Coral Gables Historical Archive
Coral Gables Riviera
Friday, January 16, 1942, page 1 (of 8)
The page
The text of this pageRead by computer from the scan, so some words may be wrong. The page picture is the original.
CORAL GABLES RIVIERA
AN INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER 17TH YEAR NO. 1 CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA, JANUARY 16, 1942 PRICE FIVE CENTS
Think You've Had Thrills? Then Meet This Gableite
All you folks who thought Sunday's blackout was thrilling, step up and meet William Lawrence Hanks, 1048 Avenue Sorolla. All this past year, Hanks has packed in more thrills, excitement and adventure than most of us do in ten lifetimes. Althought only 22 years old, he has just returned from a year in England, where he ferried planes from reception centers to various air fields throughout the British Isles. Since leaving Coral Gables, he has experienced innumerable air raids and has flown 51 different types of ships. Speaking of blackouts, Hanks says that London is not nearly so totally dark as the Miami area was last Sunday. Taxicabs, with special deflector headlights, continue to cruise about during minor raids and other lights are also visible. "London is such a well-known target to the Jerries," he points out "that they find it, no matter how well the city is blacked out." On moonlight nights Hanks explains that it's an easy matter for enemy bombers to follow the Thames River to the center of the city. On cloudy nights, a radio beam is projected from Paris over the center of London, while another such beam is sent out from Berlin, also aimed at the city's center. Nazi pilots fly in on either beam, and when they reach the spot where the other beam crosses, they know that they are dead center over London. Other Enlish cities, however, observe total blackouts. Hanks is enthusiastic in his praise for the courage of the British people. "They're not the least bit Please Turn to Page Four WILLIAM L. HANKS
Chamber Seeking Trained Mechanics
A survey of trained mechanics employed in the city of Coral Gables, is being made this week by the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce at the request of the Federal Government. The purpose of the survey is to have on hand during the war emergency a list of possible mechanics to be used in the servicing of airplanes. All garages and machine shops in Coral Gables have been sent the questionnaire with the request that they fill in and return as quickly as possible.
TO HAVE BRIDGE
The newly created Opti-Mrs. Club of Coral Gables will have a dessert bridge at the home of the president, Mrs. Shaker Shikany, 1245 Coral Way at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Mrs. Carl Blohm will be co-hostess.
Winter Institute Lecturers Announced By W. Scott Mason
Five American writers, known for their work in journalism, poetry and the novel, have been chosen to speak at the University of Miami's annual Winter Institute of Literature, scheduled to begin February 9 and to last for three weeks. The lecturers include John Gould Fletcher, Jonathan Daniels, Harry Hansen, Roark Bradford and Mary Rose Bradford. W. Scott Mason is director of the institute. Daniels, the first speaker, is at present writing for the Raleigh News and Observer and on the editorial staff of Fortune Magazine. He is best known for his book, "A Southerner Discovers the South." Sharing the first week with Daniels is John Gould Fletcher, who was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1939. "Wine and Two Frontiers" is one of his best known works. Fletcher will lecture the second week also along with Harry Hansen, literary editor of the New York World-Telegram, noted as a book reviewer, biographer, essayist, critic and war correspondent. Since 1933, Hansen has been editor of the O. Henry Prize Stories and chairman of the O. Henry prize award. Mr. and Mrs. Bradford, sharing the third week, will close the session. Roark Bradford, editor of the New Orleans Times Picayune, was given the O. Henry prize in 1937; he is best known as the author of "Kingdom Coming." Mary Rose Bradford writes under the name of Charlie May Simon. She is known as a children's writer and novelist. Students at the university may take the course free of charge. However, there is a fee to all those of the public who wish to hear these distinguished lecturers.
Shift Date Of Tax Clinic
Dates for the opening of a tax office in the Chamber of Commerce Building has been changed from the last week in January to the last two weeks in February, it was announced yesterday. At that time, C. G. Parramore, deputy collector of internal revenue, will be on hand to give free advice to residents and business people about their income tax. Parramore will be available from 10 to 12 a.m. and from 2 to 4 p.m.
