Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 13 May 1947 — Page 11

a b c's 32 years ago, I'll bet she never thought I'd be using them to spell out: Pepsi-Cola 8000 feet above Indianapolis. Maybe she didn't know about the soft drink then. My initial thrill of the forthcoming skywriting jaunt. began to wear off as skywriter Elwood (Spike) Keim instructed me in the use of the parachute, how to ditch the canopy in case of an emergency, how to unfasten the safety belt and to remember not to pull the ripcord too soon. Spike’s skywriting partner Henry (Larry) Laird had completed gassing up and taking on a fresh load of the smoke oil for sky penmanship. “Up you go,” Spike told me. “We're taking off in five minutes." . : I squeezed in on top of the smoke oil tanks in the rear cockpit. The skywriting bos checked the parashute on my back and gave the safety belt a yank. “Olose the canopy when I give you the signal,” he said and stepped into the cockpit of the AT-6. We taxied out on the runway and waited for instructions from the control tower. Larry was behind us to the right on the runway. 1 got the signal to close the canopy. A sardine might have found my quarters comfortable. The takeoff was smooth as silk, The ground slipped away quickly, The terra firma, which I grew to love

so well quickly, checkerboard, - Eardrums Pop | jo THE PLANE kept climbing steadily. Spike turned his head and gave me the, O. K.?, look. I nodded yes. My hands were clutching two supporting bars in the cockpit: It was awful quiet in the plane, I thought. ! Ah

dN .

“SECOND SECTION

Win

id A )

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Several minutes later I relaxed enough to swallow, |

My eardrums popped and it seemed as if 40 B-17's were behind me. A, peculiar. feeling hit me like &

sledge hammer right around where the safety belt was.

My feet were getting cold. My nose was moist but 14 wet noses wouldn't have induced me to let go of my hold on the supporting bars, : To the left I saw something that at first glance looked like the Pearly Gates. A second look revealed it was only short practice bursts of smoke. The plane suddenly wiggled from side to side. My fingernails dug into the supporting bars. . Suddenly the left wing was pointing straight up in the sky and the right wing towards the ground, 1 felt a bit of a rumble in the pit of my stomach, Beads of perspiration (very cold) ‘came out on my forehead,

Teamwork

FROM THE corner of my eyes, (they moved) I saw Larry smoking in the curve on the P. Spike whipped pack and started the long thrust on the letter E. Back he.went to put in one horizontal stroke. Larry finished the E. = As Spike kicked the ship around for the other letter P, I caught a glimpse of the letters PE. They were packwards. My confused mind didn’t catch on right then that to the people below the letters were right. Larry began the S as we moved in place for the

i. From the I we went into a C and Larry took the O.

Another combined operations for the L. Larry flashed

under us as the L was written, P-l-i-p—and we were starting the final letter A. Again Larry zoomed past 4s on the top of the letter. Spike joined the pyramid and the first Pepsi-Cola sign was completed. My sense of direction was all gone, My nose was quite wet and my hands ached. My feet feit like they were in ice trays. Spike turned around and gave me the, “O. K.?" business again. I signalled with my eyeballs. \ The ship quivered again. One Pepsi-Cola at-a time is all T can take. It was the same with this skyyritten Pepsi-Cola.

. next one out,

SMOKE WRITING TWINS—Elwood (Spike) Keim (left) and Henry (Larry) Laird use the sky for a blackboard.

