{"id":570,"date":"2009-10-14T14:45:42","date_gmt":"2009-10-14T21:45:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gertrudeandalice.com\/blog\/?p=570"},"modified":"2011-11-16T09:44:30","modified_gmt":"2011-11-16T17:44:30","slug":"theyre-here-captain-24-oct-1933","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gertrudeandalice.com\/blog\/2009\/10\/14\/theyre-here-captain-24-oct-1933\/","title":{"rendered":"They're Here, Captain – 24. Oct., 1934!"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a few days, October 24th to be exact, marks the 75th anniversary of \u00a0GertrudeandAlice’s arrival in New York City for the beginning of their six-month U.S. lecture tour. \u00a0I’ve mentioned the tour several times in previous posts, so instead of rehashing some of the details again, I thought I’d present the tour in verse.
\n <\/strong><\/p>\n

Though initially a Berlin-based, Baby Boomer, two of the icons of my Illinois childhood were Captain Kangaroo and Dr. Seuss. \u00a0I wanted to be Captain Kangaroo when I grew up and wanted to write books like Dr. Seuss.<\/p>\n

One of the things that The Captain often did on his television show was to read a picture book, paging through the book as he read as if \u00a0you were on his lap and he was reading to you. \u00a0I don’t remember if Bunny Rabbit or Mr. Moose took part – certainly not Grandfather Clock who was undoubtedly asleep.<\/p>\n

\n

\"The

The Captain and Bunny Rabbit<\/p><\/div>\n

So, several years ago I began a series of stories about GertrudeandAlice with an eye toward The Captain reading them and Dr. Seuss politely giving a nod of approval to my rhyming efforts. \u00a0Each story incorporates actual historic facts about their lives though liberties are taken with the rhyming scheme. (For anyone who remembers scanning poems in English class, the meter in some of these stanzas is not perfect.)<\/p>\n

Let the tour begin!<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

GERTRUDEANDALICE AND AMERICA<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

In a large flat in Paris, that\u2019s well-known to this day,
\nLived two ladies who\u2019d moved from the U. S. of A.
\nThis pair, GertrudeandAlice, loved their paintings a lot,
\nAnd the works of Picasso were especially hot!<\/em><\/p>\n

One morning or closer to noon, on that rue,
\nWhile having their tea and some treats with a view,
\nAlice said in a tone that was firm and sincere,
\n\u201cWe must pack for a trip, \u2018cross the ocean, my dear.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Teatime

Teatime at rue de Fleurus (Paris, 1922)<\/p><\/div>\n

You know that it\u2019s time to again see the States,
\nI think that an awe-filled new land there awaits.
\nYour \u2018Alice\u2019 bestseller has opened new doors,
\nWe\u2019ve people to see, some great and some bores!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cDear Pussy, dear Pussy you do pull no punches,
\nAnd you are so precise with your latest hunches.
\nIt is thirty quick years more or less, it is true
\nSince we each saw the States and they saw me and you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

So a plan was begun, suits were ordered in France,
\n(Though now in the States some \u2018new\u2019 women wore pants.)
\nThe lectures and teas were arranged for Miss Stein,
\nWith guest lists of 500, \u2018no more please, that is fine.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

Most things were in order, but a question arose,
\n\u201cDon\u2019t they eat different there, some odd things, I suppose?\u201d
\nA friend sent them a menu from a place in New York,
\n\u201cLooks just fine to me Pussy, I see oysters and pork.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Soon they boarded a ship, the Champlain was its name,
\nAnd they met crowds of people who had heard of their fame.
\nBut the Big Apple\u2019s welcome was more grand than could be,
\n\u201cSee Alice dear, dear the reporters are all waving at me!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\"SS

SS Champlain<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cMiss Stein, oh Miss Stein, say a sentence complete,
\nWe\u2019ve heard much of you and the words you repeat.\u201d
\n\u201cI may repeat words, repeat words till the end,
\nBut they\u2019re never the same words, the same words my friend.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The lectures began in the East and went well,
\nSo they planned to come back for a bit longer spell.
\nAt schools students had questions and were put to the test,
\nBut left feeling quite smart, then the tour headed west.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/p>\n

