9781804940907

The raw, candid, unvarnished memoir of an icon. The greatest movie star of the past seventy-five years covers everything: his traumatic childhood, his career, his drinking, his thoughts on Marlon Brando, James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor, his greatest roles, acting, his intimate life with his wife, Joanne Woodward, his innermost fears and passions and joys. With thoughts and comments throughout from Joanne Woodward, Tom Cruise and many others.

‘Stuns with brutal honesty . . . smoulders with introspection.’

DAILY MAIL ‘Newman at his best . . . Twice the book one could have dared to hope for, a narrative that is astute, introspective and surprisingly graceful.’ WALL STREET JOURNAL ‘A painfully revealing memoir.’ OBSERVER ‘This is not your usual Hollywood celebrity memoir . . .

This is an exercise in soul-searching, in public therapy.’

MAIL ON SUNDAY

penguin.co.uk

£10.99

I S B N 978-1-804-94090-7

90000

9

AUTOBIOGRAPHY Cover design by Megan Wilson Cover photograph © David Sutton/ mptvimages.com

THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF AN ORDINARY MAN

Revelatory and introspective, loving and candid, complex and profound, The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man provides a new understanding of a man many admired but few really knew.

PAUL NEWMAN

‘Astonishing . . . only burnishes his reputation. Not because he bangs on about his glorious deeds – in fact, he barely mentions them at all – but because this once very private man reveals so much of his fascinating, never disappointing self.’

HADLEY FREEMAN, GUARDIAN

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

PAUL NEWMAN THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF AN ORDINARY MAN A MEMOIR ‘Eye-popping, naked honesty’

Telegraph

‘Astonishing’

Hadley Freeman, Guardian

‘Stunning’ Daily Mail

781804 940907

RAN5_NP_01TheExtraordinaryLifeofanOrdinaryManTPB_OUT_85805.pgs 22.08.2023 07:53

RAN5

PENGUIN BOOKS

‘Newman at his best . . . Twice the book one could have dared to hope for, a narrative that is astute, introspective and surprisingly graceful.’

Wall Street Journal ‘A stunning memoir . . . stuns with brutal honesty . . . smoulders with introspection.’

Daily Mail ‘It is not your usual Hollywood celebrity memoir . . . this is an exercise in soul-searching, in public therapy.’

Mail on Sunday ‘Utterly impossible to put down.’

Sunday Times Books of the Year ‘It’s never not psychologically fascinating.’

The Times ‘Painfully honest and full of jaw-dropping revelations.’

Spectator ‘A shocking posthumous memoir based on Paul Newman’s brutally honest lost recordings.’

Express

‘A candid reflection on a life filled with insecurity.’ iNews ‘Paul Newman speaks with a rawness in self-lacerating confession. His voice is that of a man breaking his silence, getting things off his chest. It is spiky and bitter, ironic and sharp, intelligent and unrelentingly self-critical.’

Live for Film ‘A fascinating insight into an icon who never felt comfortable with the Hollywood myth.’

Stylist

BASED ON INTERVIEWS AND ORAL HISTORIES CONDUCTED BY

Stewart Stern COMPILED AND EDITED BY

David Rosenthal FOREWORD BY

Melissa Newman AFTERWORD BY

Clea Newman Soderlund

P EN GU I N B O O K S

PENGUIN BOOKS UK | USA | Canada | Ireland | Australia India | New Zealand | South Africa Penguin Books is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies whose addresses can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com

First published in the US by Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York, in 2022 First published in the UK by Century in 2022 Published in Penguin Books 2023 001 Copyright © Joanne Woodward Newman, 2022 The moral right of the author has been asserted A select few names have been changed either due to inability to confirm a memory or to protect them from a subjective observation.

Typeset by North Market Street Graphics, Lancaster, Pennsylvania Printed and bound in Great Britain by Clays Ltd, Elcograf S.p.A. Book design by Pei Loi Koay The authorised representative in the EEA is Penguin Random House Ireland, Morrison Chambers, 32 Nassau Street, Dublin d 02 yh 68 A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library isbn : 978–1–804–94090–7

www.greenpenguin.co.uk Penguin Random House is committed to a sustainable future for our business, our readers and our planet. This book is made from Forest Stewardship Council® certified paper.

This book is dedicated to Stewart Henry Stern March 22, 1922–February 2, 2015

Success Success is what is what determines determines the diff theerence difference between between vision vision and irresponsibility. and irresponsibility.

If I had If I to had defi tone defi “Newman” ne “Newman” in theindictionary, the dictionary, I’d say: I’d say: “One“One whowho triestries too hard.” too hard.”

