Author: Erica Drayton Writes

#085 What Good is a Gal Without a Guy (Skirts Ahoy, 1952)

We love whenever military men come round for a visit. They eat and drink for free. But what we don’t see often are women dressed in uniform. So, when three walk in, everyone notices. Present company included.

“Ladies, any requests? My fingers are itchin’ to play somethin’ just for ya.” I couldn’t quite place the colors but blood red seemed an odd choice.

“We’re just dying to sink our teeth into some fellas. Play whatever will bring them our way.” Lieutenant Drew winked at me and I smiled back cautiously.

There are some branches of the military I don’t question.

#084 Take Back Your Mink (Guys and Dolls, 1955)

“…I can do card tricks…” She answered, though rather timidly. The act we had just seen was really quite impressive and she knew it.

On Tuesday afternoons we hold auditions to find new talent. But shaky Ingrid seemed to be out of her element. That is, until she was bold enough to perform her card trick on Vinny.

Many womenn and men have crumpled just being near him. But not Ingrid. She was determined to impress us all.

And like me, he realized her true talent was wasted being a magician when she could earn twice as much catching thieves.

#083 Ol’ Man River (Showboat, 1936)

I was a panhandler. Scraping just enough to pay a quarter to Reems, the owner of a halfway house at the stockyards. It was more of a shack than a house but that’s not the point of this ‘ere story.

All I owned at the time, besides the clothes on my back, was a baby piano my momma scraped together and gifted me on my fifteenth birthday before she sent me into the world to fend for myself. 

Vinny heard me playin’ one night and I was hired on the spot. I’ve lived at The Nouveau Revue Nightclub ever since.

#082 I Don’t Care (In the Good Old Summertime, 1949)

“Sam here? Send him my way would ya.” Pin stripe suit. Clean shaven. Walkin’ money. “And a martini.”

There’s only one Sam I know and she ain’t no fella. I had a feelin’ Mr. Pin Stripe would be in for a surprise.

She came up behind me and with her hands over my eyes whispered in my ear, “guess who?” She smelled of bourbon and peaches. Two of my favorite things.

“Watch out with that one, Sam. He thinks you’re a fella.”

“I wish!” She walked away, and I admired the way she wore a man’s suit better than me.

#081 What a Swell Party This Is (High Society, 1956)

“She’s checking you out, Billy. You should ask for her number.” A couple of boys coming of age. My guess? It’s Billy’s birthday and his so called friends are ready to make him a man.

Billy shakes his head. Smart kid. His friends? Not so much. One of them gets Cass’s attention then he reaches over to pinch her bottom before she can back away.

She grabs his drink and throws it in his face.

“Trouble, Cass?” I ask as she places her tray on my piano.

“Nothin’ you can’t handle, suga,” she answers with a smile and a wink.

#080 Bosom Buddies (Mame, 1974)

“Dinner at five. Evening news at six while reading the paper till sunset, then straight to bed,” Donna Jones said. Two ladies sit huddled together, nursing drinks so long the ice melted.

“No…” Sheryl Tiegs, her best friend of fourteen years, makes the universal sign with her hand for ‘you know…’ and Donna shakes her head.

“Never on a weeknight.”

“Same!” They both giggle and clink glasses.

“I’ll sneak out to your place and leave the backdoor open. Kitchen knife on the counter for you.”

“Same!” They snort simultaneously. The best laid plans decided over drinks happen every day here.

#079 My Baby Loves Me (Viva Las Vegas, 1964)

I wish I could dance. But I’ve got two left feet. Ever since I was born my momma always said I would be a better musician than a singer or dancer. My momma was always right and a great judge of character. It’s a gift she passed on to me.

For instance, I could tell by the way Hank wasn’t tending bar that his sister, Harper, was expected at any moment. She knew just how to push his buttons. Asking for money or alcohol. 

Then, she walked in on the arm of some man and immediately hit the dance floor.

#078 Paper Doll (Two Girls and a Sailer, 1942)

“Ladies and gentlemen, the Nouveau is proud to present, Ms. L—”

“Watch out, here comes a Darkie,” a man formerly known as Brat (because he always orders bratwurst whenever he comes to the club), decides to whisper under his breath. Except, it was loud enough for everyone to hear.

I glanced over at Vinny who nodded to a couple of gentlemen he employs to deal with men like Brat, who, before he could protest his innocence was gone. Leaving behind the muffled cries of a forgotten man.

The lights went down, one spotlight, as a heavenly voice began to sing.