1951 SPINGOLD WINNERS
You are looking at (left to right) … Charlie Goren, Helen Sobel, Sidney Silodor and a lesser known expert – Myron Field who captured this much heralded event sixty-two years ago. It is amazing the photo copied above is the original and shows little signs of wear and tear. Earlier this week I zeroed in on Charlie and Sidney but just came upon this picture which included their teammates.
Helen Sobel (Smith) has been long recognized as the best female player ever. Some might dispute that statement, but I am certainly in no position to do so. Helen rocketed from New York chorus girl .. to appear in The Marx Brothers’ Broadway Musical Comedy Animal Crackers .. and then abandoned ship to become a unique bridge legend. She was the frequent partner of Charlie Goren and they enjoyed many triumphs together. I recall (as a newlywed in the early sixties) sitting next to her in a Hospitality Suite at a National. When she charmingly introduced herself and asked my name, I was so bewildered – I had to think a minute before I could come up with an answer.
Myron Field, a New York stockbroker, was thirty nine at the time of this prestigious victory. He garnered three other National titles and represented the United States in 1956 in the Bermuda Bowl, joining Charles Goren, Lee Hazen, Richard Kahn, Charles Solomon and Sam Stayman.
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These pictures are to be treasured. They represented the elegance of the old bridge world. Did you know any of them personally?
Curiously,
Alan
Dear Alan:
Yes, I must confess (showing my age), I knew them all! With the exception of Myron Field, when the sixties rolled around I was familiar (and friendly) with most of the others.
Charlie and Peggy Solomon were Mr. and Mrs. Bridge in Philadelphia and Norman and I were social buddies with them as we both lived in Center City. Peggy had taken me (a real rookie) under her wing a couple times in local women’s events (and I hardly knew an ace from a king — and still have days like that) but she was a class act. The Solomons were very down to earth people and extremely outgoing (despite Peggy’s increasing hearing problems). I might add they had a Trophy Room at the fancy Rittenhouse Apartments which housed hundreds of silver mementos, awards and commendations won by each of them. I never had enough time to explore them well — but they were indeed impressive. (One day I will tell you the story about how Peggy and Charlie met and the background that preceded it all).
Goren we had discussed earlier, but by the time I met him, his mind was slipping and and it was an accepted fact that his ability to recognize or remember new acquaintances even after an introduction was nil.
Lee and Sylvia Hazen were close friends to Norman — whose company I enjoyed. A little known fact … when the ACBL (first housed in Greenwich, Connecticut) was just a fledgling operation getting on it’s feet, it was Lee Hazen, a quite successful NY lawyer, who helped keep the League alive financially but he wanted it to remain hushed. For those of you who may recall the old Becker columns, B. J. used the name “Sylvia” amusingly as the butt of his column humor. She was the little ole’ lady who would accidentally “fall” into the right line of play or defense. That was one and the same .. Lee’s Sylvia.
Norman played on teams in the late fifties with Dick Hahn whom I knew least well of the crew. Even at the beginning I was friendlier with Edgar and Betty, Ivar Stakgold and Lennie Harmon.
Sam and Tubby Stayman were warm and gracious to me and were known for their fabulous soirees in their magnificent highrise after an always well-attended Manhattan tournament. Those were the days!!!
There you have it. They were all around as I was making my social debut or thud (be that as it may) into the bridge world over half a century ago.
Judy: Was this the same Myron Field who had previously changed his name from Myron Fuchs? There is an amusing story about him in Jerry Machlin’s book: Tournament Bridge: An Uncensored Memoir.
ACBL was actually HQ’ed in NYC, only moving out to Greenwich, CT around the time Alvin Landy, who was its “CEO”, died in 1967. Easley Blackwood succeeded him, and moved it to Greenwich. Shortly thereafter the league shut down its west coast office, and soon was looking for a more centrally located for its HQ, given much of the leagues operations involved shipping, etc. Easley stepped down in March 1971, but the search for a new HQ site was already in progress and the decision was made to go to Memphis where the new office opened in late 1972. Fred Smith recognized the wisdom of this location, and several years later made Memphis the centre for the spokes of his new company–FedEx. Losing finalists for ACBL HQ included South Bend, Indiana and Omaha, Nebraska. Where was “The Oracle” back then!?
Hi Art:
Good to hear from you. I can picture you as if it were just yesterday. Yes, “Fuchs” was his maiden name. No wonder he changed it
Am not familiar with the story to which you refer. Why don’t you share it on this blog.
Cheers,
Judy
Hello Jordan Cohen .. my ACBL historian!
I can’t argue with you as it was so long ago. I don’t recall any NYC ACBL office. Where was it located? I do remember Tom Stoddard and the West Coast subsidiary. I know Norman and I visited Headquarters many times, but I have no recollection of it being in New York. The only place we visited was in Connecticut.
I only remember Greenwich and Stamford and the likes of Peggy Adams, Tommy Harris and Nate (or was it Nat?) Cohen.
Look forward to hearing back.
Regards,
Judy
P.S. You know how much I adored your parents. I think of them often and all the good times Norman and I shared with them.
Judy: I don’t have the story in front of me, but my recollection was that it was a little off-color – as it related to his prior name!
Hi Judy: Could you e-mail me when you can (matthew@matthewsolan.com). I am a writer working on a book about Charles Goren and Helen Sobel and I was wondering if I could talk to you about them. My number in Florida is 727-458-9201. Thanks! Matthew Solan