— P A— U LP N AU EW L M NA EW N ,MU AN NP, UUBNLPI SUHBELD ISH I NETDE R IN VTI EEW R VS I, E1991 W S , 1991

PAUL PAUL NEWMAN NEWMAN , CIRCA , CIRCA 1929 1929

foreword foreword

II

n September n September of 1986, of 1986, the the yearyear he embarked he embarked on this on this project, project, an an article article in The in The NewNew YorkYork Times Times described described PaulPaul Newman Newman as “aaslean “a lean 5-foot5-foot11.” 11.”

A gossip A gossip columnist columnist in the in the NewNew YorkYork Post Post countered countered thatthat “Any“Anyone one whowho has has metmet PaulPaul faceface to face to face sayssays he has he has never never hit 5hit foot5-foot11 11 except except in heels” in heels” and and offered offered a challenge: a challenge: “$1,000 “$1,000 to Newman’s to Newman’s favorite favorite charity charity or political or political candidate candidate for every for every inchinch he measures he measures overover 5-foot5-foot8 . . 8. barefoot.” . . . barefoot.”

Relishing Relishing the opportunity the opportunity to stick to stick it toit to PagePage Six, Six, our our dad dad matched matched it, upped it, upped the the anteante times times a hundred a hundred and and purchased purchased some some inversion inversion boots boots so he socould he could hanghang upside upside down down for for goodgood measure. measure.

To our To knowledge, our knowledge, the challenge the challenge was was dropped. dropped.

In 1986 In 1986 we can we can say with say with reasonable reasonable certainty certainty he measured he measured a solid a solid 5-foot-10.

5-foot-10.

BothBoth papers papers werewere wrong. wrong.

He had He had integrity. integrity.

He also He also had had an abiding an abiding preference preference for privacy, for privacy, and and always always felt awkward felt awkward in interviews. in interviews.

TheThe factfact thatthat our father our father everever considered considered the book the book you you nownow holdhold in your in your hands hands seems seems completely completely weird weird to us, to but us, but he did he did keepkeep at itatfor it fifor ve fiyears. ve years.

An off Anering offering to the to the offspring offspring is how is how he originally he originally thought thought of it.ofThat it. That and and maybe maybe a way a way to “set to “set the the public public record record straight” straight” afterafter being being dogged dogged mostmost of his of his life by lifethe by the tabloids. tabloids.

PartPart confessional, confessional, partpart self-analysis, self-analysis, it’s full it’s full of of the kinds the kinds of revelations of revelations that,that, had had theythey beenbeen shared shared withwith us sooner, us sooner, might might havehave made made for some for some deeply deeply meaningful meaningful conversations conversations about about relationships, relationships, identity, identity, luck,luck, and and art, art, and,and, mostmost likely, likely, some some pretty pretty uncomfortable uncomfortable family family dinners. dinners.

XII

•

foreword foreword

XII

•

He He decided decided the the onlyonly possible possible choice choice of collaborator of collaborator would would be be Stewart Stewart Stern, Stern, a dear a dear friend, friend, faithful faithful keeper keeper of family of family secrets, secrets, and and a breathtaking a breathtaking writer. writer.

Probably Probably bestbest known known for his for screenplay his screenplay of of RebelRebel Without Without a Cause, a Cause, he had he had alsoalso penned penned multiple multiple screenplays screenplays for for projects projects thatthat involved involved bothboth PaulPaul and and his second his second wife,wife, Joanne.

Joanne.

Stewart’s Stewart’s adoration adoration of both of both of them, of them, theirtheir collective collective children, children, and and theirtheir children’s children’s children children made made himhim the kind the kind of adopted of adopted relative relative whowho intertwined intertwined blissfully blissfully withwith the the family family DNA. DNA. Starting Starting in 1986 in 1986 he threw he threw himself himself intointo this this newnew project, project, passing passing along along the the subject’s subject’s insistence insistence thatthat all the all the interviewees interviewees be as bebluntly as bluntly truthful truthful as they as they could could manage. manage.

Close Close friends friends and and relatives relatives werewere hired hired to transcribe. to transcribe.

By 1991, By 1991, however, however, he and he and our our father father seemed seemed to have to have completely completely overwhelmed overwhelmed themselves themselves out out of it.ofThey it. They werewere up to uptheir to their eyeballs eyeballs in material. in material.

NotNot much much was was saidsaid afterafter that.that.

