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A railroad worker Zacharias Lewala found the diamond in 1903 while building a railroad through the desert. Research showed that the area was rich in diamonds which made thousands of Germans move to that area. In the search for diamonds Germans built the town Kolmanskop and in 1920 300 men and women lived there with 40 children.

After the WW1 the diamonds reserves were all spent and the town was finally abandoned by 1954. Huge buildings were left behind to face the desert sands and winds.

These days Kolmanskop is a Ghost Town, hosting numerous tourists who come to take photos of the abandoned structures. Numerous movies and sitcoms are being filmed there too.

So you can imagine how excited I was when I stumbled on some vintage Heals posters during one of my online Owling sessions.

I think the 1954 one is my favourite, no wait, the Scandinavian one, no wait…

Sleeve for souvenir photographs from the Crown Propeller Lounge.
Courtesy of the Schlossberg Family

The Crown Propeller Lounge – after which this blog is named – was one of Chicago’s most important venues for R’n'B and Jazz during the 1950s. The town’s larger talent appeared here as well as every other  R’n'B star coming through town (and a lot of jazzers): Tiny Davis, Wynonie Harris, The Moonglows, Stomp Gordon, Jo Jo Adams, Big Maybelle, Ray Charles, The Flamingos, Andy Tibbs, Danny Overbea, Nellie Lutcher, Valaida Snow, Amos Milburn, Johnny Hodges and his Orchestra, Big Joe Turner, Sonny Stitt, Jimmy Rushing, Al Hibbler, T-Bone Walker, Dizzy Gillespie, Arthur  Prysock, Bill Doggett, The Orioles, Illinois Jacquet …  A program quite to my liking, I must say, so that’s why this blog is named Crown Propeller’s blog.

Some weeks ago I was contacted by a lady, who is married to the grandson of Mildred “Mitzi” Schlossberg and Norman Schlossberg, who used to own the Crown Propeller Lounge. The lady asked me, if I had any material she might use for making a birthday collage for Mitzi who turned 97 (!) in January. I could help her just a little, since (other then say for the equally famous Club DeLisa) photographs and memorabilia from the Crown Propeller are rather rare.

One of only two known photographs showing the Crown Propeller Lounge from outside (the other one is here). Judging from the cars in the picture, this photo was taken after the closing of the Lounge in 1959 (photo taken from Sandor Demlinger’s and John Steiner’s beautiful book “Destination Chicago Jazz”). To the right of the Crown Propeller one can see the entrance to Crown Liquors, another business owned by the Schlossbergs.

I asked her to be on the lookout for memorabilia from the Crown Propeller when she was going to her husband’s grandmother’s house and she promised to do so. Then some weeks later I could not believe my eyes when I got a mail from that lady containing some gorgeous photos, which I am presenting you here, courtesy of the Schlossberg Family. I have added some music typical of the Crown Propeller’s programming to go along with it as well as some advertisements featuring the people in the photographs.

(Click to enlarge) Norman Schlossberg (2nd from left), Mitzi Schlossberg
(center) and unidentified others at the Crown Propeller, possibly
late 1940s. Courtesy of the Schlossberg family

The  – undated – photo above was contained in the beautiful souvenir cover seen at the top of this post. It is possible that this photograph was taken in the 1940s when the Crown Propeller  ran a  musical policy that was different from what the lounge later became known for.

Usually the time span for the Crown Propeller’s existence is given  as 1951–1959.  This  seems to be based on an ad from Chicago Defender of August 4, 1951 announcing the opening of the Crown Propeller (strangely enough regarding the newspaper’s date) on August 3rd with singer Ethel Duncan and violinist Leon Abbey’s trio.

From Chicago Defender, August 4, 1951.
Taken from Franz Hoffmann’s “Jazz Advertised”

But the Crown Propeller Lounge had existed before that. The earliest mention I could find is in Billboard of November 14, 1942, where Everett Hull and Victory Boys are announced to appear at the Crown Propeller for four weeks. Billboard of December 19, 1942 mentions Don Jacks as returning to the Crown Propeller on January 12.  Other acts mentioned in Billboard as playing at the Crown Propeller are in 1942 trumpeter Johnny Gibbs with singer Dolores Janis (December ), and in 1943 The Victory Four (Everett Mull, Leon Shash, George Mitchell, George Michaels), Don Jacks (March 20: “picked up another four month holdover at the Crown Propeller”).

From the Billboard Yearbook 1943

The Billboard Yearbook 1944 mentions Don Jacks as having had a two-and-a-half-year engagement at the Crown Propeller, so the Crown Propeller may already have existed in 1941.

There are no mentions for the Crown Propeller in Billboard’s regular issues of 1944 and 1945. The issue of December 14, 1946 mentions Little Sans and Lee Trio at the Crown Propeller, in Billboard of January 15, 1947 the same aggregation is mentioned as having extended four weeks at the CP.

I do not know if the changing of musical policy at the CP came with a changing of venues or if it always had been on 868 East 63rd. From the mentions in Billboard during the fourties I can only gather that it had always been on the South Side of Chicago. Anyway after the (re-)opening on August 3rd, 1951, the Crown Propeller was never looking back to the days of accordeon-and-fiddle bands again.

R’n'B and Jazz – the Crown Propeller takes a new direction.
From Chicago Defender, August 11, 1951.
Taken from Franz Hoffmann’s “Jazz Advertised”

The next photo the lady married to the Schlossberg’s grandson send me is also undated. It shows The 4 Tunes (also known as The Four Tunes), a very famous vocal group in the early 1950s about which you can find a lot of information in Marv Goldberg’s article.

(Click to enlarge) The 4 Tunes (left) and some fans at the Crown Propeller,
date unknown. Courtesy of the Schlossberg family

I can find no reference for a 4 Tunes appearnce at the Crown Propeller, so the photo has to remain undated by now.

One of The 4 Tunes’ greates hits was “Marie”, recorded for Jubilee in 1953. It’s one of my favourite uptempo R’n'B vocal group pieces when I am appearing as DJ Crown Propeller at  the Klub Helsinki. Here is a nice clip from youtube user ilbmlb51 showing the original 78 rpm playing:

The next photo that the lady send me is really fantastic:

(Click to enlarge) Joe Louis, Norman Schlossberg, Sarah Vaughn, King Kolax and
unidentified others at the Crown Propeller, exact date unknown.
Courtesy of the Schlossberg family

Second person from left is boxer Joe Louis, World Heavyweight Champion from 1937 to 1949. Behind him is CP owner Norman Schlossberg and the man front right is local trumpeter and bandleader King Kolax (1912–1991) who is known to the wider jazz world for employing John Coltrane for a while in the late 1940s. There is a lot more to know about Kolax though, and you can find it all on the King Kolax page of the Red Saunders Research Foundation. The woman in the middle is Sarah Vaughn (see comments section) and the one on the right also looks familiar to me, she might be a singer or some other celebrity.There are several possibillities regarding the question when the photo above was taken. Judging from the known ads for the Crown Propeller, Vaughn never was part of the program there. But she was in town several times each year, mostly as part of some jazz package tour . As for King Kolax and his Orchestra: He played at the Crown Propeller in January 1952:

   From Chicago Defender, January 19, 1952.
Taken from Franz Hoffmann’s “Jazz Advertised”

And then again in March:

From Chicago Defender, March 22, 1952.
Taken from Franz Hoffmann’s “Jazz Advertised”

In May 1952 Kolax was also at the Crown Propller, when Sax Mallard (about whom more later) was also on the bill.

