Grapevine, September 1973
Item
Title
eng
Grapevine, September 1973
Relation
eng
Grapevine Magazine
Date
eng
1973-09
Format
eng
PDF, 17 pages
Identifier
eng
SCMS_gvmz_00078
extracted text
The Family Magazine September, 1973
Michael Jackson
Shirley Wiley
Etta Williams
Charles Gooch
Eric Meyers
Samuel Michaux
James Whitehead
Charles Higga1botham
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2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
WE WILL GREET YOU WITH A
SMILE
WE WILL TREAT YOU
COURTEOUSLY
WE WILL NOT LET 'OUR OTHER
DUTIES INTERFERE WITH
SERVING YOU
WE WILL ANSWER YOUR
TELEPHONE CALLS PROMPTLY
AND COURTEOUSLY
WE WILL ACKNOWLEDGE YOU IF
WE MUST KEEP YOU WAITING
WE WILL GIVE YOU DIRECTIONS
AND ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS
WE WILL MAKE EVERY EFFORT
TO FIND OR SECURE
MERCHANDISE THAT YOU WANT
WE WILL PROVIDE OUR SERVICES
WHEN YOU NEED THEM
WE WILL NOT LET YOU LEAVE
OUR STORE UNHAPPY
WE WILL THANK YOU FOR
SHOPPING IN OUR STORE
You are our most important asset
and we will do everything we can
to please you. Come in today, let
us prove that we really do care.
IsearsI
People who care about People
West Fresno Production Enterprises, Inc.
COMPLETE AUTO DETAILING
Fresno, Calif. 1445 Broadway Phone 268-5800
STEAM CLEANING AND ENGINE PAINTING
DELUXE WAXING FOR CARS -BOATS -PICK-UPS OR TRUCKS
COME IN TODAY
September, 1973 3 Grapevine
INTRODUCING . . .
"We specialize in communicating advertisement and public relations
messages to minority people in Central California thru Newspapers,
Magazines, Radio, and Television."
Odell Johnson Jr.
State Sales Representative
Frank Johnson
Media Specialist
Cleofus Johnson
Sales Director
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION -NO OBLIGATIONS
JOHNSON AND ASSOCIATES
1012 S. Trinity (209) 486-6681 Fresno, Ca. 93706
MAGAZINE
GRAPEVINE CORP.
Fresno, Calif.
1012 S. Trinity
Phone: 486-0273
or 233-1346
FRANK J. JOHNSON
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER
CLEO JOHNSON
ADVERTISING EDITOR
JERRY C. JOHNSON
DIRECTOR OF CIRCULATION
GRAPEVINE
ADVISORY BOA.RD
DR. FREDDIE HAYES
ATTY. DONALD THUESEN
JAMES ALDREDGE
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE:
Single copies 50¢; $6.00 per
year. Send check or money
order to Grapevine Magazine,
1012 S. Trinity, Fresno, California
93706. ',
All rights reserved for material
contained in the publication.
Advertising Rate Card
available upon request
Copyright 1973
by Grapevine Corporation
September, 1973
Vol. 5 No. 9
September, 1973
Table of Contents
Black Greyhound Lines Supervisor __________ 6
First Black FSU Cabinet Officer ______________ 7
Fresnan Attends Howard University ______ l 0
Teacher of the Month ____________________________ l l
Outstanding Man of the Month ___________ 12
Afrique Boutique ___________________________________ l 3
New Black Denny's Manager ________________ 14
Obituary __________________________________________________ 15
Model of the Month --------------------------------17
AKA Extravaganza __________________________________ l 8
Short Story by Etta Williams __________________ 20
The Jackson Five ____________________________________26
Dance Contest ________________________________________ 28
Photo credits:
Cal Hamilton, Pp. 6, 18, 19, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
Earl Bradley, P. 17
Fresno Bee, P. 13
5 Grapevine
8 9 10 ..
6 7
)5 16 17 18
13 14
Samuel Michaux
Greyhound Lines Operational Supervisor
Samuel Michaux is employed as an Operations Supervisor for Greyhound
Lines, West. He was born and reared in Asheville, North Carolina.
Michaux states, "My decision to retire and build in Fresno was prompted
by being stationed in Merced, California for 12 years. I adopted
Fresno as my home after deciding I wanted to retire in the San Joaquin
Valley. I·ve witnessed many changes in Fresno and they have all improved
this city."
While in the Air Force Michaux traveled in France, Spain, Japan,
Europe and Asia. The Vietnam and Korean veteran was awarded the
U.S.A.F. Commendation Medal for Distinguished Service.
Michaux's duties as Operation Supervisor for Greyhound Lines include
assignment of drivers and buses to scheduled runs, charters, overloads,
and other special moves. His duties extend to the overall supervision of
the terminal during the absence of the superintendent or terminal manager.
Michaux has attended Blackhills State in South Dakota, University
of Maryland (Europe Division), A & T University in Greensboro, North
Carolina, and Fresno State University.
Michaux married his childhood sweetheart, Doris H. McClelland, who
is a graduate of A & T University. She is presently employed as a
Social Service Supervisor Ill for the Madera County Welfare Department.
The Michaux's have one child, Joan Renee, age 13.
Grapevine 6 September, 1973
First Black Cabinet Officer Appointed At
Fresno State University
Mr. James W. Whitehead
Assistant Executive Vice-President
By Mattie Meyers
Fresno State University recently
appointed James W. Whitehead as
its first Black cabinet member in
which he will serve as Assistant
Executive Vice-President. Mr. White-
GRAVES LIQUOR STORE
L'IQUOR WINE BEER
~'~
b 233-3601
2583 S. ELM FRESNO
September, 1973 7
head came to Fresno State University
School of Social Work in
1970 from the University of Texas
School of Social Work, bringing
with him a wealth of experience.
As a 1957 graduate with a Bachelor
of Arts Degree from Horehouse
College, he studied Social Work
at Atlanta University, graduating
with the Master of Arts Degree the
following year. He has a long array
of organizational experiences and
accompanying honors and awards.
Prior to coming to Fresno, Mr.
Whitehead was Assistant Professor
of Social Work at Rutgers University
and at Barry College, Miami,
Florida. He was also Assistant Director
of the Metropolitan Dade
County Department of Housing and
Urban Development of Miami as
well as Executive Director of the
Greater Miami Urban League.
Whitehead at Atlanta University, he
was a recipient of the Walter Francis
White Fellowship in Sociology
and the National Institute of Mental
Health Fellowship in Social
Work. The forty-year-old professor
and his wife, Dolly, have four children.
Grapevine
" .. . and I promise to shade your wasp nest for the rest of the
summer; just hurry and do something before he comes at me
with that knife." © Grapevine Corp.
" .. . and I promise to shade your wasp nest for the rest of the
summer; just hurry and do something before he comes at me
with that knife." © Grapevine Corp.
R.C.A. -GENERAL ELECTRIC -ZENITH -WESTINGHOUSE
A E
F'RESNO , CALIF', 93721
'
1Come a
Corner of Broadway
JOHN GAROFOLI
485-2564 and Divisadero
OWNER
Grapevine 8 September, 1973
*Help raise funds for your Organization
or Club!!
*The Entertaining WRIGHT BROTHERS
"formerly from Texas"
Are now taking appointments:
*Professional!! *Recording Group!!
* 1. Churches * 6. Conventions
* 2. Club Meetings * 7. Birthday Parties
* 3. Banquets * 8. Weddings
* 4. Benefit Dinners * 9. Funerals
* 5. Schools *l 0. (M·any other occasions)
*Very Reasonable -"A Drawing Card"
for further information call
Brother Wright 486-6229 or485-6197
Fresnan Gets Acceptance to Howard
University School of Dentistry
Mr. Eric Louis Bernard Meyers
has officially received acceptance
into the 1973 Fall Class of Howard
University School of Den·tistry.
Eric is a graduate of Mclane High
School and in December graduated
from North Carolina Central University
in Durham, North Carolina,
where he received his Bachelor's
degree with a major in Biology
and minor in Chemistry.
Meyers is a bachelor and a musician,
having played drums with
a local combo in Fresno. He is the
son of Dr. Earl R. Meyers and Mrs.
Mattie B. Meyers.
