Elizabeth Louise (Fellegi) Coulson (1906 - 2000)

Born 27 Jul 1906 in Tuxedo Park, Missouri, United States

Wife of Rodney Coulson — married 26 Jul 1930 in Cook, Illinois, United States

Died 14 Mar 2000 at age 93 in Anaheim, Orange, California, United States

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Biography

Elizabeth was born in Missouri in 1906, the daughter of Emil Fellegi and Elizabeth Jilly.^[1] She married Rodney Coulson in Illinois in 1930.^[2] Elizabeth passed away in California in 2000^[3] and is buried in Orange, California.^[4]

Elizabeth Fellegi Coulson Obituary
Elizabeth Fellegi Coulson of Anaheim, California, died Tuesday, March 14, 2000, in her home of cardio-respiratory failure resulting from a long life. She was 93 years old.

Born July 27, 1906 in Tuxedo Park, Missouri, Betty began her professional career as a ballet dancer in the vaudeville Orpheum circuit. She and her sister Margit were and acclaimed classical ballet duo appearing on the circuit with Edgar Bergen and George Burns from 1922 to 1929.

She married Rodney "Bud" Coulson in 1930. They moved to Anaheim in 1955, when Walt Disney hired Bud to work in public relations at Disneyland. Together Bud and "Mommie Coulson," as she was lovingly called by all those whose loves she touched, opened the Aunt Jemima Kitchen in Disneyland, which they ran from 1962 to 1967.

Betty was active in the American Red Cross as a volunteer and as a Rotary "Ann" in the Anaheim Rotary Club. She was an active member of St. Justin Martyr Church in Anaheim since its formation.

She is survived by her sister, Esther McManus of Santa Barbara; her children, Richard H. Coulson of Orange; William R. Coulson of Compche, CA: and Catherine E. Coulson of Ashland, Oregon. She is preceded in death by her husband of 57 years and by her daughter, Jean Coulson Palmer who died with her family in a plane crash in Alaska in 1968.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 17, 2000, at St. Justin Martyr Church in Anaheim at 2050 W. Ball Road, with interment to follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in memory of Elizabeth Coulson to the Alaska Radio Mission, KNOM Box 988, Nome, Alaska 99762.

I REMEMBER

The events I will write about are in answer to our grandchildren's query of- "What was it like when you were little, Grandma?"

I think every generation hungers for knowledge of what happened long ago. What did our grandparents do when they were our age? what events shaped their lives and may have a bearing on ours? So-- I will try to member and I will write just for my family. I am Not an author and have no aspirations to become one. I'll write things down as the memories come to me. but often they come in the middle of the night and by morning they are gone. Maybe I'll keep paper and pencil by the bed. But anyway- you'll have to sort the stories out because I'll no doubt be putting them down in the wrong order.

Most of the memories are happy ones and those that are sad don't seem so sad any more. Time has helped us find answers, or made us feel we have found answers and so the rough edges have worn away.

Where shall I start? I'll start where my world started-with my Mother and Father.

So here goes- bear with me- not only am I no writer- I am also no trypist [sic]. The letters on my typewriter seem to move around and come up in the wrong order. But all that I tell you comes from the heart and I hope is interesting to all of you who will read my words.

My father, Emil Joseph Fellegi, born August 1, 1872, in Tamesvar, Hungary, was the most gentle, caring man I ever knew. I wish I would know more about his childhood, but, in fact, I know nothing more than that he was the youngest of thirteen children-that they always walked to church on Sunday- in a long line and that Daddy was the last in line. I know that his father (Ferenz) was a cabinet maker, an artist in his craft. He built cradles and coffins and beautiful furniture and loved his family.

Dad had several sisters but I know only two names- Laura and Louise. That's why Margit was named Margit Laura and I- Elizabeth Louise. I think Daddy was very close to Laura. We have a picture of Laura and Dad together- Dad in his uniform.

Hungary was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in those days and all young men had to serve in the Austrian army for two years. Dad became a lieutenant and wore a very handsome uniform. But he was not a military man at heart. He was a gentle, loving man.

Several of Dad's brothers were artists, as was Dad. they all studied in Budapest and as far as I know, were very good and had many pictures in the Royal Hungarian Art Gallery.

Dad's family lived in Temesvar and I believe they spoke German, rather than Hungarian at home. I think this because Mama mentioned that she had to help Daddy speak a proper Hungarian. Or perhaps his family spoke Hungarian with a German accent. Dad always retained a slight "Swabish" accent.

I think maybe it was hard for Dad to have older brothers who were accomplished artists. he couldn't get recognition for this work with the others already so well advanced. So- at age 26- he decided to come to America and make it on his own. He loved Hungary- its beauty- its music- its poetry and its strong and ardent patriotism. But he wanted to be on his own.

