LONGSHOTS By W. G. Schoepflin

Sunday Gleaner and Journal, Henderson, Kentucky, July 10, 1932, page 3.

The bridge is open and how. They certainly did string across that great span on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday of last week. Such jams have never been seen before in this part of the country. Estimated that 111,000 cars went over during the three day celebration and this is some cars and some people. Beautiful sight it was, and a great thrill to pass over the fine structure. It makes Evansville and Henderson just about twenty minutes good driving time apart.

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It was a great celebration and no one except those in the inside will ever realize just how much work and how long it took to put over such a program and especially to extende it over a three-day period. One big day of celebration generally wears one out but the committees and the people fought it through for three great days and Evansville and Henderson has received more publicity in the past week than since the beginning of the two cities. It should bring many dollars into the two cities in the years to come.

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Merchants that were open on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday all reported a heavy business in Henderson. Soda fountains and gas stations of course received the bulk of the trade but they are all more than satisfied. Many Indiana cars were seen parked around the theatres which indicated that they also picked up a number of strangers among their trade. I am still stringing along with those who believe that the bridge will help and not hurt Henderson. Of course, I may be wrong but I can’t see the use of “beefing” about the matter when the bridge is here and in operation. The thing for merchants to do is to organize and go out with a systemized campaign of publicity that will bring people to Henderson and then HAVE WHAT THEY WANT when they come to Henderson.

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The movement of the heavy traffic along Green street Sunday, Monday and Tuesday indicated clearly that there should be signs to designate the business district of the city. I am still under the impression that it would not be money wasted to have two large gateways constructed at Twelfth and Green streets and Sand Lane and Green street, well lighted and attractive. The Twelfth street sign should also indicate a left turn for those going south so as to put them through the business district is possible. Two nice electric signs across Green street at Second with an indicating arrow, “Business District and Hotels.” Those who travel much well know the value of such signs. Henderson should not wait to start advertising and grabbing at this tourist trade-everyone that stops in Henderson and is satisfied with service and product is a walking booster for Henderson and we should do something and do it immediately to try and get them to “stay over” with us for a few hours at least.

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Kentucky’s reputation for beautiful women was upheld at the celebration. Of the many queens picked by various cities it was a Kentucky girl that won. From Owensboro and then the City of Henderson float with six beautiful girls on it won first prize and of course we must all admit that it was the girls that “put it over.” The following Henderson girls were on the float: Miss Elizabeth Ashby, Henderson’s Bridge Queen, and Misses Kittye Stiles, Martha B. Marstall, Martha Meade Robertson, Emily Wilson, Mary Alice Posey. Henry Taylor and Leigh Harris were the insistent ones in having a float for the city. This writer designed it and it was built by the Artificial Flower company of Chicago at Evansville. Even though the float looked nice in the parade, I still contend the young ladies deserve the credit for all along the line as we followed, you could hear the expression, “those girls and those dresses.” Anyway Henderson entered two float parades, one at Madisonville and one at Evansville and took first in both parades which is not a bad reputation to date. I might also mention in connection with the float that the International Harvester company of Evansville was kind in allowing the city to use one of their new trucks for the float and without cost. They also allowed the truck to be moved to Henderson that folks here could view the float before being dismantled. Julian Heilbronner, down at Hartmetz Bros., Dodge and Plymouth dealers, has been mighty nice about taking care of the float while in Henderson. Commissioner L. L. Hurley who was a member of the float committee said the ballot was unanimous for Henderson for first prize.

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And speaking of Julian-I want to say that he and his drum and bugle corps from from Henderson was another outstanding feature of that parade. Many in the hotels and on the street said it was the outstanding corps of the parade. They did look better than ever. Of course, there might be some who did not see the corps on account of looking at Jane Kasey, just as they did you see the float from looking at the girls. As one man said after the float was brought to Henderson, “I didn’t see the horses on that float in Evansville.” Oh yeah!

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Congratulations to the boys from both Henderson and Evansville who handled the traffic situation. The crowd was terrible and how they handled it as well as they did is still a mystery. People as a whole were very impatient in the slow movement, for they realized what the boys were up against. The traffic men were courteous and that means much under trying conditions as was those between Henderson and Evansville on Sunday and Monday.

They were accomodating to those who had to get through. This writer with two young ladies who had to be on the Henderson float was jammed in the middle of the bridge at ten minutes after four Monday with the parade starting at five o’clock. Two motorcycle cops agreed to take us through and how. We made the McCurdy in nothing flat but even with the courtesy extended I dont want any more rides following motorcycle cops unless absolutely necessary.