September, 1973
Eric Meyers
Grapevine 10
Teacher Of The Month
By Mattie Meyers
ua1e of Wiley College in Marshall,
Texas. In addition to her teaching,
she is completing requirements for
a Master·s Degree at Fresno State
University.
Mrs. Wiley and her family came
to Fresno five years ago when her
husband, Paul, transfered from the
University of California Research
Center. Mrs. Wiley taught at Heaton,
Robinson and Lincoln Elementary
Schools. She feels that education
is the key to enlightenment.
Being an active person, her
outside activities include Fi.rst Vice
President of Lopha Phi Lomba So•
rority, a member of the Black Ed·
ucators Association of Fresno.
Among the things she enjoys most
is getting to know different people
Mrs. Shirley Wiley
from all walks of life. Her hobbies
The GRAPEVINE'S TEACHER OF include playing the piano, singing,
THE MONTH is Kirk Elementary reading (especially history) and
School Reading Resource Teacher, teaching young people. Mrs. Wiley
Mrs. Shirley Wiley who is a native and her husband have two dough•
of Sweetwater, Texas. Mrs. Wiley ters, Myle Nichole age 5 and Mon•
is a social science and music grad-ica Faye age 3.
r-------------------------------~
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1012 S. Trinity Fresno, Ca. 93706
L--------------------------------J
September, 1973 11 Grapevine
Grapevine's Outstanding Man of the Month
The GRAPEVINE'S MAN OF THE
MONTH is Mr. Charles Higgenbotham,
Assistant Division Chief, Processing
Division, Internal Revenue
Service He comes to Fresno from
Cleveland, Ohio.
Wh ile a boy in Worcester, Massachusetts,
Higginbotham's ambition
was to grow up to be a mailman.
But he never worked for the Postal
Department. It was in 1945 while
serving in the Army that he decided
that government service offered
more opportunities for Blacks than
private industry in terms of job
security and mobility. So he chose
to begin a career in 1946 with the
government with the Veteran's Administration
in the Boston Regional
Office. He stayed with the VA in
Boston and Cleveland, Ohio until
1955 when he transferred to the
Internal Revenue Service as a Revenue
Officer in the Cleveland
District Office. While holding down
his fulltime government positions,
Mr. Higginbotham furthered his
education, receiving his Bachelor
of Arts and Master's Degree in
Business Administration from iness Administration. He and his
Northeastern University in Boston. wife, Sally, are the parents of two
Now that he is nearing retiregrown
daughters, Linda and Joan.
ment from government service, Mr. Linda is a teacher at Franklin EleHigginbotham
plans to use his mentary School in Fresno. Her hobCalifornia
State teaching credenbies
are traveling, gardening, and
tials to teach adult classes in Bus-listening to " good music."
A HERITAGE of
• STRENGTH • SECURITY
•EXPERIENCE
Fl<ESN0°
UARANTEE
SAVINGS
6
" LOAN ASSOCIATION
Fresno Main Office: 1177 Fulton Mall 268-8111
Grapevine 12 September, 1973
Afrique Boutique
--------------=-~---~/:
Mrs. Josephine August, right, a student from Ghana, West Africa,
shows Mrs. Julia Brown and daughter, Karma, how to use African
instruments. The instruments are among the items offered for sale in
the "Afrique Boutique," located in the John Hale Medical Center. Pro
ceeds from the boutique, which is managed by Mrs. Brown, are used
for scholarships. Mrs. Brown is the wife of Dr. Willie Brown, a physician
at the Medical Center.
Diamond solitaire with
12 diamonds, $550.
CHARGE or BUDGETEnmonos !(/',-,,_l&f9
FASHION FAIR
September, 1973 13
FULTON MALL
Gra pevine
Black Veteran New Assistant Manager
At Denny's
Mr. Charles N. Gooch
The GRAPEVINE spotlights in
this month's issue Black Businessman
Charles N. Gooch, who just
recently retired from the position
of Sgt. E8 of the U.S. Army having
served 23 years ond touring the
world. He is now the new Assistant
Manager at Denny's Restau
rant on Abby and Blackstone
Avenue at Divisadero Street in
Fresno.
Mr. Gooch is a native of Marsha
I I, Texas, although as a teenager
he lived in San Francisco,
graduating from George Washington
High School. Gooch came up
through the ranks but found time
to continue his education in-between
through the University of
Maryland (Army University Program)
and at Monterey Penninsula
Junior College.
Gooch and his wife, Bees, are
the parents of four teenage daughters
and two sons.
. ALERT CLEANERS
0
1 Alterations Laundry Pick-up & Delivery
Check our 2 for the price of 1 Dry Cleaning Service on: Men's
pants, plain sweaters, and plain Ladies' skirts, Mon. thru Fri.
1660 "A" Street Phone: 268-2055
HAZEL AND VIRGIL HANKINS-OWNERS
FLOYD'S t,.EJKON
*Body & Fender *Mechanic *Painting
* FREE ESTIMATES * WORK GUARANTEED
Call 264-6704 or 486-2514
911 E. Jensen Fresno, Calif.
Grapevine 14 September, 1973
Former Fresnan Dies
Jessie Hardeman, a former Fresnan,
died on August 6, 1973 in
Oakland, California. He was born
on October 4, 1888 in Waskom,
Texas and spent all of his early
life there. Hardeman lived in Fresno
for 25 years before moving to
Oakland four years ago.
Hardeman accepted Christ at an
early age and was baptized in the
Baptist Church. He attended church
regularly and became a Sunday
School Teacher, and later a Superintendent
of the Sunday School.
He leaves to mourn his death:
a wife, Mrs. Cessie Hardeman;
seven sons, James, John, Lorenzo,
George and Lemrell Hardeman of
Texas; Mr. Willie J. Hardeman of
Oakland and Jasper Hardeman.
Seven daughters, Mrs. Frenzel la
Smith of Oakland; Mrs. Vernell
Jackson of Berkeley; Mrs. Cammie
Pryor of San Francisco; Mrs. Almeta
Maoris, Mrs. Doris Moore,
Mrs. Gladys Hayne~ of Fresno, and
Mrs. Geneva Reddicks of Palo Alto.
Three sisters, Mrs. Eleanor Bush,
Mrs. Lubertha Bruster of Texas and
Mrs. Susie Mae Hicks of Oakland.
98 grandchildren, 111 great grandchildren,
2 great great grandchildren.
A host of other relatives and
friends.
Reverend S. L. White officiated
the service. Interment was held at
Sunset View Cemetery in Berkeley,
California. Hudson Funeral Home of
Oakland was in charge of the service.
ARCO
FRESNO
486-2770
2368 So. Elm
MADERA
674-4391
13876 So. Hwy. 99
For Kleen Burn j. .. .complete petroleum
Propane call the MARTINoll COMPANY service, too.
September, 1973 15 Grapevine
major
teacherSchool
MODEL Of THE MONTH
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MODEL Of THE MONTH
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Lovely Orinda Bradley, 20, is
a sophomore journalism
at Fresno City College. Between
classes she works as a
aide at Ivy Junior High
in West Fresno. Her hobbies are
writing and dancing.
Photographer: Earl ~radley
Swimsuit by Rodder's
SHORT STORY
The House
That
Cried For Love
By Etta Williams
That windy March afternoon Linda Taylor collected her tw.J children,
got into the car and headed for the address she had seen in a rental ad.
She'd phoned the given number and when the man, a Nathan Cram
mer, told her the house was still available she breathed a sigh of relief
and promised to come right over.
"Mama, are we going for ice-cream?" Her seven year old asked.
Linda smiled warmly and replied. "No, Candy, this time we're going
for a house."
"They don't sell houses at the store mama, houses won't fit in paper
bags."
" Never mind," Linda said, "Just watch the baby closely. Make sure
he doesn't roll off the seat."
Twenty minutes later she arrived at the home of Nathan Crammer.
She locked the car doors and promised Candy she wouldn't take long
then hurried up the steps to the front door. She knocked and a balding,
round faced man answered. "Yes?" He asked, peering over his glasses.
"I'm Mrs. Taylor," she reminded, "I called earlier about the h: use."
"Oh yes, of course," he smiled, " Come in please."
After a brief introduction Linda went about the business at hand.
"You said over the phone that you were renting the h-:: use for fifty
dollars a month." She reminded. "I believe you said too that it was
a three bedroom."
