Episode 61: Served Well
Plenty of antics occur both on and off the court at the world’s oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament – Wimbledon. Will the Queen be amused, or will she declare off with their heads?
At 1931 Wimbledon, young Americans Frank Shields and Sidney Wood rise to prominence both on and off the tennis courts. Only after one incident, they find themselves apologizing to Queen Mary before continuing their dominance in Men’s Singles.
Archival music provided by Past Perfect Vintage Music, www.pastperfect.com.
Additional links:
Monday June 27th, 2022 – As The Money Burns featured at Goodpods & OSSA Collective.
-Goodpods – goodpods.app.link/4PeLmbBvAqb
-OSSA Collective – https://ossacollective.com/
Publish Date: June 23, 2022
Length: 22:59
Opening Music: My Heart Belongs to Daddy by Billy Cotton, Album The Great British Dance Bands
Section 1 Music: You Hit The Spot by Carroll Gibbons, Album The Age of Style – Hits from the 30s
Section 2 Music: Hep! Hep! Jumpin’ Jive by Nat Gonella & His New Georgians, Album Dance Crazy
Section 3 Music: The Younger Generation by Ray Noble, Album The Great Dance Bands Play Hits of the 30s
End Music: My Heart Belongs to Daddy by Billy Cotton, Album The Great British Dance Bands
STRAWBERRY RECIPES 1931
STRAWBERRY DREAMS
1lb strawberries
¼ lb castor sugar
1 gill orange juice
Cream
Hull the berries and sprinkle the sugar
over them and stand for an hour. Pour
the orange juice over them and stand again for a short time. Half fill some small glasses with them and put a portion of whipped and sweetened cream on top of the fruit and place a fine strawberry on tip. Serve very cold.
STRAWBERRY BAVAROISE
1 oz. gelatine
¼ cupful cold water
1 cup of hot strawberry pulp
1 tbsp lemon juice
½ cup sugar
1 cup whipped cream
Soak the gelatine in the water for a
short time and then dissolve it in the hot strawberry pulp. Add sugar and lemon juice and beat until the sugar is melted. Stand in cool place until it is about to set, then fold the cream lightly. Turn into wetted mould and leave until set.
STRAWBERRY SALAD
1 lb strawberries
1 small tin of pineapple rings
1 gill pineapple syrup
1 tsp powdered gelatine
Drain the pineapple rings and fill the
centers with a fine berry and arrange the remainder on the rings. Melt the gelatine in the syrup and when cold, but not set, pour over the heaped fruit, and leave to set. Decorate with angelica leaves.
STRAWBERRY FLUFFS
1 lb strawberries
2 egg whites
Sugar
Whipped cream
Mash the berries and mix in sugar to taste, whip the egg whites until very stiff and fold carefully into the mashed fruit. Fill in the individual glasses with the mixture and serve with whipped cream on top.
STRAWBERRY COCKTAIL (1929)
1 ½ lbs strawberries
3 lemons
3 oranges
3 oz or 4 oz of castor sugar
3 quarts water
Mash the strawberries, add the juice of
the lemons and oranges. Now add the sugar
and water, and leave for 2 hours in cool place, then strain. Keep it on ice until required for
serving. Serve in well chilled stem glasses
w a small ripe strawberry.
STRAWBERRY SHORT CAKE
4 oz butter
4 oz castor sugar
4 whites of eggs
½ lb flour
1 tsp baking power
1 gill water
flavoring
Cream butter and sugar, whip whites of eggs very stiffly and sieve flour and baking powder together. Mix half the flour to the butter and sugar and add the water, next half the white of egg and remainder of the flour. Add any flavoring liked and fold in the rest of the egg whites. Divide into two sandwich tins that are well greased and bake from 25 to 30 minutes in moderate oven. When ready turn out, and when cold sandwich together with generous lawyer of mashed sweetened strawberries. Cover the top of cake with more fruit, and when ready to serve pile up with whipped and sweetened cream and decorate with a few fine berries.
STRAWBERRY TAPIOCA
1 lb strawberries
1 cup tapioca
1 pint water
Take a cupful of tapioca and wash, then cover with cold water and stand all night. Next day put in a pan and add one pint boiling water and simmer until clear, then add a pound of strawberries and cook for a few minutes longer. Sweeten to taste and leave until cold. Turn into glass dish, pour some cream on top, and decorate with few fine berries.
