I Don't Care If You Can't Write Fancy

Quite an interesting one today. The envelope found in the book contained a membership to the Dora Lee Club of Chicago, which appears to be some kind of penpal or dating club. The envelope is dated May 12, 1959.

From the introduction letter (the brown page in the pictures above):

Dear Lonely Member;

Welcome to the club, and to a host of new friends which we are sure will help make a fuller and richer life for you.

You may not like every one, of course, but we are sure your association with this medium will enrich your life to such an extent you will be forever grateful to us for making this arrangement.

This club gives you great scope in selecting a correspondent, and we ask that you notify us as soon as you are suited. Then we will no longer send your name out.

One of the best ways to write a letter to the opposite sex is to tell them about yourself and ask them to tell you something about themselves ~ This forms a powerful word picture. After all that is very important to the other person. Some people have peculiar tastes. And by matter of comparison we must try to match likes and dislikes. This is one of the most fascinating procedures ever undertaken, and so easy after all.

We are often asked why people of wealth enroll in this club. The answer is obvious. People that amass worldly goods stay very busy. Time passes them by; and suddenly they find they are really lonely.

So we say to you now. Write a few letters at once, and soon the real letter is bound to show up, and happiness can be yours.

Sincerely, Director of DORA LEE CLUB

From the first list of women (pink sheet)

*name removed* Philadelphia 48, Pa. Age 31
I'M NOT AN ARTIST BUT WHEN I GO INTO MY KITCHEN TO COOK A MEAL; I DON'T TAKE A BACKSEAT TO NONE. IF YOU DON1'T BELIEVE ME, WRITE ME A LETTER AND PERHAPS I'LL INVITE YOU TO A DINNER AND WHO KNOWS???

*name removed* Pensacola, Fla. Age 34
WHY HURRY, SCURRY AND TRY TO MAKE ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD. I HAVE MY OWN MONEY AND NOW I JUST WANT CONTENTMENT AND HAPPINESS.

*name removed* Auburndale, Fla. Age 36
LIFE IS FUNNY. YOU NO DOUBT CAN REMEMBER TIMES IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU WERE HAPPY, JUST DOING NOTHING. I'M THAT WAY I CAN BE HAPPY AND CONTENTED AS LONG AS I HAVE SOMEONE TO JUST CARE FOR ME.

*name removed* Beckley, W. Va. Age 25
LOTS OF MEN HAVE WASTED A LOT OF TIME, IT'S A SHAME, WHILE MANY WOMEN WERE AT HOME GETTING THEMSELVES ESTABLISHED IN A HOME AND AN AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE. IF YOU'RE ONE OF THESE MEN THAT LOVE A HOME; PLEASE WRITE.

*name removed* Paducah, Ky. Age 47
I LIKE A MAN THAT LIKES TO EAT. I GUESS MY MAN WOULD GET FAT AS IT PLEASES ME TO GET IN MY KITCHEN AND COOK A MEAL THAT MELTS IN THEIR MOUTH. DROP ME A LINE.

*name removed* Port Alberni, B.C.,Canada Age 40
DON'T LOSE TIME WHY NOT CONTACT ME IF YOU'RE LONELY. I'M A GOOD HEARTED WOMAN AND MAYBE NOT THE BEST WRITER IN THE WORLD, BUT I CAN DO A LOT FOR THE MAN THAT WOULD TREAT ME RIGHT.

*name removed* Syracuse, N. Y. Age 41
I WANT A LETTER; I DON'T CARE IF YOU CAN'T WRITE FANCY. MAYBE YOUR HEART IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE; I KNOW MINEE IS AND I'M SINCERE AND LONELY. YOU WON'T BE SORRY, TRY ME.

*name removed* Salem, Ore. Age 46
I'VE GOT MONEY BUT NOT HAPPINESS. SOMETIMES I THINK OF SOME PEOPLE I KNOW. THEY DON'T HAVE A THING BUT THEY'RE REAL HAPPY. WHY CAN'T I FIND ME SOMEONE TO LOVE? WE'LL BE HAPPY TOGETHER.

*name removed* Flat Lick, Ky. Age 44
HERE I AM LONELY AND BLUE. WHERE ARE YOU? LET'S GET SOME ACTION; WHY GO ON LIKE THIS; DAYS AND NIGHTS PASS BY; THEN YEARS. DROP ME A LINE.