After After a year’s a year’s illness illness (and(and almost almost one one yearyear exactly exactly fromfrom his fihis nalfiwin nal win at Lime at Lime Rock Rock racerace track), track), our our father father passed passed awayaway in 2008. in 2008.

He was He was eightyeightythree. three.

For For us, for us, what for what seemed seemed an eternity, an eternity, the the world world stopped. stopped.

There There was was the the inevitable inevitable confusion confusion and and chaos chaos to betodealt be dealt with, with, and and the fog the of foggrief. of grief.

Nearly Nearly a decade a decade crawled crawled by. Once by. Once in a while, in a while, the topic the topic of the of tranthe transcripts scripts would would come come up. Details up. Details werewere hazy.hazy.

There There had had beenbeen rumors rumors of of a bonfi a bonfi re. Stewart, re. Stewart, whowho at ninetyat ninetytwo two was was nownow coming coming to the to end the end of of his own his own life journey, life journey, was was desperate desperate to know to know whatwhat happened happened to them. to them.

He wanted He wanted them them archived archived at least at least for posterity. for posterity.

Before Before the mystery the mystery could could be solved, be solved, he was he was gone. gone.

We assumed We assumed the transcripts the transcripts werewere floating floating around around somewhere. somewhere.

Or Or perhaps perhaps not.not.

We We wanted wanted to see to them see them . . . or . . .did or we, did we, really? really?

In 2019 In 2019 we stumbled we stumbled upon upon some some ancillary ancillary interviews interviews in locked in locked file cabinets file cabinets thatthat had had migrated migrated to the to the damp damp basement basement of the of the family family house house in in Connecticut.

Connecticut.

Sometime Sometime laterlater our our friend, friend, producer producer Emily Emily Wachtel, Wachtel, found found the the entirety entirety of our of our father’s father’s transcripts transcripts as she as she was was archiving archiving a family a family storage storage unit.unit.

A cursory A cursory peekpeek turned turned intointo a yeara yearlonglong readreading project, ing project, and and whatwhat was was revealed revealed felt felt raw raw and and personal. personal.

Fourteen Fourteen

foreword foreword XIII •

•

XIII

thousand thousand pages pages in, she in, she suggested suggested it might it might be interesting be interesting to try to to try to finish finish whatwhat was was started. started.

YouYou can can readread about about private private jets jets and and red red carpets carpets elsewhere. elsewhere.

ThisThis is defi is nitely definitely not not that.that.

Instead, Instead, it’s sort it’s sort of aof selfa selfdissection, dissection, a picka picking ing apart apart of feelings, of feelings, motives, motives, and and motivations, motivations, augmented augmented by aby a Greek Greek chorus chorus of other of other voices voices and and opinions, opinions, relatives, relatives, Navy Navy buddies, buddies, and and fellow fellow artists. artists.

OneOne overriding overriding theme theme is the is the chronic chronic insecurity insecurity which which will will be familiar be familiar to sotomany so many artists. artists.

Objectivity Objectivity is fickle. is fickle.

It’s It’s diffidiffi cultcult for some for some people people to understand, to understand, given given all that all that success, success, howhow thatthat sense sense of doubt of doubt could could be so berelentless. so relentless.

Here Here was was someone someone whowho suspected suspected himself himself an impostor, an impostor, an ordinary an ordinary manman withwith an extraordian extraordinarynary faceface and and luckluck on his on side, his side, achieving achieving far beyond far beyond whatwhat he’dhe’d set set out out to do. to He do. always He always felt felt it was it was tenacity, tenacity, not not talent, talent, thatthat saw saw himhim through. through.

There There werewere some some whowho dismissed dismissed him,him, but but luckily luckily there there werewere alsoalso plenty plenty whowho recognized recognized something something remarkable remarkable in him in him longlong before before he did. he did.

AndAnd finally, finally, there there is the is the public public fairyfairy tale tale of two of two Hollywood Hollywood starsstars and and theirtheir blissfully blissfully uncomplicated uncomplicated fifty-fiyear fty-year marriage, marriage, which, which, besides besides being being bogus, bogus, seems seems unfair unfair to anyone, to anyone, famous famous or not, or not, whowho has has everever committed committed to ato romantic a romantic relationship. relationship.

Acknowledge Acknowledge thatthat there there werewere two two families, families, half half siblings, siblings, and and other other collateral collateral damage damage and and suddenly suddenly the the story story becomes becomes far more far more relatable. relatable.

TheThe mood mood in in the the house house was was unstable, unstable, stormy stormy one one minute, minute, joyous joyous the the next.next.