AS THE MONEY BURNS
Podcast by Nicki Woodard
Episode 061 – Served Well
00:00
[Music – My Heart Belongs to Daddy by Billy Cotton, Album The Great British Dance Bands]
AS THE MONEY BURNS is an original podcast by Nicki Woodard. Based on historical research, this is a deep exploration into what happened to a set of actual heirs and heiresses to some of America’s most famous fortunes when the Great Depression hits.
Each episode has three primary sections. Section 1 is a narrative story. Section 2 goes deeper into the historical facts. Section 3 focuses on contemporary, emotional, and personal connections.
00:29
Story Recap
Stakes run high in the game of love. Huntington Hartford marries a dentist’s daughter, Louise Van Alen weds her penniless prince, and Barbara Hutton dances with the eligible Prince of Wales.
Now back to AS THE MONEY BURNS
Title
Served Well
00:48
[Music Fade Out]
Episode Tag
Plenty of antics occur both on and off the court at the world’s oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament – Wimbledon. Will the Queen be amused, or will she declare off with their heads?
01:04
[Music – You Hit The Spot by Carroll Gibbons, Album The Age of Style – Hits from the 30s]
Section 1 – Story
[Music Fade Out]
01:16
A tennis ball spins in the air, when a wooden racket slams it across the court. The game is in play. Tough, fast, fierce.
Long limbed tennis sensation Frank Shields uses his strength, speed, and power to overcome his opponent. With a mean right backhand, the 20 year old out jumps, twists, turns, sprints, and otherwise dominates his older opponent. Stamina and endurance being other key traits. He is a dark horse contender whose good looks and good-natured personality are getting as noticed as much as his serves.
01:52
Currently, the number 2 American star player has increased visibility since defeating the former long running American champion Bill Tilden only last year. Frank has made it to Europe representing America for the international Davis Cup and is now causing headlines during the most prestigious tennis tournament of all – Wimbledon. He quickly trounces his first round opponent veteran Dr. DBP Spence from South Africa then takes down British favorite Bunny Austin in the second round.
02:23
In both singles and doubles, Frank rises in the international ranks along with his teammate and former Roxbury classmate Sidney Wood. Sidney already has the distinction as the youngest Wimbledon competitor when he played at age 15 in 1927. While they definitely have their individual star power on the singles matches, they synch well as doubles partners too.
For these two tournaments Davis Cup and Wimbledon, Frank commits himself to the sport and avoids most of the distractive partying he can so easily enjoy. The presence of his fiancée Billie Tenney and chaperone Maud Barger-Wallach help keep his focus.
03:00
However the jolly schoolboy will never be completely innocent.
The prestigious Wimbledon has several distinct characteristics. One being the ultra restrictive fashion rules of white attire amongst players. A bright and seering sight on the brilliant green surrounding lawns for spectators as well as the grass courts. To shade from the sun or rain as has already troubled a few games, tents are scattered about for the nearly two-week event. Another key restriction is the purely amateur status of all competitors.
03:34
After a grueling set of morning matches, Frank and Sidney take a break and walk around when they discover an unfamiliar new tent. Curious, they peek inside the otherwise empty tent and spot a large silver bowl filled with lush, beautiful strawberries. The red fruit beckons the hungry athletes for a simple taste.
They are amateurs, and Frank at least does not come from money. They are hungry, and it seems like such a waste for this fruit to spoil. Maybe they will taste just one or two. That wouldn’t hurt anyone, would it?
They stare. The smell entices them to eat one just one. Finally, who knows which first succumbs and takes a bite. The burst of flavor is indeed wonderful. The other hesitates then takes a bite too. Then another and another. Their hunger takes over as they devour a large portion of the bowl. They try not to get the red juice on their white clothes.
They lick their sticky fingers and hightail out of there before anyone catches them.
04:48
Later in the day, Frank and Sidney prepare in the locker room for their next set of matches. They laugh and joke as they jostle with other players. They notice a group of men walking around and questioning everyone.
Eventually security approaches their group asking about strawberries. A strange question that the other players shrug off. Frank and Sidney look at each other even more confused. They ask innocently, why does it matter over something like fruit?
Then they realize this isn’t regular security. This is a pretty heavy investigation. The detective replies, “That question is a matter of highest security concerns.”
