Author: Nichelle Barra Page 7 of 12

23 Feb 1945

Friday 23 Feb 1945

Went to school. Worked after school. Then went over to the ice cream store + got a Sunday. When I came out I met mom coming home from the hosiply. Got Betty Hatton, Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Laraine Day, Richard Carlson, Lana Turner, John Hodiak. Went to the show and saw Earl Flynn in Strange Glorgy. Sent out 15 more movie stars.

*Quick note: I looked up what movie she could be referencing and found nothing. I’m assuming she meant Errol Flynn, not Earl, as there is no Earl Flynn in the movies at that time. There was a film called Strange Glory about Abraham Lincoln that came out in 1938 but there is no name close to Earl Flynn listed in that movie. Maybe she meant Uncertain Glory as the movie?

24 Feb 1945

Saturday 24 Feb 1945

No school. Put up my hair + cleaned the house up. Went over to Ames church saw Martin play basketball. Went over town. Went to Town Club. Had a lot of fun. Mike S. actually talked to me. After Town Club, Hines, Frankie + I went to Old Fellers danced with Frankie, Hines, Bud, Bobbie Brown, Tillie, Lillie. Had a wonderful time. Got home at 2:10. The girls stayed all nite. Put up my hair + laughed in bed.

25 Feb 1945

Sunday 25 Feb 1945

Didn’t go to sunday school. Got up at 10:0o. Ate breakfast. Bud + Bobbie came over + we danced, Frankie went home. Hines stayed. Hines, Tillie, Lillian, Bobbie, Bud, Frankie, Bob, Lillie + I went to the Court saw Four Jills in a Jeep. Was it wonderful. We took Hines home. I took a bath + put up my hair. Listened to Take It Or Leave it.

26 Feb 1945

Monday 26 Feb 1945

Went to school. Martin gave me his picture and I’ll always keep it. Had an assembly. Also a booster’s meeting. Malin [Martin] had to sit next to me. hubba hubba hubba. Worked after school. Walked home with Bob + Jack H. Got a picture today of Tom Drake. Sent out 28 more stars. Listened to Lus + Gild Theather**. Bud came over + we danced. Had a lot of fun. 

**I am not sure what this is supposed to be. I’m assuming some sort of radio show or maybe even a band but I couldn’t find anything that resembled this. If you know, feel free to leave a comment!

My Response

I LOVED the hubba hubba part in the diary. It made me laugh out loud. And all the dancing! I didn’t know Grandma was so into dancing but I am not in the least surprised. She always had a love of music (especially big band) so I’m sure she was also a big dancer. I loved that she had girl nights where she spent the night laughing in bed after a night out dancing, and then the next day there was more dancing. These entries made my heart happy for my youthful grandmother 🙂 I am also going to see if I have a picture of Martin somewhere in my stash of pictures I was given when both her and my grandpa passed. There were several of people I don’t know – this could help with a mystery picture!

19 Feb 1945 Monday

Went to school. Played in the noon home against the 104’s. We beat them the score was 12 to 15. At eight o’clock I went to Agnes Church to a party played volleyball + other games. Had Cola Cola + donuts. I fell down + sprained my ankle. Mr. Tonkin brought me home.

20 Feb 1945 Tuesday

Couldn’t get up my foot hurt to much. Finally I crawled down the stairs. But mom said I couldn’t go to school. But in the afternoon I went. Had a basketball game. Juniors won 15-18. Seniors lost 22-12. Took a bus home. Got my move star, Van Johnson, Bob Walker, June Allyson, Phyllis Thaxher, + Katherine Grayson.

21 Feb 1945 Wednesday

Went to school. Had a sub in English. Worked after school. Got home + I had a picture of Arturo de Cordova. It pained all day. Had to walk home from school. Went to the Court with Chase + Hines. Frankie couldn’t go. Saw Higher + Higher with Frank S. Got out + it was still raining. Put up my hair.