He came to Chicago- why Chicago I don't know- found a room in a boarding house and set out to make his fortune. He was determined to learn English and so decided not to seek out Hungarians for companionship. And there were many Hungarians in Chicago.

A couple of days after Dad arrived in Chicago. he took his portfolio and started walking down Wabash Avenue to see if there were some place that looked as though it might be interested in his talents. He found a beautiful, large interior decorating establishment that looked as though it was the perfect place for him to start on his American career. He went in, and communicating with gestures and the contents of his portfolio, he was taken to the manage of the establishment and left the place with a job.

In those days there were many large, elaborate homes along the lake shore- the gold coast- that were decorated most lavishly. There were music rooms with cherubs on the ceiling and composers portraits on the walls- dining rooms with landscapes- drawing rooms that looked like art galleries. Every room was a work of art. So Daddy's ability was welcomed and the fact that he could not speak the language didn't hinder him from becoming a productive artist.

Since Dad avoided Hungarians, his social life was limited son one of his principal pastimes was riding the street car on week-ends. For five cents he'd ride to the end of the car line, get off, walk around in the open countryside and then ride back to town.

On one of these Sunday rides, Dad met his future. As he was walking in a field, he heard the sounds of a Hungarian Gypsy band and it was irresistible. he followed the sound of the music and there- in a grove of trees- was a large group of Hungarians having a picnic and at the first picnic table that he saw, was gathered a vivacious, handsome family group. A mother, father, four very good looking young men and a beautiful young woman with a baby in her arms. And Daddy said, "when I saw her I fell in love. I knew that I ha to see her again, and somehow, even though there was a child in her arms, I wanted to marry her".

So- Dad went to the father- introduced himself as a proper young man should- met the mama and then the young men and then the beautiful daughter. Dad was so ingratiating- so charming- that the entire family was impressed and he was invited to visit their home in Chicago.

Soon Dad was visiting almost nightly. He had learned that the young woman was divorced from an artist whose son she bore. He was cruel- an alcoholic- and as soon as the baby was born, Mama asked for a divorce.

Maybe this is a good time to tell you how it was that Mama was married. It was an arranged marriage. Mama's parents had a hard time financially after they arrived in the United States. In Hungary, Grandpa- Mama's Dad, was city attorney for Pecs- the university town eighty miles south of Budapest. The family, as I heard, had quite an estate. Grandpa loved to entertain. There were many servants and Grandpa had many educated and titled friends to dinner almost daily. And they delighted in conversing in Latin as they sat around the dinner table. That was considered the proper language for educated men.

Grandpa had a beautiful voice and sang in the church choir. His sons all played the piano and Mama, even as a young child, sang beautifully. Her father taught her all the old Hungarian songs and when his friends were gathered at his home, Grandpa would stand Mama up on a table and have her sing for them.

Grandpa had a secret desire to be an opera singer but in those days that was not considered a proper vocation for a man of letters and Grandma was adamantly against any of the family being involved in the stage as a career. It was not compatible with their station in life. And so she vetoed the idea that Mama should become a professional singer which was another of Grandpa's ideas.

Grandma bore sixteen children but only six of them lived to adulthood. I remember her telling us that at one time two babies died at the same time of diphtheria. Grandma's life was not easy.

Grandma used to tell us how she and her cousins would play on the beautiful staircase in the palace. She'd tell us such stories when we were very young so I never pressed for details but Mama told me that Grandma's parents had several sons and when Grandma was little they gave her to Zita because they didn't want daughters. The only Zita I've ever heard of was Franz Joseph's wife. Grandma must have married at a very young age---oh-- I just remembered-- I think Mama said that Grandma was sixteen when she married Grandpa. And I think- from what little Mama said- Grandpa was not easy to live with. he was quite a philanderer.

So anyway- Grandpa decided he wanted to make his fortune in America. I think he dreamed of having a singing career. He came to America alone to get established and Grandma and her four sons and Mama followed shortly after. There was an older daughter, Olga, who remained in Hungary. she was married to a lawyer who later became a judge. The sons were Aurel, Louis, Alex, and Albert. Mama was between Louis and Alex. Grandpa's name was Aloyisius- Grandma's Adele. Mama was named Elizabeth Goldie (Aranyka) which is a lovely name in Hungarian.