Crammer nodded his head and chuckled a bit then replied. "Yes,
ma'am I did. Tell you why. The yard needs some wcrk and the fence
could use some bracing and a coat of paint."
Linda felt disappointed, thinking the place was probably a shack.
"Oh, I see", she sighed. "No wonder."
"No, ma',_.m" Crammer said. "It's not what you think. Actually it's
quite a nice house. It's just that no one has lived there for a long spell.
It hasn't been kept up properly."
Linda shrugged her shoulders and decided to hear him out.
"The city has been after me to keep it up or tear it down." He con
tinued. "As you can see I'm no spring chicken. The Mrs. won't let me
do too much heavy work or straining. My back being the way it is.
Anyway, I decided to rent for less and let the tenants keep up the
premises. That way someone has a place to stay, I make a little profit
and the city is satisfied too."
"That does make sense." Linda agreed. "But could I .. . "
Grapevine 20 September, 1973
"See the place first?" He cut in. "You're most welcome to, Mrs. Taylor.
I hope you won't mind if I don't go along. I'm expecting the wife home
shortly."
With that the aging, over weight man walked to the fireplace and
reached atop it. "Here's the key." he said. "Now I'll just write down
the address and tell you the quickest way to get there."
Linda thanked him and promised to return the key along with her
decision.
Once again she was in the car, driving and still wondering about
the house. There has to be a catch to this, she thought, you just don't
find decent houses now days for such small monthly amounts. But in
her c:ase she was almost forced to take what she could find.
Quickly she wondered how her husband would react if he knew his
wife and children were being evicted in forty-eight hours because she
could no longer afford to pay the high rent and make other ends meet,
on her waitress salary.
He wouldn't care in the least, she thought angrily, he doesn't care
about anything except that nineteen year old tramp he ran off with.
Finally she pulled the car to a stop at the place bearing the same
address as the one written on the slip of paper. After looking at the
place from her car she could see what Mr. Crammer meant by "SOME
YARD WORK." She could also see that the house sat further back from
the street than the others and in a strange way made it appear that
it didn't belong.
She glanced around here, thinking how nice the neighborhood seemed
and how well she liked the location.
"Mama, can I go with you?" Candy asked impatiently. "Can I see the
house too?"
"No honey, you stay with Paul. Mama won't be long."
Then Linda got out and took her time locking the car doors. Giving
each door a tug to be doubly sure her children were locked in and safe.
A moment later she was at the gate, opening it and stepping inside.
A number of trees stood tall in straight rows, extending from the corners
of the fence and along either side of the house. There were naked
carcasses of what used to be shrubbery on either side of the door. The
lawn was dead and had become a heme for weeds that grew wild and
free. The white picket fence, now dingy and faded had begun to lean
from lack of care and rubbish fluttered across the yard with each breeze.
But the house seemed to be in good shape from the outside, despite
the peeling white paint.
"Are you thinking of renting that house?" A woman's voice called
from the neighboring yard.
"Yes, as a matter of fact I am." Linda replied, walking over to the
woman.
The chubby, middle aged woman introduced herself as Louise Hanson
and commented about how windy the weather had become in the last
few days.
"The people who lived here before must have never cleaned the
yard." Linda remarked. "Surely it wasn't always this bad."
"I don't know" the woman shrugged her shoulders. "The mister and
I moved here over eight years ago. No one lived there then and no on~
September, 1973 21 Grapevine
has moved in since."
Linda raised her brew. "You mean it's been empty for over eight
years, but why?"
"I wouldn't knew." The woman replied. "Maybe it's haunted. At
least that's what they say."
Linda chuckled a bit. "That's absurd. Why would anyone say such a
thing?"
"Maybe it's idle talk." The woman said. "Maybe it isn't. Bui one
thing's for sure it isn't an ordinary house."
"What do you mean by that?" Linda questioned. "What's wrong
with it?"
"I'll tell you what I mean." The woman's voice lowered, as if she
were exposing a secret. "I seem to hear a baby crying in there some
times and a woman's voice crooning a lullaby, kind of soft and sweet as
if she were trying to quiet it down."
"Mrs. Hanson." Linda chided, surely you don't believe ..."
"I'm not saying one thing or the other." The woman cut in. "I'm just
telling you what I've heard with my own ears."
"Maybe it was your imag-" Linda began, but was interrupted by a
man's voice that called to the woman from the front porch.
"Be right there, Jee." The woman yelled back at him, then turned to
Linda again. "It was nice meeting you." She said quickly. "Hope we'll
have more time after you're moved in and all settled."
A baby cryihg, lvll0bys, tr::w smy. Linda thought, as she turned from
the fence and walked b the steps of the house. "Pure superstition."
She muttered, putting the key into the lock. Opening the door, she
poked her head in first just as a precaution. There could have been
spider webs over the door.
It looked dusty and the stench of decay filled her nostrils. The rot of
many years of neglect was almost repelling. But lets of soap and water
was the cure, she thought.
A~ter standi_ng for a long moment in the doorway and not seeing or
hearing anything unusual, she felt better about g~ing inside.
Wandering from rocm to r.'.>om, she took her time inspecting the house.
The livingroom was spacious, with a hardwood flocr. She bent and
ran her fingers over the thick layer cf dust, thinking that it would take
a nice shine.
The kitchen was also spacious, still containing a st::ive and dinette
set. The bathroom was a sunny yellow. A huge dusty mirror hung on
the wall.
There was a large bedroom that sat to the right of the hall and
another a little smaller located next to it. They beth contained O bed
stripped of linen and were as covered with dust as the rest of the house'.
It seems that someone has left a part of his life here, she th:,ught.
Sort of like they might return someday.
The third bedroom sat acrcss the hall and unlike the others, the door
was shut.
She stepped across the hall and extended her hand to grasp the door
knob. Suddenly, she was cold, icy cold. "MAYBE IT'S HAUNTED" . Mrs.
Hanson's words swam in her head. She fought an urge to run then
suddenly remembered that she'd left the front door open when she
Grapevine
22 September, 1973
came in and plamed the open door for the chill she felt.
"It had to be a chill, mixed with that talk about the place being
haunted." She sighed. "Only fools believe in ghosts."
She opened the bedroom door and her eyes widened. "What in ..."
She gasped. She stood there in the doorway for a long moment, staring
1n disbelief. Then slowly stepped into the room.
"It's a nursery" she gasped, "And not a speck of dust anywhere." A
soft fragrance of spring flowers mixed with gentle wisps of baby powder
filled her nostrils.
Linda was amazed at what her eyes beheld and a bit frightened too.
But she was also compelled to linger, to see more. Her eyes roamed
from the soft blue walls to the frilly white curtains. Then from the white,
toy filled bassinet to the hi-back rocker that sat beside it.
Everything is so clean, so fresh. She thought. But why? How? In a
corner sat a baby's swing with a basket shaped seat that hung suspended
from four chains. It reminded her of a similar one she's purchased
for her own baby.
Out of habit, she walked over and cranked a handle that protruded
from one side of the cross bar above the seat. At this a tune began
to play ... as she had expected. How many times have I turned the
handle on Poul's little swing? Watching his eye's sparkle as a tune
played, while the seat rocked him to and fro . She asked herself.
Then pacing slowly and looking about her a bit more, she noticed a
small table that bore a vase of multiple colored flowers. She inhaled
deeply their fragrance, and wondered how they got there, how they
were living and how long had they been there? She remembered the
woman saying that no one had lived there for over eight years. These
flowers were fresh and alive. They couldn't have been here for eight
long years, she thought.
"Mister Crammer." She yelped, snapping her fingers. "That's got to
be it! He must have come over, started dusting and sweeping the place,
and didn't get any further than this nursery." She explained aloud.
"I guess he figured for such cheap rent, the tenants could do it themselves."
Leaving the flowers was sweet of him. I knew there had to be
a sensible and logical reason for all this.
Taking in the beauty of the flowers once more before leaving the
room, out of the corner of her eye she saw a tiny shimmer and she
focused on it. It was a large glass knob, attached to it was a drawer.
She opened it. Inside lay a diary. She extended her hand and removed
it from it's hiding place.
She stroked her fingers lightly over the cover, toying with the idea
of reading it. Soon her curiosity outweighed her sense of privacy, and
she attempted to open it. But the cover seemed to hold fast to the pages.
Applying a bit more strength, she managed to open it.