TheThe truth truth ultimately ultimately givesgives more more credit credit to the to the fleshfleshand-andblood blood couple couple whowho weathered weathered all ofallthat of that drama drama and and betrayal betrayal and and came came out out on the on the other other side,side, battlebattlescarred scarred but but still still inexorably inexorably intertwined. intertwined.

It’s It’s a cliché a cliché for for fathers fathers of aofcertain a certain vintage vintage to be to distant be distant or or unknowable. unknowable.

OursOurs was was the the inevitable inevitable sequel sequel to his to own his own frustrated frustrated father father and and all the all the preceding preceding generations generations thatthat flailed flailed awayaway at parat parenting enting withwith littlelittle or no orguidance. no guidance.

ThisThis book book looks looks backward backward fromfrom a moment a moment in time. in time.

To his To lasting his lasting credit, credit, our our father father continued continued to to evolve evolve afterafter these these interviews interviews werewere conducted, conducted, contributing contributing some some of of the best the best of himself, of himself, emotionally, emotionally, artistically, artistically, and and altruistically altruistically all the all the

XIV

foreword foreword

• XIV

•

wayway to the to end. the end.

To suddenly To suddenly havehave at our at fi our ngertips fingertips this this encyclopedia encyclopedia of his of thoughts his thoughts and and motivations, motivations, his confl his confl icts icts . . . his . . . context, his context, has has been, been, shallshall we say, we say, deep. deep.

ThatThat he speaks he speaks about about wanting wanting us tousknow to know everything everything is beyond is beyond moving. moving.

Melissa Melissa Newman Newman

introduction introduction

LL

et’s et’s see see if weif can we can write write a first a fichapter, rst chapter, thenthen try that try that withwith a a second second chapter, chapter, thenthen a third, a third, thenthen a fourth a fourth and and a fifth a fi.fth .. ...

Let’sLet’s see now: see now: we’ve we’ve got that got that covered, covered, we’ve we’ve got this got covered— this covered— we’ve we’ve got got the the attitude attitude down, down, the the creation, creation, the the drinking drinking and and all of all of the humor the humor and and whatever whatever the morality the morality is. is.

TheThe mostmost ironic ironic thing thing of all ofisallthat is that one one could could say at saythe at the beginbeginning,ning, like like writers writers do in dosome in some biographies, biographies, “This “This is the is the boy boy whowho accomplished accomplished this this and and thenthen thatthat and and thenthen grewgrew up to upbe tothe be prime the prime minister. minister.

AndAnd nownow we’llwe’ll go back go back and and looklook at the at details the details of how of how thatthat happened.” happened.”

But But it turns it turns out that out that this this book book is just is just the story the story of a of little a little boy boy whowho became became a decoration a decoration for his for mother, his mother, a decoration a decoration for her for her house, house, admired admired for his for decorative his decorative nature. nature.

If heIfhad he had beenbeen an ugly an ugly child, child, his his mother mother would would not not havehave given given himhim the the timetime of day. of day.

If heIfhad he had had had a a limp, limp, or an oreyelid an eyelid thatthat drooped, drooped, and and she she stopped stopped to comfort to comfort thatthat small small invalid invalid beside beside her, her, it would it would havehave beenbeen to satisfy to satisfy her own her own sense sense of needing of needing to comfort to comfort something— something— but but nothing nothing actually actually to do towith do with the boy. the boy.

AndAnd the boy the boy became became so off soended offended by the by artifi the artifi ciality ciality of it,ofand it, and the the factfact thatthat it did it not did not relate relate or connect or connect to him to him in any in any way,way, thatthat the core the core of this of this kid fi kid nally finally said,said, “Jesus “Jesus Christ, Christ, taketake it, it’s it,yours! it’s yours!

I’m I’m going going to to savesave what’s what’s left of leftme of over me over here.” here.”

Then Then the boy the boy withwith the decoration the decoration just just ran away ran away withwith the football. the football.

He was He was getting getting everything. everything.

He was He was eating eating and and living living well,well, and and he was he was leaving leaving the the core— the core— the orphan, the orphan, if you if you will— will— in the in dust. the dust.

XVI

•

introduction

But the orphan kept running to catch up with that decorative little shit he so despised, even as the decorative little shit was getting away with all the honors, doing all the plays, grabbing all the encomiums and the praise, and the orphan kept losing ground. He never did catch up until the last few years, and then he said, “Whoa.

Wait a second. Let me at least look around and see if I can make any sense out of this.”

I was my mother’s Pinocchio, the one that went wrong.

And I’m still trying today to disentangle my own heart and wants from everyone else around me who are certain they know the answers.