Mama was seventeen when the family came to America and she was very beautiful and fun-loving. A well known and wealthy artist wanted Mama but she turned down all his advances and he knew that the only way he could have her was by marrying her so he made a financial arrangement with her parents. The Jilly family was having a very tough time financially and, because Grandpa spoke no English he could not find a job that suited him. He finally got a job in the conservatory in Lincoln Park in Chicago.-- Here's a little item I'd like to insert because I may forget it later.-- Bud's Grandpa also worked in the conservatory in Lincoln Park. It just could be that they knew each other because they were there at the same time. My Grandpa was quite a horticulturist in Pecs, grafting fruit trees on their estate and being very interested in all plant life. Why the family was so poor when they came to America- I don't know- but there seems to be some hint of a scandal concerning Grandpa.

So- returning to Mama's marriage to the artist- it was a very unhappy-miserable time for Mama and she just could not stay with her husband. My brother Jules was the offspring of that marriage.

When Mama and Daddy married, Jules was two years old. Later, Dad formally adopted him and Jules adored Daddy. Mom and Dad were married by a justice of the peace and were married in the church on their 35th anniversary.

Nagymama, my grandma. was a very devout woman but somehow her faith was manifested in a different way in those days. She was constantly invoking the name of God and yet I don't remember our family attending Sunday Mass regularly but when we did go-Grandma always had mints in the big pockets of her skirt to give us if we became fidgety. And she'd fast so severely on Good Friday that she'd faint.

Back to Mama and Daddy and their marriage. It was one of utter devotion- a deep love and faith in each other. Dad's studio was generally in the house and innumerable times during the day he would come looking for Mama- calling, "Angalom (my angel) where are you?"

Somewhere along the line- Dad's talent turned to doing murals for churches and theaters. He worked constantly and beautifully and often- when he had a very large job in another city- a job that would take a year or more- he and Mama would move to that city. I know they lived in Shreveport, La. when Jules was little because Mama told us how Jules just couldn't adjust to having a black maid around the house. He wouldn't eat any food she served because her hands were black and to him that meant they wee dirty.

Dad had a church and the St. Louis World's Fair to decorate at the time Margit was born and until the time I was six months old. Margit was three years older than I.

Mama's Dad and a couple of her brothers all lived with Mama and Dad in a suburb of St. Louis- Tuxedo Park. Their home was on the outskirts of town. The reason I know this is because Mama often talked about the time she was pregnant with Margit and Nagymama was in Hungary visiting Olga and Daddy was out of town on another job. The time came when Mama started into labor. She asked her Dad to go into town to get the mid-wife and she put Jules to bed for his nap- and the contractions were getting very close. A big wind came up- Mama called it a cyclone- and perhaps it was- but Grandpa still hadn't returned. Finally he got back- but the wind had wreaked havoc with his toupee so he had to light a kerosene lamp and look in the mirror to straighten his hair because the mid-wife was coming and Grandpa wanted to look well. Mama kept saying- "Daddy- help me- the baby is here". And he'd say "Just a minute. I'm sure there's time." Finally he went to Mama and sure enough- there was Margit-lying on Mama's stomach. Mama always said Margit was born in a cyclone and created one ever since.

Margit was Daddy's first born and inherited his talent only in a different medium. She was the apple of his eye. There was a tremendous affinity between them. But Daddy was equally loving and tender with all of us and he was so very good to his Mother-in-law. She always said he was more kind to her than her own sons. And he was very good to his brothers-in-law. There were always one or two living with us.

Mama's father died in about 1904 or '05 of cancer of the mouth. Mama said he smoked an old pipe that he loved and when it was broken on the stem, he still insisted on smoking it and it irritated hs mouth and finally cancer developed. I think he was ill for a long time and Mama cared for him.

As I mentioned- we lived in Tuxedo Park until I was six months old. I have often said we moved because I burned the house down.

Daddy was out of town and Mama had taken me in to bed with her during the night. Being a baby- my diaper needed changing toward morning. Mama had a stack of diapers on the table next to the bed and being half asleep- she reached for one- not realizing that the kerosene lamp was sitting on a corner of the diaper. The lamp fell over and into the crib which was on the other side of the table and the ruffled curtains which hung down above the crib caught fire and immediately blazed. Mama gathered me in on arm- scooped up Margit who was on the other side of the room and ran outside to put us in the gazebo which was in the back yard. Mama, in the meantime, grabbed the self portrait of Dad that hung in the front hall above the organ and single handed carried it out. It was a three-quarter length portrait of Dad in his Austrian army uniform and it had taken two men to hang it it was so heavy. The uncles managed to push the organ out of the house and Jules teddy bear which was on top of it came through with only a scorched ear.

And so- with the kindness of the neighbors- the family was housed until Daddy arrived. Shortly after- the family moved to Chicago where they bought a home at 1937 Belle Plain Avenue. That was on what was called the "near North Side". It was a house typical of that area at that time. Two stories with a large basement that housedl\ the furnace. As I remember- it had a dirt floor for several years.

