When Santa Claus Comes

Volume 16, Number 47 Thursday, November 30, 2000 When Santa Claus Comes A good time is coming, I wish it were here, The very best time in the whole of the year; I’m counting each day on my fingers and thumbs– the weeks that must pass before Santa Claus comes. Then when the first snowflakes begin to come down, And the wind whistles sharp and the branches are brown, I’ll not mind the cold, though my fingers it numbs, For it brings the time nearer when Santa Clause comes. Author Unknown Page 2 November 30, 2000 911 Franklin Street • Michigan City, IN 46360 219/879-0088 • FAX 219/879-8070 In Case Of Emergency, Dial e-mail: News/Articles - [email protected] email: Classifieds - [email protected] http://www.bbpnet.com/Beacher/ Published and Printed by THE BEACHER BUSINESS PRINTERS 911 Delivered weekly, free of charge to Birch Tree Farms, Duneland Beach, Grand Beach, Hidden Shores, Long Beach, Michiana Shores, Michiana MI and Shoreland Hills. The Beacher is also Subscription Rates delivered to public places in Michigan City, New Buffalo, LaPorte and Sheridan Beach. 1 year $26 6 months $14 3 months $8 1 month $3 unable to get to Indianapolis, but he could fly to Chicago in a plane belonging to the firm which had No Small Plans booked him for the Friday appearance. The plane was by George A. Bowie being sent to Chicago to pick up a company executive. Could we get to Chicago? He would stay at the Ambassador East Hotel. Any postcard or letter which comes to us from rel- Very good. atives in Ireland and tells us of some plan or inten- We canceled the arrangement in Indianapolis, tion the writer has in mind will contain the capital called the Drake Hotel in Chicago, our usual, the letters “D.V.” following such news. These are the therefore familiar place to stay, and it had the Cape first letters of two Latin words which mean “God Cod Room to which we would bring Joe for dinner. Willing”. The South Shore Railroad was operating and we For example: had a neighbor who owned a Jeep. Chicago, here we A postcard from cousin Sheila Bourke of Kilkenny come! informs that come next month she hopes to visit But when I called Joe to tell him of our plans for Margaret and Tony Hall in England, D.V. dinner, he said we three had been invited to occupy What is to be understood from the “D.V.” is that Sheila Booth No. 1 in the Pump Room of the Ambassador East is aware of the possibility that her proposed visit and the dinner would be “on the house”. with her sister and brother-in-law might not happen for some reason and she is prepared to accept the out- come. We should have added “D.V.” to our invitations extended to actor Joe E. Brown that evening in the Polo Lounge of the Beverly Hills Hotel. Jane and I had finished our dinner there and were on our way out of the place when Joe waved to us from the booth where he and wife Kathryn were dining with their guest, actress Frances Farmer. The conversation included news that Joe E. would be coming to Indiana in about a month for a Friday appearance at a corporate pre-Christmas party not far from Indianapolis. He would have the weekend free, so we were quick to suggest he spend it with us in our Michiana Shores home. Joe accepted and we planned accordingly. On the Saturday, we would drive to the town where he would have performed on Friday and bring him home with us. On Monday, we would take him to the air- port at South Bend from where he could fly to his next engagement. That particular Saturday, snow fell on Indiana. There would be no way for a round trip by car. Maybe we could make it to Indianapolis and if Joe could get there, we would visit in that city. We called Joe E. with the plan and he thought it was possible to do, so we arranged for the use of a two- bedroom plus parlor suite at one of the hotels. Before we had packed our luggage, Joe called with information that due to the snow there, he would be November 30, 2000 Page 3 So…off we went in a cab to Joe E.’s hotel and Open ‘til 7 p.m. caused people to wonder who we were, to be dining Evenings with him. Come now to the letter with its very good excuse for getting ourselves to New York City while Joe would be there. He was pleased to learn we would both be coming. He would be busy on the Saturday we chose for our arrival, but would provide tickets to a Broadway wwwElegant.littlehousef Apparelashions.com for the