Judy Kay-Wolff

Remembering the Solomons …

When Norman first introduced me to the “serious bridge scene” in The City of Brotherly Love, I became friendly with a couple who were known as Philadelphia’s Mr. and Mrs. Bridge.  Few younger players would recognize their names, but those veterans still around who have all their marbles, remember Peggy and Charlie Solomon —  two very unusual people!

Charlie not only was President of the ACBL but helped to organize the World Bridge Federation and served as the first American WBF President (1964-68) (followed later by Julius Rosenblum in the 70s and Bobby in the 90s),  They were the only individuals to be elected to that position from the U. S. 

However, in Philadelphia, that was not his primary claim to fame.  At home, he was revered and adored for more far-reaching local contributions.  Back in the fifties (or maybe late forties), he was responsible for arranging (teaching) Women’s Bridge lessons in the Suburban Philadelphia Country Clubs and the bridge activity is still in existence even today.   It began as a series of lessons running from the Fall to the Spring and eventually Women’s Bridge Leagues (WBL) were formed for these avid country club bridgers culminating in a playoff between the 1st and 2nd place finishers to determine the League Winner.

Since the disparity in ability was so great within one club, Charlie hired a young fledgling by the name of Arthur Robinson as the throngs were far too much for one person to handle and they were loosely broken down into Intermediate and Advanced (more accurate translation — Beginners and Intermediate).   There were dozens of Clubs in the vicinity and the Leagues formed ranged from the First Team to the Sixth, depending upon the size of the membership of the club.   Women’s bridge had blossomed and was celebrated in Philadelphia, later to be followed by Men’s Bridge Leagues as well. 

Norman’s partner at the time, Sidney Silodor, also had been hired by several clubs but died in August of 1963, leaving many of the gals in need of a teacher.  Charlie passed away in 1975 which created another huge vacancy — but no one to fill the space.   Norman was approached immediately but leaving his vice presidency at ML for country club teaching was not an option.   The clubs were really in a bind — left with this great legacy begun by Charlie Solomon.  Every Tom, Dick and Harry (credentials or not) applied and it turned into a free for all.   Actually, since there were no Solomons, Silodors or Kays available, my friend Joan Weinrott and I eventually applied at four major clubs and were hired — with me teaching the Advanced (1st and 2nd) and Joan working with the lower ranks (3rd-6th).   As I look back now, it was rather humorous.   I taught mostly basic conventions and card combinations (correct handling vs. safety plays) as their matches were scored by IMPS.  Norman proofread every lesson the night before as back then, I was just one page ahead of them in the book, but it worked out well as I never got involved in areas in which I was not familiar. 

However, prior commitments (like owning trotters which raced nightly up in New York or New Jersey) and other social obligations forced me to pass the scepter in 1983 as I had to move on.  However, Charlie Solomon will always be the local folk hero, adored for his major contributions to the perpetuation of Women’s Bridge.   If I am not mistaken, many clubs in Florida later followed suit and the Philadelphia snowbirds joined their ranks and played on their teams.

Charlie’s wife, Peggy, was quite popular but more laid back.   She had an interesting background before she married Charlie.   Born Peggy Mastbaum, she enjoyed a rather unusual family tree.  Her father was the movie theatre magnate Jules Mastbaum who was associated with one of Philadelphia’s most famous landmarks on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway — The Rodin Museum.  According to information gathered from the official Rodin Museum site:

… “Mastbaum began collecting works by Rodin in 1923 with the intent of founding a museum to enrich the lives of his fellow citizens. Just three years later, he had assembled the largest collection of Rodin’s works outside Paris, including bronze castings, plaster studies, drawings, prints, letters, and books. In 1926, Mastbaum commissioned French architects Paul Cret and Jacques Gréber to design the Museum building and gardens. Unfortunately, the collector did not live to see his dream realized, but his widow honored his commitment to the city, and the Museum was inaugurated on November 29, 1929.”

Peggy was married to Col. Ben Golder (The Golder Cup) who served as a State Senator, Member of the House of Representatives and sadly died at the age of 52 the day before the end of his term as ACBL President in 1946.   Because he was away so much of the time, he had encouraged Peggy to become more involved in a hobby and hired his friend Charlie Solomon to give Peggy private lessons.   Thus — Peggy meets Charlie.   Sometime after Golder’s death, Peggy became Mrs. Charles J. Solomon.   Peggy was kind enough to often ask me, a struggling novice, to partner her in some insignificant events.  

