Coral Gables Riviera

Friday, February 20, 1942, page 1 (of 8)

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CORAL GABLES RIVIERA

AN INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER 17th YEAR NO. 6 CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA, FEBRUARY 20, 1942 PRICE FIVE CENTS

Lou Nova Turns 'Pug' As Stage Debut Nears Talks "Brooklynese" to Gables Lions—Bows Tonight in "15" Play

Pugilist Lou Nova became just an ordinary "pug" from Brooklyn for a few minutes this week. "Youse guys," Lou told the Coral Gables Lions Club, "kin axe me enny questions yex want ter about fightin'," Lou's Brooklynese had the local Lions starry eyed for a few minutes—until Willard Thompson told the assembled body that Lou's Brooklynese was Coral Gables bred and that the heavyweight champ had merely lapsed into the dialect he employs in his characterization of Chick in "Is Zat So?", in which vehicle Boxer Nova makes his stage debut this evening, Thompson, leading man of the Theatre of the Fifteen, plays the role of Nova's manager in the play. Lou, who made famous the 'cosmic punch", told the Lions he expected to snatch the heavyweight crown from Joe Louis next summer and that he expected to have no trouble at all with Billy Conn, whom he meets in Madison Square Garden in April. As to the "cosmic punch"—well, this much Lou would tell: "It's a system of weight shifting and balancing which places more power behind the delivered punch." College educated and known as the cleanest talking heavy-weight in the game Lou has no contempt for Joe Louis' ability, though. "Louis has a tremendous amount of lethal power to fight," Nova told the Lions, "He has acquired admirable patience, a quality not to be despised in a fighter. He can wait and wait and wait for openings to sneak in his punch. I've learned something about patience from Louis which I hope and expect will stand me in good stead when I meet the champ this summer. He uses the punchy punch without being aware of the fact that he uses it." The heavyweight contender will make his initial stage appearance tonight at the Theatre of the Fifteen, Douglas Entrance at the Tamiami Trail, in the New York prize fight comedy hit. Mr. Nova has undertaken, under the direction of Miss Mae Keen, a full length role—that of an up-and-coming young fighter in the Gleason-Taber comedy. Janet Cole plays opposite him and Mr. Thompson, the managerial role. Other principal roles are enacted by Vaughn Bouldaria, Hazel Green, Barbara Parmley, Frank Rollinger, James Crow, Samuel Lockovitch, Elizabeth Tyler, E. P. Hoffman, Billy Gilbert and Dorothy Poper. "Is Zat So?" will play a limited engagement at the Theatre of the Fifteen. The speaker and Mr. Thompson were guests of Albert E. Harum, Riviera Publisher and program chairman for the month. Slogger Lou Nova

Pupils May Get Lower Bus Fares City Studies Plan For Five-Cent Rate for Schools

The possibility that bus fares for school children may be reduced from six cents to five cents was expressed yesterday by City Manager George N. Shaw. Shaw stated that he and the commission had been studying the problem in response to requests from numerous parents and were inclined to believe that the reduction could be effected. The Coral Gables bus fares were hiked to six cents only a few months ago. Shaw said that some special ticket or token system would have to be devised before the change could be effected.

Appointment Of Shaw Is Made Official

George N. Shaw's new position as city manager was made official Tuesday when the city commission passed a resolution naming him to the post vacated by A. B. Curry. At the same time the commission unanimously voted for a resolution regretfully accepting Curry's resignation to take the city managership in Miami and left the way open for him to return to his old job any time within a year.

Gables Buys $10,000 in U.S. Bonds

Purchase of $10,000 of Series F defense bonds by the City of Coral Gables was announced yesterday by George N. Shaw, director of finance. The bonds, purchased for $7,400 were purchased from city trust funds.

Harry Bell's Mother Dies

Funeral services will be held tomorrow in Bridgeton, N. J., for Mrs. Hiram Newkirk, mother of patrolman J. Harry Bell, who died Tuesday after a short illness at her home in Monroeville, N. J. Besides Mr. Bell, who went north for the services, Mrs. Newkirk leaves a daughter, Mrs. Franklin Pompper of Paulsboro, N. J., and several sisters and brothers.

