Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, August 8, 1945

Well honey I finally got to see one of the big time shows today “Information Please.” They had announced at Reveille that it was to be this afternoon but I had been notified last night I was to report to Bn to work for one week at Zell Am Sea so I didn’t get at all enthused. I raised hell about going down there because I prefer to stay with the Company and after all, my rating came from the Company. Cooper also talked to Lt. Hunter about it as there is only four of us pulling C.Q. at the present time until Insull and Zelnick get back from pass. They finally decided to send Mendenhall in my place. What burns me up is the fact Co “A” is considered the screwed up Co. by the Bn, yet when they want anyone to help them out, they always call for some one from our Co. Right now they have about ten of our men down there and even took our mess sergeant as an instructor to teach an eight week course. Enough for that. Jessen and I decided about 10:30 to go see the show. The train was to to leave at 11:15 and we had to eat and walk about six blocks to the station in that short time. We had to hurry like the devil but made the train okay. It was a beautiful trip up thru   the valley and in the same direction we went for the Ice Cave. The train was pulled by an electric engine and they are really nice. They start and stop without a single jerk. Practically all their engines over here are electric and actually I think Germany and Austria are further advanced in electrification than many sections of the states. They of course don’t have as many appliances as we. On the trip we passed through one mountain by a tunnel through solid rock. It must have been three or four miles long. We arrived at our destination St. Johann about 1:30 and then had to walk about a mile to an open hay meadow at the foot of the mountain. They had a stage built there with radio loud speakers and all. The Rainbow Dance Band played a couple of numbers and then the guest artists arrived. They had their full cast including Clifton Fadiman, Franklin Adams, John Kiernon and Beatrice Lillie and Reginald Gardner (the movie actor) sat in with them on the board. They also had Norman Hackwell who accompanied Bea Lillie on the piano while she sang several numbers. She is really funny and does have a nice voice. Gardner put on a little skit and another fellow by the name of Conn played a few selections on the piano. After that the “Information Please” part started and it was supposedly run exactly as   they do in a broadcast. Kiernan and Adams certainly have brilliant minds and a remarkable memory. The show lasted about 1 ½ hours and every one enjoyed it. The only thing to mar the afternoon was the fact it rained about 30 minutes just before the show started. After the show the Red Cross girls came out and served doughnuts and lemonade to all. We then walked over caught the train and got back about 6:00 PM.

It is raining again tonite so suppose we are in for another siege of four or five days. I wish we could have some of the sunshine and heat you have been having, not in full strength of course.

Well darling its time for bed so will close —