Maxine Lois Elsner (Sylvia) Gretsch

To see an enlargement, click on the image.

To see an enlargement, click on the image.

To see an enlargement, click on the image.

To see an enlargement, click on the image.

M.L.E.
Henderson Farm, Noel. Mo.
Wednesday, August 1, 1928

Dear Dad,

I enjoyed the papres (sic) you sent me today. I read allof them. I noticed in the paper where mother accompanied Mrs. Hurlburt and Perry, to Noel., Fine, Eh? I also see that Mr. and Mrs. Elsner, Paul, Ralph and Maxine, accompinid (sic) by Mr. & Mrs. P. K. Hurlburt and son Perry, Jr. moved to Spavinaw Sunday from Noel. Now which am I to believe? I think we will go home with you Sunday. In other words we will come home Sunday or Wednesday.
the boys both wrote before me so I have nothing to say.
Your Namesake , Daughter, &  and (sic) the only person in the family that lookes like you,
Maxine Lois Elsner
 

In the days before television, recitals were popular entertainment events. This very beautiful announcement printed on parchment paper was circulated for Maxine's recital. The silhouette of Maxine which highlights the announcement suggests that it was Maxine's family who took the lead in preparing this circular. The silhouette was copied from the picture below and the over all design was created by Thomas Korn, perhaps, the son or husband of Maxine's teacher.
Click on the image at right to see an enlargement.

An article saved by the family appeared in one of the city papers.
" Mrs. Thomas Korn will present her pupil, Maxine Elsner, in a speech recital June 15 at her studio, 812 West Fifth street. Miss Elsner is a a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M.A. Elsner, 620 Jaccard place. She will be assisted by Betty Lou Phillips, a violin pupil of Elizabeth Keith. The public is invited to attend.
"Three Episodes" (Draper)- Miss Elsner.
"Air with Variations" (Doncla)
"So Glad for Spring" (Daley), "Rosa" - Miss Elsner
"Kamazur" (Haesche)- Miss Phillips.
"Biller Sweet" ( Seifert)- Miss Elsner

Maxine Elsner and Bernice Payne will represent the school at the district tournament next spring. There will be a contest at the Kansas State Teacher's College At Pillsburg to Strive for the cup which was won by Maxine Elsner last year at Springfield.

Please note, this speech, "The Root" my mother wrote herself. Years later in the early 1960's, her daughter Gretchen ( me) gave the same speech at a contest in New York.
 

Twelfth Night. Ladies in Waiting: Eleanor Blair, Rebekah Blair, Maxine Elsner

Tony Randall, the American comic actor who won an Emmy for this work on "the Odd Couple" also attended Northwestern from 1937-1938. His name at the time was Arthur Leonard Rosenberg. He was from Tulsa, Oklahoma. My mother who had lived for a while as a young girl in Tulsa definitely might have met him at Northwestern. They were both in the School of Speech. He was however, two years younger than she. The archive at Northwestern University has his spiral student notebook from his time on campus. His doodling in the margins show his playfulness in trying to decide on a stage name.
 

She is quite clear about what she wants to do after graduation: radio broadcasting. Perhaps, it is her insistence about pursuing her career which attracted Bill. He was not himself interested in getting married.

Also in the questionnaire I learned that she weighted 120 pounds and was 5 feet 6.5 inches tall. She also states that she has never worked for pay.
 

NB: The following notes are from a paper by Ansel H. Resler, May 1941.

"The history of Northwester University's broadcasting activities has a comparatively early beginning. In !928, Baker Brownell went on the air with his lectures in Contemporary Thought. .Throughout the early 1930's the publicity department of the university planned and produced miscellaneous (radio) programs. ...in these years, the broadcasting activities were of an occasional nature with no stress on continuity of long term programming."

"In 1933, station WENR had carried a series of talks entitled "Twentieth Century Bookshelf". This was a fifteen minute series carried twice weekly from 4:00 to 4:15, and was a discussion of books and evens from the period of 1911-1925. Each week a different professor spoke about the books and events of a different year."

"Also In 1933, Northwestern broadcast a short series entitled "the World of Tomorrow" , described as a glimpses into the future of government, literature, and society". Station WGN carried this series each Thursday evening from 7:15 to 7:30. "

 
In the fall of 1934 NU began to develop more clearly its interest in radio Adult education.

In October of 1934, WGN radio in Chicago ordered and paid for the wire and other charges involved in making it possible for programs from the Northwestern University campus studio located in the basement of Annie May Swift Hall (then the school of speech)  to be broadcast on WGN's radio station. The first program "Reviewing Stand" was aired on October 14.

