Letters to Wilma will trace the path of a WWII Army doctor from training on Cape Cod, to landing D-Day plus 6 in Normandy, and concluding 1400 miles later in Leipzig, Germany. Greg's path included the Battle of the Bulge and the liberation of the slave labor camp at Nordhausen, with the 438th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion. Wilma became his wife, and I their fourth child.
Well I almost skipped today altogether – but I thought I’d at least jot down a few lines before going to bed. Today was a long, long day for various reasons, dear, and I’m quite tired now. I’m going to climb into bed as soon as I’m through writing you sweetheart.
Had no mail today or yesterday – but the mail has been running light recently. Got a V-mail from Lawrence telling me about living in town. Seems like a good idea from here.
Will write more tomorrow, darling, and will stop for now. Love to the folks – and for now –
I’m back at the Castle waiting for another in the long series of B.C.’s meetings. I got an early start this morning, saw a few sick soldiers, checked the kitchens, inspected my own men – and barring emergencies – I should be able to take it easy for the rest of the day. We’re supposed to have a binge tonight – but there’s a very important draw-back: up to and including this moment, our expected supply of liquor has not arrived! We have six dozen quart bottles of some tolerable ale, and one six-gallon keg of some intolerable beer – and how far that will go towards making us noisy etc. I don’t know, darling. The past few nights, after the movies – last night we had “Thank Your Lucky Stars” which I had seen in the States – one of the Officers and I have had some jam sessions, if you can call it that. He’s pretty good at the piano, having played in an orchestra some years back and he plays loud enough to drown out my mistakes. But the boys gather around, sing, prance, tap dance etc. – and we have had some fun.
Late yesterday p.m. I received one letter from you, postmarked the 12th. There were only about 4 letters for all the officers – and I was one of the lucky ones, dear. Thanks!
You know, darling, a strange thing occurred in your letter written the tenth; for no apparent reason you mention the subject of psycho-neurosis, mental breakdowns and associated diseases. It was just at that time that we were taking up the matter of Charlie. Although his case was somewhat different – it did come under the heading of mental rather than physical factors and this makes several times now that some sort of telepathic connection has occurred between us. It’s two weeks now that he’s gone.
By the way – you mention reading in a bath. I can’t say, sweetheart, that I’ve ever done that – maybe because I haven’t had time in the past. As a matter of fact – up to recently – I’ve never liked taking baths, always preferring a shower, but since hitting here – I’ve been having baths more frequently and they truly are relaxing. Hell, dear, if you want to read in a bath – it’s all right with me; I’ll wait!
As for my “pep” – sweetheart, I do seem to have more than most of the other fellows – and I see no reason now – why I shouldn’t continue to have. I just don’t want to get logey merely because I’m in the Army, and believe it or not – an officer in the AA outfit – can get just that.
I can just picture Shirley as you write about her. She really must love that sort of life, but like you – that’s not for me. I like the fundamental, the plain, the honest-to-goodness things in life, sweetheart, and I think the both of us can find that and enjoy it. I think that you feel the same way.
Darling I’ll stop now. How I wish I were home to start life with you as we both want it. But it will surely come one day and we’ll enjoy it then. As long as we love each other – the rest will be all right. Love to the folks, dearest – and
All my love for now –
Greg
P.S. Pete sent his special regards last nite and asked me to include two extra xx’s.
Love
G.
* TIDBIT *
about Thank Your Lucky Stars
From Wikipedia comes this description of Thank Your Lucky Stars:
Thank Your Lucky Stars is a 1943 film made by Warner Brothers as a World War II fundraiser. The film was a musical with a slim plot, involving theater producers (Horton and Sakall) staging a wartime charity program, only to have the production taken over by their egotistical star (Eddie Cantor, playing himself). Meanwhile, an aspiring singer (Morgan) and his songwriter girlfriend (Leslie) conspire to get into the charity program by replacing Cantor with their look-alike friend, tour bus driver Joe Simpson (also played by Cantor, in a dual role).