The strawberries were in a nice silver bowl, but still it was an empty tent. A nicely furnished tent but this is Wimbledon after all. Nothing seemed too extraordinary.
The detectives continue to question multiple people. Could this actually be Scotland Yard? To the side, Frank and Sidney immediately confess they are the guilty culprits.
Then Frank and Sidney hear the inconceivable. Those were the Queen’s strawberries.
06:11
An hour later, Sidney and Frank return to the royal tent. There sitting next to another bowl of strawberries, Queen Mary waits their presence. They bow awkwardly as they approach Her Royal Highness. With schoolboy charm and nervousness, they each apologize profusely to the Queen. She can barely contain her stoicism in suppressing her amusement. The young good looking American athletes are forgiven of their transgression and released to continue their matches without any further embarrassment or public spectacle.
The American doubles partners go on to beat the British doubles partners in their next round. The Queen watches them ever so intensely and somewhat amused. It feels a bit like the olden days of jousting. The American boys are exceedingly polite when their eyes meet with the Queen again and again.
07:08
A day or so later, in a bitter semifinals match, Frank battles the crowd favorite French ace Jean Borotra. Frank’s energetic prowess wears down his competitor, who can barely keep up. During the eighth game, Frank rushes forward, twists his leg, and falls at the net. Instead of retreating to recuperate to the side, Borotra puts a coat around Frank’s shoulders and massages the younger player’s leg. Borotra offers to continue the match later.
From the Royal Box, Queen Mary insists the doctors check on the young athlete.
After a few minutes, Frank gets up and hobbles along the sidelines. It’s his serve next, and he’s got a killer serve that could win him this game. He opts to continue playing. He makes the next 4 points purely off his serves. He regains his momentum.
The 12,000 person crowd goes crazy for Shields, now cheering him on to his victory.
08:09
For the Men’s Singles final, Frank will play against teammate Sidney in an All-American match. Continuing the legend of Bill Tilden before them.
A day later and before the singles final, Frank and Sidney play in another semi-finals doubles match. It becomes clear Frank’s leg is getting worse as the games play out. He has badly torn his ligament. Alas, the boys lose their doubles round preventing an All-American contest in the doubles final.
The American officials decide that Frank will not play in the singles finals against teammate Sidney Wood. Frank needs to heal in order to return to the Davis Cup matches. America has clearly won the Wimbledon Men’s Singles so they must ensure to keep the competitive edge for the other international competition the Davis Cup.
While Frank recovers from his injuries, he receives several invitations to finish watching the matches from the Queen’s Royal Box.
09:12
Sidney Wood receives the trophy for Men’s Singles. The only uncontested Wimbledon winner not to play in a finals match. It is a hollow victory.
Yet ever the sportsman, Sidney triumphantly walks the trophy over to their chaperone Maud Barger-Wallach. He gives her a kiss on the cheek and requests that she holds onto the trophy until he plays Frank in another similar lawn tennis tournament match when at that time the winner will receive the trophy.
It will take 3 more years until that day arrives…
09:51
[Music – Hep! Hep! Jumpin’ Jive by Nat Gonella & His New Georgians, Album Dance Crazy]
Section 2 – History & Historiography
[Music Fade Out]
10:10
The origins of tennis date back to the 12th Century with players hitting a ball with their hands likely inside a courtyard. It was not until the 16th Century that rackets came into use. As the game progressed and grew in popularity with European nobility, indoor courts with hard floors of wood or stone became more common. The rectangular design of modern tennis courts started in 1875. In 1876, courts went back outside and onto grass surface. Hence the rise of several tournaments involving the new sport. In the 1940s, there is a reversal to hard courts but outside, and by 1956 the first clay tennis court debuts at the Gallia Tennis Club in Cannes, France.
10:56
Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament and considered the most prestigious by many. The inaugural competition occurred on July 9th, 1877, to be held over 5 days, however the finals was delayed due to 4 days of heavy rain and held on July 19th. Spencer Gore defeated William Marshall in 48 minutes with scores of 6-1, 6-2, and 6-4.
The only time Wimbledon has been cancelled was during World War I from 1915-1918, World War II from 1940-1945, and during the first wave of the pandemic in 2020. One bomb did hit the competitor’s stand of the Centre Court on October 11th, 1940, and was not repaired before the 1946 tournament resumed.