Linda didn't believe in snooping, but she felt compelled to read its
contents. Never thinking once about the difficulty she had in opening
it. Just then the sound of soft weeping, seemed to flow from all points
in the room.
That little swing sure plays an unusual tune, she thought. Remembering
that she'd only moments before cranked the handle that started it
ploying. Thinking that the sound came from the swing ... she dismissed
September, 1973 23 Grapevine
1t trom her mind.
If she hadn't been so obsessed with reading the diary, she would
have noticed that the s:>und came not from the swing, but from the
room itself.
The diary told of a w:>man and her child. A three month old boy.
She went on to read about the many nights and days the woman had
sat in her rocker, h:>lding her baby in her arm's, singing to him, as he
cried from the misery he felt. The woman wrote cf a sickness the child
suffered, an illness known as Asthma.
Pity began to rise in her heart as she th_ught cf h:w they both must
have suffered. The woman wrote hew after a few day's the baby's
eyes began to bulge, from the strain on his tiny lungs. How his breath
would be taken from him for long instances, then given back at the
last moment.
Thank God my children are healthy. She sighed, continuing to read,
obsessed, still she payed no attention to the weeping. The woman wrote
that her husband was never home, how she needed his strength to draw
from. But he had no time fer her, or their baby.
Linda began to read aloud." THINGS WOULD BE SO MUCH EASIER,
IF MY HUSBAND COULD STAY HOME LONG ENOUGH TO HOLD MY
HAND, NOW THAT I NEED HIM SO BADLY."
The rocker began to move back and forth agitatedly, squeeking softly
with each moti~n, while the sound of weeping flowed now, from within
it. But Linda's ears were not sensitive to the sounds about her.
I know exactly hew she must have felt. She thought, fighting back
tears. I certainly spent many a night alone, before Jim up and left. Now
she was turning to the last page.
"MY BABY DIED AT THREE P.M. TODAY, AND MY HUSBAND WASN'T
HERE TO SHARE MY SORROW." Linda saw that there were water spots
on the page. She knew the woman had cried bitterly. The words were
a bit distorted due to the woman's falling tears, but blinking her eyes
she managed to make them out." I WANTED A CHILD SO BADLY, AND
NOW MINE HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM ME. I HOPE TO FIND IN DEATH
THE BABY, ANY BABY, I HAVE BEEN DENIED IN LIFE. I WILL NOT LIVE
WITHOUT HIM. HE WAS ALL I REALLY HAD."
The poor creature, Linda thought, the death of her child drove her
insane, and she killed herself. How sad.
Just then she felt another chill, fear creeped up her spine until it had
lodged in her mind. She was now aware of the weeping that seemed to
grow louder and more distraught. She turned quickly, her eyes fastened
on the empty rocker. She gulped in a huge breath of air, har trembling
hand clasped her mouth. Her fingernails dug deep into her unfeeling
flesh. The pupils of her eyes seemed to expand and ccntract, her heart
raced wildly, and the blood pounded loud in her ears.
She wanted to run, to gain space between this strange house and
herself . . . but she could not, scmething unseen restrained her.
"Oh, my God, my God, help me! she screamed as the chair ceased to
rock, and the sound of dragging feet came ever closer. She turned to
run, but something was there. Something stood fast between her and
the doorway.
She lashed out at it with a trembling hand, she clawed at the cold,
Grapevine 24 September, 1973
leather skinned object. It did not give way. Her body colided with it
once then twice. She heard the dragging of feet once more.
"l;'s coming toward me, my God what will I do?" She screamed,
scrambling backward. With each backward step, something in front
of her made a step forward.
"Please! What do you want? Let me go," she pleaded. "Let me go
to my children."
The steps came ever closer, ever quicker. Linda screamed, and screamed.
She was aware of the diary she still held in her hand. She flung
it hard in the direction of the restraining force, hoping to hit it, to drive
it away. She watched through terrified eye's as the book seemed to
connect with something solid in mid air. Then fall to the floor.
Immediately the cold ceased. It must be gone, she prayed. I must
get out of here. My God I must.
She dashed out of the doorway and down the hall. She flung the
screen door open, in her haste she missed her footing on the front steps.
Breaking her fall, she caught herself on her knee. She hesitated, but
only for a second, just long enough to glance backward. To see if the
thing persued her.
She fled down the cement path to the shabby gate. Passing through
it her dress tail caught and held fast to a protruding nail. She funmbled
a; it with trembling, sweating hands. But she could not free the material.
Over and over she glanced back at the open door of the house. She
couldn't be sure that the thing did not pursue her. She knew that it
could not be seen. In desperation, she yanked her dress free. She leaned
against the car door drained and sick. It seemed that she had spent
half a life time in fear, between the house and the car, where she now
rested. Leaning against the door she breathed a sigh of relief, her forehead
was beaded with cold sweat. Warm blood trickled down her leg,
from the cut on her knee.
Now her eye's focused on her little girl. Candy's eyes were wide with
fear, her small mouth hung loose, but she made no sound. Linda knew
at once that something was terribly wrong. Candy was as pale as a
ghost.
"Candy! Open the door!" She screamed, "What's wrong?" She tugged
at the door. As if her very life depended on getting in. The door was
locked. Just as she'd left it. Screaming, she hurried to the other side
of the car. It too was locked.
"Oh no, my purse is in the car!" she gasped, remembering that she
had left her car keys inside the purse.
Still Candy stared through blank eye's and unmoving eye lids.
"Candy! Candy! Where's Paul?" She creamed aghast, seeing that her
baby was gone from the car seat.
The fear she felt now surpassed anything she'd ever known.
"This can't be! He just can't have dissa-! Where has he gone?" Thought
after thought flashed in her mind, but could not grasp one of them.
Tears ran down her cheeks. "MY GOD!" The words tore from her throat.
A second later she turned upon hearing a baby's crying, coming from
inside the house, and a woman's voice softly and sweetly crooning a
lullaby. "WHERE'S MY BABY ." She screamed. "WHERE'S MY BABY?"
THE END
September, 1973 25 Grapevine
THE JACKSON FIVE
The Jackson Five was a smash
in the group's first appearance in
Fresno's Selland Arena recently. A
near full house crowd mainly dominated
by the 7 thru 18 age
group seemed to have enjoyed the
Motown superstars.
The popular group, which has
been around for only four years,
put on one of the most professional
performances that has ever appeared
in Fresno.
The five Jackson brothers and
their two cousins were on stage for
approximately one hour and fifteen
minutes singing most of their hit
records including such songs as
"ABC", "Never Can Say GocdBye",
"I'll Be There", and "I Want
You Back."
Also on the program was an
outstanding group called "The Sisters
Five" who also sing on the
Motown label. Their performance
was outstanding and professional.
The young crowd which included
many adults enjoyed their singir.g
and dancing.
Tito, Jackie, Marlon, Michael,
Grapevine 26
Jermaine, and Randy -age range
from around 9 to 22. In addition
there are cousins Johnny Jackson,
who plays a cool drum and Ronnie
Rancifer who plays the pianoorgan
keyboards.
Make no mistake about it Mich-:.
ael is the star. Although all of the
brothers sing and dance beautifully,
handsome Michael has the
distinctive falsetto voice, that is
getting deeper as he is getting
older, and had the most polished
dance steps.
The group was decked out in
Spanish style trousers and jackets
wiith sequins and florals which
probably cost hundreds of dollars.
One of the highlights of the concert
was the solo performance of
youngest and smallest brother of
the group, Randy about 9 years
of age. Randy played the bongo's
like a pro.
It was pleasing to see the Mr.
Jackson, the brothers' father standing
in the background making sure
everything was going alright onstage
and off-stage. I know he
and his wife are proud parents.
