I believe there was a short lived TV program out a couple of years ago called “20 Good years.”
It was about two guys at age 60 who figure they may still have 20 good years left and all the things they still want to do before their time comes. It was supposed to be a funny show – probably targeted at guys our age, and there are a lot of us. There was also a movie with Jack Nicholson called “The Bucket List” with a similar theme.
I have the same thoughts, but I figure I don’t have 20 good years, maybe just 10 or so.
You know, if we continue to say “I’ll get to it sometime,” that sometime may never happen. We’ve lost four or five of our classmates the last couple of years who didn’t have those 10 years. They joined the other 57 who passed on before them who didn’t even come close.
A few years ago (even before I heard of the TV program and movie), my thinking started to change. I guess it’s happening to all of us that turned age 70 and looking at the clock. I admit I have been guilty of putting off a lot of things, so I’m trying to play some catch up.
So far I have had an interesting couple of years. I’ve been putting off going fishing for the past 10+ years – so I finally did it. Last year I got in the car, started out I-44 to Steelville, MO on the upper Meramec and headed back into the woods where I fished years ago as a kid with my Dad and Uncle. It was a bright sunny day. The water was pretty cool but not much of it, but that was all right. I parked the car on the gravel bar, got out my fishing gear and started wading upstream.
I suddenly discovered I almost forgot how to cast and ended up with my line half way up the bank on the first cast. It took another half dozen casts before I got it down. I ended up catching a dozen or so fish, all pretty small, but that was not the objective. The point was I was doing something that I wanted to do putting it off for way too long. I was by myself, on the river in the great outdoors doing something I really enjoyed.
Boy did I have fun.
I had been putting off something else for over 50 years (would you believe) and started doing something about it this year, but it was too late. I knew my entire life that my mom had a first cousin who was in the movie business. His family moved to Hollywood back in the 1930s. I always figured I’d meet Bill Lechner some day, but kept putting it off - until about two years ago.
I have been to Los Angeles, Torrance and Hollywood a number of times in the 1980s on business trips, but never gave it a thought try to find Bill. When I went hunting for him a few years ago (2005), I discovered he died in 1994.
I found this out from the Internet movie database (www.imdb.com) when I looked him up. I was really bummed out. I put it off way too long.
Bill appeared in more than 43 movies and TV shows over the years. While he never made it to the big time, he made a living off the movie, TV and advertising industries. His claim to fame was during the early 50s when he played the role of Johnny in the Johnny & Lucille in their merry Oldsmobile commercials. Remember “Come away with me Lucille, in my merry Oldsmobile?”
I bought several of his movies recently and was able to capture a photo or two of Bill, one with Betty Grable.(Click on Photos to Enlarge)
Incidentally, my recent effort was to get us caught up in our family genealogy. I was about to give up, but thought I’d try to contact his wife. I also thought I better not put this off as I’m guessing she’s getting up in years and I’ll miss another opportunity.
I sent off a letter that was eventually forwarded to her and we made contact. I’ve had several interesting conversations with his wife, Helen, with some interesting stories about Hollywood and Bill’s career. I’m now trying to find a source of the “Johnny & Lucille” GM commercials.
I was introduced to Bill’s nephew, John, who also had some interesting stories about Bill Lechner. Bill’s 10 good years ran out. I hope mine don’t.
Remember, just 10 Good Years
About 12 years or so ago, I was chatting with my sister on the phone. During the conversation, she asked if I knew that our old Uncle Frank was friends with Irving Berlin. And that Berlin had written letters to Frank and they were in the possession of our cousin, Marilyn. And that Berlin had shipped a box of sheet music to Frank that was also in Marilyn’s possession.
Needless to say, I was surprised. Well, more like shocked. When asked who told her this, she said it was confirmed by our dad. Unfortunately Dad passed away a couple of years before. I teased her asking why Dad didn’t tell me. After all, I’m the oldest.
So for the past 10 years, this was something like an Internet rumor. I just put off contacting Marilyn for confirmation thinking that I’ll get around to it some day.
Somewhere along the line, it hit me that I was missing another opportunity to learn more about our family. Irving Berlin . . . and our Uncle Frank. Wow.
Then I thought of my missing the boat in not contacting Bill Lechner.
I picked up the phone and called Marilyn. She’s in her 80s and is well into her “10 Good Years.” She may not be around by the time I’d get to her. I asked her out to dinner to talk about our family genealogy. I also asked her oldest daughter, Mary, to join us figuring I may need some help convincing Marilyn to share this valuable information.
During dinner, I shared the rumors I’ve heard over the years and put them into questions.
- Did Uncle Frank know Irving Berlin?
- Did Berlin write Frank and did she have the letters?
- Did Berlin ship a box of music to Frank and does she have the box?
The answers to all three were “Yes.”
After dinner we went back to her place to look through many old family photos, letters and miscellaneous documents. Marilyn brought out a small silver box about the size of an old cigar box. She took out a stack of letters and slowly unfolded them handing them to me one at a time.
I suddenly found myself holding a letter addressed to Frank thanking him for distributing their music in the St. Louis area and signed as “Irving.” I couldn’t believe I was sitting there holding a letter signed by the greatest song writer in our history.
Marilyn had two letters signed by Berlin along with a half dozen signed by Ted Snyder. I found out later it was Ted Snyder who gave Berlin his first job in the music business back in 1909. Over the years, they collaborated to write and publish many songs. One of the letters signed by Berlin was on the letterhead of the Ted Snyder Music Company. Berlin eventually became a partner in Snyder’s company .
One of the songs Snyder wrote was called “The Sheik of Araby.” It’s believed his greatest song was one called “Who’s Sorry Now.” Remember that one?
And what did Berlin write? He produced over 3,000 songs during his lifetime. Several of his most famous included:
- God Bless America
- White Christmas
- There’s No Business Like Show Business
- Alexander’s Ragtime Band
- Annie Get Your Gun (his most successful Broadway musical)
Now the BIG question is, “How did our Uncle Frank become acquainted with Ted Snyder and Irving Berlin?”
The first letter to Frank was from Snyder dated 1910. The 1920 Census shows Frank working as a foreman at the brewery. One of the letters from Irving to Frank was dated 1930.
Frank died in 1950 when I was 13 years old. I remember him well. Frank was always working on cars during the 40s when cars were hard to come by. He was always fixing them up and selling them.
Frank was my Grandmother’s brother, my Dad’s Uncle and my Great Uncle.
I only wish we had been sitting around Marilyn’s kitchen table many years ago. Frank’s wife was still alive then. My dad was still alive. We probably could have pieced this puzzle together a lot easier.
Today, I may have 10 good years left – if I’m lucky. Maybe I’ll be able to learn a lot more about Frank Kauffmann.
Hmm. I wonder what the next year will bring, much less the next 10. How about you?
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