And now for a little historical fiction...
It seemed a little warmer than it had been as I walked up Main Street, though Camino had seen some snow only days before. After following my wife’s orders to pick up the Hormel chili at Raley’s (two for thirty-five cents), I ran into the new manager of the Empire Theater, Bill Beach, who was putting up posters for the new movie, Model Wife, with Dick Powell and Joan Blondell. When ever I see him he always has a big smile for me and a hearty, “How you doin’ Jimmy!” I stopped to say hello and ask Bill how his new job was going. He told me that he also had a Donald Duck to go along with the picture. Too bad I didn’t really have time to catch the show during the two days he was running the cartoon because Donald Duck is my favorite. Too much was going on that week. It’s amazing how only the week before there was peace and this week we were at war with Japan and Germany both.
Bill told me all about plans for the the following Monday kiddie Christmas matinee of cartoons and a visit from Santa to be sponsored by the Eagles Club. This reminded me that I had a few minutes to pop into Cash Mercantile to maybe find a last Christmas present for my wife, June. As I walked back down to the store, I heard a piano student across the street, above Wadell’s, from Emerie Rudland’s studio. I recognized the tune as “I Only Have Eyes For You.”
While I was poking about Cash Mercantile, I overheard a sales lady talking to another woman that Mrs. John Miller received a wire that her daughter was safe in Honolulu and was “doing overtime at Fort Shafter.” Apparently the girl was safe. How interesting that a girl from Placerville had been in Hawaii on Sunday and experienced that extraordinary event. I can’t begin to imagine what it was like, but I was sure thinking about it a lot all week.
The kids at school were all very worried about what would happen next as Principal Larson called an assembly in the auditorium to listen to the President speak over the radio Monday. District Attorney Henry Lyon was there to speak while we were waiting and to try to calm the students and tell them not to fall into hysteria. Henry Lyon is the chairman of the County Council of Defense. The day before we were all shocked to hear about the attack in Hawaii and now we were going to get the full story as President Roosevelt came on the air:
Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 — a date which will live in infamy — the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu. Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation. As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory. With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph — so help us God. I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th,1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.
We all knew war was declared, but it was something again to hear the President say it on the radio and for the school to all be in the auditorium together to hear it live. What did all of our plans for the week matter when we were at war? And yet, we could not let the Japanese cause us to freeze up and take away our way of life. No, life must go on as usual as best it can. We had a Christmas program planned with the band and Glee club and Dorothy Clark’s original play, “The Other Shepherd,” to go on Thursday night. I walked up to Gladys Veercamp, the general chairman of the Christmas Festival, and said to her, “I don’t think anything should stop us from going on with the Christmas program Thursday.” Gladys agreed wholeheartedly, spoke briefly to Principal Larson and then made the announcement to the students that the El Dorado High School Christmas Festival would go on, which was news greeted by cheers from the students.
The President’s address was on Monday and then on Thursday, the day of our show, the news said that Germany and Italy had declared war against us too. Now it’s complete, the entire world is at war and life as we know it is changed forever. However, none of this stopped us from giving our performance and the auditorium was packed. The school band opened with “Chantique de Noel” and then launched into “American the Beautiful,” and I would lay money down that there was not a dry eye in the house––at least there wasn’t a dry eye anywhere near me and June pulled a hanky out of her purse. “I’m not going to get through this very well, am I?” she half joked.
After the band played “At Christmas Tide,” Professor Talbot walked on with his Glee club––the boys looking very dapper in blue blazers and red bow ties. John McNie was on the chimes and the Glee club did a very nice “Deck the Halls” as well as a few other Christmas songs. The audience was very appreciative and then June and I strolled around to visit with people during the intermission. All anyone could talk about was the war news, boys joining up with the armed forces, and wondering what would happen next. We all agreed that it was nice to have this holiday event to keep us occupied and feel the solidarity of our community, but none of us could keep our minds off the events in the news.
I excused myself to check back stage and make sure the crew for the play was ready to go. I found Dorothy Clark biting her nails and suggested there was nothing more she could do but to go out in front and watch. “But how can I, Mr. Edwards?” she said, “I’m much too nervous––this is my first play.”
I told her that since all the actors were in their place, rehearsed and ready to go, that there wasn’t anything more she could possibly do, but to just let fate take its course. “That’s not very reassuring, Mr. Edwards,” returned Dorothy. “I’d better stay back here and watch from the wings or I might make a scene.”
I gave the kids signs for good luck and then headed back out to my seat as Mrs. Veercamp was blinking the lights.
For the second half we had Dorothy’s play, an original and modern act commemorating the Nativity. Edith Thompson sat in the wings as prompter because one boy was a last minute replacement and didn’t have his lines down cold, but the troupe did a nice job. Burly Ray Lunley was Joseph and I chuckled because I never thought that kid would ever dare to step on stage. He is a star on the football field, but who knew he could be such a natural actor? He was convinced to do it by Margaret Brown, who plays Mary and I think the two have a rather serious crush on each other.
Donations at the door went to the Red Cross, which was a perfect choice all things considered. The Christmas Festival was a nice program all the way around and everyone was quite happy with it. June and I went down to the Blue Bell afterwards for pie and coffee with Rose and Larry. Behind the counter the radio was going and in between songs was the constant repetition of the war news. Nothing was new, but somehow we were all interested to hear it and would quiet down every time a news report came on. We heard that some 1500 were killed at Pearl Harbor.
Saturday, June and I attended the Shakespeare Club’s Christmas concert with choir and the first concert of the season by the Placerville Philharmonic Orchestra. They played serval classical pieces conducted by Evelyn Farrell. George McKee was soloist and sang a beautiful “Oh Holy Night.” The Sacramento Junior College choir made an appearance too. They are a great big choir with a rich sound that gave me chills. Before hand, we tried for dinner at the Raffles Hotel, but the dining room was full with the Miners’ Association. I peeked in and there seemed to be a full house, which means there was probably sixty of them. They were voting to save Coloma’s historical assets. We ended up walking past the Empire to the Nugget Cafe for dinner. George from Placerville Hardware and his girl were leaving as we walked in the door and we chatted a bit. George filled me in on the good news that the Cougars won the basket ball game over Nevada City Friday night. After filling up the tank at Richfield’s we drove over to the Shakespeare Club for the concert. The Christmas lights were quite nice everywhere and for the moment, the world seemed normal and at peace.
June and I decided that for Christmas day we would catch the matinee of Joan Crawford and Robert Taylor in When Ladies Meet at the Empire and then drive up to Strawberry Lodge for their $1.50 full course dinner. For New Year’s Eve we’ll be joining Larry and Rose for the Native Son’s dance at the Odd Fellows Hall––the Frank Dames Orchestra will be playing. We’re all trying to go on as normal and we will, but what is going to happen to us all...to the world? I sure hope and pray that our military can handle a war with Japan, Germany and Italy, but it is hard to imagine how when the allies are in such trouble right now. Perhaps our combined forces will prevail. I know they must!
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