Many of Warner Brothers stars performed in musical numbers, including several who were not known as singers. The film features the only screen musical numbers ever done by Bette Davis, Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, and Ida Lupino. Each of the cast members was paid a $50,000 fee for their appearance which was then donated to the Hollywood Canteen.
The film was popular with audiences, and the critic James Agee called it "the loudest and most vulgar of the current musicals. It is also the most fun." Ticket sales combined with the donated salaries of the performers raised more than two million dollars for the Hollywood Canteen.
It’s early in the morning but I thought I’d start writing now, because something always seems to turn up later in the day. Yesterday I finally got some mail, dear, three nice letters from you postmarked May 9, 10, 11 – and I felt better again.
In your first letter, sweetheart, you were very apologetic about not working, staying around the house – and half a dozen other things. When I wrote about finances, darling, I had no secondary implications at all. The idea never entered my head, and the thought of you working and saving money is the bunk, dear, as far as I’m concerned. The fact is that we won’t live long on the money you might have saved or the money I’ve saved. Saved money is good while it stays saved. We’re going to live on what money I make, darling.
About my salary: a single captain draws $200 per month, plus 10% for overseas. The 10% is absorbed by insurance fees which is a little higher for me because I changed my insurance from the “term” type which the Army encourages – to 20 year endowment. In other words – term insurance ends when the war is over and you have nothing to show for your premium. The plan I have enables me to continue my insurance. Anyway I get about $200. I had arranged to send $100 to my bank and $100 to myself. Due to faulty or rather delayed book-keeping on the part of the Army, they send the bank $100 and me – $50. So for seven months – the Army now owes me a back-log of $350.00 Were I married to you, darling, I would be drawing $340.00 per month – so we’re really missing out, darling – in more ways than one – but I don’t care – as long as you’ll marry me after the war.
As for doing something to keep you busy, that’s another story altogether. I really think it’s a good idea doing some type of part-time work. There’s more fun in getting paid – but that shouldn’t be essential, as I see it.
I laughed about your account of the smelly fish. I don’t see how you can tell whether fresh fish is rotten or not – because it seems to me – they all smell rotten before being cooked or fried. And you tell Mary to save her sympathy, darling, because I’m not the least bit worried about your ability to prepare meals. I seem to have a great deal of confidence in you on that.
I was sorry to read about the “run-in” between you and your mother but I’m glad you managed to get over it before too long. I told you what I thought in a previous letter, dear, so I won’t go into it again. However – it is not unusual and I wouldn’t worry about it.
I don’t know why you shouldn’t have received the ‘Yank’ regularly – because I’ve sent it out every week. They’ll probably all catch up with you one of these days, dear. I get real satisfaction, sweetheart, out of your reaction to my mother’s concern over you. You reacted correctly when you say you really felt like one of her children. When my mother starts worrying about you, darling, then you are a part of the family; and when she says she worries, believe me, she does so sincerely – as you probably know by now.
Darling – it’s time to stop now. I’m amazed in that I’ve been able to write this far without any major interruption. It irritates me so to start writing you and being interrupted, putting the letter down and having to start up again. It occurs more often then I tell you about. Sweetheart – I love you and miss you and when I start writing you and thinking concentratedly about you and us, I don’t like to be stopped in the middle of it. That’s all for now, dear, except love to the folks and from me,
Here goes another V-mail which I know you don’t like, darling, but this is another busy day and if I don’t get this off I might not have time to write later.
Right now I’m working on a lecture which I’m to give to the Battalion this p.m. – pep talk, safety talk and general blarney. Do I hear you say there’s no need for me to have to prepare a talk on the subject?
Yesterday, dear, was quiet. We had a movie for the officers – an oldie – “Somewhere I’ll Find You” with Clark Gable and L. Turner. I had seen it before. Tonight we’re having “Flesh and Fantasy” which I also saw – but it does help pass the time.
No mail again yesterday, darling, but we’re really overdue now and I should be hearing from you soon. Anyway – I know you’re writing and that’s a solace. Hope my mail is still coming through in decent time. Will have to close now, dear, but I do miss you like all get-out! Love to the folks. So long for now, dear.