Civic Body Notes John Hall's Death
A resolution of sympathy to the family of the late John C. Hall, Miami civic leader, was passed Wednesday night by the board of directors of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. Hall, who headed the Miami Chamber for several years, died Wednesday morning following a heart attack. His funeral was conducted yesterday.
From Detroit
Mr. and Mrs. John Rothel of Detroit and Coral Gables have opened their home at 1014 Avenue Almeria for the season.
F. W. WOOLWORTH STORE
CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA 128 CORAL WAY Mr. Albert E. Harum Publisher, Coral Gables Riviera Coral Gables, Florida. Dear Mr. Harum: I wish, in behalf of the F. W. Woolworth Co., to thank you, your staff and your publication, The Coral Gables Riviera, for the fine job you did for us last Saturday. The officials of the company, after considering the various media available to us for our opening announcement, very wisely decided to use your paper exclusively. The wisdom of their choice was ably demonstrated when we opened our doors last Saturday morning. Despite inclement weather, the people of Coral Gables, in numbers far beyond our expectations, flocked to our new store. Since The Riviera was the only medium used we can only feel that the opening day crowd is directly traceable to our advertising in your newspaper. Thank you again, and please, through the columns of The Riviera, thank the Coral Gables public for the fine reception they gave us. Sincerely, R. L. WHITELOCK Branch Manager.
Chalk Up Another
Seventeen years ago today a group of four people watched with bated breath as the first issue of a new publication rolled off the press. Before the ink was dry, with trembling fingers they inscribed their names in the upper corner of the first copy: "John D. Montgomery, J. B. Crandall, A. D. Hale and Helen Walker." Coral Gables could hardly be called a city at that time, when the Riviera first saw the light of day. During the 17 ensuing years the two have grown and progressed together, each helping the other to attain its present stature. W. M. Ballinger of Camden, N. J. was listed as the first subscriber and Vol. 1 No. 1 carried as its lead story, the opening of the "new" Miami Biltmore Hotel. During the years that have passed, The Riviera has faithfully chronicled the events in the progress of the community it serves. Its bound volumes contain a complete history of Coral Gables. Last summer, Albert E. Harum took over the publishing reins, continuing the traditions of community service that have been by-words at The Riviera. Today, as we go from volume 16 to volume 17, The Riviera finds Coral Gables a part of a nation at war and marks the passing of another milestone by renewing its pledge to serve faithfully its community, its state and its Country.
All Asked To Give To Red Cross Junior Woman's Club To Run Drive In Gables Area
Coral Gables Junior Woman's Club has been given the gigantic task of raising Coral Gables' quota of the $150,000 Red Cross War Relief fund allocated to Dade County. This fund is entirely apart from the regular Red Cross drive just completed. Lamar Paxson, Dade County commissioner, chairman, has appointed Mrs. Stanley Hall, chairman of the Gables' drive. Each Coral Gables business head will be asked to contribute a percentage of his investment toward the fund; each worker one percent of one month's salary, or two hours pay. Those on the committee include: Mrs. S. Hill Gordon, Mrs. Marybell Flournoy, Mrs. E. C Hodge, Mrs. Frank Sottile, Mrs. Benjamin Turner, Mrs. Marge Pepper, Mrs. Seaborn Wade, Mrs. Gretchen Griffen, Miss Corrinna Washburn, Mrs. Walter Humpkey, Mrs. Wells Bruen, Mrs. Leo Cloney, Mrs. Robert N. Doddridge and Mrs. Bradford Ansley.