At the time, Ed Stromberg, the publicity director at Northwestern University wrote " WGN has shown a fine spirit of cooperation. We have been given for our programs very desirable hours, which have been guaranteed for the period of the schedule. In addition ,WGN has agreed to pay wire and other charges involved in broadcasting these programs from out studio located on the Evanston campus."

In June 1935, a contract was signed between University of Chicago, Northwestern and De Paul University establishing  the University Broadcasting Council. Disorganized competition between these local universities was duplicating the form and content of their programming. The University Broadcasting council would address this issue and resolve it. The N.U. representatives were Dean Ralph Dennis from the School of Speech and Ed Stromberg, the director of Publicity for the University.
 

NU Radio Guild Holds Auditions Thursday at 4:30
The N.U. Radio Guild meeting yesterday afternoon in the Student Building arranged audition for announcers, actors and and actresses. Auditions will be held in the basement of the school of speech building.

Twenty five students all professionally interested in radio were present at the meeting. The organization was divided into three groups: talent and production, announcing and continuity writing.  Heading these divisions were Robert Danon, Robert Martin and Gertrude Crippen talent and production; Nick Cy Harrice Announcing; Rod Holmgren and Dorothy McDowell, continuity writing.

At this time Bill Gretsch is working at The Fred Gretsch Manufacturing Company. They have offices at 529 Wabash Ave. He is living at 151 Burton Place in Chicago.

In 2006, Louis P. Cain, the son of Louis Cain and  Mary C. Dale send me this information about his parents' wedding:

"I've checked with my two cousins who attended my parents' wedding as small

children. They confirmed my recollection that it was a small wedding with

family, plus a few school, church, and work friends - perhaps 40 at

most. The wedding was at the First Presbyterian Church in Chicago, with

that church's minister and my grandfather presiding. The reception was at

the home of the bride's brother and sister-in-law, the parents of my two

cousins."

An earlier reference to the Cain family in Chicago can be found in Maxine's mother's travel diary from 1908, Here Maxine's mother, Hattie, describes when she first came to Chicago with her sister Kate and met Lillian Dieter Cain and her family.

"Tuesday June 2, 1908.  Kate and I took the train at 8 o'clock for Chicago to see cousin Lillian Cain. Her husband was at the station to meet us but was too early, so we telephoned to the house, received instructions and went by ourselves. We made our first trip on the Elevated Railway. Cousin Lillian and her two children, Helen and Louis, me us at the Edgewater.  She certainly has a beautiful home. We had luncheon at the Presbyterian Church where her husband is in charge. The church is finished with mission wood. After luncheon Rev. Cain took a carriage and we took the Lake Shore Drive. This is a long Lake Michigan. Then we drove all through Lincoln Park. The park is beautiful. We saw all kinds of animals, birds, flowers  monuments, people and everything. Rushed home, had lunch and hurried to the station. Rev. Cain took us to the Chicago and N.W. and we were again speeding on our way to west Chicago."
 

WELL! WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

" A rose by any other name, etc.; and so, a shapely limb in lisle is just as shapely as in silk-this proves it, for the six attractive sets you see here are encased in threads that did NOT come from Japan. And they won't be until Japan restores herself to the world's good graces, so have sworn their owners, who happen to be Northwestern University co-eds. Who are they? Thumb over quick to page 4."

Top of page 4, Large photo of terrified Chinese
Headline "Chinese in 'Flight from Death' at Shanghai"
" Jammed like sardines, thousands of native residents of Shanghai pour down a narrow street as they flee the death of Chapei and seek the comparative security of the International Settlement. Behind them they left hundreds of victims of the unceasing gunfire of the Japanese troops, who took the great city of Shanghai a few days ago after a three months siege.
 

Page 4 bottom right hand corner:
AND NOW TO MAKE BOTH ENDS MEET
(Click on this picture to see an enlargement.)
"Chapter 2- Northwestern's boycotters of Japanese silk stockings, left to right: Betty Philips, Mary Von Lopik, Barbara Jordan, Dorothy Harden, Roberta Racine and Maxine Elsner. Thirty of the university's sorority girls have banded together in their boycott and hope to enlist 1,500 others. (Besides lisle stockings at two bits a pair are a lot cheaper.)" ( Evening American Photo.)
 

The picture appeared in a section entitled "Campus Parade." "College Humor pays $5.00 for pictures like these. Prints must be on Glossy paper and accompanied by details and return postage"

I wonder who sent this picture into College Humor? I wonder who earned the five dollars.