11:42
As for the other international tennis events, the US Open started in 1881 in Newport, Rhode Island. The French Open started in 1891 and opened up to non-French clubs in 1925. The Australian Open began in 1905.
Wimbledon began as a Men’s Singles event but by 1882 Ladies’ Singles and Men’s Doubles events are added. In 1913, Ladies’ Doubles and Mixed Doubles are added.
The first black player Bertrand Milbourne Clark from Jamaica competed at Wimbledon first in 1924 and again in 1930. Elsewhere in 1927 during a royal tour of the British Empire, Prince Albert – the Duke of York – future King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II’s father partnered in a doubles match with Clark, which was a very unusual display of equality among the races at that time.
12:33
Before 1921, the prior year’s Wimbledon winners would play the final challenge round, and thus many winners would have successive years as they were well rested while their opponents competed up until then. But by 1922, even the past winners had to compete in all rounds becoming a grand slam tournament. All events are single elimination rounds progressing to the finals, except the Gentlemen’s, Senior Gentlemen’s Doubles, and the Ladies’ Invitation Doubles which are round-robin tournaments. The tournament was strictly for those of amateur rank. In 1968, the rules were changed for professionals to join.
13:11
Wimbledon starts either the last Monday in June or the first Monday in July and goes for two weeks. Wimbledon also starts two weeks after the Queen’s Club Championship — it will be at the Queen’s Club Championship in 1934 London when Sidney Wood and Frank Shields will finally have their match to settle the 1931 walkover at Wimbledon.
As mentioned in Section One, Sidney Wood is the youngest male competitor 15 in 1927 to play Men’s Singles and Doubles events, the third youngest winner at 19 for the 1931 trophy, and will later be the only finals winner to not have played the final set for the win. For the 1934 Queen’s Club showdown, Sidney wins and finally takes home the 1931 trophy given back to him by Maud Barger-Wallach about 6 months later. Later in life, Sidney would design, invent, and patent a synthetic playing surface for indoor courts known as Supreme Court.
14:13
Originally, tennis games could last for long extended periods. Thankfully, another Wimbledon player and a recurring character in our story changed that. Jimmy Van Alen, referred by his middle name Henry in our series. He plays at Wimbledon in 1922, 1924, & 1925, as well as the French Open in 1927 and the US Open in 1931.
Tired of the endless nonstop games ruining his cocktail hour, he developed the Van Alen Streamlined Scoring System or VASSS, a scoring and tie-break system. The VASSS is first used in the US Open in 1970. Before that, matches could last all day long. Now at Wimbledon, the game automatically goes into tiebreak at point 6-all unless it is the fifth match or third match where a two game lead must be reached. As of 2019, tiebreak is instituted in the finals match only at 12-all.
15:16
Two days after Jimmy Van Alen, aka Henry, died, on July 5th, 1991, Stefan Edberg lost to Michael Stich in a tiebreak during a Wimbledon semifinal. Upon learning of Van Alen’s death, Edberg stated, “If he hadn’t lived, Michael and I might still be out there playing.” The longest Wimbledon match occurred in 2010 between American John Isner and French Nicolas Mahut during the first round, lasting 3 days spanning 11 hours, 5 minutes of play, a total of 183 games and 2,198 strokes.
15:53
The long running Wimbledon has several characteristic features including the grass tennis courts and the strict all white dress code for competitors. The tournament generally lasts two weeks between June and July. Rain has caused repeat issues, and there have been attempts to provide a retractable covering over the main courts since 2019.
Another long Wimbledon tournament tradition, spectators eating strawberries and cream.
16:18
Strawberries are first mentioned in ancient Rome for medicinal use. In the 14th Century, the French began cultivating strawberries in their gardens. From 1364 to 1380, French King Charles V had 1200 strawberry plants in his royal garden. By 15th Century, monks would add wild strawberries to their illuminated manuscripts, as well as other western European miniatures would also feature the plant. The whole plant would be used to treat depressive illnesses.
The garden strawberry originated from Brittany, France in the 1750s. A cross from the eastern North American fragaria virginiana and Chile’s fragaria chiloenis. In the court of King Henry VIII, statesman and bishop Thomas Wolsey is first known to combine strawberries and cream. By 1758, instructions for growing and harvesting strawberries appear in writing.
