My Great Great Grandmother - Sweet Shop

 My Great, Great Grandmother on my Dad's paternal side had a sweet shop. I believe it was in Rhye, North Wales. As part of he trade she wore a conical black hat, similar to the popular depiction of a pointed Witches hat, but flat at the top. You can see an image of this in the 1948 film "How Green Was My Valley".

These hats, the pointed ones, had been worn for centuries by women who sold ale in busy market places so they could be seen more easily. They were known as "alewives." They brewed their ale in large black cauldrons and kept a broom, made of sticks, outside the door of their shops. It was, for reasons unknown to me, a sign of their trade. The black cats were kept to help ward off the mice who ate the grain meant for the ale. 

As the ale business became more centralized in the 1600's, the larger companies, owned by men, tried to run off their independent, smaller competitors by spreading rumors of witchcraft. At the time sorcery, or witchcraft, was punishable by banishment and even death. Many of these women, particularly in Wales, went into the sweets business. The tools of the trade were similar. The black cauldron now held sugar and water for making rock candy, which made the black cat still indispensable for warding off the mice. 

By the late 19th century the look of the Aleswife and Sweet Seller had been altered for good. Thanks to novels and then film, the history of their trade had been completely co-opted.

"The Other Side of Oz" by Buddy Epsen (1993)

Everybody loves Buddy Ebsen. And we all know that he was supposed to be the original Tin Man in the “Wizard of Oz”; only leaving the role due to an allergic reaction to a very stupid choice of pure aluminum powder for makeup. But the full story of Buddy Ebsen’s life and fabulous career is rarely told. And, who better to tell it; in that inimitable style of his; than Buddy Ebsen.

Born in 1908 Mr. Ebsen was one of those lucky enough to have a career in vaudeville, silent films, talkies and then television. Alone at first, and then with his sister Vilma by his side, he played in several shows on Broadway, and even in the Ziegfeld Follies.

There is so much of Mr. Ebsen’s personality in these pages; it’s like having your grandfather talking to you; especially if you read it like Barnaby Jones. His chapter on the film he did with Shirley Temple was very timely; Ms. Temple passed away just as I finished reading it. His description of her as a very sincere child ring true to what I have read elsewhere. She was slated to play opposite him in “The Wizard of Oz”, but a scheduling conflict with the other studio made it impossible.

Mr. Ebsen is philosophical about it all; including his own problems associated with the film; dismissing it as a stroke of luck. So many of the people involved in that film were the victims of “bad luck” later on in life that he feels almost as if he and Ms. Temple may have both “dodged a bullet”, so to speak. Even Margaret Hamilton; the Wicked Witch of the West; was the victim of severe burns on the set.

This type of thinking concerning fate appears several times throughout the book, as when he encounters Max Baer at a Championship fight in the late 1930’s. In describing the incident he marvels that he was interacting with a man who would later father the child who would not only appear with him in one of his greatest commercial successes, but would also save his life. I won’t spoil that one for you; let’s just say it’s worth the read.

His experiences trying to get in the Navy, and finally settling with the Coast Guard; before winding up in the Navy anyway; are an excellent example of the futility in trying to deal with the government. There was a war on, Mr. Ebsen wanted to fight for his country, yet he couldn't get in! Only after he gave up trying did he get to serve. And then it was on a weather ship off the NW coast of the United States, where he served as Executive Officer aboard the USS Pocatello. He spent a couple of years sending weather balloons aloft in defense of freedom.  This was actually good preparation for his later role on Broadway, where he played the hapless Mr. Roberts, a Navy Lieutenant who was just dying to get off his cargo ship and into the war. Most people remember Henry Fonda in that role, but Mr. Ebsen played it first. Still, this experience was the culmination of his boyhood love for the water, and the springboard to a lifelong love of yachting and racing.

After the war came his only real lack of steady employment in the entertainment business. With the advent of TV came the decline of Vaudeville. Broadway was in a new heyday, but with fewer shows than there had been pre-war. At one point he was reduced to one night stands as part of a 3 act show in movie houses in Brooklyn. This was the lowest point of his career. After having played in the Ziegfeld Revue and alongside some of the best acts in entertainment history, this was the point at which he almost gave it all up. But then along came Disney.

