NAME\-\--EARNIE ADAMS

TRANSCRIBED BY GENE WOOD,PARK VOLUNTEER,MAR.09,1999

I\-\--STANDS FOR INTERVIEWER

I\-\--\[BB-STANDS FOR BILL BLACK,CONDUCTING PART OF THE INTERVIEW.

INITIALS STANDS FOR NAME OF PERSON BEING INTERVIEWED

NAMES OF PLACES AND PERSONS ARE SPELLED AS HEARD,BUT NOT NECESSARILY
CORRECT.

WORDS WHICH ARE NOT CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD ARE IN BRACKETS \[\]

TAPE IS IDENTIFIED BY THE LETTER \"A\" ON THE ACTUAL TAPE.

I\-\--943 PLEASANT STREET, MY NAME IS RANGER TONI COOPER,ALONG WITH

BILL BLACK,AND WE ARE INTERVIEWING MR.EARNIE ADAMS TODAY.

I\-\--MR. ADAMS,WHICH BATHHOUSE OR HOUSES DID YOU WORK IN ?

EA\-\--WELL, I WORKED IN THE FORDYCE BATHHOUSE,AND THEN I WORKED IN THE

MAJESTIC THREE OR FOUR DAYS,WAS NOT THAT LONG,THIS BOY THOUGHT HE WAS
GOING IN THE ARMY,AN\' SO I WENT UP THERE AN\' WORKED,I WAS GLAD TO GET
OUT FROM UP THERE,CAUSE MAN THAT WAS THE HOTTEST PLACE I\'D EVER BEEN
IN,SO I COME BACK DOWN TO THE FORDYCE WHEN THEY QUIT UP AT THE
ARLINGTON,SO WHEN THEY CUT ME OUT UP THE ARLINGTON,WHEN THEY STARTED
MAKING \'EM PAY THE BOYS,YOU SEE,SO I GOT CUT OUT,AN\' SO I WENT TO WORK
THEN UP TO MAJESTIC TWO OR THREE DAYS,THEN I COME BACK DOWN TO THE
FORDYCE BATHHOUSE AN\' I WORKED DOWN THERE FOR AWHILE UNTIL THEY FOUND
OUT THAT THEY LET THE WRONG MAN OUT,THEY

CUT ME OUT UP THERE,\[AN\'THEN THE WOMAN TAKES\] MY WIFE WOULD NOT COME
BACK TO WORK UP THERE,AN\' SO I WENT UP THERE IN THE MORNIN\'

AN\' TOLD HER,AN\'I SAY I DON\'T MIND COMIN\' UP HERE WORKIN\',BUT WHEN,

IN THE SUMMER TIME I CAN GET OFF JUST LIKE THE REST OF \'EM, FOR I\'LL

GET OFF ANYWAY,\'CEPT BUT I WANT TO COME BACK TO WORK IN THE FALL OR

THE SPRING,AN\' SO THE WOMAN THERE SAY WELL JIM FERGUSON WAS THE HEAD
ATTENDANT SO I THINK HE WAS THE CAUSE OF ME,BECAUSE WHEN THEY

CUT THE BOYS OUT, HE KEPT ONE OF THE BOYS ON, WHICH I SHOULD HAVE BEEN
KEPT ON BECAUSE THE OTHER BOY HAD A CAR AN\' KIDDED ABOUT HE

OWNED THE CEMETARY OUT THERE,AN\' THIS BOY RODE HIM AROUND ALL THE

TIME OUT THERE,YOU KNOW,AN\' SO THEY CUT ME OUT,SO WHEN I WENT UP THERE
I TOLD HER,I SAID THEY CUT ME OUT,AN\' I SAID,SO SHE CALLED

THE ATTENDANT,THE HEAD ATTENDANT OUT THERE,AN\' SAY WAS EARNIE

WORKING BEFORE GEORGE,AN\' SO I TOLD HER,I SAYS,SHE SAYS WELL I,I,I,

DON\'T KNOW,THAT\'S WHAT HE SAID,AN\' SO I SAY,YEAH,I WENT TO WORK

WAY BEFORE GEORGE,GEORGE WHAT-CHA-CALL-IT WENT TO WORK OUT THERE,

SO SHE SAYS,WELL YOU COME BACK TO WORK,I\'LL TAKE CARE OF THAT,SO

THEY TOOK IT OUT OF HIS HAND,HIDE BACK THEN,AND PUT IT IN MISS

WILSONS\' HAND,SO SHE SAYS YES,YEAH SO I\'LL COME BACK TO WORK THEN,

SO THEY,THE HEAD ATTENDANT,ALL OF \'EM SAID,WELL YOU LOST THE BEST BOY
YOU HAD,HELPER,WHEN YOU LET HIM GO. SO AFTER THAT,I WENT BACK

TO WORK UP THERE\...\....

I\-\--DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT YEAR YOU WALKED IN THE FORDYCE ?

EA\-\--1942 \[I\-\--1942 ?\] 1942\.....

I\-\--YOU DIDN\'T WORK VERY LONG \[WORDS UNCLEAR\] ?

EA\-\--NAW,I WASN\'T,I WORKED THERE,I DIDN\'T WORK TOO\...\....

I\-\--WELL, WHAT FLOOR DID YOU WORK ?

EA\-\--WELL, I WORKED UPSTAIRS WITH THE DRESSING ROOM,YOU KNOW,WHERE

THEY DRESS,COME IN AN\' DRESS,\[AND COOL DOWN\]\...\....

I\-\--WHAT DID YOU DO UP THERE ?

EA\-\--JUST CLEAN UP FOR \'EM, AN\' SHOW \'EM WHERE TO UNDRESS AN\' ALL
THAT STUFF,THAT\'S WHAT I DID.

I\-\--DO YOU REMEMBER THE SHOE SHINE STAND ?

EA\-\--SHOE SHINE STAND ? THEY HAD A SHOE SHINE STAND THERE BUT I NEVER

SHINE NO SHOES\...\.....

