We bought an Electrolux today paying $60 and seven ties. Sylvia showed improvement on her report card, her marks ranging from 75 to 90. She improved in her character rating getting all O's and one S. Constance Collier dead at 75. 

It seems that Collier was actually 77 when she died. 

Apr 27 Hannes Schneider is dead at 64. 

Apr 28 2100 packages of the Anti-polio vaccine manufactured by Cutter Labs have been banned by the City after six children were reported to have contracted polio after receiving the company's doses. 

Apr 29 Sylvia and her girl friends were greatly excited as one of the crowd Eileen Danies has won the city-wide spelling bee and was on Steve Allen's show. 

Apr 30 Mom and pop over for dinner on my birthday bringing a shirt. We drove down to the City Center in the evening with the kids to see "Guys and Dolls". We spent some time in the amusement arcade playing ping pong. Sylvia had her handwriting analyzed. The kids played the machines, of course. I got cuff links, sherry, cognac from the family. Civil war in South Vietnam saw the rebel religious sects rebuffed in a battle where 500 were killed and 1000 wounded.

4/17-4/23/55

Apr 17 Sunday Home all day on a cloudy day. Mom and pop dropped in and we had supper and watched some television. Russia and Austria after a conference announced an agreement which would end the ten year occupation of the latter. 

Apr 18 The 29 nation Asian-African conference opened in Bandung Indonesia. Included was Communist China but not Israel. The purpose is unity and peace.  

Apr 19 Albert Einstein is dead of a rupture of the aorta at 76. 

Apr 20 Einstein has been cremated but his brain is intact for study by scientists.  

Apr 21 The Bandung Asia Africa conference has heard several anti-communist speeches. A national mobilization of the National Guard was called a success. 

Apr 22 Making a broken U turn on a narrow street I bumped someone's fender this afternoon. 

Apr 23 Our dinette set came today and Eugene helped assemble the table. Sylvia and some friends went to the Yankee Stadium on "Ladies Day". Pres. Eisenhower in person thanked Dr Jonas Salk as a 'Benefactor of Mankind' for his 'Anti-polio' vaccine. The Giants beat [the] Dodgers, ending the latter's winning streak since the season started at ten - a record.

4/10-4/16/55

Apr 10 Sunday Ed Corsi was fired from his job a special assistant to Sec'y of State Dulles on refugees and immigration problems. He attributes his discharge to his liberalism. 

Apr 11 Sylvia went ice skating at Wollman with Susan G. Eugene went to play with Bobby.

Apr 12 The Heinemanns came to town and the girls slept here. Syracuse won the N.B.A. championship defeating Fort Wayne by one point to make it 4 games to 3. 

Apr 13 Amid Hollywood-like fanfare, Dr Thomas Francis announced that the anti-polio injections last year using the vaccine developed by Dr Jonas Salk had been a decided success. Sylvia went to a 'Y' reunion at the downtown headquarters. 

Apr 14 Jerry and Red came up to see Eugene for a while. They played some classical records. Sylvia met Lillian at Alexanders. She got a suit for $9 and a topper $5. Gen. Peyton March is dead at 90. 

Apr 15 The car would not start this morning. After calling the A.A.A. I had the battery charged at the Reservoir gas station. It seems the brake stuck causing the tail light to be on since Wednesday. Sylvia interviewed Eileen Davies in the park for the Chatterbox. Jerry and Red came over to see Eugene. Ad Wolgast is dead at 67. Lillian read Desirée by Annemarie Selinko. We both read "Out of This World" (Hermits) by Helen Worden. 

Apr 16 Jerry called on Eugene and found us in a drive. We had the brake sprayed at a repiair shop on Webster Ave. & 167st; then drove to the Cross County Shopping Center where we bought some supplies at Walgreens. We also got chicken pie, macaroni and baked beans for supper at H & H and knishes at Burnside. ... Sylvia drew "Desirée " which she had started when we had it, "Sue Baron, Neighborhood Nurse" and "Sue Barton, Junior Nurse".

4/3-4/9/55

Apr 3  Sunday We drove to mom's where I made pop's income tax. Eugene told us about space travel. Two of Sylvia's poems appeared in E.B.B.'S Chatterbox. ....

Apr 4 Thirty nine, mostly children, were killed in a Belgian theatre fire. 

Apr 5 Two Chinese "Red" leaders were purged. One, Kao Kang committed suicide, the other was Jao Shu-Shih. 

Apr 6 To Molly's for Passover supper. Also there Annie and Murray, Jane and Mildred, Mrs Cohen, Mike Ev & Isabel. Churchill, at eighty, announced his retirement as Prime Minister.

Apr 7 Eugene still plays the piano. He is practicing "Moonlight Sonata" and "The Minute Waltz". Sylvia rarely plays. Eugene and Jerry went to the Ascot to see "The Animal Farm". Afterwards they played scrabble here for 5¢ a game of which we disapproved. Francis X. McQuade is dead at 71. Three men escaped with a record $305,000 in a holdup of the Chase Manhattan Bank at Woodside.

