Dad in the Deep South, 1960

How things change, how things stay the same.

Dad got 6th or 7th billing in this potboiler from 1960.

The fascinating letter below was sent by my father to my mother in 1960, when he was on a long location shoot in Louisiana for the above film. For context, this may have been during the 1-year period when he stopped drinking—because a doctor had told him that he would die in a year if he didn’t. After a year, he had not died, and thus started drinking again, He continued to drink until hitting his rock bottom in 1969 (see my memoir, Rottenkid: A Succulent Story of Survival). He joined AA and got sober, then stayed sober and remained an active member and mentor to many, many others in the program, until he passed away in 1990.

I find his observations of the Deep South deeply disturbing, very raw, and shockingly real. He was a true liberal, in his Quaker blood.

Belmont Motor Hotel

On By-Pass U.S. 61065-71-190

7370 Airline Highway, Baton Rouge Louisiana

“Louisiana’s Largest and Finest” 25 Rooms….25 Baths

Mommie—

Finally finished up with the share-crop farm. Very depressing – guilt is the major crop of the south. Land, plus everything else in the area—owned by Judge Woodrow Overton, and this is Big Daddy with a vengeance. Very fat, hard-eyed, tough, mean-looking. He was paid for the use of the place so our guys took up a collection & bought the family a TV set. Much polite disapproval of this – spoil them – what the English in India complained of with the G.I.’s overpaying (more than a dollar a month) the Indians. Our own little colonies. Beautiful, dignified, polite people. How many beds – never could figure it. They very polite, never obsequious about the TV. Much growling growing disgust with the whole Southern attitude. Among our people, I mean. Got to be ashamed of this poverty, filth + second (or 5^th) class citizenship. Plus admiration for their dignity + friendliness. But it’s always here--great ugly cancer just below the phony geniality. All of us depressed + sick of it.

This Judge Overton. Here is a figure to strike terror into your heart. So fat, yet so hard + squinty-eyed. Hear he’s the toughest judge in the parrish (county). Brought 2 gallons of “shine” which he confiscated from a moonshiner. Nobody but Ken Scott had the guts to try it. But this mad-man will drink, bang, and work himself to death soon.

At least the animals are nice. Did you know pigs are always in heat? Well! And this is the Kosher objection to pork. And that Queen Eliz was coronated on the day she was “cleanest” by tradition? Now you know – little family of goats were amusing. Big ol’ billy goat running his tribe + cute babies. A palomino pony farm. Beautiful little animals, new calves every day, the stock is Brahmin. Baby chicks under the feet all the time. A local driver, kid, saw a batch of puppies abandoned by the road, brought them out + everyone was de-fleaing them, feeding – Hound dogs but mangy – wormy - + soon gave up the idea of bringing one home. After saving them, they yipped so much they ruined the sound on several shots – so much for St Francis. Don’t know what happened to them. The blood-hounds were lovely, hard to handle + one was pregnant but the guys said they go crazy without space to run. Still very hot + under the lights in the barn etc many bugs and discomforts. But better than sitting around. Had swim + lunch and sun by the pool + will rest for the stretch ahead. They figure to be about 2 days behind but hope to make it up. Afraid I’m here to the bitter end since the R.R. depot scenes are the last and I’m in. So it may be a little longer- but more loot. Maybe I’ll be able to figure a definite date in a few days – work should go faster now. Tonight a chamber of commerce publicity ?? then a cocktail party + what a bore.  I miss you very much my girl. Miss the life we have, realizing how good it is – how wonderful you are and what a miracle it was to find you.

I kiss you + rub your back because I am

The Daddy

Dad at around the time of “Desire in the Dust.” I can tell because there’s a picture of him in “Twelve Angry Men” (also 1960) on the upper left of the bathroom wall. Bottom row center: With Julie Harris in “The Lark.”

I never once heard him call my mother “Mommie,” nor refer to himself as “The Daddy.” I must admit this grates on me, feels wrong. But it seems there was love there, then—not something I saw much of in my childhood. Many years after his death, I listened to some tapes he had recorded about his life not long before it ended. He said he’d married my mother because he thought she would save him from himself and his alcoholism. When she couldn’t or didn’t, he’d had no choice but to do it himself or most certainly lose his life. And then, without love, there were no ties left to hold them together.

---

Footnote: Oddly, without even knowing my father had appeared in another “Desire in the Dust,” I participated in a student film project with the exact same name, at Verde Valley School in Sedona, Arizona. The cast photo is below. No one knows what has become of this film. (Pat Hayes, Laurie Brecheen, Ann Rambo, Glen Ely, me, and the late and sorely missed Channing Thompson, with camera.)

“Did you know that if you tap the ❤️ at the bottom or the top of this email it will help others discover my publication and also MAKE MY DAY?” 

Tidbits For The Week of October 7, 2024

Brigit’s What I’m

CURRENTLY LOVING ➡️  Lucky Jim a memoir by James Hart. Hart was an AA buddy of my dad in 1980's New York City. His story is shocking, wrenching, and uplifting. 
THINKING ABOUT ➡️  My last wonderful book Real Americans, by Rachel Khong.
LISTENING TO ➡️ "Is it Because I'm Black?" Syl Johnson, 1969.