Andy Czaky Now Pilot In Marines

Jacksonville, Fla., Feb. 18—Second Lieut. Andrew Czaky, 252 University of Miami, Coral Gables, Fla., has been assigned to active duty with the aircraft squadrons of the United States Marine Corps after being graduated from the Naval Aviation School at Jacksonville. Lieut. Czaky enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on March 17, 1941 at the Naval Reserve Aviation base, Miami, Fla. He was appointed Aviation Cadet on May 12 and entered advance flight training here on June 27, graduating February 12, 1942. Lieut. Czaky attended the University of Miami at Coral Gables and was a member of the local police force. He is the son of Mrs. Pauline Czaky of Cucumber, West Virginia.

BALTIMORE VISITORS ENTERTAINED AT HIALEAH

Box guests of Mr. and Mrs. J. Merriam Black of Baltimore and Coral Gables Wednesday at Hialeah Park were Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hickey, Washington; Mr. and Mrs. C. Murray Stoddart and Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Orbach, all of Coral Gables.

Wheat and Chaff

You're heard people say that a smart newspaper reader learns to separate the wheat from the chaff—journalistically speaking. * * * We on the Riviera hope that we've saved you a job. WE separate the wheat from the chaff and we just DON'T print the chaff! * * * So get your teeth into this issue of your newspaper and chew away. The national picture with Lippmann and Mark Sullivan; set the world straight with the wise kids of cartoons; Brown; see how "Tex" did in the role of Jim Moore; trip gayly to the secret fantazia with Helen Reynolds, and admire the latest f fads and fashions on the Woman's Page. * * * And on Page 8 loads of good buys to be had at our local breeding's store — no chaff, this! Larder stocking is darned important, as the the Coral Gables Grocery specials on Page 5, the Hunting Market offerings on Page 7, and an important food message on Page 4. And for "All Wheat, No Chaff" read every week's RIVIERA

Shifts In Personnel Due to War Causes Foreseen by Shaw "No Dismissals if Possible," Says New City Manager; To Make Thorough Study

Shifts in departments and personnel, caused by war emergencies, were foreseen today by Coral Gables new city manager, George N. Shaw. He emphasized the fact that he would do all in his power to prevent dismissal of any employees, and indicated that they would be shifted to other departments instead of discharged. "I am now studying the condition carefully," Shaw stated, "and I think that the changes will be in the nature of transfers from declining activities to those brought about by war emergencies." He said that as far as possible, curtailments would be restricted to materials instead of salaries. "It's very possible," he said, "that we may have to take on additional defense activities and we certainly will not employ new people for these tasks. Instead we will move employees from less active departments." He pointed out that during the war the city's principle management problem would be to preserve maintenance and service with possibly declining revenues. "New improvements may have to be deferred until they can be financed, and the re-assessment problem that will follow the war," Shaw concluded.

Burglar Gets Thirty Years

William Wright, confessed burglar of over 15 Coral Gables homes, was sentenced to 30 years in the state penitentiary in criminal court yesterday. The South Miami negro was found guilty on six counts and the others suspended.

Warner Daniels Aviation Cadet

Word was received here this week that Warner Daniels, son of Mr. and Mrs. Carroll S. Daniels has been accepted as an aviation cadet with the United States Navy. Young Daniels has been working in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

PONCE HIGH SCHOOL WILL "TAG" TOMORROW

Tomorrow students from Ponce de Leon High school will be on the streets selling tags for the benefit of first aid equipment to be installed at the school. First aid instruction is compulsory for seniors at the school, and no money is provided to buy equipment for the three stations necessary.

Tax Dept. May Invoke Bank Hours Shaw Predicts Prompter Posting, More Economy

Regular banking hours may be soon maintained by the Coral Gables tax department if a program outlined by City Finance Director George N. Shaw is put into effect. Shaw told the commission Tuesday that closing the tax windows to the public at 2:00 P.M. would allow employees to post tax records daily. He explained that under the present system, employees are forced to work overtime to catch up on recording tax payments, because their time is occupied until five o'clock with persons coming in to pay or inquire about taxes.

