Journal #1, February 3, 1931

Dick O’Connell Jr. came back from Rochester Feb 3rd and next day he died.  First to die from 12 children, a baby died in infancy.  It’s snowing out to-nite.  My Aunt Louise Specht died Jan-28 in No. Vernon, Indiana.  She was born 1843, was 88 yrs old.[1. Louise – I believe her maiden name was “Misse” or “Missi” – was born in Indiana and was married to John Specht, a brother to Mary’s mother’s Eva.]  Joe Meagher (Lillie Schenck’s husband) died of a broken appendecitis Feb 5 at Gt. Falls, Mont.[2. Lillie was the sister of Mary’s first husband George. She was only 47 when her husband Joe died. Joe had worked in the coal and silver mines since at least age 18. He was 48 when he died.]

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For several days now, Mary had been referencing songs she was dedicating over the radio to several family members. On Saturday, January 31, 1931, she dedicated two songs to her grandchildren, Shirley and Buddie Dalin. Here is the journal entry.

Journal #1, January 31, 1931

For Shirley Dalin, Dance of the Wooden Soldier and for Honor Dalin, My Buddie.

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NOTES

At the time this journal entry was written, Shirley was almost 9 years old and Buddie – Mary called him “Honor”[1. It took me awhile reading Mary’s journal to figure out that she was referring to my father, Cid “Buddie” Dalin Jr., when she wrote about “Honor”. My Aunt told me once that it was common for the first born grandson to have that nickname.] – was almost 4 years old. This photo of the two of them was probably taken about 1929 or 1930.

I believe the first song Mary was referring to was actually “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers”. Time wise, the closest version I could find on YouTube was this 1923 recording by Paul Whitman and His Orchestra.

The second song, “My Buddy”, was first published in 1922. It was written by Walter Donaldson, with lyrics by Gus Kahn. Click here for the 1922 version recorded by Henry Burr.

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Journal #1, January 30, 1931

For Bretta [1.Spelled either “Breta” or “Brita”, she was the mother of Mary’s son-in-law, Cid H. Dalin Sr.] Dalin (GrandMother) The Wedding of the Birds, & I Am Alone Because I Love You.

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Here are links to these songs in YouTube:

• A 1930 recording of “The Wedding of the Birds“, by Nat Shilkret
• “I’m Alone Because I Love You”:  a piano roll released in March 1931, just a few months before this journal entry; and this wonderful version by Sweet Emma. It was fun to discover that this jazzy little tune has been recorded by many others over the years, including Lead Belly, Nat King Cole, the Everly Brothers, Ray Price and Fats Domino.

And just for fun, here are the lyrics to “I’m Alone Because I Love You”:

I’m alone because I love you
Love you with all my heart
I’m alone because I had to be true
Sorry, I can’t say the same about you

Yesterday’s kisses are bringing me pain
Yesterday’s sunshine has turned into rain
I’m alone because I love you
Love you with all my heart

I’m alone because I love you
Love you with all my heart

NOTES

Journal #1, January 29, 1931

I requested The Bells of St. Mary’s to be played for Mr. and Mrs. Cid Dalin at Helena over KFBF radio station at Gt. Falls.  It sounded nice, by Frank Lizen.

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Apparently, Frank Lizen was an orchestra leader from Butte. A little internet searching turned up this newspaper article from The Prospector [1. The Prospector is the student-produced newspaper of Carroll College, located in Helena, Montana.] dated December 18, 1950:

Alumni, Students Will Meet at Butte Country Club

     Plans for the alumni-student dinner dance, to be held in the Butte Country club on December 27, have been completed and reservations are being made.

Letters of invitation have been sent to all alumni living within driving distance of Butte. Students are asked to make their reservations before noon on Wednesday, December 20. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Dancing will be from 9 to 1 and the music will be supplied by Frank Lizen and his orchestra.

     Reservations should be made with Bernard Byrne, chairman of the committee. About 125 couples attended the affair last year, he said.

And I also located this 1928 version of “The Bells of St. Mary’s” on YouTube by Nat Shilkret and the Victor Orchestra, with vocals by Franklyn Bauer. Click here to listen.

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