January 1 1934 to April 5, 1935

John F. Hetherington
Diary and Daily Reminder
A Page a Day for 1934

Notes on Front page:
Milner Hotel
33rd & Chestnut
West Philadelphia, PA
“Dios es granide”
“Dios gracias”

John F. Hetherington
2864 Orthodox
Bridesburg, PA
Philadelphia

John F. Hetherington
842 N. 19th St.
Philadelphia. PA

Monday, January 1, 1934
“Dios es gandes” “Dios gracios” (all days start with this salutation)
Cloudy and bleak day. Called 12 midnight looking for my dulce y queen. Happy New Year! I joined the crowd on Market St. at twelve o’clock and did not retire at all. Saw Jim Cagney in “Lady Killer” (good, but a week story.) Also saw Night Flight with John and Lionel Barrymore. Terrible (story undetached and plot a puzzle.) Went to mass at St. John’ (Seven). Saw Joe Cook in “Hold Your Horses”(swell show.) Also saw “Little Women” with Katherine Hepburn (excellent picture.)

Tuesday, January 2, 1934
A perfect day, feels like Spring. Slept late, 10 O’clock. I lack a little pep on account of New Years. Saw a funny incident at 17th and Market. A man had pulled in by the curb and was backing in to park when another car shoots in the place. The first occupant got out and blustered and said “I’ll keep you wedged in all night.” Then he got in and lit a cigarette and proceeded to wait. After five minutes of stony silence he left with his lady for a show!

Wednesday, January 3, 1934
Day cloudy and there is a sharp tang in the air. Mucho labora y quien. Ate a late breakfast. Received dinero por mi labora. Bought six Jigsaw Puzzles, and tried to work one out without success, however, I’ll try again. Heard Fred Waring, very good. Best number (You Alone) also Guy Lombardo. Played table tennis. Lost seven straight games. Went to bed late, 1:30.


Thursday, January 4, 1934
Snow falling as I'm getting up. Who knows, maybe a blizzard? Snow petered out latter. Heard R.V. and his band. Guest Leslie Howard, Margaret Sullivan. Sketch very good, diction fine. Also heard M. A. Hour. Excellent show. A playet on war was given by the showboat cast. The title was "The Brigade of the Dead." Also heard P.W. with D.T. as M.O.C. Thursday is the best night for radio.

Friday, January 5, 1934
First Friday of the month. Received communion at the 12:05 mass in the Cathedral - 18th & Parkway. Muy llueve dia y quien! No mucho labora. Went to circus (Wioth & Buck Taylor combined shows.) Good in spots, too long and drawn out. Saw sideshow and enjoyed it very much. Fat Lady was main attraction. 420 lbs. of fun and joy. Just ozing with personality and a perfect physical specimen.

Saturday, January 6, 1934
Slept late and had a hearty breakfast. No mucho labora till the last. Listened to B.A. Rolfe & his Band. He has a snappy aggregation. Also heard R play in some of his Believe It orNot tales. Very interesting & quaint. Heard Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians. Very smooth music. Won a two dollar wager.

Sunday, January 7, 1934
Went to Eveven O'Clock mass. La dia es muy llueve y quien. Quite depressing aspect. I tied away to ChezV and S.C. and had a swell time learning to skate. Slow but sure. Crowd juvenile, but full of pep & vigor. I had a light dinner and afterward listened to Joe Benner, also American Album of Music, Jack Benny. Went for a bit of air at 11:30 and an oyster stew (good & hot!)

Monday, January 8, 1934
Mother's birthday "My Jesus Mercy"
La dia es llueve y quien. Saw mid-nite show at the Earle. B. Bernice and all the Lads. (good) also feature picture Above the Clouds starring robert Armstrong, Richard Cromwell and Dot Wilson. Good photography made up for weak plot. Then to Tonsonal Parlor for a shave and haircut. Discussed politics with employee. Still not satisfied, had three chocolate bars and saw "The Blond Bombshell" with Jean Harlow and Lee Tracy (Too much conversation on Lee Tracy's part.)

Tuesday, January 9, 1934
La dia es muy excelente. Oh what hit me. I feel like a nag off my feed. Indifferent to evening. (they say it takes two weeks to get back to normal after being up all night.) I still think it was the O-S + C-B. Just about existed all day. Family puzzled as I'm usually a ravenous eater. Heard Ed Wynn T.C. Went to bed early 11:30.
P.S. Won a two dollar wager.

Wednesday, January 10, 1934
La dia es my labor. Labora es no muy facil y quien. Ate very little. Had a beef pot pie for lunch. Two soft boiled eggs for supper. Lintons 254. Heard Lombard an his crew, also Fred Waring. The rendition of "Let's All Sing as the Birdies Sing" by his band was keen. Still blase (not eating regular.) Started to bed at 10:30. Now it's 11:30 and I'm not in yet.

Thursday, January 11, 1934
La dia es no muy frio. Mucho labora. Hav'nt been able to get a ?adoepe? yet. Ate very little, some soft boiled eggs and coffee. In the evening went to see "Amoung those Sailing" at the Broad. Constance Binney was the star and the show had a putrid odor to it. No plot, bad direction, stagey acting and thats enough about that. Went to bed early - in the morning.

