Coral Gables Historical Archive
Coral Gables Riviera-Times
Monday, November 24, 1947, page 4 (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.
Riviera Times
CORAL GABLES Riviera Times Published Monday through Friday afternoons by the Riviera Publishing Company, 240 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables 34, Fla. Entered as a weekly news-paper January, 1926; combined with the Dade County & Coconut Grove Times, 1929. Published daily except Saturday and Sunday. MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL EDITORIAL ASSO-CIATION and Florida Press Association. Albert E. Harum, Editor and Publisher; Kenneth S. Reynolds, Business Manager; James B. Moore, Managing Editor; Helen Reynolds, Society Editor; Edward W. Wright, Advertising Manager. Meyer & Morton - New York-Chicago-Atlanta-Detroit National Advertising Representatives MEMBERS ASSOCIATED PRESS - UNITED PRESS FULL LEASED WIRE, UNITED PRESS PICTURES NATIONAL EDITORIAL Association 1947 SUSTAINING MEMBER RIVIERA 56 SUBSCRIPTION RATES - By Carrier, 6 months, $6.00; one year, outside of United States, $15.00; local, $12.00; one year, out-of-town, $12.00; daily delivery by car-rier, 25 cents per week. Entered as Second Class Matter Feb. 27, 1937, at the Post Office at Miami, Fla., under the Act of March 3, 1879. Mail Address, Box 6972, Coral Gables 34, Florida. Phone 4-2586. Classified Dept., 48-1616. The Coral Gables Riviera-Times is liable for errors in advertising only to the extent of the space in which the advertisement appears.
Action Is Needed
City Manager McIlwain has renewed his efforts to eliminate low flying aircraft over Coral Gables. In a conference with Marcel Garsaud of the Port Authority and CAA officials, the city manager has asked for cooperation before local citizens ask the courts for relief from the nuisance. To date Coral Gables has received little of the cooperation it has asked. Both Garsaud and the CAA have come forth with evasive answers, little action and a promise of practically nothing. Coral Gables has already lost several citizens because of the noise caused by these planes. Others, owners of large homes, have threatened to move away unless something is done about it. Still the planes continue to roar over the community. The city manager says that the enforcement of the ordinance against low flying by local police is not the answer to the problem. He states that only the CAA, the port authority and the airlines can abate the nuisance through cooperation. It's about time that the various authorities paid some attention to Coral Gables' plea and answered demands with action instead of mealy-mouthed words. There's no use nationalizing industry unless industry is inspired with the spirit of national service - and then you don't need to. Don't try to give the world an answer till you find one for yourself.
UP AND DOWN BROADWAY
By JACK GAVER United Press Staff Correspondent NEW YORK (UP)-The first regularly scheduled and sponsored network television show can now be seen in a four-station hook-up that gives good coverage of the northern part of the eastern seaboard. "Swift Home Service Club" is the name of the half-hour program that starts at 1 p. m., e. s. t. on Fridays and has for its outlets WNET in New York, WNBW in Washington, WPTZ in Philadelphia and WRGB in Schenectady, N. Y. As additional stations are added to the National Broadcasting Company's television network, the program will be extended to them. Baltimore and Boston are expected to enter the wold soon. The husband-wife team of Jinx Falkenburg and Tex McCrary, already familiar to radio fans, headline the program, which is a sort of woman's magazine of the air. Martha Logan, home economist, and Sandra Gahle, decorator and home planner, are also regulars on the weekly show. There are prominent guests from time to time. * * * One of the most pleasing entertainers in the night spots is the male piano player who aids himself simply as Liberace (Liber-ah-chee). The 27-year-old Virtuoso is a native of Milwaukee, the city that has given the cabaret a couple of other highly popular products-beer and Hildegarde. Liberace's success is firmly grounded in his ability to coax classics and boogie-woogie out of the piano with equal dexterity, and he has the added ability to serve as his own master of ceremonies. An important part of the act, naturally, is the piano, but in his case the instrument is something extraordinary. It is a Bluthner concert grand, built to Liberace's order before the recent war by Julius Bluthner in Leipzig. It is approximately four inches larger, both in length and breadth, than any other piano. In the treble it has four strings for each one instead of the customary three. The interior is completely gold-leafed. Liberace packs the thing around with him in a specially designed shock-resistant crate. He has a small spinet piano for practice purposes. * * * The Herd Theatrical Corporation, which James M. Herd has built into an important play-investment factor in three seasons, has given the next step by becoming a producing group in the matter of "The Late Christoph-Bean." * * * Michael Myerberg opened the revival of the old Sidney Howard play on the road with ZaSu Pitts starred. Certain differences of opinion arose and Myerberg was prepared to drop it. Herd, seeking a controlled play hine in the production, lost no time in coming forces with Robert Fryer to take over the play. A couple of cast changes were made and a touring program of one and two-night stands across the country that will keep the unit busy until next June was mapped out. * * * British star Wendy Hiller has everything now to make her stay in New York a happy one. She has a hit play, "The Heiress," and her two children, Ann, 8, and Anthony, 5, have just come over from London for an extended visit.