In 1971, I accompanied Norman to Taiwan for the Bermuda Bowl.   Charlie was busy with administrative responsibilities and Peggy had idle time so she invited me to play in a small innocuous side game which by some miracle we won.   I remember boarding the plane homeward bound dragging this huge, heavy, meaningless trophy while Norman walked five paces behind me carrying some small token of his team’s (North America 2)  finishing 6th.    Peggy always acted like a Plain Jane but, in reality, was a classic grande dame – continually downplaying her family fame and fortune.

I’d like to close with my favorite Peggy Story.  One of her daughters from her first marriage had decided to spend the winter waitressing in Hawaii — anything to get away from the legendary dreaded Philly cold.   Peggy grinned as she related to me that she had received a call from her bewildered offspring who thought some guy was trying to pull her leg.  She told her mom she had waited on a really cute young fella from the States who bemoaned that he had a pretty good professional sports career going until it got cut short by a serious injury.  Not being a sports buff (nor wanting to appear dim-witted) she thought she would check the story out as he was staying at the hotel and no doubt she would see him again as he appeared interested.    She began,  “He said his name was Sandy … Sandy something or other.   I think it began with a K.”   Peggy interrupted her.   “Believe him, dear,” encouraged Peggy.  “It sounds like Sandy Koufax to me.”   And indeed, it was!!!!


6 Comments

Judy Kay-WolffJuly 8th, 2010 at 10:43 am

I just received a private email from a voice from the past — Joli Quentin Kensil, world famous games inventor, who was a close friend of the late Baron von Zedtwitz and many other bridge celebrities. Do yourself a favor and look him up in WIKIPEDIA as his accomplishments and travels will intrigue you.

He opened with a story about Harold Ogust, the Baron and Charlie Solomon — reminded of him by my blog. However, even more entertaining (and so very typical of all bridge players) … he followed up with:

“One to almost top this was when Jacoby and his wife were visiting Hawaii in 1982. The Baron and Jacoby started discussing a bridge hand from 1926! It was like they played it yesterday.”

Some people can’t recall what they ate for breakfast, but their power of recall of old bridge hands is dazzling!

ChuckJuly 8th, 2010 at 1:14 pm

Hi Judy:

Was that gentleman the same one known as Prince Joli, who on the 100th anniversary of Waldy’s birthday gave a big bash at one of the New York hotels to honor his long-time friend who had taken him under his wing?

Judy Kay-WolffJuly 8th, 2010 at 1:27 pm

Chuck:

You have a memory like an elephant. Yes, it was one and the same. In fact, it was at The Plaza and Norman and I were in the Big Apple in conjunction with either a bridge tournament or the Cavendish. (I just checked the Encyclopedia — and the year was 1996). I remember it being a double header for us, rushing from site to site. I had never gone to a 100th birthday anniversary celebration before, but I recall Dorothy and Alan Truscott and Edgar Kaplan being there as well. Thanks for the memories.

Judy

Mark LombardAugust 6th, 2010 at 7:31 pm

Judy,

Isn’t there an unique event, the Solomon Competition, which is a team event conducted in players’ homes over the course of a few months? The games are remarkably civil, and seem to be a nice way to remember a great bridge personality!

I don’t know if this is specific to the Philadlephia region, but I do remember playing in it a year or two when I resided there.

