Don't know if anyone cares but I'll beg everyone's indulgence. This thread got me thinking about the past and my Dad a bit tonight. Then I realized that he passed away 19 years ago today. Couldn't believe that I almost forgot. Thought I'd share a little bit about him. Again I'll beg everyone's indulgence.
He lived a pretty extraordinary life. Born in 1907 in Kansas, the son of German immigrants. At 16, he watched his Dad die after being gored by a bull. Family already had a lot of tragedy but that was the topper. Somehow he discovered he had a talent for singing. Moved to Kansas City in his early 20's to study Opera under a man named Lawrence Tibbett. He worked at the Fisher Body Plant in KC, nights, doing leadwork on Chevrolets. This was at the height of the Depression. He moved to New York to further his Opera Career and for a while it looked as if he was going to become a star. Then he got a sinus infection that he couldn't get rid of. This was before antibiotics. Took almost nine months for him to get over it. The infection took just enough off his voice that now opera was out of the question.
Started doing theater on Broadway, and was set to sign a movie contract with MGM in 1939. Then Hitler invaded Poland. With the uncertainty of looming war MGM and the other studios halted any new contracts. Enlisted in WWII where he was assigned to do entertainment along with many others. Bunked with Mario Lanza, John Weitz and others. They performed "Winged Victory" among other plays. Both in the States and in Europe. After the War he went back to NYC where he was in several Broadway Shows including the original Broadway run of Oklahoma, where he played Judd Fry. Unfortunately by this time he had developed a drinking problem. My Dad never did anything small and by 1949 he was drinking three fifth bottles of Rye Liquor a day. This led to him being fired from Oklahoma. and also losing out on appearing in the upcoming Oklahoma movie. He went to California and got some work in some TV shows including The Lone Ranger. But he was an alcoholic and that ultimately ruined any chance for him in TV and Film. But he found a new program called Alcoholics Anonymous and rededicated his life to Jesus Christ. God took away any desire that he had for alcohol and for the rest of his life he never had a single drop of it. He always credited God for this, because nearly all former alcoholics struggle almost daily with wanting to drink again.
He had various jobs/careers in the 50's and '60's. Owned a printing business in Las Vegas in the mid '50's. (he had some great Mob stories), then went to work for a Christian Literacy Organization called Laubach Literacy. In 1967 he met my Mom at a Church in Massachusetts where he was promoting Laubach. They were married within six months. He was almost 61, she was 24!!!!! He used to call my Grandma "Mom" even though he was three years older than her.
My folks struggled financially when I was a young boy. We were very poor, living in Galveston Texas. In 1975 at the age of 67, he got a job working for Brown and Root Construction in Baytown Texas. He lied to the guy who hired him and told him he was 54. This was a physically demanding job that required him climbing upwards of 300 feet and working in confined space in the brutal South Texas heat. He was so happy to have that job though. Because it meant that we could have a life. He worked all the overtime he could get. I can remember not seeing him for weeks, except for when he would leave very early in the morning and I would look out my window at him leaving. Those days were some of the happiest of my childhood though, I loved Texas.
In 1980 we moved to Duxbury Massachusetts, after my Great Grandmother passed away and gave the house to my Folks. This house had been in my Mother's family since it was built in 1744. It had no modern improvements when we got there. There was no indoor plumbing only a hand pump in the kitchen. Duxbury was (and is) one of the wealthiest towns in Mass. so this was very unusual. So my Dad restored the entire home over the next five years, essentially by himself (and me). It was three years before we had a bathroom. Home also had almost 10 acres of land which for Duxbury was very unusual. He planted a huge garden every year. Almost 4 acres. No tractor just a roto tiller. He kept bees. Planted fruit trees and strawberries which became so popular we sold several thousand dollars worth every year. All the while completely restoring this house. In 1986 he sold the house and land to a local developer. It has changed a lot since then. I've never been back there as it makes me sad thinking about it.
We moved to Virginia, my parents divorced, (when he was 90!!!) he moved back to California. He got sick and I took care of him at his home in California for the final six months of his life. That was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. He was almost 94 when he died. I was 28.
He was a son of a bitch much of the time, but he was an extraordinary man as well. I know I'll see him one day again.
Thanks for letting me share this.
Couple of pics of him as Judd Fry in Oklahoma
His stage name was Bruce Hamilton. His real name was Joseph Meyer. I use Hamilton in my username as a tribute to him.
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www.picard-hammer.de
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