In an earlier story on James Michael Curley we met Kate and Matt Jameson, a couple in their early 20’s. We also met Kate’s aunt and uncle, Kelly and Brendan McGrath, a sophisticated, successful and well-connected couple in their late 40’s. As we saw, Kelly and Brendan were mentors and role models.
The McGrath’s lived in and worked out of Boston, but spent considerable time out of town, especially in New York, Chicago and L.A. They had urgent business in Manhattan; and since it was the Jameson’s first anniversary, they asked them along to check out the nightlife.
The story that follows is part two of four episodes experienced on one not-soon-forgotten night in mid-1950’s Manhattan. A few years back, one of my relatives, a skilled diarist, showed me the stories to use as I wished. They are a poignant look at New York nightlife from a bygone era. Adaptation of style is limited; the story lines as originally written remain the same.
Toots Shor spotted Kelly and lumbered toward her, broad face grinning, arms wide like a gorilla on hind legs. He flashed Brendan a wink as he sized up Kate. She slid her shoulder behind Matt while murmuring, “If that big ape tries to maul me, I’ll sock him in the jaw.”
Matt said, “Good thirties-movie hatcheck girl.”
Partially overhearing, Toots said, “We don’t have a hat chick, but we do have a hatcheck boy.” They roared right along with him, Then, with a head jerk to the right, “Joe’s back there.” Brendan nodded, and Toots led them past the packed and noisy bar to a quieter room. And there sat Joltin’ Joe alone with a drink and cigarette. Years later, Kate and Matt saw a photograph of DiMaggio on the wall of Charlie O’s, a midtown restaurant. He sat in the center of a group and was looking into the camera. The caption read: “I drink to make other people interesting.”
DiMaggio greeted Brendan and Kelly fondly and invited them to join him. After introductions and a round of drinks, DiMaggio’s first comment was, “So, Brendan, I see Ted’s still hitting.”
“About as good as ever, amazing at his age.” Then DiMaggio asked, “Have you seen Marilyn?”
Kelly answered, “No, is she in town?”
Studying again at the Actor’s Studio; I heard she read or played Blanche in Streetcar, don’t know how it went.”
“I’ll bet she was good,” Kelly said. “I can see her in the role. A little young but has the right tools. I think she’s vastly underrated and will grow into a fine dramatic actress given the right parts.”
DiMaggio looked down, stirred his drink, asked Mac about someone we didn’t know, and they talked quietly for a few minutes. Under the clinking of arriving drinks, Kate said to Kelly, “I think I’m in love with Joe DiMaggio.”
Kelly, in a flawless, cello-voiced Eve Arden take-off said, “Eat your heart out, honey, I got my bid in first.”
Kate’s laughter swung the conversation back to the group. Matt asked DiMaggio if he missed playing. Joe smiled and said, “Yes, but I sure don’t miss the travel.”
Kate said, “I saw you hit a line-drive homer into the center field bleachers at Fenway in ’48. It bounced back onto the field.”
“You had to hit them up there so Dom couldn’t catch them. I remember that one, off Denny Galehouse, I think. Joe McCarthy beefed that it didn’t go in.”
Kate said, “It just cleared the wall and cracked off a seat. I was a few rows away.”
Matt said, “I saw a game in the ’49 series at Fenway when you came out of the hospital and had four homers and a bunch of RBI’s in three games. With that layoff, how did you time great fastballs like McDermott’s and Parnell’s?”
“Luck, and I probably kept some timing watching games on TV.”
Mac said, “Muscle memory that ended the Red Sox season.”
DiMaggio grinned and said, “Something like that. A few fat pitches didn’t hurt either.”
The waiter handed DiMaggio a message. After he glanced at it, Brendan said, “We’ve got to get going, Joe.” DiMaggio asked Kelly and Brendan to give him advance notice next time since he wanted to have a meal with them.
DiMaggio’s handshake with Kate was a little long for Matt’s taste. Kate conceded later that it was her hanging onto DiMaggio’s hand. “I thought your heart belonged to Ted Williams.”
“There’s something about New York, I could get used to this.” They continued their stroll . . .
(To be continued in Part Three: Stork Club; Sherman Billingsley; Walter Winchell.)
Richard J. Noyes, former Associate Director, Center for Advanced Engineering Study, Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a consultant to public and private sector organizations.
Noyes is the co-author with Pamela J. Robertson of Larceny of Love, a provocative print and eBook novel that traces the interwoven careers of three men in jeopardy (one of whom is a professional pitcher who experiences sudden, extreme, unexplained, career-threatening wildness) and the unforgettable women in their lives. http://amzn.to/u0LtvX http://bit.ly/upp8hX (Nook) http://bit.ly/v1qaGe (Google e-Books)
“Whenever dramatic storytelling about people you like is created around business, sports and film, I'm a happy reader. I'm sure you will be as well.” –Kevin Marcus, Sotheby Vice President
Another recent print and eBook by Richard Noyes and Pamela Robertson: Guts in the Clutch: 77 Legendary Triumphs, Heartbreaks, and Wild Finishes in 12 Sports, with a Foreword by Drew Olson of ESPN. http://gutsintheclutch.com/
“The best compilation of fascinating sports stories I have read.” -David Houle, Emmy and Peabody Award-winning producer of documentaries on Hank Aaron and the Harlem Globetrotters.
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