From Chicago Defender, May 31, 1952.
Taken from Franz Hoffmann’s “Jazz Advertised”

From Chicago Defender, June 14, 1952.
Taken from Franz Hoffmann’s “Jazz Advertised”

Then Kolax’ band was acting as house band from mid 1954 to January 1955. One of the CP’s main attraction at that time was still the “Aqua-Tease” of sea nymph Atlantis with whom the Croen Propeller had started in 1951. In 1954 Kolax joined Atlantis in the 500 gallon tank for a photo published in Jet magazine in September.

Jet, September 16, 1954.

From Chicago Defender, November 13, 1954.
Taken from Franz Hoffmann’s “Jazz Advertised”

Probably his success at the Crown Propeller lead King Kolax to record for Vee Jay in December 1954 (and later in Sepetember 1955). Parts of these sessions are said to having been arranged by Sonny Blount, later known throughout the cosmos as intergalactic band leader Sun Ra. “Vivian” from December 1954 is one of the tracks of which  some people – including me –  think they might be a Ra arrangement. The band consists of  Kolax (tp), Harold Ousley (ts), Prentice McCarey (p), “Cowboy” Martin (b),  and Leon Hooper (d,  perc).

In October 1956 King Kolax returned to the Crown Propeller for two weeks (Della Reese was followed by Louis Jordan and then by Charles Brown who brought their own bands):

From Chicago Defender, October 20, 1956.
Taken from Franz Hoffmann’s “Jazz Advertised”

Kolax was also engaged by the Crown Propeller in February 1957, but it is not clear how long this gig lasted.

The next photo the lady send me send me shows another local Chicago legend: Saxophonist Oett “Sax” Mallard (1915–1986). This photo also could have been taken on different dates.

(Click to enlarge) Mitzi Schlossberg and Oett “Sax” Mallard
(with retouched glasses) at the Crown Propeller, exact date unknown.
Courtesy of the Schlossberg family

Sax Mallard, about whom you can find a lot more information on the Sax Mallard page of the Red Saunders Research Foundation, made his name recording blues with people like Roosevelt Sykes, Tampa Red, Big Bill Broonzy in sessions for RCA-Victor in the 1940s. For a while in 1943 Mallard substituted for Otto Hardwick in Duke Ellington’s orchestra. Starting in 1947 for Aristocrat Mallard had the chance to record some tracks under his own name.

Here is a video of a copy of Checker 750  from my collection. “Slow Caboose”, a typical tenor sax fuelled piece of jukebox fodder, was recorded in January 1951 with Sax Mallard (ts) an unidentified trumpeter, probably Jimmy Bowman piano; probably Ernest “Big” Crawford on bass and Osie Johnson drums (Johnson also does some dramatic baritone singing on another side from this session). This one is so echo-filled that you might imagine yourself being in deep in dub land.

Mallard’s band was the Crown Propeller’s house band at different times, starting with some months in 1951 and 1952.

From Chicago Defender, September 1, 1951.
Taken from Franz Hoffmann’s “Jazz Advertised”

From Chicago Defender, September 29, 1951.
Taken from Franz Hoffmann’s “Jazz Advertised”

From Chicago Defender, November 24, 1951.
Taken from Franz Hoffmann’s “Jazz Advertised”

During the early fifties Sax Mallard backed quite a few singers and r’n'b vocal groups on records.

In March 1953 he went to Chicago’s Universal Recording studios where his group was backing Mitzi Mars in a session for Checker Records:

From the Crown Propeller Collection.

One of Mitzi Mars’ tunes with Sax Mallard’s band backing her – “Roll ‘Em” –  was uploaded on youtube by youtube user Rosenda Moore:

From November 1953 to summer 1954, Mallard’s Combo was the Crown Propeller’s house band again. During this time the Crown Propeller’s main attractions were people like Jimmy Witherspoon, Billy Brooks, Scatman Crothers, Lowell Fulson, Ray Charles, Big Maybelle, Wynonie Harris, Amos Milburn and Valaida Snow.

From Chicago Defender, November 29, 1953.
Taken from Franz Hoffmann’s “Jazz Advertised”

From Chicago Defender, January 9, 1954.
Taken from Franz Hoffmann’s “Jazz Advertised”

.

Sax Mallard’s last appearances at the CP took place in August 1957 (two weeks) and again from December 1957 on (length of engagement unknown) At that time the Crown Propeller was already in decline. The club closed in 1959 and by early 1960 the Schlossbergs had moved to Florida.

Finally the lady married to the Schlossberg’s grandson send me another nice photo of Mildred “Mitzi” Schlossberg. Obviously this was taken in a year where January 17th was a tuesday which points to 1950 or 1956. Neither an “Amateur Night” nor a “Crazy Auction” is mentioned in the Crown Propeller ads for 1956. So I would say 1950.

(Click to enlarge) Mitzi Schlossberg and probably not Cary Grant at the
Crown Propeller Lounge, probably 1950. Courtesy of the Schlossberg Family.

Again I have to thank  the Schlossberg Family for these beautiful photographs that allow a rare glimpse inside the Crown Propeller. The lady married to the Schlossberg’s grandson has promised to look if she can find anymore memorabilia of the Crown Propeller Lounge. If she does, I will keep you all informed.

Enjoy!

Steam Threshing & Trains

Pioneer Public Television is proud to premiere the next episode of Postcards on Sunday, April 7, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. with “Steam Threshing & Trains”.

In this episode we will experience the sights and smells of Rollag, Minnesota, at the annual Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion, held every Labor Day weekend since 1954. Then, tour the immaculately preserved and extensive End-O-Line Railroad Park & Museum in the small town of Currie, which draws visitors from all over.

This episode of Postcards is now available to view online: http://video.pioneer.org/video/2364991877/.

Click here to buy a poster of this program cover.