I\-\--I UNDERSYTAND THEY HAD A CHIROPODY ROOM ?

EA\-\--YEAH\...THEY HAD A CHIROPODY ROOM THERE.

I\-\--DO YOU REMEMBER THE DOCTOR THAT USED TO WORK THERE ?

EA\-\--OLD DOCTOR,\[I\--RAYMOND FREEMAN ?\] PLAIN OLD
DOCTOR,HARRISON,DOCTOR HARRISON,YEAH,DOCTOR HARRISON\.....

I\-\--IS HE STILL LIVING ?

EA\-\--OH NO,HE\'S BEEN DEAD ALL THESE YEARS I GUESS\.....

I\-\--OKAY\...\...\.....

I\-\--\[BB\]\-\--WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED THEN UNTIL YOU,YOU WEREN\'T PAID

AT ALL ?

EA\-\--NO,NO,WE WASN\'T PAID\.....

I\-\--\[BB\]\-\--THE ONLY MONEY YOU GOT\...\....

EA\-\--JUST WHAT WE COULD HUSTLE AN\' GET AHOLD OF\...\...\.....

I\-\--\[BB\]\-\--WAS FROM THE BATH ATTENDANTS,\[EA\-\--ATTENDANTS\] OH,
SO THE GAVE YOU \[WORDS UNCLEAR\]\...\...\...\.....

EA\-\--THE ATTENDANTS SUPPOSED TO GIVE US,THEY SUPPOSED TO PAY US
TWO,TWO DOLLARS-FIFTY CENTS A WEEK,THAT WHAT THEY SUPPOSED TO PAY

US BUT THEY,SOME OF \'EM SAY,\"I DIDN\'T MAKE NOTHIN\',WELL THE
ATENDANTS

DIDN\'T MAKE NOTHIN\',THEY GOT TWENTY CENTS A BATH,WHAT IF THEY DIDN\'T
BATH NOBODY,THEY DIDN\'T GET NOTHIN\',SO LOTS OF \'EM AN\' HAVE IT BUT

YOU SEE,THEY TELL US, I DIDN\'T DO NOTHIN\',I AIN\'T GOT NO MONEY,WE

DIDN\'T GET NOTHIN\',JUST WHAT WE COULD HUSTLE AN\' GET A LITTLE TIPS

AN\' SOMETHIN\'\...\....

I\-\--\[BB\]\-\--SO HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO BEIN\' A HELPER UNTIL
YOU

GOT TO BE A BATHER ?

EA\-\--WELL,I WAS,I WAS A HELPER THERE UNTIL,IT WAS 44,AND THE ARMY TOOK
THE HOTEL OVER,AN\' SO THEY DIDN\'T GUESTS IN, JUST THE SOLDIERS CAME
THERE,WELL I WORKED A WHILE AN\' I WASN\'T DOIN\' NOTHIN\',THEY WAS
PAYIN\'

US SITTIN\' THERE \[FOR ALL THE MONTH\] AN\' MY WIFE AN\' I KNEW SOME
PEOPLE

IN CALIFORNIA SOME,AN\' WE WROTE TO THIS PERSON OUT THERE IN
CALIFORNIA,SO WE WENT TO CALIFORNIA IN MARCH OF 45,SO WE WENT OUT TO
OAKLAND,CALIFORNIA AN\' STAYED UNTIL THEY TURNED THE HOTEL LOOSE.

WHEN THEY TURNED THE HOTEL LOOSE,THEY WROTE ME AN\' TOLD ME TO COME
BACK, THEY WERE GONNA MAKE ME ATTENDANT BECAUSE SOME OF THE ATTENDANTS
THERE WASN\'T COMIN\' BACK TO WORK,SEE,JOHN PRICE(LOVER BOY),AN\' SO
ANYWAY,WHEN WE CAME BACK HOME IN DECEMBER,WHEN THE HOTEL OPENED BACK
UP,WELL THEN \'BOUT TWO OR THREE WEEKS,AN\' THEY

PUT ME ON TOO AN\' I STARTED BATHIN\',IN 46.

I\-\--HOW DID YOU GET STARTED\...\...\...\...\...?

I\-\--\[BB\]\-\-- THEN,HOW MUCH MONEY DID YOU GET WHEN YOU WERE BATHING,

PER BATHER ?

EA\-\--WELL,WE\'D GET TWENTY CENTS A BATH.

I\-\--\[BB\]\-\--TWENTY CENTS A BATH ?

EA\-\--UH-HUH\.....

I\-\--\[BB\]\-\--DID YOU EVER GET AH, AN HOURLY RATE AS LONG AS YOU
WORKED

IN THE BATHHOUSE ?

EA\-\--NO,WE DIDN\'T,NO\...\...\...NO, WE DIDN\'T \...\...\...

I\-\--\[STARTED UNCLEAR\]

EA\-\--THAT CAME AFTER WE WAS,AFTER WE LEFT THERE,I BEEN AWAY FROM ABOUT
19 YEARS OR MORE.

I\-\--\[BB\]\-\--WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED THERE,YOU ALSO WORKED SUNDAYS ?

I\-\--YEAH\.....

EA\-\--NOW WHAT ?

I\-\--SUNDAYS ?

I\-\--\[BB\]\-\--YOU WORKED SUNDAYS ?

EA\-\--OH YEAH,WE WORKED TILL ON SUNDAYS.

I\-\--\[STATEMENT UNCLEAR\]

I\-\--HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN THE BATHIN\' BUSINESS,DID YOU HAVE

FAMILY ?

