“Tomorrow, We Really Sing, Loud and Clear”
“I Took This Picture!”
My Daddy always looks like Clark Gable in Any Number can Play – movie.
My Dad always has a cigarette in the mouth, no matter what he is doing and or when you see Clark Gable in the movies smoking – you see his twin – my Dad – they are both from Ohio!
Clark Gable, birthdate Feb. 1st, My Dad’s Feb. 2nd. This picture was taken in front of German St. Vincent Orphan Home – 1948.
L – R Thomas – Denny Sr. – Denny Jr. – Marie McClarren (Mary Ellen with the camera)
“Happy Birthday Daddy!”
February 2nd is Daddy’s Birthday! This picture is of us during the early 1940s – before WWII was over and there were more people in uniform.
With Saint Louis Union Station in the downtown area – the Army Finance Center going strong – my Dad was in step with the best!
Clark Gable – 1901
One of Hollywood’s foremost leading men during the first half of the 20th century, Gable was known for films like Gone with the Wind, It Happened One Night, and The Misfits.
…and just one more… a real good movie that I love to watch … as it reminds me of my Dad.
This is a very old memory of the movie, “Any Number Can Play” – “Clark Gable” – born the same week as my DAD and in the same neighborhood – they always looked so much alike – especially with that cigarette, in the mouth and just seem… to always be smoking!
This profile of “Clark Gable” reminds me of my DAD more so, than any of the photos that I have – the 1940’s were the years when they could have passed for twins.
– but, as LIFE has it – we each go on to that path in LIFE – something maybe, for the good and sometimes even very much better times –
and… in most cases – the too much of this, and or the too much of that – turns even the best of terrific shaped bodies, into a plain old worn out … and not too good of a shape, leaving nothing much worthwhile, for that which we always thought … really was not putting our lives in that better position … for a really good and happy – long life.
Prepare to SING…“Happy Birthday to DADDY”
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“We ALL will be remembering DENNY,Jr., Tomorrow”
“Remembering our BABY-SISTER… EVE KAREN McClarren”
This PHOTO of “Eve KAREN ” with big brother, “DENNY” on the left in the photo and big brother “TOMMY” on the right.
I am taking this PHOTO on a very COLD day … that day was pre-arranged by a social worker, Mrs. Fearebacker working in the Civil Courts Building and in charge of cases of where children from the same family are placed in living arrangements… to where they can have the Courts collect from the Father of the Family… sufficient money for their weekly care.
The Courts would not collect this money from the father and send to the mother… so that the children and mother could live together…they would rather separate a family to where the children never get a chance to know and live with their own family…. but forever … remain strangers… for their entire life!
So… to pretend that the Social Workers are doing something constructive toward unity to be developed in this family and after many phone calls and letters … of which my Mother sent to the Civil Court office… for a family meeting to where we would all be able to meet in one place… just for a “visit” with our little sister “KAREN” … because none of us had any real hands on communication… with the others… and would never ever really get to know our very own blood relatives… as the way things were going!
This is the way that the “Social Worker” decided that we would all meet and have a very good and enjoyable time together.
The foster parents of and for our little sister, “Eve Karen”… were a Mr. Oscar and LaVerne Gonzales living in Robinson, Missouri and we three older children, living in the Orphanage and our Mother living in North St. Louis will all take whatever “BUS” transportation at that time… that was available and meet inside the “Civil Courts Building” at a certain time … and this would be only for a limited time of one hour VISIT… and it was on one of the coldest days… to hit in the downtown St.Louis area.
WE all had to find our own ways to get to the “Civil Courts Building” in the downtown Saint LOUIS area… as you can tell by looking at the background… You know right where this area is.
After this meeting, we left… and the report for the file that the social worker and the Gonzales concocted was deplorable…as they sat there not saying anything taking notes about what we said and did… and according to them… we did not do anything right… nor said the correct things… that they thought we should have said… they must deal with people in prisons where you may be seen… but NOT heard from!
“KAREN with big brother, DENNY … on his GRADUATION DAY” “1953” … This PHOTO is taken in front of the “German St. Vincent Orphanage Gymnasium” … 7401 Florissant Road, Normandy, Missouri.
We were in line to get on the “FERRIS WHEEL” one of the attractions on the grounds of the “ORPHANAGE” to attract lots of Visitors to and for this “Graduation-Picnic occasion.”
“If only this Photo would have been in color… You could see the terrific super and fantastic shade of “RED HAIR” and those freckles that DENNY has.”
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“This is with MOM and the three of us… February 1946 as our baby sister, “EVE KAREN Francisca McClarren” was born on the 16th… and when “MOM and DAD” took our sister to the “HOLY NAME CHURCH” to be baptized… and were asked what the baby’s NAME will be… he was told “EVE KAREN” … the Priest said … “there is not a “SAINT EVE KAREN” … DO you have a DOG?” … “I need a “SAINT’s NAME” ….So as not to hold up the ceremony… “MOM remembered that a “Francisca CABRINI” was in the NEWS … as just having been canonized a “SAINT” … so that is “HOW” our sister “KAREN” received her long and full name.