Carolina del Norte

Giovanni da Verrazano navegó la costa Atlántica de América del Norte en 1524, hizo reclamaciones para Francia. Hernando de Soto llegó hasta el actual estado de Carolina del Norte en 1540. Había llegado a la Florida en 1539. En 1585 Patrocinado por Sir Walter Raleigh (en 1584 la reina Elizabeth I le dio a Raleigh el permiso (charter) o propiedad de “Virginia”, que consistía en la costa del continente de América del Norte desde Maine hasta la Florida) se estableció un asiento en la Isla Roanoke. A los colonos no le fue bien y en 1586 siguiente regresaron a Inglaterra. Sir Walter Raleigh patrocinó otro asiento en la Isla Roanoke, los colonos llegaron el 22 de julio de 1587 y se establecieron bajo las órdenes de John White. White fue a Inglaterra en busca de abastecimiento. Inglaterra se vio amenazada por la Armada Invencible requiriendo todas sus energías para hacerle frente al enemigo que avanzaba sobre ella. White no pudo regresar al asiento en Carolina del Norte hasta el 17 de agosto de 1590. De las 117 personas en el asiento no se encontró ningún rastro, sólo la palabra “CROATOAN” tallada en un árbol. Desde 1691 la Colonia de Carolina tenía un gobernador instalado en Charleston. El gobernador era seleccionado por ocho nobles ingleses que desde 1663 eran los propietarios del territorio. El 9 de mayo de 1712 se le asignaron dos gobernadores al territorio y aunque aun estos gobernadores eran seleccionados por los ocho nobles, comenzó la separación de las Carolinas. En 1729 los Nobles Propietarios le cedieron sus derechos sobre Carolina a la corona. Se separó Carolina en dos colonias reales: Carolina del Norte y Carolina del Sur. La Colonia de Carolina del Norte envió delegados al Primer Congreso Continental celebrado en Filadelfia, Pensilvania. Este congreso fue delebrado en 1774 del 5 de septiembre al 26 de octubre. Doce colonias en total enviaron delegados. La Colonia de Carolina del Norte envió delegados al Segundo Congreso Continental celebrado en Filadelfia, Pensilvania, que comenzó el 10 de mayo de 1775. Trece colonias enviaron delegados: Carolina del Norte, Carolina del Sur, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nueva Jersey, Nueva York, Nuevo Hampshire, Pensilvania, Rhode Island y Virginia. Este congreso declaró la independencia de las trece colonias que pasaron a ser los Estados Unidos de América. El 1 de marzo de 1781 se ratificaron los Artículos de Confederación y al otro día, el 2 de marzo de 1781, el Segundo Congreso Continental pasó a ser el Congreso Continental bajo los Artículos de Confederación o el Congreso de la Confederación (Confederation Congress). Los Artículos de Confederación el 4 de marzo de 1789 fueron reemplazados por la Constitución como la ley suprema de los Estados Unidos de América. Carolina del Norte el 21 de noviembre de 1789 ratificó la Constitución de los Estados Unidos de América. Fue el 12º estado en la Unión. Carolina del Norte el 20 de mayo de 1861 abandonó la Unión. En vez de “separarse” de la Unión prefirió “anular” el acto que la incluía en la Unión. Los estados de Carolina del Sur, Misisipi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Luisiana, Texas, Virginia y Arkansas ya se habían separado de la Unión. El presidente Abraham Lincoln emitió la Proclamación de Emancipación el 1 de enero de 1863. Esta proclamación erradicó la esclavitud en los estados confederados: Alabama, Arkansas, Carolina del Norte, Carolina del Sur, Florida, Georgia, Luisiana, Misisipi, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia. A pesar que era un paso en la dirección que los abolicionistas deseaban, no era del todo satisfactoria. Algunos estados donde era permitida la esclavitud no se habían separado de la Unión (Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland y Misuri) y por tanto esta proclama no les aplicaba. Tampoco aplicaba a territorios bajo el control de la Unión. Después de terminada la Guerra Civil, ya muerto el presidente Lincoln, la Enmienda 13º de la Constitución, ratificada el 6 de diciembre de 1865, erradicó la esclavitud en todo los Estados Unidos de América y sus territorios. Los hermanos Wright realizaron el primer vuelo de su avión, más pesado que el aire, el 17 de diciembre de 1903 en Kitty Hawk, Carolina del Norte. Fueron cuatro los vuelos efectuados ese día; el primer vuelo logró mantenerse en el aire doce segundos, siendo el de mayor duración de cincuenta y nueve segundos y volando una distancia de 852 pies. Este evento comenzó la era de la aviación. El ciclón Hazel el 15 de octubre de 1954 entró en Carolina del Norte. Las consecuencias de esta tormenta fueron diecinueve muertos, quince mil casas y otras estructuras destruidas y treinta y nueve mil casas y otras estructuras dañadas. El ciclón Floyd entró el 16 de septiembre 1999 en Carolina del Norte, manteniéndose en el extremo este del estado mientras continuaba su trayectoria hacia el noreste. En el estado de Carolina del Norte causó treinta y cinco muertos, diecisiete mil casas inhabitables y cincuenta y seis mil casas dañadas.

1962
McCreless Shopping City holds its grand opening celebration.  The new mall contains the city’s second Montgomery Ward department store (above.)

2000
Waterman Broadcasting announces sale of KTSA and KTFM radio stations to Infinity Broadcasting for $90 million.

Shammi Kapoor had acted in over a dozen films as a lead actor in early 50s, most of which flopped at the box office. Chor Bazaar (1954) was one film. It was produced under the banner of All India Pictures and it was directed by P N Arora. The star cast included Shammi Kapoor, Sumitra Devi, Chitra, Om Prakash, Kammo, Amir, Cuckoo. Parshuram etc with a guest appearance by Wasti. This film had six songs all written by Shakeel Badayuni and set to music by Sardar Malik. I remembered the name of this film only because of an immortal song “huyi ye hamse naadaani teri mehefil mein aa baithhe” from this film which I had heard on my younger days on radio. Recently, I had seen this film on the VCD that I have with me. As usual with almost all VCDs of old films, the film lacks continuity in some places because of lots of cuts. I did not find one song ” Har dar ki thokerein hain” sung by Lata Mangeshkar in the VCD.

The story of the film revolves around a kingdom somewhere in the Arabian desert where Mustafa, the caretaker ruler of the kingdom and the uncle of the infant prince Murad, plans to eliminate him to become the king. For this purpose, he entrusts this job to one of his close confidants who zeroes in on Yusuf Ustad (Om Prakash), the Chief of thieves in chor bazaar street of the kingdom in getting the infant prince Murad killed. However, instead of killing the infant, Yusuf kidnaps him and raises him as one of his own offsprings. To be on the safer side, Yusuf even leaves the kingdom with his family to a faraway place.

When Murad (Shammi Kapoor) grows up, he also becomes an expert thief. The family shifts back to the kingdom. Yusuf now become rich but he still needs money to raise an army to overthrow Mustafa and install Murad as the legitimate king. On the advice of his foster father Yusuf, Murad goes for a reconnaissance of the palace for a decoity. During this time, he sees the princes Gulnar (Sumitra Devi) in her chamber and starts liking her. Princess Gulnar is none other than the daughter of the caretaker ruler Mustafa. In the plan for dacoity in the palace, Yusuf and Murad take the help of another thief, Suki (Chitra) who had stolen an invaluable pearl given to Princess Gulnar by Prince Hyder as part of the nikhah. Suki loves Murad who does not respond to her overtures. Rest of the film is full of action and drama on the expected lines.