The houses were all very close together. There was what was called a "gangway" between the neighbors house and ours and that "gangway" was about three feet wide. There was a back yard and a barn. No garages at that time, and an alley in the back. The alley was where the vegetable man with his cart- the "old iron" man- the knife sharpener man all plied their trade- either ringing a bell to announce their coming or crying out "Rags Ole Lion"- (at least that's what I thought he said). He really said "Rags Old Iron". He collected unwanted items. The knife sharpener had a very distinctive bell and he sharpened knives and scissors for five cents each- sometimes two for five cents. I could go on indefinitely, reminiscing about things- but I really should be writing about the family- my wonderful Father and Mother.

Mama and Daddy had very many friends- concert pianists- well known violinists- unknown struggling artists who came to work under the "Master"- and so many people who basked in the hospitality of my Mom and Dad and Grandma. There were titled men who bowed low to Grandma and the monsignor and the Rabbi who took turns keeping Nagymama supplied with wine during the prohibition days because Nagy wouldn't sit down to dinner unless she had her "spritzer". And speaking of dinner- Grandma (Nagy or Nagymama) was a superlative cook. The stove in our kitchen was an enormous one- a wood stove- and Nagy produced the most delectable pastries and wonderful bread as well as huge roasts and wonderful soups. No matter how tough times were financially sometimes- we always seemed to have five or six course dinners and always enough for anyone who came to our door.

I remember one afternoon when an elderly man came to the back door. He was hungry and so of course he was brought in and fed and Mama found out that he had no place to sleep. So- although we were all going out that night- a cot was set up for this man- in the basement next to the furnace and he stayed for the night- was fed in the morning and was on his way. My parents trusted everyone and their hearts went out to everyone.

People in government work also came often and always there was music. Mama's brothers who were living with us all loved playing the piano and although they didn't read music- they played beautifully. All the old Hungarian songs that Mama sang. And poor Daddy- he'd bring out his violin and everyone would groan. Dad was tone deaf and no matter how much he loved playing- it was painful for everyone.

I remember when the man who was to become Ambassador from Hungary came to dinner. He was consul general in Chicago at the time. He came often and I had quite a crush on him. He was very tall and handsome. Whenever he was to come Grandma had Margit and me clean house very carefully- especially the top of the china cabinet because Paleny Bacsi was so tall he could see the top of the cabinet. Nagy was quite a task master.

Grandma refused to speak English. In fact- if we spoke English to her she just didn't hear us. And so we all had to speak Hungarian at home- all the time. But Mama and Daddy, although they spoke English with an accent- insisted that we speak a proper English when we went out. No slang- careful pronunciation and we wee expected to read good books- the classics- and so we loved good literature and poetry. Mama would read to us in Hungarian each evening. There was no television or radio and she read the classics to us making a real production out of it. she'd act out James Feminore Cooper's "The Deerslayer" and Dumas' "Count of Monte Christo" and she loved doing it. She was quite an actress and we loved watching her as well as hearing her. Mama had a wonderful memory for poetry which remained with her all her life.

I have such a vivid memory of Mama's appearing in the musical shows at the North Side Turner Hall. They were put on b the Hungarians living in Chicago and I think they were excellent. Mama always had the leading role and she sang and acted and looked so very beautiful. We children always attended every show and Nagymama would sit with us in the best seats in the house and sometimes that was not very wise because when Mama had a scene in which she had to be sad- and would cry- I would cry at the top of my lungs and poor Nagy would have to take me out. So she always hoped I would be asleep by the time the sad part came along or else that it would be a happy story.

Daddy always had an active part in organizing the events and designing the programs. I have one here right next to me that is so very lovely. I just looked at it again. It has the typical Hungarian decorations on the cover and two figures- a man and a woman- as an illustration of the play which was called "A Titok"- "The Secret". that was one of the plays that had a very sad part so Nagymama must have had to miss some of it. Dad's signature is under the two figures as well as an acknowledgement of his having designed the cover. And there's a beautiful picture of Mama inside.

These musical events were always benefit performances for the "Magyar Noi Otthon"- "the Hungarian Women's Home". The patrons were prominent American men and women. Mama and Daddy were actively involved in the charitable work of the "Home" which helped newly arrived Hungarian women to find jobs and learn English and various trades and provide them with temporary housing. Jane Addams- the famous suffragette and philanthropist was the head of the enterprise.

We children- there were three of us at the time- Jules, Margit and I, were also involved in all special events and when I became four or five- the three of us performed during the intermission of the musical shows, doing Hungarian folk dances- loving every minute of it and being so thrilled when we were applauded and presented with flowers and candy.