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I told you not to miss the banquet. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Seventeen hundred were in attendance. This Chas. Basler, over in Evansville, knows his stuff when it comes to putting on banquets, both from beauty and service. You did not have to wait a single minute for food-it was there. Harold Van Orman, toastmaster, was at his best and most of the speeches were great. The entertainment snapped off in fine shape and they are still talking about the entertainment that was there ot of the Frieda Klauder dance revue and they simply cannot get over the costumes. Even Julius Tannen, the humorist from New York, who was on the program, raved about the show. Miss Ione’s dancing classes had some fine acts on also and Miss Shannon Stanley, Evansville’s bridge queen, proved to be a real hit among the dancing talent. The gang that went from Henderson is still calling up and saying how glad they were that I insisted on their attendance. Really, folks, it was great. I hoped you listened in, at least, on the radio as it was all on the air.

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And the fireworks. That was one of the things that fell below par and it was not the fault of the executive committee and they are doing plenty of wrangling over in Evansville about paying the amount set aside for the display. No doubt the fireworks were there, or at least the number contracted for, but the arrangement of firing-or something-did not bring it up to expectations. No doubt the committee in charge wanted to save money but the powers to be said that they wanted a real display and set aside $1000 to do it with. It was all right, but not up to what th executive committee wanted to give visitors.

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Evansville thought they had a real parade in the Graham Day Parade a few years ago until Ralph McReynolds sprung that one on them the Fourth of July. It was a corker from every standpoint and the best thing thing of all was that it moved off “on time.”

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I cannot for the life of me see this idea of a one toll house affair on the new bridge. First it slows up service and then again it will people from the Indiana side of the river to drive all the way over to this side and then turned around and go back without paying a toll fee, unless, of course, they have men to watch the bridge and if this has to be, why not another toll house? It would take no more men and allow those working to give better service. It is going to be terrible during the races. A toll house on this side should collect from cars going north and a toll house on the other side on cars coming south. One thing for sure and that is they have a good man in Claude Brown in charge and I have confidence enough in him to work the situation out sucessfully-just give him time, boys.

August 13 to September 10 is dates set for the Dade Park races races. Everybody races this year, the horses on the track and the cars over the bridge. It should be a good meeting and it is reported that better horses than were here last year will be in the majority of races.

What do I think about Governor Laffoon’s speech at Dade Park last Monday? Don’t ask that-just let the matter drop. N. Powell Taylor who represented Henderson at that part of the celebration made a fine talk-as he usually does.

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Am still wondering how William Schear, general chairman of the bridge celebration, and George Albrecht, secretary, kept up with all they had to do. They had some job but they put it over and in a big way. Mr. Shear is manager of the New York Bargain House in Evansville, and Mr. Albrecht, secretary of the Automobile club.

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Henderson committees functioned well, but I think Leigh Harris went to the extreme with his end of the program. It was left to him to get the dust settled between Henderson and through Dade Park. In addition to oiling the whole darn thing, he had it rain each day to help along. I just can’t figure out yet whether he prayed for rain and his prayers were answered, or rather the Almighty did not have confidence in him getting the oil down and sent the rain on to make a sure shot. What do you think?

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The shows look a little better than those of the past week. Must admit I did not get much kick out of the Constance Bennett picture, “What Price Hollywood.” Think it was somewhat over rated. The Ann Harding picture “Westward Passage” was not so hot either. But we gotta take the good ones with the bad ones and this week looks much better. The Kentucky offers “The Dark Horse” with Warren William on Sunday and Monday. “Is My Face Red” is the Ricardo Cortez and Helen Twelvetrees picture for Tuesday and Wednesday. Kay Francis comes in “Street of Women” on Thursday and Friday. The Grand offers “Thunder Below” on Sunday and Monday.

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Around the corner, strolling and thinking of this, that and the other. More white shoes worn by men this year than usual, well ventilated, too. And part of the building on the corner of Main and Third is being painted and here is hoping the rest get a dose also, but that is up to the owners of course. Wish that road to the bridge was paved. Up in Long Beach, N. J., a man goes through the country giving a shave, haircut and a harmonica solo for twenty-five cents. That’s what you call getting plenty for a “song.” A perfume company is trying to get Clark Gable on the radio-okay-just so they don’t send the smell over the air. Barbara Stanwyck will sing in her next picture, or do you care? Float will not be dismantled until Monday and is on display today in front of Hartmetz Brothers on Second street. Ralph King teasing his baby. John Stull resting on the O. V. bank steps. Meyer Brothers moving up the street a few doors. Henderson’s colored one-man band. The poster in front of the Kentucky, “It’s Cooler inside,” and a little boy asks the cashier when the show is coming. Ferry not so busy and rates are too high on it also. Albert Harness looks the same as he did ten years ago. And there is Mrs. Harold Foulkes, nee Beatrice Klauder, here from Des Moines and visiting for a few days. Can’t get a hat to fit me without touching my ears which was caused I guess by folks carrying me around by my ears when small, but I can’t be blamed for that and we will let it drop.