\""Testing

"Testing rose, rose rose, rose!" (NYC, 1934)<\/p><\/div>\n

Their first ride in a plane proved for both so sublime.
\n\u201cBut Lovey, dear Lovey, you\u2019re sure that all\u2019s fine?\u201d
\nDown below from the plane through the wispy-cloud air,
\nIt looked like their art from a way, way up there.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/p>\n

\""Coffee,

"Coffee, tea or Pablo?"<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cYou see through the mist, Pablo\u2019s shapes in his style!\u201d
\nMiss Stein loudly exclaimed, gave a laugh, then a smile.
\n\u201cYes, I see them too dear, this is really such fun,
\nLet\u2019s tour all of the States from these seats near the sun.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Big city Chicago offered lots to explore,
\nIn the theater 4 Saints in 3 Acts and much more.
\nSince she fancied the gangsters, Gertrude asked for a ride,
\nIn a cop car with siren and patrolmen inside.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"The

The Ladies Who Lunch (Chicago, 1934)<\/p><\/div>\n

Back East Eleanor R. gave a tea for the two,
\nFDR was not there\u00a0 –\u00a0 had a cold or the flu.
\nTrips South were a joy with New Orleans a treat,
\nAnd at every new stop there was plenty to eat.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/p>\n

\"So

So many books to sign (New Orleans, 1935)<\/p><\/div>\n

One morning, not sure just where in the Land,
\nMiss T. looked a bit sad, the week\u2019s schedule in hand.
\n\u201cNext we tour California with much there to do,
\nAre we ready for faces and places we knew?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy Paris is home though our roots may be here
\nSo on with this trip, we have nothing to fear!\u201d
\nThe Hollywood stars came with stories to share
\nWith these ladies whose fame was now beyond compare.<\/em><\/p>\n

In San Francisco they got the city\u2019s gold key,
\nAnd in Oakland for Gertrude there was no there there to see.
\nAll the lectures went well, all the papers kept track,
\nAnd soon it was time for the two to head back.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Home

Home away from home, April 1935<\/p><\/div>\n

From a New York hotel where the tour had begun
\nWere Gertrude and Alice recalling their fun.
\n\u201cYou know Lovey, it\u2019s over, our trip is complete,
\nWe\u2019ve criss-crossed the country by air and by feet.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYes Pussy, we\u2019re through and you know I must say
\nThat I hadn\u2019t expected such a welcoming stay.
\nBack to Basket, to Pablo, to rue de Fleurus,
\nIt\u2019s time for a break, time to loosen these shoes!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

When packing was done Alice gave a big wink,
\nThen walked over to Gertrude, \u201cYou know what I think?
\nOur trip to America was no trip to the past,
\nIt\u2019s a trip of new memories that always will last.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/p>\n

\"A

A young admirer<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s it dear Pussy, you\u2019re so right, so concise,
\nWho we saw, what we saw, makes our life oh, so nice.\u201d
\nBack in Paris old friends, art and dogs filled the bill,
\nBut the trip to the States was forever a thrill.<\/em><\/p>\n

In a large flat in Paris that\u2019s well-known to this day,
\nLived two ladies who\u2019d moved from the U. S. of A.
\nThis pair, LoveyandPussy, what to say as a close?
\nIt\u2019s because of these two that a rose is a rose…!<\/em><\/p>\n

“And that’s that.”<\/p>\n

Said the cat in the hat!<\/p>\n

\"YellowRose3\"<\/p>\n

\u00a9 <\/strong>Hans Gallas 2009<\/p>\n


\n<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

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In a few days, October 24th to be exact, marks the 75th anniversary of \u00a0GertrudeandAlice’s arrival in New York City for the beginning of their six-month U.S. lecture tour. \u00a0I’ve mentioned the tour several times in previous posts, so instead of rehashing some of the details again, I thought I’d present the tour in verse. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":69,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[42,60,169,197],"class_list":["post-570","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-historic-facts","tag-captain-kangaroo","tag-dr-seuss","tag-pablo-picasso","tag-ss-champlain"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gertrudeandalice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/570","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gertrudeandalice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gertrudeandalice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gertrudeandalice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/69"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gertrudeandalice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=570"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/gertrudeandalice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/570\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3466,"href":"https:\/\/gertrudeandalice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/570\/revisions\/3466"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gertrudeandalice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=570"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gertrudeandalice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=570"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gertrudeandalice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=570"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}