Thompson 341017

Cliffside, Oct. 17 —“Stars Fell on Alabama,” is my favorite of current tunes. I was introduced to it by Carmen Lombardo, brother of the famous Guy, when this well-known band broadcast it their first time. I refuse to listen to this number unless the orchestra is well-rated, therefore it remains top-notch with me. The significance of a simple popular tune is interesting when it has to do with a place, person or some incident. When the music of your popular tune begins over the radio, or at a café or hotel dining room, you immediately recall certain scenes very vividly. “I’ll String Along” and Cocktails For Two have a personal significance for me. “I’ll String Along,” too, always recalls for me black-haired, chubby Jan Garber when he played in June in Charlotte. At the particular time this number was new and grew from a squawking youngster to its present day existence. At lighter moments—I doubtless have plenty—I am a sucker for “St. James Infirmary,” “The Man On The Flying Trapeze” and “I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead, You Rascal You.”

After thinks: When you buy something new, are you ill at ease until that something happens to it which you are sure will? And after that something happens to that something you have bought, are you ready to go on with your normal pursuit of daily routine? That is an experience of mine. At the age of 16 was purchased a new suit [??] In color it was between a light tan and a funny color, as Andrew Love would say. At the last minute, of course, I learned that the trouser bottoms would have to be adjusted. The attempt was made at home. I was putting them into going-to-town shape again by pressing them myself. At the finish, parts of those trousers were so scorched that the fabric flaked and floated in the Carolina breeze…Riding Jack Rudisill’s bicycle once, I stopped against the west wall of the Methodist church here. The handle bars were scratched and slam-banged. What a pal, Jack made no complaint. When my new Iver Johnson came (I learned to ride it on a vacant lot in Spartanburg), Jack came up to see it. (Jack, I hope you were permitted to ride it, but that I do not remember.)…Having acquired a new desk lamp in recent years, it was my lot to see the glass ash tray attachment smashed by a heavy book at random in its direction…My auto-radio would never manipulate correctly; my nose curves to the right; my hats never fit; my razor never shaves to suit; my bridge score resembles a good golfer’s; and this writing probably causes you to wonder why it is printed.

Thin Man’s Diary: All week busy at daily duties in shipping business. Tuesday with Mandy Andy Love and Mac Duncan to “Servant’s Entrance,” a picture at Romina Theatre. In the lobby there I saw the Hoyle Elliotts, Dr. J. S. Rudisill and the W. J. Laughridges. Saturday evening to the bridge party of the Misses Corinne Bookout, Anzie Phillips and Dora Dover, which was a party to Misses Sara Westmorland and Beulah Heafner of Columbia, S. C. There were Alice David, H. M. Raper, the Dr. Harry Robertsons, the Ray Jacksons, Ralph Crawford, Martin Mauney, Amanda Haynes, Broadus Simmons, Emily Hilliard, Alice Carpenter, Arthur Carpenter. Sunday to a young man’s recently-organized Bible class and we look for it to hum with activity. Around town Sunday and talking with Shirley White, Kenneth McMahan, Lytton Proctor, proprietor of Lytton’s, and exchanging chatter with others.

A letter says: “We have had enough about Broadus Moore’s feet and yours.” Frankly, with something big, we try to give the column a kick.