At the end all goes well and Prince Murad with the help of his foster father Yusuf, his henchmen and Suki, invade Mustafa’s palace. Luckily for Prince Murad, he had on his left arm a seal of his kingdom embossed which proves his identity as Prince Murad, the successor to the kingdom. With this proof, Mustafa’s army becomes loyal to Prince Murad and he becomes successful in taking over the palace with the help of Mustaf’s army. Generally, in a love triangle like this film, one of the lovers would be seen to be sacrificing for the sake of his other love interest to fructify. In this film, all goes well for everyone. Mustafa is pardoned and the new king Murad orders him to leave the kingdom. King Murad marries Suki, the thief (Chitra) while Princess Gulnar (Sumitra Devi) is persuaded to marry Prince Hyder of an adjoining kingdom with whom her nikhah was already fixed even though she and Prince Murad loved each other.

Interestingly, the lead actress Sumitra Devi did not have any song to sing in the film. Even Shammi Kapoor had only one song picturised on him which was sung by Talat Mehmood. The song was “Tere dar pe aaya hoon fariyaad lekar”. Going by the lyrics and the fact that the song was sung in the voice of Talat Mehmood, I was under this impression from my younger days that it was a sad song. But after watching the expressions of Shammi Kapoor and Simitra Devi in the video clip, it appears that the song is more like teasing in a poignant note to express love.

Song-Tere dar pe aaya hoon fariyaad lekar (Chor Baazaar)(1954) Singer-Talat Mehmood, Lyrics-Shakeel Badayuni, MD-Sardar Malik

Lyrics

tere dar pe aaya hoon fariyaad lekar
tere dar pe aaya hoon fariyaad lekar
zubaan par gham-e-dil ki roodaad lekar
tere dar pe aayaa

pareshaan hai dil
ghadi bhar ko aa jaa
pareshaan hai dil
ghadi bhar ko aa jaa
zaraa meri sun jaa
aur apni sunaa jaa
kahaan jaaun main haal-e-barbaad lekar
tere dar pe aayaa hoon fariyaad lekar
zubaan par gham-e-dil ki roodaad lekar
tere dar pe aayaa

mere dard-e-dil se nahin bekhabar tu
mere dard-e-dil se nahin bekhabar tu
baney meri qismat
jo kar de nazar tu
mohabbat se naakaamiyaan chhaa gayin hain
ummeedon ki kaliyaan bhi murjhaa gayin hain
kahin mar na jaaun teri yaad lekar
tere dar pe aayaa hoon fariyaad lekar
zubaan par gham-e-dil ki roodaad lekar
tere dar pe aayaa

1954
Big Joe Turner entertains at Woodlake Country Club along with Guitar Slim and his Orchestra.

1968
Lackland Air Force Base has begun construction of five buildings that will be the beginning of the “super barracks” for Air Force basic trainees.  The buildings, which will cost $3 million each to build, will house 1,040 men.  The first of the new buildings is scheduled for completion in February 1969.  All five should be completed by June 1969.

Image: United States National Archives

Domino Theory

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domino_theory

The Nag Hammadi Library

The Gospel of Thomas

Translated by Stephen Patterson and Marvin Meyer

(Visit the Gospel of Thomas Collection for additional information)

These are the secret sayings that the living Jesus spoke and Didymos Judas Thomas recorded.

1. And he said, “Whoever discovers the interpretation of these sayings will not taste death.”

2. Jesus said, “Those who seek should not stop seeking until they find. When they find, they will be disturbed. When they are disturbed, they will marvel, and will reign over all. [And after they have reigned they will rest.]“

3. Jesus said, “If your leaders say to you, ‘Look, the (Father’s) kingdom is in the sky,’ then the birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, ‘It is in the sea,’ then the fish will precede you. Rather, the (Father’s) kingdom is within you and it is outside you.

When you know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will understand that you are children of the living Father. But if you do not know yourselves, then you live in poverty, and you are the poverty.”

4. Jesus said, “The person old in days won’t hesitate to ask a little child seven days old about the place of life, and that person will live.

For many of the first will be last, and will become a single one.”

5. Jesus said, “Know what is in front of your face, and what is hidden from you will be disclosed to you.

For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed. [And there is nothing buried that will not be raised.]“

6. His disciples asked him and said to him, “Do you want us to fast? How should we pray? Should we give to charity? What diet should we observe?”

Jesus said, “Don’t lie, and don’t do what you hate, because all things are disclosed before heaven. After all, there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and there is nothing covered up that will remain undisclosed.”

7. Jesus said, “Lucky is the lion that the human will eat, so that the lion becomes human. And foul is the human that the lion will eat, and the lion still will become human.”

8. And he said, “The person is like a wise fisherman who cast his net into the sea and drew it up from the sea full of little fish. Among them the wise fisherman discovered a fine large fish. He threw all the little fish back into the sea, and easily chose the large fish. Anyone here with two good ears had better listen!”

9. Jesus said, “Look, the sower went out, took a handful (of seeds), and scattered (them). Some fell on the road, and the birds came and gathered them. Others fell on rock, and they didn’t take root in the soil and didn’t produce heads of grain. Others fell on thorns, and they choked the seeds and worms ate them. And others fell on good soil, and it produced a good crop: it yielded sixty per measure and one hundred twenty per measure.”

10. Jesus said, “I have cast fire upon the world, and look, I’m guarding it until it blazes.”

11. Jesus said, “This heaven will pass away, and the one above it will pass away.

The dead are not alive, and the living will not die. During the days when you ate what is dead, you made it come alive. When you are in the light, what will you do? On the day when you were one, you became two. But when you become two, what will you do?”

12. The disciples said to Jesus, “We know that you are going to leave us. Who will be our leader?”

Jesus said to them, “No matter where you are you are to go to James the Just, for whose sake heaven and earth came into being.”

13. Jesus said to his disciples, “Compare me to something and tell me what I am like.”

Simon Peter said to him, “You are like a just messenger.”

Matthew said to him, “You are like a wise philosopher.”

Thomas said to him, “Teacher, my mouth is utterly unable to say what you are like.”

Jesus said, “I am not your teacher. Because you have drunk, you have become intoxicated from the bubbling spring that I have tended.”

And he took him, and withdrew, and spoke three sayings to him. When Thomas came back to his friends they asked him, “What did Jesus say to you?”

Thomas said to them, “If I tell you one of the sayings he spoke to me, you will pick up rocks and stone me, and fire will come from the rocks and devour you.”

14. Jesus said to them, “If you fast, you will bring sin upon yourselves, and if you pray, you will be condemned, and if you give to charity, you will harm your spirits.

When you go into any region and walk about in the countryside, when people take you in, eat what they serve you and heal the sick among them.

After all, what goes into your mouth will not defile you; rather, it’s what comes out of your mouth that will defile you.”