EA\-\--WELL,NO,WELL,I WORKED AT LEVI HOSPITAL,I CAME HERE AN\' I GOT A

JOB UP THERE,SO EVERY MORNIN\' I\'D BE GOIN\' WITH MY OTHER SIX O\'CLOCK
BOY,AND \[JIM FULLER\] STAYED AT A CORNER HOUSE RIGHT UP THERE,THEY HAD

\[UNCLEAR\] SO I GET UP SOME MORNIN\' WALK AROUND AN\' THING,YOU KNOW,HE
KNEW ME,BECAUSE I THINK HE USED TO LIKE MY WIFES\' MAMA,WHEN

THEY WERE COMIN\' UP, SO HE KNEW ME,SO WE TALKED
AN\'TALKED,TALKED,TALKED,SO FINALLY ONE MORNIN\' WE WERE GOIN\' ON TO

WORK, THAT ONE MORNING,HE SAYS,EARNIE,HE SAYS,DID YOU EVER TAKE THE

BATHHOUSE SCHOOL ? AN\'I SAID NO,HE SAY,WELL IF YOU TAKE THE BATHHOUSE
SCHOOL,I COULD GET YOU IN UP TO THE ARLINGTON,WHICH I

WANTED TO GET IN BECAUSE UP THE LEVI HOSPITAL,I\'D WORK UP IN THE

KITCHEN THIRTY-FIVE HOURS A MONTH,SEE,CARRYIN\' FOOD,AN\' STUFF UP-

STAIRS,WASHIN\' DISHES IN A MACHINE THERE,SO ANYWAY,WELL,THAT,ABOUT

THE NEXT MONTH THERE,WELL THEY HAD THE BATHHOUSE SCHOOL OVER THERE AT
THE LIBBYS\' PLACE,SO WE WENT OVER THERE AN\' TOOK THE BATHHOUSE
SCHOOL,AN\' I PASSED IT, SO WE CAME ONE MORNIN\' THERE,AN\' I WAS
WONDERIN\',AN\' SO HE WAS TALKIN\',SO I SAY,YEAH,I PASSED IT,HE SAY

YOU PASSED IT,I SAYS OKAY,HE SAYS,WELL OKAY,SAY,WELL I\'M GONNA PUT

YOU TO WORK UP THERE,AN\' I SAY,YEAH SURE,WELL RIGHT AFTER CHRISTMAS,

AN\' I TOLD MISS KAPLER,SHE WAS THE HEAD OF THE LEVI,SO I TOLD THE GIRL,

TELL HER I WANNA\' SEE HER,SO I WENT IN THE ROOM TOLD HER, I SAY,MISS

KAPLER,I\'M LEAVIN\' TODAY,TOMORROW IS MY LAST DAY,SHE SAY,WHAT
HAPPEN,EARNIE,WHATS\' YA GONNA DO,I SAY WELL,I\'M GOIN\' UP THE
ARLINGTON HOTEL,SHE SAY,WHAT YOU GONNA DO UP THERE,I SAY,WELL I\'M

GOIN UP THERE WORK IN THE BATHHOUSE,I MAKE MORE MONEY,YOU KNOW,AN\'

THINGS,SO SHE HATE TO SEE ME GO THERE,SO I GIVE ANOTHER BOY MY JOB

THERE,SO I WENT ON OVER THERE,THEN I HAD TO GO TO THE INTERIOR

OFFICE,SEE MR.BOLDEN,SO I WENT IN THERE AN\' SEE HIM,SO HE SEND ME

ON BACK UP THERE,AN\' I TOOK THE EXAMINATION AN\' EVERYTHING,SO I

WENT TO WORK IN THERE IN JANUARY 19,1939.

I\-\--\[BB\]\-\--HOW LONG DID YOU SPEND IN SCHOOL ?

EA\-\--OH, WE WAS JUS\',NO,WE WAS JUST OVER THERE JUST ONE DAY,TAKE THE

EXAMINATION,THEY HAD QUESTIONS AN\' THINGS ?

I\-\--DID THE DOCTORS,I THOUGHT THE DOCTORS WOULD GIVE YOU LECTURES

FOR SOME LENGTH OF TIME,I WONDER HOW LONG IT WAS ?

EA\-\--WELL,WE WAS JUS\'OVER THERE,THEY\...\...\...\...\.....

MRS.EA\-\--IT WAS SIX WEEKS OR MORE THAN THAT,DIFFERENT DOCTORS

WOULD GIVE YOU HIS LECTURE,YOU KNOW BEFORE HAND,AN\' TELL YOU HOW TO
BATH AN\' WE HAD TO GO OVER THERE TO THAT BATHHOUSE AN\' THEY

COULD,AH,DEMONSTRATE YOUR BATHS,\[I\-\--UH-HUH\]\-\-\--\...\....

EA\-\--SO, AFTER THAT I,WELL I\'S COME BACK FROM CALIFORNIA AN\' I WENT

WORK,STARTED BATHIN\' IN \'46,SO I BATHED UNTIL I QUIT.

I\-\--\[BB\]\-\--WHAT YEAR DID YOU QUIT ?

EA\-\--\'74\...\...\....I\--\[BB\]\-- \'74 ?

I\-\--DID THEY REQUIRE FOR YOU TO TAKE A PHYSICAL EVERY SO OFTEN TO BE

A BATHER ?

EA\-\--EVERY MONTH WE HAD TO TAKE A PHYSICAL,EVERY MONTH,UH-HUH\...\....

I\-\--\[BB\]\-\--THEN YOU WERE AT THE ARLINGTON UP UNTIL \'74 ?

EA\-\--UH-HUH\...\...\...

I\-\--WHY DID YOU HAVE TO TAKE A PHYSICAL SO OFTEN,WHAT WERE THEY

CHECKIN\' FOR ?

EA\-\--WELL,I GUESS THEY WAS A CHECKIN\' US TO PROTECT THE GUESTS AN\'

PROTECT US TOO,YOU KNOW,IN CASE YOU WERE RUNNIN\' OUT AN\' AROUND,YOU
KNOW,YOU COULD PICK UP SOMETHIN\' AN\' GIVE IT TO THE GUESTS THERE, THEY
COME \'N TRY TO SUE YA,OR SOMETHIN\' LIKE THAT,

SO WE HAD,I HAD TO GO TO COURT ONCE DOWN THERE ABOUT A FELLA,GOT

IN A TUB,I THINK I PUT HIM IN IT TOO LOW,I DON\'T KNOW,THE OLD MAN

WAS KINDA WEAK ANYWAY,SO I PUT HIM IN THE \[VAPORS\],HE WANTED

TO GET IN THERE SO TIME I TURN AROUN\' TO GO WASH MY TUB,WELL,ANOTHER

BOY,O.B.PAYTON,WAS GETTIN\' HIM OUT OF THE \[VAPORS\],HE FAINTED,AN\'I

THINK O.B.PAYTON DRUG HIM OUT O\' THERE AN\' SCRATCHED HIM ON THE LEG.

