The Babe w/ Graffis & Winchell?

[Anthony Gholz]

To All:

I recently was culling my golf book collection, just to make room for a one or two more (OK 30 more…actually 45…errr).  Anyway out of 60s book on Patty berg dropped this photo of The Babe.  It appears to be a professional photo with markings on the back indicating The Babe and perhaps Walter Winchell and Herb Graffis.





Graffis was the founder of several golf magazines Chicago Golf 1923, Golfdom 1927, and Golfing 1937.  Here is the only identified picture of Graffis I could fine from his obit in Golf World.



The book was a gift from my father and it appears he found it used for $6.50.  If this photo really is The Babe with Graffis and Winchell it would be a nice period piece.  I would also like to identify the trophy and date the tournament if possible.  Its not her US Open trophy after her first cancer surgery.

Please let me know if anyone has a thought here.

Thanks Anthony

[Keith Phillips]

Great photo, but the subject is not who I expected when I read 'The Babe'...Babe, maybe, but not THE Babe!

[Anthony Gholz]

Keith:

This is a golf blog….not base-a-ball!

Glad you like the photo.

Anthony

[BCrosby]

Anthony -

Why Walter Winchell in the photo? Odd that a political columnist would take part in an award ceremony.

Bob

[Peter Pallotta]

A -

I did a quick internet search and it revealed a letter from Babe's husband in early 1951 confirming the Babe's participation is something called The Walter Winchell Open (perhaps taking place in Florida)...but then that didn't lead to any other links/clues.

Judging from Walter's looks, the picture could have been taken when he was in his mid 50s, which would make the timing about right (and with his career in decline in the early 50s, he probably was seeking some good pubilicity).

P

[Anthony Gholz]

Thanks P:

I was not aware of Winchell's ties to golf.  Here is another pic of Walter, perhaps with the same overcoat.  Note the lapel button.  The hat, of course, was his signature.



The Babe died September 27, 1956 of cancer, so that sets an end date.  I'd originally hoped that this was at the US open she won after her first cancer operation.  That would have, perhaps, made it more special, but the trophy does not match the open trophy.  her looks make me believe this is after she discovered the cancer, so I'm assuming 1953-56.  I just don't know.  I also would like a confirmation from a second source that this is, in fact, Winchell and Graffis as I believe it is.

Anthony

[Cliff Walston]

I grew up in Beaumont, and this is very cool to see.  There is a neat little museum dedicated to the Babe there.  Perhaps someone there could be of assistance.

http://www.babedidriksonzaharias.org/

Cliff

[Anthony Gholz]

They don't appear to be active and have not responded, but I'll keep trying.  Thanks

[Cliff Walston]

That is a shame.  Was worth a shot I guess.

[Tim_Cronin]

I don't know if that's Graffis or not. I blew up the photo as best I could, and the trophy says Open Golf Tournament. But that's before Open? That would give us a clue.

[john_stiles]

It could have been a win at one of the number of events sponsored by Weathervane Company in 1950-1953.

The women in the background seem to have an image that might be logo for a company on what appears to be a tournament ticket.  Have not found the old logo for Weathervane (womens clothing). 

As to the other person, this image does also have some semblance to Aivin Handmacher who led Weathervane. 

Fred Corcoran said  that the  Weathervane Company put the " LPGA into business " though Wilson was also a big and earlier promoter.  Corcoran helped start the LPGA known today, and represented The Babe.

[Brent Hutto]

Alvin Handmacher himself



And with Louise Suggs



Here's a partially effaced "Weathervane" logo (on an ashtray of all things).



The two ladies in the background, as John Stiles points out, are almost certainly holding tickets/badges with the same "Weathervane" logo on them.

[Anthony Gholz]

Brent:

Thanks so much.  Sharp eyes.  I certainly knew nothing about the Weathervane event so didn't have any idea, though I could see the logo.  The Alvin Handmacher photo is also very convincing.  Did Alvin support Winchell's tournament or the reverse?  I've attached a photo of Mrz. Z with the 1954 US Open trophy.  This may help with determining her age at the time and that the trophy's don't match.

Anthony

[Brent Hutto]

The list of her Weathervane tournament wins (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_Country_144_Hole_Weathervane) are as follows:

Cleveland and Pebble Beach in 1950

Meridian Hills (Indianapolis) and Lakewood (Dallas) in 1951

Miami in 1952

She was also the 144-hole Weathervane overall winner in 1950.