All my love
Greg
* TIDBIT *
about Somewhere I'll Find You
This plot summary of Somewhere I'll Find You, released in September of 1942, was taken from a movie review by The New York Times and Turner Classic Movies:
War correspondents and brothers Jonny and Kirk Davis (Clark Gable and Robert Sterling) return to New York in early October 1941 after being thrown out of Germany. Their New York Chronicle editor, George L. Stafford (Charles Dingle), is angry with them for writing anti-Nazi stories and refuses to print their latest about a Japanese-German alliance. By using a ruse with a dictating machine and enlisting the aid of Stafford's masseur, Charlie, Jonny tricks Stafford into relating the story to the composition room, and when it winds up on the front page, he and Kirk are fired. Back in the USA, Johnny inaugurates a rogue-ish flirtation with Paula Lane (Lana Turner), an aspiring reporter who has harbored a long-standing crush on Johnny. Even so, Paula enters into a romantic relationship with Kirk, prompting Johnny to break up the affair - for Kirk's own good, of course.
Paula's hopes for a lasting romance with Johnny are crushed when he refuses to discourage her from accepting an assignment in Indochina. Later on, both Johnny and Kirk are sent off to cover the war in the Far East, where they are reunited with Paula, now busily shepherding Chinese war orphans to safety. The action moves to Bataan, where Kirk is killed in service of his country, leaving Johnny to write a passionate tribute to his brother-and, by extension, everyone else who has lain down his or her life for the cause of Democracy. When Paula hears that Kirk is dead, she runs to Jonny, and, despite her grief, sits down and types what Jonny dictates about the fall of Bataan, a story that he says is not finished yet--"there is more to come."
During production of Somewhere I'll Find You, Clark Gable's actress-wife Carole Lombard was killed in a plane crash while participating in a war-loan drive; the impact of the tragedy is painfully obvious in Gable's performance, which becomes abruptly less playful and more somber in the final reels. New MGM recruits Van Johnson and Keenan Wynn make impressive appearances in uncredited roles. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
It was just about this time in the morning a certain amount of months ago that I stood on the deck of a ship and looked back at the land that was quickly becoming more and more difficult to see. I don’t remember exactly how I felt that morning, dear; the excitement inside everyone was too great to allow an evaluation of emotions. But I can think back to it now with some sort of comprehension, and it seems to me my reactions must have been a mixture of adventure on the one hand – and a terribly strong desire to be back on land with those I loved and whom I knew I wouldn’t see for a long long time. I must have thought about you – and very hard, too, for as I remember it you were constantly in my mind – as I’m sure my letter to you, written on the ship, must have implied. I must have wondered, darling, what would happen to our affair, because I admit that at that time I felt that I just hadn’t quite had enough time to win you. How glad I am that I was wrong!
The trip, as I wrote you afterward, was uneventful – but everyone was artificially keyed up. We needn’t have been, as matters turned out, but the combination of moving pictures, newspaper stories and radio reports in the months preceding couldn’t help but have some effect on all of us. I remember visiting the men of our outfit and giving them short talks on various subjects with a view towards relaxing the mind, where my own, dearest, wasn’t entirely relaxed itself.
It’s interesting to think back on things and analyze one’s feelings of the past. In the months to come, sweetheart, I hope to be able to look back on this particular interlude just as calmly. With God’s help, I know I will.
Well, well, well – how did I get around to reminiscing like that? It’s not the past I should be thinking about – but the future. I do plenty of that though – and as I wrote you before – I skip the details of the immediate future in my mind’s eye, and I find myself back home with all those I love, either getting ready to marry you,
sweetheart, or when I really splurge – already married to you. Heavenly days! and that’s just what it will be, too. I knew I loved you when I left, darling, but my love has matured immeasurably since then. Your constancy and sincerity have made me love you more than I thought possible considering I’ve been away. Just think how much
I’ll be able to love you when I get back!
