Betty MacDonald Forum - Betty MacDonald Fan Club and Betty MacDonald Society -
Fans and Friends of Betty MacDonald, author of The Egg and I and The Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle Series
Don't miss Wolfgang Hampel's fascinating Betty MacDonald biography and his very witty interviews with Betty MacDonald's family and friends.
we
are going to publish a new Betty MacDonald fan club CD with Betty
MacDonald's sister Alison Bard Burnett and Wolfgang Hampel talking about
the 'real' Kettles.
Alison Bard Burnett knew them in person and shares unique memories.
You can read find new updated fascinating details of 'The Kettles' Million Dollar Egg' by Wolfgang Hampel.
The new CD will be available in a few days.
More info are coming soon.
Look at the book cover, please.
If you know the persons you can see send us mail, please and you can win the new Ma and Pa Kettle CD.
Good luck!
Wolfgang Hampel's Betty MacDonald and Ma and Pa Kettle biography and Betty
MacDonald interviews have fans in 40 countries.
Ma and Pa Kettle became the featured characters in a
series of popular, light comedic movies in the 1940s and 1950s. The
movies revolved around the absurd misadventures of the Kettle clan.
Pa (Franklin Kettle) (played by Percy Kilbride) is a gentle,
slow-speaking, slow-thinking and lazy man. His only talents appear to be
avoiding work and winning contests. Ma (Phoebe Kettle) (played by
Marjorie Main) is larger, raucous, more ambitious and smarter than Pa,
but not by much, and can easily be fooled. She is content with her role
as mother to a small army of children on their ramshackle farm. At the
end of the first film in the series, Pa Kettle wins a modern home that
the family moves into. As the series continued, various reasons were
devised to have the family relocate to the "old place", sometimes for
extended periods of time.
Much of the humor comes from the preposterous situations the Kettles
find themselves in, such as Pa being mistaken for a wealthy
industrialist or being jailed after he accidentally causes race horses
to eat feed laced with concrete. The Kettles first appeared in
supporting roles in The Egg and I, starring Fred MacMurray and Claudette
Colbert. After that they starred in a series of their own movies.
Main and Kilbride also appeared together
in the 1948 Universal film Feudin', Fussin' And A-Fightin'. The movie
also starred Donald O'Connor and Joe Besser. Many have mistaken this
movie to be a Kettle film. Main played Maribel Matthews and Kilbride
played Billy Caswell.
Kilbride retired after making Ma and Pa Kettle at
Waikiki. The Pa Kettle character did not appear in The Kettles in the
Ozarks. Arthur Hunnicutt played Pa's brother Sedgewick Kettle in that
movie and in The Kettles on Old MacDonald's Farm, the last Kettle movie,
Parker Fennelly played Pa Kettle.
Many Betty MacDonald - and Wolfgang Hampel fans are very interested in a Wolfgang Hampel CD and DVD with his
very funny poems and stories.
Betty
MacDonald fan Club honor member, artist and writer Letizia Mancino
shares her delightful story THE SECOND PARADISE.
Enjoy the brilliant translation by Betty MacDonald fan club honor member Mary Holmes, please.
Thanks a million dearest Mary Holmes!
I'm one of Letizia's and Mary's many devoted fans.
Letizia Mancino sent this connecting piece to " The Second Paradise".
DEFIANT AS A COCK
Copyright 2011/2016 by Letizia Mancino translated by Mary Holmes All rights reserved
That
was how my friend Hilde Domin was, dear Betty! You would have liked her
so much. She had also been in America. At that time you were a famous
author but she was still unknown.
-Did she love cats like you do?
-Yes Betty, she sure did!! Otherwise how do you think she could have been a friend of mine?
-Oh Letizia, don’t boast! Hilde was famous!
-It’s all the same to me, Betty, whether a person is famous or not but that person must love animals
-Why was she as defiant as a cock?
-Well Betty, she was simply so!
-Like a pregnant woman in my “Egg and I”?
-No not so! Betty, Hilde was a whole farm!
- A farm, how was that?
- No Betty, Hilde was more! Almost a zoo! Even more. She was all the animals in the world!
-You loved her very much.
-As I love all animals. You Betty, if I had known you, I would have loved you exactly so because you loved animals.
-But as defiant as a cock from my Bob-farm!