OUR TOWN Quite an Industry
By Jim Moore There has been quite a bit of talk lately about the room renting situation in Coral Gables in which a greedy few have been charged with endangering a thriving "little industry" by asking sky-high prices. The conversion of our two largest hotels into a military hospital and the influx of people during the war caused a boom in this business of renting rooms in private homes in the Coral Gables area. Actually it's an illegal business within the Gables' limits, outlawed by ordinance, but local officialdom has overlooked the infractions because of the crying need for housing. The Chamber of Commerce, as a service to visitors, has operated a free listing bureau and from that file comes some amazing information. Do you realize that this business of renting out a room or two in a private home has zoomed into an industry with a gross income of approximately a half million dollars a year? Let's look at some facts and figures. Last year the Chamber of Commerce, through its listing bureau, rented a total of 657 rooms. The low mean rental for these rooms is about $15 a week. Many of them are higher. But taking $15 as an average, we discover that room rentors in Coral Gables and vicinity last year took in about $9,855 weekly. That means a yearly gross of $512,360. There are few industries in Coral Gables with a payroll that would beat figures like that. To me, it seems even more amazing when you realize that this industry pays no occupational license fee and pays nothing to the Chamber of Commerce for the listing service. As a matter of fact, the number of room rentors that are even members of the Chamber can be counted on one hand. This industry, born of a hotel shortage, will continue to flourish until the dearth of rooms is eliminated by the construction of additional hotels here.
In Our Mail
Editor, Riviera-Times: Reference is made to the attached item from the front page of your issue of Thursday, the 13th instant, relative to the proposed presence of Santa Claus at "Miracle Mile" and Ponce de Leon Boulevard. Also to another front page item in your issue of even date regarding an injury sustained by a girl as a result of the explosion of a pop bottle in a store on "Miracle Mile." Surely you have not weakened and become a disciple of that cult known as the Miracle Mile Association which supposedly civic endeavors have been devoted to disturbing the peaceful atmosphere of "The City Beautiful" by attempting the weird idea of reducing the width of Coral Way and adding the fantastic designation, "Miracle Mile" to three or four blocks of that very beautiful thoroughfare. There is no such street in Coral Gables as "Miracle Mile" any more than there is a S. W. 59th Avenue or numerous other numbered streets adjacent to our city. A majority of the citizens of Coral Gables must veilingly refer to that thoroughfare by the name of Coral Way. The opinions and ideas of all non-residents should be irrelevant and out of order. Therefore, if the Coral Gables readers of the Riviera-Times are its editors, as Jim Moore has stated, it would seem that your use of the name, "Miracle Mile," in identifying Coral Way is not consistent with their expressed opinions when the matter was up for official discussion last year. If and when, however, we find it necessary to change street names, let's be original and try to avoid stealing them from California. If Santa Claus will be on duty at Coral Way and Ponce de Leon Boulevard, let's have him there for all means. All that he symbolizes should, we hope, have a very wholesome influence upon that neighborhood. Sincerely, M. T. NUGENT Editor, Riviera-Times: I am happily surprised at your paper-it gets better every day. Luck, hard work and best wishes to all of you. Sincerely, THORNTON M. FINCHER
SHORT QUIRKS
One Way to Find Out MILWAUKEE (UP)-Elroy Hunkel and his wife found out what was wrong with their pressure cooker. It caused them a few days of pain from burns, however. They peered into their cooker when it didn't work. It exploded in their faces. They discovered that the lid was not fastened properly. * * * Professors Live, Too NEW YORK (UP)-City College's publication, "The Campus," polled the institution's 250 professors and found that only nine per cent admitted they had no interests outside the classroom. All the others professed keen interest in sports, carpentry, plumbing, gardening, sketching, music and star gazing. * * * Invited Inspection AUSTIN, Tex. (UP)-A Chicago man might have gotten away with marijuana valued at $25,000 except for a small detail. He was driving a car with 1946 Illinois license plates. That caused two highway patrolmen to stop him. The marijuana was contained in two small barrels.