22 Feb 1945 Thursday

Went to school. I’m beginning to hate Aud. Had a S. S. test probably got a E. Worked after school then went over + saw Dad. Frankie + Pat went with me. No mail today. Sent out 13 more movie star letters. Mom went to the hosipily. I listened to the radio. Dick + Betty came over for a while. Put up my hair + went to bed. Going to give Hines my Van Johnson

My Response

Sprained ankles are never fun. I know from the diary and stories she would tell me that she walked all over the place when she was this age. I’m positive that the pain was a secondary thing to the not being able to go anywhere. Even school! I do love the slight rebellion of going in the afternoon after her mom said to stay home. I also did not know that she loved Frank Sinatra either. My sister is also a huge fan and is going to love that connection. 🙂

15 Feb 1945

Thursday 15 Feb 1945

Went to school. Didn’t take gym. Had an assembly gave out letters. I didn’t get one. Worked after school. Didn’t go to volleyball. Came home study my Science. Burrow Buds record the songs are “I Dream of You” + “Saturday is the Loneliest Night” Listened to the radio. Got a note from Tonkin. Wrote her back. Am going to give her mittens back. Put up my hair. 

16 Feb 1945

Friday 16 Feb 1945

Went to school. Worked after school in 116. Got a at 4:00. Read my new book “Silver Chief.” Went to Dick + Betty’s took care of the kids while they we to the hosipily with mom. Came home + put up my hair. And read for awhile.

17 Feb 1945

Saturday 17 Feb 1945

No school. Got up at 10:00. Read most of the morning. Went over town + got Mary Jean’s birthday present. Then went to the hosipily with mom. Went to Mary Jean’s birthday party from 6:00 to 10:00. Had a wonderful time. Missed Uncle Dick + Aunt Anna. They were up for a little while. 

18 Feb 1945

Sunday 18 Feb 1945

Went to Sunday school. Went to the show at the “Michigan” + saw “Gyspy Wildcat” with Jon Hall + Maria Montez. also Irish Eyes Were Smiling with Dick Haynes. Came home listened to the radio programs. then put up my hair and went to bed.

My Response

It sounds like Tonkin and Grandma had a fight. The note and response with giving back Tonkin’s mittens seems like it anyway. After all, why wouldn’t they have just called or stopped over each other’s house? It really seems like teenage girls are the same in every generation!

The Saturday entry is also the first mention of aunt’s and uncle’s from Grandma. I know there were lots of them – her mom was one of seven as is her dad. I had wondered about her aunts and uncles with her dad in the hospital as well. I do hope that in future entries he’ll come home and maybe Grandma will say why he went into the hospital in the first place!

Sunday 11 February 1945

Went to sunday school. Bob went to Flint. Mom + I went to the Temple + saw “Mrs Parkington” with Greer Garson + “Walter Pigion.” It was pretty good. Went up to see dad for about 20 min. Mom, Dick + Betty went to see dad I took care of the kid. Took a bath + put up my hair. Listened to the radio.

12 Feb 1945

Monday 12 February 1945

Went to school. Don’t remember what I did cause I forgot to write in my dairy until Feb. 14 1944. I worked on my job after school in 116. Working for Miss Dulong. Put up my hair and went to bed.

13 Feb 1945

Tuesday 13 February 1945

Went to school. Worked after school. Went over town with Hines to buy valentines couldn’t find anything. Mom went to the hoppily. I stayed home + made valentines + wrote them. I made some fudge. I didn’t put enough coco in it. Mom came home + put up my hair. Warped up Miss Murtz’s box of candy for Valentines.

14 February 1945

Wednesday 14 February 1945

Went to school. Heard Arthur Hill beat Saginaw High 30 to 20 something. We had our Valentine’s party in 114. We had cake, ice cream, fudge, pop, and prestals. Played games. Went to the basketball game at Central. Juniors won. Seniors lost 30 to 12. Mom went to the hospily stayed home did my soc. sci. + listened to the radio. put up my hair.

My Reponse

I love that you went to the movies with your mom. After talking to my aunt and dad, I got a much better impression of her relationship with her parents. She adored them. That made me very happy to know! And is that fudge that you got all over your journal? It looks like something chocolate.