- Date: Saturday, 1 January 1938, 5 p.m. New York time (2 p.m. in California)
- Written at: New York, New York
- Stationery: Hotel Taft, 7th Ave. at 50th St., New York
- From: Joseph “Joe” Sharmer
- To: Ruby
- Condition: Complete — 3 pages; envelope not found
Each page of the original is shown beside its transcription. Click a page to enlarge it.
PAGE 1
Sat afternoon
5 P.M. here
2 P.M. there
My Darling Sweetheart:—
The foot ball game in the Rose Bowl is just starting and boy it sounds like a good one too. I am lonesome — as Hell now — Don Thompson slays me anyway. I wish I could be there with you to listen together — Boy what a game so far. I am listening and trying to write at the same time. You are getting the mail ready. and if I were in Planada I would be up in your room listening & waiting for you to come back. Believe me Dear I would much prefer to be with you than to be here in little old New York. Hear that yell — Good old Cal. I still have the 5 with the ribbon on it. and I take it out & look at it every once in a while because it is all I have. except my memory of the sweetest little girl in all the world — You are and always will be my lover. Dear — I would love to be with you today. I know it is
PAGE 2
foggy & cold there and we could have so much fun cooking a little food and listening to the radio and above all I could love you all I want or at least I hope you would let me and I know you would. Look out when I get home because I know it will take me at least six months to get caught up — so Honey get a lot of rest and sleep — because I wont let you get much when I get home. I am getting the game in my room thru “W J Z” and sitting here in my P J’s — Dont want to go any place with out you so I am staying put. Good old Cal again. Vic is going great guns eh! — Hope you are listening Dear — You will be proud of Cal — I am because it is your Alma. I love you Dear and anything you touch or like I love it for that. here is Cals band playing — God how lonesome it makes me Dear — Looks bad for Bama now — on the 12 yard line 2nd quarter — and it is six o’clock here — 3 yard line — Pardon while I listen — Good old Cal — hold them — Make a touch down — for My Ruby Dear. Hurray a touch Down — Good old Vic — Cal 6 — and now they convert 7 — I am proud as Hell I know you Dear and it is your school and they are ahead — Hurray — Don Thompson of Jello is doing a good job on this game. Good old Bears. over
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Hope they hold them for my Lover — Some Day Dear I hope we can see this game — Remember Thanksgiving at home. Honey when I came in to the front room & saw you asleep and the ribbon on your hair — a beautiful girl — and I could hardly keep my hands off of you — You are so beautiful and sweet — God only knows how much I love you Dear — I cant tell you because I am at a loss for words. Half time on the game — Cal 7 — Hurray — Finish of Game — Cal 13. Ala. 0 — It got so interesting I had to quit writing and listen to the game & boy didnt they do a good job — Honey it is 745 here and I am going out & eat a bite and come back & go to bed. Good night Dear & Pleasant Dreams Lover — Please write me here — as I am lonesome for you Dear
All my Love to you Dear —
As Ever
Joe
Notes & context
The 1938 Rose Bowl. On New Year’s Day 1938 the University of California Golden Bears beat Alabama 13–0 in Pasadena. Joe heard it on the radio in his room at the Taft through WJZ, the NBC Blue Network station in New York, writing as he listened. Cal’s first touchdown came late in the second quarter, as Joe records, and “Vic” was Vic Bottari, Cal’s star halfback, who scored both touchdowns.
“It is your Alma.” Cal — the University of California — was Ruby’s school.
“The 5 with the ribbon on it.” The five-dollar bill from a bet with Ruby that Joe carried as a keepsake (Burn Them Up). The next morning he wrote that Cal and Santa Clara had won and that he was keeping the five.
Don Thompson. The radio announcer for the broadcast, “Don Thompson of Jello”; the Jell-O connection is as Joe wrote it.
New Year’s Day. Joe’s second letter of the day; he wrote Report on New Year Eve that morning.
“Remember Thanksgiving at home.” Thanksgiving, 25 November 1937, in Planada, before Joe left on the trip.