September, 1973
SEE &HEAR
BLACK WORLD OUTLOOK
A
TV SPECIAL
ABOUT
BLACK PEOPLE
LOCAL STATE
NATIONA'L INTERNATIONAL
Filmed -Produced -Directed
ENTIRELY BY ·BLACK PEOPLE
ON
BLACK WORLD OUTLOOK
KFSN CHANNEL 30
One Hour Monthly
SPONSORED BY
KFSN CHANNEL 30 MINORITY COMMITTEE
THE GENTLEMEN'S
BOUTIQUE
Come Join Us on the Mall
THE GENTLEMEN'S
BOUTIQUE
Come Join Us on the Mall
•!UAOl!I •::> 'OUHJ~
t061 'ON l!WJ•cl
OIYd
...,,0 c1 ·s·n
UY11>11n9
Michael Jackson
Shirley Wiley
Etta Williams
Charles Gooch
Eric Meyers
Samuel Michaux
James Whitehead
Charles Higga1botham
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
WE WILL GREET YOU WITH A
SMILE
WE WILL TREAT YOU
COURTEOUSLY
WE WILL NOT LET 'OUR OTHER
DUTIES INTERFERE WITH
SERVING YOU
WE WILL ANSWER YOUR
TELEPHONE CALLS PROMPTLY
AND COURTEOUSLY
WE WILL ACKNOWLEDGE YOU IF
WE MUST KEEP YOU WAITING
WE WILL GIVE YOU DIRECTIONS
AND ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS
WE WILL MAKE EVERY EFFORT
TO FIND OR SECURE
MERCHANDISE THAT YOU WANT
WE WILL PROVIDE OUR SERVICES
WHEN YOU NEED THEM
WE WILL NOT LET YOU LEAVE
OUR STORE UNHAPPY
WE WILL THANK YOU FOR
SHOPPING IN OUR STORE
You are our most important asset
and we will do everything we can
to please you. Come in today, let
us prove that we really do care.
IsearsI
People who care about People
West Fresno Production Enterprises, Inc.
COMPLETE AUTO DETAILING
Fresno, Calif. 1445 Broadway Phone 268-5800
STEAM CLEANING AND ENGINE PAINTING
DELUXE WAXING FOR CARS -BOATS -PICK-UPS OR TRUCKS
COME IN TODAY
September, 1973 3 Grapevine
INTRODUCING . . .
"We specialize in communicating advertisement and public relations
messages to minority people in Central California thru Newspapers,
Magazines, Radio, and Television."
Odell Johnson Jr.
State Sales Representative
Frank Johnson
Media Specialist
Cleofus Johnson
Sales Director
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION -NO OBLIGATIONS
JOHNSON AND ASSOCIATES
1012 S. Trinity (209) 486-6681 Fresno, Ca. 93706
MAGAZINE
GRAPEVINE CORP.
Fresno, Calif.
1012 S. Trinity
Phone: 486-0273
or 233-1346
FRANK J. JOHNSON
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER
CLEO JOHNSON
ADVERTISING EDITOR
JERRY C. JOHNSON
DIRECTOR OF CIRCULATION
GRAPEVINE
ADVISORY BOA.RD
DR. FREDDIE HAYES
ATTY. DONALD THUESEN
JAMES ALDREDGE
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE:
Single copies 50¢; $6.00 per
year. Send check or money
order to Grapevine Magazine,
1012 S. Trinity, Fresno, California
93706. ',
All rights reserved for material
contained in the publication.
Advertising Rate Card
available upon request
Copyright 1973
by Grapevine Corporation
September, 1973
Vol. 5 No. 9
September, 1973
Table of Contents
Black Greyhound Lines Supervisor __________ 6
First Black FSU Cabinet Officer ______________ 7
Fresnan Attends Howard University ______ l 0
Teacher of the Month ____________________________ l l
Outstanding Man of the Month ___________ 12
Afrique Boutique ___________________________________ l 3
New Black Denny's Manager ________________ 14
Obituary __________________________________________________ 15
Model of the Month --------------------------------17
AKA Extravaganza __________________________________ l 8
Short Story by Etta Williams __________________ 20
The Jackson Five ____________________________________26
Dance Contest ________________________________________ 28
Photo credits:
Cal Hamilton, Pp. 6, 18, 19, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
Earl Bradley, P. 17
Fresno Bee, P. 13
5 Grapevine
8 9 10 ..
6 7
)5 16 17 18
13 14
Samuel Michaux
Greyhound Lines Operational Supervisor
Samuel Michaux is employed as an Operations Supervisor for Greyhound
Lines, West. He was born and reared in Asheville, North Carolina.
Michaux states, "My decision to retire and build in Fresno was prompted
by being stationed in Merced, California for 12 years. I adopted
Fresno as my home after deciding I wanted to retire in the San Joaquin
Valley. I·ve witnessed many changes in Fresno and they have all improved
this city."
While in the Air Force Michaux traveled in France, Spain, Japan,
Europe and Asia. The Vietnam and Korean veteran was awarded the
U.S.A.F. Commendation Medal for Distinguished Service.
Michaux's duties as Operation Supervisor for Greyhound Lines include
assignment of drivers and buses to scheduled runs, charters, overloads,
and other special moves. His duties extend to the overall supervision of
the terminal during the absence of the superintendent or terminal manager.
Michaux has attended Blackhills State in South Dakota, University
of Maryland (Europe Division), A & T University in Greensboro, North
Carolina, and Fresno State University.
Michaux married his childhood sweetheart, Doris H. McClelland, who
is a graduate of A & T University. She is presently employed as a
Social Service Supervisor Ill for the Madera County Welfare Department.
The Michaux's have one child, Joan Renee, age 13.
Grapevine 6 September, 1973
First Black Cabinet Officer Appointed At
Fresno State University
Mr. James W. Whitehead
Assistant Executive Vice-President
By Mattie Meyers
Fresno State University recently
appointed James W. Whitehead as
its first Black cabinet member in
which he will serve as Assistant
Executive Vice-President. Mr. White-
GRAVES LIQUOR STORE
L'IQUOR WINE BEER
~'~
b 233-3601
2583 S. ELM FRESNO
September, 1973 7
head came to Fresno State University
School of Social Work in
1970 from the University of Texas
School of Social Work, bringing
with him a wealth of experience.
As a 1957 graduate with a Bachelor
of Arts Degree from Horehouse
College, he studied Social Work
at Atlanta University, graduating
with the Master of Arts Degree the
following year. He has a long array
of organizational experiences and
accompanying honors and awards.
Prior to coming to Fresno, Mr.
Whitehead was Assistant Professor
of Social Work at Rutgers University
and at Barry College, Miami,
Florida. He was also Assistant Director
of the Metropolitan Dade
County Department of Housing and
Urban Development of Miami as
well as Executive Director of the
Greater Miami Urban League.
Whitehead at Atlanta University, he
was a recipient of the Walter Francis
White Fellowship in Sociology
and the National Institute of Mental
Health Fellowship in Social
Work. The forty-year-old professor
and his wife, Dolly, have four children.
Grapevine
" .. . and I promise to shade your wasp nest for the rest of the
summer; just hurry and do something before he comes at me
with that knife." © Grapevine Corp.
" .. . and I promise to shade your wasp nest for the rest of the
summer; just hurry and do something before he comes at me
with that knife." © Grapevine Corp.
R.C.A. -GENERAL ELECTRIC -ZENITH -WESTINGHOUSE
A E
F'RESNO , CALIF', 93721
'
1Come a
Corner of Broadway
JOHN GAROFOLI
485-2564 and Divisadero
OWNER
Grapevine 8 September, 1973
*Help raise funds for your Organization
or Club!!
*The Entertaining WRIGHT BROTHERS
"formerly from Texas"
Are now taking appointments:
*Professional!! *Recording Group!!
* 1. Churches * 6. Conventions
* 2. Club Meetings * 7. Birthday Parties
* 3. Banquets * 8. Weddings
* 4. Benefit Dinners * 9. Funerals
* 5. Schools *l 0. (M·any other occasions)
*Very Reasonable -"A Drawing Card"
for further information call
Brother Wright 486-6229 or485-6197
Fresnan Gets Acceptance to Howard
University School of Dentistry
Mr. Eric Louis Bernard Meyers
has officially received acceptance
into the 1973 Fall Class of Howard
University School of Den·tistry.
Eric is a graduate of Mclane High
School and in December graduated
from North Carolina Central University
in Durham, North Carolina,
where he received his Bachelor's
degree with a major in Biology
and minor in Chemistry.
Meyers is a bachelor and a musician,
having played drums with
a local combo in Fresno. He is the
son of Dr. Earl R. Meyers and Mrs.
Mattie B. Meyers.
September, 1973
Eric Meyers
Grapevine 10
Teacher Of The Month
By Mattie Meyers
ua1e of Wiley College in Marshall,
Texas. In addition to her teaching,
she is completing requirements for
a Master·s Degree at Fresno State
University.