letilreDecember 19th, 2010 at 6:50 pm

“and Mrs. Bridge. Few younger players would recognize their names, but those veterans still around who have all their marbles, remember Peggy and Charlie Solomon – two very unusual people!Charlie not only was President of the ACBL but helped to organize the World Bridge Federation and served as the first American WBF President (1964-68) (followed later by Julius Rosenblum in the 70s and Bobby in the 90s), They were the only individuals to be elected to that position from the U. S. However, in Philadelphia, that was not his primary claim to fame. At home, he was revered and adored for more far-reaching local contributions. Back in the fifties (or maybe late forties), he was responsible for arranging (teaching) Women’s Bridge lessons in the Suburban Philadelphia Country Clubs and the bridge activity is still in existence even today. It began as a series of lessons running from the Fall to the Spring and eventually Women’s Bridge Leagues (WBL) were formed for these avid country club bridgers culminating in a playoff between the 1st and 2nd place finishers to determine the League Winner.Since the disparity in ability was so great within one club, Charlie hired a young fledgling by the name of Arthur Robinson as the throngs were far too much for one person to handle and they were loosely broken down into Intermediate and Advanced (more accurate translation — Beginners and Intermediate). There were dozens of Clubs in the vicinity and the Leagues formed ranged from the First Team to the Sixth, depending upon the size of the membership of the club. Women’s bridge had blossomed and was celebrated in Philadelphia, later to be followed by Men’s Bridge Leagues as well. Norman’s partner at the time, Sidney Silodor, also had been hired by several clubs but died in August of 1963, leaving many of the gals in need of a teacher. Charlie passed away in 1975 which created another huge vacancy — but no one to fill the space. Norman was approached immediately but leaving his vice presidency at ML for country club teaching was not an option. The clubs were really in a bind — left with this great legacy begun by Charlie Solomon. Every Tom, Dick and Harry (credentials or not) applied and it turned into a free for all. Actually, since there were no Solomons, Silodors or Kays available, my friend Joan Weinrott and I eventually applied at four major clubs and were hired — with me teaching the Advanced (1st and 2nd) and Joan working with the lower ranks (3rd-6th). As I look back now, it was rather humorous. I taught mostly basic conventions and card combinations (correct handling vs. safety plays) as their matches were scored by IMPS. Norman proofread every lesson the night before as back then, I was just one page ahead of them in the book, but it worked out well as I never got involved in areas in which I was not familiar. However, prior commitments (like owning trotters which raced nightly up in New York or New Jersey) and other social obligations forced me to pass the scepter in 1983 as I had to move on. However, Charlie Solomon will always be the local folk hero, adored for his major contributions to the perpetuation of Women’s Bridge. If I am not mistaken, many clubs in Florida later followed suit and the Philadelphia snowbirds joined their ranks and played on their teams.Charlie’s wife, Peggy, was quite popular but more laid back. She had an interesting background before she married Charlie. Born Peggy Mastbaum, she enjoyed a rather unusual family tree. Her father was the movie theatre magnate Jules Mastbaum who was associated with one of Philadelphia???s most famous landmarks on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway — The Rodin Museum. According to information gathered from the official Rodin Museum site:… “Mastbaum began collecting works by Rodin in 1923 with the intent of founding a museum to enrich the lives of his fellow citizens. Just three years later, he had assembled the largest collection of Rodin’s works outside Paris, including bronze castings, plaster studies, drawings, prints, letters, and books. In 1926, Mastbaum commissioned French architects Paul Cret and Jacques Greber to design the Museum building and gardens. Unfortunately, the collector did not live to see his dream realized, but his widow honored his commitment to the city, and the Museum was inaugurated on November 29, 1929.”Peggy was married to Col. Ben Golder (The Golder Cup) who served as a State Senator, Member of the House of Representatives and sadly died at the age of 52 the day before the end of his term as ACBL President in 1946. Because he was away so much of the time, he had encouraged Peggy to become more involved in a hobby and hired his friend Charlie Solomon to give Peggy private lessons. Thus — Peggy meets Charlie. Sometime after Golder’s death, Peggy became Mrs. Charles J. Solomon. Peggy was kind enough to often ask me, a struggling novice, to partner her in some insignificant events. In 1971, I accompanied Norman to Taiwan for the Bermuda Bowl. Charlie was busy with administrative responsibilities and Peggy had idle time so she invited me to play in a small innocuous side game which by some miracle we won. I remember boarding the plane homeward bound dragging this huge, heavy, meaningless trophy while Norman walked five paces behind me carrying some small token of his team’s (North America 2) finishing 6th. Peggy always acted like a Plain Jane but, in reality, was a classic grande dame – continually downplaying her family fame and fortune.I’d like to close with my favorite Peggy Story. One of her daughters from her first marriage had decided to spend the winter waitressing in Hawaii — anything to get away from the legendary dreaded Philly cold. Peggy grinned as she related to me that she had received a call from her bewildered offspring who thought some guy was trying to pull her leg. She told her mom she had waited on a really cute young fella from the States who bemoaned that he had a pretty good professional sports career going until it got cut short by a serious injury. Not being a sports buff (nor wanting to appear dim-witted) she thought she would check the story out as he was staying at the hotel and no doubt she would see him again as he appeared interested. She began, “He said his name was Sandy … Sandy something or other. I think it began with a K.” Peggy interrupted her. “Believe him, dear,” encouraged Peggy. “It sounds like Sandy Koufax to me.”

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Wendi BrandeisAugust 6th, 2012 at 4:21 pm

Hi Judy,
Thank you very much for this wonderful article. I am the granddaughter of Peggy and Charlie Solomon. I appreciate your wonderful tribute to these two incredibly gifted bridge players and remarkable people who throughout their lives thought of others and never boasted about their successes of which their were many. There is one small correction to be made, however as the last story you share is not quite right. The person who called my Nana to say she was dating Sandy Koufax is actually my older sister. So it was one of Peggy’s granddaughter not a daughter!

Thank you again.
Wendi Brandeis