THE FORTIES - Part One (1940 thru 1945)

Note on Back by Charmian: "Daddy in Life Drawing Class
at Art Institute of Chicago -- Instructor there for 23 yrs"

Jain Wilimovsky - Early 1940s

Jain Wilimovsky became an actress who appeared in a 1941 movie called "Peer Gynt" that starred a 17-year-old Charlton Heston in his first screen role. Filmed in the style of an old silent movie, this tale is based on an 1876 play by Henrik Ibsen with original classical music by Edvard Grieg. Jain is not listed in the credits (tho IMDb records her name in the Full Cast & Crew) but she can be seen acting as various characters. Some years later, she would portray Lady Macbeth for the same director, David Bradley. (See THE FORTIES Part 2) Photo: Charlton & Jain in "Peer Gynt."

Note: "Daddy taken by a student of his at the
Art Institute -- Chicago, Ill. What year? '41 - '43?"

Charles A. Wilimovsky Draft Card Registration, 1941...

... and 1942

Florence & Marguerite - Early 1940s

Bill's Daughters Charmian Marie and
Jain Carme Wilimovsky - Early 1940s

Wedding Photo: Harrison (Harry) Williams and Marguerite

Florence - 1943

Voyager: Bill's Iconic Ex Libris Woodcut Illustration - 1940s.
You might have seen this pasted to the inside front cover of vintage books.

Charm's Future Husband, Lu Lyda
(Grady Luther Lyda, Jr)

in his Marine uniform - Mid-1940s

Lu's sister, Martha Lyda

Charmian, age 18 - 1945

Charmian saved this Sunday, January 14, 1945, issue of the
"Chicago Tribune: The World's Greatest Newspaper" because it
featured an article and photo of her high school friend, Bob Fosse

 Fosse would become a famous actor, dancer, choreographer,
screenwriter, film editor, and Oscar winning director for "Cabaret"

The above photo is from the January 1945 Amundsen High School Yearbook. Charmian's copy shows his signature on the first page, among many others. Fosse was a very active student and he appears often throughout this edition. Next to his graduation picture it says: "Robert Fosse -- President of senior class; Prom committee; Letterman's club; Alpha Hi-Y president; swimming team; track team; Student Council vice-president; Intramurals; Honor Society; division chairman."

Charles Wilimovsky also signed Charmian's book (inside front cover, lower right)
"BEST OF LUCK, WITH LOVE, DAD"

Charmian enjoyed following Fosse's career and she wrote some insightful comments in the margins of her edition of Martin Gottfried's 1990 biography.

Charm wrote this in her copy of his Biography: "Charmian - Sep. 1993,
At Amundsen - Charmian Wilimovsky, Feb. 1941 Thru Jan. 25, 1945
- What memories this book resurrected!"
Bob Fosse Quote: "My life is an open pamphlet."

Dorothea Wilimovsky in San Diego - January 1945. By this time, Dora was divorced from Bill and she would remarry later in the year. Below is a brief note announcing her marriage, and telling her mother to "buy a fruit cake or something..." 

Dora's new husband, Has (Herman Alton Scheneman) was a 

photographer, Shetland pony breeder, truck driver & entrepreneur

Florence Ostling (a friend from Amundsen high school) with Charmian
- Chicago, February 24, 1945

Charm & Flo Ostling supporting the troops in Chicago - August 4, 1945. On Aug 6th, America would drop the A-Bomb on Japan and the whole world would suddenly change.

Bill and Jain in Chicago - 1945

Charm

See the Next Part of the Story: 1946 thru 1949 

To See the Previous Decade, Go To: 1930 thru 1939