Whisky Rebellion WASHINGTON, May 13.—The subject before the senate was whisky, a brownish fluid with which I, unfortunately, have had no experience. The 400 prohibitionists packed into the caucus room agreed, however, that this liquid coagulates the brain, coats the tongue, and carmines the nose. They said that }t-causes miefi to leér at women, women to make goo-goo eyes, hiishands to beat their wives, and children to hate their fathers. . & Why advertise, they asked, that it is good for peo~ ple? Why advertise the nasty stuff at all? Senator Arthur Capper (R. Kas) introduced the bill which would fine and/or jail anybody connected with liquor advertisement in interstate commerce. The interstate commerce committee called for wit-

nesses. 14 Lonely Men

CROWDED into one corner of the vast chamber were 14 lonesome-looking liquor~men, waiting to defend their ads. Ignoring them were the ladies of the W. C. T. U,, the gentlemen of the Methodist board of temperance, and others. The ladies, -in my opinion, were handsome; mostly they did not feel the need of lipstick. The gentlemen were distinctive, but in deference to their opinions of whisky advertising, I shall not suggest that they were men of distinction. Bishop Wilbur E, Hammaker of the board of temperance, Denver, Colo, functioned : as master-of-ceremonies. He was a large man in a well-tailored double-breasted suit; his iron-gray hair was parted in the middle, and his speaking-voice was magnificent. “Qur youth and young people read that men of distinction are all devoted to this or that brand of liquor,” he intoned. “They are being beguiled to pecome drinkers as a means of social success.”

Yaweeee—everything went topsy-turvey. More

passes, flips and "Pepsi-Cola. When. Spike crossed the |

final A on the fourth sign I was in the process of getting the canopy open. He waved that we were through. The trip back to the airport was wonderful. When we taxied to the spot. on the field where the familiar smoke oil drums were, I let go of the supporting bars. My fingers wouldn't move. Spike hopped out of the cockpit and asked, “How did¥ you like it?” -

1 signalled, (eyeballs again) thas.I- liked “it Soe

hin

| BEST PHOTO — This photo of Home Show patrons lined up at the entrance of the Modular house won $50 for H. A.-Mewborn, a restaurant proprietor, in The Times Home Show Photo contest for amateurs.

I would have liked to sit the

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I | | 3 | i {

A half hour later I walked away from the plane, good |

as new.

By Frederick C. Othman

————— —— nn ——

He observed that the history of the whisky business has been sordid, shameful, slimy and scrofulous; then he started calling his 32 witnesses. Outstanding among these, perhaps, was Henry M. Johnson, Loulsville, Ky., attorney and president of the Kentucky: Sunday School association. He wore his eyeglasses on a black ribbon, he told of the damage that whisky advertising had done to the budding, unfolding minds of boys and girls. : : The night before he started to Washington he warned his 10-year-old grandson against a liquor advertisement in full color which he was packing a evidence to present the senate. “He examined this ad,” Mr. Johnson testified, “and he looked up into my face and said, ‘Grangy, if I wasn't yourall’s little boy I'd want to try some of that myself’.”

Applause Is Out :

THE LADIES in the rear applauded; this caused Sendtor- Clyde Reed (R. Kas), the chairman, to threaten them. If they clapped another hand, he'd consider shooing them out. The ladies subsided. 1 regret that lack of space forces me to ignore many of the arguments against the dangerous fluid, put I must close with the evidence of Samuel Reid, a Philadelphia manufacturer of tape (red on special order) and an ardent, white-goateed prohibitionist. He wrote his favorite magazine a letter of protest when he noticed in it an advertisement of wine, “They

in cookery, they saw no reason to bar the ad,” he testified. ‘

“Not to me,” snapped the witness with the chinwhiskers. :

Stars on File

By Erskine Johnson

ee ——————————————————————

HOLLYWOOD, May 13.—At last I know the definition of. a celebrity. Earl Blackwell of Celebrity Service, Inc., gave me the lowdown. “A celebrity,” Blackwell said, “is a person whose name can stand alone without identification.” Like Errol Flynn, for instance. - Errol is a celebrity. You don’t have to say, “Brrol Flynn, the actor, who looked at the moon through a porthole.” Celebrity Service doesn’t supply celebrities for cocktail parties’ or banquets as sone people think. Blackwell had a sweet little lady telephorie him once. She sald: } “I'm giving a little dinner party for some old friends.’ Could you please send over half a dozen celebrities?” z , Celebrity Service, Blackwell said, is an information and research business in which newspapers, radio, big business, film studios, night clubs, and department stores subscribe. It's a clearing house for information about celebrities, with daily bulletins on where they're going, what they're doing, to whom they were or are married, and other vital statistics.