The magazine was sent to Charlotte, Maxine's oldest daughter by Paul Elsner, Maxine's oldest brother in 1986.

 

All the telegrams which were saved were found carefully safely stored inside a manila envelope.

On the outside of this very old file folder Maxine had written " Bill's Mass Cards".
The Mass Cards did not survive.

Perhaps my mother (Maxine) discard the Mass cards when she decided to save the telegrams in their place.
Or perhaps someone else after my mother's death in 1964 decided to save the telegrams and not the mass cards.
The telegrams were sent to me by my sister Katie circa 1995.
 

This telegraph also tells us that the couple are keeping in touch and letting each other know their whereabouts.

We can assume that since they first met a little more than two months ago, they have been spending time together.

Telegrams from Bill arrived at Maxine's sorority house, 628 Library Place, every two or three days over the next few months.

I remember a story that Mary Curtis, my mother's college roommate told me. My mother and father had decided to meet in an hotel lobby. My father was very fond of my mother's blond hair. My mother decided to play a trick on him. She and her friends changed her hair color to dark black. They did it as I remember with mascara. Macara was a think coating of dark that was applied to the eyelashes to thicken the lashes.
When my father arrived at the appointed hour, he did not recognize my mother and keep looking around for her. It was very exciting because usually it was Bill who was playing the tricks on eveyone. This time he had been had!
Perhaps, this was the meeting in the Congress Hotel Lobby that she played the trick on him.
 

April 1

"Gretsch Missionaries at Music Educator's Convention" in St. Louis. Pictured here in an article from Piano Trades Magazine, are many people who will play a big role in Maxine's life in the coming years. Including Bill Gretsch, Duke Kramer, Mrs. Arthur Neu  and Mr. Neu.
Thank you Fritzie Kramer for sharing this clipping with me.
 

"ARRIVING COMMODORE VANDERBILT THURSDAY LOVE & KISSES= COMMODORE VANDERBILT JR."

May 8

Joplin Newspaper Clipping reads:
Personals: Announcement has been made that Miss Maxine Elsner, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. M.A. Elsner, has been initiated into Phi Beta, national honorary speech sorority, at Northwestern universtiy in Evanston, Ill.

Walter Dill Scott was president of Northwestern University from 1920 until 1939.
Actually, Walter Dill Scott was well know for his personnel selection methods which included tests to measure certain desirable characteristics and rating scales to rate applicants on necessary skills and attributes (appearance, demeanor, neatness, judgment, accuracy).
So Bill was very correct in his use of Walter Pill Scott to critic Sylvia's behavior.
 

Sylvia must have been really mad at Bill. First she slams the phone done and then she obviously hurt him.
 

Obviously, Sylvia did not go to the wedding of Bill's friends. The Mahoney's became good friends of my mother. The wedding was at South Shore Country Club.
(insert picture)
Date is written on back of picture but not clear.
 

Was this the first time that Bill meet Sylvia's parents?
Note the telegram was sent to Maxine and not Sylvia. Perhaps, he was trying to endear himself to her parents by not joking about their daughter's name.
 

Click on the image for an enlargement. You may have to also magnify the image.

This poem was found among Maxine's papers. Did she write the poem on her father's business stationery, or did her father write it or did perhaps, Fred Graves whose name appears on the letter head write it. This strange poem entitled "Pillars of Society" was submitted to "Pictorial Review" a magazine based in New York. The repetitive beat of the poem is reminiscent of the German troops who are marching across Europe at the time 

This poem can be read is a stern indictment of how unfeeling men can be. Or it can be read more naively in praise of men. It should be noted that Maxine's father was a member of the Kiwanis Club which is mentioned in the poem.

Perhaps, this was written by Max and his daughter found it and kept it.
 

this telegram paints a pretty lively picture of what the Gretsch boys were up to in 1939.

The Gretsch company gives a party for their new salesman, Duke Kramer. Note in this picture Margaret Mitchell.
Thanks Fritzie Kramer for sharing this picture with me.

At this time, Bill's cousin and his wife, Ted and Kay Clauss were both working at the French Pavilion at the World's Fair. They had something to do with the selling of musical instruments there. Bill must have been spending lots of time at the Fair, doing advertising for the business there.
 

April 11, classes resumed at Northwestern.
 

Have you secured a position following graduation? No.

Honors,scholarships Awards: member of Phi Beta, honorary professional speech and mucis fraternity, Member of Alpha Psi Omega, honorary speech fraternity
First Prize, Oratorical contest, Lindenwood College, 1937.