Program For Symphony Is Announced
The University of Miami will present its symphony orchestra, John Bitter, conductor, in the second of its subscription concerts of this season on January 19. Nino Martini, handsome leading tenor of the Metropolitan Opera Company, will appear as soloist. Nino Martini is known as the man who never gets nervous before his performances. However; this young veteran of the world's greatest opera houses was almost overcome with stage fright at a concert in an Oklahoma town a year or so ago. Nevertheless, he went out before the audience and gave a superb performance — and it wasn't until his final bow and his retirement into the wings, almost in a state of collapse, that anyone knew, besides his manager, what caused the trouble. It all had to do with his movie—his latest starring film, "Music for Madame," which opened on Broadway that very night, and the thing that caused him to be so upset was that he couldn't be present on opening night. Worst of all, there was no way of knowing what the (Please turn to Page 8)
MORPHEUS SCORES ON RAY WESTCOTT DURING BLACKOUT
The Air Raid Warden had a little bout with old Morpheus in the person of Ray Westcott last Sunday—and today Ray was still trying to explain it all away. Seems Ray went to bed about 10 p.m. and soon was wafted away into a sound sleep. Came 10:15 and the blackout siren blew. The thereafter there was a sound of the front door bell in the Westcott household and Ray, still sleep-fogged, answered it. The Warden advised him that the dying embers in his living room fireplace were visible from the street. Mr. Westcott apologized, ran into his kitchen, turned on the bright kitchen light to get water to douse the fireplace embers.
Car Owners Urged to Save License Plates
Coral Gables residents obtaining new auto tags were requested this week to care for their old ones to aid in the national defense effort. Old tags may be left at any service station, the American Legion or the police station, where they will be picked up and sold for defense purposes. Tagged material will be turned over to the Red Cross or be used for other defense agencies. It is estimated that 15 tons of metal can be salvaged from the old tags.
City Supplying Sand For Fire Prevention Here
The city has undertaken the project of supplying sand to all residents who wish to keep buckets of it around their homes as a precaution against incendiary bombs, City Manager A. B. Curry announced yesterday. A large pile of sand has been placed on the vacant lot west of the fire station, and any resident is welcome to come there and fill up buckets.
Welcome Home Dinner Next At Century Club
W. Scott Deming, past president of the Century Club will be the general chairman of the Welcome Home Dinner of the Coral Gables Century Club, to be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Miami Biltmore Hotel. Members will choose their tables and places by drawings as the door of the beautiful Giralda dining room. In place of the usual speaker, the chairman and his committee have planned a surprise floor show.
Miss Jenkins Returns
Miss Doris Jenkins has returned to her home in Harrisburg, Pa., after her annual two week's visit with her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. S. Ernest Philpitt, of Avenue Palermo.
Will Discuss Priorities At Meeting
Attention of all businessmen of Coral Gables was called today by Alvin S. Lindborg, secretary of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, to the South Florida Priorities Clinic to be held in Miami on Friday, January 30. Manufacturers, builders and contractors, and other groups who are particularly harassed by classifications of business most able to get the answers to their questions. A panel of experts, to be announced within a few days, will be sent to Miami by Priorities Director OPM to conduct the noon luncheon at the Columbus Hotel Roof. Following prepared talks they will handle a quiz period, answering questions sent up from the tables. At the conclusion of the luncheon session, separate conferences of various classifications of business most affected will be held in the meeting rooms on the mezzanine floor of the hotel. The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce is cooperating with the Miami Chamber of Commerce in handling the details of the clinic and Secretary Alvin S. Lindborg states that orders for luncheon tickets at $1.10 each should now be placed by those desiring to attend as the Columbus Roof capacity is limited to 450, and 25 cities and towns besides Miami will be participating. The Miami Chamber of Commerce is reserving half the capacity for out-of-town guests and the first reservations get the places.
Jaycees Hear Barrett Talk On Japanese
An address by Col. A. W. Barrett on conditions in the Far East in which he gave an exhaustive analysis of the Japanese war machine and the reasons underlying their treacherous attack on Pearl Harbor featured the regular weekly dinner of the Coral Gables Junior Chamber of Commerce at the Country Club Wednesday evening. Colonel Barrett lived abroad for many years, particularly in Europe and in Japan, and is considered to be an authority on political and economic questions involving Europe and the Orient. He is an honorary member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce. Preceding Colonel Barrett's address, Drew S. Gordon, president of the organization, called for the introduction of visitors. Guests included: L. W. Robinson, Jr., Frank Zimmerman, Ed Sievers, C. C. Morris, Chas. S. Leyden, Harley Pittman and John Stroker. On account of an important program being worked out by the Jaycees, it was decided at the last meeting to have a dinner each Wednesday evening, at 7 o'clock, at the Coral Gables Country Club. Dr. Gordon urges every member to be present next Wednesday as matters of great importance to Coral Gables will be discussed.