This book came out of the struggle to try and explain it all to my kids. I was thought of as distant and reserved; well, that happened not because other people’s arms were too long but because mine were too short. And as their arms became longer and longer, my own became shorter and shorter: it was a sense of suffocation that happened to me.

I want to leave some kind of record that sets things straight, pokes holes in the mythology that’s sprung up around me, destroys some of the legends, and keeps the piranhas off. Something that documents the time I was on this planet with some kind of accuracy. Probably, in my dotage, I’ll go over it and create an autobiography with some semblance of truth. Because what exists on the record now has no bearing at all on the truth.

That’s all I really want to do.

the extraordinary life of an ordinary man

i i

II

’m in ’mmy in Connecticut my Connecticut house, house, in the in the library, library, sitting sitting by the by the fire fire on aon formal a formal littlelittle couch. couch.

I just I just smoked smoked a joint a joint and and remembered remembered withwith absolute absolute clarity clarity the whole the whole mapmap of my of boyhood my boyhood hometown, hometown, Shaker Shaker Heights, Heights, Ohio.

Ohio.

It’s It’s all there all there to be to remembered, be remembered, things things I I thought thought werewere deaddead and and buried, buried, things things I never I never thought thought I’d recall I’d recall ... ...

I was I was bornborn there there in 1925. in 1925.

Shaker Shaker Heights Heights thenthen was was the Cleveland the Cleveland suburb suburb thatthat every every other other American American suburb suburb aspired aspired to become. to become.

It was It was the the standard standard by which by which other other affluent affluent places places measured measured themselves. themselves.

We We livedlived in a in spacious, a spacious, threethreestory story home home on Brighton on Brighton Road, Road, which which was was far from far from the the wealthiest wealthiest stretch stretch in the in the neighborhood, neighborhood, but but we we werewere certainly certainly well-wellto-do. to-My do. My father, father, Arthur, Arthur, and and his brother, his brother, Joe Joe (known (known as J.S., as J.S., and and in his in spare his spare timetime a prolifi a prolifi c author c author of popular of popular doggerel), doggerel), ran the ran Newmanthe NewmanStern Stern sportingsportinggoods goods company company fromfrom an an imposing imposing corner corner building building downtown; downtown; in itsincategory, its category, it was it was second second onlyonly to New to New York’s York’s original original Abercrombie Abercrombie & Fitch. & Fitch.

Having Having grown grown up in upShaker in Shaker Heights, Heights, I can I can still still remember remember the the horsehorsedrawn drawn carriages carriages thatthat pulled pulled the the milkmilk wagons wagons or the or the blocks blocks of ice. of ice.

OurOur public public schools schools werewere considered considered the the bestbest in the in the United United States.

States.

There There werewere hundreds hundreds of acres of acres of woods, of woods, and and five filittle ve little lakeslakes where where we’dwe’d fish fiand sh and explore. explore.

Safety Safety was was never never an issue; an issue; in summerin summertime, time, you you could could spend spend fourfour daysdays in those in those woods woods and and nothing nothing would would happen happen to harm to harm you.you.

TheThe mostmost raucous raucous it got it was got was when when we kids we kids had had a “war”; a “war”; we’dwe’d snatch snatch people’s people’s tomatotomatoplant plant stakes stakes and and throw throw them them as spears, as spears, defending defending ourselves ourselves withwith garbagegarbagecan can lids.lids.

It was It was like like a a ritual ritual fromfrom Papua Papua NewNew Guinea.

Guinea.

4

•

the 4 the extraordinary extraordinary lifelife of an ofordinary an ordinary manman •

All the All the families families werewere lily white; lily white; no foreigners, no foreigners, no Black no Black people, people, either, either, amidamid the quiet the quiet streets streets and and estates. estates.

TheThe Newmans Newmans maymay havehave beenbeen the the firstfiJewish rst Jewish family family to penetrate to penetrate Brighton Brighton Road.

Road.

But But we we werewere really really just just like like anyone anyone else;else; we’dwe’d holdhold makeshift makeshift circuses circuses in our in our backyard, backyard, selling selling lemonade, lemonade, doing doing fancy fancy tricks tricks on our on swings. our swings.

Young Young kidskids my age my and age and thatthat of my of older my older brother, brother, Art Art Jr., would Jr., would come come to my to my house house and and our our father father would would entertain entertain them them by telling by telling them them mademadeup stories, up stories, starring starring his creations his creations the the ever-everadventurous adventurous Terry Terry Berry Berry Boys.

Boys.