-Yes
and no! (Hilde really loved this double form of answer). Listen Betty ,
I’ll tell you a story about how Hilde was. You would certainly have
loved her. I’ll call my story “The Second Paradise”.
THE SECOND PARADISE
Copyright 2011/2015 by Letizia Mancino translated by Mary Holmes
All rights reserved
The Lord God, one day, met Adam in Paradise and saw him lying under a palm.
And God spoke to him: Adam, my son, are you happy, are you content with Paradise ?
Adam answered: Oh Lord, it is wonderful!
And God said: But I will create a second Paradise and give you a wife.
Adam answered: Oh Lord, that is wonderful!
And God said: I will create the wife according to your wishes.
And Adam stood under the palm and thought hard.
And God said: Adam, are you ready?
Adam
answered: My wife should be as lively as a bird but she should not fly.
She should swim like a goldfish but not be a fish….. She should be as
playful as a cat but not catch mice….. She should be as busy as an ant
but not so small.
And God said: So shall she be: Like a bird, a goldfish, a cat, an ant…
Adam answered: Oh Lord, that is wonderful, but she should be as faithful as a dog.
And God asked: Adam, have you finished?
Oh Lord, cried Adam. She should also be as delightful and gentle as a lamb and as defiant as a cock!
….She should be as curious as a monkey and as pampered as a lapdog.
And God said: So shall she be.
And Adam said: My wife should be as courageous as a lion and as headstrong as a goat…
And
God said: So, like a bird, a goldfish, a cat, an ant, a dog, a lamb, a
cock, a monkey, a lapdog, a lion, a goat… and slowly and surely he
wished to begin creating…
But Adam stretched himself under the palm and called:
Lord, Lord, she should be as adaptable as a chameleon but not creep on four feet.
She should have sparkling eyes like, like… real diamonds. She should be as fiery as a volcano
But … she should have crystal-clear thoughts like a mountain spring.
God, the Almighty, was speechless…
And Adam spoke: Also she should be as quick as lightening…
And God said: Man, have you finished????
No, said Adam! She should be as strong as a horse, as long living as an elephant but as light as a butterfly!
God
found Adam’s thoughts were good and said: So, bird, goldfish, cat, ant,
dog, lamb, cock, monkey, lapdog, lion, goat, chameleon, genuine
diamonds, volcano, mountain spring, lightening, horse, elephant….
butterfly…
God wished at last to begin creating her…
Lord, called Adam… she should be as stable as steel, but as sweet as three graceful women in one…
And God asked: Should she also be a poet?
Yes, called Adam from under the palm…
And God said: Adam have you finished?
Lord, I wish that, in the second Paradise I shall be one and doubled:
So God according to Adams last words created:
HILDE PALM DOMIN
Very best wishes
Letizia Mancino
Letizia Mancino is an outstanding writer and artist. I know you will enjoy this very charming and witty story the same way I did!
Thanks a Million, dear Letiza Mancino! You made my day!
As you know I'm very interested in pets and excellent literature.
The
amazing, very witty, charming, intelligent story written by our
brilliant Betty MacDonald Fan Club Honor Member - artist and writer
Letizia Mancino.
WHEN YOU DREAM, DREAM BIG
Copyright 2011/2016 by Letizia Mancino All rights reserved Translated by D. Tsiaprakas
Betty,
I love you! Your books „Anybody can do anything“ and „Onions in the
Stew“ are really outstanding! I take them into my hand, and at a stone's
throw I am right away in America ! Columbus and the egg: The great
discovery!
Your bestseller „The Egg and I“ the greatest
discovery. And you and I! I know America: It's true what you are
writing: That's America: Absolutely right! No, even to the least detail!
The landscape and the passion: Do you know the country where pistols
blossom? Brava, Betty, you are describing the Americans vividly,
genuinely, insufferably, brushed upon paper. If I like to read your
works? To read doesn't even express it! I can even hear and see
everything: Nature, culture, subculture.
America has almost
remained unchanged! O those cool Americans! Calculating, stockmarket,
Wall Street, the financial crisis (even back in 1930), the gamblers, the
bankruptcy of companies! The swarming of dodgers and cheaters. People
left without money. Dispair und hunger! A terrible „Worst Case“ (when I
knew but little English I thought it is sausage with cheese).
