Ida by Olympia Simonetti Normandy
The following highlights of Ida Normandy’s trip to California were transcribed exactly as written by hand in the diary of her California vacation from June 30-August 18, 1963.
Sun. June 30 Left NY, got to Encino, California to the Gottliebs. Had a barbecue with all the family.
Mon. July 1 Claire took Rose and I to look at some new homes.
Tues. July 2 Claire took us to Knotts Berry Farm. Very interesting. I loved it!
Thurs. July 4 Sam, Rose, Terry, and I, drove to Santa Barbara’s mission. It was about a 2 hour’s drive. Very interesting. Then drove 35 more miles to Solvang, a Danish town, and had dinner there. On the way home, I felt my cold getting worse.
Fri. July 5 Today I’m medicating my cold, have a bad case of laryngitis.
Sat. July 6 Claire took us to Griffith Park Zoo.
Mon. July 8 Claire drove us to Hollywood to the Chinese Theatre to see all the stars’ footprints. Then we drove to Beverly Hill to see beautiful sites.
Tues.July 9 Claire, Rose, Dubby, Janet and I went to the Farmers Market, the most beautiful display of fruit in the world! I took quite a few pictures. Then I met a television actor, Jack Lord, who played Stoney Burke in the TV series by that name. He gave me the honor of taking a picture with him!
Wed.July 10 Rose had her women friends to come in to play bingo and I was the winner!
Thurs.July 11 Just got up at 8:30 and had french toast and coffee. I gained 2 lbs and now must take it easy. Claire took us to Malibu to the Sport Fishing Pier and I had tilapia. Then to Pacific Ocean Park, an amusement park in Santa Monica. We had a picnic and then came home for supper with the whole family and ate picnic style.
Sat. July 13 Terry drove us to Beverly Hills. Scenery was exquisite. We took movies. Evening drove to Claire’s house.
Sun.July 14 Rose, Sam, Claire, kids and I are went to Mexico. We drove about 300 miles. On the way we stopped at the mission of San Juan Capistrano and took pictures. The scenery was beautiful. Then to Tijuana, Mexico, a very poor place and untidy, but I just wanted to see how those people live. I took a picture on a donkey. At night we stopped over Claire’s house.
Mon.July15 Claire picked me up with Jim (Lawton) and he took us to the studio. Very interesting. I met Norm Curly and Rue Barclay. I took a picture with them. I pretended singing near the mic. Claire snapped my picture. Evening to Claire’s house for dinner.
Tues.July 16 Claire, Jim, and I, drove to Paradise Ranch, Bakersfield, California, 50 miles from Encino. Jim was in a colored film. It features Jimmy Lawton, Diane Wise, Norm Forrest, Rue Barclay. Jeff Spine was the fast draw artist. Took pictures there with TV musical producer Bob, and Heddie Dietz, Rue Barclay (bass player), emcee Norman Forrest. His wife Lolo came along. We had a terrific time. We were out til 12 pm.
Wed.July 17 Rose and I went to her bingo party. Hostess made spaghetti with meatballs. Night we went to Novena and then shopping.
Thurs.July 18 Claire and I went to see a TV show, Queen for a Day. Then we met Jim who took us to lunch at a barbecue place. Then we drove to Beverly Hills and Chinese Theatre and took pictures. Then drove back to Claire’s for supper, then to Rose’s and a priest was there, Father Wessler, stood for couple of days.
Fri,July 19 Janet and I went to food market. Rose and Father went to dentist. Later Claire and Jim drove Father to church to meet a friend. Janet and I stood home. Sam took us all out to dinner at Scampi restaurant, best fish dinner ever tasted.
Sat.July 20 We all went to mass. Father Wessler said a mass for the Gottlieb family. Claire and I drove Terry to Beauty Parlor towards Beverly Hills. On the way, we stopped to pick up some pictures at the drug store, then had lunch. Stopped at Monte Pastry. Got back to Rose and Sam’s and they brought Father to airport. At 7:15 Claire and Jim took me to his club and I met many nice people and had the time of my life. I sang and danced. Of course, out came the Darktown Strutter’s Ball. Everyone seemed to enjoy my company. Bob, Jim, Don Trio. Then went for breakfast at 3:15 in the morning at Loops Motor Hotel restaurant. We were 9 of us. Got home at 4:30 AM and got to bed 5 AM. Not a bit tired.
Sun.July 21 Mass 11 AM. Later Terry and Al took me to Zuma Beach. Very pretty. Came home and Al showed movies of my first reel, very good, and a lot of their films.
Wed.July 24 Claire, Jim, and I drove to Warner Brothers Studio in Burbank. Took the tour. I loved it. Then drove through Laurel Canyon. Claire's for dinner, Mexican food. She had friends over. Jim played and sang and we had a very lovely evening.
Thurs.July 25 On our way to Disneyland at 10 am. Rose, Sam, Claire, Janet, and I went. Every place was fabulous. Got home 12:15 am.
Click here for my mom's theme song that she always sang in public whenever she got a chance
The Darktown Strutter's Ball
I'll be down to get you in a taxi, Honey
Better be ready 'round half past eight
Now dearie, don't be late
I want to be there when the band starts playin'
Now remember when we get there, honey
The two-steps, I'm goin' to have 'em all
Goin' to dance out both my shoe's,
When they play the "Jelly Roll Blues"
Tomorrow night, at the Darktown Strutter's Ball
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Copyright 1997-2013 Priscilla Normandy Greenwood