He’dHe’d recount recount them them as a as serial, a serial, a diffaerent different chapter chapter every every night. night.

AndAnd when when he was he was finished, finished, he’dhe’d make make believe believe he was he was a scary a scary ani- animal,mal, and and all the all the neighborhood neighborhood kidskids would would jump jump on top on top of him of him and and wrestle wrestle him.him.

He’dHe’d cover cover up, like up, like a boxer; a boxer; thenthen it would it would just just be over. be over.

“That’s “That’s the the end,end, guys,” guys,” he’dhe’d say, say, and and the the children children would would be ushered be ushered backback to their to their ownown houses houses while while Art Art and and I headed I headed to bed. to bed.

Of course, Of course, Art Art would would always always findfithe nd time the time to kick to kick the bejesus the bejesus out out of me, of me, often often in what in what we called we called “the“the club”— club”— actually actually our home’s our home’s thirdthirdfloorfl“attic,” oor “attic,” where where we shared we shared a playroom. a playroom.

He’dHe’d delight delight in sitting in sitting on my on back, my back, taking taking holdhold of my of chin my chin and and seeing seeing just just howhow far he farcould he could bendbend backback my neck. my neck.

I think I think he felt he felt I I deserved deserved it, because it, because he thought he thought I was I was getting getting all the all the attention attention fromfrom our our mother, mother, Tress, Tress, all ofallher of her devotion, devotion, and and thatthat he didn’t he didn’t get get more more thanthan crumbs. crumbs.

TheThe big diff big erence difference between between Arthur Arthur and and me was me was thatthat our our different different relationships relationships withwith our our mother mother didn’t didn’t ultimately ultimately bother bother him.him.

Arthur Arthur always always thought thought thatthat of the of the choices choices available available to to him,him, GodGod had had put put himhim in a in place a place where where nothing nothing could could be better. be better.

My My brother brother chose chose to remember to remember the the goodgood things things fromfrom our our childhood, childhood, while while I best I best recall recall the failures the failures and and the things the things thatthat didn’t didn’t go right. go right.

We We spent spent a lota of lottime of time up in upour in our playroom; playroom; it’s where it’s where we did we did our our homework. homework.

Art Art practiced practiced his drums his drums there, there, too,too, while while I played I played records records on the on Victrola the Victrola and and sat in sata comfortable in a comfortable chairchair reading reading lots lots of of comic comic books. books.

OurOur “club” “club” was was more more congenial congenial thanthan our family’s our family’s fancy fancy living living room room downstairs, downstairs, where where no one no one really really did did any any living. living.

YouYou might might say my say sense my sense of “decoration” of “decoration” began began rightright there there in that in that care-carefullyfully furnished furnished showplace. showplace.

My mother My mother tooktook greatgreat pride pride in how in how thatthat

paulpaul newman newman 5 •

•

5

PAUL PAUL AND ARTHUR AND ARTHUR JR ., CIRCA JR ., CIRCA 1929 1929

living living room room looked; looked; to me, to me, her her tastetaste was was chilly, chilly, sortsort of what of what today today might might be called be called “Bloomingdale’s “Bloomingdale’s Modern.”

Modern.”

Everything Everything was was manimanicured; cured; everything everything was was designed designed for appearance, for appearance, not not comfort. comfort.

Early Early on, she on, she decided decided to lay to down lay down all-black all-black carpeting— carpeting— and and thenthen bought bought herself herself a white a white Spitz Spitz dog dog because because it looked it looked greatgreat on the on the carpet. carpet.

Of Of course, course, whenever whenever the dog the dog moved, moved, he left he aleft trail a trail of white of white fur. fur.

Next Next to the to the living living room room was was a proper a proper dining dining room, room, where where for for yearsyears we ate we virtually ate virtually all our all our meals meals together; together; there there was was rarely rarely any any

6

•

the 6 the extraordinary extraordinary lifelife of an ofordinary an ordinary manman •

conversation, conversation, and and the the evenings evenings at the at the tabletable could could be painful. be painful.

OurOur dining dining tabletable was was inlaid, inlaid, and and always always covered covered withwith a linen a linen tablecloth. tablecloth.

It would It would be set be each set each night night withwith wonderful wonderful china. china.

We’dWe’d be sitting be sitting there, there, my father my father always always the last the last to arrive. to arrive.

He often He often worewore a jacket a jacket and and tie, tie, though though if he’d if he’d had had the the timetime to change to change afterafter work, work, sometimes sometimes a bathrobe. a bathrobe.