What a wonderful childhood we had!

Daddy generally made a speech at intermission time, telling of the needs of the "Home" and he could really inspire people to help. In fact- Daddy was such a good speaker that during the first World War and later- he often traveled to various cities in the eastern part of the United States where there were large settlements of Hungarians working in the factories. He spoke to them about their duties to their new country. He urged them to be loyal to the United States but to never forget their homeland-its music- its art- its poetry but to always remember that they CHOSE to come to this country and they must be good citizens to their adopted land. And they should support the Red Cross which was so good to them when they arrived here. He had to add that because it was the Red Cross that sponsored his trips. Daddy was loved and respected wherever he went.

I'll never forger one time when Margit and I were appearing at the Orpheum Theater in Omaha. It was Thanksgiving Day and we had a call from Dad. He was at one of the big hotels making a Red Cross appearance and he asked us to come to the hotel between shows and attend the banquet that was held in his honor. We were delighted. Being Thanksgiving Day- we had already had a Thanksgiving dinner before our first show but we were so eager to see Daddy we went to this hotel and had Thanksgiving dinner with him. And of course, we had to be polite and eat heartily. I wonder how we managed to perform our second show. And then- to top it off- the theater management had a big Thanksgiving spread at the end of the evening for all the acts. We didn't want to eat for a week.

Several times Daddy managed to have some business to do in whatever town we were performing and it was always such a joyous event for us to see him. I think he was very proud of us and he knew that no matter how much we enjoyed what we were doing- we missed home and the family. And I think Daddy missed us when we were on tour.
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At this point I stopped writing for a few months and so I am off on another tangent- back to the days when we were younger. And I thought it might be interesting to all of you if I told a little more about our life on Belle Plaine Avenue. So---
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Our basement, which I have mentioned before, was converted into an auxiliary kitchen and a huge dining room which was also used as a work room where Daddy and Mama made flags. Large Hungarian flags with the Hungarian crest on them. Dad painted those and Mama hired women to sew the flags. They were beautiful and they helped augment Dad's income. It took a lot of money to feed our large family and many friends. And often immigrant artists would stay with us until they could find work.

But the large dining room was also used for feasts at holiday time. Mama would hire a butcher to come to the house and in the basement kitchen- with Grandma supervising- he'd dress out a pig or two- make all sorts of sausages and prepare the whole pig for New Year's dinner- roasted- with an apple in its mouth- succulent- fragrant and oh so very delicious. It would not be approved in this day and age. And for the New Year's feast, the whole family would gather. Mama's brothers and their wives and children- yes- by this time the brothers had married and settled close by. There were many family gatherings.

And that reminds me of the day my Uncle Lois brought his new young wife to our house. He had found her in Hungary where he had gone for a visit. She was lovely- vivacious- flaming red hair- fashionable. I remember she was very smartly dressed and wore a black and white ribbon in her hair. She brought a big wicker trunk with all her possessions. She (Aunt Maca) and Uncle Louis stayed with us until they could find a home. I was five years old when she joined the family but I'll never forger how she looked and how my other aunts related to her. Uncle Louis was very self possessed and very intelligent. He was a chemist.

And speaking of the uncles reminds me of the card games they and Daddy would have many, many evenings. They'd play Tarok late into the night- slapping the cards on the table- and drinking apricot brandy- or plum brandy and they'd be very loud- but Daddy- although he loved fun- would always be well behaved. The uncles would swear but the only time I ever heard Dad come anywhere near swearing was one night when something exasperated him and he said, "Oh damness". And then he blushed and apologized to Mama. Mama, the rascal, had served some plums she had used to make plum brandy. They were innocent looking plums- but they had soaked in alcohol and eating just one or two had a powerful effect.

My brother Jules had a beautiful voice and Dad arranged for him to take singing lessons from a friend who was considered one of the top voice teachers in Chicago. His name was Radanovitch. He was a huge man, Hungarian, of course and loved to eat Nagymama's cooking. One time he brought his "lady friend" with him. Madam Marie Young, former Prima Ballerina of the Budapest Opera Company. She, too, was very large, but had the most beautiful legs. I think Mama and Daddy had connived with Radanovitch to bring Madam Young because Margit wanted to take dancing lessons and Madam was the foremost dancing teacher in Chicago. She and Radanovitch were a great pair. When they'd go anywhere- they'd take two taxi cabs so that they could be comfortable. Well- anyway- Mama told Madam about Margit's desire to study dancing so Madam told Margit to show her what she could do. Margit was about 13 years old at the time- petite and graceful and Madam was enchanted and agreed to teach her. And she said, "As long as Margit will be studying dancing- I might as well teach the little one, too." I was the "little" one. In those days I was.

