Thirza Pidgeon’s 1937 World Tour – 10 Nov: Embarking aboard the S.S. Monterey

Wednesday, 10 November 1937

Dr & Mrs Montries, Bella, Reg, Flora drove me down to the boat, 25 miles from Beverly Hills, in a Pierce Arrow car – Reg bought bottle of whisky to give me a good send off. Boat [S.S. Monterey] to leave at 10. Good crowd aboard, Pat O’Brien & wife, movie star.  Met Mabel & Fred [Thearle, friends from London], has she bought some lovely clothes. Had fox cape on, looking the goods. Several of the Moldavia passengers on board also. Stayed talking to Mabel until 11.30.

SS Monterey of the Matson Line
SS Monterey of the Matson Line

SS Monterey of the Matson Line

[Picture of the S.S. Monterey in Sydney Harbour]

Thirza Pidgeon’s 1937 World Tour – 5 Nov: Beverly Hills

Friday, 5 November 1937

Went for a walk around Beverly Hills, Reg came home, very nice man. Small but good to them all.

Most likely in Beverley Hills, 5 Nov 1937
Most likely in Beverly Hills, 5 Nov 1937

Thirza Pidgeon’s 1937 World Tour – 4 Nov: San Franciso to Los Angeles, CA – 500 miles

Thursday, 4 November 1937

Left Frisco  for Los Angeles 7, bus from the city. Arthur came down with us to see us off – had a lovely run of about 500 miles to Hollywood. Got there at 7. Flora & her 2 boys [Jack and William] there to meet us. Drove to her house [110 N Maple Drive, Beverly Hills], Spanish type, 2 nice boys, her husband [Reginald Goldwater] away for the night on business, Had a lovely place, 2 nice bathrooms, lots of talk then to bed.

[Flora’s son, Jack Goldwater, was killed 7 December 1941 on board the USS West Virginia at Pearl Harbor during the initial surprise attack by the Japanese which thrust the US into WW2. Bella McRitchie wrote to Thirza on 6 April 1942 that her dear grandson Jack was not meant to be on duty that day but had taken a friend’s shift. She wrote that he was blown to bits by the first bomb whilst trying to radio from the turret. Unfortunately Thirza never received the letter, having passed away herself from cancer the preceding August at age 62.]

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