Letter to Cathie from Ford Killen

Letter to Cathie from Ford Killen

Writes how he was delighted by her telephone call on Christmas Eve. Writes of his tasks and activities on New Year's Eve. Mentions the record is on its way and describes his recording equipment. Mentions song on radio. Hopes to get a recording of her voice. Received her photograph. Mentions his future plans.

1947-12-31

Two-page typewritten letter

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NEW YEAR’S EVE, 1947-48

My dearest darling Cathie:

I’ve been walking on air since Christmas eve when I received the telephone call from you …. what a delightful experience …. it was one of the big events in 1947 for me -- the biggest I should say ….. what a wonderful day …. a day to remember forever and ever ….

Let me tell you about tonight …. I am working; charge of quarters in Base Headquarters on this night of all nights …. I don’t suppose I’ll ever get any breaks … we draw CQ -- all sergeants -- here in the Wing Hq. and it comes around about once every forty days. The last four times I have had it on a weekend and now on New Year’s Eve. You see, honey, weekend CQ is 24 hours long and nobody likes it. But I’ve got the radio on and Buddy Clark, America’s new foremost singer is singing “Made For Each Other” and it gives a very nice background. Now he is singing “Don’t You Love Me Anymore?” …..

The record is on its way …. I didn’t airmail it because after I put it in a record album its weight was more than 2 pounds and at 70 cents an ounce ,,,, that’s 32 ounces times 70 cents or $21.00. I think your prices are not so dear. Bunny Boyd, the librarian in the hospital here on the base, played the background music …. the piano isn’t so hot and there are flat keys, but she is really a wonderful pianist. She started out with White Christmas then she went into London Bridge when I spoke of London, then into “Always”, finally into a hot number when I describe two people jitterbugging on the streets, Then on the final side she plays Love Walked in …. and ends up with -- guess what -- I'll be loving you always ……

Darling, they have a wonderful recording device in special services at the hospital and it is mine anytime I want to make a record …. they just received a carload of blank 12-inch records …. I’m glad to know that I can use it. I took some pictures of the officer there and his broadcasting equipment for the paper; now I am “IN” and can make a record anytime I want to. But this was the first time I was ever before a microphone …. I made several mistakes which you will note in the record, but for my first attempt I think I did quite well …. and you just remember as you listen to it that you are the thespian in our future family …. and that I am the writer (?) I put so much feeling into the script, but when I go to read it, especially when there are about 15 persons around me …. one officer holding the mike; Bunny playing the accompaniment, and a lot of curious onlookers peering over my shoulder, I couldn’t help but be nervous …. and several times the officer holding the mike would get his hand in my way and I couldn’t see my lines ….. so paused ….. I’ll try to make the next one better. I am expecting a really super-duper one from you in reply. You with your acting ability should be able to put together a real Ziegfield or Hylton producton [sic] … or is it George Black who whips up the musical extravaganzas in England?

The radio now offers HOW SOON, the new tune … which is no 2 all over America … How soon …. how soon will I [deleted] [indecipherable word] [/deleted] be seeing you ….. I can’ see your star-eyes gleaming … don’t mind me if I’m dreaming …. tell me darling how [deleted] lo [/deleted] ….. how soon?

[page break]

Honey, you know I will have a record that I can play over and over agai [sic] …. that will serve as a substitute until the REAL you comes along ….. I can hardly wait …. I’ve gotta hear that “Limey” voice of yours …… Until I heard you speaking to me the other day, I had just about forgotten that you did have an English accent …. but it was so nice to hear, to be reminded that you are English ……

Hone, has your father got any pull? I mean influence; so that if we don’t like it over here too well, we can always go back to England for a few years …. if you think I could get a job there. English and American journalism are so different I don’t know if I could fit in as a journalist there. But something wherever your ather [sic] is working ….. that’s just a maybe though ….. I don’t think I’d be happy out of the newspaper business.

Darling, the 3 minutes seemed like thirty seconds … so very very short …. darn that operator, why did she have to cut us off? You know I was so calm until the moment the operator calls me to tell me the overseas operator wants me …. then I get so nervous I could hardly talk …… but what a wonderful feeling …..

I received your photo …. I still say they shouldn’t glamourize you; hide all your natural charms behind paint and mascara …. don’t get me wrong sweetheart, I loved the photo and it occupies the No 1 spot on my desk …. but I’d like to get the neck of the photographer between my hands … for making you a glamour gal …. maybe you are a glamour-puss? Are you dear …. I remember a big-hearted, sweet, fresh girl, with none of the reserve of the story-book English …. Funny isn’t it dear, how I expected all English women to be about six feet four inches tall; vveddy [sic] veddy [sic] blonde and veddy [sic] arrogant …. with their noses turned to the sky ….. how wrong ….

About an hour has passed since I began this short letter; and I’ve had a dozen telephone calls.

This Saturday I’m going to New York to see Jusith [sic] Anderson’s Medea which is getting the raves as the best play on Broadway …. I’m going to see it before she exhausts herself and has to quit the cast. They say that the audience as well as the cast is exhausted at the end of every performance … that she screams, claws bellows, kills, bites scenery and every melodramatic cliché that is known, but for once Greek tragedy is a success here …. several … including Mourning Becomes Electra, have failed …. Kat Konnell’s Antigone failed, but she is a success now in Antony & Cleopatra …..

Today is payday and I’m putting away another $50 toward that day …. its slow but sure this way … and it shouldn’t take too long …..

For now, dear, I’ll say aue [sic] revoir and the best … the best of everything during this new year … and I’m selfish enough to hope that it is the bst [sic] for me -- that you get over here this year ….

Give my sincerest regards to your family, your friends where you spent Christmas, and all your friends in the play ….

I’ll be loving you always ….

Always,
Heathcliff