Although Although we had we had a maid, a maid, my mother my mother would would passpass the the plates plates around around herself, herself, often often serving serving some some veryvery simply simply cooked cooked meat, meat, vegetables, vegetables, and and mashed mashed potatoes. potatoes.

Before Before beginning, beginning, there’d there’d usually usually be some be some sortsort of toast of toast offered offered by my by father; my father; my brother my brother and and I would I would clinkclink our water our water glasses. glasses.

My My mother mother eventually eventually decided decided she she didn’t didn’t wantwant to keep to keep ironing ironing thatthat linenlinen tablecloth, tablecloth, so she so had she had us move us move to the to much the much smaller smaller breakbreakfast fast room room off the off the kitchen kitchen for our for our meals. meals.

My My father father disagreed disagreed withwith thatthat shift, shift, so he socontinued he continued to eat toin eatthe in dining the dining room, room, alone. alone.

Dessert Dessert would would be pudding be pudding or cake— or cake— my mother my mother was was a fine a fibaker— ne baker— and and afterafter thatthat Father Father would would say “Excuse say “Excuse me”me” and and go upstairs go upstairs to read to read (he never (he never tiredtired of the of Encyclopaedia the Encyclopaedia Britannica, Britannica, which which he went he went through through end end to to end end more more thanthan once) once) or toortake to take a nap. a nap.

Art Art and and I would I would helphelp withwith the the dishes, dishes, thenthen go up goto upour to our playroom, playroom, cookcook a batch a batch of popcorn, of popcorn, and and drink drink icediced tea or teapop. or pop.

It was It was alsoalso in the in the dining dining room room thatthat Art Art and and I would I would bangbang our our heads heads against against the the wall.wall.

Literally.

Literally.

We We did did it initsecret in secret untiluntil the the dentdent got big got enough big enough for my for parents my parents to notice. to notice.

ThisThis was was not not some some tippytippytoe banging; toe banging; this this was was a serious a serious whacking whacking thatthat tooktook down down the plaster the plaster behind behind the wall the wall covering. covering.

We must We must havehave knocked knocked our fucking our fucking brains brains out.out.

It was It was our our ownown Wailing Wailing Wall.

Wall.

I couldn’t I couldn’t taketake my rage my rage out out on on anybody anybody my size, my size, so Iso took I took it out it out against against the the wall.wall.

Today, Today, it makes it makes me laugh me laugh to think to think of us— of us— these these two two littlelittle guysguys tapping tapping eacheach other other on on the shoulder, the shoulder, saying: saying: “My“My turn.” turn.” . . . “Oh, . . . “Oh, afterafter you!”you!”

Art Art was was bigger, bigger, so he soprobably he probably got the got fi the rstfishot. rst shot.

Since Since his head his head was was about about six inches six inches higher higher thanthan mine, mine, we never we never banged banged at exactly at exactly the same the same spot.spot.

(Years (Years later,later, when when I came I came home home afterafter World World WarWar II, III, checked I checked on the on wall the wall and and was was amazed amazed to see to the see huge the huge ruptures.) ruptures.)

OurOur house house contained contained the sounds the sounds of constant of constant warfare. warfare.

It could It could be be

paulpaul newman newman 7 •

•

7

ARTHUR ARTHUR AND PAUL AND PAUL IN THE INMID THE- 1930 MID -S1930 S

a quiet a quiet war,war, like like the chunking the chunking of knives of knives in human in human flesh, flesh, as surreptias surreptitioustious and and stalking stalking as commandos as commandos moving moving silently silently through through the night. the night.

It could It could alsoalso be explosive be explosive and and noisy, noisy, which which was was usually usually my mother my mother erupting. erupting.

Or threatening Or threatening to erupt. to erupt.

We’dWe’d sit there sit there waiting waiting for somefor something thing to go towrong, go wrong, for somebody for somebody to fall to off fall the off the eggshells eggshells and and run,run, waiting waiting for afor mistake a mistake and and the the explosion explosion to follow. to follow.

We’dWe’d be inbebed, in bed, and and we’dwe’d hearhear our our parents parents fighting, fighting, hollering hollering at each at each other. other.

I’d hear I’d hear

8

•

the 8 the extraordinary extraordinary lifelife of an ofordinary an ordinary manman •

things things breaking. breaking.

There There was was one one fightfight where where my mother my mother tooktook a pica pictureture down down fromfrom the the wallwall and and broke broke it over it over the the top top of my of father’s my father’s head. head.

It was It was a pastel a pastel of nymphs of nymphs cavorting cavorting nudenude (which (which I had I had examexaminedined many many times times withwith a magnifying a magnifying glass). glass).