Darling, I’ll have to stop now. I’m in a pleasant mood right now – and when I finish this I’m just going to sit back and dream awhile. There’s been no mail for 3 days now but I expect there ought to be some soon. My love to the folks, sweetheart – and remember, dear that I love you very strongly and that I’ll continue to love you forever.
All my love for now
Greg
* TIDBIT *
about the United States Maritime Service
The purpose of the United States Maritime Service was to enlist and train those who would serve in the U.S. Merchant Marine and the U.S. Army Transport Service. The following document was issued on 17 May, 1944, lowering the age of those training for the Merchant Marine to 16 with parents' consent:
WAR SHIPPING ADMINISTRATION Washington
Cleared and Issued Through Facilities of the Office of War Information
The War Shipping Administration announces that, effective immediately, the United States Maritime Service will enlist young men between the ages of 16 and 17 1/2 years for training for service in the Merchant Marine of the United States, with their parents' consent. Six weeks training is required for service as messmen and utility men in the stewards department, and 13 weeks training for service in the deck and engine departments. Upon completion of training, men will be assigned to merchant vessels within a few weeks. No men are being enrolled between the ages of 18 and 26 except those classified by Selective Service in any F or L classification or in 1-C, but all qualified men over the age of 26 and less than 35 1/2 for the deck and. engine departments, or less than 50 1/2 for the stewards department, are eligible for enlistment for training.
A career at sea has always been attractive to young men. The Merchant Marine is playing a vital part in winning the war. Without it, supplies, equipment, and troops could not be transported to our battlefronts. Gen. Eisenhower, Gen. McArthur, Gen. Montgomery, Admiral King, and Admiral Nimitz have recognized the merchant seamen as part of our fighting team.
Here is a way young men can volunteer for a part in the winning of the war, before they reach the age of registration under Selective Service.
Recruiting Poster
In 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, realizing that winning the war would require many ships to carry war supplies to the fronts, ordered mass-production of Liberty ships. He also established the U.S. Maritime Service (USMS) to enlist and train the men of the U.S. Merchant Marine and the U.S. Army Transport Service needed to operate these ships and troop ships. The USMS was first established under the Coast Guard and later supervised by U.S. Navy. Many of its first recruits were from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and many others were sent to the USMS by U.S. Navy and Coast Guard recruiters. The USMS was the only racially integrated service of the time.
The USMS took over 250,000 raw recruits and turned them into fighting mariners. They taught them operation of anti-aircraft guns and cannon. They taught navigation, engine operation and maintenance, and deck operations aboard training vessels that operated in hazardous waters subject to mines and attack by submarines. Men at the fronts depended on the trained mariners for bombs, gasoline, shells, ammunition, food, guns, vehicles, planes, medicine, and other materials for warfare. In fact, 1 in 25 mariners serving aboard merchant ships died in the line of duty, suffering a greater percentage of war-related deaths than all other U.S. services. Casualties were kept secret during the war to keep information from the enemy and to attract and keep mariners at sea.
Thousands of active and retired mariners, Navy, and Coast Guardsmen were pressed into duty to serve as administrators and instructors in the U.S. Maritime Service. They believed then, and still believe today, they joined a uniformed, armed service. However, many of these were cheated out of service and retirement time. The USMS Training Bases were disbanded in 1954, the servicemen sent home with a "release from duty" to be all but forgotten by the country they served. Merchant Seamen returned without veteran status. They received no travel pay expenses, mustering out pay, state and/or federal pensions, disability benefits, or other federal veterans benefits. They did not receive home loans at a reduced interest rate, G. I. Loans, on the job training with journeymen's wage scale, paid college education with living expenses, or medical and dental payments which other veterans received.