15. Jesus said, “When you see one who was not born of woman, fall on your faces and worship. That one is your Father.”

16. Jesus said, “Perhaps people think that I have come to cast peace upon the world. They do not know that I have come to cast conflicts upon the earth: fire, sword, war.

For there will be five in a house: there’ll be three against two and two against three, father against son and son against father, and they will stand alone.”

17. Jesus said, “I will give you what no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, what no hand has touched, what has not arisen in the human heart.”

18. The disciples said to Jesus, “Tell us, how will our end come?”

Jesus said, “Have you found the beginning, then, that you are looking for the end? You see, the end will be where the beginning is.

Congratulations to the one who stands at the beginning: that one will know the end and will not taste death.”

19. Jesus said, “Congratulations to the one who came into being before coming into being.

If you become my disciples and pay attention to my sayings, these stones will serve you.

For there are five trees in Paradise for you; they do not change, summer or winter, and their leaves do not fall. Whoever knows them will not taste death.”

20. The disciples said to Jesus, “Tell us what Heaven’s kingdom is like.”

He said to them, “It’s like a mustard seed, the smallest of all seeds, but when it falls on prepared soil, it produces a large plant and becomes a shelter for birds of the sky.”

21. Mary said to Jesus, “What are your disciples like?”

He said, “They are like little children living in a field that is not theirs. When the owners of the field come, they will say, ‘Give us back our field.’ They take off their clothes in front of them in order to give it back to them, and they return their field to them.

For this reason I say, if the owners of a house know that a thief is coming, they will be on guard before the thief arrives and will not let the thief break into their house (their domain) and steal their possessions.

As for you, then, be on guard against the world. Prepare yourselves with great strength, so the robbers can’t find a way to get to you, for the trouble you expect will come.

Let there be among you a person who understands.

When the crop ripened, he came quickly carrying a sickle and harvested it. Anyone here with two good ears had better listen!”

22. Jesus saw some babies nursing. He said to his disciples, “These nursing babies are like those who enter the (Father’s) kingdom.”

They said to him, “Then shall we enter the (Father’s) kingdom as babies?”

Jesus said to them, “When you make the two into one, and when you make the inner like the outer and the outer like the inner, and the upper like the lower, and when you make male and female into a single one, so that the male will not be male nor the female be female, when you make eyes in place of an eye, a hand in place of a hand, a foot in place of a foot, an image in place of an image, then you will enter [the kingdom].”

23. Jesus said, “I shall choose you, one from a thousand and two from ten thousand, and they will stand as a single one.”

24. His disciples said, “Show us the place where you are, for we must seek it.”

He said to them, “Anyone here with two ears had better listen! There is light within a person of light, and it shines on the whole world. If it does not shine, it is dark.”

25. Jesus said, “Love your friends like your own soul, protect them like the pupil of your eye.”

26. Jesus said, “You see the sliver in your friend’s eye, but you don’t see the timber in your own eye. When you take the timber out of your own eye, then you will see well enough to remove the sliver from your friend’s eye.”

27. “If you do not fast from the world, you will not find the (Father’s) kingdom. If you do not observe the sabbath as a sabbath you will not see the Father.”

28. Jesus said, “I took my stand in the midst of the world, and in flesh I appeared to them. I found them all drunk, and I did not find any of them thirsty. My soul ached for the children of humanity, because they are blind in their hearts and do not see, for they came into the world empty, and they also seek to depart from the world empty.

But meanwhile they are drunk. When they shake off their wine, then they will change their ways.”

29. Jesus said, “If the flesh came into being because of spirit, that is a marvel, but if spirit came into being because of the body, that is a marvel of marvels.

Yet I marvel at how this great wealth has come to dwell in this poverty.”

30. Jesus said, “Where there are three deities, they are divine. Where there are two or one, I am with that one.”

31. Jesus said, “No prophet is welcome on his home turf; doctors don’t cure those who know them.”

32. Jesus said, “A city built on a high hill and fortified cannot fall, nor can it be hidden.”

33. Jesus said, “What you will hear in your ear, in the other ear proclaim from your rooftops.

After all, no one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, nor does one put it in a hidden place. Rather, one puts it on a lampstand so that all who come and go will see its light.”

34. Jesus said, “If a blind person leads a blind person, both of them will fall into a hole.”

35. Jesus said, “One can’t enter a strong person’s house and take it by force without tying his hands. Then one can loot his house.”

36. Jesus said, “Do not fret, from morning to evening and from evening to morning, [about your food--what you're going to eat, or about your clothing--] what you are going to wear. [You're much better than the lilies, which neither card nor spin.

As for you, when you have no garment, what will you put on? Who might add to your stature? That very one will give you your garment.]“

37. His disciples said, “When will you appear to us, and when will we see you?”

Jesus said, “When you strip without being ashamed, and you take your clothes and put them under your feet like little children and trample then, then [you] will see the son of the living one and you will not be afraid.”

38. Jesus said, “Often you have desired to hear these sayings that I am speaking to you, and you have no one else from whom to hear them. There will be days when you will seek me and you will not find me.”

39. Jesus said, “The Pharisees and the scholars have taken the keys of knowledge and have hidden them. They have not entered nor have they allowed those who want to enter to do so.

As for you, be as sly as snakes and as simple as doves.”

40. Jesus said, “A grapevine has been planted apart from the Father. Since it is not strong, it will be pulled up by its root and will perish.”

41. Jesus said, “Whoever has something in hand will be given more, and whoever has nothing will be deprived of even the little they have.”

42. Jesus said, “Be passersby.”

43. His disciples said to him, “Who are you to say these things to us?”

“You don’t understand who I am from what I say to you.

Rather, you have become like the Judeans, for they love the tree but hate its fruit, or they love the fruit but hate the tree.”

44. Jesus said, “Whoever blasphemes against the Father will be forgiven, and whoever blasphemes against the son will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the holy spirit will not be forgiven, either on earth or in heaven.”

45. Jesus said, “Grapes are not harvested from thorn trees, nor are figs gathered from thistles, for they yield no fruit.

Good persons produce good from what they’ve stored up; bad persons produce evil from the wickedness they’ve stored up in their hearts, and say evil things. For from the overflow of the heart they produce evil.”

46. Jesus said, “From Adam to John the Baptist, among those born of women, no one is so much greater than John the Baptist that his eyes should not be averted.

But I have said that whoever among you becomes a child will recognize the (Father’s) kingdom and will become greater than John.”

47. Jesus said, “A person cannot mount two horses or bend two bows.

And a slave cannot serve two masters, otherwise that slave will honor the one and offend the other.

Nobody drinks aged wine and immediately wants to drink young wine. Young wine is not poured into old wineskins, or they might break, and aged wine is not poured into a new wineskin, or it might spoil.

An old patch is not sewn onto a new garment, since it would create a tear.”

48. Jesus said, “If two make peace with each other in a single house, they will say to the mountain, ‘Move from here!’ and it will move.”

49. Jesus said, “Congratulations to those who are alone and chosen, for you will find the kingdom. For you have come from it, and you will return there again.”