His role alongside Fess Parker; who wound up playing the title role originally promised to Mr. Ebsen; made him “hot” again, and he began to get offers from just about every TV show around. He even got to do his dance routines again for a new audience. Then came the guest spots on programs such as The Andy Griffith Show, where he played a vagabond who has a bad influence on Opie. To prevent the boy from idolizing him too much, he does something very bad; but also very brave; in order to bring the boy back in line.

Within a year of that episode he was in front of the camera, starring as the straight man in Paul Henning’s award winning “The Beverly Hillbillies”, which ran 9 years. This show featured Max Baer, Jr., the son of the boxer previously mentioned. He really does save Mr. Ebsen’s life during the filming of one particular episode. The only hint I’ll give you is that it happened during the filming of one of the “Double Naught Spy” episodes.

This book was an unexpected surprise which came to me while wandering the “stacks” at the library in Mooresville last week. Beautifully illustrated with photos from the authors own collection, this is a book for fans of Broadway, vaudeville, movies and television. And, even if you don’t like The Beverly Hillbillies, you will find much to like about this book.

"At the Codfish Ball" - Shirley Temple with Buddy Ebsen (1936)

Shirley Temple passed away the other day. She was 85 years old. She was also Buddy Ebsen's favorite dance partner; next to his own sister Vilma, of course.  I was just reading about Ms. Temple in Mr. Ebsen's autobiography "The Other Side of Oz", which I will review here next week.

Ms. Temple was the first choice for the role of Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz", which would've suited Mr. Ebsen just fine, as the two had worked together before. This number, "At the Codfish Ball" is from the film "Captain January", which was released in 1936. Godspeed and keep on dancing Ms. Temple!

"I, Toto" by Willard Carroll (2013)

In this highly imaginative and creative book, author Willard Carroll gives voice to the iconic Toto of “Wizard of Oz” fame. The inspiration for this book seems to have come from a chance discovery on the site of the old kennels where Toto was housed and trained by Carl Spitz. The area was being demolished for the widening of Ventura Blvd. when Mr. Carroll came upon a metal box in the debris.

That box contained a scrapbook of the legendary Terrier, who was actually named Terry, and appeared in over 12 films opposite stars such as Shirley Temple and Spencer Tracey, Wallace Beery, Jack Benny, Frederic March, Ida Lupino and of course, Judy Garland, to name a few.

Cleverly taking publicity stills form the films in which Terry appeared, both before and after “The Wizard of Oz”, the author is able to trace the career path which led him to the role as Toto. And, in between, the author dons the persona of Terry and tells his story.

I picked this book up as an antidote to a heavy tome I was reading, and from which I needed a break. Books come in all forms, shapes and sizes. Though this book barely hits 100 pages, it will fill your heart. 

The Andy Griffith Show - Opie's Hobo Friend (1962)

When a hobo named David Browne comes to Mayberry he meets Andy and Opie fishing. They strike up a conversation with Mr. Browne, who is played by Buddy Ebsen, known universally as the Tin Man in “The Wizard of Oz”. Andy and Opie both take an instant liking to this affable man, but Barney is instantly suspicious of Mr. Browne, and brings him in on a vagrancy charge.

But Andy sees something more in this drifter, and even offers him a place to stay and some odd jobs in order to earn some cash. But there’s trouble in Mayberry as Mr. Browne regales Opie with stories of magic and shows him how to take the short cuts in life. His favorite word in the English language is tomorrow. There is nothing, in his estimation, that can’t be put off until then.  When Opie begins to cut school and slack in his chores, Sheriff Taylor is forced to confront Mr. Browne, who is clearly becoming a bad influence on Opie.

But just as you think you know this drifting man, he does something very noble. Knowing that being forced to leave town will only cause a rift between the Sheriff and Opie, Mr. Browne engineers his own expulsion from town by giving Barney just the excuse he needs to run him off. And though it breaks Opie’s heart to lose his new found friend, he is cognizant of the right and wrong involved.

These old Andy Griffith shows are like Sunday sermons. They each convey a message of tolerance, while at the same time delineating the fine line between right and wrong. Buddy Ebsen, of course,  would go on to portray Uncle Jed in “The Beverly Hillbillies” later that same year, a role he would play for the next 8 seasons.