Forgotten Wife

BLACKWELL, a frustrated playright, and Ted Strong, a frustrated novelist, started the service nine years ago in New York when things were tough. Now they Imve bureaus in New York, Hollywood and London. i Celebrity Service is ‘very proud of the time a

We, the Women

STUDENTS AT a high school in Tennessee have been notified by their principal that five-day suspensions from school will be given to couples for eating, lingering, or walking together at the school. And if, in spite of these hurdles to romance, any more students in his school get married they will be suspended indefinitely.

Rules Won't Do It ’

HE IS UPSET because too many high school romances are blossoming into marriage. Since Septemwer there have been eight student marriages in his school, which has an enrollment of 700. This principal can't be blamed for wanting to . discourage high school romances leading to - hasty marriages. But suspending students for pairing

3 Sod =F

famous film star had a lost week-end in New York and telephoned to ‘ask: “Can you tell me where I am?” “Just a moment, please,” said the sweet-voiced Celebrity Service operator. Celebrity Service quickly checked its hotel lists, discovered the actor was registered in room 308 of the Waldorf Astoria. And that's where he was. Celebrity Service's most embarrassing moment: _ A New York newspaper telephoned asking for the name of Tommy Manville’s seventh wife. The name was missing in the service's files. So some bright young dady telephoned Manville himself and asked, “What was the name of your seventh wife?” Manville thought a moment; then said, “Gogh, I don’t remember.”

Celebrity Service finally got the information by

calling the third Mrs. Manville.

Kills the Villain

HUMPHREY BOGART is “dead,” and a small Indian boy is very happy. It happened on location in Mexico for “The Treasure of Sierra Madre.” An Indian boy stopped Bogart on the street. “You Umphrey Bogart?” he asked politely. Bogart said he was. The Indian boy picked up a stick pointed it at him, made the traditional rat-ta-tat machine gun sound, then said, “You dead”. Bogart fell over, grasping his stomach. The Indian boy walked away with a smile that lit up the entire countryside.

" By Ruth Miller

off during school hours isn't going to do the Job. Such old fogey rules will drive children to juke joints and’ parking on lonely roads holding.

Makes Serious Error.

SOME MAY think his mistake is making them think liking one another is an ugly thing. But his Worst error is saying that students who marry can't come back to finish their educations. *» Whether the principal approves of their marriages or pot, the boy will have to gan a living for Ris wife, and the girl will have to make a home and bring up their children. y ~ And for these things they will need all the edu-

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receive $10 for this ""Admiration."

WINS $10—Ed. GC: McC

. The Heart of America—

Spirit of Competition fo

reéty, a bank teller, will

fourth place winner. He calls it

_ THIRD PRIZE—A North side housewife, Mrs. A. J. Caulkins, ‘we prize oF this photo ‘6f booths at the Home Show. You pick

entrant left it unnamed.

r Cash Business

Vies With That of Yuletide at Santa Claus

| |

|. Evansville Manufacturer Sets Up Santa Land;|,

First Entrepreneur Is Rebuilding His Place

| By ELDON ROARK, Scripps-Howard Staff Writer

REY | SANTA CLAUS, Ind, May 13.—Santa Claus today is a village of the highway just east of the Koch replied courteously that since wine was an ingredient strong contrasts and spirited competition.

