Helen & John Week: April Love in January

Two important dates on

the Shady Dell calendar
are only one week apart:

Helen Ettline's birthday

(January 9) and the date

of John Ettline's death

(January 16).

Again this year I am combining
the two events into a single post
that honors both of the Ettlines.

Just think of this period in mid
January as "Helen & John Week."

 HELEN TROSTLE ETTLINE 

was born 112 years ago
on January 9, 1911.

 JOHN ETTLINE 

died January 16, 1993...
30 years ago...

John spent the last nine years

of his life without Helen. Imagine

the strength and courage it took

for John, a man in his 80s, to go it 

alone, enduring the hardships of

winter and keeping the Dell in

operation even as the teenage

patrons became increasingly

rough, rowdy and disrespectful.

How many of us could have

stood up to that challenge?

This year as we celebrate Helen's birthday and remember John,
I will play records I think they both would have enjoyed.

Every evening Helen was stationed behind the counter of the
Shady Dell snack bar preparing treats to feed the masses.

As Helen worked, a steady stream of doo-wop songs

played on the jukebox. It was a busy, noisy place,

but the old school sounds cut through the clutter

and delighted Helen and her young customers. 

 GARNET MIMMS 

 & THE ENCHANTERS 

The snack bar was Helen's domain, and that's where you could typically find her.

It was very unusual for her to poke her head into "the barn" dance hall. In fact,

in my six years as a Dell rat, I recall Helen coming down to the barn only once.

She happened to walk through the door as a Garnet Mimms song was playing

on the jukebox.  I remember the big smile on Helen's face as she listened to the

ballad and watched couples slow dance to it.  With that happy memory in mind,

I picked three Garnet Mimms ballads to play for Helen on this special occasion.

Born in West Virginia, raised in Philadelphia and steeped in soul,

Garnet Mimms recorded ballads that were loved by Shady Dell

rat packers. In early 1964, at the start of Beatlemania, Mimms'

gospel roots were showing when he released the churchified

"Anytime You Want Me" on the B side of "Tell Me Baby." 

 "Anytime You Want Me" - Garnet Mimms 

 (Feb./Mar. 1964, B side of "Tell Me Baby")  

My soul serenade for Helen continues now with both songs

found on a single that Garnet Mimms recorded with

Charles Boyer and Zola Pearnell  using the group

name Garnet Mimms And The Enchanters.

Released during Halloween season 1963, this is a "twofer" - two top 30

hits on the same 45 rpm record. The A side, "For Your Precious Love"

is a cover of the 1958 hit by Jerry Butler & The Impressions.  

 "For Your Precious Love" - Garnet Mimms And The Enchanters 

 (Dec. 1963/Jan '64, highest cht. pos. #26 Hot 100 & R&B/#34 Cash Box) 

Finally, you'll swear you're sitting in church listening to the choir

as you experience the B side of the platter, a gospel-drenched

Garnet Mimms ballad entitled "Baby Don't You Weep." 

 "Baby Don't You Weep" - Garnet Mimms And The Enchanters 

 (Dec. 1963/Jan. 1964, highest chart pos. #30 Hot 100 & R&B, 

 #40 Cash Box, B side of "For Your Precious Love") 

Now here are three records I think John would like.

 APRIL STEVENS 

John was known as a sharp dressed man,

a man's man and a ladies' man. With that

in mind, I present the lovely April Stevens,

best known for her recordings as a duo with

brother Nino Tempo. Early in her career,

April appeared in Snader Telescriptions -

film versions of popular and classical

music performances produced for

television from 1950 to 1952. Singers,

dancers, orchestras, and novelty acts

appeared in Snader musical productions.

In this first one, April performs the song

"Tricks Of The Trade," the B side of her

1952 RCA Victor single "Put Me In Your

Pocket." An edited version of this Snader

Telescription was shown on the television

series The Frank Fontaine Show.

 

 "The Tricks Of The Trade" - April Stevens  

 (1952, B side of "Put Me In Your Pocket," 

 1952 perf. in Snader Telescription film) 

Now here's April appearing in another

Snader Telescription and performing

another B side. April sings "Meant

To Tell You," the fab flip of her

1952 single "I Love The Way

You're Breaking My Heart." 

 "Meant To Tell You" 

 - April Stevens 

 (1952, B side of 

 "I Love The Way 

 You're Breaking My 

 Heart," 1952 Snader 

 Telescription film ) 

Finally, here's the popular song

"Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)"

aka "Lover Man," written in 1941 for

Billie Holiday. Billie's version was

inducted into the Grammy Hall

of Fame in 1989. Watch and listen

as adorable April Stevens does her

version of "Lover Man" in a third

made for TV Snader Telescription. 

 "Lover Man" - April Stevens 

 (1952 performance in 

 Snader Telescription film) 

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, 

 HELEN! 

 WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU. 

John, you were the King of all Dell Rats.

If we have anything to say about it, you
and Helen will always be remembered.

We love you and miss you, too!