*name removed* Pinellas Fark, Fla Age 40
I DON'T WANT A ROUGH MAN THAT THINKS HE HAS TO KNOCK A WOMAN DOWN TO SHOW HIS PROWESS. WHY DO THIS; IT TAKES TOO MUCH ENERGY. I'LL COOK HIM GOOD MEALS TO KEEP HIM HEALTHY BUT DON'T USE IT ON ME. I JUST WANT A PLAIN GUY.

KEEP UP WITH THE LISTS FOR BEST RESULTS.

Second list (yellow page):

*name removed* Los Angeles 29, Calif. Age 35
ALMOST ANY MAN COULD MAKE HEADWAY WITH A WOMAN IF HE WAS KIND AND SWEET. I'M ALWAYS WILLING TO LISTEN TO ANYONE THAT TREATS PEOPLE NICE.

*name removed* Shreveport, La. Age 35
I GET BLUE WHEN I'M ALONE. AND I KNOW THAT THE BEST MEDICINE IS TO STAY BUSY. BUT WHAT'S THE USE, MY MONEY WON'T BUY ME HAPPINESS. I'M JUST AS LONELY AS CAN BE.

*name removed* Philadelphia 23, Pa. Age 29
NEVER LET IT BE SAID THAT TWO CAN LIVE AS CHEAP AS ONE. BUT ONE THING FOR SURE IN THIS OLD WORLD. TWO CAN LIVE HAPPIER THAN ONE. IT'S HECK TO BE LONELY.

*name removed* Dexter, Mo. Age 21
IF I HAD A MAN TO COOK FOR HE COULD DO AS HE PLEASED AS LONG AS HE TREATED ME SWEET. I DON"T BELIEVE THAT A MAN SHOULD BE SCOLDED. AFTER ALL A MAN IS THE HEAD OF THE HOME.

*name removed* Crossville, Ill. Age 18
ME, WELL I'LL TELL YOU I'M JUST A ONE MAN WOMAN AND I LIKE THE RESPECT OF A GOOD HARD WORKER. YES, A MAN COULD FIND A GOOD PARTNER RIGHT HERE AND NO QUESTIONS ASKED.

*name removed* Elmira, N. Y. Age 23
SOME WOMEN NAG A MAN UNTIL HE JUST UPS AND LEAVES. IF MY MAN DIDN'T WANT TO CUT THE GRASS THEN I'D CUT IT MYSELF. I'M NOT A NAGGING WOMAN BUT A HELP MATE AND A PAL.

*name removed* Midwest City, Okla. Age 49
I'VE HEARD WOMEN SAY, "WELL I LIKE A NORTHERNER OR A SOUTHERNER." THAT"S THE
SILLIEST THING I EVER HEARD. I WOULDN'T CARE WHERE A MAN CAME FROM.. WHAT"S
THE DIFFERENCE IF HE COMES FROM THE MOON.

Utica 4, N. Y. Age 45
ME, WELL I'M NOT A SPARKLING BEAUTY BUT PEOPLE TELL ME I'M NICE LOOKING AND I KEEP MY HOUSE NEAT. AND I CAN DO AS MUCH TO MAKE A MAN HAPPY AS ANY WOMAN.

*name removed* Cincinnati 10, Ohio Age 45
I LOVE MUSIC AND TELEVISION AND I CAN COOK AS WELL AS THE BEST. I'M A GOOD
HOUSEKEEPER AND I KNOW I COULD ENJOY MY MONEY MORE IF I HAD A HELPER TO
TREAT ME NICE.

*name removed* Snyder, Tex. Age 39
I HAVE MONEY OF MY OWN AND I DON'T EXPECT A MAN TO BE A MAGICIAN AND BUILD
ME A CASTLE. I NEVER MAKE ANY DEMANDS ON ANYBODY. BUT I'M LIKE SO MANY
WOMEN NOWADAYS. JUST LONESOME.

KEEP UP WITH THE LISTS FOR BEST RESULTS.

Found in "The Films of Greta Garbo" compiled by Michael Conway. Published by Citadel Press, 1963.

I apologize for the capital letters, I scanned these in and used the text recognition.



-Click to enlarge photos-