17:11
During the 1931 Wimbledon tournament research, I have run across a few strawberry recipes featured in newspapers. I will include a few on the various social media and the website for As The Money Burns.
Good sportsmanship, competition, and tradition are all emblems of Wimbledon. If only the rest of the world would be so orderly and genial during the battles over hearts and fortunes.
17:37
[Music – The Younger Generation by Ray Noble, Album The Great Dance Bands Play Hits of the 30s]
Section 3 – Contemporary & Personal Relevance
[Music Fade Out]
17:50
This is yet another story I have been dying to tell for a very long time. I discovered it in 2016 when Frank Shields kept appearing in the story of the other heirs and heiresses especially John Jacob Astor VI aka Jakey and Huntington Hartford. Over time, I fleshed out Frank’s story and reviewed his biography BIGGER THAN LIFE written by his second son. It not only had the strawberry story, but two interesting photos. There is a picture of Frank and Barbara Hutton with his first son – Brooke Shields’ father. Another photo features Frank and Sidney Wood with an unidentified male — who I recognize as none other than William Van Alen, aka Sam – brother to both Jimmy Van Alen aka Henry and Princess Louise Van Alen Mdivani.
18:40
Frank Shields is not an heir but his athletic prowess and likeable attitude brought him into the circle of elites. Frank was capable of doing what many in these tales struggle to do – have true and lasting friendships. He was liked for his personality and his acceptance of others. As mentioned in the biography, Frank and Sidney will have an ongoing friendship throughout their lives and long after their tennis careers.
19:06
Now we have so much more the cult of celebrity with our sports stars. We can enjoy their performance on the battlefield. But rarely if ever do we see the glimpse of comradery and sportsmanship we see in this moment.
As great as it is to have triumphal moments, the synchronicity and teammate experience can often enhance the enduring memories of these moments.
Most of us will never compete at the level of Olympics or Wimbledon elite status. For most of us, it is the comradery and friendship in our childhood, school, and occasionally adult activities that make them so enduring. I always enjoyed athletics more informally playing with the boys whether kickball on the elementary school playground, ultimate frisbee during a summer high school program, or soccer on the lake during grad school.
19:53
Even my biggest and most enjoyable triumphs have not been solo experiences. The high school competition History Fair where I first developed my skills for this podcast was not a solo endeavor, but forever is embedded in my heart due to my team members.
Back then, we didn’t get the big win we wanted and worked so hard for, but I have always valued how much from the mentoring teachers, the fellow students whether partners, competitors, or supporters, parents (especially mending my relationship with my father), and a very dedicated principal helped us all develop to our best potential through teamwork and cooperation which pays off decades later in our different life and career endeavors.
20:34
But unfortunately, there can be other binds that can bring one down. Especially as our main heirs and heiresses don’t always have the right team surrounding them.
20:59
Speaking of great teams, I want to acknowledge the wonderful contribution to As The Money Burns by Past Perfect Vintage Music. Their amazing digitally remastered collection from the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s is featured in every episode and is one of the most universally appraised aspect of production. Their music highlights the transitions between sections and enhances the mood of the story. Past Perfect’s music is also featured in 2010 the King’s Speech, the Oscar winning performance where Colin Firth as Prince Albert aka Bertie – Duke of York – King George VI overcomes stuttering before leading Britain through World War II. Want to hear more of their multiple album selections? Go to www.pastperfect.com.
21:46
This upcoming Monday June 27th, As The Money Burns will be featured via Goodpods and the OSSA Collective. Check social media and the website for more details. Goodpods is a podcast app bringing together communities of listeners and creators. The OSSA Collective is dedicated to helping female podcasters expand their reach.
Hook
22:08
[Music – My Heart Belongs to Daddy by Billy Cotton, Album The Great British Dance Bands]
Next when we return to AS THE MONEY BURNS…
Despite what outsiders might think, family fortunes are not guaranteed. One heir finds himself bankrupt, divorced, disowned, and potentially disinherited.
Until then…
Credits
22:28
AS THE MONEY BURNS is an original podcast written, produced, and voiced by Nicki Woodard, based on historical research. Archival music has been provided by Past Perfect Vintage Music, check out their website at www.pastperfect.com.
Please come visit us at As The Money Burns via Goodpods, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Transcripts, timeline, episode guide, and character bios are available at asthemoneyburns.com.
22:56
THE END.