Bob Kaufman

Kick back. Pour yourself a scotch, or a straight up martini with a pimento stuffed olive, long before blue cheese was the rage.  Crank up the hi-fi, and play some swing, or some jazz. Take yourself back to the days when ballplayers would come through town to play during the day at Wrigley or Comiskey, and then play at night on Rush Street or, in this case, the Chez Paree.

That is where my dad approached Del Ennis of the Cardinals, and his more widely known teammate Stan. As in, The Man. Both of whom graciously signing the “Giant Post Card” you see.

Back to the days when the best athletes were known only by their first names. Oscar, Elgin and Jerry on the hardcourt, Arnie and Jack on the tee, and Stan, Hank, Ernie, Mickey and Yogi on the ballfield. No last names needed for the best.

And how appropriate that it was at the Chez Paree, where the bottom of the card says you could get a 5 course dinner, after dinner liqueur, a show and dancing for $5.95 (“plus tax”).

And what a show it must have been. The reverse side of the Giant Post Card (which you could mail with a 3 cent stamp) shows hundreds of the faces of the singers and comedians who performed on that stage. And, not unlike Stan, the best were recognizable only by their first names – Sammy, Nat, Dean, Milton, Cab, Duke and Frank.

The other first name on the card? That would be mine. It is what makes this Giant Post Card rather special.

So, kick back. Pour yourself a scotch, or a straight up martini with a pimento stuffed olive. Crank up the hi-fi, and play some swing, or some jazz. Take yourself back to the days.