Across the USA, 1967
23rd July. Sunday. Went into New York
and had dinner at Barbara’s, she’s
most attractive, has a wonderful 10
roomed flat, everything in very good
taste & enjoyed myself very much, her
husband most interesting, he was
educated in the “Sorbonne” and lived
in Paris for 8 years. Came home, got
comfortable, Francis came in & didn’t get
to bed till very late.
22nd July Saturday. Met Alice & [Laurie?]
in New York, and saw fiddler on the
roof, a splendid show indeed. Then we
all went to the Piccadily Hotel for
dinner, which was excellent, came back
to Elizabeth, and finished the evening
off at Alices.
[The original Broadway production of Fiddler started in 1964, transferring to The Majestic in 1967. The role of Tevye, which made Topol famous in the film version, was initially played by Zero Mostel in the Broadway production. I don’t know who would have been in the cast on this evening, but most likely Tevye would have been played by Paul Lipson, stage actor. Golden Girl Bea Arthur was also in the original Broadway cast.]
21st July. Friday. Went to the
corsettiere and was fitted with a
wonderful girdle and bra, which has
made a great difference in my figure,
came home, had lunch, then went to
the beauty parlour, and had the
works, went shopping then went home for
dinner, later on Blanche & Barney, Sadie &
Beryl came in, and had a lovely evening.
20th July. Thursday. Off again to New York,
straight to the U.N. building, waited in
a queue for 2 hours to get into the
assembly rooms. Earphones in every seat,
and everything is translated in 5 languages.
A great hush and the President addressed
the meeting, asked if any delegate had
anything to say, the delegate from
Ireland got up and proposed an
adjournment till to-morrow at 2-30, this
was unanimous, so that was that, what
a disappointment for everybody. Came
out and had lunch in the U.N. cafe,
wrote some cards, and then went into
town, saw a most hilarious picture
“A guide to the married man, never
laughed such a lot for years, what a
cast, could see it again, then
went in for tea, and back home to
Elizabeth, arrived tired by happy.
Had dinner, and am settling down to
do some writing.
19th July Wednesday. Back again in New York
where Nellie, Mildred and I saw “Man
of La Mancha, it was really great,
not everybody’s cup of tea, but certainly
ours, afterwards we met Michells’ Blanche [?]
and all went to dinner, what a wonderful
person she is, afterwards took a stroll
through Greenwich Village, then back to Elizabeth.
[Man of La Mancha was a Broadway production, the original 1965 production ran for over 2000 performances, and won multiple Tonys. A later film starred Peter O’Toole]
18th July. Tuesday. Arrived in New York
before noon, met Millie’s friend Ethel,
took a bus to the United Nations Building
and it is certainly wonderful, there
wasn’t any session on, but took a
tour with a guide, a most charming
young girl, she explained everything and
everywhere to us, would have missed
it for anything. As the session is expected
to start on Thursday at 11.30 A.M. hope to go
again.
Tuesday 18-4-67
Dear Anna,
Am here with Millie, it certainly is a wonderful place.
Love from all,
Mummy
17th July. Monday. Nellie, Millie and I
got busy packing Millie’s vallice,
and it was a good job done, and as we
intend going to New York to-morrow had
an early night.
[The plan had been to stay in Elizabeth for two weeks… presumably the riots changed that.]
16th July, Sunday. Very quiet day, everyone
glued to the telly, violence is spreading
and hope it keeps away from Elizabeth,
Irvington was threatened, but the rioters
were forced back.
[Like many in America, Minnie’s experience of the riots was principally through television. There is a documentary film about the riots: “Revolution ’67“.]
15th July. Saturday, had a lazy morning,
intended going to Newark for the afternoon,
but the riots broke out, and Newark
was sealed off. The shooting, fires and
looting was shocking. Barney not knowing
of the trouble went to call on his customers
and was extremely lucky to get back home
without any harm.
[The Newark riots of 1967 actually started on the night of July 13th, inflamed further by shootings on the 14th. By the end of the riots, 26 were dead (including one police officer and one firefighter) and over 700 injured. The riots have also appeared in a range of books, films and television programmes – as backdrop or as focus]
14th July Friday Spent the morning in
Brooklyn & went to Elizabeth after lunch,
where I was met by Max. The family
came home from business, we had dinner
then Blanche & Barney came and spent the
evening here.
