January 29, 2020
Los Angeles, California
John Huston’s 1930 “Frankie and Johnny” Play
Illustrations by Covarrubias Published by Albert and Boni – More Synchronicities at the 1939 San Francisco World’s Fair
Huston dedicated this 1930 play to his wife Dorothy (my future mother.)
After seven years of marriage (1926-1933) John and Dorothy divorced in 1933 and seven years after that in 1940, Dorothy married John’s high-school friend, Dr. George Hill Hodel.
My older brother Michael was born in 1939, I and my twin John followed and were born in 1941 and younger brother and my “Irish Twin” Kelvin would arrive eleven months later, in October 1942.
“FOR DOROTHY”
(Below) Newlyweds John and Dorothy greet John’s father famed actor Walter Huston and train station in
Los Angeles, California in 1926- three years prior to publication of “Frankie and Johnny.”
Dr. George Hill Hodel- 1939-1940 Hired as on-duty physician assigned to treat patients for medical needs at Terminal Island World Fair
Miguel Covarrubias – The Illustrator
Illustrations by Covarrubias in John Huston’s “Frankie and Johnny” (1930)
Covarrubias Mural at 1939-40 San Francisco Exposition
Covarrubias Mural “Fauna and Flora” at 1939-40 San Francisco Golden Gate World Fair
Franz Bergmann- The Illustrator/Surrealist Artist/Muralist at 1939-40 SF Golden Gate Exposition
“This Way to the Circus” pub. The Junior Literary Guild Corp (1930)
by Emilia Hodel, Illustrations by Franz Bergmann
Artist Franz Bergmann circa 1955
(Married to Emilia Hodel, George Hodel’s former wife)
Franz Bergmann painted a mural of Christ at 1939-40 San Francisco Golden Gate World’s Fair
“Mr. Bergmann your mural’s conception of Christ is too stern and foreboding. It lacks spirituality and compassion. Please fix it.” (See above article)
Dr. Julian McPheeters, Pastor
Head of Glide Memorial Church Committee
“Politicians”
By Franz Bergmann
Originally exhibited at Golden Gate International Exposition, San Francisco May 25-September 29, 1940
“Exhibition of Works by California Artists”
https://www.annexgalleries.com/artists/biography/182/Bergmann/Franz
Fred Sexton – Artist/ WPA Muralist
(Probable artist/exhibitor at 1939-40 Golden Gate “California Artist’s Exhibit”)
Below artwork (painting of his wife, Gwain) one of several on display at San Francisco Courvoisier Gallery in 1940
Diego Rivera – The Muralist Created below Mural at the 1930-40 San Francisco Golden Gate World Fair
SKH Note- My half-sister, Tamar Hodel (the victim of the 1949 incest/child molestation with our father, Dr. George Hodel ) provided a list of names of individuals she was planning to include in a book she was planning to write on her own biography. (See Black Dahlia Avenger III pages 139-142) Included in the long list of names of prominent individuals that she met was the artist/muralist Diego Rivera and his wife, Frida Kahlo whom she met and interacted with in Mexico in 1950 post incest trial. Unfortunately for us, she was never able to write that book. I quote from a portion of Tamar’s email to me in January 2004.
Tamar writes:
…”In Mexico City in 1951…I met a dazzling array of Artists including Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo…had bit parts in two films with Jorge Mistral “La Bestia Magnifica” and “La Mujer Que Tu Quieres”…met and married (divorcing two years later) a handsome Negro-Art Student when I was 16…During that time I traveled to New York City and met and fell in love with the man I would love allllll the days of my life…(to this very day even though sadly he left the body in 1969) the beautiful and noble Josh White…Folk Singer and Story Teller and Civil Rights spokesman par Excellence. I returned to Mexico City…divorced my first husband and moved back to San Francisco at age 18.”
Synchronistically speaking, I find it fascinating that, Dr. George Hill Hodel, Fred Sexton, Covarrubias, Franz Bergmann, and Diego Rivera would all find themselves working/involved in and at the San Francisco World’s Fair in 1939-1940.
The post John Huston’s 1930 Play “Frankie and Johnny” Dedicated to Dorothy Huston Hodel and A Surreal Synchronicity at the 1939 San Francisco World’s Fair appeared first on Steve Hodel.