The fellows in these fine photos were reported to have endorsed a letter together in the Forties which gained a great deal of national attention.
What was the content, purpose, and possible postal controversy of that letter?
— Tim
Going Postal. A Quiz.
17
Feb
I love that photo of Errol and friends….always keep one eye open!
Me, too, timerider. Errol almost always kept one eye open. Indeed, that may be why he has the lowest number of the four fellows on the letter in question! Here are all four of those numbers, in the same order as the photos above:
13
3
8
4
And here are the first letters of their first names:
T.
E.
A.
C.
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T = Socialite
E = Swashbuckler
A = Bandleader
C= Tramp
16, 173 women were also involved or potentially involved.
T is for Tommy
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A is for Artie
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So, on this quizzical mystery letter, we have:
“Tommy Manville”, the Hyper-Amorous Asbestos Heir (13 marriages)
“Errol Flynn”, the Swinging Swashbuckler (3 marriages)
“Artie Shaw”, Casanova on Clarinet (8 marriages)
and
“Charlie Chaplin”, the Lady Charmer (4 marriages, counting Paulette)
Of all places, the St. Augustine Lighthouse Museum should shine light on the correct answer:
[img]http://www.blogstaugustinelighthouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/SALH.jpg[/img]
Copy cat versions of this letter were reported five years later (in 1953) with the added names of the two characters pictured below, plus sometimes Bob Topping, Yankee Dan’s brother:
[img]http://www.nndb.com/people/427/000086169/henry-viii-3.jpg[/img]
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www.blogstaugustinelighthouse.org…
[img]http://www.blogstaugustinelighthouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Chain-Letter1-e1479237982332.jpg[/img]