Mrs. Wiley and her family came
to Fresno five years ago when her
husband, Paul, transfered from the
University of California Research
Center. Mrs. Wiley taught at Heaton,
Robinson and Lincoln Elementary
Schools. She feels that education
is the key to enlightenment.
Being an active person, her
outside activities include Fi.rst Vice
President of Lopha Phi Lomba So•
rority, a member of the Black Ed·
ucators Association of Fresno.
Among the things she enjoys most
is getting to know different people
Mrs. Shirley Wiley
from all walks of life. Her hobbies
The GRAPEVINE'S TEACHER OF include playing the piano, singing,
THE MONTH is Kirk Elementary reading (especially history) and
School Reading Resource Teacher, teaching young people. Mrs. Wiley
Mrs. Shirley Wiley who is a native and her husband have two dough•
of Sweetwater, Texas. Mrs. Wiley ters, Myle Nichole age 5 and Mon•
is a social science and music grad-ica Faye age 3.
r-------------------------------~
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L--------------------------------J
September, 1973 11 Grapevine
Grapevine's Outstanding Man of the Month
The GRAPEVINE'S MAN OF THE
MONTH is Mr. Charles Higgenbotham,
Assistant Division Chief, Processing
Division, Internal Revenue
Service He comes to Fresno from
Cleveland, Ohio.
Wh ile a boy in Worcester, Massachusetts,
Higginbotham's ambition
was to grow up to be a mailman.
But he never worked for the Postal
Department. It was in 1945 while
serving in the Army that he decided
that government service offered
more opportunities for Blacks than
private industry in terms of job
security and mobility. So he chose
to begin a career in 1946 with the
government with the Veteran's Administration
in the Boston Regional
Office. He stayed with the VA in
Boston and Cleveland, Ohio until
1955 when he transferred to the
Internal Revenue Service as a Revenue
Officer in the Cleveland
District Office. While holding down
his fulltime government positions,
Mr. Higginbotham furthered his
education, receiving his Bachelor
of Arts and Master's Degree in
Business Administration from iness Administration. He and his
Northeastern University in Boston. wife, Sally, are the parents of two
Now that he is nearing retiregrown
daughters, Linda and Joan.
ment from government service, Mr. Linda is a teacher at Franklin EleHigginbotham
plans to use his mentary School in Fresno. Her hobCalifornia
State teaching credenbies
are traveling, gardening, and
tials to teach adult classes in Bus-listening to " good music."
A HERITAGE of
• STRENGTH • SECURITY
•EXPERIENCE
Fl<ESN0°
UARANTEE
SAVINGS
6
" LOAN ASSOCIATION
Fresno Main Office: 1177 Fulton Mall 268-8111
Grapevine 12 September, 1973
Afrique Boutique
--------------=-~---~/:
Mrs. Josephine August, right, a student from Ghana, West Africa,
shows Mrs. Julia Brown and daughter, Karma, how to use African
instruments. The instruments are among the items offered for sale in
the "Afrique Boutique," located in the John Hale Medical Center. Pro
ceeds from the boutique, which is managed by Mrs. Brown, are used
for scholarships. Mrs. Brown is the wife of Dr. Willie Brown, a physician
at the Medical Center.
Diamond solitaire with
12 diamonds, $550.
CHARGE or BUDGETEnmonos !(/',-,,_l&f9
FASHION FAIR
September, 1973 13
FULTON MALL
Gra pevine
Black Veteran New Assistant Manager
At Denny's
Mr. Charles N. Gooch
The GRAPEVINE spotlights in
this month's issue Black Businessman
Charles N. Gooch, who just
recently retired from the position
of Sgt. E8 of the U.S. Army having
served 23 years ond touring the
world. He is now the new Assistant
Manager at Denny's Restau
rant on Abby and Blackstone
Avenue at Divisadero Street in
Fresno.
Mr. Gooch is a native of Marsha
I I, Texas, although as a teenager
he lived in San Francisco,
graduating from George Washington
High School. Gooch came up
through the ranks but found time
to continue his education in-between
through the University of
Maryland (Army University Program)
and at Monterey Penninsula
Junior College.
Gooch and his wife, Bees, are
the parents of four teenage daughters
and two sons.
. ALERT CLEANERS
0
1 Alterations Laundry Pick-up & Delivery
Check our 2 for the price of 1 Dry Cleaning Service on: Men's
pants, plain sweaters, and plain Ladies' skirts, Mon. thru Fri.
1660 "A" Street Phone: 268-2055
HAZEL AND VIRGIL HANKINS-OWNERS
FLOYD'S t,.EJKON
*Body & Fender *Mechanic *Painting
* FREE ESTIMATES * WORK GUARANTEED
Call 264-6704 or 486-2514
911 E. Jensen Fresno, Calif.
Grapevine 14 September, 1973
Former Fresnan Dies
Jessie Hardeman, a former Fresnan,
died on August 6, 1973 in
Oakland, California. He was born
on October 4, 1888 in Waskom,
Texas and spent all of his early
life there. Hardeman lived in Fresno
for 25 years before moving to
Oakland four years ago.
Hardeman accepted Christ at an
early age and was baptized in the
Baptist Church. He attended church
regularly and became a Sunday
School Teacher, and later a Superintendent
of the Sunday School.
He leaves to mourn his death:
a wife, Mrs. Cessie Hardeman;
seven sons, James, John, Lorenzo,
George and Lemrell Hardeman of
Texas; Mr. Willie J. Hardeman of
Oakland and Jasper Hardeman.
Seven daughters, Mrs. Frenzel la
Smith of Oakland; Mrs. Vernell
Jackson of Berkeley; Mrs. Cammie
Pryor of San Francisco; Mrs. Almeta
Maoris, Mrs. Doris Moore,
Mrs. Gladys Hayne~ of Fresno, and
Mrs. Geneva Reddicks of Palo Alto.
Three sisters, Mrs. Eleanor Bush,
Mrs. Lubertha Bruster of Texas and
Mrs. Susie Mae Hicks of Oakland.
98 grandchildren, 111 great grandchildren,
2 great great grandchildren.
A host of other relatives and
friends.
Reverend S. L. White officiated
the service. Interment was held at
Sunset View Cemetery in Berkeley,
California. Hudson Funeral Home of
Oakland was in charge of the service.
ARCO
FRESNO
486-2770
2368 So. Elm
MADERA
674-4391
13876 So. Hwy. 99
For Kleen Burn j. .. .complete petroleum
Propane call the MARTINoll COMPANY service, too.
September, 1973 15 Grapevine
major
teacherSchool
MODEL Of THE MONTH
major
teacherSchool
MODEL Of THE MONTH
Gl
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Lovely Orinda Bradley, 20, is
a sophomore journalism
at Fresno City College. Between
classes she works as a
aide at Ivy Junior High
in West Fresno. Her hobbies are
writing and dancing.
Photographer: Earl ~radley
Swimsuit by Rodder's
SHORT STORY
The House
That
Cried For Love
By Etta Williams
That windy March afternoon Linda Taylor collected her tw.J children,
got into the car and headed for the address she had seen in a rental ad.
She'd phoned the given number and when the man, a Nathan Cram
mer, told her the house was still available she breathed a sigh of relief
and promised to come right over.
"Mama, are we going for ice-cream?" Her seven year old asked.
Linda smiled warmly and replied. "No, Candy, this time we're going
for a house."
"They don't sell houses at the store mama, houses won't fit in paper
bags."
" Never mind," Linda said, "Just watch the baby closely. Make sure
he doesn't roll off the seat."
Twenty minutes later she arrived at the home of Nathan Crammer.
She locked the car doors and promised Candy she wouldn't take long
then hurried up the steps to the front door. She knocked and a balding,
round faced man answered. "Yes?" He asked, peering over his glasses.
"I'm Mrs. Taylor," she reminded, "I called earlier about the h: use."
"Oh yes, of course," he smiled, " Come in please."
After a brief introduction Linda went about the business at hand.
"You said over the phone that you were renting the h-:: use for fifty
dollars a month." She reminded. "I believe you said too that it was
a three bedroom."
Crammer nodded his head and chuckled a bit then replied. "Yes,
ma'am I did. Tell you why. The yard needs some wcrk and the fence
could use some bracing and a coat of paint."
