HUNGRY GERALD

During the 1950’s, HG’s favorite steak house was Assembly in the East 40’s (HG switched to Christ Cella in the 1960’s). Assembly had an appropriately named owner—Ronny Drinkhouse. Portions were huge–a $12.95 sirloin steak fed two people as did the $3.95 shrimp cocktail and $1.50 French fries. So, it was very affordable and dinner for two (with dessert, beer and tip) was 26 or 27 bucks. Cheap date. All was cooked perfectly. Service was deft and professional. HG sighs a nostalgic sigh.

In the 50’s (and much of the 60’s) Third Avenue was darkened by the overhead EL train. There were many tenements housing Irish-Americans. Young HG was a  journalist in those days. Third Avenue was a food (and drink) paradise for perpetually hungry and whiskey drinking HG – a large snifter of rye with a beer chaser cost less than a dollar. There were many Irish bars (“BAR AND GRILLS”) named after their owners (Murphy’s, etc.) or Ireland counties (Sligo,etc.).  All  served corned beef and cabbage or pot roast. Quality varied. Also on the Avenue were chili “parlors”. A dollar bought a big bowl of red served au naturel (with soda crackers) or over rice or spaghetti—Texas style, no beans. Many Chinese restaurants. HG’s favorite dish was shrimp in lobster sauce accompanied by fried rice. There were mini diners that were good places for bacon and eggs with cups of strong coffee. Even if one didn’t have much money, you didn’t go hungry as the EL roared overhead.

BSK’s birthday is June 3–she’s svelte, lithe,chic. The years have been gentle to her. Birthday gift is a massage at a nearby Prince Edward Island spa. On their first date–many, many decades ago–HG and BSK dined at BoBo’s, a very good Chinese restaurant in Chinatown. BSK was entranced by the giant lobster roll (BoBo’s is long closed). Next dinner was at Ed Berberian’s Balkan-Armenian; HG was startled by BSK’s appetite and adventurous food tastes. Big test was dinner at Hong Fat—crabs in an egg and garlic sauce. BSK gobbled them up. HG  determined she would be his wife. Best decision HG ever made. BSK has kept HG alive with 24/7 loving care. She has become an outstanding home cook–lunch and supper are gourmand treats. Yes, HG is a lucky guy. He’s 96 with many old ailments. But, for the most part, he’s quite happy. And, he owes it all to a true Wonder Woman—BSK

MLK and HG were both born in 1929—MLK a few months older. They met in the 1950’s. The meeting was arranged by a lovely African-American journalist, HG’s girl friend/lover at the time. The point of the meeting was for HG to counsel MLK on how to approach affluent Jews in order to maximize contributions to MLK’s campaigns. HG suggested MLK make parallels between Black and Jewish experiences: slavery (Passover, the Jewish holiday, celebrates the release of Jews after centuries of Jewish enslavement by the Egyptians.). Lynchings—hundreds of Blacks were lynched in the United States and all attempts to pass anti-lynching laws were blocked. Leo Frank, a young Jewish executive, was lynched in Atlanta in 1915 on trumped up rape chages. His lynching lead to formation of  the ADL and more Jewish defense organizations.   MLK  said HG’s strategy was very useful.

When son Jeremy was a little fellow, he was a sound sleeper. His Dad, HG, would wake him for breakfast by standing before his bedroom door and, in a syrupy voice, say “Professional lover, professional lover.” Jeremy thrashed about angrily—and woke up. The name, which annoyed SJ so much, originated by teasing taunts he received due to a close relationship with a female classmate. HG thought about the phrase in connection with two successful lovers of women: actor Yul Brynner (1920-1985) and literary critic and essayist Anatole Broyard (1920-1990). HG interviewed Brynner for a Hearst feature service. Brynner was seated at his dressing  room table and made and received numerous phone calls. HG gleaned that Brynner had a happy sex life with his wife but was also conducting affairs with beautiful actresses.  Energetic man.  Broyard  was a daily (for 15 years) book reviewer for The New York Times and later columnist and editor–Times Sunday Book Review.  He was renowned as a startlingly effective seducer of attractive young women. Born in New Orleans of Black Creole parents, Broyard chose to pass as white. During the early days of their marriage, HG brought BSK to a Broyard hosted Greenwich Village party. HG steered BSK away from the mighty seducer.