THE WORLD AT ITS WORST By Gluyas Williams
WITH A LOAD OF DISHES FROM THE TABLE THREATENING TO TOPPLE AND A CIGARET BEGINNING TO SCORCH YOUR FINGERS, YOU FIND THE SWING DOOR BLOCKED BY YOUR WIFE WHO IS UP ON A CHAIR TRYING TO REACH SOMETHING FROM THE TOP SHELF IN THE PANTRY AND WHO CALLS BRIGHTLY NOT TO BE IMPATIENT, IT WON'T GIVE A MINUTE
It Says Here
Evidently the motorist isn't the only person haunted by those parking meters. We finally learned about Police Officer Charlie Gouveia's dream, which has had us guessing since he cryptically mentioned it the other day. It seems that Charlie, who takes care of the nickel swallowers, has a nightmare about 'em that bothers him. In the dream, the meters are soldiers and Charlie is trying to get them lined up for an inspection by City Manager McIlwain. As he marches down the endless row, he finds bent ones which must be rushed to the infirmary. They also thrust long red tongues at him, which he must inspect to see if they are in tip-top shape. We thought that he'd been looking a little pale and wan recently. Leonard Ott, pro at the Riviera Country Club, got his start as a caddy like a lot of other top-notch golfers. His first job was a bookkeeper. ... Dave Eldredge, the frosh coach at U. of M. is planning on radio as a career and may get his start with the new Wometco station. ... Saw Gene Ellenson come into the Country Club the other day with a pal on each arm. Quite a fella. There are rumors of another hotel for Coral Gables in the planning stage. ... City Manager McIlwain says he's located what he thinks will be an ideal public address system for the commission chamber. We hope it's installed soon as it's really needed. Charlie O'Neill is getting up early these days, clocking his horses. ... Karl Schmitz hired a guy to stand in the Orange Bowl ticket line for him, while Wynelle Casell received that business the easy way by receiving bowl seats for an "anniversary present." They're box seats, too. ... From the number of persons who have told us about it, there were darn few Gableites who didn't see that circus accident last week. ... Earl DeNoon informs us that he's appointed himself science editor of the Riviera-Times. Glad to have you aboard, sir. Mrs. Bin Sykes spent a sleepless night recently because of strange scratching sounds in the house. When she walked into the dining room the next morning she found the cause of it-a huge owl that was then perched on the chandelier. A hurry call to the police brought a squad car and two officers who evicted the intruder.