Linda felt disappointed, thinking the place was probably a shack.
"Oh, I see", she sighed. "No wonder."
"No, ma',_.m" Crammer said. "It's not what you think. Actually it's
quite a nice house. It's just that no one has lived there for a long spell.
It hasn't been kept up properly."
Linda shrugged her shoulders and decided to hear him out.
"The city has been after me to keep it up or tear it down." He con
tinued. "As you can see I'm no spring chicken. The Mrs. won't let me
do too much heavy work or straining. My back being the way it is.
Anyway, I decided to rent for less and let the tenants keep up the
premises. That way someone has a place to stay, I make a little profit
and the city is satisfied too."
"That does make sense." Linda agreed. "But could I .. . "
Grapevine 20 September, 1973
"See the place first?" He cut in. "You're most welcome to, Mrs. Taylor.
I hope you won't mind if I don't go along. I'm expecting the wife home
shortly."
With that the aging, over weight man walked to the fireplace and
reached atop it. "Here's the key." he said. "Now I'll just write down
the address and tell you the quickest way to get there."
Linda thanked him and promised to return the key along with her
decision.
Once again she was in the car, driving and still wondering about
the house. There has to be a catch to this, she thought, you just don't
find decent houses now days for such small monthly amounts. But in
her c:ase she was almost forced to take what she could find.
Quickly she wondered how her husband would react if he knew his
wife and children were being evicted in forty-eight hours because she
could no longer afford to pay the high rent and make other ends meet,
on her waitress salary.
He wouldn't care in the least, she thought angrily, he doesn't care
about anything except that nineteen year old tramp he ran off with.
Finally she pulled the car to a stop at the place bearing the same
address as the one written on the slip of paper. After looking at the
place from her car she could see what Mr. Crammer meant by "SOME
YARD WORK." She could also see that the house sat further back from
the street than the others and in a strange way made it appear that
it didn't belong.
She glanced around here, thinking how nice the neighborhood seemed
and how well she liked the location.
"Mama, can I go with you?" Candy asked impatiently. "Can I see the
house too?"
"No honey, you stay with Paul. Mama won't be long."
Then Linda got out and took her time locking the car doors. Giving
each door a tug to be doubly sure her children were locked in and safe.
A moment later she was at the gate, opening it and stepping inside.
A number of trees stood tall in straight rows, extending from the corners
of the fence and along either side of the house. There were naked
carcasses of what used to be shrubbery on either side of the door. The
lawn was dead and had become a heme for weeds that grew wild and
free. The white picket fence, now dingy and faded had begun to lean
from lack of care and rubbish fluttered across the yard with each breeze.
But the house seemed to be in good shape from the outside, despite
the peeling white paint.
"Are you thinking of renting that house?" A woman's voice called
from the neighboring yard.
"Yes, as a matter of fact I am." Linda replied, walking over to the
woman.
The chubby, middle aged woman introduced herself as Louise Hanson
and commented about how windy the weather had become in the last
few days.
"The people who lived here before must have never cleaned the
yard." Linda remarked. "Surely it wasn't always this bad."
"I don't know" the woman shrugged her shoulders. "The mister and
I moved here over eight years ago. No one lived there then and no on~
September, 1973 21 Grapevine
has moved in since."
Linda raised her brew. "You mean it's been empty for over eight
years, but why?"
"I wouldn't knew." The woman replied. "Maybe it's haunted. At
least that's what they say."
Linda chuckled a bit. "That's absurd. Why would anyone say such a
thing?"
"Maybe it's idle talk." The woman said. "Maybe it isn't. Bui one
thing's for sure it isn't an ordinary house."
"What do you mean by that?" Linda questioned. "What's wrong
with it?"
"I'll tell you what I mean." The woman's voice lowered, as if she
were exposing a secret. "I seem to hear a baby crying in there some
times and a woman's voice crooning a lullaby, kind of soft and sweet as
if she were trying to quiet it down."
"Mrs. Hanson." Linda chided, surely you don't believe ..."
"I'm not saying one thing or the other." The woman cut in. "I'm just
telling you what I've heard with my own ears."
"Maybe it was your imag-" Linda began, but was interrupted by a
man's voice that called to the woman from the front porch.
"Be right there, Jee." The woman yelled back at him, then turned to
Linda again. "It was nice meeting you." She said quickly. "Hope we'll
have more time after you're moved in and all settled."
A baby cryihg, lvll0bys, tr::w smy. Linda thought, as she turned from
the fence and walked b the steps of the house. "Pure superstition."
She muttered, putting the key into the lock. Opening the door, she
poked her head in first just as a precaution. There could have been
spider webs over the door.
It looked dusty and the stench of decay filled her nostrils. The rot of
many years of neglect was almost repelling. But lets of soap and water
was the cure, she thought.
A~ter standi_ng for a long moment in the doorway and not seeing or
hearing anything unusual, she felt better about g~ing inside.
Wandering from rocm to r.'.>om, she took her time inspecting the house.
The livingroom was spacious, with a hardwood flocr. She bent and
ran her fingers over the thick layer cf dust, thinking that it would take
a nice shine.
The kitchen was also spacious, still containing a st::ive and dinette
set. The bathroom was a sunny yellow. A huge dusty mirror hung on
the wall.
There was a large bedroom that sat to the right of the hall and
another a little smaller located next to it. They beth contained O bed
stripped of linen and were as covered with dust as the rest of the house'.
It seems that someone has left a part of his life here, she th:,ught.
Sort of like they might return someday.
The third bedroom sat acrcss the hall and unlike the others, the door
was shut.
She stepped across the hall and extended her hand to grasp the door
knob. Suddenly, she was cold, icy cold. "MAYBE IT'S HAUNTED" . Mrs.
Hanson's words swam in her head. She fought an urge to run then
suddenly remembered that she'd left the front door open when she
Grapevine
22 September, 1973
came in and plamed the open door for the chill she felt.
"It had to be a chill, mixed with that talk about the place being
haunted." She sighed. "Only fools believe in ghosts."
She opened the bedroom door and her eyes widened. "What in ..."
She gasped. She stood there in the doorway for a long moment, staring
1n disbelief. Then slowly stepped into the room.
"It's a nursery" she gasped, "And not a speck of dust anywhere." A
soft fragrance of spring flowers mixed with gentle wisps of baby powder
filled her nostrils.
Linda was amazed at what her eyes beheld and a bit frightened too.
But she was also compelled to linger, to see more. Her eyes roamed
from the soft blue walls to the frilly white curtains. Then from the white,
toy filled bassinet to the hi-back rocker that sat beside it.
Everything is so clean, so fresh. She thought. But why? How? In a
corner sat a baby's swing with a basket shaped seat that hung suspended
from four chains. It reminded her of a similar one she's purchased
for her own baby.
Out of habit, she walked over and cranked a handle that protruded
from one side of the cross bar above the seat. At this a tune began
to play ... as she had expected. How many times have I turned the
handle on Poul's little swing? Watching his eye's sparkle as a tune
played, while the seat rocked him to and fro . She asked herself.
Then pacing slowly and looking about her a bit more, she noticed a
small table that bore a vase of multiple colored flowers. She inhaled
deeply their fragrance, and wondered how they got there, how they
were living and how long had they been there? She remembered the
woman saying that no one had lived there for over eight years. These
flowers were fresh and alive. They couldn't have been here for eight
long years, she thought.
"Mister Crammer." She yelped, snapping her fingers. "That's got to
be it! He must have come over, started dusting and sweeping the place,
and didn't get any further than this nursery." She explained aloud.
"I guess he figured for such cheap rent, the tenants could do it themselves."
Leaving the flowers was sweet of him. I knew there had to be
a sensible and logical reason for all this.
Taking in the beauty of the flowers once more before leaving the
room, out of the corner of her eye she saw a tiny shimmer and she
focused on it. It was a large glass knob, attached to it was a drawer.
She opened it. Inside lay a diary. She extended her hand and removed
it from it's hiding place.
She stroked her fingers lightly over the cover, toying with the idea
of reading it. Soon her curiosity outweighed her sense of privacy, and
she attempted to open it. But the cover seemed to hold fast to the pages.
Applying a bit more strength, she managed to open it.