This was an “IRISH PRIEST” and his “IRISH brogue” was so strong … you could hardly understand what he was saying as the word “DOG” really sounded like “DOGUE!”
“This is “KAREN” with DADDY…. and of course the three of us – DENNY – ME – TOMMY … in the area where the “APPLE” trees were growing… every so often one of us kids… would run down and get a handful of ‘apples’ for friends but… for some of the kids… they could not eat the green “apples” they would get… a good case of the “runs” to the bathroom.”
That “SAILOR” outfit that “TOMMY” is wearing is the same “outfit” that “DENNY” wore on his solo trip to “OHIO” when he was only “four years old” … I did write about that trip a couple of times earlier… and posted the news-paper clipping along… giving all of the particulars of the long “trip” that little DENNY took … all by himself … when “DADDY” had to go to “CALIFORNIA” to work on the “NAVY SHIPS” during WWII … just some the exciting things that the “McClarren” children did during those “hard” times… and we all have lived a long enough time to tell about it!
“Just some of the memories of our little sister, EVE KAREN” … just good to have a few old PHOTOS … for a “BACK-up” otherwise… no one would believe… half of the good old days… when we were in the bad and hard times of a “WAR” and what “AMERICANS” all did to help our “COUNTRY” WIN… but we “ALL” just did that which we could… and we always felt good… for what we were able to do.!” D.V.
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“HAPPY BIRTHDAY… DADDY”
“Happy Birthday to YOU… Happy Birthday to YOU…. this is the DAY – – that YOU selected to celebrate your BIRTHDAY – – and many more!”
“That’s my DADDY and he is holding me up so high – – – that I can see everywhere and even found something…. important to point out to him!”
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“DADDY and the Groundhog celebrate on 2-2-17”
“And NOW… performing – – a very young man from OHIO!”
This is Denny H. McClarren Sr., – he was still in the ARMY – and before he ever came to Missouri – and before he married my Mother!
When Daddy had finished his three stints in the Army – he was traveling on a train from California to Missouri and the next destination to his home in OHIO! While traveling on the train – he met some of the family relatives – the FLEMING cousins – to my Mother – and in a get-to-gather – to welcome “HOME” all the boys in the service – who were friends – there was a party and of course my Mother – a most beautiful young lady – was introduced – and the rest of the story is “NOW” in our “HISTORY BOOK!”
The above picture of Daddy looks a little like – “George Raft” a movie star – that my Mother liked – and who was a terrific dancer – but I guess when I was in High School – I told my Mother that – I thought Daddy looked like “Clark Gable” – – and in fact – if you ever watch the movie “Any Number Can Play” – my Daddy could pass for “Clark Gable!” Something about the way they move and especially when you see them smoke – they could pass for twins – they were both born in Ohio and near each other – so maybe – we can just guess??? Their birthdays are just a day or two apart –
“So – here is wishing – DADDY a Happy Birthday – that will be on 02-02-17 – and there will be lots of fun – where ever you you are???”
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“The Original… Music Man!”
This PHOTO of DENNY H. McClarren…marks him as the “ORIGINAL MUSIC MAN” taken while serving in the Philippines…early 1930’s.
This PHOTO and another of him…taken several years later…and the one that I like the most, can not be found. So…here is the story. the PHOTO that I wish that I could show you…my FATHER looks just like Clark Gable…both were born very close in years and same vicinity in OHIO.
When I was in grade school and had seen several movies…had to tell my MOTHER…that I thought DADDY… looked just like CLARK GABLE and of course…she did not think so. I had mention that so many times…but never a word as to why she did not think so.
After a good many years…my Mother told me that she always thought …that my FATHER…reminded her of the movie star, GORGE RAFT. Now that I have come across the above PHOTO…I think that I can see the resemblance to GEORGE RAFT… The differences are in the years of a person…for awhile when we are younger and full of vim and vigor…we could almost look like SUPER MAN. BUT…after years of wear and tear…just living and the old age of living…without taking care of the health of that good looking body…that we started out with…we are someone else.
No one…when they are young even gives a second thought about what they are doing to their beautiful…they just eat and drink poison…and never give their treasure a good chance to make it to the ripe old age of “One-Hundred!”
So…a word to the wise that will think twice about what you are doing to the best gift you have in hand…use respect in all you do to it… it will take you places…you have had in your DREAMS!
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“An Irish Blessing for DENNY…”
I danced in the morning
when the world was begun.
And I danced in the moon
and the stars and the sun,
And I came down from Heaven
and I danced on the earth,
At Bethlehem I had my birth.
Refrain: Dance then, wherever you may be.
I am the Lord of the Dance said he,
And I’ll lead you all wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the Dance said he.
I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black.
It’s hard to dance with the devil on your back.
They buried my body and they thought I’d gone,
But I am the dance and I still go on.
Refrain: They cut me down and I leap up high.
I am the LIFE that’ll never die.
I’ll live in you if you’ll live in me.
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.
From “Lord of the Dance”
Irish Blessing
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