FROM A RIVIERA NOTEBOOK PROGRESS WEEK-1926
By Mary Holm Clarke We have just completed a week of parades and parties and plays which reminded us of Progress Week, November 1926. This was the culmination of a five-year publicity program spearheaded by Josephi [?T?] Yoder, publicity director for the Coral Gables Corporation. Yoder was good. He came to Miami from Chicago where he had directed publicity for Democratic National Convention. Store buildings and office buildings presented a solid front on Ponce de Leon Boulevard, looking north from Coral Way, with the exceptions of the corner lots now occupied by Whelans and Breedings. They were set up for "Pony Golf," the Coral Gables version of miniature fairways. From the Colonnade Building, north on Ponce, the streets were decorated with bunting and flags, and on November 23rd a mammoth parade, representing every municipality in the Miami area, moved along the boulevard. There were flower-bedecked floats, cars, and busses, and the streets were lined with cheering spectators. The women played a large part in this first celebration of Progress Week. Mrs. George E. Merrick was president of the Garden Club that year, and they joined with the Coral Gables Chapter of the Miami Civic Theatre in the presentation of two plays. Mrs. John Norman, chairman of the play-reading committee, had chosen a Spanish play, "A Sunny Morning" and "Post Mortems," a farce comedy for the Big Day. Yoder, with his national reputation, had a superlative group of colleagues to work with him on publicity for Coral Gables. Exquisite line drawings by Robert Fink were spread across pages and half pages of newspapers. Manley Brower's sepia print photographs gave the proof that drawings and paintings of Coral Gables were "real life" portrayals. John Norman, vice-president of the Corporation, and his "Minute Men" were ready to speak on a moment's notice on any phase of city building or city managing. Rex Beach and Ralph Henry Barbour interpreted the scene in book form. This enviable public relations program came to a climax in November 1926-ONE MONTH AFTER THE HURRICANE-with the first of a series of Progress Week programs. The annual PROGRESS supplement printed by the Riviera-Times in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce, records in picture and story the up-to-the-minute achievements of the City Beautiful. Have you gotten your copy?
LESLIE H. COOMBES
FOR YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS SEE LESLIE H. COOMBES REALTOR 2312 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Phone 4-2586
Gableites Go Traveling, Fete Visitors Here
Forsythe, Georgia is the geographical location of the whereabouts of Mr. and Mrs. L. B. Stephens, 3800 Granda Blvd. They are there visiting three sisters of Mr. Stephens, Mrs. H. S. Worsham, Mrs. L. E. Palmer and Mrs. John Stephens. While in that part of the country, the couple also visited their daughter, Helen, at Brenau college in Gainesville, Georgia. They will return to their Gables home the latter part of this week. * * * Here from Bishop, California for a brief visit with his parents is Paul Steckwalds, son of the Fred Steckwalds, 1137 Avenue Sorolla. He will return to California sometime this week. * * * "Pretty wonderful" is what the Edward I. Anfindsens from West Orange, N. J., think of Coral Gables. Here for the winter, Mr. and Mrs. Anfindsen and son, Roger, are living at 820 Avenue Mendoza. Their elder son, Edward, lives at Richmond Field and Roger is enrolled as a freshman in the University of Miami. This is the Anfindsens' first trip to Coral Gables.
Gables Residents Bid Friends to Drumstick Fests
Dr. and Mrs. Herbert E. Sperry and son, Robert, 842 Navarre, are giving dinner guests of the Samuel S. Parkers at their home on 4381 S. W. 14th Street. The Parkers recently returned from a six weeks tour of the East where they visited in St. Louis, New York and New York. In St. Louis they stayed with Mrs. Parker's sister, Mrs. Selma Champion. * * * While in Washington Mr. Parker attended a meeting of the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rites where he received a KCCH Masonic degree. * * * Thanksgiving dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. P. M. Stubbs, 246 Avenue Palermo, will include Mr. and Mrs. Ward McAlister and Mr. and Mrs. Carl Blohm.
YWCA Board Calls Committee Session
The board of directors of the Young Woman's Christian Association, meeting at the Central Community Chest, will hold a session of work committees at 10:30 a. m. tomorrow. Dr. Eula M. Klemer, chairman of volunteer leadership, will preside. Robert J. Mosher, executive director of the bureau of social agencies, will speak on "Your Committee in Action." "You as Chairman" will be the topic of Morris Klass, executive director, Greater Miami Jewish Federation. Mrs. J. Lawton Hurt, president of the local branch YWCA, will lead the discussion, "From Where I Sit," setting forth the president's problems.