Maxine would have been well aware of this because Bill would be very much involved.
Jed was born as was all of his following siblings at Brooklyn Hospital. He was delivered by Dr. Winfield Stumpf whose father with the same name was a medical missionary in China. Kay had once dated this doctor who delivered her babies.
 

President's Reception at Deering Library ( 2006, The University Archive is Deering Library)
7:30 p.m. Bacculoriate Service at the First Methodist Church.
8:00 p.m. Band concert.
8:300       Illumination Ceremony. Deering Meadow was too wet for this traditional ceremony. It was held in the Great Hall of the Methodist Church
 

A picture accompanied this article with the caption: Line side bass caught on ELk River newa Henderson Camp by Max. A. Elsner of Joplin, Mo.

Noel, Ozark Press, July 1939 is written in long hand across the clipping.
 

 (early June)

Dunkirk, British troops evacuate from France.

The Battle of Britain begins.
 

There was so much going on in the world of radio. Radio is what Maxine trained for and dreamed of all her life….no wonder she and my father disagreed over her career…she wanted to work in radio, he no doubt wanted her to stay closer at hand…..she was off to Texas after her job at Webb City was over….she would search for a job in radio.

Perhaps, she saw herself working in radio in a different place than Witchita Falls, Texas. Perhaps, she had more of a world view. But the situation with her parents might have forced her to settle in Wichita Falls with her mother for the moment. Perhaps, this is the crux of the stress between my mother and her mother on the streets of Kansas City in this same period.

Knowing this about Edward R. Murrow and his radio addresses to American, and seeing my mother as  a young college graduate gives a little more clarity to the situation my mother was in, in the summer of 1940. Her desire to work in radio was large, the world situation opened up lots of opportunities and her family situation, her parent split forced her to curtail her ambitions for the moment.

She left her job in Webb City teaching High School speech and debate. But intstead of being off to see the world, she went to Texas with her mother, her aunt and her grandmother, to comfort her mother. Her father had gone off with another woman perhaps.

She took a job (in June of 1941) at a local radio station ( KWFT). She would sharpen her radio skills in that small Texas station.

But what was she doing all this time between her job in Webb City which ended in June 1940 and the time of writing radio copy in March of 1941. Living already in Wichita Falls with her grandmother and mother?
 

In the theater section of the same magazine, a long article Mantel of Barnum described  the new Michael Todd Theater Cafe which has just opened in Chicago in the old Rainbow Ball Room which once housed the high priced French Casino during the Chicago World's Fair. Below is a picture of Bill and Sylvia at this "hot" new nightclub. It is located on Clark street between Lawrence and Ainsle.

Michael Todd was 33 years old at the time. He had just recently run four of the biggest and most popular shows at the New York World's Fair. Described by TIME as a "showman" worthy enough to wear the mantel of PT Barnum. Michael Todd would go on to marry Elizabeth Taylor, find the wide screen process of Todd A-O and finally die in a plane crash in the early 1960's.
 

(Click on the image to see an enlargement.)
Bill and Sylvia with friends including Tiny Hoff and his wife at Michael Todd's Theatre Cafe located at 4812 Clark Street, Chicago. It was billed as the world's largest night club. It seats 3,700 people and has a 400 foot balcony bar.
 

Note that Mr. & Mrs. W.E. Carden sent an undated graduation card to Maxine, either in 1935, 1937 or 1939. The card suggests that the Cardens and the Elsners were at one time friends.

Note that Hattie is clearly stating her address as 1821 Collins while Max is writing in his February S.S. application that they are married.

Hattie must have decided to stay in Joplin while Max went to California. Later, in the year, Hattie would join him there.

Sylvia is in Joplin with her Grandmother and her Aunt Kate. The war must have been their main topic of conversation. Imagine, Grandmother Dieter's distress to know that we were going to war with Germany again. She sill had at least one sister living there and many nieces and nephews. She and Katie visited as recently as 1936.
 

I remember hearing previously from my mother I think, that my Dad did not like her working in Texas. He wanted her closer to him. So her being fired was "big news" for their relationship.

Pictures suggest that they were together earlier in the year in February. Perhaps, they were having lots of phone calls and meeting in person often so that telegrams were necessary. Or perhaps, their arguments around my mother working in Texas has "split" the relationship and now they were beginning to come together again.
 

( This was from Lucille Jacobus who was good friends with both Bill and Maxine. She obviously wanted Bill to know that Sylvia was coming to town. Bill was obviously home for Christmas.)
 

Dear Families,

In the first place, congratulations, Dad on your job which is one hundred percent wonderful! I was thrilled to death when I heard about it, and I know every one else was too. That's really a tidy sum of money to make, and I;ll