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About Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 1950)
Lucille Ball Dud When It Comes To Door-to-Door Salesmanship By BOB THOMAS Hollywood, Feb. 15 W) What happens when a movie star poses " as a door-to-door eller? In Lucille Ball's case, she flopped flatter than a doormat. The carrot-topped actress will play the. title role in "The Fuller Brush Girl." Since realism is the keynote in Hollywood now, she got in training for her parte by being a residence, retailer of cosmetics. Not only did she meet buyer resistance she had trou ble giving her wares away. She picked out the area of North Arden street in Los An geles for her research. I tagged along. Also three studio em ployes, a photographer, Miss Ball's hairdresser and a studio chauffeur, Lucille slung hfr cosmetic kit over her shoulder and strode up to the first house. She rang the doorbell and tapped her foot impatiently. A housewife stuck her head around the door. "How do you do," said the ac tress, "I'd like to show the new line of cos ". "Sorry, I've got some friends I'm entertaining. I don't have time." Tiwt ended the interview. We tried the next house. This time the saleswoman identified herself as a face appeared at a peep hole in the door. "How do you do, I'm Lucille Ball and I'd like to show you the new line of ." "Can't see it now," was the answer and the peep hole clos ed. "She was stark naked," re ported Lucille. The next three residents fail ed to answer the doorbell. Lu cille decided to try her luck ac ross the street. Still no answers. She went back to the original side. She finally had some luck with a little old lady, with a barking dog. The lady admitted being a sucker for salesmen, adding that had "boxes full of brushes in the basement." She accepted a box of cosmetics and tried to pay for it. "It's free," said Lucille. The next old lady wasn't as cordial. She looked bored as Lucille made her spiel. "Would you accept this sachet as a gift?" said the actress. The lady looked at it suspi ciously. "This don't obligate me to buy anything, does it?" she asked. Lucille assured her it did n't. A young housewife appeared at the next door. She apparently recognized the actress and ac cepted the gift, but had to re turn to her two young children. When we finished the doorbell-ringing, Lucille admitted she was rusty. .' v. "I haven't done this since . I was a kid," she said. "I used to lead around a blind man who sold toiletries. I was a girl scout Spud Scandal Blame Placed Washington, Feb. 15 () Ev erybody except the farmer, says Rep. Horan (R., Wash.), can be blamed for "the high cost and maladministration of the federal orice support program for potatoes." "Why," he said today, "the po tato growers have done every thing the government asked, and more." "If you want scapegoats," he told a reporter, "there are plen ty. Blame science for ridding po tatoes of insects and rotting, for fertilizers which resulted in fabulous yields per acre. "Blame the reciprocal trade program, through which 12,500, 000 bushels from Canada are aded to our domestic supply. "Blame the department of ag riculture for delaying a full year before reducing supports after the growers suggested it. "Blame dieticians, for scaring millions of women out of eat ing wholesome and nutritious food. "Blame all the people who pack, store, haul and sell pota toes for the rising costs of every part of the marketing process, "Blame the folks who refused to add observance of soil con servation practices as a require ment for price support qualification." "But," he concluded, "don't blame the farmers." Ronald Wood Quits Silverton Mortuary Silverton Ronald Wood, as sistant mortician to Ernest R. Ekman for two years at the Ek- man Funeral home, is announc ing his resignation from the firm effective on the return of Ek man from San Francisco. Wood has not revealed his future plans, though he has had several offers to consider. and that was my good deed." She also added that the north Arden area wasn't the best for selling things. "It's better to get out in the housing projects where the women listen to soap operas and have four kids run ning around," she said. "There you can really sell.' Anyway, I hope she does bet ter in the picture than she did in real life. Einstein Sounds Warning Note Dr. .Albert Einstein (above), warned that building the hydrogen bomb makes possible "the radioactive poisoning of the atmosphere and hence annihilation of any life on tarth." The noted scien tist made his statement in New York, on Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt's first television show. (Acme