Hazel’s References

Hazel fought hard for her career. She defied her father to become independent and to be able to perform at all. Then she lived on her own for months on end after she was married to Charlie, and always performed using her own name. Music was what gave her joy.

Everything we know about Hazel points to the fact that she could have had a long and productive career as a musician, but she also chose to be a wife, and it ended (spoiler alert!) when she became a mother many times over.

She left the Yale Moving Picture Shows in Mineral Wells (which are called the Yale Moving Picture Theater in Becoming Hazel) under less-than-ideal circumstances. She was a star-attraction, and JB Parker, shown in the photograph, was not happy to lose “Miss Hazel Cunningham.” Her lukewarm letter of reference reflects that fact, though other clippings praise her skills.

I was surprised to find that letter carefully folded into an envelope with the photograph of JB Parker amongst my great-grandmother’s mementos. You’ll notice it’s dated 7/8/08 – that’s 1908 in case you’ve forgotten – and it is quoted verbatim in the book. It is one of my “Inherited Treasures”, and the paper is in remarkable condition considering it is well over one-hundred years old, but I keep it carefully tucked away now because the ink is beginning to fade badly.

Another “Inherited Treasure”, the second letter of reference, is from the Lyceum Vaudeville Theatre in Abilene, dated “Jany 16^th 09”. It was found with my grandmother’s personal items and is also in remarkably good condition. Hazel is again referred to as “Miss Hazel Cunningham”, and this time receives a disjointed but praiseful review from the manager, W. Saunderson. This letter is also used in its entirety in Becoming Hazel.

Hazel bemoaned the fact that she’d probably never have a reason to use either of the two letters of reference once she left Abilene. She was wrong because her career was not yet over. And something in the back of her mind must have told her that there was always a chance for her to start anew.

After all, I still have the letters.

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