Friday, January 12, 1934
Slept late; ate a light breakfast and work was muy facil. Heard "Marh of Time" on radio, also Stoopnagle and Budd, Phil Baker, Walter O'Keefe and Ethel Shutta. Very entertaining evening on radio. Went to bed about 11:30, which is early for me.

Saturday, January 13, 1934
La dia es muy calor, no mucho labora. Had a light breakfast and supper, still off my feed. Listened to radio. Dropped $2.25 for a wager. Today seemed dead. Nothing new that I can write about except went to bed about two o'clock Sunday morning which is against doctor's orders!

Sunday, January 14, 1934
La dia es muy llueve y quien. Overslept and went to 11 O'Clock mass after a light breakfast. After mass had toast and coffee at Lintons. Lolled about the house the greater part of the day. Played basketball for an hour in late afternoon. Heard Fr. Coughlin on radio. Enjoyed a light dinner and listened to Joe Penner. Also a sketch on Simon Foster who wrote "Old Black Joe" etc. Stifled a temptation to go out and have a plate of ice cream (large).

Monday, January 15, 1934

La dia es no caliente. It looks like rain, so I go to work prepared for such a catastrophy. However it did not materialize. Work muy diffial y quien. Had early shift, 9:30 A.M - 5:00 P.M. After work and before supper saw "The Devils Mate" with Preston Foster and Peggy Shannon (light mystery story with events leading to climax which occured in an appointed way - good.) Heard Bing Crosby and Will Bros. on air also Wayne King's Dreamy Music. Lost 15 cent wager.

Tuesday, January 16, 1934

Day cloudy. Revelle called me at 7:05 but I replied and went back to sleep again. I'm lazy (a bad habit). Got up about 8:15, washed and shaved. Went to work at ten o'clock. No mucho as of yet - 11:17 A.M. Had a light supper and listened to Zolls? Band. Won a two dollar wager.

Wednesday, January 17, 1934

La dia un poco cloudy. Had a light breakfast after sleeping to 8:30 A.M. Received munificent remuneration B. paid 50 cents on account. Heard Donald Moois? at the Fox Theater. Also saw "Orient Express" with Heather Angel and Norman Foster. Heard Fred Allen, Guy Lombardo, and Burns and Allen. Also Fred Waring over the radio.

Thursday, January 18, 1934

Had a light breakfast and so to work. There went through daily routine till 5:30 and to home. Had supper - three soft boiled eggs and tea. In to radio and listened to R.V. program. Emil? Atud and Edith Barret in playlet (diction perfect.) Heard Showboat and Paul Whiteman with Deems Taylor M.C. He produced a silly opera based on a collection of melodies (polar) P.S. Showboat will present "Blossom Time" next Thursday.

Friday, January 19, 1934

Had a fairly heavy breakfast and performed days work (Sale). No mucho labora. Started 9:30, worked to 5:00 P.M. Went to home and had three soft boiled eggs again. Nellie's Sorority had meeting in our house. Played ping pong and idled away evening in an easy manner. Had a buffet supper about 12 P.M.

Saturday, January 20, 1934

La dia es muy excelente y quien. No mucho labora. Muy sol. Quit work at 5:00 P.M. Went to confession at St. Johns at six. Then to home where I had customary eggs. Went to Harvard Radio store (52nd Street.) Radio useless. Saw Wm. Powell, Helen Vinson, Mary Astor in "the Kennel Murder Case." All plain deduction. Had at beer at The Bankers Tavern. Had a fine Irish Tenor and a hostess sing there. Bt 1/5 OA -$1.85

Sunday, January 21, 1934

La dia es muy excelente y quien. Had an appetizer and at a hearty breakfast. Went to eleven o'Clock Solemn High Mass (Forty Hours began.) Saw procession, very colorful. Went to Lintons and had two cups of coffee and double order of toast. Then out to Chez Vouy and roller skating for three hours. Enjoyed it throughly. Home again, ate a fine supper and then to 69th theatre. Saw Wm. Gangan in Headline Shooter with Francis Dill.

Monday, January 22, 1934

La dia es un poco cloudy and overcast. Had a very light breakfast (Soup, Coffee and Doughnuts) then to work, no per much. (This week my trick is from 12:30 - 8:00.) Finished work about 7:10 then home for customery three eggs. Listened to Bing Crosby and Mills Bros. Very good, also heard Jack Frost program (excellent music.) I'm reading A. Advere. It's twelve hundred pages in length.

Tuesday, January 23, 1934

La dia is muy llueve y humedo. Ate light breakfast. No mucho labora. Had a vegetable platter in afternoon. (Omit first three lines of todays entry.) Went to 12:05 mass and communion at Cathederal. In evening after light meal took my sister and saw "Let them eat Cake", an excellent show. Satire on Congress and League of Nations. After had a tid-bit at Childs on Broad St. Went to bed 2:30 AM.