Apr 8 Sylvia went to the library with Ann S. and drew "Sylvan City" N. Paschal "Good Bye, Mr Chips" James Hilton "Love From Sandy" E. Berger "Linda's Homecoming" P.A. Whitney "Sue Barton, Rural Nurse" H.D. Boylston. Eugene went to the schoolyard and played some handball with himself. The kids are off from school and Eugene does shopping for Lil while Sylvia walks her to the subway for work. Theda Bara is dead at 65. 

Apr 9 Jerry and Red called for Eugene and went along with us for a drive to the Botanical Gardens. We saw some pretty flower displays. Lillian ordered a dinette set and two extra folding chairs at Masters $82. Prissy was found dead this morning - of neglect?

Prissy was our parakeet; see 8/29/53. 

3/29-4/2/55

 This is the start of Book 10

Mar 29 Eugene was still home with the same routine plus an argyrol pack. His temp did not exceed 100°. I came home with four hours sick leave having an upset stomach and eyestrain. 

Mar 30 Eugene was better today. His temp normal. He watched daytime movies. At night he likes "Disneyland". Sylvia watches television news programs and hit parades. ... Stayed home today as my eyestrain returned & Sylvia has a stuffed nose. Hoodlumism hit the schools with invasion of Evander and beating of a boy and a fist fight in Bronx Vocational H.S. 

Mar 31 Eugene returned to school. Motion Picture Academy "Oscars" went to Marlon Brando for "On the Waterfront" and Grace Kelly for "The Country Girl". "On the Waterfront" was named best picture. Director - Elia Kazan. Best Supporting Actor - Edmund O'Brien. Best Supporting Actress - Eva Saint Marie [sic]. Bevan received a reprieve from expulsion from the British Labor Party by the Nat'l Exec. Comm. He was cautioned to follow the line. Stanley Howe is dead at 65. 

Apr 1 Joseph Pulitzer is dead at 70. 

Apr 2 We picked up Molly and drove to White Plains where Lillian got a skirt for Susan on her birthday and blouse for Norma on hers. Sylvia got a blouse and socks. We had a little accident where a car rammed us in the back. We took home Chinese food. Col. Robert McCormick is dead at 74. Hundreds died in Philippine earth quakes. Tony DeMarco won the world's welterweight title by knocking out Johnny Saxton in 14 rounds. 

3/27-3/28/55

Mar 27 Sunday Al Edith and the kids over. Then Esther Arons and the kids arrived followed by Joe after work. We had a lovely dinner of turkey and trimmings. Norma spent the day with us as Jerry & Madeline went to see Madeline's mother who had had an attack. The kids played monopoly and scrabble. Eugene beat Danny & Al at chess. Eugene played a lot of piano. Toby did some dancing as did Norma then the three danced. Esther coached Norma a little. Debby wandered, played checkers with the girls and washed her hands, with salt. Jerry & Madeline came home and joined us, having supper also. Eugene complained of a sore throat and headache at night. He gargled and took aspirins. 

Mar 28 Eugene stayed home from school although he had [no] temp. He gargled, took aspirins, privine in the [nostrils], argyrol swab, etc. France approved German rearmament. "The Pajama Game" and "The [Desperate Hours]" won "Tonys" as the best musical and [play] respectively for Mar '54 to Mar '55. Alfred [Lunt and] Grace Kelly were picked as the outstanding actors.  We received word that my cousin Pauline [died].

The words in brackets above were either fully or partially missing, as this page had come out of the diary, and it's edges were torn. 

This is the end of this diary book. At the end of each book, dad included a section called "Events", which was a very brief summary of what he apparently considered the most significant happenings covered in the diary, both family and world events. He also included a "Deaths" list, which, in this case, and others, he ended up not having space for, and continued listing them on the inside back cover. Since all of these things were already in the diary, I have chosen not to blog them; therefore, this is the end of Book 9 of the diary.

3/20-3/26/55

Mar 20 Sunday We drove downtown where Sylvia got shoes at Miles $3.70. We called for Evelyn and Isabel and drove to Rockaway. On the way back we called for Mike and brought them home. Lillian saw "Deep in my Heart" with Jose Ferrer and "Hunters of the Deep". 

Mar 21 Rev Dr Sidney Goldstein is dead at 71 and and Count Karoly at 80. Duquesne won the N.I.T. beating Cincinatti. Maurice Stokes of St. Francis of Loretto was M.V.P. 

Actually, Duquesne beat Cincinatti in the semis. They defeated Dayton in the final. 

Mar 22 Was off today and sold with the car until 4:35 when I picked up Lil at the subway at the moment she came out of the station. Sylvia came home from her dancing lesson where "two freaks" wanted to dance with her and Susan G. but were repulsed. We had a pleasant supper together with a lot of spelling competition. Walter White is dead at 61. 

Mar 23 A military plane crashed in Hawaii with all 66 dead. Dan Tracy is dead at 68.

