Catherine Sevenau is a writer and storyteller who is out to capture your skittery mind. She's penned three books, compiled numerous collections of family genealogy, and has been a regular columnist in the SUN since 2016. She can be reached at [email protected].
Bought a pair of flashy socks
Chapter 56: 1949 • Sonora ~ Larry and Dad took monthly trips to San Francisco to purchase stock from the Decca, Columbia, and RCA Victor wholesale dealers. Larry decided which records to purchase, as he knew all the popular songs as well as classical music. Other than Burl Ives’ “Big Rock Candy Mountain,” Dad didn’t care much about music. The only song he sang, which was constantly and off-key, was “Goodnight Irene, Goodnight.” It drove Claudia crazy.
On one buying trip Dad got an incredible opportunity from a record store dealer, acquiring all the 78 records he had in stock. He added these to the inventory of thousands of records he’d bought from the music store in Virginia City. However, the owner knew that 78s were soon going to be replaced by new turntables for the longer playing 33s, and also knew Dad didn’t know. The music business was changing and Dad got caught in the middle. When the new 33 long playing records came out, and then the large-holed 45s, he was stuck with thousands of old 78s and an inventory of outdated players he couldn’t give away.
1949 • Larry’s diary (age 15)
Jul 1 Raked the leaves up on the ground for garbage man, took walk around town and up to Grammar School with Peckham
Jul 2 Sold all sparklers but had about 2 gross of them. Took some out for kids. Got $10 for cleaning off roof. Got 8 pack of BB
Jul 3 Mopped up floors at the store till 11:30. Took in $139. Got big boil on left leg. Had nosebleed. Had greased pig contest in front of store, took pictures.
Jul 4 Was in the big Modesto parade with the T.C. Band. Thousands of people there, got sparklers for store.
Jul 5 Went to the pagent rehearsal and got 2 more scenes as a member of Judge Lynches court and the naming of Fiddletown
Jul 6 Went to Columbia for first pagent rehearsal. Got into street scene and parade. Bought a pair of flashy socks.
Jul 7 Went to S.F. Glass on wing window got completely shattered by gravel. Ate at DiMaggio’s 2nd time. Had German band for first time centennial practice
Jul 8 JoAnne and Shirley and mother and father (Mom’s sister Ina and husband Jim) paid us a surprise visit on their way to Yosemite. They only stayed overnight.
Jul 9 Photographers from the San Francisco papers took pictures of the pagent. Stein is the makeup man.
Jul 10 Had pagent practice at 5:30, I am in 2 turntable court scenes, street scene, cavalcade and coming of the waters into a camp
Jul 11 Missed some of the band practice to go to Columbia where I had already missed some of the scenes I am in
Jul 12 JoAnne and Shirley stopped here again. Their car broke down at Yosemite. Washed Knoxes windows for $1.50
Jul 13 Nellie and I had argument. Got back from pagent rehearsal at midnight, now 1:00. Got four more appointments at dentist
Jul 14 Had dress rehearsal of pageant. Had supper there. Got Centennial Edition of Democrat. I am in scene 3-4-7-8-11-12
Jul 15 First day of pageant presentation and Columbia celebration, I had a 3″ beard on. Got Columbia chocolates. Sonora celebrating too.
Catherine Sevenau is a writer, humorist, and storyteller living in Sonoma, California. The stories in this series are excerpts from her book, Through Any Given Door, a Family Memoir; available as a web series at Sevenau.com. A longtime Broker/Realtor at CENTURY 21 Wine Country, she can be reached at [email protected]