Optimists Honor Governor, Judges

Governor Spessard L. Holland will today receive a silver, honorary membership card in Optimist International, presented to him by proxy at the Greater Miami Optimist "Judiciary Night," Thursday at the Country Club of Coral Gables. The card was received by the governor's aide, Judge C. E. Chillingworth of West Palm Beach. Eldon S. Dummit of Kentucky, International President, was principal speaker. Dade County's circuit, criminal, civil and federal judges were presented with bronze plaques, inscribed with the Optimist's creed.

Income Tax Expert Offers Free Advice

C. G. Parramore, deputy collector of internal revenue will be at the Chamber of Commerce office all next week to aid local residents in making out their income tax blanks. Parramore was scheduled to come last Monday, but was unavoidably detained.

Burglars Loot Gas Station Seven Thefts Are Reported in Gables During Past Week

Because he had to leave his service station to take gasoline to two stranded ladies at 3 o'clock in the morning, J. B. Coons of the gas station at 3894 S. W. Eighth Street is out $50 in cash and $23 worth of gasoline, oil and batteries. Coons told police that the women came into the station stating that they had run out of gasoline. He filled a can and drove them to their car. When he returned, he found that burglars had entered the establishment, looted the cash register and took the other articles. Mrs. Chester Fox, 3010 Segovia Street, Wednesday reported that a man, posing as a prospective purchaser, has stolen a $125 pair of Zeiss binoculars. According to the police file, the man came to the Fox residence in answer to a classified advertisement that the glasses were for sale. He took them outside to try them out and managed to substitute a pair of cheap glasses in the case before returning it. The switch was not discovered until he had gotten away. John Carrouthers and Lee Stube of the University of Miami, reported that $16.00 had been stolen from their car while it was parked outside the school on Wednesday. An unsuccessful attempt to break into the coin box on the telephone at Tilton Pharmacy was reported Tuesday. Store employees discovered that the cover of the box had been ripped off but the thief had been unable to extricate the coin tray. Burglars this week broke into the home of H. Lee Douglas, 1532 Catalonia Avenue and stole a .32 Colt revolver and a small box of candy. Two bottles of Shalimar perfume, valued at $150 were taken from the home of Mrs. Joseph Mann, 536 Avenue Altara, on Wednesday. Mrs. Mann gave the police the names of two suspects which were not divulged. Rugs and a comforter made up the loot of the burglar who entered the home of John V. Hardeman, 1541 Avenue Sopera, last Saturday.

Fuller Completes 15 Years In Gables

Congratulations are in order this week for Will Fuller, local F. P. and L. manager, who has just completed 15 years of service with the company's Coral Gables office. Mr. Fuller brought his family to Miami from Atlanta, Ga., in 1920 and moved to Coral Gables in 1926. He has always been active in local civic projects.

Fine for Fireman Suspended Wallace Charged With Speeding on Way to Fire

A man who had the correct answer to the speed cop's "Goin' to a fire?" question, nevertheless was forced to appear before the Coral Gables municipal court Wednesday. C. T. Wallace, local fireman, had a $10.00 fine suspended when he explained to the court that he was speeding to a fire in response to a telephone call to his home. The complaint against Wallace was filed by City Attorney Ted Semple, who stated that he didn't recognize the fireman when he sped past him. Semple got the license number and notified police. Tom Farley, 234 N. E. First Street, paid a fine of $100 and costs on a drunk driving charge. Albert Cox, South Miami, charged with being drunk, forfeited a $10.00 bond, as did Charles Bethley, 44 N. W. 3rd Avenue. David Ross, 4612 Brooker Street, negro, paid a $15 fine for reckless driving. Fordham Cheesboro, negro, 1325 Alhambra Circle, was fined court costs on a disorderly conduct charge.

City Managers Honor Guests At City Party

The city managers of Miami and Coral Gables will be honored Saturday night when the Gables employees stage their party at the Venetian Pools. A. B. Curry and George Shaw have been invited to attend as guests of honor. Program events, which are a surprise nature, have been withheld by Chairman Florence Stith.

