TRAINING
In New York, Fabian and I both worked for American Tree and Wreath, a manufacturer of artificial Christmas trees. As part of our job, we were sent out to various stores in season to help them set up their Christmas departments by decorating the trees that had been purchased from our company.
We also were responsible for setting up our showroom and it's sister one in Skokie, Illinois, as well as holding teaching seminars on "How to decorate your tree."
At still other times of the year, we were dispatched to trade shows in various parts of the country to again set up displays that would be taken over by the local reps for the duration of the show and later dismantled by them.
One such year, we had trade shows in Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas and Indianapolis and all in a matter of weeks of each other. Since Fabian hated to fly, we offered an alternate plan to the powers-that-be. Upon consideration, they agreed to the plan. It was cheaper to let us take the train from place to place with brief free time in each city than to fly us home between shows.
So we left Penn Station one afternoon on the Lake Shore Limited, had dinner in the dining car, retired to our bunk-beds sleeping car and awoke the next morning in Chicago. Whenever we were in Chicago, we liked to stay at The Raphael Hotel, a charming spot right in the heart of the Miracle Mile.
So, the next day we rented a car and drove to Skokie (a suburb), and began to set up their showroom, returning each night to our hotel. The whole set-up took about a week. Then we had our free time. As I recall in that period, we saw "Apocalypse, Now" at the local cinema, visited the Art Institute and dined at Hamburger Hamlet (now closed) on Rush Street. I was a fanatic over their "Carpetbagger" burger, a juicily sauced treat topped with peanuts and fried oysters. Yum! Oh, of course, Pizzeria Uno was also a must.
On the next (and best) leg of the journey we went from Chicago to San Francisco via the California Zepher. What was so special about this train ride were our accommodations. I don't know if they still exist, but in those days there was a sleeping car with individual suites. And we booked the Family Room. This room/suite was at the back of the car and had windows on both sides of the train as well as sleeping for four or six. Talk about Luxury. Boarding late afternoon in Chicago, dining car, off to bed and you wake up in Denver. The next entire glorious day is spent traveling through the Rocky Mountains with some of the most spectacular scenery one could ever see.
For instance, emerging from a tunnel high in the Sierra Nevada mountains, you looked straight down onto a lake and were told on a loud speaker by our itinerate guide, that below us was the infamous Donner Pass where early settlers had resorted to cannibalism to survive. A breathtaking view.
Now it was time to meet our fellow travelers. And what better way than to host a cocktail party in our suite. Our conductor arranged for some snacks and we had ample liquor in our luggage. And a few fellow traveler actually joined us! The one that I remember fondly was an older lady by the name of Libby Dunlop who hailed from Maine and was on her way to her college reunion. As we got to know her, we found that she was dreading the event a bit as most of her classmates had gone on to successful careers while she just raised her family. Then, Fabian, had a bright idea. He took off the faux Rolex he was wearing and gave it to her to wear at the reunion., saying she could mail it back to us in due time. She was thrilled.
By the next morning we were in Salt Lake City with just enough spare time to pick up the Sunday New York times and work the crossword puzzle part of the day.
San Francisco was a joy. After setting up the trade show, we had a few days to play. We saw Barbara Cook at Gumps department store and learned that she was playing at a local club. Needless to say, we were there that night.
We rode the trolley, did all the tourist things like FIsherman's Wharf, ate ourselves into comas, had a day trip to Sausalito across the bay, where we were witness to a Japanese couples nuptials. It seems it was a popular spot and the closest one to Japan should the couple wish to be married in America.
Another side trip was to the Cliff House and Sutro Baths ruins. (The original "house" was destroyed by fire in 1907, rebuilt and once more met the same fate in 1966) But, life goes on and the seals still frolicked in the waters below.
Later, we ran into our friends (Maddi and Mindy) at the Presidio and had a few laughs and hugs.
Finally, on to Dallas via train. And then to Indianapolis with more of the same.
When we were at last back home in New York after a month of traveling, about a week after our return, we received the Rolex and a lovely note from Libby saying she had been the hit of the reunion and not one soul every thought she did not sport a true Rolex. We continued correspondence with her for many years and was saddened at her passing. She had been part of a wonderful time in our lives.