Wednesday, January 24, 1934

La dia es muy excelente y quien. I had a hearty breakfast and so to work. No per mucho. Walked home from work and ate an ample meal, then played Ping Pong - established my superiority over rest of household and listened to Burns and Allen, Guy Lumbardo, Stoopnagle and Budd and Fred Waring (Stuart Churchill very good sing Roses in Picadary. Finished A. Advera, wonderful ending.

Thursday, January 25, 1934

La dia es excellente. Best day of the new year. Feels like spring. A keen, delicious, tang tickles your nostrils as you walk along. No mucho labora. Arrived home at 7:20 PM. Partook of hearty supper with appetizer after for a change . Then away to the Broadway Athletic Club and saw boxing bouts . Only a few were lively. Afterwards had coffee, chocolate eclair and toast. Then went to Family Theater. P.S. Called B.M. - Ella es muy dulce.

Friday, January 26, 1934

La dia es muy excelente y quien. Had a light breakfast. When over to Camden Catholic High School and became a patron for the school play. The title of it is “Sweetheart” (Victor Helet)February 7, 8,9.
Thursday evening no pero mucho labora. Home at 7:00. Ate very little and then to the Fox to see “Carolina” with Janet Gaynor, Maria Barril. Stage show fair. Overture good. Afterwards had toast and coffee at Linton’s.

Saturday, January 27, 1934

La dia es muy excelente no si mucho safin.
Had a hearty breakfast and into work at 12:30. No pero mucho labora. Had a cracked wheat sandwich for lunch. Went to confession down at Saint Joe’s. Bought a crystal radio and got burnt. Went for a walk of a few miles after supper and went to bed after twelve as usual. Spent extravagantly. Such scribble you big boob!

Sunday, January 28, 1934

La dia es un poco cloudy and portends rain. When two 11 o’clock mass. Afterwards played ping-pong and had a lunch consisting of liverwurst, tomato and lettuce. Listened to Father Coughlan on radio. Talked about old age pension and employment insurance. Had three soft boiled eggs for dinner and tea. Went roller skating at Chez Vous in evening and had a good time . On way home got coffee and toast.

Monday, January 29, 1934

La dia es muy windy. No per mucho labora (10-5:30) this week. Had a vegetable dinner and lunch. Walked home and the cold was intense. Had a light supper. Listened to Lowell Thomas in his spicy news of the day. Heard Amos and Andy. Later played ping pong with Peggy and Joe. The former I won from but the (editor note - end of entry)

Thursday, August 2, 1934

La dia es muy llueve y quien. No much labora si mucho horas. Had a light supper and then to the Dog Races. Met Dominic, Dr. Elsi, also Harry Kelleher previously there. Played no. 8 dog for show twice and won. Also for first once - ditto. Profit about $10.50.

P.S. not bad; Try and keep it up! Ha! Ha! Ha!

Friday, August 3, 1934

Muy llueve dia no much labora.

Friday, September 7, 1934

Rain has stopped. Had a nice breakfast then a hot refreshing bath. Started reading "Mary Queen of the Scots and the Isles." A very good book, revealing Mary as a tempestuous woman who sacrifices everything for romance re Elizabeth I, cold and by nature looking for womanhood. Ind??? in her actions.

Sunday, September 9, 1934

Played 18 holes of golf. Drives very long - had an 88.

Tuesday, September 11, 1934

Nice day.

Friday, March 22, 1935

"Dios es grande" Dios gracias.. La dia is muy excellente y quien. Clear sky above and moderate temperature. Off for a round of golf. Don't forget to call B.M. Amount offhand $2.00. Shot an 86, not bad.

Saturday, March 23, 1935

Muy excelente dia y quien. No muy labora. Played 18 holes of golf, had a 95. Muy malo.

Sunday, March 24, 1935

Dios es grande. Dios gracios. Went to 8 O'clock mass at St. James. Received communion. Had an early breakfast then to Links. amt. on hand "nihil"!

Saturday, March 30, 1935

Dios es grande, Dios gracias. La dia es muy excelente y quin. Played 18 holes of Golf and shot an 86. Had a match (5 cents a hole) with John Stackhouse (a five handicap man) and broke even (won ten cents on another bet.) Moved to the Milner Hotel, 33rd & Chestnut. Large, comfortable room, but no window. Pay $5.00 to Pater under protest. Also $3.00 for my hotel room.

Wednesday, April 3, 1935

Dios es grande. Dios gracias. Had a good nights sleep, up at ten.

Thursday, April 4, 1935

Arose at 10:30 after a good nights sleep. Cold, cloudy day. Off for a game of Golf. Had a fair game - then in to work - afterwards over to Mary's and did I eat. - Six sandwiches and 3 cups of coffee. Reached hotel about 12:30, had bath and so to bed. P.S. BIG DOINGS TOMORROW. GOLF TOURNAMENT.

Friday, April 5, 1935

Played 18 holes of Golf at Maple Hill - Had a 93, was lousy - but managed to get on team of winning club. The day was for anything but Golf, a high wind plus low temperatures made the round very unpleasant. Also a rain which came up on the last few holes.

to be continued......