Skippy Pierce Blows Out Seven Candles
A turkey that really lighted up the table and a huge chocolate cake marking the seventh anniversary of Skippy Pierce, son of Mrs. Jacqueline Paulk Pierce. Skippy also jumped the gun on Christmas by treating his young guests to a Christmas tree with presents. The party luncheon was given Saturday in the patio at the Country Club of Coral Gables. Skippy's guests: Lynn McCarley, Barbara Jean Clemmons, Teddy Hodge, Norman McDonald, Bobby Macy, Charles Robinson, Johnny Hinds, Frank Deigaard, Lawrence Winthrop, Sonny and Bobby Knight.
P. M. Stubbs Becomes (Birthday) Cake-Eater
Mrs. Carl Blohm made Philip M. Stubbs very happy the other day. She baked him a tasty coconut cake for his birthday, and, according to Mrs. Stubbs, that's just what he'd been wanting for quite some time. The cake was sliced at a birthday dinner given by the Carl Blohms at their home on 1258 S. W. 3rd Street.
It's a Baby Girl At Hodges' Household
It's a new baby girl at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James A. Hodges, 3706 Kumquat Avenue, Coconut Grove. Libby Orme Hodges made her debut early Sunday morning at the Coral Gables Hospital. Her father is city editor of the Miami Daily News.
Report Sellout
The Lions Auxiliary reports a practical sellout for its club reservation tomorrow night at the Ring Theatre. The University Players will present "The Late Christopher Bean." Members and their intimate friends are making up the audience according to Mrs. J. Kenneth Cole, ticket chairman.
INTRODUCING THE SOROPTIMISTS Four-Year Visit Stretched Into Permanent U.S. Career For Danish Photographer
When she was a little girl, in Denmark, Johanna Pilkington dreamed of far away America and life in the United States. That dream came true in 1910 when at 17 she was permitted, reluctantly by her parents, to join an older married sister in New York City, with the admonition that she would return in four years. Johanna Pilkington never took the return trip to Denmark, for she was married in 1912. But she kept her word, in a way, with her mother, for marriage meant establishing her own home and family. Heroine of this little story is none other than Mrs. A. D. Pilkington, first lady of photography in Coral Gables, a Soroptimist charter member and another personality in the Riviera-Times stories of career women. Born Johanna Karen Mikkelsen, Mrs. Pilkington was educated in the public schools. She was the youngest of nine children and began her career in photography in her early teens. "There were no Kleig or flash lights in those days," she told her interviewer. "In fact all photographs had to be made in daylight and you may know how hard we worked because the short cold snowy Danish winter days made it next to impossible to complete orders. Naturally, at Christmas time everyone wanted pictures just as they do in America." Work in a progressive New York studio was entirely different than it was in Denmark, but the blue eyed blonde Danish girl was happy and she was learning the new language at a rapid rate. At the Marceau, Fifth Avenue studio, where this lady was working, Johanna met Mr. Pilkington and their marriage followed. They came to Miami on the crest of the 1925 boom to seek their fortune and opened their Coral Gables studio, among the first here, in 1934. Many of their Miami customers followed the Pilkingtons to Coral Gables and success greeted their enterprise. This year Mr. and Mrs. Pilkington became sole owners (he was one of the founders) of the Tropic Arts Company at 204 Avenue Giralda, wholesale dealers in watercolors and oils of tropic scenes. The Pilkingtons, who have a family of one son and two daughters are also the proud grandparents of four grandsons. Mrs. Pilkington -Pilkington Photo
LIL' ABNER, DAISY MAE BECOME SOCIALITES (Sob!) FOR DANCE
Daisy Mae, Lil' Abner, Ole' Man Mose, Moonbeam McSwine, and Mammy and Pappy are "socialites" at heart. Dressed in their best mended shirts, dungarees, and patched dresses, they're going to a "Dogpatch" party Friday night at the home of Miss Ruth Weller, 3304 S. W. 2nd Street. Beginning at 8 p. m. twenty-one couples, in the guise of Dogpatch "characters," will gather at Ruth's home for an evening of real hillbilly entertainment. There'll be a Sadie Hawkins race, with prizes going to the girl who catches her "Lil' Abner" first and to the boy who manages to evade the clutches of his "Daisy Mae" the longest. Following the race, guests will enjoy to music furnished by a juke box. Among guests present will be: Pat Domnick, Shirley Fisk, Maurita Sutton, Katherine Register, Cecelia Chalmers, Marcella French, Eleanor Sharpe, Martha Ann Crouch, Helen French, Rita Sharpe, Billie Jenkins, Nancy Cook, Margaret Stivarius, Alicia Mendoza, Joy Prince, Martha Sue Brown, Marcella Haseman, Helen George, Velda Harewell and their dates. All are students at either Ponce or Miami High. Assisting Ruth in giving the party are Audrey Denson and Jo Anne Darche.