SCRATCHED HIM ON THE LEG THERE,AN\' SO WE HAD FORGOT IT AN\' WENT ON UP
THERE AN\' SET DOWN,AN\' HE DIDN\'T SAY NOTHIN\' ABOUT IT,SO NEXT

THREE OR FOUR DAYS,AN\' OLD GUY UP FROM KANSAS CITY,GOT A LAW SUIT

AGAINST THE BATHHOUSE,SAY \"BURNED HIM IN THERE\", IT WAS ON HIS LEG

THERE,THERE WAS NOTHIN\' BUT JUS\' A SCRATCH ON THERE,SO WELL,WE HAD

TO GO DOWN THERE AT THE POST OFFICE WHERE THEY HAD THE COURT DOWN

THERE,WE WENT DOWN THERE AN\' THE GUY TELL US \[WORD UNCLEAR\] THEY

THREW IT OUT\...\.....I\-\--THEY THROW IT OUT-? EA\-\--YEAH\.....

MRS.EA\-\--THEY SAY THE WATER WOULDN\'T BURN YOU ANYWAY\...\...\....

EA\-\--OH,THAT WATER WOULDN\'T BURN YA, ALL THAT TIME, IT WOULDN\'T

BURN HIM LIKE THAT,NO WAY,SHE,SHE,THAT OLD MAN WAS JUS\' TRYIN\'TO

GET SOMETHIN\',HUH\....

I\-\--DID MANY BATHERS RETURN YEAR AFTER YEAR AND ASK FOR YOU,MR. ADAMS
?

EA\-\--UH-HUH\....THAT\'S THE WAY I GOT MOST OF MY,\'CEPT YOU KNOW,AFTER

I GOT IN THERE I WAS ALREADY KNOWN,YOU KNOW,AS A HELPER IN THERE

AN\' SO MANY OF THE MEN\'D COME IN THERE,\"EARNIE,WHEN YOU GONNA START

THE BATHIN\' ?\...WELL,AFTER I STARTED BATHIN\',WELL THEY COME BACK AN\'

FIND OUT I\'M BATHIN\',THEY TELL THAT ATTENDANT,I\'M GOIN\' TO EARNIE,

LET EARNIE TAKE CARE O\' ME.

I\-\--WHERE DID MOST OF THE BATHERS COME FROM,WHERE DID THEY TRAVEL\...?

EA\-\--WELL, OH, EVERYWHERE\.....CHICAGO,NEW YORK,CALIFORNIA,VEGAS,AN\'

ALL THEM PLACES,EVERYWHERE\...\....

I\-\--\[BB\]\-\-- ANY PARTICULAR FAMOUS PEOPLE YOU REMEMBER ?

EA\-\--WELL,YEAH,I ONCE HAD A MAN THERE THAT I TOOK CARE OF,THAT TOOK

AL CAPONES\' PLACE,TONY \[OCARO\],I TOOK HIS,\[WORDS UNCLEAR\] I BATHED

HIM,HE COME IN THERE,SAID I HAD WITH HIM,SO HE CAME DOWN THERE AND

BATHED,AN\' THE NAME AT THAT TIME,WE TOLD HIS NAME WAS TONY,BUT HIS

NAME WAS SOMETHIN\' ELSE,UH,ANYWAY WHEN I COME HOME FOR LUNCH THAT DAY
AN\' WHEN I WENT BACK,THE BOYS SAY,EARNIE,SAY THE F.B.I.,

THEY\'RE LOOKIN, FOR YOU,FOR THE REASON WHAT,HE SAY I DON\'T KNOW,SO

I WENT ON IN THERE, ABOUT ONE O\'CLOCK WE STARTED BACK TO WORK,WELL

SOME COME IN THE DOOR UP THERE,THIS OL\' BOY SAY EARNIE, THIS IS THE

MAN WHO\'S LOOKIN\' FOR YOU UP THERE,I SAY YA,SO HE SAY \"YOU EARNIE
ADAMS\",I SAY YES,SO HE SAYS OKAY,SO WHERE CAN WE TALK, I SAY WELL,

ANYWHERE,SO MISS WILSON SAY, YOU ALL GO RIGHT DOWN TO THE SETTEE

DOWN IN THE LOBBY,DOWN,SAY YOU ALL GO DOWN THERE AN\' TALK,SO WE

GOT DOWN THERE AN\' HE TALKED,HE SAY \"YOU KNOW THIS FELLOW HERE\",

HE PULLED TRHE PICTURES OUT OF THE THING AN\' SAY,SO I LOOKED AT

\'EM, LOOKED AT \'EM,I SAY I DON\'T KNOW,I SAY ALL YOU WHITE FOLKS LOOK

ALIKE TO ME,I SAYS,YEAH,I DON\'T KNOW WHETHER I BATHED OR NOT,BUT

I KNEW,TIME HE SHOWED ME THE PICTURE,I KNEW WHO HE WAS,BECAUSE THE

MAN THAT TOLD ME SAY,EARNIE,SAY I BE BACK NEXT YEAR,SO I GOT TO GO

TO THE AIRPORT AN\' PICK UP SOMEBODY,SO AH,I TOLD HIM,SO HE TALKED,

TALKED,AN\' LAUGHED WITH ME,CAN\'T GET IT OUT OF ME AN\' SO HE DIDN\'T

NOTHIN\' ELSE TO ME,AN\' SO THE NEXT TWO OR THREE DAYS AFTER THAT,WELL

MR.TONY CAME BACK IN THERE,AN\' SO AFTER THAT,I SAY YEAH,I SAY THAT

MAN COME DOWN HERE LOOKING FOR YOU,HE SAY,I KNEW IT THAT\'S THE REASON I
GOT OUT OF HERE,\...\...\...\...\.....