50. Jesus said, “If they say to you, ‘Where have you come from?’ say to them, ‘We have come from the light, from the place where the light came into being by itself, established [itself], and appeared in their image.’

If they say to you, ‘Is it you?’ say, ‘We are its children, and we are the chosen of the living Father.’

If they ask you, ‘What is the evidence of your Father in you?’ say to them, ‘It is motion and rest.’”

51. His disciples said to him, “When will the rest for the dead take place, and when will the new world come?”

He said to them, “What you are looking forward to has come, but you don’t know it.”

52. His disciples said to him, “Twenty-four prophets have spoken in Israel, and they all spoke of you.”

He said to them, “You have disregarded the living one who is in your presence, and have spoken of the dead.”

53. His disciples said to him, “Is circumcision useful or not?”

He said to them, “If it were useful, their father would produce children already circumcised from their mother. Rather, the true circumcision in spirit has become profitable in every respect.”

54. Jesus said, “Congratulations to the poor, for to you belongs Heaven’s kingdom.”

55. Jesus said, “Whoever does not hate father and mother cannot be my disciple, and whoever does not hate brothers and sisters, and carry the cross as I do, will not be worthy of me.”

56. Jesus said, “Whoever has come to know the world has discovered a carcass, and whoever has discovered a carcass, of that person the world is not worthy.”

57 Jesus said, “The Father’s kingdom is like a person who has [good] seed. His enemy came during the night and sowed weeds among the good seed. The person did not let the workers pull up the weeds, but said to them, ‘No, otherwise you might go to pull up the weeds and pull up the wheat along with them.’ For on the day of the harvest the weeds will be conspicuous, and will be pulled up and burned.”

58. Jesus said, “Congratulations to the person who has toiled and has found life.”

59. Jesus said, “Look to the living one as long as you live, otherwise you might die and then try to see the living one, and you will be unable to see.”

60. He saw a Samaritan carrying a lamb and going to Judea. He said to his disciples, “that person … around the lamb.” They said to him, “So that he may kill it and eat it.” He said to them, “He will not eat it while it is alive, but only after he has killed it and it has become a carcass.”

They said, “Otherwise he can’t do it.”

He said to them, “So also with you, seek for yourselves a place for rest, or you might become a carcass and be eaten.”

61. Jesus said, “Two will recline on a couch; one will die, one will live.”

Salome said, “Who are you mister? You have climbed onto my couch and eaten from my table as if you are from someone.”

Jesus said to her, “I am the one who comes from what is whole. I was granted from the things of my Father.”

“I am your disciple.”

“For this reason I say, if one is whole, one will be filled with light, but if one is divided, one will be filled with darkness.”

62. Jesus said, “I disclose my mysteries to those [who are worthy] of [my] mysteries.

63 Jesus said, “There was a rich person who had a great deal of money. He said, ‘I shall invest my money so that I may sow, reap, plant, and fill my storehouses with produce, that I may lack nothing.’ These were the things he was thinking in his heart, but that very night he died. Anyone here with two ears had better listen!”

64. Jesus said, “A person was receiving guests. When he had prepared the dinner, he sent his slave to invite the guests.

The slave went to the first and said to that one, ‘My master invites you.’ That one said, ‘Some merchants owe me money; they are coming to me tonight. I have to go and give them instructions. Please excuse me from dinner.’

The slave went to another and said to that one, ‘My master has invited you.’ That one said to the slave, ‘I have bought a house, and I have been called away for a day. I shall have no time.’

The slave went to another and said to that one, ‘My master invites you.’ That one said to the slave, ‘My friend is to be married, and I am to arrange the banquet. I shall not be able to come. Please excuse me from dinner.’

The slave went to another and said to that one, ‘My master invites you.’ That one said to the slave, ‘I have bought an estate, and I am going to collect the rent. I shall not be able to come. Please excuse me.’

The slave returned and said to his master, ‘Those whom you invited to dinner have asked to be excused.’ The master said to his slave, ‘Go out on the streets and bring back whomever you find to have dinner.’

Buyers and merchants [will] not enter the places of my Father.”

65. He said, “A [...] person owned a vineyard and rented it to some farmers, so they could work it and he could collect its crop from them. He sent his slave so the farmers would give him the vineyard’s crop. They grabbed him, beat him, and almost killed him, and the slave returned and told his master. His master said, ‘Perhaps he didn’t know them.’ He sent another slave, and the farmers beat that one as well. Then the master sent his son and said, ‘Perhaps they’ll show my son some respect.’ Because the farmers knew that he was the heir to the vineyard, they grabbed him and killed him. Anyone here with two ears had better listen!”

66. Jesus said, “Show me the stone that the builders rejected: that is the keystone.”

67. Jesus said, “Those who know all, but are lacking in themselves, are utterly lacking.”

68. Jesus said, “Congratulations to you when you are hated and persecuted; and no place will be found, wherever you have been persecuted.”

69. Jesus said, “Congratulations to those who have been persecuted in their hearts: they are the ones who have truly come to know the Father.

Congratulations to those who go hungry, so the stomach of the one in want may be filled.”

70. Jesus said, “If you bring forth what is within you, what you have will save you. If you do not have that within you, what you do not have within you [will] kill you.”

71. Jesus said, “I will destroy [this] house, and no one will be able to build it [...].”

72. A [person said] to him, “Tell my brothers to divide my father’s possessions with me.”

He said to the person, “Mister, who made me a divider?”

He turned to his disciples and said to them, “I’m not a divider, am I?”

73. Jesus said, “The crop is huge but the workers are few, so beg the harvest boss to dispatch workers to the fields.”

74. He said, “Lord, there are many around the drinking trough, but there is nothing in the well.”

75. Jesus said, “There are many standing at the door, but those who are alone will enter the bridal suite.”

76. Jesus said, “The Father’s kingdom is like a merchant who had a supply of merchandise and found a pearl. That merchant was prudent; he sold the merchandise and bought the single pearl for himself.

So also with you, seek his treasure that is unfailing, that is enduring, where no moth comes to eat and no worm destroys.”

77. Jesus said, “I am the light that is over all things. I am all: from me all came forth, and to me all attained.

Split a piece of wood; I am there.

Lift up the stone, and you will find me there.”

78. Jesus said, “Why have you come out to the countryside? To see a reed shaken by the wind? And to see a person dressed in soft clothes, [like your] rulers and your powerful ones? They are dressed in soft clothes, and they cannot understand truth.”

79. A woman in the crowd said to him, “Lucky are the womb that bore you and the breasts that fed you.”

He said to [her], “Lucky are those who have heard the word of the Father and have truly kept it. For there will be days when you will say, ‘Lucky are the womb that has not conceived and the breasts that have not given milk.’”

80. Jesus said, “Whoever has come to know the world has discovered the body, and whoever has discovered the body, of that one the world is not worthy.”