Tri-Delt Actives To Take Charge Of 1947 Founder's Day Banquet
Active members of Delta Delta Delta Sorority at the University of Miami will turn the tables on their alumnae elders by assuming the responsibility for the annual Founder's Day banquet. The yearly party will take place on Thanksgiving evening, 6:45 p. m. and will be held in the Venetian Hotel, Miami. Miss Bernice Carlisle, president of the actives will preside at the silver, gold and blue bedecked banquet table and will also present as guest speaker one of Tri-Delta's most distinguished members, Miss R. Louise Fitch. Miss Fitch has held three national offices in the sorority, traveled secretary, editor of "The Trident" and last but not least, that of National President. At present she is a special representative of Readers Digest. She served as dean of women at Cornell University for 17 years. Delta Delta Delta was founded on Thanksgiving eve in 1888 at the Boston University, Boston, Mass. It has 92 chapters and is International. Active members of Alpha Chi chapter, at the University who will assist their president at the banquet are Miss Jean Barnes, Miss Lucy Ann Hicks, Miss Marge Lockhart and Miss Mary Kate Williams. On Saturday a tea complimenting Miss Fitch will be held at the home of Mrs. Robert Anderson, 4701 Lake Road, Bay Point.
JUST BETWEEN US 'Hold Your Temper But Never A Grudge' -- Nancy
By NANCY MOTTRAM You can't help admiring the person whose life is so calm and unruffled that he just never boils over. It would take someone with phenomenal self-control to stay on an even keel constantly. But anger usually is short-lived. The impact wears off fast and that's that. Except with a chosen few. And those few are the ones who hold a grudge. They are never content to let bygones be bygones, but insist on remembering, and carrying chips on their shoulders. Things said to them in an argument are the comments they jot down in their minds, and bring up for weeks, even after the cause of the fight has long been forgotten. And a friend who once displeases is not allowed to wipe the whole affair from his mind. In conversation, he's reminded of remarks he made that hurt or anger, are held against him by a buddy who doesn't forget those incidents. Apologize, Pal After an outburst, the normal and natural reaction on anyone's part is to apologize if he's blown up at a close friend. You're quick to make amends to a pal, and are sincerely sorry about the way you acted. But if the pal has a memory as long as an elephant's and will brood over the disagreement, everything goes from bad to worse. After your explanation and his refusal to understand, it begins to make you uncomfortable, he'll dig up an incident from the past and throw it into the discussion. It doesn't help him, or gain him anything, and to many people, it seems entirely uncalled for. He prolongs an unhappy situation, and succeeds only in bothering everyone except himself. It's irritating to be continually reminded of remarks you once made. After your explanation and apology, that chapter closed as far as you were concerned. But one who carries a grudge doesn't forgive or forget. And he won't let you forget, either. Grudge Cure You can't cure grudge-holders by telling them that what they're doing is getting tiresome. Or try to play their game by reminding them of things they've said. You can only hint that you've forgotten the whole thing, that the episode meant so little to you, you can't remember any details.