Landing in New York; a new begining?

Landing in New York- 1982

Hot, humid and smog-encrusted Port Authority Bus Terminal: My son sets his eyes on New York for the first time and it’s a site for sore ones for me. Was thrilled to be back home, never mind the grunge and greasy no-shower trip; when the cab driver turned and said, “Where the fuck you want to go?”… I remember feeling a big sigh of relief; “I’m home!” Anointed in a cool mountain spring.

Six weeks go by, Sally is overwhelmed and struggling in Hollywood. Raped, held hostage for three days by a black punk rocker pimp next door to Ron and Rock (so she said). Did she ‘ask for it?’ Did it really happen? Sally was left alone and destitute...thats for sure. My son needed his mother…And I wasn't done yet. So we set up a new crazy life in Connecticut.

1/19/83

Dear Dad,

I hope this letter finds you and Mrs. Evans’ in good spirits. I’ve moved back to Connecticut with Sally and Eric. We’re living in Danbury and I’m working for Group Westinghouse cable TV, it might turn out to be a good job (I pray). I install cable television, hard work especially in this freezing weather, which I have to get used to all over again. Things continue to be a struggle, it’s got to be better soon.

I had to get out of Los Angeles, the place is 80% phonies! With five years there I could write a book, between driving a cab, surgical orderly, security officer for American Broadcasting, it was something I’ll never forget. But now I’m back in Small-town, USA. I think it will be better for all of us.

I guess Philip and Susanna are doing OK but they have a lot of things to work out within themselves and it just made it worse with me being near them, I guess we both know something about that!

Please write me and if you can I’d like to know about our family tree especially the Evans’ side which I don’t know much about. I hope one day to pass on to Eric.

All my love, Michael

22 Elm Street #8

Danbury, Conn. My father writes at the top of letter; “Good! Why Danbury in

particular? Jobs? Turnover? Why is it your fault?”

25 Jan 83

Dear Michael—

Well, finally hear from you and I was very happy to know that your out of zany Los Angeles—I hope you wont be foolish enough to ever go back! You seem to have had many jobs—evidently you know something about selling yourself-into a job. I know times are really bad—but have you evaluated your own personal worth?

Now you really understand the fine value of education-in any field. So settle down in a job you like and learn all you can about it! Only this way can you secure your future!

Consider night schools-theatrical schools etc. Your days of drifting and dreaming should be over! YOU have a wife and son so become a responsible man now!

Why did you go to Danbury? IS it the cable headquarters? Are your friends there? Again, I must give you some advice—so take it like a man—the one important thing I’ve learned in life is to develop yourself—develop friends of worthwhile character who are solid, successful in their work and happily settled into life—not g.d’d (God Damned) dope fiends!! Worthless people—better off dead!!

Where do you meet worthwhile people? Well, the first place is to look for a successful and wealthy CHURCH.

I don’t like Catholics—but the priests are usually men with great political and business contacts—only you have to become a Catholic before they help you! One more notch in their gun of conversion—they love to convert! If you can become successful—convert. It means no difference!

Next-usually the Episcopalians are solid and wealthy and educated! Their ministers have good contact with social and big leaders—I call them Republican Catholics! (They don’t convert!)

So get dressed up in your best Sunday clothes and start exploring the best churches in Danbury—for social contacts!! When you have made you choice—get invited churches programs—sing in the choir—join their men’s organizations. Work for their good—Maybe you’ll make some good solid friends. The Y.M.C.A is another place to get involved with good people! Put down social roots and become involved in local church-charity-Red Cross etc! This is an area in which a wife’s social acumen can help a man! S. Foster had none!!

How far in school did your Sally go? Is she socially oriented?

As to your request on the Evans tree—I think I know....

but I’ll tell you when I see you! No written record will exist! We are now less than 150 miles apart—easy to keep in touch!! Write soon and reveal all your progress in life! Love Always Dad

The family tree thing; in my letter I was referring to the hearsay that his grandfather was a Dupont. Was not specific, only mentioned “family tree,” but he knew what I was talking about. At his funeral five and half years later, seven people attended which included the minister and myself. I met his eighty- something year old cousin Greta Petermann. We stayed connected, ended up forwarding me THE Evans family tree dating back to the early 1700 Quakers. Benjamin Hazel from Smyrna, Delaware, was his illegitimate grandfather and purportedly a Dupont. Where’s Barry Scheck when I need him?