I\-\--DID YOU EVER FIND OUT HIS REAL NAME ?

EA\-\--YEAH,TONY,I MEAN,OCARO,WAS HIS NAME,HIS REAL NAME,HE TOOK AL

CAPONES\' PLACE IN CHICAGO\...\.....

I\-\--\[BB\]\-\--WHERE,IT,WHEN AL CAPONE WAS IN JAIL,IS THAT WHAT
YOU\'RE SAYING ?

EA\-\--YEAH, THAT\'S WHEN THEY GOT HIM AND PUT HIM IN JAIL\...\...

I\-\--\[BB\]\-\--THEY GOT FOR INCOME TAX,NOT JUST FOR GAMBLING\...\....

EA\-\--UH-HUH\....YEAH\...\.....

I\-\-- CAN YOU THINK OF ANYBODY ELSE FAMOUS OR WELL KNOWN THAT YOU
BATHED ?

EA\-\--WELL,OH WELL, I HAD A LOTS OF \'EM,BUT I CAN\'T THINK OF ALL OF

\'EM, HAD A MAN IN NEW YORK,HAD ALL THAT WHITE HORSE WHISKEY, THAT

SCOTCH WHISKEY AN\' STUFF,I BATHED HIM,AN\' HE TOLD ME IN NEW YORK,

SAID HE\'D GIVE US A BIG TOUR,SO MY WIFE AN\' I WENT UP THAT SUMMER,

JUST BEFORE THEY CLOSED THE BATHHOUSE,WE WENT UP THERE IN \'44,AN\' HE
GAVE US TICKETS, ALL THROUGH RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL,AN\' EVERYTHING,WELL
WHEN WE FIRST GOT IN,WENT IN THE BIG LOBBY THERE,

EA\-\--CONT\'\-\--THE RECEPTIONIST THERE DID\'NT PAY US NO
\'TENTION,AN\' WE

DIDN\'T KNOW,WHAT YOU-ALL WANT,SO WE TOLD HIM, WELL,WE WANT TO SEE MR.
REINFELDT,SO HE SAY,OH, HE BUSY,HE AIN\'T GOT TIME TO FOOL WITH

YOU,SO O\' THE GIRLS WENT BACK IN THERE AN\' TOLD MR.REINFELDT, SOME

BOY FROM HOT SPRINGS,I SAY,\"I WANTA SEE YOU\",AN\'SO HE SENT HIS

SECRETARY OUT THERE,SO I TOLD HER WHO I WAS,SHE SAY,YOU ALL COME ON

BACK HERE,COME ON IN HERE,AN\' I SAYS OKAY,AN\' WE WENT ON BACK IN
THERE,HE SAY \"HELLO EARNIE,AN\' LAUGHED AN\' TALKED AN\' GOIN\' ON,

SO WHEN WE GOT READY TO GO,HE TOLD HIS SECRETARY,HE SAY,GO OUT THERE
AN\' GIVE \'EM SOME WHISKEY TO TAKE BACK WITH \'EM,AN WHEN WE

CAME HOME FROM PHILADELPHIA VISITIN\',SO GIVE \'EM BOTTLE OF SCOTCH

WHISKEY,TWO OR THREE BOTTLES,AN\' SO WHEN WE GOT BACK OUT THERE,

THEM OLD RECEPTIONISTS OH,THEY WERE SO NICE TO US AN\' EVERYTHING,

BUT THEY WASN\'T LIKE THAT TILL THEY FOUND OUT WHO WE WAS,SO,AFTER

THAT,WHEN HE GAVE US TWO OF THEM,SO THE OLD GAL THEN TOLD US,WELL,

YOU-ALL LEAVES YOUR WHISKEY HERE,AN\' YOU-ALL TAKES THE TOUR \[WORDS

UNCLEAR\] THEN YOU COME BACK HERE AN\' YOU BE TIRED,COME BACK HERE

AN\' YOU GET YOUR WHISKEY STUFF,SO WE WENT ALL THROUGH ROCKEFELLER

CENTER,AT THAT TIME,WHERE THEY BROADCASTS\' ALL THIS STUFF,

\[MRS.EA\]\--THEY SENT US TO CARMEN
JONES\.....EA\--HUH-,\[MRS.EA\]\--THEN

THEY SENT US TO CARMEN JONES,\--\[EA\-\--WE SAW TICKETS THERE,WE TRIED

TO GET TICKETS TO SEE CARMEN JONES BUT WE COULDN\'T,SO HIS SECRETARY

CALLED,HE SAY,WELL CALL THERE,HE ASKED US,SAY EARNIE,YOU WANTA SEE

ANYTHING OVER HERE,WE TOLD HIM,WE TRIED TO SEE CARMEN JONES,AN\' SO,

WELL,WE COULDN\'T GET TICKETS,SO HE TOLD HIS SECRETARY TO CALL DOWN

THERE,SO SHE CALLED DOWN THERE AN\' TOLD \'EM THERE\'S THREE OF US

THERE THAT WANTED TICKETS,SO HE TOLD HER TO COME ON DOWN,SO SHOULD BE
THERE AT SEVEN-THIRTY,SAY WE HAVE TICKETS FOR YA,SO WE

WENT ON DOWN THERE,THEY GOT TICKETS TO SEE CARMEN JONES RIGHT AT

THE FRONT OF IT,THAT THING,\...\...\...\...\...

MRS.EA\-\--\[IT WAS TOO LOUD,THE BOX THAT WE WERE IN\]\...\.....

EA\-\--YEAH,IT WAS RIGHT CLOSE TO \[WORD UNCLEAR\] BUT IT WAS ALRIGHT
THERE.