[Anthony Gholz]

I should have thanked Tim and John as well.  I also re-looked at the back identification and the upside down pencil  lettering.  To me it clearly  reads GH, Babe and Winchell in order.  I had figure maybe someone simple transposed the HG.  So I guess the next question is whether Alvin H was a G as well.

I just saw Brent's next post.  Thanks Brent.

Anthony

[Brent Hutto]

By the way, if the "Walter" is really Winchell then my money's on the 1952 Miami Weathervane. Feburary 17 would be while Winchell was still down in Miami Beach for the winter and I think it much less likely he'd be at a golf tournament in Dallas or Indianapolis any time of year...

[Jim_Kennedy]

By the way, if the "Walter" is really Winchell then my money's on the 1952 Miami Weathervane. Feburary 17 would be while Winchell was still down in Miami Beach for the winter and I think it much less likely he'd be at a golf tournament in Dallas or Indianapolis any time of year...

Brent,
Winchell and Handmacher were associated at WW's event also
https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cytVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kj0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=2237%2C5562846

[Peter Pallotta]

Yes - I think Jim is getting very close. The letter I mentioned seeing was from the Babe's husband to her manager Fred Corcoran, from January '51, saying that she would play in the "Winchell" tournament; and in the same archive (a site that sells signed memorabilia) there are dozens of more letters to Corcoran, at least one more of which references the Babe playing at the Damon Runyan Cancer Fund tournament and asking that Fred let Winchell know that she'd be there.

Peter

[Jim_Kennedy]

Brent,
They wouldn't be wearing coats in Miami in February.  

Either Indianapolis or Dallas. April event in Dallas, May event in Indianapolis. Is it cooler in April in Dallas than it is in May in Indianapolis?

  Plus, 1951 is the same year of WW's inaugural event.

Ed. - I was looking at some temperatures for the events Babe won and the ones with coat weather were at Pebble Beach in 1950 with highs of 59 and 54 for the two day event, and 60 and 63 in 1951.

[Neil Regan]

Friday March 23 was in 1951 and 1956.

Pretty sure this was for the April 1951 Issue of The Golfer.
Here is a link to a copy for sale.
There is a full page ad for the Weathervane Tournament, showing the trophy and saying Babe D. won it in 1950.
So I'm guessing the photo is 1950, published the next year prior to the tournament.
The Golfer, April, 1951


Also, I think the initials on the back are AH, not GH.
Capital A, cursive, something that I do not think is taught anymore ?

[Brent Hutto]

Neil's analysis sounds very convincing to me.

[Jim_Kennedy]

Neil's analysis sounds very convincing to me.

It sure does. The weather in 1950 was too warm in Cleveland, but just right for coats at Pebble. The weather at the event she won in May is unknown, unless someone knows which of the "Various" courses she won at, but it's May 21st date would suggest warmer weather. 

[Brent Hutto]

Jim,

The "various" indicates that an overall trophy was presented to the lowest aggregate score in that year's events. In 1950 Babe won the Pebble Beach and Cleveland 36-hole tournaments and also was presented the 1950 144 Hole Weathervane trophy for lowest total score over the entire 144-hole series.

Kind of like a shorter, simpler, early in the season FedEx Cup you might say.

[Jim_Kennedy]

Then that leaves Pebble Beach as the only course with the proper weather.

[Dan Kelly]

Friday March 23 was in 1951 and 1956.

Pretty sure this was for the April 1951 Issue of The Golfer.
Here is a link to a copy for sale.
There is a full page ad for the Weathervane Tournament, showing the trophy and saying Babe D. won it in 1950.
So I'm guessing the photo is 1950, published the next year prior to the tournament.
The Golfer, April, 1951

Neil -- You might be right -- but I wonder:

Why would the date 3/23/51 be on the back of the picture? The date on the back of the picture would generally be either (1) the date it was taken, or (2) the date it was to be published. March 23, 1951 doesn't line up with either of those things, according to your analysis.

That issue of The Golfer intrigues me. It's the most gender-mixed golf-magazine masthead (and Table of Contents) I've ever seen.

It intrigued me enough to buy the magazine. If I find other things to share, I will do so after it arrives.

Dan