Thelma and Lowell's Diary: March 6, 1943

Thelma buys shoes; Japanese suicide sub draws crowds; 'Mrs. Miniver' wins Oscars

Note: This post was written by a real human with real intelligence, not the artificial kind!

It was a Saturday, and Thelma’s only notations regarded expenses: $16.75 for the rent, $2.23 for “eats,” and two clothing purchases of about $3 each. One was a hat and the other was a pair of shoes. Remember, shoes were being rationed, and each person could buy up to three pairs a year, evenly spaced. Thelma had to present a stamp from a ration booklet in addition to her money to buy the shoes.

Elsewhere in New Orleans, the display of what was described as a Japanese suicide submarine that was recovered during the attack on Pearl Harbor drew huge crowds. Paid subscribers can read about how this display was used to drive war stamp sales. There’s an extra incentive this month to subscribe for a year. A $50 annual subscription gets you an inscribed copy of my book Gertie: The Fabulous Life of Gertrude Sanford Legendre, Heiress, Explorer, Socialite, Spy, which won the Benjamin Franklin Gold Award in biography. The book sells for $29.95 on amazon.