show for that date. Sunday was available for dinner [email protected] Conscious Woman Women’s Apparel and he would be our guest at this certain restaurant we had in mind. We would be his guests on Monday evening for the Godfrey “Talent Scout” show. However, Christmas Savings Sale when we contacted Joe after arriving in New York, he told us that Sherman Billingsley had arranged that our Sunday dinner be served in the step-up Cub Room at his Stork Club with seating at the Number 1 table in view of all customers entering an exiting the main dining area. Once again, we were a source of mystery, not only to the comers and goers passing the arch which framed our table, but also to other occupants of the Cub Room, including Broadway’s King of Siam and Hollywood’s Queen of the ice rink. Billingsley joined us for dinner, suggesting we order the lamb stew, with boiled radishes in it instead of turnips. It was delicious. Host Billingsley gave Jane a gold container of per- fume and I received a pair of red suspenders with “Stork Club” branded into the leather at the back. Most of our talk had to do with answering Billingsley’s question as to how it happened we were acquainted with Joe E. Our first connection had been almost ten years earlier, we told him. In 1943, Joe had granted a favor to the outfit in which I was about to ship out and since I knew nothing at all about loading cargo, I was designated as the per- Koret son to handle the battalion side of the arrangement, Graff including the “thank you” note. Alfred Dunner After the war, when Joe was touring in “Harvey”, 20% off Philippe Marques I caught the show in Chicago and went backstage after- Select Items ward to fill him in as to where we had taken the gear City Girl he had provided for us. We talked also of the loss of Separates his son, Joe Jr., and Joe E. gave me a copy of his book, Your Kids and Mine, dedicated to the memory of his Velour Warm-Ups son. He charged me a dollar for the book, which money would go to the charitable cause the sale of the book supported. Also Storewide Sale 15% off When Joe brought “Harvey” to my then hometown excluding Vera Bradley of Akron, Ohio, I was included among those locals who lunched with him. That evening, I had another look Meet Us For Lunch And A Style Show at “Harvey” and afterward Joe and I shared a late sup- WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29 - RODINI’S, MICHIGAN CITY per in the “Terrace Room” of his hotel. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30 - ROSKOE’S, LA PORTE Our next contact was that which took place in 409 Alexander Street LaPorte, IN 326-8602 Beverly Hills at the Polo Lounge and planned to do On Hwy 35 - 5 Blocks South of Lincolnway what “D” didn’t “V” at all. Turn Right on Alexander Monday - Friday 9:30 to 7 Saturday 9:30 to 5 Thank goodness! Page 4 November 30, 2000 “The Last Dance-A Time to Remember” Tours of the new Middle School/High School under construction on Clay Street in New Buffalo, have been added to the many activities planned for The Last Dance, scheduled for Sat., Dec. 2, from 5 p.m.-12:30 a.m., at the Old Middle School/High School, 222 S. Whittaker St. This event is being held in honor of the old school, which has served the community since 1930. Tours of the new school, slated to open in 2001, will be given on the half-hour from 5-8:30 p.m. Bus trans- portation from the old school will be provided. Betty Turner, co-chair of the event, said, “It’s going to be a wonderful evening of sharing memories with old friends and a time for all to see memorabilia and souvenirs representing the years the school was open.” The Last Dance will feature the live, big band sounds of The Moonlighters from 6-9 p.m., and D.J.s Unlimited from 9 p.m.-12:30 a.m. In addition, “Decade Rooms,” decorated for the period, will give alumni a place to gather and meet with old classmates and friends. Persons with souvenirs from their school days can drop them off at the Superintendent’s office, or Mail Boxes Etc. Any items marked with the owners name, address and phone number will be returned and the “Decades Room” will be hosted throughout the evening. Other festivities include recognition for the oldest graduate attending and prizes for anyone who comes in an original prom dress, cheerleader outfit or sports DICKENSIAN DINNERS uniform.

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