Mama and Daddy couldn't afford to pay Madam Young's fees so Dad agreed to pay her with one of his pictures and Madam was delighted.

Madam's studio was on Michigan Blvd-- in the Chicago Symphony building- around the corner from the Auditorium Theater. In the beginning, Margit and I had lessons three times a week. We were taught by Madam's assistant, Sylvia, who looked like Pavlova and in my opinion was just as good. Margit and I would go for our lessons on the "L" after school and return the same way getting off at Irving Park Blvd., which station was about six blocks from home.

Soon Margit and I became assistants to Sylvia and she took a great liking to us. We worked hard but never to the point that it became a chore. We loved what we were doing and Madam was very pleased. Our lessons were paid for by the work we did for Sylvia and then Madam began teaching us. She told Mama that the "Princess"- that's what she called me, was clumsy like an ox but had magnificent rhythm.

It's strange- Margit and I were never very keen on technique- it was too much work but somehow we could express the spirit of the music we were dancing to and Madam would often have us come up before the class to demonstrate steps. So I guess our technique must have been good enough.

Madam had a yearly recital in the Auditorium Theater which was attended not only by the parents of the students- but also by drama and music critics from the Chicago papers and many people who really looked forward to seeing the productions. When Margit and I became good enough to have solo parts in those recitals- we received excellent write-ups. I think that was because we loved what we were doing.

Margit was always very talented in designing our costumes and got to the point that she'd design costumes for the entire cast. When Margit graduated from High School she enrolled in the costume and dress design class of the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. Her class was taught by Ralph Moni who later became my brother Jules brother-in-law. That's a story in itself but if I keep side-tracking all the time this story will become a big fat volume.
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I just reread what I have written to this point after not having glanced at it for a year or more. It's a good thing that I'm writing this opus for the family and no one else, because all I have wanted to do is tell my family about my wonderful parents and the times in which we lived.

Another very long hiatus. It's a long, rambling story but I hope it will be interesting to my family- my children- grandchildren and great grandchildren. I am now 85 years old so a long period of time has elapsed in our life time and things have changed so much. Perhaps it's interesting to you to read about life early in the twentieth century.

We had no electricity- no cars- no radio or television- many things we can't think of living without in this day and age. But- we had family life- time to read- to make music- to invent our own games- to share life with our family and friends. Somehow- even though we had to do our washing by hand- to can foods- bake our own bread- do all the things machines do for us now- we still were able to spend time talking to each other and enjoying our home.

The first World War- "the war to end all wars" was especially hard on our family. We were different from our neighbors. Nagy didn't speak English- Mama and Daddy spoke with an accent and my parents were from an enemy country. Sometimes kids would follow us home from school making fun of us. I'd cry because I was so hurt because our family was so very patriotic. But Mama always said- "Don't let it bother you, honey. You know how you are-where your allegiance is and those children who taunt you are just ignorant. They don't know any better and they will forget all this and you must, too."

We had War Savings Stamps- they cost 25 cents each- and we could buy them at school so we saved our pennies and bought the stamps and pasted them in a book until we had enough for a War Savings Bond. I went around the neighborhood trying to sell them to our neighbors. And I remember on Armistice Day (I was in eighth grade- 12 years old) and I was asked to take time out from school and stand on a street corner, (Irving Park and Robey Street) and try to sell Liberty Bonds for $25.00. And it was a while I was standing there and had just sold a bond- that the bells started ringing and news came that the Armistice was signed. What a happy day that was!! There was never going to be another war!!

After the war there were many injured sailors in the hospital at Great Lakes Naval Training Station and so we would go there on a Saturday, taking baskets of pastries that Nagyi and Mama had spent days baking. I really can't remember how we got there every week but it must have been by street car because we didn't have a car. I remember going up and down the rows of beds- giving out the pastries and talking to the men and Margit and I would sometimes dance for them. And Mama and Nagy always took the "baby" (that was Esti) because they knew the men would love to see a baby. And they did!

We lived on Belle Plaine Avenue until 1924, I believe. Margit and I had gone on the road with the Ernie Evans Company in 1923. and so- while we were gone- Mama sold the house and bought one in River Forest, a suburb west of Chicago. It was a very lovely, very large old house on a corner lot in a beautiful neighborhood. I say "Mama bought it" because Daddy was out of town when the deal was completed. Daddy was afraid it was too expensive and they couldn't afford it but Mama loved it and made all the arrangements. I don't know the details because Margit and I were in New York. We came home to our new house and instantly knew it was the right house for us. By this time Jules was married- Nagyi had died, Uncle Al was married so it was just Mama and Daddy and Eddy and Esti and Margit and me. There were four bedrooms and two baths- a large living room and equally large dining room- a library and a very large kitchen with butlers pantry. And Dad had a large studio on the third floor. The house was on the corner of Gale Avenue and Linden.