Still
how impressive is the ability to adaptone self of the Americans: They
know how to enjoy life, acrobats of survival! In the twinkle of an eye
they achieved to adapt themselves and effect the work of pioneers: In
the morning you are a cleaningwoman, in the evening a brothel woman! No
problem!
„The insufficient, here it's becoming an event; The
indescribable, here it's done;“ Mary Bard Jensen, your sister, was the
treasure trove of procuring work: My word, what a power woman with
unlimited imagination! She has recommended you everywhere: Betty can do
everything, also write novels! Go ahead, sister, hurry up! The editor
wants to see your manuscripts! Up to that point you had not written a
single line! Wow! And if still everything goes wrong? No problem: When
you dream, dream big!
Just look, you have become famous.The Egg
and I You know that, Betty? I'll slip into „The Egg and I“ and come and
be your guest! I want to get to know your chickens. I hate chickens!
I'm a chickens slave from North America! O Betty, without these damned
animals, no chance of you becoming famous! „The Egg and I“ you would
never have written! How many readers you have made happy!
Your
book is so amusing! Your witty fine (almost nasty) remarks about your
family members and roundabout neighbours made me laugh so much! You have
been born into a special family: Comfort was not desired: I can't but
be amazed: What did your father say to your mother? After tomorrow I am
going to work elsewhere: Thousands of miles away...He sent her a
telegram: LEAVING FOR TWO YEARS ON THURSDAY FOR MEXICO CITY STOP GET
READY IF YOU WANT TO COME ALONG – That was on Monday. Mother wired back:
SHALL BE READY, and so she was.That's America! Improvisation, change,
adventure. You show no weakness: Let's go! Your descriptions, Betty,
about the tremendous happenings in nature have deeply frightened me.
Continent
America, I'm terrified by you! I feel so small and threatened like a
tiny fly before an enormous flyswatter! Your novel is very many-sided!
The reader may use it even as a cook book! „The Egg and I“ starts
straight away with a recipe: „Next to the wisdom that lamb meat doesn't
taste good unless it has been roasted with garlic“. Do you enjoy the
American food?
O Betty, it's too fatty for me and I hate garlic!
(Betty is presently cooking lunch for Bob. She's continually talking to
„STOVE“: STOVE is Bob's rival; in the beginning I thought it was being
himself). She turns round and says: Well, so no garlic for you. No lamb
either, Betty. I don't eat any meat! I'd actually prefer only fried
eggs. Betty, let me make them myself. Then you try it!
Blow!
„STOVE“ out of order! I don't succeed in turning it on! Damned! It's got
more of a mind of its own than „STOVE“ of my friend, Hilde Domin! Bob's
coming! He must eat directly! „Men eat anything, the swines! Says your
grandmother Gammy“. Is it true? Do you like my chickens? Bob asked me
without introducing himself. Yes, Bob (rude) I love them! I'm
vegetarian. Do you want to clean the henhouse with me tomorrow? A,
you're always getting up so early at four o'clock! Bob, that's not a job
for me! He looked at me disdainfully! A Roman cissy! You need a
reeducation at once! Help, Bob's attacking me! I rather change the novel
immediately and move to the „Island“!
US election 2016: Donald Trump sweeps five US states
Donald
Trump has won presidential primaries in all five US states that voted
on Tuesday, while Hillary Clinton triumphed in four out of five.
Mr
Trump called himself the Republican "presumptive nominee" after
victories in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Rhode
Island. The results bring him closer to the number of delegates he needs before the party's national convention in July. For the Democrats, Mrs Clinton was denied a clean sweep by Bernie Sanders. The Vermont senator won in Rhode Island and vowed to fight to the end of the primaries process. Speaking
at the Philadelphia Convention Center after securing the four other
states, Mrs Clinton said her campaign was setting "bold, progressive
goals" to improve lives in the US. "We believe in the goodness of our people and the greatness of our nation," she said.
After his sweep of the five states, Mr Trump said of
the battle for the Republican nomination: "It's over. As far as I'm
concerned, it's over."He told supporters in New York he would not moderate his policies if elected president.He
said: "You know I went to the best schools. I'm like a very smart
person. I'm going to represent our country with dignity and very well."But I don't really want to change my personality. You know, it got me here."
