It is the early 1950's in CV and I just got a new Blackberry cell phone that takes the neatest videos. Much better than the old movie camera. And it is so light and portable that I can take videos anywhere and no one will know they are being observed for posterity. So over the early and middle years of the '50's I wander the streets of CV and this video I am sending to you over the blog is the result of those efforts. Now, if I can just find the right buttons to push, the video should be on your computer-blog right about.........now. Huh, it didn't work. Well, maybe it is not possible to put a video on the blog?? So, what I will do is watch the various selections and describe them to you. Not as good as seeing the scenes, but better than anything we have been treated to in the past few days.??
Early 50's. Must be a Saturday, and look at the hustle and bustle of this little city. The parking on the streets is almost full, even diagonal parking in the middle of main drag. Jesse Foust's big old Mobil truck is parked in the middle down across from Stella Walker's Whitney drug and I guess he is going in to get a large cherry coke. He is a big, good-looking dark haired guy; no wonder he has such good looking children. Speaking of big good-looking dark haired men, there goes Charlie White driving HIS Standard Oil truck south past the post office. He and Jesse Foust look enough alike to be brothers. ?? I wonder.
Yes, must be a Saturday, ?late afternoon?, because it seems that all the farm families are in town for the weekly shopping and gossip . There is Rollin and Olive Ramey getting out of the pick-up. Looks like she is headed for Hankin's Drug and he is wandering up the street toward Swain House's saddle shop. They always seem happy and carefree and seem to enjoy life. And Frieda Magnus and her mom are just coming out of Andy Early's clothing store, maybe getting a birthday shirt for the mister?? Frieda and her mom, look enough alike to be two pretty sisters.
Leroy Stacy and his family, shopping at Morris Smith's grocery, and there is Phil Foust helping Mrs. Stacy with several big bags of groceries. Now, there is another good-looking mother-daughter couple that could be sisters, Gail Bennett and her mom doing the weekly shopping at Charlie Field's grocery up by the cleaning shop. There goes Nancy Goode, headed for work at the drug store?? Seems that CV is filled with beautiful people, especially on Saturdays.
But, on the other hand, there are the "not so beautiful", speaking of which, here come T.D. Oltgen and Jay D. Mills entering the pool hall. T.D. stayed in but Jay came right back out and headed home. I guess his dad, O.D., must have already been there and caught the prodigal son trying to start on a life of sin. Oh, a big treat is driving up the street and parking in front of the City Hall; the Grunden family doesn't come to town that often, but getting out of the vehicle is Naomi, Irene and their mom. Now that trio really increases the beauty of main street. Mr. Grunden also heads for the saddle shop, maybe just to gossip with Rollin and Swain.
Now, what is Gary Metcalf doing hanging around outside Hankin's Drug?? Is he planning a hold-up or maybe just mooning after Nancy Ann, but Cecilia, his younger sister takes him in tow and off they go back to the farm. Romance will have to wait.
The next video must be a different day because it is five p.m. and we see Nellie Walkinshaw coming out of her job at the Caney Valley Electric where she keeps books for Carl Steward. She will take the short walk home to prepare supper for the two hungry sons. Across the street we see Clyde Shaffer also heading home, and he calls a greeting to Nellie. He is the most friendly and outgoing fellow in town. Nellie, a little more reserved, but acknowledges his greeting with a small smile and heads on down the block. She always seems just a little sad, but is a wonderful mother and takes good care of her little family.
And what is Betty Beaver doing going into Kenneth Dunn's newspaper office?? Maybe applying for a job?? Oh, but he she comes out again, this time walking with Roy Walkinshaw who has just finished, a day working in the news-ink it would seem from his appearance. Funny, why does Betty have the little smudge of black ink around her lips. A mystery.
Now, here comes trouble. Looks like the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse; War, Conquest, Famine and Death, only this time it is Five Horsewomen. As I said, trouble: Billie Goode, Susan Alexander, Diane Archer, Barbara Woodruff and Elaine Bennett all aiming for Hankins Drug. Shurd Tucker sitting in front of the City Hall should keep a close eye on those five. But instead, he gets into his old pick-up and drives up the highway to park in front of the Hilltop Cafe and set up the infamous CV speedtrap. Keeps the city finances healthy.
Across the street I seen Owen Hubbard on his daily walk home, up the street past Whitney Drug, the beer parlor, the post office, Woodruff's drycleaner and on by Bill Leonard's house on the hill. Owen always is dressed neatly; looks like a banker, which he is. And down toward the other end of the street, we can see Ray Oltgen coming out of the bank and get into his ?Buick?
Can't tell from here, but notice the slight limp that always accompanies Mr. Oltgen. I think I heard that was from a case of polio.
As I wander down toward William's Chevrolet, we see a glimpse of another man with a slight limp, Merle Sartin, coming out of his restaurant to have a cigarette. Maybe the inside of the establishment is designated "Smoke Free". Speaking of trouble, here come Dick and Bill Williams from their house on the corner, headed for the pool hall. Who would have thought it of those two little angels. Heading back toward the CV National Bank, it is quitting time and over the years we get videos of various attractive women who are tellers at various times. Frieda Magnus' sister, is that Irene Grunden?, Lucille Littrell, Shirley Sweaney, and others. When you go into the bank, it is a friendly place with smiling tellers and no bank guards. Must be a crime free town that old Shurd protects.
Mid-afternoon and we see Nadine Pate leaving the post-office and walking south, down toward the beer parlor?? Always a friendly smile, but instead of beer she wants a Steffins ice cream milkshake at Whitney's. She can't take too long, because the new PostMaster, Kenneth Dunn, is a strict boss. Across the street in front of Vic Hollister's store we see Lyman Fesler's wife and daughter going in for some shopping. But Mr. Fesler heads up the street, also toward the saddle shop, probably to get a new quirt to keep Velma's suitors in line. Another pretty mother and daughter combination. Seems as if all the girls in CV have pretty, nice mothers.
Speaking of nice, Don and Mary Bess Hankins are coming out of the store and they have a smile and word for everyone on the street. It is no wonder that the drug store-fountain is always crowded with kids and adults alike. I see the Woodruff family sitting in a booth having their weekly 25 cent milkshakes.
As I video on down the street, I go past Glenn Cross' hardware. Glenn is standing out in front talking to Herb Marshall. Herb sitting on the stoop in front of the cafe, smoking a cigarette, and Glenn, another of the most friendly men in town, always speaks to young and old alike. It is rare to see Herb so un-busy that he can come outside for a smoke. As I walk back north we can seen Fred Archer going into the pool hall, where a game of poker with O.D. Mills and Woody Lemert is waiting. Then down the street comes Hubert and Harold Cox from the L.C. Adam's Mercantile. Hubert tall, Harold short, but brothers none-the-less. Maybe going to Herb's for hamburger and chili lunch, but probably both headed home where Hubert will be fed a superb meal by wife Nita, who is a great cook. Across the street, did we just see Tommy Johnston going into the beer parlor?? No, it couldn't be.
The morning after Halloween we scan down the street and, look up on the roof of the Adam's building, someone has put one of the old horse-drawn wagons up there.. I ask around, but no one will admit to this "high" crime which occurred right under the nose of the Night Marshall.
That seems to be about the extent of crime in this prosperous, bustling little town of Cedar Vale.
Well, the battery on my Blackberry seems to be about finished, so further videos will have to wait for a while to be on the blog. Enjoy.
