Name/Title
Spalsbury: #38 Letters Home August 23, 1943Entry/Object ID
2021.2.282A-FScope and Content
Letter Home from Pvt. Robert C. Spalsbury, ASTU 3938, Loyola University, Los Angeles 34, California to his father, Mr. George C. Spalsbury, 806 South Eleventh, St. Joseph 10, Missouri. Post Marked AUG 23, 1943, 7 PM, Los Angeles, Calif., 6 cent Air Mail stamp.Context
Sunday Evening - August 22, 1943
Dear Pop,
I just returned from town about an hour ago. I've had chow and I'm now in one of the classrooms, where it's good and quiet. Our passes are good until 7:30 Sunday evening, and many of the boys haven't returned yet. At 7:30 there is a roll call in the study hall to which one is assigned, so that's the way the check is made.
I spent my weekend in Hollywood and L.A. I thought at first that I might go over to Santa Ana to see Duane, but decided to wait until next week. Santa Ana is about 35 miles straight east of here on Manchester Avenue, which runs past in front of Loyola. It is fairly easy to hitch a ride on it. I was talking to a boy a little while ago who was over there this weekend, and he said he had no trouble at all. And hitchhiking is usually faster than the bus.
After chow yesterday noon I shaved, put on my tie and civilian shoes, and walked out to Manchester Avenue, about 6 blocks south of here. There I caught a ride on an army truck into Inglewood, where I caught Red Car No. 5 (the Los Angeles Street Car) into L.A. I got off downtown at 5th and Broadway, and walked two blocks up to W.E. Phillips, the Jeweler. It's where my watch originally came from. I'd left my watch there two weeks ago Friday. The frame on it had cracked. But - the new watches haven't come in yet, so I'll have to come back in another week or two. The jeweler said he'd had many others with the same trouble - the steel that was used in the frames just doesn't seem to be very strong - probably due to the war.
Then I got the 5-dollar money order cashed. I got it in your letter yesterday noon at mail call, Pop, and thanks a lot. After cashing the money order, I walked about five blocks to an Army-Navy Store, where for $1.28 I bought a good looking suntan hat. The one I was issued at first is filthy. We were issued another pair of suntans, including a hat, the other day. But only 6 7/8 hats were left, and I wear 7 1/4, so the one I got looks like heck on me. But the one I bought is O.K.
I then took the Hollywood Boulevard streetcar to Hollywood. After eating at the USO and walking around for awhile, and seeing about the broadcasts at NBC and CBS, I went to a movie, "Mr. Lucky," not very good, and "Saludos Amigos," Walt Disney's latest picture. I got out of the show at 7:45. I walked over to Highland Avenue, and out Highland to the Hollywood Bowl. There I saw the L.A. Philharmonic in a concert, and in the last half of the program Artur Rubinstein played a piano concerto. I didn't stay till the end because I nearly froze - it really gets cold at night in that Bowl.
I got a free bed last night at the Hollywood Methodist Church - it was down on Highland Avenue about 6 blocks. After getting up about 8:30 I went over to the radio studios, where I got to see two programs, one an amateur hour which lasted an hour, the other a half hour program of drama and music. They were really enjoyable, especially the amateur hour.
I went to the movie of Irving Berlin's "This is the Army" this afternoon. It wasn't so hot. Then I took the streetcar into L.A.; there I went to the USO for some punch and sandwiches. While here I wrote Aunt Esther a letter - I should've written her a long time ago.
Love, BobCollection
Marshall WhiteLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
LetterNomenclature Primary Object Term
CorrespondenceNomenclature Sub-Class
Other DocumentsNomenclature Class
Documentary ObjectsNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsArchive Items Details
Title
Letter Home from Pvt. Robert C. Spalsbury, ASTU 3938, Loyola University, Los Angeles 34, California to his father, Mr. George C. Spalsbury, 806 South Eleventh, St. Joseph 10, Missouri. Post Marked AUG 23, 1943, 7 PM, Los Angeles, Calif., 6 cent Air Mail stamp.Description
Handwritten letter home to father back in St. Joseph after being called up to serve in the US Army during WWII. Typically, these letters are addressed to both of his parents but this rare letter is written only to his father. Pvt. Spalsbury, at the time of this letter, has completed Basic Training at Camp Callan, California, was stationed for a short time with a STAR Unit for ASTP (Army Specialized Training Program) soldiers in Pasadena, CA and is now stationed at Loyola University in Los Angeles, CA for additional training.
This letter is two pages, front and back, written in blue ink on heavy stock stationery. The letter was mailed in an envelope to match that fits the stationery, with a 6 cent Air Mail stamp. The stationery is folded in half.Dimensions
Height
8-1/4 inWidth
6-1/4 inCondition
Overall Condition
Very GoodRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Robert C. Spalsbury