Parkway For Ponce Is Started Removed Rock to Be Used to Pave Tahiti Beach Road
Coral Gables will save approximately $1,000 of the taxpayers' money by combining two major city improvements, A. B. Curry, city manager, announced yesterday. By a former agreement with the Miami Corporation, the city will fill and pave a new road south of Cocoplum Plaza bridge, from Granada Boulevard east, to Tahiti Beach, a distance of about three-quarters of a mile, over a formerly unused street, LaBarca Avenue. The paving will be done with rock taken from Ponce de Leon Boulevard, north of Bird Road to the island near University Drive, where a new center parkway, 25 feet wide, will be landscaped in a continuation of the city's beautification plan. Work star:ed this week with the removal of the center parkway. The parkway, which will be planted with Bucidia-Bucarius trees and shrubs from the city nurseries, will leave two-lane traffic of 27 feet width on each side. When finished, that portion of Ponce de Leon boulevard from the ensemble Bird Road, Alhambra Circle and other double streets in the city. The improvement to the boulevard, according to Curry, will cost the city little or nothing, due to the plan to utilize the removed rock on the new Tahiti Beach road. The new road will cost approximately $4,500. Recommended by the city planning board, composed of Curry, Denman Fink and Arthur D. Garris, both improvements will be completed in about three months.
Red Cross, U. S. O. Both To Benefit
The Red Cross and the U.S.O. program will benefit through the sale of the American Legion poppy sale this year. Poppies will be sold on the streets of Greater Miami this year on January 17th, by the American Legion Auxiliaries. These poppies were made by veterans of World War No 1, who are now in the Lake City hospital trying to gain their health again. There are sixtyfour disabled veterans making these poppies this year; up to date they have made one hundred thousand poppies, the veterans making 1c each. All these flowers are non-compensated veterans. And this is their only means of making money.
Alberts Move to N. C.
Mr. and Mrs. Leroy K. Albert have moved to New Bern, N. C., where Mr. Albert, formerly an architect of Coral Gables, has joined a staff of architects in the employ of the government in a building plat at Cunningham Field, Cherry Point, N. C.
From Winetka
Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Macomb- ers of Winnetka, Ill., have arrived for a seasonal stay at the Casa Loma Hotel.
FORTUNE FAVORS STRANDED JOCKEY
We've just heard a strange story about a jockey and his wife whom Dame Fortune had just about deserted. Housed in a snug trailer near Coral Gables —on which three payments were still due—our jockey friend waited patiently for Hialeah to open and give him a chance to make a dollar. Meanwhile came three gruff-looking, heartless men to take away the trailer. Interested and influential friends of the jockey went to bat for him, he paid the back notes on the trailer, prepared to ride his horse in the Hialeah inaugural to victory. He staked his all on the nose of his horse—some $200—and rode as he never rode before . . . to a picture finish. For the few minutes it took to develop the picture his future hung in the balance. Then came the verdict giving his horse a win, and his bankroll a $2,000 shot in the arm. Now he's a happy man. And all glorious for this jockey whom Dame Fortune thus favored.
Mayor Lauds New Owners Of Tropical
Praises for the operation of Tropical Park under its new management was expressed yesterday in a statement by Mayor Joe Whiley. Whitley stressed particularly the spirit of cooperation that exists between the city and the new officers of the racing plant. "Never before have we had the cooperation and the working together spirit that we now have with the new operators of Tropical Park." Whitley said. "They are men of high caliber and their integrity is reflected in the track's fall operation." The Mayor vehemently denied charges that the city was operating a speed trap on Bird Road, to catch race track goers. "In the first place," he stated, "There can be no speed trap when signs are plainly posted, notifying the motorist that the limit is 30 miles an hour." "We are merely trying to protect the lives and limbs of our residents and visitors, and drivers who are not reckless were not molested," he concluded.
