Thelma and Lowell's Diary: May 22, 1943

They see a movie at the National; the Roosevelts spend the night at Shangri-la

On this Saturday, Thelma did her heavy housecleaning, incuding the hall and stairs (they had a second-floor apartment), then she and BFF Vangy went to the grocery store. That evening she and Lowell went to the National theatre to see the comedy Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch, which she proclaimed “very good.” The movie poster above is offered by a dealer on amazon.

This was the fourth film adaptation of a novel written by Kentucky author Alice Hegen Rice. Here’s what amazon.com has to say about the book:

A national bestseller when first published in 1901, Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch endures today as one of the most memorable literary creations by a Kentucky author. This immensely popular novel spawned several movies (with such stars as W.C. Fields and Shirley Temple), countless stage productions, radio shows, and even dolls.

Alice Hegan Rice spins the memorable tale of a family struggling against all odds in the Cabbage Patch, an old Louisville slum "where ramshackle cottages played hop-scotch over the railroad tracks." This hopeful story follows the Wiggs as they face eviction from their dilapidated house and take in two orphanage fugitives.

The Roosevelts and some guests took an overnight trip to the presidential retreat Shangri-la. Paid subscribers can read on. Click below to upgrade.