MRS.EA\-\--BEAUTIFUL SEATS,

EA\-\--SO THEN,SO I DON\'T KNOW,JUST SO MANY OF \'EM,YOU KNOW,PEOPLE

THERE THAT I KNEW,YOU KNOW,\'COURSE,AT LEAST FRANK COSTELLO THERE, I
DIDN\'T BATH HIM BUT I WAS A HELPER,WAITED ON HIM IN THE PACK

ROOM,YOU KNOW,FRANK COSTELLO,YOU KNOW HE COME FROM NEW YORK AROUND
THERE,HE WAS ONE OF THE BIG GANGSTERS,ALL THOSE GUYS,SO,

JUST SO MANY GOOD PEOPLE THERE\...\...\...

I\-\--WAS THIS AT THE ARLINGTON HOTEL ?

EA\-\--YEAH,THIS IS THE ARLINGTON,YEAH,UH-HUH\...\...

I\-\--\[BB\]\-\--DID YOU AH,WORK AT THE SECOND JOB AT ANY TIME OVER IN
THE GAMBLING CASINOS ?

EA\-\--NO,NO, I NEVER DID WORK THERE,BUT IN ANOTHER PLACES,SO I JUST
WORK AT THE ARLINGTON,I GET OFF IN THE SUMMER TIME \'BOUT THE LAST OF
MAY AND I DIDN\'T GO BACK TO WORK TILL SEPTEMBER,WE\'D STAY OFF ALL

SUMMER \'ROUND,AND I\'D GO BACK IN SEPTEMBER,AN\' WORK TILL I GET OFF

AGAIN\...\...\...

I\-\--DID YOU DRAW UN-EMPLOYMENT WHILE YOU WERE OFF ?

EA\-\--YEAH,WE\'D DRAW UN-EMPLOYMENT,YEAH. BUT I DON\'T KNOW WHAT IT
WAS,I WAS GETTIN\' ABOUT 8,10,12, ALL SUMMER,IT WASN\'T VERY MUCH.

I\-\--A WEEK ?

EA\-\--YEAH,I WASN\'T GETTIN NOTHIN\' MUCH THEN,HUMMM\...\....

I\-\-- CAN YOU THINK OF ANY DRAMATIC CASES OF HEALINGS THAT YOU WOULD

LIKE TO SHARE WITH US ?

EA\-\--WELL,I\...\...\....

I\-\--WITH WHEELCHAIRS,CRUTCHES ?

EA\-\--UH-UH\...\....

I\-\--DID YOU TAKE THE THERMAL BATHS YOURSELF ?

EA\-\--YEAH,OH YEAH,OH YEAH\...\...\...\...\...\.....

I\-\--WHAT TIME OF DAY DID YOU TAKE \'EM ?

EA\-\--OH,WE\'D TAKE \'EM AT NOON TIME,YEAH, WHEN THEY AIN\'T NOBODY UP
THERE,YOU KNOW,WE\'D TAKE \'EM AT NOON\....

I\-\--WHAT TYPE OF UNIFORM DID YOU WEAR ?

EA\-\--WHITE\...\....UH-HUH\.....

I\-\--DID YOU HAVE A NAME TAG ?

EA\-\--\[BADGE,YEAH BADGE, TOO\]

I\-\--\[BB\]\-\--DID YOU HAVE A FRESH UNIFORM EVERY DAY ?

EA\-\--UH,WHAT\'S THAT ?

I\-\--\[BB\]\-\--A DIFFERENT UNIF,A FRESH UNIFORM EVERY DAY ?

EA\-\--WELL,NOT EVERY DAY,NOT EVERY DAY,MOST TIME WE\'D CHANGE EVERY

OTHER DAY OR SOMETHIN\' LIKE THAT\...\....

I\-\--\[BB\]\-\--DID YOU SUPPLY THE UNIFORM OR DID THE BATHHOUSE ?

EA\-\--YEAH,WE SUPPLIED \'EM\...\....

I\-\--\[BB\]\-\--YOU SUPPLIED YOUR OWN UNIFORMS ?

EA\-\--YOU HAD TO SUPPLY YOUR OWN UNIFORMS,YEAH\.....

I\-\--DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR BADGE NUMBER ?

EA\-\--HUMMM!!!\.....NO,IT\'S LAYIN\' AROUND HERE SOMEWHERE,,I DON\'T
KNOW WHAT IT IS,I DON\'T KNOW,I SAW IT IN A DRAWER THE OTHER DAY\...\...

I\-\--DOES YOUR WIFE REMEMBER HOW YOUR CLOTHES WERE LAUNDERED ?

MRS.EA\-\--I REMEMBER,CAUSE IT WAS THE ODD NUMBERS,UH-HUH\...\....

I\-\--YEAH,7\--11\...\...\...\...

I\-\--\[BB\]\-\--DID YOU AH,WHAT KIND OF SHOES DID YOU WEAR ?

EA\-\--WELL,THE FIRST I WORE TENNIS AN\' THINGS,BUT I HAD A KINDA O\'
BAD

FOOT THEY HURTIN\' SO FINALLY I \[UNCLEAR\] SORTA\' WEARIN\' SHOES,BLACK

SHOES,SO I WENT OUT TO K-MART AN\' BOUGHT SOME SHOES,HEAVY SOLE,LIKE

THAT ON \'EM,AN\' WE STARTED WEARIN\' THEM KIND O\' SHOES ROUND IN
THERE,

SOME OF US,AN\' SOME OF \'EM WORE TENNIS SHOES,BUT AFTERWARDS I WORE

HEAVY SHOE LIKE THAT WITH A CREPE SOLE ON THE BOTTOM OF \'EM, KINDA

PROTECT MY FEET\...\...\....

I\-\--DID MANY PEOPLE COME HERE WITH DOCTOR PRESCRIPTION ?

EA\-\--OH YEAH,YEAH,LOTS OF \'EM COME IN WITH DOCTOR PRESCRIPTION,YOU
HAD TO GO BY WHATEVER IT SAID TOO,CAUSE IF, SOME OF \'EM WOULD TRY

TO MAKE YOU MAKE THE WATER HOT,WHICH THE WATER DOESN\'T SEEM HOT AT A
100 DEGREES,BUT IT DOES YOU GOOD\...\...\...