Daddy rented a building on Lake Street in Oak Park, not far from the house and opened a paint store and decorating studio. Those were good years for the family. The sad part is: Margit and I were gone so much . Daddy decorated many churches in the Chicago area at the time, as well as large homes on the Lake Shore. One house he decorated was the Frank Lloyd Wright house in Oak Park. Dad worked with Frank Lloyd Wright and had great admiration for his talent. I think it was mutual.

I wonder if Dad's working with the great architect awakened a desire in him to build a home- but I'll get to that later.

Our new home in River Forest was again a place where everyone was welcomed. Esther and Eddy made friends quickly and were very happy there. They went to school in Oak Park and Eddy became very active in Boy Scouts, attending the International Boy Scout Jamboree in Birkenhead England. Esti was taking piano lessons and doing extremely well. Margit and I were still on the road and whenever we were home, Margit worked with Ralph Moni and I taught arts and crafts at Dad's shop.

But when Margit's health failed - I finished out our contract with the Ernie Evans company as a solo, and then appeared with Ernie at the Palmer house in Chicago for a season and that was a lovely way to end a theatrical career. I realized that was the time to quit the stage and get on with my real life. The years that we were performing were good- we did very well financially- enjoyed being in the public eye- but as far as I was concerned, it wasn't what I wanted for the rest of my life. I think Mama and Daddy were happy that we were retiring. But that didn't mean we would be home all the time.

When Margit fully recovered her health- she decided she wanted to live in California. She started a business designing gowns and costumes and sometimes worked with Corrine, an old friend who had a contract with Fanchon and Marco who produced very elaborate shows for the large movie houses. Margit was tremendously talented. I stayed home- worked for Ralph Moni as a model and assistant in his shop and later as manager in a small dress shop in Oak Park.

Whenever Margit had a big show for which to do costumes, she would call me to come help her. Frankly- I think she missed the family. So I'd go to California- by train- there were no commercial planes- and I fell in Love with California, too.

One time when I was with Margit- we received our usual weekly letter from Mama, telling all about the family's activities and she casually mentioned that there had been a fire in our home. She didn't want to worry us but she and Dad and Eddy and Esti were moving in with Jules and his wife, Madelyn- whom we called Tee- (she was Ralph Moni's sister). Tee and Jules had a lovely home in River Forest near our house.

Of course Margit and I knew immediately that it must have been a very serious fire since the family had to move out, so Margit decided I was to go home immediately and see what I could do to help.

My first sight of the house was heartbreaking. The outside didn't seem to be very seriously damaged but the first floor on the inside was gutted. Dad had many of his beautiful, big pictures on the living room walls and the library and the magnificent self portrait that had been rescued from the fire in Tuxedo Park- was completely destroyed by the heat. Poor Daddy and poor all of us. It was a terrible blow to lose all his pictures.

But Dad had such a great faith that all will be well- he immediately started redoing the interior of the house and made it more beautiful than ever. But that took a long time and we stayed with Tee and Jules all the while.

In one way our being with them helped them as much as us. Their little year and a half old son, Jimmie, was dying of a brain tumor. Little Jim was an exceptionally smart youngster- so very good and so very beautiful. The pride and joy of the entire family. He was Dad's and Mama's first grandchild. Tee and Jules kept Jimmie at home and although they had a large, lovely home, it was a very full house with all of us there. But as I said, I think it helped them that we were all together.

I had been home about a month when Jimmie died. Tee and I were in the bedroom with him, watching him, talking quietly when we heard a sigh. Jimmie had gone to Heaven.

Eventually we moved back into the house on Gail Avenue and life went on at a peaceful pace. I stayed I stayed with Mama and Dad and Eddy and Esti, and Margit would come back from California from time to time. Business was good for Daddy and soon he decided he would do something he had always longed to do. He bought a lot for a home in a nearby developing part of River Forest- north of our present home.

As all artists did in Europe- Dad had studied architecture and dreamed of one day building a home different from any built at that time. And it was beautiful- different- practical- and an artistic masterpiece. The Gail Avenue house was sold and a mortgage taken out on the new place. It was heated with gas-the first house to have gas heat.

At that time- all houses had separate dining rooms. Dad changed that. This house had an elevated area at one end of the living room, adjacent to the butler's pantry and kitchen. We had a long Italian refectory table and could seat ten comfortably. It had china cabinets built in- railings on the side facing the living room - two steps down as the living room was two steps beneath the entry hall. That was not done in homes before that time- but now is common practice.