State Candidate Campaigns Here
Eugene S. Matthews, Starke, who is seeking re-election to the Florida Railroad Commission in group one, was a Coral Gables visitor yesterday. Matthews is making a tour of the southern part of the state in behalf of his candidacy.
JAMES GILLMAN WOOLWORTH MANAGER
James C. Gillman has been named resident manager of the new F. W. Woolworth store in Coral Gables, it was announced yesterday. Gillman comes here from Georgia where he managed the Waycross store for the company.
SERMON-TOPIC ANNOUNCED
Sermon topic of the Rev. Carlock Hawk of the First Methodist Church for the 11 o'clock service Sunday will be, "The Man of Galilee".
From Glochester
Mrs. Sarah D. Merchant of Gloucester, Mass., is again at the Casa Loma Hotel.
Police Check Crime Past Of Domestics F. B. I. Search Shows Many Have Crime History
Following a check with F.B.I. records, Coral Gables police yesterday began an intensive round-up of Negro domestics, now working in Coral Gables, whom the check-up revealed have lengthy criminal records. Discovery that dozens of negroes employed here as yard-men, house boys, caddies and chauffeurs, have lengthy records ranging from breaking and entering to attempted murder, led police to throw out the dragnet, Police Captain Lou Reeves said yesterday. "It's no wonder this community has had a recent outbreak of burglaries, when persons of this caliber are allowed the freedom of the city," Reeves stated. He said that investigations following the robberies led the department to make a complete check with the F.B.I. in Washington. Identification cards, issued to the domestics and containing their fingerprints, were used to uncover the back records. Reeves said that those apprehended would be turned over to the Gables and their cards taken up, because when they applied for them, they failed to comply with a city ordinance requiring all persons ever convicted of a felony to register with the police. Those wanted in other cities will be held. Reeves urged all Gables residents employing negro help to ascertain whether or not the domestics are registered with the police. "In many cases," he said, "we have discovered negroes working here with long criminal records, while their employers were ignorant of their criminal status." Reeves stated that the wave of burglaries had subsided and that no cases had been reported during the past two weeks.
U. S. Prisoners Now Confined In City Jail
The Coral Gables police department is now playing host to 28 federal prisoners, ranging from aliens to white slavers, it was revealed this week. The prisoners were moved from the Dade County jail, where accommodations were condemned by the Federal Board of Prisons. They will remain in the local jail until arrangements can be made to move them elsewhere, City Manager A. B. Curry stated. Included among the prisoners is a counterfeiter who was turning out "some of the best half dollars ever seen by the treasury department," Police stated. Asked how the prisoners seemed to like their new surroundings, Capt. Lou Reeves, commented, "They're tickled to death. They have clean beds, real wool blankets and the food here is good. It's a lot of extra work for us though."
Jap 'Blitz' Found Americans Mentally Unprepared, Says Walter Lippmann
By WALTER LIPPMANN No offensive of the range and the efficiency of the Japanese could have been launched without years of planning and long, intensive preparation. We may be certain from what we have already seen that the Japanese war must have been decided upon at least eighteen months ago. For that is about the shortest time in which the men could have been trained and the equipment manufactured and assembled for this immensely complicated operation. Thus we may take it as certain that Japan made her decision in the summer of 1940, immediately after the fall of France, and that since that time, working feverishly behind a dance curtain of censorship at home and of a cunning diplomacy and propaganda abroad, the rulers of Japan have demanded limitless sacrifices of their people in order to construct their war machine. Had Britain fallen in 1940, they would, of course, have struck sooner; for in that event they could have counted on immediate assistance from Hitler, striking at us from the British Isles across the North Atlantic and from southern Europe and Africa across the South Atlantic. During this same period we conducted a furious Presidential campaign, we engaged in protracted debates over conscription, over lease-lend, over the neutrality act, over extension of the period of military service; and while we started to construct a war machine of our own, we regarded it as something to be super-imposed on business as usual. So we treated ourselves to a Please Turn to Page Six