Mar 24 Clyde Kittell is dead at 54.

Mar 25 Sylvia went to a dungaree party at Susan Cohen's. They danced to records. Present were Judy P, Judy K, Lucy G, Susan G, Eileen D, Roberta G, Ella D. Red and Jerry came over at 9:30 and stayed till 11:45. John W Davis is dead at 81 and Paul McNutt at 63. Lillian read "The Magic [Royal] Box" F. Parkinson Keyes. 

Dad clearly entered "The Magic Box", but Parkinson does not seem to have written a book by that name. She did write a 1954 book called "The Royal Box". 

Mar 26 Drove to the library with Sylvia where she drew "Francie Again" Emily Hahn, "Boy Trouble" R Du Jardin, "Janice" A.R. Hager and "Miss Spring" C. Crowe. Eugene yesterday drew "The Conquest of Don Pedro" H.Fergusson, "Mutiny" ed. by Ed Fuller, "Once Upon a Star" K.F. Crossen, "Majesty's Rancho" Zane Grey, "King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table" ed. by Sid. Lanier.

3/13-3/19/55

Mar 13 Sunday Eugene and I drove downtown to shop. He watched the meter and read. Then we met Lil and Sylvia at Central Commercial H.S. for the "Fed" rally for our pay raise and against re-classification. Congressmen Fine, Dollinger, Zelenka and Klein spoke in addition to union officials. Sylvia listened to half the program then read and nagged to go. We left at 4:30 having stayed over 2 hours. We walked into the News bldg. for a while then sent the kids for sodas while we had coffee and cake in an Automat. Sylvia bought post cards again. ...

Mar 14 Eugene Red and Jerry went up to the roof with the telescope but some neighbors thought they were prowlers and called the police. They ordered the boys off. Walter Winchell was forced to with withdraw his accusations of "Communism". publicly, against "The Post" and James Wechsler after a lawsuit. 

I have been waiting for this incident to come up in the diary. As dad said, we went up to the roof to use the telescope, and a cop suddenly appeared at the top of the stairs, saw us, and approached, asking what we were doing up here. As the owner of the telescope, I had to answer, querulously: "L-l-l-ooking at the stars". After which the cop asked "What stars?" A bit dumbstruck, I just pointed overhead. After yelling down to his partner that it was just a couple of kids, he told us to get off the roof. We did. 

Mar 15 Stocks reached 10 year lows as the "market" was studied by a Senate Banking Committee. 

Mar 16 Daylight Savings Time was extended a month by the City Council. Aneurin Bevan was ousted from the British Labor Party. Shavey Lee is dead at 52.  

Mar 17 Came home with four hours vacation tonight. The B'klyn Eagle announced it would never publish again in the midst of a 47 day strike.  

Mar 18 The sensations these days are the release of the "Yalta Papers" and the Vice trial of Mickey Jelke with V-Girl Pat Ward naming big names who were customers. Eugene is on the Math Society Committee temporarily. Had the car repaired at Oldsmobile. Rear light, front light, side dent and chrome: $33.

Mar 19 Sylvia went skating at Wollman with Susan Greenfield. Eugene went skating to IBM with Jerry and Red but it was closed. They toured auto salesrooms and a penny arcade.

3/6-3/12/55

Mar 6 Mom and pop and Molly & Sam came over for dinner. Anne & Mac couldn't come as the kids were ill. We played some cards. Eugene beat pop two chess games. The kids played some piano. William C. DeMille is dead at 76. 

It was Sunday, although dad didn't note it in the date. 

Mar 7 The UN Truce Commission condemned Israel for the battle with Egypt which resulted in many Egyptian dead. The Ford Foundation donated $50,000,000 for the advancement of College professor's salaries.  

Mar 8 Frederick Birchall is dead at 84. 

Mar 9 The Senate is investigating the Stock Market because it has soared to unprecedented heights within the last year. 

Mar 10 Lillian bought a dress $8, shoes $3 and stockings at Alexander's. Ernst Boas is dead at 64, Matt Henson at 88 and Denis Conan Doyle at 43. 

Mar 11 Lillian found notes from Eugene and Sylvia when she got home from work. Sylvia had gone to the park with some girls to do homework. Eugene, in Spanish had gone to the library with Red and Jerry. He drew "Bill Mauldin Over [In] Korea", "The Caves of Steel" I. Asimov, "Kon Tiki" T. Heyerdahl, "The Black Stallion " W. Farley, "Moon Ahead" L Greener. Sylvia drew "You Can Always Tell A Freshman" E.A. Hudnut, "Dancing Star" (A. Pavlova) G. Malvern, "Carol on Broadway" H.D. Boylston. 

Mar 12 Sylvia went to the Kingsbridge with Nancy Korman to see "A Star is Born" Judy Garland & James Mason & Disney's "Stormy". Eugene played baseball with Larry. However Larry abruptly called off the appointment for the evening to see a basketball game or babysit together saying he had to study. Lil and I drove around Westchester County. Sir Alexander Fleming is dead at 73.