Spitball Army

Face bloodied and ashen, he rests on a lance planted immovably amidst the carnage of adversity. All for an extra $1.50 an hour.

[Written to Alice c/o Helen M., Encino, Calif. San Fernando Valley. Return addressed: Richard, Plt. 622, R.D.M.C.B., San Diego 41, Calif. Postmarked in San Diego, Calif., on 22 July 1944 at 11 AM.]

July 21, 1944

Hi Sweetheart,

     I’ve only got a few minutes. I love you. I’ll tell you what, I’ll just come out to the house when I get there. That will make it easier. I hope I’ll see you the 29th at 17023 Potter St.

     I tell you what you do. Send me those directions as to how to get there again. PRINT the names of the streets and all important things so there won’t be any mistakes. See you as soon as I can possibly can.

     Goodnight Sweetheart.
          I love you with all my heart.
               x x
                    Pleasant Dreams.
                         ‘Nite
                              x x

 

I love you.
     See you soon, I hope.

She, the sustainer of disinherited customs, stands patiently at the Waffle House door, waiting for her husband to open it for her.

– Written by @FOFOEOCOCO.

Card is titled: “Giant Casket in Crystal Caverns, Strasburg, VA.”

Printed description on back of card:

GIANT CASKET IN CRYSTAL CAVERNS
Strasburg, Va.

Weight probably fifty tons.  This huge rock is supposed to have dropped from a crevice overhead, caused by an earthquake ages ago.  The lid is entirely separate from the casket, and has the appearance of having been placed there, as the different sections are clearly shown.

Postcard is addressed to Mrs. Emil Blomquist, Jeanerette, La.  Postmarked in Strasburg, VA, on 4 August 1935, at 4 PM.

Written text on back of card:

I find that Mary Davidson has married & lives in town.  I had a good rest here & perhaps I go to Front Royal tonight.  Love, B.T.

In Alabama, we drive to work on the Korean War Memorial Highway, replete with ruts and debris to simulate the experience.

[Written to Alice c/o Helen M., Encino, Calif. San Fernando Valley. Return addressed: Richard, Plt. 622, R.D.M.C.B., San Diego 41, Calif. Postmarked in San Diego, Calif., on 17 July 1944 at 12:30 PM.]

July 16, 1944

Hi Sweetheart,

     I’ve just got time to tell you I love you. I’ve got a lot of work to do yet tonight. We leave at 6:30 in the morning and come back Thursday. I’ll write as soon as I can after we get back.

     Good night Sweetheart.
          I love you with all my heart.
               x x
                    Pleasant Dreams.
                         ‘Nite
                              x x

 

I love you.

 

Oh yes, how far from L.A. is Encino?

–  Val Lewton: The Man in the Shadows (2007)
This is one in a growing series of documentaries made with the involvement of – in this case, voice-over narrated by – Martin Scorsese (No Direction Home; The Last Waltz; A Personal Journey Through American Movies). Scorsese is passionate about film history from all periods, but seems to have an affinity for movies of the black-and-white era, especially “pulp” or “B’ movies. Hands-on producer Val Lewton gets the treatment here, and the narration takes a Freudian approach in its cinematic analysis (appropriately connecting the unconscious to the thriller/horror medium), while chronicling Lewton’s battles with the studio system, as well as his struggles to hone his artistic identity. If you have only seen Lewton’s 1942 Cat People (likely the most famous of his films), this documentary will have you adding other Lewton classics (I Walked With a Zombie; The Body Snatcher; Bedlam) to your rental queue. The doc is loaded with clips from Lewton films, and interviews with Lewton’s son, Val Jr.; auteur Roger Corman (who just received a Governors’ Award at the 2010 Academy Awards); and Robert Wise.

Here is a scene from the Robert Wise-directed The Body Snatcher (1945), featuring Boris Karloff and Henry Daniell:

Huddled in a jackdaw congregation beneath the overpass, they clutched their spoils in black plastic bags within the ravenous dark.

[Written to Alice c/o Helen M., Encino, Calif. San Fernando Valley. Return addressed: Richard, Plt. 622, R.D.M.C.B., San Diego 41, Calif. Postmarked in San Diego, Calif., on 15 July 1944 at 12:30 PM.]

July 14, 1944

Hi Sweetheart,

     Well, where are you now?  I hope you are at the address on this envelope.  How was the trip out?  You’ll have to tell me all about so I can enjoy it with you.

     There has been a few things happening around here the last couple of days.  We signed the payroll and guess what I get? — I owe the government 88¢ for my first 6 weeks training.  Can you beat that!!  I sure wh would like to know how they figure it, but there is no way I can find out.  Maybe, I’ll get more next month.  I should get at least $5.00 more.  I shot Expert.  I shot 311 out of a possible 340 points.  I was 6th high in the platoon.  Oh yes, and the last thing.  It’s the biggest one of the three.  I may get Mess Duty after we break up.  I hope I don’t get it though.  The ones that get the duty aren’t the ones that don’t do so good.  They just go down the roll and say, “I take him.”  The duty lasts for 30 days.  What I would like to know is what will you do if I get that duty?  I hope I don’t get.  I’m planning on seeing you at the L.A. station 2 weeks from to-morrow.  About the only thing I can tell you is to wait until you get a telegram from me telling when and if I get in L.A.  You see, I won’t know definitely until the 29th.  I get you word at Encino as soon as I can.  If I come, you will have about 3 hours or so to get to L.A.  That’s about how long it takes on the train.  Have I made it so there won’t be any mistakes?  Your next letter, you tell me what we’ll do so there won’t be any mixup.  O.K.?

     I see you soon, I hope.

Goodnight Sweetheart.
     I love you with all my heart.
          x x
               Pleasant Dreams.
                    ‘Nite
                         x x

 

I love you.

 

Spring comes: I break out the rock & roll CDs. The wintry duets of scratchy gamba and wheezy pump organ go to the bottom shelf.