81. Jesus said, “Let one who has become wealthy reign, and let one who has power renounce <it>.”

82. Jesus said, “Whoever is near me is near the fire, and whoever is far from me is far from the (Father’s) kingdom.”

83. Jesus said, “Images are visible to people, but the light within them is hidden in the image of the Father’s light. He will be disclosed, but his image is hidden by his light.”

84. Jesus said, “When you see your likeness, you are happy. But when you see your images that came into being before you and that neither die nor become visible, how much you will have to bear!”

85. Jesus said, “Adam came from great power and great wealth, but he was not worthy of you. For had he been worthy, [he would] not [have tasted] death.”

86. Jesus said, “[Foxes have] their dens and birds have their nests, but human beings have no place to lay down and rest.”

87. Jesus said, “How miserable is the body that depends on a body, and how miserable is the soul that depends on these two.”

88. Jesus said, “The messengers and the prophets will come to you and give you what belongs to you. You, in turn, give them what you have, and say to yourselves, ‘When will they come and take what belongs to them?’”

89. Jesus said, “Why do you wash the outside of the cup? Don’t you understand that the one who made the inside is also the one who made the outside?”

90. Jesus said, “Come to me, for my yoke is comfortable and my lordship is gentle, and you will find rest for yourselves.”

91. They said to him, “Tell us who you are so that we may believe in you.”

He said to them, “You examine the face of heaven and earth, but you have not come to know the one who is in your presence, and you do not know how to examine the present moment.”

92. Jesus said, “Seek and you will find.

In the past, however, I did not tell you the things about which you asked me then. Now I am willing to tell them, but you are not seeking them.”

93. “Don’t give what is holy to dogs, for they might throw them upon the manure pile. Don’t throw pearls [to] pigs, or they might … it [...].”

94. Jesus [said], “One who seeks will find, and for [one who knocks] it will be opened.”

95. [Jesus said], “If you have money, don’t lend it at interest. Rather, give [it] to someone from whom you won’t get it back.”

96. Jesus [said], “The Father’s kingdom is like [a] woman. She took a little leaven, [hid] it in dough, and made it into large loaves of bread. Anyone here with two ears had better listen!”

97. Jesus said, “The [Father's] kingdom is like a woman who was carrying a [jar] full of meal. While she was walking along [a] distant road, the handle of the jar broke and the meal spilled behind her [along] the road. She didn’t know it; she hadn’t noticed a problem. When she reached her house, she put the jar down and discovered that it was empty.”

98. Jesus said, “The Father’s kingdom is like a person who wanted to kill someone powerful. While still at home he drew his sword and thrust it into the wall to find out whether his hand would go in. Then he killed the powerful one.”

99. The disciples said to him, “Your brothers and your mother are standing outside.”

He said to them, “Those here who do what my Father wants are my brothers and my mother. They are the ones who will enter my Father’s kingdom.”

100. They showed Jesus a gold coin and said to him, “The Roman emperor’s people demand taxes from us.”

He said to them, “Give the emperor what belongs to the emperor, give God what belongs to God, and give me what is mine.”

101. “Whoever does not hate [father] and mother as I do cannot be my [disciple], and whoever does [not] love [father and] mother as I do cannot be my [disciple]. For my mother [...], but my true [mother] gave me life.”

102. Jesus said, “Damn the Pharisees! They are like a dog sleeping in the cattle manger: the dog neither eats nor [lets] the cattle eat.”

103. Jesus said, “Congratulations to those who know where the rebels are going to attack. [They] can get going, collect their imperial resources, and be prepared before the rebels arrive.”

104. They said to Jesus, “Come, let us pray today, and let us fast.”

Jesus said, “What sin have I committed, or how have I been undone? Rather, when the groom leaves the bridal suite, then let people fast and pray.”

105. Jesus said, “Whoever knows the father and the mother will be called the child of a whore.”

106. Jesus said, “When you make the two into one, you will become children of Adam, and when you say, ‘Mountain, move from here!’ it will move.”

107. Jesus said, “The (Father’s) kingdom is like a shepherd who had a hundred sheep. One of them, the largest, went astray. He left the ninety-nine and looked for the one until he found it. After he had toiled, he said to the sheep, ‘I love you more than the ninety-nine.’”

108. Jesus said, “Whoever drinks from my mouth will become like me; I myself shall become that person, and the hidden things will be revealed to him.”

109. Jesus said, “The (Father’s) kingdom is like a person who had a treasure hidden in his field but did not know it. And [when] he died he left it to his [son]. The son [did] not know about it either. He took over the field and sold it. The buyer went plowing, [discovered] the treasure, and began to lend money at interest to whomever he wished.”

110. Jesus said, “Let one who has found the world, and has become wealthy, renounce the world.”

111. Jesus said, “The heavens and the earth will roll up in your presence, and whoever is living from the living one will not see death.”

Does not Jesus say, “Those who have found themselves, of them the world is not worthy”?

112. Jesus said, “Damn the flesh that depends on the soul. Damn the soul that depends on the flesh.”

113. His disciples said to him, “When will the kingdom come?”

“It will not come by watching for it. It will not be said, ‘Look, here!’ or ‘Look, there!’ Rather, the Father’s kingdom is spread out upon the earth, and people don’t see it.”

[Saying probably added to the original collection at a later date:]
114. Simon Peter said to them, “Make Mary leave us, for females don’t deserve life.”

Jesus said, “Look, I will guide her to make her male, so that she too may become a living spirit resembling you males. For every female who makes herself male will enter the kingdom of Heaven.”

 

Selection from Robert J. Miller, ed., The Complete Gospels: Annotated Scholars Version. (Polebridge Press, 1992, 1994).

http://gnosis.org/naghamm/gosthom.html

]]> http://vintagehaberdashers.com/2013/03/23/cowboy-joe-las-vegas-shirt/ Sat, 23 Mar 2013 19:36:01 +0000 dinerman http://vintagehaberdashers.com/2013/03/23/cowboy-joe-las-vegas-shirt/ http://www.ebay.com/itm/271177383301
This vintage gabardine shirt was made in the early-mid 1950s by Cowboy Joe. It is their “Las Vegas” model. It is made of two tone gabardine, seafoam for the body, and green for the contrast. It has Rau-Klikit pearl snaps. The male side of the snap second from the top is missing. There are white piped “smile” pockets and fancy five-snap cuffs. The shoulders and collar are chainstitched with rainbow colored ribbon in abstracted flowers and plants. This is the same model of shirt worn by Elvis’s bass player, Bill Black and guitarist, Scotty Moore c. 1954. This example bears the marks of a lifetime of use, with stains and wear to the fabric.

Chest (pit to pit): 22-1/2″
Shoulder to Shoulder: 17″
Sleeve (shoulder to cuff): 22-1/2″
Collar: 15″

This vintage gabardine shirt was made in the early-mid 1950s by Cowboy Joe. It is made of two tone gabardine, sandy tan for the body, and black for the contrast. Scotty Moore and Bill Black wore this model of shirt in their early days with Elvis, c. 1954. This particular example probably dates from just before that, as it has buttons instead of pearl snaps. It has rainbow ribbon chainstitching of abstracted flowers and plants on the front yoke.