Telephoto) Mishap Results in Blindness; Stayton Woman Courageous Stayton A courageous story of how she has overcome great handicaps has been compiled into a little booklet, "Hoppy's Story," by Mrs. Hettie Hopkins, copies of which are being offered for sale in Stayton at the Baldwin and Stangeby dry goods store. Mrs. Hopkins was severely burned in a fuel oil explosion while DreDarine supper at her tarm home near Stayton, uctoDer zi, 1945. Although able to see wnen the bandages were removed from her head at Christmas time following the accident, severe pains and blurring soon lelt her in complete darkness as a re sult of destroyed nerves. A student at the Oregon Serv ice Center for the Blind In Port land, Mrs. Hapkins has met courageously the handicap of her GOP Likened To Bashful Chap Washington, Feb. 15 W) Rep. Ellsworth (R., Ore.) says the re publican party has been a good deal like the bashful chap who winks at his girl in the dark. "He knows what he is doing," Ellsworth said, "but no one else does." "It seems to me the only seri ous failure of the republican party is its inability to get its ac tions and its philosophy prop erly and acurately publicized,' Ellsworth told a reporter. Society Will Meet Falls City The Free Me thodist Missionary society will be held at the home of Mrs, Phoebe Ward Thursday after noon at 2 o'clock. blindness and limited use of her hands which were so badly burned in the accident- Braille and typing have been taught Mrs. Hopkins who did all of the typing for her book let. The booklet sells at $1 each and there are many people in the area who will be interested in learning her story and what she is doing to rehabilitate her self. Proceds from sale of the book lets are to be used toward es tablishment of a gift shop which Mrs. Hopkins will conduct. If enough money is raised from the booklets, the shop will be hers entirely, and she will not have to pay a percentage to the Blind Center. SORRY FOLKS! Please accept our apologies The above "picture tells the story better than a thousand words," there must have been a Decker sale when the famous Chinese gentleman wrote that pro verb, there certainly was nothing more spectacular. Hundreds, yes thousands, of people poured thru our doors and packed the store to a point where we were unable to serve everyone. Hundreds were turned away. For those of you who "lost out" the first day we have arranged a treat, yes sir down in the basement is case after case of brand new merchandise never unpacked. We are going to work all night if necessary and put this mountain of goods on the display tables. First come, first served. It's yours for just a fraction of it's true worth. Bring your shopping bags, shopping carts and wheelbarrows, you'll want to carry home the whole store, we warn you. DECKERS 237 N. LIBERTY ST. Stephen Foster Actually Visited Suwanee River, Natives Claim Tallahassee, Fla., Feb. 15 U. Inhabitants of the picturesque Suwannee river country In north Florida dispute the denial that Stephen Foster ever saw the river which his immortal song made famous. Rather, all up and down the fabled stream, people will tell you where he stayed in 1852, f- when, according to the state li brarian. W. T. Cash, he is sup posed to have stopped at a small hotel run by the Hardee family in the now extinct cotton town of Columbus. That's where the Withlacoochee empties into the Suwanee. Some will point at other plac es where he stopped overnight during a two-week tour of the river. People along the river would rather accept the findings of their state librarian than the de nial of the Foster family. Cash is more cautious in his claim than are the folk of the Suwanee country. He concedes he hasn't proved Foster ever was on the river but declares "there's a 50 per cent chance he was there." His files contain a letter from Mrs. Albion W. Knight, the wi dow of an Episcopal bishop, who lives at White Springs on the upper reaches of the river, an antebellum resort of consid erable swank. Bishop Knight of ten spoke of his mother seeing Foster at the Springs, his widow relates. Another story out of the fabled past leads to the very willow by the stream where Foster is supposed to have med itated. Like Cash, Mrs. W. A. Sand ers of White Springs, a member of Florida's Stephen Foster Me morial commission, has been an indefatigable seeker after the elusive document needed to prove definitely that Foster saw the river. And she tells a story of a trunk full of Foster letters that burned. It might have con tained the authentic document. Considering all the circum stances, she feels it is "perfectly natural that he would have wanted