I’m back at the Castle again after a moderate morning’s work. Everything is going along smoothly, dear, although I haven’t heard from you in a couple of days. But as you wrote, with the mail coming through so swiftly in recent weeks, we’re bound to strike a snag now and then. The other night I got to thinking of the first couple of weeks after our arrival here – with the cold and the fog and no mail. Gosh those were blue days, sweetheart, and I must have sounded awfully discouraging in my letters. Then we ran into another long delay around Christmas time – that was rather hard to take. Other than that, though, considering the distance, it hasn’t been too bad at all. Again, darling, I must caution you not to be worried if you
don’t hear from me every day or for awhile. There’s bound to be delays for one reason or another – and when there are – remember that if I’m not writing, I’m nevertheless thinking of you just as hard – and in those instances – probably harder.
Yesterday was quiet and restful again and we had a movie for the Officers up here at the Castle. It stank – but was side-edited by various remarks from the audience, as you can well imagine. The picture was ‘Alaskan Highway’ with Richard Arlen as the “hero”. We got our money’s worth in fun, anyway.
Tomorrow or the day after, I’ve planned to give a lecture on various subjects to the Battalion as a whole – so I’ll have to prepare it today I guess. Other than that – there’s nothing much on my social calendar, darling, although it is rumored we have may have another brawl this Saturday night – if we can get some liquor. I’ll let you know.
DINNER BELL!
1305
Hello – darling –
Just got back from lunch and the only piece of news is that our new APO number is 654. Apparently it has no special significance – and from what was said by the adjutant – we should have had it some time ago, and not 578. Anyway – it’s easy to remember – and you can start using it right away.
In re-reading one of your letters of several days ago. I had to laugh again at Jeannette’s calling you at 0300. That sure was a whacky thing to do – and yet – you’ve warned me. I suppose you can’t blame her though – after such a long time. Is he getting a chance to come home? You amused me when you said you thought it was a call for the doctor, and that you had been dreaming of such things. Boy, it will be no dream when it actually happens, darling, I can assure you. Certain it is that you’ll have to get used to some plain and fancy swearing. I’m afraid I’ve gotten a little rusty (not in the swearing!)
Well – sweetheart – I’d better get back to the Dispensary and do a little work. I hope all is well at home, darling, and that you’re taking good care of yourself for me. My love to the folks, dear – and
Pop Ormsby wins the contract from the Army Engineer Corps for the construction of the Alaska Highway connecting Alaska to Canada. The elder of his two sons, Woody Ormseby, decides he had rather fight with bullets than bulldozers but is assigned by the Army to work on the project. Woody and his younger brother Steve are both rivals for the affection of Ann Caswell, the daughter of Road Engineer Blair Caswell.
The movie begins with the attack on Pearl Harbor. Alaska at the time was weakly defended. Canada had already built the northwest staging route; a series of airfields spread across northwestern Canada. The decision is made to build a highway to Alaska.
The workers are divided into three starting camps, Fort Nelson BC., Skagway Alaska, and Valdez Alaska. The workers from Fort Nelson BC begin building a highway north. The workers in Skagway are transported by the White Pass and Yukon Route railway to Whitehorse. From Whitehorse they begin building a road north and south. The workers in Valdez Alaska move to a point inland and begin building a road towards Fairbanks and Whitehorse. The movie goes on to show some amazing footage of bulldozers building the highway. The black troops arrive and all work hard building the highway.
The highway is opened to traffic. The truck drivers find that the road is better to drive than expected. However, Some of the highway is not correctly built and becomes impassable in rain. Flooded rivers wash away some bridges and they have to be rebuilt. Some of the highway is not properly drained and ice builds up on the road. Trucks sink into the mud and are frozen into the mud. Some grades are too steep and accidents happen. Civilian contractors are hired to improve the highway. New bridges are built and telephone lines are added to the route.
Skagway is given a new life by all the troops stationed there. The port is expanded. The White Pass and Yukon Route railway is leased by the army. Supplies flow from Skagway to Whitehorse. One train engineer is given the soldiers medal for risking his life to save his train.