I\-\--\[BB\]\-\--ONCE YOU GET IN IT,IT SEEMS TO COOL OFF\...\....

EA & MRS.EA\-\--YEAH\...\...\....

EA\-\--SO BUT,SOME OF \'EM,YOU KNOW,THEY\'D RUN THE WATER UP AN\'
THEY\'D

WANT YOU TO RUN IT UP,BUT YOU HAD-A\' BE CAREFUL,SO IF A
DOCTOR,MR.BOLDEN,OR \[WORDS UNCLEAR\] WILSON,WHAT,YEAH,WILSONS\' THE ONE
THAT USED TO COME UP THERE AFTER MR.BOLDEN,BEFORE MR.BOLDEN DIED,BUT WE
SENDED WILSON UP THERE,A GUY NAMED WILSON,SO HE\'D COME

OUT THERE AN\' HE\'D COME IN THERE RIGHT QUICK,YOU KNOW,YOU WOULDN\'T

KNOW HE WAS COMIN\',AN\' LOOK AT THE WATER,IF THE WATER A 101 OR 2,

HE\'D WRITE YOU UP THERE,\[WORDS UNCLEAR\],AN\' SO WE COME IN THERE

SOMETIMES AN\' LOOK THERE,SO FINALLY HAD A LITTLE PEEP-HOLE BORED

OUT IN THE COOLING ROOM,AN\' SO HE\'D LEAVE LIKE HE GONE SO SOME OF

THE BOYS BE WATCHIN\',HAH,THERE\'S OLD WILSON UP THERE \[UNCLEAR\]

PEEPIN\' IN THERE AT YA\...\...\.....

I\-\--WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE WATER WAS A 101,102 ?

EA\-\--WELL,THEY\'D JACK YOU UP ABOUT IT,YOU KNOW,THEY GET AFTER YOU

\'BOUT IT,YOU KNOW,IF YOU\...\...

I\-\--\[BB\]\-\-- DID YOU EVER GET A DAY OR TWO OFF CAUSE THE WATER WAS
TOO

HOT ?

EA\-\--YEAH,WELL SURE,YOU HAVE TO\...\...

MRS.EA\-\--NO,YOU DIDN\'T NEVER GET A DAY OFF,UH-UH\...\....

EA\-\--HUH ?

MRS.EA\-\--HE SAY,\"DID YOU EVER GET A DAY OFF BECAUSE THE WATER WAS TOO
HOT ?

EA\-\--OH NO,NO,NO,NO\...\...\...\...\...\....

I\-\--DO YOU REMEMBER THE BOWLING ALLEY IN THE FORDYCE,I HEARD THERE

WAS ONE THERE\...\...?

EA\-\--UH-HUH,OH YEAH,YEAH,USED TO GO DOWN THERE,BOWLING ALLEY,WHEN I
WORKED DOWN THERE,I USED TO GO DOWN THERE AN\' SET UP,YOU KNOW,

JUST PLAYED DOWN THERE WITH THE GUYS,SOME PEOPLE WANNA BOWL,I\'D GO

DOWN THERE SOMETIMES,THE OTHER BOY\'D SET \'EM UP,BUT I\'D GO DOWN THERE
MYSELF,WE MOST O\' TIME BOWL AN\' MESS AROUND\...\...

I\-\--WAS THAT JUST FOR THE EMPLOYEES OR DID THEY LET THE \...\...\...

EA\-\--\[JUST FOR THE GUESTS\],BUT WE EMPLOYEES,WE\'D GO DOWN THERE AN\'

ONCE THERE WAS A WHITE FELLA THERE,A WHITE BOY THERE,\[WORDS UNCLEAR\]

EA\-\--(CONT) SO WE\'D GO DOWN THERE EVERY DAY AT NOONTIME WHEN THE
GUESTS WEREN\'T IN THERE AN\'BOWL,YEAH\...\...\...\.....

I\-\--DO YOU,BY CHANCE,HAVE ANY PICTURES OF THE BOWLING ALLEY ?

EA\-\--HUH\...\...

I\-\--WE DON\'T HAVE ANY PICTURES WHEN THE BOWLING ALLEY WAS STILL
THERE.

EA\-\--OH NO,NO,NO,UH-UH\...\...\...

I\-\--\[BB\]\-\--WE UNDERSTAND THE BOWLING ALLEY WAS ONLY THERE FOR A
SHORT

PERIOD OF TIME\.....?

EA\-\--I DON\'T REMEMBER\....IT WAS THERE WHEN I WENT THERE,THERE WHEN I
LEFT,SO I WASN\'T THERE LONG\...\....YEAH,I WORKED UP AT LEVI HOSPITAL

\'BOUT,OH,SIX YEARS,COURSE I WAS UP TO THE KITCHEN THERE,AND CARRYIN\'

FOOD UPSTAIRS \[FOR PATIENTS THING\],I\'VE SEEN FELLAS COME THERE FROM

BALTIMORE,MR.\[MERRIMAND\],YEAH,THAT\'S HIS NAME,MR.\[MERRIMAND\],HE
COME THERE IN A WHEELCHAIR AN\' COULDN\'T DO NOTHIN\',WOULD STAY THERE

\'BOUT 5 OR 6 WEEKS AN\' LEFT THERE,JUST HAD HIS WALKIN\' STICK,LEFT
THAT

DAY,SO WHEN AFTER HE LEFT THERE WELL WE HAD CARDS BACK FROM HIM,YOU
KNOW,TELL US HOW NICE HE WAS DOIN\',HE SAY HE HAD LOST A

BUSINESS,HE WAS IN THE BAKIN\' BUSINESS,HE HAD THAT ARTHRITIS STUFF,

AN\' HE HAD LOST MOST EVERYTHING HE HAD,SO SOME FELLA TOLD HIM,SAY

WHY DON\'T YOU GO TO HOT SPRINGS AN\' TAKE SOME BATHS,AN\' SO HE SAY,

WELL,I DON\'T KNOW AN\' SO FINALLY HE GOT AHOLD OF ENOUGH MONEY TO COME
DOWN HERE,CAUSE LEVI HOSPITAL,THEY WASN\'T CHARGIN\' NOTHIN\',

YOU KNOW,IT WAS FREE MOSTLY ANYWAY,SO HE CAME THERE AND STAYED

\'BOUT 5 OR 6 WEEKS,AN\' HE LEFT THERE,JUS\' A LITTLE WALKIN\' STICK,

WALKIN\',HEH\'\...\...\...