Lieutenant Call, Washington Girl to Wed

Lieut. Hughes Call, (JG) U. S. N. R., son of Mrs. Mary Hughes Call, noted pianist, and grandson of Mr. and Mrs. George H. Noyes of 40 Castile and 1400 South Greenway Drive will wed Miss Frances Lewis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Irving Lewis of Washington, D. C., in the near future. News of the engagement of Miss Lewis and Lieut. Call was made to the Nation's Capital this week. Miss Lewis attended Holton Arms School in Washington and was graduated from Vassar in 1939. Her father is director of valuation of the Interstate Commerce Commission. Lieut. Call, who is now stationed in Washington at the Navy Department, was graduated from Harvard in 1939, and from the Graduate School of Business Administration last year.

Publishers Vote To Conserve Paper

Conservation of newsprint as a national defense project became one of the prime objectives of the American press yesterday following a meeting of publishers and press association representatives in New York. The publishers voted to "make every conceivable effort to conserve newsprint".

H. W. Vanderbough South Miami Mayor

H. W. Vanderbough, president of the South Miami City Council, was named by that body Tuesday to succeed the late Frederick Glass as mayor. Mayor Glass was also chairman of the Dade County Zoning Board and secretary of the Coral Gables board of real estate examiners.

CITY MANAGER PLAYS HOST TO RUNAWAY

City Manager George Shaw had a house guest Wednesday night from Valdosta Ga. In his role of director of public safety, Shaw called at the police department and noticed a boy sitting on the bench, flanked by two suitcases and a .22 rifle. Inquiry revealed that the lad had run away seeking adventure and had been picked up in a Trail grocery store where he had asked for a job. Rather than see the youth spend the night in the jail, Shaw took him home, fed him and treated him to a show. He will stay at Shaw's until the youth's father came for him yesterday.

Chamber Lists Apartments, Occupants

Apartment house owners and managers of Coral Gables have been asked in a questionnaire sent out by Alvie S. Lindborg, Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, to advise the number of units available for rental on a year round basis, and for a list of the names of present occupants. "The purpose of this questionnaire," stated Mrs. Lindborg, is for the chamber to have definite information available for the benefit of the public, especially as it is hoped this area will enjoy a good summer season. The chamber of commerce does not list apartment houses for rental purposes, but merely as information for public benefit. Secretary Lindborg, also reported an increase in number of inquiries for housing accommodations for March and April.

Sigma Chi To Install Chapter Here

Sigma Chi, one of the leading national college fraternities, will install a chapter on the University campus when a charter will be granted to Pi Chi on March 20. Russell Easton, executive secretary of the national group, reported yesterday that the 99th chapter was voted in by an overwhelming vote of the active and alumni chapters of Sigma Chi. Pi Chi was founded in 1926 and is the oldest fraternity on the campus. It was placed on Sigma Chi's approved list after exhaustive investigations by groups and alumni investigating officers, who visited the Coral Gables campus several months ago. National officers from all over the country are expected here for the installation ceremonies, as well as active members of chapters in neighboring colleges and universities.

LENTEN SERMON SERIES ANNOUNCED

The Rev. Carl Stedman, pastor of the Congregational Church, will begin a series of sermons on the general theme, "Learning From the Master's Experiences" at 11 A. M. Sunday. The first sermon will be entitled "Life Does Try Us." The church school, with classes for all ages, meets at 10 o'clock. The Young People's meeting is at 7 P. M. The subject, "Our Mission Work in China."

Army Unit Of 6,000 Expected Official Talks Lean to Conversion Coliseum

Negotiations between Army officials and the City of Coral Gables toward conversion of the city-owned Coliseum into a training center for 6,000 soldiers have been in progress for several days this week, The Riviera learned today. The Coliseum would become a vast housing unit for the army contingent, permitting the soldiers to use various aviation centers and air-training schools for their military education. It was also learned that there have been negotiations in progress with officials of other large hostelries and buildings in the Gables. There was, however, no confirmation that such negotiations had been carried to the main officer of the city government. Informants stated that upwards of 6,000 soldiers may be brought to the Gables, with the first contigent arriving in the near future. Credulence to the reports that the Miami area was being selected as a large training center for army and navy personnel was given yesterday with the announcement by General Walter R. Weaver that 4,000 soldiers will be housed at Miami Beach for training as air corps officers. A nucleus for this school will arrive today and classes will begin on Monday. "Due to severe housing shortages throughout the nation, it has become important that shelter be made available for selected men in that category above at once," Lieut. Col. James S. Stowell, who will be in command of the Beach school, said in his statement yesterday.