to see the river." She points to a period of wandering in Foster's life which easily could have been the time when so many people on the river say they saw him. Cash has been told that there Capital Journal, Salem, Ore., Wednesday, Feb. 15, 1950 3 is an item in an old New Orleans newspaper reporting that Fos ter and his wife travelled by ship from that city to Cedar Keys, Fla., in 1852. The Columbus hotel story has been corroborated by various people in the Suwannee coun try. Old timers in the valley re late that the legend of Foster's visit was commonly accepted on the river in their childhood. There it is, fact or fable, as you wish. But in the Suwannee valley, it is fact. Newspapers War on Rackets Chicago, Feb. 15 The big business of organized crime and the leaders in the various rackets were the targets for the opening blasts Tuesday by newspapers in many of the nation's major cities. The expose of the shadowy op erations of rackets in the United States by newspapers in 14 cities was planned at a three-day meet ing here last week by their crime reporters. They exchanged in formation on the various rackets and organized crime leaders and planned a series of pooled arti cles. The stories appeared as feder al and local crime law enforce ment agents from across the country planned a crime confer ence in Washington. The meet ing today follows the annual closed-door session of the na tion's federal district attorneys. Other newspapers which did not take part in the conference currently are developing and printing searching articles and series on the country's organized crime. One series is being published by the Hearst newspapers. The Chicago Sun-Times is printing a series based upon investigation by five of its staff members. Dragna Held For Cohen Bomb Los Angeles, Feb. 15 W) Po lice early Tuesday rounded up five gang associates of Jack Dragna, named by Gov. Earl Warren's crime commission as Mickey Cohen's top rival for control of the rich southern Cal ifornia rackets. Dragna, named in the report as a chieftain of the Mafia, se cret Sicilian underworld socie ty, also was sought but eight officers of the police intelligence squad had not found him. Four of the five picked up today were relatives of Dragna, including his son, Frank Paul, 26. The others were Tom Drag na, 61, a brother; Frank, 28, son of Tom; Louis, 29, another son of Tom, and Guilermo Adamo, 54. All listed themselves as in the banana and grocery business. They were booked on suspi cion of conspiracy to commit murder in the recent bombing of Cohen's horfie. Capt. Lynn White, in charge of the intelligence section, said: "The Dragnas are the top Ital ian mobsters on the west coast and are in close contact with the Mafia. The entire mob has been under police scrutiny for the past nine months." Look for it on the cover of February CHARM! CRARJV1 for spring, the many-purpose suit CP Never before such versatility in a suit! Your accessories change its personality from office chic to dateline charm! Jeweled buttons glitter on the gorgeous fabric. Juilliard's worsted Juillateen ... a trio of triangles act as pockets! Tailored to curve as you curve, to flatter as you've never been flattered before! Sizes 10 to 18. $59.95 Exclusively at REMEMBER . . FEBRUARY 1-2 Court at Liberty ms -Mm OPEN FRIDAY NITE 'TILL 9 O'CLOCK YOUR LAST CHANCE TO SAVE $1750 to $3750 At The J. J. CLOTHES SHOP 2 sudt SALE Of 1 & 2 TROUSER SUITS SALE ENDS SAT., FEB. 25TH AT 5:30 P.M. BUY ONE SUIT At the regular price. Then select any other suit for Vi regular price. OR SELECT JUST (1) SUIT AT 20 OFF The Regular Price Following It a list of Our REGULAR 1 AND 2 TROUSER SUITS $35-$39.50-$45.50-$47.50 $50-$55-$60-$65&$75 Buy (1) at these regular prices, then select another suit at Vi these regular prices, or select any single suit in the store at 20 off the regular price. For the remaining days of this sale we have included a large selection of new Spring Suits just arrived. Sizes to fit all, Regular, Short, Stout and Tall. Every suit made of finest quality 100 wool, hard finished worsteds, expertly tailored by highest paid union craftsmen, every wanted pattern, color, weave and slyle. SALE ENDS SAT., FEB. 25TH AT 5 30 P.M. EXTRA SPECIAL 100 WOOL GENUINE GABARDINE TOPCOATS Genuine Cravcnctte'Rain Repellent All Weather Long Life Dress Topcoat . . . Just Received a Delayed Shipment YOUR CHOICE NOW 2950 Regular Price $45.00 I f You'll Find It Pays AH Ways to Buy Tour Clothes at J.J.'s Salem's Quality Clothiers for Men and Young Men Open Friday Nite Till 9 O'Clock J. J, siIophes 387 2 DOORS WEST OF LIBERTY ST. Next Door to Harrmans Jewelry Store State Street