Analysis: Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America reporter
There's winning, and then there's WINNING. Donald Trump's night is shaping up to be the latter, as he steamrolled his opposition in all five mid-Atlantic states. This
campaign season has been punctuated with a series of theories about how
and why Mr Trump's presidential ambitions would eventually be thwarted.
The latest was that he'd never be able to win more than 50% of the vote
as the field narrows. It appears likely that he'll easily surpass that
mark across the board and claim the lion's share of the delegates at
stake. During a primary night speech that took place before the
polls even closed, Texas Senator Ted Cruz promised that his campaign was
now heading to "more favourable terrain". He's setting up a firewall in
Indiana, but there's a Trump-fuelled conflagration heading his way. The
New Yorker still has work to do to clinch the Republican nomination,
but after his latest performance, such a prospect seems increasingly
likely.
Trump and Clinton deliver decisive blows After their victories, Mr Trump and Mrs Clinton turned their fire on each other. Mr Trump said his Democratic rival's only advantage in the presidential race was being a woman. "Frankly, if Hillary Clinton were a man, I don't think she'd get 5% of the vote," he said. Mrs Clinton hit back at his accusation that she was playing the "woman card". "Well,
if fighting for women's healthcare and paid family leave and equal pay
is playing the woman card, then deal me in," she told cheering
supporters in Philadelphia.
Rivals' pact
Mr Trump's rivals, Ted Cruz and John Kasich, have already shifted their attention to forthcoming states. As
part of a new campaigning pact, Mr Kasich will give Mr Cruz a "clear
path" to tackle Mr Trump in Indiana on Tuesday, with Mr Cruz
reciprocating for Mr Kasich in the Oregon and New Mexico primaries. Mr
Trump has condemned their pact as a sign of weakness and desperation,
and another sign of the Republican party colluding against him. Neither Mr Kasich nor Mr Cruz has a chance of securing the Republican nomination outright. The hope of a contested convention this July in Cleveland is keeping them in the race. This scenario would see party delegates - Republican officials and activists - choose the nominee.
Analysts believe that Indiana, with its 57 delegates, will
be crucial if Mr Trump's rivals are to stop him securing the 1,237 he
needs to win outright. Opinion polls suggest Mr Trump has 39% support there, Mr Cruz 33% and Mr Kasich 19%. Mr
Cruz told supporters in Indiana on Tuesday night they could look
forward to some success as the race moved to more conservative states. His
event was held at a basketball court where some scenes were filmed for
the 1986 film Hoosiers, about a small-town high school basketball team
that wins the state championship. The Texas senator attempted to
recreate a scene from the film but was mocked on social media for
referring to a basketball "ring" rather than a "hoop".
Meanwhile, speaking in Huntington, West Virginia,
after the vote, Bernie Sanders vowed to fight to the end of the
nomination process, saying he would attract broad support in November's
election."The reason that we are generating this enthusiasm is
because we are doing something very unusual in contemporary politics. We
are telling the truth," he said.But he admitted to Associated Press he had a "very narrow path and we're going to have to win some big victories".
Betty MacDonald Fan Club, founded by Wolfgang Hampel, has members in 40 countries.
Wolfgang Hampel, author of Betty MacDonald biography interviewed Betty MacDonald's family and friends. His Interviews have been published on CD and DVD by Betty MacDonald Fan Club. If you are interested in the Betty MacDonald Biography or the Betty MacDonald Interviews send us a mail, please.
Several original Interviews with Betty MacDonald are available.
We are also organizing international Betty MacDonald Fan Club Events for example, Betty MacDonald Fan Club Eurovision Song Contest Meetings in Oslo and Düsseldorf, Royal Wedding Betty MacDonald Fan Club Event in Stockholm and Betty MacDonald Fan Club Fifa Worldcup Conferences in South Africa and Germany.
Betty MacDonald Fan Club Honour Members are Monica Sone, author of Nisei Daughter and described as Kimi in Betty MacDonald's The Plague and I, Betty MacDonald's nephew, artist and writer Darsie Beck, Betty MacDonald fans and beloved authors and artists Gwen Grant, Letizia Mancino, Perry Woodfin, Traci Tyne Hilton, Tatjana Geßler, music producer Bernd Kunze, musician Thomas Bödigheimer, translater Mary Holmes and Mr. Tigerli.