As you approach it from the west, you will see a lot of activity on “A pretty good answer, wasn't it?” asked Senator # wooded hill to the left of the highway—school busloads of youngsters | from nearby towns out for a holiday. tourists, construction workers, and | trucks. That hill is called Santa Claus Land, and is the development

lof Louis J. Koch, Evansville manufacturer of gift wares, ; | Mr.. Koch is a tall, slim, active 'man who has scarcely a gray hair | despite the fact that he is 65. He ‘has nine children, 21 grandchildren land 10 great-grandchildren. Mr. Koch loves children, and he says that having such a big family to work for and play with has kept him young. “And this Santa Claus land is a dream I've had for years, But on account of the war I wasn't able to get started until August, 1945. It's coming along all right now. It's a commercial proposition, but everything I make will go right back

into the project. I just want to build something here for children.” His principal building is a big gabled structure of concrete bricks, 260 feet long and 64 feet wide. It is divided into units of restaurant and soda fountain — big one for grownups, little one for tots—gift wares, souvenir shop, toy manufacturers’ display room, post office.

His outside attractions include a miniature railroad on which youngsters may ride around the hill, an enchanted trail on which they may meet Humpty-Dumpty, Jack and the bean stalk, Mother Goose and other characters.

Carnival—By | Dick Turner

| | | | | |

for their hand!

Milton Harris, ‘former Vincennes wyer and salesman, who was the first to conceive the idea of luring tourists to Santa Claus, is providing competition for Mr. Koch. On

| development big signs yell: ‘The { Original

and Only Santa Claus | Town—Turn Right Next Corner % | Mile.”

Sells Gifts and Candy

Mr. Harris operates Santa Claus Castle, a small brick building. He sells gifts and novelties as well as candy. In a grove across the road from the castle are a number of little houses from the world of makebelieve and a toy shop, now falling apart and looking as forlorn as a Christmas tree in an ashcan. A sign says: “This Santa Claus Toy Village and the Enchanted Forest Will Soon Be Rebuilt.” \ On a bare hill between the Koch development and the Candy Castle

is the frustrated dream of Carl A.

Barrett of Chicago. It is a small park, now grown® up in weeds and grass, its ornamental entrance suf-

fering with fallen arches and its|-

driveway pock-marked. In the middle of the “ruins” is a’ large stone statue of Santa Claus. There are great cracks in the base of the status, and Santa Claus may get a bad fall some of these years if they aren't checked. The inscription on the base says: “Dedicated to the Children of the World in Memory of an Undying Love—Dec. 25, 1935—Carl A. Barrett.” ' They Went to Law

back - of this development: When Mr.

Here's the story deserted

“|Harris conceived his idea of ex-

ploiting' Santa Claus, back in the early 1930s, he leased land and proceeded to develop concessions. "Mr. Barrett, head of the Chicago Auto Club, later: came in, bought land and created his park. But after he had spent a lot of money he ran into trouble. Not so much as a postcard of the statue could be sold. Mr. Barrett might own the

And they started lawing... While they were scrapping, Koch was 3

land, . under’ title but Mr. Harris said he held will receive $20.

DREAM HOME—That's what P A ant tool supervisor, titled this. entry which.won second prize. We Ld jay tl i

the fitle

CONGESSIONNAIRE—"Tired" is the fifth place winner submitted by Doris. N.

housewife. :

. = { ~. nn

Restaurant Man's Pic Is Awarded First Plc

: By ART WRIGHT Amateur photographers who earned $100 in Home Show Photo contest were announced today by the board of They were: SA First—H. A. Mewborn, 3643 Central ave., &' submitted a photo of a line at the entrance of ‘the Mi titled the picture “Waiting.” He will receive $60.

Second—P. B. Cox, 640 N. Somer~

'{set ave. an who photographed a couple in

Burnet-Binford Lumber Co. display |= of “Dream Home" He|“¥

Third—Mrs, A. J. Chulkins, 6301

Mr. | Broadway, a housewife, whose . plans. [was & photo of booths in

What's more, it looks as if he has Show » put over a master stroke. He has [the entry. She

lured the post office away from the. original . village ‘out to hig Claus Land, by bffering it n

frame store building which f housed it. And wherever the {office 1s, that's Santa Claus,

{cause the village isn't incorpo

are problems His Majesty plans the council!” :

But Mr. Koc he 1s

Fourth—Ed

Banta |g oo a bank. quarters in contrast to the old Go