With trains!
Below is a typical seminar we taught.
We also were responsible for setting up our showroom and it's sister one in Skokie, Illinois, as well as holding teaching seminars on "How to decorate your tree."
At still other times of the year, we were dispatched to trade shows in various parts of the country to again set up displays that would be taken over by the local reps for the duration of the show and later dismantled by them.
One such year, we had trade shows in Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas and Indianapolis and all in a matter of weeks of each other. Since Fabian hated to fly, we offered an alternate plan to the powers-that-be. Upon consideration, they agreed to the plan. It was cheaper to let us take the train from place to place with brief free time in each city than to fly us home between shows.
So we left Penn Station one afternoon on the Lake Shore Limited, had dinner in the dining car, retired to our bunk-beds sleeping car and awoke the next morning in Chicago. Whenever we were in Chicago, we liked to stay at The Raphael Hotel, a charming spot right in the heart of the Miracle Mile.
So, the next day we rented a car and drove to Skokie (a suburb), and began to set up their showroom, returning each night to our hotel. The whole set-up took about a week. Then we had our free time. As I recall in that period, we saw "Apocalypse, Now" at the local cinema, visited the Art Institute and dined at Hamburger Hamlet (now closed) on Rush Street. I was a fanatic over their "Carpetbagger" burger, a juicily sauced treat topped with peanuts and fried oysters. Yum! Oh, of course, Pizzeria Uno was also a must.
On the next (and best) leg of the journey we went from Chicago to San Francisco via the California Zepher. What was so special about this train ride were our accommodations. I don't know if they still exist, but in those days there was a sleeping car with individual suites. And we booked the Family Room. This room/suite was at the back of the car and had windows on both sides of the train as well as sleeping for four or six. Talk about Luxury. Boarding late afternoon in Chicago, dining car, off to bed and you wake up in Denver. The next entire glorious day is spent traveling through the Rocky Mountains with some of the most spectacular scenery one could ever see.
For instance, emerging from a tunnel high in the Sierra Nevada mountains, you looked straight down onto a lake and were told on a loud speaker by our itinerate guide, that below us was the infamous Donner Pass where early settlers had resorted to cannibalism to survive. A breathtaking view.
Now it was time to meet our fellow travelers. And what better way than to host a cocktail party in our suite. Our conductor arranged for some snacks and we had ample liquor in our luggage. And a few fellow traveler actually joined us! The one that I remember fondly was an older lady by the name of Libby Dunlop who hailed from Maine and was on her way to her college reunion. As we got to know her, we found that she was dreading the event a bit as most of her classmates had gone on to successful careers while she just raised her family. Then, Fabian, had a bright idea. He took off the faux Rolex he was wearing and gave it to her to wear at the reunion., saying she could mail it back to us in due time. She was thrilled.
By the next morning we were in Salt Lake City with just enough spare time to pick up the Sunday New York times and work the crossword puzzle part of the day.
San Francisco was a joy. After setting up the trade show, we had a few days to play. We saw Barbara Cook at Gumps department store and learned that she was playing at a local club. Needless to say, we were there that night.
We rode the trolley, did all the tourist things like FIsherman's Wharf, ate ourselves into comas, had a day trip to Sausalito across the bay, where we were witness to a Japanese couples nuptials. It seems it was a popular spot and the closest one to Japan should the couple wish to be married in America.
Another side trip was to the Cliff House and Sutro Baths ruins. (The original "house" was destroyed by fire in 1907, rebuilt and once more met the same fate in 1966) But, life goes on and the seals still frolicked in the waters below.
Later, we ran into our friends (Maddi and Mindy) at the Presidio and had a few laughs and hugs.
Finally, on to Dallas via train. And then to Indianapolis with more of the same.
When we were at last back home in New York after a month of traveling, about a week after our return, we received the Rolex and a lovely note from Libby saying she had been the hit of the reunion and not one soul every thought she did not sport a true Rolex. We continued correspondence with her for many years and was saddened at her passing. She had been part of a wonderful time in our lives.
With trains!
Below is a typical seminar we taught.
I do remember American tree and Wreath. I think I did two seasons of Caldor stores (now gone) in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Love the suit, by the way.
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