I\-\-- DID THE LEVI HOSPITAL,DID THEY HAVE A THERMAL WATER THERE ?

EA\-\--OH YEAH,OH YEAH,YEAH,THEY HAD THAT\...\....

\[THREE PEOPLE TALKING,WORDS INAUDIBLE\] I\-\--THE LOAN TO GERALDINE
SMITH.

I\-\--\[BB\]\-\--YOU LIVED IN THIS ONE PARTICULAR SECTION OF TOWN ?

EA\-\--OH YEAH,YEAH,WE BOUGHT A LITTLE OLD HOUSE,AFTER WE GOT MARRIED,WE
STAYED OUT T\' MY MOTHERS,HAD A LITTLE ROOM,SHE FIXED US A NICE LITTLE
APARTMENT PLACE IN THE HOUSE DOWN THERE,SO \'BOUT \'38

THAT WAS \'FOR \'36 WE WERE MARRIED SO IN \'38 I BOUGHT A LITTLE OL\'

SHOTGUN HOUSE,YEAH,AN\' SO WE, I THINK I WAS PAYING \$16.57 A MONTH FOR
IT,GOT IT THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT,SO RAY SMITH HAD IT,SO WE WENT

DOWN THERE AN\' HE WANTED \$1300.00 DOLLARS FOR IT, \$1350.00 HE WANTS
FOR IT,SO I WAS THINKIN\' THEN THAT HE GOT IT,WE\'LL SEE WHAT OUR

\[GARDEN\] PRICE WITH THE LITTLE ROCK OFFICE,AND THEY TOLD ME TO CALL

MEMPHIS SO I WORKED AT LEVI,SO I RUN RIGHT DOWN TO TH\' TELEPHONE

OFFICE AN\' I CALLED,SO THE MAN TOLD ME,SO \[WORD UNCLEAR\] SHE\'LL CALL

BACK TOMORROW AT 10:00 O\'CLOCK AN\' SAY WE\'LL FIND OUT ABOUT IT,YOU

KNOW,SEE WHAT IT IS,I GAVE \'EM A DISCRIPTION OF THE LITTLE OL\' HOUSE

AN\' EVERYTHING, I TOLD \'EM I WAS A YOUNG MAN TRYIN\' TO GET A START

IN LIFE WITH A OL\' HOUSE LIKE THAT,I DIDN\'T THINK IT WAS WORTH THAT,

SO ANYWAY I CALLED BACK THE NEXT DAY THERE,SO HE SAY,\"WELL,ADAMS,

SAY YOU GO BACK TO RAY SMITH,SAY HE LET YOU HAVE IT FOR \$950.00
DOLLARS,SO WE\...\...\....

I\-\--\[BB\]\-\--YOU REFERRED TO THAT AS A SHOTGUN HOUSE\.....?

EA\-\--YEAH\....AN OL\' HOUSE\...\...HAD A LITTLE OL\' ROOM HERE,AN A
BEDROOM,

AN\' A,OH, AN A LITTLE KITCHEN OVER THERE,A LITTLE BATH ON THE BACK SIDE

OF IT\...\...\...\...

I\-\--\[BB\]\-\--THE WHOLE THING WAS IN A STRAIGHT LINE\.....?

EA\-\--STRAIGHT LINE,BUT THE KITCHEN ON THE SIDE AN\'HAD A LITTLE OL\'
PORCH

GOIN\' ALL THE WAY AROUND THE SIDE THERE,THAT A\',SO I WENT BACK THERE

THEN AN\' RAY SMITH SAYS HE \[NEEDS IT\],SO MY MOTHER-IN-LAW GIVE US THE

\$95.00 DOLLARS TO PAY DOWN ON IT,AN\' SO I WENT BACK DOWN THERE,AN\'
TIME I WALKED IN,MR.FLOYD HOWSER WAS THERE AN\' RAY SMITH SAYS,\"WELL,

ADAMS,WE DECIDED TO LET YOU HAVE THAT PLACE FOR \$900.00 DOLLARS\",I
SAYS,OOOH,I JUST SAYS,I SAY YEAH \"WE DECIDED\",I SAY YEAH,I DIDN\'T SAY

NOTHIN\',SO AFTER THAT I PAID UHH,\$6.57 A MONTH,SOME MONTHS I HADDA

SCRIMP,I HADDA RUN OUT THERE AN\' PLAY A RACE HORSE,PLAYIN\' THOSE

RACE HORSES,DIDN\'T HAVE THAT MONEY,SO,FINALLY I STARTED MAKIN\' A
LITTLE MONEY UP TH\' ARLINGTON,SO,WE PAID IT OFF,PAID ALL OF IT OFF.

\[SO WE DIDN\'T SIGN OUT TO BE UP HERE TO BE A \"PISS\" HOUSE\] IN \'47.

OL\' FLOYD HARRISON,HE CONTRACTED TO BUILD THIS \[WORD UNCLEAR\],

HOUSE,HARRISON BUILT THIS HOUSE,ANYBODY PAID ANYTHING,\$11,000.00

DOLLARS,SOMETHIN\',YOU COULDN\'T BUILD THIS HOUSE FOR \$50,000.00

DOLLARS,FOR ALL THEY DID,AN\' THEY SHEET-ROCKED IT,THIS AIN\'T NO

SHEET-ROCK WALL\...\...\...\...\...\....