Mary Philips – A New Yorker State of Mind

Above: At left, the Nazi Party sought to remake Christian holidays such as Christmas into Nazi-themed, pagan events, even trying to redefine St. Nicholas as Wotan, the ancient Germanic deity; at right, Adolf Hitler rejected Christianity, calling it a Jewish plot to undermine the heroic ideals of the Aryan-dominated Roman Empire. Here he is seen meeting the nuncio to Germany, Cesare Orsenigo, on January 1, 1935. (reddit.com/Wikipedia)

For the March 7 issue we look at the second part of Janet Flanner’s profile of German dictator Adolf Hitler, in which she attempted to identify the social and political influences that led to his peculiar vision of the world.

March 7, 1936 cover by Constantin Alajalov.

Flanner noted that Hitler’s ancestors were intermarrying, pious Roman Catholic peasants, including his parents, second cousins Klara Pölzl and Alois Hitler. While Klara was a doting parent, Alois was often abusive and distant. And so it began.

MOM AND DAD…**Adolf Hitler’s** parents were second cousins Klara Pölzl (1860–1907) and **Alois Hitler** (1837–1903). Pölzl was the third wife of the much older Hitler, who was a stern, mid-level Austrian customs official. (Wikipedia)

Flanner described Hitler’s struggles as an artist (rejected twice by the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts), however his real disappointment was nationalistic; serving as a courier (and wounded) in World War I, he blamed internal traitors for Germany’s defeat. To bolster his patriotic ideals, Hitler turned to books, and particularly to poet and dramatist Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805)—the Nazis would later manipulate Schiller’s works to fit the Party’s themes of nationalism, struggle, and obedience. Hitler would further hone his world view through the works of white supremacist Count de Gobineau (1816–1882), nihilist philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900), and philologist Max Müller (1823–1900), whose work inadvertently contributed to the idea of a superior “Aryan” race.

REWRITING HISTORY…Clockwise, from top, a 1940 Nazi propaganda film, *Friedrich Schiller— Der Triumph eines Genies*, portrayed Schiller (played by actor **Horst Caspar**) as an idealistic *Übermensch;* Hitler and the Nazis were also influenced by white supremacist **Count de Gobineau;** philologist Max Müller; and the nihilist philosopher **Friedrich Nietzsche.** *(film portal.de/Wikipedia)*

In her conclusion, Flanner noted Hitler’s dislike of jokes at his own expense, and she was surprised that German comedian Weiss Ferdl, known for his “Führer gibes,” wasn’t in a concentration camp with cabaret singer Claire Waldorff (somehow both survived the regime and the war). Flanner also touched on Hitler’s antipathy toward Christianity.

SURVIVORS…At left, **Weiss Ferdl** (1883-1949) was a German actor, humorous folksinger known for his jibes at Hitler; at right, **Claire Waldorff** (1884-1957) was a famous cabaret singer and entertainer in Berlin, known for performing ironic songs with lesbian undertones. *(Wikimedia Commons)*

I’LL TRY TO KILL YOU LATER…German Chancellor **Adolf Hitler** greets (l to r) Roman Catholic Abbot **Albanus Schachleiter** and Protestant Reichsbischof **Ludwig Müller,** outside the Frauenkirche in Nuremberg, September 1934. (Wikipedia)

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Thrill Ride

In his “Notes and Comment,” E.B. White described “one of the strangest nightmares of motordom”…

THE GREAT WALL…**E.B. White** feared whatever might pop out of the dark tunnels on the northern stretches of Park Avenue. Clockwise, from top, an 1876 illustration of the new viaduct through the Harlem Flats; E. 108th Street pedestrian tunnel between Lexington and Park; Park Avenue Viaduct–La Marqueta. (Wikipedia/manhattanwalkblog.com/6tocelebrate.org)

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Ding-dong

Robert Benchley filed a brief review of The Postman Always Rings Twice, a stage adaptation at the Lyceum Theatre of James M. Cain’s acclaimed novel. Although the play was well received by audiences, many reviewers found the subject matter distasteful. Cain would later describe the 1936 production as “a dreadful experience from beginning to end.”

SCHEMERS AND DREAMERS…**Richard Barthelmess** and **Mary Philips** portrayed star-crossed lovers in the 1936 stage production of *The Postman Always Rings Twice*. Philips was a noted Broadway performer and Humphey Bogart’s first wife. (Wikipedia/imdb.com)

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At the Movies

Critic John Mosher commented on familiar Hollywood tropes (doctors chasing nurses, execs pursuing secretaries etc.) and offered up the “tepid” example of Wife vs. Secretary, which featured three of Tinseltown’s top stars.

MILD HIJINKS…At left, **Clark Gable** and Jean Harlow in a scene from *Wife vs. Secretary*; at right, Gable with **Myrna Loy.** *(faintlyfamiliar.com/facebook.com)*

Mosher didn’t find much excitement in the dog-themed picture The Voice of Bugle Ann, and was left flat after seeing Road Gang and the German film Liebelei.

SWEET AND SOUR…**Lionel Barrymore** and Spring Byington were on one side of a feud over a special dog in *The Voice of Bugle Ann.* (tcm.com)

WELL THIS SUCKS…At left, **Donald Woods** and Carlyle Moore Jr. find themselves behind bars in *Road Gang;* at right, **Paul Hörbiger** and **Olga Tschechowa** in 1933’s Liebelei (aka Playing at Love). (rotten tomatoes.com/screenslate.com)

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Language Arts

H.L. Mencken continued his exploration of American English by taking a look at past attempts to simplify spelling—most of them unsuccessful. Excerpts:

NOT ONE FOR GIMMICKS…**H.L. Mencken** at his desk at the Baltimore Sun. *(Paris Review)*

Mencken noted the Chicago Tribune’s radical approach to simplified spelling in 1934, and the lasting effects of Noah Webster’s American dictionary.

“PEDAGOGUE” was one of the milder insults cast at **Noah Webster** by his peers. (National Portrait Gallery)

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First World Problem

Food critic Sheila Hibben looked into the complexities of tea-drinking during the cocktail hour, and vice-versa.

CHOOSE YOUR MOOD…The Plaza Hotel offered the ideal setting for whatever libation one chose at tea time. At left, the Plaza’s Persian Room, 1934, and the Palm Court, undated photo. (cooperhewitt.org/mcny.org)

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Finer Things

Rebecca West was a brilliant journalist and gifted prose writer, and when she published something people took notice, including critic Clifton Fadiman, who noted her return with The Thinking Reed. A brief excerpt:

A MIGHTY PEN…**Rebecca West** (1892-1983) was considered one of the finest prose writers of twentieth-century England. This 1934 photograph was produced by **Howard Coster.** (National Portrait Gallery)

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