The living room had French doors leading out to a small terrace that had a built in fish pond which was lighted from below. There was a sky light in the living room that moonlight at night. Oh there were so many features that had never been seen before.

The doors throughout the house were individually stained in simple patterns- each door a different design. There were five bedrooms and five bathrooms- a rumpus room in the basement with stained glass windows in shades of blue and green to give the feeling of being at the bottom of the sea- and Margit- in one of her trips home, painted the walls which were covered with cloth- with fish and other creatures of the ocean. It was all magnificent.

At this point I will be omitting a very important event- Bud's and my meeting- because I'm telling you about that in another story. If I try to tell you all about us and our part in Dad's and Mama's life in detail- I'll never finish this story of the Fellegi Family.

So-- The house was finished and it was a tribute to our Dad's incredible knowledge and artistic ability. But-- Wall Street robbed my people of the rewards due Daddy.

Dad had managed to save some money and so- since Jules was in the stock and bond business- and stock prices were rising beautifully- Dad bought stock! ! Then came Oct. 29, 1929! Besides being the day Bud and I met- that was the stock market crashed! Dad's savings were lost- business failed- he lost the decorating shop- and could not pay the mortgage on the new house!

A short time before this, Dad had been told by the family doctor that he had cancer. No biopsy was made. He was told it was too late to do anything- that he had about six months to live.

Dad had gone to California with Margit on a quick trip several months before and fell in love with it. The mountains reminded him of Hungary- it was beautiful and he dreamed of someday living there. So--when he was told his time was running out- he decided he wanted to spend his last days in this beautiful land. (I'll tell you right now. He lived for eleven years after that death sentence and died of a stroke, not cancer.)

Bud and I were married July 26, 1930- in River Forest- the reception was at the family's new home and two days later my Mother and Father and Eddy and Esti got in their Plymouth sedan and left for California, leaving Bud and me in Dad's dream house to take care of it as long as we could. That was quite a honeymoon cottage. How long we stayed there will be told in the other story.

Dad and Mama and Eddy and Esti moved in with Margit until they could get located and Dad could find work.

There was a very active Hungarian artists colony in Hollywood and the Catholic priest, Father Lani, became a close friend to the family. Dad had plenty of work- Mama, Eddy and Esti were happy and they soon had many friends.

I'm trying to think of how I can go on telling of the Fellegi Family's life- but Bud's and my life keeps intruding so I think I had better write about us and in telling of our life- my wonderful family will play an active part. It always has and always will. They all loved Bud- as do I.

God bless families.

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKZB-W8X : accessed 14 October 2021), Elizabeth Fellegi in household of Emil Fellegi, Chicago Ward 26, Cook, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 1127, sheet 10A, family 216, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 272; FHL microfilm 1,374,285.
2. ↑ "Illinois, Cook County Marriages, 1871-1968," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q21V-V8JW : 28 November 2018), Rodney Coulson and Elizabeth Fellegir, 26 Jul 1930; citing Marriage, Cook, Illinois, United States, citing Cook County Clerk. Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm 102122752.
3. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JTZF-5YH : 11 January 2021), Elizabeth L Coulson, 14 Mar 2000; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
4. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 14 October 2021), memorial page for Elizabeth Louise Fellegi Coulson (27 Jul 1906–14 Mar 2000), no grave photo included, Find A Grave: Memorial #117496976, citing Holy Sepulcher Cemetery, Orange, Orange County, California, USA ; Maintained by Margi (contributor 47167844) .

• "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJQK-TM5 : 1 February 2021), Elizabeth Fellegi in entry for Emil J Fellegi, 1920.

• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XSTT-7CG : accessed 14 October 2021), Elizabeth Louise Fellegi in household of Emil J Fellegi, River Forest, Cook, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 2340, sheet 43A, line 28, family 465, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 508; FHL microfilm 2,340,243.

• "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KW42-X6Z : 8 January 2021), Elizabeth Coulson in household of Rodney Coulson, Elmhurst, DuPage, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 22-6, sheet 10B, line 48, family 207, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 796.

• "United States 1950 Census", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6XG6-DD97 : Sat Mar 25 00:23:35 UTC 2023), Entry for Rodney Coulson and Elizabeth Coulson, 8 May 1950, Temescal, Riverside, California, Enumeration District: 33-173a; Line: 12; Page: 41; Elizabeth Coulson, 41, born Missouri, Married, Wife; in household with Rodney, 43, born Illinois, Married, Head, Salesman Corona Hardware; Catherine, 6, born Illinois, Daughter, Jean, 13, born Illinois, Daughter; Richard, 18, born California, Son; William, 16, born California, Son.