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Places mentioned: A=Valdez, AK; B=Whitehorse, Yukon; C=Fort Nelson, BC; D=Fairbanks, AK; E=Skagway Haines, AK is about 1 hour SE of Skagway
The decision is made to build a highway from Haines, near Skagway to connect to the Alaska highway. The Indians living in remote Alaska are now connected with the rest of the world by the highways. The airports are upgraded, planes and supplies flow to Russia.The peace river bridge is dedicated. Politicos and Army brass from the US and Canada make speeches. The highway contractors finish their rebuilding of the highway. This allows supplies to flow into Alaska.
The film ends with scenes of massive convoys of trucks headed north into Alaska. "Now we can press home the attack. This is the road through the brooding wilderness. This is the wedge that has pried open the last great frontier of America. The key which has unlocked the treasure chest of Alaska and the Canadian northwest."
The Alaska Highway (also known as the Alcan Highway) has come a long way from the treacherous military supply route it once was. Today, nearly all of the two-lane highway is paved with asphalt and serves as a site for pleasurable road trips. It begins in Dawson Creek, British Columbia and comes to an end in Delta Junction, Alaska, though Fairbanks, Alaska is the destination for most traveling the highway. Those continuing on to Fairbanks do so by traveling 98 miles north on the Richardson highway.
The total length of the Alaska Highway is 1,390, with the highest summit reaching 4,250 feet. According to Out West Newspaper, travelers should allow seven to 10 days to travel the length of the highway.
First of all – I love you! I always believe in putting first things – first – and in case you don’t know it, dear, that thought is above all – first in my mind. I’ve just returned from the Dispensary and have to attend a B.C.’s meeting at 1130. Other than that, things are on a routine schedule – i.e. – as far as I know.
Yesterday was a very quiet and uneventful day. I hardly moved out of my room. I spent the day reading a couple of back copies of Stars and Stripes, Yank and Time Magazine – as well as listening to the radio . It was all quite restful – but I needed it after running around for the previous two days. I wrote you, my folks, Shirley Feldberg – who had written me a very friendly and sincere letter, and finally to a Major, friend of mine at Pearl Harbor. I don’t know if I mentioned to you dear, that I had heard from Col. Pereira in California. He wished us luck, by the way.
Say, darling, when you ask me if I love Borscht – you have to be more specific. Now – as a doctor’s wife – you’ll find that details are very important. As everyone knows there are several kinds of borscht – beet borscht, spinach borscht – and I suppose – just plain borscht. I lean towards the spinach type, for some reason or other, but if you make it, I’m inclined to think I’ll eat any type.
Oh – and before I forget it – you mentioned something about a souvenir of some sort from the Cathedral here. I had already looked around for something – before – but all they have are postcards. But from Mary’s point of view – a relic wouldn’t mean too much, anyway, for this reason: the Cathedrals in England are Protestant, chiefly, all belonging to the Church of England – which is strictly Episcopalian. Will you explain that to her, dear?
I remember well the night we went to D. Moore’s and waited for our table. As I recall it – we didn’t get our steak, either – but oh those Martinis! Darling, I do hope you learn how to make a good Martini – as if that were all I had to think about! It was interesting your running into Stan. I haven’t heard from him about the Zippo – but I’m glad it arrived, anyway. He’s apparently started up again where he left off – in reference to the women, I mean. I hope he gets someone and settles down. I believe that will make him again the fellow he used to be and whose company I enjoyed.
Yes, darling, as many kids as you want. I love them too and I hope we can afford to have a few of them anyway. Gosh it will be nice to have a late snack with you. I used to go alone and was always very lonely. It will be swell – the two of us – and I’m willing to arbitrate on the onions, sweetheart – say – one thick slice instead of two?
Dearest – that’s all for now. My best love to the folks and from me, darling, my deepest and sincerest love for always
Greg
* TIDBIT *
about Dinty Moore's
The popular comic strip Bringing Up Father, started in 1913 by cartoonist George McManus, told the story of an Irish-American, a former bricklayer named Jiggs, and his wife Maggie, an ex-laundress, who achieved sudden wealth, supposedly by means of a lucky ticket in the Irish Sweepstakes (though McManus was a bit vague about their means of wealth in the strip, and the Irish Sweepstakes didn't come into being until 1930). While the snobbish Maggie and beautiful daughter Nora constantly try to "bring up" Father to his new social position, Jiggs can think of nothing finer than sitting down at Dinty Moore's restaurant to finish off several dishes of corned beef and cabbage, followed by a night out with the boys from the old
neighborhood. The clash of wills that ensued often resulted in flying rolling-pins, smashed crockery, and broken vases, all aimed in the general direction of Jiggs's skull.