Linda didn't believe in snooping, but she felt compelled to read its
contents. Never thinking once about the difficulty she had in opening
it. Just then the sound of soft weeping, seemed to flow from all points
in the room.
That little swing sure plays an unusual tune, she thought. Remembering
that she'd only moments before cranked the handle that started it
ploying. Thinking that the sound came from the swing ... she dismissed
September, 1973 23 Grapevine
1t trom her mind.
If she hadn't been so obsessed with reading the diary, she would
have noticed that the s:>und came not from the swing, but from the
room itself.
The diary told of a w:>man and her child. A three month old boy.
She went on to read about the many nights and days the woman had
sat in her rocker, h:>lding her baby in her arm's, singing to him, as he
cried from the misery he felt. The woman wrote cf a sickness the child
suffered, an illness known as Asthma.
Pity began to rise in her heart as she th_ught cf h:w they both must
have suffered. The woman wrote hew after a few day's the baby's
eyes began to bulge, from the strain on his tiny lungs. How his breath
would be taken from him for long instances, then given back at the
last moment.
Thank God my children are healthy. She sighed, continuing to read,
obsessed, still she payed no attention to the weeping. The woman wrote
that her husband was never home, how she needed his strength to draw
from. But he had no time fer her, or their baby.
Linda began to read aloud." THINGS WOULD BE SO MUCH EASIER,
IF MY HUSBAND COULD STAY HOME LONG ENOUGH TO HOLD MY
HAND, NOW THAT I NEED HIM SO BADLY."
The rocker began to move back and forth agitatedly, squeeking softly
with each moti~n, while the sound of weeping flowed now, from within
it. But Linda's ears were not sensitive to the sounds about her.
I know exactly hew she must have felt. She thought, fighting back
tears. I certainly spent many a night alone, before Jim up and left. Now
she was turning to the last page.
"MY BABY DIED AT THREE P.M. TODAY, AND MY HUSBAND WASN'T
HERE TO SHARE MY SORROW." Linda saw that there were water spots
on the page. She knew the woman had cried bitterly. The words were
a bit distorted due to the woman's falling tears, but blinking her eyes
she managed to make them out." I WANTED A CHILD SO BADLY, AND
NOW MINE HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM ME. I HOPE TO FIND IN DEATH
THE BABY, ANY BABY, I HAVE BEEN DENIED IN LIFE. I WILL NOT LIVE
WITHOUT HIM. HE WAS ALL I REALLY HAD."
The poor creature, Linda thought, the death of her child drove her
insane, and she killed herself. How sad.
Just then she felt another chill, fear creeped up her spine until it had
lodged in her mind. She was now aware of the weeping that seemed to
grow louder and more distraught. She turned quickly, her eyes fastened
on the empty rocker. She gulped in a huge breath of air, har trembling
hand clasped her mouth. Her fingernails dug deep into her unfeeling
flesh. The pupils of her eyes seemed to expand and ccntract, her heart
raced wildly, and the blood pounded loud in her ears.
She wanted to run, to gain space between this strange house and
herself . . . but she could not, scmething unseen restrained her.
"Oh, my God, my God, help me! she screamed as the chair ceased to
rock, and the sound of dragging feet came ever closer. She turned to
run, but something was there. Something stood fast between her and
the doorway.
She lashed out at it with a trembling hand, she clawed at the cold,
Grapevine 24 September, 1973
leather skinned object. It did not give way. Her body colided with it
once then twice. She heard the dragging of feet once more.
"l;'s coming toward me, my God what will I do?" She screamed,
scrambling backward. With each backward step, something in front
of her made a step forward.
"Please! What do you want? Let me go," she pleaded. "Let me go
to my children."
The steps came ever closer, ever quicker. Linda screamed, and screamed.
She was aware of the diary she still held in her hand. She flung
it hard in the direction of the restraining force, hoping to hit it, to drive
it away. She watched through terrified eye's as the book seemed to
connect with something solid in mid air. Then fall to the floor.
Immediately the cold ceased. It must be gone, she prayed. I must
get out of here. My God I must.
She dashed out of the doorway and down the hall. She flung the
screen door open, in her haste she missed her footing on the front steps.
Breaking her fall, she caught herself on her knee. She hesitated, but
only for a second, just long enough to glance backward. To see if the
thing persued her.
She fled down the cement path to the shabby gate. Passing through
it her dress tail caught and held fast to a protruding nail. She funmbled
a; it with trembling, sweating hands. But she could not free the material.
Over and over she glanced back at the open door of the house. She
couldn't be sure that the thing did not pursue her. She knew that it
could not be seen. In desperation, she yanked her dress free. She leaned
against the car door drained and sick. It seemed that she had spent
half a life time in fear, between the house and the car, where she now
rested. Leaning against the door she breathed a sigh of relief, her forehead
was beaded with cold sweat. Warm blood trickled down her leg,
from the cut on her knee.
Now her eye's focused on her little girl. Candy's eyes were wide with
fear, her small mouth hung loose, but she made no sound. Linda knew
at once that something was terribly wrong. Candy was as pale as a
ghost.
"Candy! Open the door!" She screamed, "What's wrong?" She tugged
at the door. As if her very life depended on getting in. The door was
locked. Just as she'd left it. Screaming, she hurried to the other side
of the car. It too was locked.
"Oh no, my purse is in the car!" she gasped, remembering that she
had left her car keys inside the purse.
Still Candy stared through blank eye's and unmoving eye lids.
"Candy! Candy! Where's Paul?" She creamed aghast, seeing that her
baby was gone from the car seat.
The fear she felt now surpassed anything she'd ever known.
"This can't be! He just can't have dissa-! Where has he gone?" Thought
after thought flashed in her mind, but could not grasp one of them.
Tears ran down her cheeks. "MY GOD!" The words tore from her throat.
A second later she turned upon hearing a baby's crying, coming from
inside the house, and a woman's voice softly and sweetly crooning a
lullaby. "WHERE'S MY BABY ." She screamed. "WHERE'S MY BABY?"
THE END
September, 1973 25 Grapevine
THE JACKSON FIVE
The Jackson Five was a smash
in the group's first appearance in
Fresno's Selland Arena recently. A
near full house crowd mainly dominated
by the 7 thru 18 age
group seemed to have enjoyed the
Motown superstars.
The popular group, which has
been around for only four years,
put on one of the most professional
performances that has ever appeared
in Fresno.
The five Jackson brothers and
their two cousins were on stage for
approximately one hour and fifteen
minutes singing most of their hit
records including such songs as
"ABC", "Never Can Say GocdBye",
"I'll Be There", and "I Want
You Back."
Also on the program was an
outstanding group called "The Sisters
Five" who also sing on the
Motown label. Their performance
was outstanding and professional.
The young crowd which included
many adults enjoyed their singir.g
and dancing.
Tito, Jackie, Marlon, Michael,
Grapevine 26
Jermaine, and Randy -age range
from around 9 to 22. In addition
there are cousins Johnny Jackson,
who plays a cool drum and Ronnie
Rancifer who plays the pianoorgan
keyboards.
Make no mistake about it Mich-:.
ael is the star. Although all of the
brothers sing and dance beautifully,
handsome Michael has the
distinctive falsetto voice, that is
getting deeper as he is getting
older, and had the most polished
dance steps.
The group was decked out in
Spanish style trousers and jackets
wiith sequins and florals which
probably cost hundreds of dollars.
One of the highlights of the concert
was the solo performance of
youngest and smallest brother of
the group, Randy about 9 years
of age. Randy played the bongo's
like a pro.
It was pleasing to see the Mr.
Jackson, the brothers' father standing
in the background making sure
everything was going alright onstage
and off-stage. I know he
and his wife are proud parents.
September, 1973
SEE &HEAR
BLACK WORLD OUTLOOK
A
TV SPECIAL
ABOUT
BLACK PEOPLE
LOCAL STATE
NATIONA'L INTERNATIONAL
Filmed -Produced -Directed
ENTIRELY BY ·BLACK PEOPLE
ON
BLACK WORLD OUTLOOK
KFSN CHANNEL 30
One Hour Monthly
SPONSORED BY
KFSN CHANNEL 30 MINORITY COMMITTEE
THE GENTLEMEN'S
BOUTIQUE
Come Join Us on the Mall
THE GENTLEMEN'S
BOUTIQUE
Come Join Us on the Mall
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t061 'ON l!WJ•cl
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