Sunday, May 1, 2016

WHAT'S IN THE BOX?



The extent of the past few days:

rain and thunderstorms, power outage, tuna sandwiches, cats chasing mouse, rain and thunderstorms, ham sandwiches, cats chasing lizard, rain, power outage, thunder, wasps chasing me, grilled cheese sandwiches, me chasing cats, back pain.

Sandwiches are on the menu. And baked potatoes. To hell with cooking. 

Pssssst! Wanna buy some cats?

Drastic change of subject

Anybody who reads my blog regularly (all three of you) knows that when I moved from Texas to Tennessee the movers "lost" many of my most cherished possessions -  including all of the diaries and journals that I wrote when I lived in California. Approximately twenty-five hard bound volumes, painstakingly handwritten and meticulously detailed - covering every aspect of my private and professional life. Along with the journals were many  letters, photographs, and momentos.

With the loss of these things, my entire 30 years in California seem to have been expunged. Priceless, tangible evidence of my past is gone forever. To say that I am completely destroyed by this loss would be a vast understatement. I still have many sleepless nights over it.

Yesterday I found a small wooden box from Hungary that had belonged to my paternal grandmother. In it were some forgotten "treasures" which I had put  there many (many) years ago.
Finding remnants of my past - no matter how small or insignificant - is extremely important to me.

I found personal letters from Olivia de Havilland, Joan Rivers, James Stewart, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish, Van Cliburn, Ethel Kennedy, and others. I also found a long-lost letter from writer Gertrude Zeth Brooks, who was a family friend of my parents and a friend of Jackie Kennedy.

Along with the antique box, I also found the photo of Mae West that I mentioned in my blog post The Two That Got Away (see sidebar).

Here are some of the items that I discovered in the Hungarian box: 


 OMG!!!
a photo of me probably taken the day I was born. I was doing a primal scream at the thought of my future

 I'll bet you never knew that I was once a member of the America Film Institute. I was nominated for membership during the time that I was writing a lot of articles about Hollywood for motion picture magazines.





 Two of the patches that I used to wear on my old Army jacket which I bought at the downtown L.A. Army Surplus store. I was 20 years old.

 


A few random ticket stubs from concerts at the L.A. Music Center (the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, where I once "crashed" the Oscars). Also a momento from the Brown Derby restaurant. There were two of them in L.A. and I usually went to the one on Wilshire.


 A matchbook from the notorious Drake Theater on Melrose, which I went to frequently and where I was caught in a midnight raid (also had a fling with one of the dancers)

Business card from the Circus of Books, which I used to frequent and which I think is still in existence. This is where I was behind the building in a car with a naked actor and the police came (I jumped out and escaped). I mentioned the incident in one of my blog posts, but can't remember which.

Matchbook from the extinct Green Cafe on San Vicente, which yields a lot of memories - and where I saw Cher, Sal Mineo, Ann-Margret, and many porn stars. I'll write about it in my next post (maybe).


Mae West sent me this photo and a letter, after I talked to her long-time live-in companion Paul Novak.

 Letters and things, mostly from people whom I've met - including Perry King (anybody remember him??), Shelley Winters, Ethel Kennedy, Joan Rivers, James Stewart, Lillian Gish, Van Cliburn, Patty Duke, Olivia de Havilland, Lucille Ball, etc.

 Unfortunately, many of my best Hollywood momentos are lost, but I'm happy to have what I discovered in the box. 

20 comments:

  1. OMB, this stuff is FABULOUS! but what I cannot figure out is why the movers wanted your diaries. and tools. what did you do as a member of the american film institute?

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    1. The AFI is much different today than it was long ago. I was nominated to be a member for my "achievements" in preserving the legacy of film history. At the time I didn't think much about it. I attended some lectures and special screenings, and I was given the opportunity to write more articles about the history of motion pictures.
      My new blog post tells more about my nightmare with the moving company.

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  2. I was just thinking. How do movers "loss" something in transit? Are you sure they didn't swipe these things and then sell them? I would have been mad as hell as in Queen of Hearts, Of with their heads mad. What lovely mementoes. While its great you have them, at least you'll have your memories. That first picture is adorable, and usually my same reaction to Mondays. I guess you figured I am loving the Mae West part of this seeing she is one of the Casa du Borghese's Patron Saints.

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    1. ps...yes I know who Perry King is. He has been material for many a sexual fantasy, ha ha

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    2. I just wrote a new post which more fully explains my experience with the movers. I initially thought they had stolen things, but now I believe it was solely stupidity and neglect.

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    3. I met Perry when he was on the set of Riptide and he was a real hunk - also very nice.

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  3. Jon, I never get your limits. You come up with these incredible treasures and I am astonished. Sure, I've got an autographed pic of Nichelle Nichols --my secret pal-- and Ronald Reagan was almost unavoidable downtown, but you've got a veritable museum in that beautiful box. If you ever move again, attach it to your person.

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    1. This is only a tiny fraction of what I had, Geo. but I'm thankful for it. I will NEVER trust anyone with my possessions again, but it's FAR too late.

      Nichelle Nichols is still around and a very lovely lady.
      I have an autographed book from Reagan - my Mom and I had quite a lengthy conversation with him (way before he was president).

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  4. Wow and congratulations on this re-discovery, Jon. I'm so happy for you!!!
    The photo of your infant self with downy blonde fuzz is precious. (As is your expression.)
    Those personal letters are certainly a treasure ... maybe more important, a connection point to the way you were. Thanks for sharing these with us today!

    PS - I'm still delighted by that hand-painted mirror!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I actually found three photos of me as an infant. I chose the one that looks the "best" - infants are kinda ugly.
      I'm glad that there were at least a FEW things the movers didn't "lose". I was a FOOL not to bring my treasures in the car when I drove to TN - but I was in a Toyota with three cats.

      I love that mirror, too. It's from Italy. I always hang it in my bedroom so I can see it when I'm in bed. I never tire of looking at it.

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  5. If you move again rent a truck and drive your treasures yourself. Beautiful entry.

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    1. I really wanted to move the things myself, but I was in a big hurry and thought that "professional" movers would save time and trouble. Wow, was I wrong!!!

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  6. How awesome to have come across this box and all of its memories. Was there never any resolution as to your lost items??

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    1. I just wrote a new post explaining my experience with the movers. No resolution yet, but I'm not giving up easily!

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  7. What a treasure trove. So happy for you to have reconnected with this personal memorabila.

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    1. I'm glad that I found these items, but it's still little compensation for all I lost.

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  8. dear friend, it is good to look back don't don't stay there to long. It is a trap. Move forward. Make new memories. Just a thought....

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    1. Everything in life is a trap - in one way or another. I had a very colorful and unusual past, which is a pleasurably stark contrast to my present mundane existence. The past is the sole foundation of what we are today and I value it. There's no guarantee for our future.

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  9. Jon,

    I wish I would stumble upon some mysterious box containing such moments from my past, as rather unspectacular as it was. If there was anything hidden in my parents old house it has disappeared into the yawl of some landfill I am sure. But now you may have more interesting tales to tell, and do tell.

    Larry

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    1. I'm glad that I have at least a few treasures left. My father was notorious for throwing things out - - and the movers did the rest.....

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