Chest (pit to pit): 21″
Shoulder to Shoulder: 16″
Sleeve (shoulder to cuff): 24″
Collar: 15″

Full restoration from a #3 car to a show piece (#1).

During the 1954 Centennial the newspaper had a writing contest for the residents of Morris County.  The categories for writing were; Family Stories by writers over 70; Family Stories for writers under 70; Community Stories over 70; Community Stories under 70; Frontier Stories over 70; and Frontier Stories under 70.  Thanks to Mary Lu Hainey most if not all of these writings are collected in a scrap book that she compiled of everything going on during the centennial.

One story of interest to me was by Edna R. Strieby Avery.  Although I think I have given sufficient proof elsewhere that the pioneer jail was built in 1870, Edna Avery gives more confirmation in her family history she wrote.  “Also on the 13^th day of May 1870, C. H. Strieby and Carrie E. Strieby deeded to the inhabitants of Council Grove part of the north end of Lot 11, block 20 fronting 40 feet, part of the north end of Lot 11, block 20 upon the alley between 2^nd and 3^rd streets [now Mission and Belfry respectively].  Then old city jail was built on this by our town.”  She apparently had the legal description before her.

This scrap book is available at the Morris County Historical Society and I highly recommend taking a look at it, especially the pioneer stories.

I had asked for information about the Old Fiddlers contest that was held Tuesday May 11^th at 2 p.m. during the 1954 Territorial Centennial.  The papers of the day are silent on the event.  I suppose it didn’t get any press coverage because it was during the big parade.   The only reason I knew of it is because it was listed in the events in the program that was printed.

My plea was not unanswered.  A number of people gave me suggestions as to who might have been involved, but it seems only one man remembers the event, because he was there playing rhythm guitar for the contestants.  Gail Burns came into the shop one day and listed off those who won first place.  S. E. Neff was the organizer of the event, and he was a well known fiddler in the community.  I understand that S.E. stands for south east; I can’t give you any other reason for the nick name.  Frank Knard also known as Buster Jenkins placed first on fiddle and banjo.  Jim Wilson took second in fiddle and won first on mandolin.  Don Lee took first on guitar.   Many thanks to Gail Burns because without him this piece of history would have gone unrecorded.

The Old Fiddlers’ contest of 1954 has inspired me to organize a fiddle contest for Wahshungah Days this year.  It will not be limited to fiddle only but will include mandolin, banjo, guitar and an open category for oddball instruments like bagpipes or viola.  Details are still being worked out but anyone who is interested or who knows someone who is interested please contact me for an entry form.

I also promised that I would let you know when the Anti Monopolist paper ended publication.  Ken McClintock informed me that March of 1889 was when the paper ceased.  The last issue at the Historical Society is February of 1889.  So it was in fact a short lived paper.

I must make mention of the annual Cottonwood Falls Kansas Day Ball this Saturday the 28^th at 8 p.m. at 220 1/2 Broadway (across the street from the Grand Central).  Beginner lessons start at 7:30, all ages and experience levels are welcome.  I will be the dance instructor for the evening and Tallgrass Express String Band will provide the music for us.  Admission is $8 for adults and half that for children.  This is an 1860 period style dance so many will be dressed in proper attire, it is however not required.  Great family fun for all!  If you like square dancing, Zumba or contra dancing you will have a hoot and a half at this fling.

But that pronouncement about obesity’s primacy in the hierarchy of national health problems is not new. Rather, it’s the opening line to a remarkable article published 60 years ago in LIFE magazine. Here, as the national dialog around the obesity crisis in the U.S. grows even more heated, LIFE.com presents photographs — many of which never ran in the magazine — made by LIFE’s Martha Holmes to illustrate that March 1954 article, titled “The Plague of Overweight.”

“Some five million Americans,” LIFE wrote, “medically considered ‘obese,’ weigh at least 20% more than normal and, as a result, have a mortality rate one-and-a-half times higher than their neighbors…. Another 20 million Americans are classed by doctors and insurance men as overweight (10% above normal) and are drastically prone to diabetes, gallstones, hernia, kidney and bladder impairments and complications during surgery and pregnancy.”

[MORE: See all of TIME.com's coverage of obesity.]

Today the numbers cited by LIFE have ballooned to even more appalling proportions: according to the CDC, “more than a third of U.S. adults (35.7%) and approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2 – 19 years are obese.”

But perhaps the most astonishing and troubling statistic about obesity in the USA relates to the speed with which this affliction has taken hold: for example, in 2010 (again according to the CDC), “there were 12 states with an obesity prevalence of 30%. In 2000, no state had an obesity prevalence of 30% or more.” Feel free to read that again — and try to imagine the toll those millions upon millions of extra pounds will have on the health of those men, women and children, and on the nation’s economy. How much more will all of us pay for insurance every year because of this epidemic? How much economic productivity will be lost due to illness, injuries, emergency room visits, hospitalizations and other collateral damage from the immediate and long-term ravages of obesity?

Suddenly, LIFE’s use of the word “plague” to describe this catastrophe feels perfectly apt.

The LIFE article, meanwhile, focused at least in part on one woman, Dorothy Bradley, whose struggles with overeating and body-image issues were familiar (and remain familiar) to countless American men and women.

“When she finished high school in Tyner, Tenn., in 1940,” LIFE told its readers, “5-foot 5-inch Dorothy Bradley weighed 205 pounds and fit snugly into a matronly size 44 graduation dress. She had overeaten from the time she began to mature, possibly because of unconscious emotional turmoil.”

The article chronicled Dorothy’s efforts to lose weight; her desire to work in medicine; her successes (losing 60 pounds) and her backsliding (gaining it all back, and then some); and ultimately, something of a happy ending, as she lost and, as of the article’s publication, had kept off close to 70 pounds and earned a job as head nurse at a hospital in Kentucky.

At a time when the weight-loss business is a multibillion-dollar juggernaut and the modern plague of obesity in the U.S. shows no sign of abating, LIFE’s six-decade-old take on the subject feels at-once prescient and, alas, mordantly fitting for our present-day plight.

— Ben Cosgrove is the Editor of LIFE.com

With the daylight remaining I chose to finish the front nearside wing once and for all. I trimmed the repair panel for the lower portion of the A-post then tacked it in while remembering to insert the bolt plate beforehand. After this was seam welded in I completed the task by attaching the shut/splash panel to the front of the lower A-post, job done!

Today I focused on scraping off the underseal within the mess of the rear nearside inner wing so as to ascertain what solid remains there are to weld to. I also managed to tidy up the mid section of the B-post which seems to have suffered some odd corrosion pattern at some point with little or no adequate repair carried out.

I was really quite pleased how the ‘weld and grind’ technique turned out on this part so with a little filler before paint it will be both solid and presentable.