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"Bringing Up Father" strip from 1928
Because George McManus favored a restaurant on West 46th Street in Manhattan owned by a Mr. James H. Moore at that time, James Moore soon claimed he was the inspiration for the character Dinty Moore. He changed his restaurant's name to "Dinty Moore's" and made a fortune from the Bringing Up Father connection. In fact, Bringing up Father was so popular that many Irish men at the time named Moore were nicknamed Dinty.
According to the blog A Week in New York April 1946, posted about the original Dinty Moore's in New York City, written by Bill Bence, strangely enough, on May 15th, 2010:
James Moore, who changed his name to Dinty after opening the restaurant, was notorious in the 1920s for his flagrant disregard of Prohibition which endeared him with the hard-drinking celebrity set. Corned beef and cabbage, which is not a traditional dish in Ireland where Irish bacon and greens was the usual holiday fare, was the signature dish. The restaurant also served an Irish stew made from kosher beef and lamb and an array of steaks and chops. Its chopped steak was a favorite as was rice pudding, a dessert that was popular throughout New York at the time. Many patrons ordered sandwiches to go with their beers. In Arthur Schwartz's New York City Food, Schwartz took note of a menu from the establishment in the 1940s that offered gefilte fish, a sign of the importance of the New York City's sizable Jewish community, even to an ostensibly Irish restaurant.
In his 1930 restaurant guide, Dining in New York, Rian James reported the high prices of the establishment but added that the "food is wholesome, the portions large, the waiters quarrelsome and slow, and inclined to argue with you if you attempt to speed them up; but the quality of the food that is set before you --when it is set before you--has no equal." In a magazine short story from the '30s, "The Grasshoppers and the Aunt," collected in the anthology Beacon Light of Literature, the heroine is taken to Dinty Moore's to experience sophisticated Manhattan life and is astonished to discover linoleum on the floor and the only decoration "a lot of black-and-gold signs hung around with a portrait of an oyster on them." The menu seemed mundane but to her astonishment the place actually was full of celebrities. On the other hand, in Ghost Light: A Memoir, Frank Rich remembers the place on his first visit some decades later as "exotic as everything else I'd seen in my few hours in the city. The warm glow of brass gleamed from every nook; a long wooden bar with bottles and gold spigots aligned behind it ran the length of a wall." Crisp white cloths covered the tables and the attentive waiter wore a black suit, starched white shirt and bow tie. But Rich was just a kid and easily impressed.
In 1940 Life magazine called Dinty Moore's a favored establishment of West Side cafe society made up of "semi-solvent actors, sportsmen and Louis Sobol." By sportsman the magazine meant the horse racing set and Damon Runyon and friends. Sobol was a Broadway columnist for the Journal-American. This crowd, the magazine said, was distinct from the Easy Side cafe society of "semi-solvent refugees, parvenus and Lucius Beebe." Beebe was the snooty society columnist of the Herald Tribune. In 1946 it was known to be a favorite hang-out place for the theater crowd. The restaurant had nothing to do with Hormel's canned Dinty Moore beef stew, which was introduced in 1935.
Eventually other Dinty Moore's were opened in cities around the country. By 1952 when Dinty Moore passed at the age of 83, the American had become known as the "Corned Beef and Cabbage King." Here are some memorablia collected on the internet from the Dinty Moore's in Boston.
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Menu from 1948
Menu from 1956
Postcard of the inside
Matchbook
The address of Dinty Moore's, 611 Rear Washington Street, no longer exists in Boston. The alley below is now part of the Millenium Place Garage for the Ritz Carlton Residences.