Air Wardens Discuss Plans

First of the announced air raid warden instruction meetings was held Wednesday night at the home of district air raid warden Walter M. Wilson, 1019 Avenue Marinana. Air raid wardens attending the conference were: E. E. Cahill, Paul Mickler, A. T. Hill and T. E. Lewis, who represent for Coral Gables area bounded on the north by Tamiami Trail, south by Coral Way, east by Granada Boulevard and west by Red Road. This area has been divided into four sectors with Avenues Madrid and Milan being the center quarter lines. Future plans include provision of sand supply, siren signals and fire aid as well as house to house enrollment of volunteers. Taking fingerprints and photographs for identification cards was also discussed. Warden conferences will take place each Wednesday night at 8 p.m. at the various warden's homes and small sector neighborhood meetings will be held next week. District warden Wilson announced that a mass conference of entire area is planned for City Hall at an early date.

Capacity Crowd Expected At Defense Horse Show

All indications point to a sell-out house for the Washington's Birthday, V for Victory Horse Show, which takes place Sunday at the Coral Gables Riding Academy, John Gazlay reported yesterday. All of the best horses and riders in the area, plus top-notch entries from other parts of the country, will compete for defense bonds and stamps at the afternoon and evening shows. Douglas Davis of Paris, Ky., recognized as an authority by the National Horseshow Association, will be the judge. Victor Fenicole, of Coral Gables, will act as announcer and Henry Hoppe as ring master. Twenty-three different classes of competition have been arranged, taking in all the popular classes and several novel ones, Gazlay said. Philip Schandein of Milwaukee will show his ladies' phaeton driven by a matched team of show horses. Phillip Lehman, of the Hialeah Riding Club, announced yesterday that his group would be represented Independence Belle, Bold Batchelor and Flash of Charm from the O'Gee Stables; Dorothy May Ogden's Duchess and other entries in the open saddle class and combination class.

16-Month-Old Weathered 'Harbor Raid'

Far from the booming guns of Pearl Harbor, on a quiet Coral Gables street, a little lad of 16 months sits and picks at pebbles in a driveway, completely oblivious of the fact that in the last few months he has undergone a Japanese air raid and trekked halfway across the world to safety. He is Dale Wooldridge,who with his mother, Mrs. D. C. Wooldridge, arrived recently to spend the duration with her mother, Mrs. Frances Allyn, 235 Avenue Majorca. A typical Navy wife, Mrs. Wooldridge is very calm about her recent exciting experiences. As for her reaction to the treacherous Sunday morning Jap raid on Pearl Harbor, she just couldn't believe it. Wife of a chief petty officer, she lived quite some distance from the Naval Base, out near the University of Hawaii. "When I heard the guns and explosions, I wondered why in the world they were holding maneuvers on Sunday," she said. It wasn't until an hour later, that a neighbor informed her of the raid. Then she turned on the radio and was greeted with the terse announcement, "Don't be fooled, this is the real McCoy." All musical programs went off the air but official announcements kept breaking the silence throughout the day. Young Dale slept soundly all through the raid. "Nobody got panicky and soon after the raid was even every-body resumed their normal routine," she said. Only one bomb fell near her home. Mrs. Wooldridge said she was glad to be back in Coral Gables, where war seems so much more remote. "They said we were asleep," she said, "but the people over here seem to be more asleep to the possibility of attack than we were." She pointed out that the use of sirens for air raid signals here in the United States seemed confusing, because they are also used on ambulances, fire trucks and other emergency vehicles. In Honolulu the sound of a siren means air raid. All other vehicles have gone back to using plain horns. She said that there had been no blackouts in Honolulu, with the exception of a few practice ones, until the raid came, but now, the city blacks out nightly. It took her two weeks to get book, coming by boat to California and by rail the rest of the way. Letters from her husband reached her more rapidly. She received one yesterday posted only eight days ago. Because a program of evacuation was launched immediately following the raid, Mrs. Wooldridge has "been living out of a suitcase "ever since the day after Christmas. She packed that day to be ready to leave on a moment's notice. Ironically, she left for Pearl Harbor on July 4, amid the shooting of firecrackers in California and left with the bursts of anti-aircraft guns echoing in her ears.