In last week's column we noted some personal experiences I had at Grossinger's and made note of some of the names of associates and dignitaries I had the pleasure to meet and write about.
Can never forget while working as a caddie at the Big G and carrying the bags for Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin. On the course these two were as funny as they were on TV and a good example was on one hole Lewis put his golf ball on the tee and while Dean's caddie distracted him Dean put another ball on the tee.
When Lewis hit the golf ball it exploded went high in the air and came floating down on a small parachute....... everyone in the foursome rolled on the ground laughing so hard.
One of those we had the Grossinger conversation with remembered well what the famed entertainer George Jessel had said about Jennie Grossinger in that Jennie never had an enemy and that she always poured out her love for humanity all her days and that she received nothing but love in return.
All who talked about Jennie pointed out that she had a thirst for knowledge.
One of the highlights of our conversation about Jennie and Grossinger's centered about an event in June (year unknown) that was a day that produced a heavy schedule for Jennie as she had been invited by her friend Father George Francis Brennan, Pastor of St. Peter's in Liberty to attend the dedication of the new Parochial School where Francis Cardinal Speilman would be speaking.
But showing up at the same time that day was Governor Nelson Rockefeller who returned many times to the Big G.......Jennie was said to have handled it like the professional she was, hosting the governor and later having Cardinal Speilman stop at the hotel on his way back to New York City.
Can't help but mention names of folks we talked about who worked at the Big G including Abe Friedman who presided over the dining room, Dave Geiver the Maitre D', head waiter Hy Hoffer, spots director Irving Jaffee, chief housekeeper Rose Friedman, printer Joe Halpner, Val Hemmer in the traffic department, construction men under Tom Mangan, electricians supervised by Conrad Slaver and the laundry head Max Fernandez.
A personal friend of mine was skimaster Tony Kastner who headed up all the ski activities at Grossinger's for many years and who I spent many hours with.
We concluded this great Jennie and Grossingers's conversation remembering the glamorous aura and the greatest personalities that identified the Big G with Show Biz and its biggest names.
If only this true story could be relived.
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