1-29-83

Dear dad,

Thanks for the great letter advice. I will always welcome especially from you.

One of the reasons I came back to Connecticut was because I did have friends here but unfortunately a lot of them have seemed to have dried up and withered away, that’s one of the reasons your letter hit home the way it did.

One of the reasons I have had so many jobs is maybe because I’ve held on so hard to my music. Dad, I can stun people when I sing and perform but your right my days of dreaming have subsided and a little more wisdom has settled in. I have always been very proud of you and mom, I think true artists! I think it’s genetically ingrained in me at least I’d like to think so.

You can’t believe how many times I’d meet people that knew you or knew of you—complete praise. When I was a security officer with A.B.C. studios, for the General Hospital soap opera. I met a woman who has a running part on the show. As it turned out, she studied with you in 1947 and went on and on about it.

Charles Nelson Reilly, you might know him he’s the fellow who played the landlord on the Ghost and Mrs. Muir and many other TV shows he said he worked with you and knew of no other performer who could move people the way you did.

Sally does two things very well bar tending and nursing believe it or not! Unfortunately she makes more money bar tending… Rest of letter missing…

9 Feb 83

My dear Son,

I was so happy to receive your letter and your understanding and accepting my fatherly advice. During all of your formative years I have not had any opportunity to offer my thoughts on any of your problems. You know who caused this dreadful separation., but I’m still grateful that we can “talk” to each other!

I too came back to New Jersey to be near my friends in Philadelphia—but alas, all of them have died or disappeared. —So I do not have anyone left in Philadelphia. Except you’re Aunt Ethel Jackson Evans—my brother’s widow who is retired and 75-76 years old. I seldom see her! Too far away—44 miles.

Ma-SA-KO (all even syllables) is the name of my wife. A TRUE ANGEL!

Of course you have music in your blood—that’s good and bad! Good while you can work—bad when you cannot perform—to wit: Your father and your mother!! I had a solid performing record from 1928 to 1967—Man of La Mancha was my last Broadway show—I was wise—I saw the future of my life—trying to find work. I had an old buddy from Philadelphia days who was in the U.S. Army Entertainment Program called the Special Services as a Dept. of the Army Civilian Specialist in Music and Theatre!! And went to Saigon as Chief Executive of USO shows—responsible for all those performers who went to “entertainment” the troops. I handled every famous name except Bob Hope—who had a Lt. Col. and 2 majors responsible for his safety!

When General Abrams—the Boss commander learned of my professional background, was impressed and kept me in Saigon for three and a half years.

Only my brother’s death in 1971 was responsible for my departure. My old buddy was back at Fort Bliss, Texas as chief and he got me a civil service job as Executive chief of Music and Theatre—main job producing and directing musicals. Not bad—What? I had great success in this job—why—because of my past theatrical experience! Ft. Bliss always won the Army Theatre Contests!

What would I have had if I stayed on performing? When I did make good money, your mother’s extravagance ruined me!! It is wonderful your Sally is willing to work and learn nursing.

Masako works as a seamstress and her checks buy our food!! Fortunately I get Social Security and a Civil Service Annuity and that’s all.

Let me know if you’re still in Cable TV—What are your prospects there?? Or Where?

I do hope and pray you will settle down into a solid position—make worthwhile friends.

Our love to you all, Dad

Things for a while remained fairly stable for Sally, Eric and I. Although with me, there was the constant thrum of angst…always ready for the next shoe to drop, be it my shoe, another’s or the collective. I was ingrained with The Doom… from way back. Perhaps sensing the faint, distant wails of that familiar freight train of insanity. I see now the seeds of my self-loathing were reliably stowed and germinating on this bruiser. Feral weeds primed to choke, throttle and take out. If I was lucky, maybe a life sentence.

We lived on Danbury’s Main Street in a low-income three-story walk-up. An apartment lined with cheap wood paneling, holes and roaches. Bedroom wall separating living room was more like a partition in an office cubicle, two feet from the ceiling. I guess so the ceiling fan could be more effective. We lived in three similar places within the next two and a half years before the shit hit the other fan.

My son on his Smurf drums, in our Elm Street apartment (Danbury's Main Street).