It hung It hung rightright overover the sofa the sofa in the in the living living room. room.

My My father father mustmust havehave beenbeen left left walking walking around around withwith the frame the frame around around his shoulders. his shoulders.

I’m I’m certain certain there’d there’d beenbeen seri-serious ous grief,grief, but but all Iall seeI in seemy in head my head nownow are cartoon are cartoon images images of these of these things. things.

When When I was I was five fi years ve years old, old, America America entered entered its Great its Great Depression.

Depression.

A A full 85 fullpercent 85 percent of the of sportingthe sportinggoods goods stores stores in the in country the country wentwent bustbust in those in those years, years, and and my father my father seemed seemed in the in the depths depths of despair. of despair.

We We werewere a luxury a luxury storestore at a at time a time when when no one no one was was buying buying luxury luxury items. items.

NewmanNewmanStern Stern would would holdhold a sale, a sale, and and whether whether it was it was successful successful or or not not would would determine determine whether whether we’dwe’d staystay open. open.

At one At one point, point, the the brothers brothers Newman Newman ran ran out out of cash; of cash; I rememI remember ber my father my father going going to Chicago to Chicago and and getting getting the the Spalding Spalding and and Wil-Wilson son companies companies to extend to extend himhim $250,000 $250,000 worth worth of merchandise of merchandise on on consignment; consignment; my dad my dad had had suchsuch a fine a fireputation ne reputation for integrity, for integrity, the the manufacturers manufacturers knew knew they’d they’d eventually eventually get paid get paid backback for their for their goods. goods.

It was It was an extraordinary an extraordinary testament testament to my to dad my dad and and my uncle my uncle Joe and Joe and theirtheir codecode of doing of doing business business thatthat theythey survived survived the the Depression Depression financially financially intact. intact.

All of Allusofhelped us helped out.out.

My father My father would would never never let my let mother my mother work, work, but but she she still still let the let the maidmaid go—go— and and he was he was furious furious about about this.this.

My My mother mother said,said, “I’ll “I’ll clean, clean, and and I’ll take I’ll take the the money money I was I was paying paying the the maidmaid and and buy buy the the kindkind of furniture of furniture I want.”

I want.”

AndAnd she she did.did.

She She tooktook on all onthe all the washing, washing, the the mangling, mangling, the the ironing, ironing, purchased purchased newnew fur- furnishings nishings or reupholstered or reupholstered the old the furniture old furniture herself, herself, eveneven sewed sewed the the drapes drapes and and valances. valances.

(It was (It was a great a great source source of pride, of pride, and and a triumph a triumph of of keeping keeping up appearances, up appearances, thatthat my father my father never never let our let our membership membership lapselapse at the at Jewish the Jewish country country club,club, the Oakwood.) the Oakwood.)

I began I began working working in the in Newmanthe NewmanStern Stern stockroom, stockroom, and and as I as gotI agot a

paulpaul newman newman 9 •

•

9

littlelittle older, older, I was I was moved moved to the to sales the sales floor. floor.

I sold I sold all kinds all kinds of things: of things: binoculars, binoculars, balls, balls, tennis tennis gear.gear.

I was I was a good a good salesman, salesman, an honest an honest salessalesman.man.

If I was If I was selling selling a guya guy a bowling a bowling ball ball and and he said, he said, “Golly, “Golly, I really I really don’tdon’t know know if I need if I need a new a new bowling bowling ball,” ball,” I’d say, I’d “If say,you “If you don’tdon’t needneed it, don’t it, don’t buy buy it.” Iit.” enjoyed I enjoyed working working there. there.

Following Following World World WarWar II, NewmanII, NewmanStern Stern alsoalso carried carried armyarmy sur- surplus.plus.

A guy A guy had had dropped dropped by peddling by peddling crates crates of leftover of leftover Norden Norden bombsights, bombsights, the the futuristic, futuristic, onceoncetop-topsecret secret military military device device thatthat allowed allowed US planes US planes to accurately to accurately dropdrop theirtheir payloads payloads on Germany on Germany and and Japan.

Japan.

ThisThis guy guy couldn’t couldn’t unload unload his cumbersome his cumbersome inventory, inventory, understandably. understandably.

You’d You’d see these see these elaborate elaborate contraptions contraptions and and think, think, “What “What can can anyone anyone use use this this thing thing for?”for?”

But But Uncle Uncle Joe (who’d Joe (who’d studstudied applied ied applied science science while while in college) in college) and and my father my father began began taking taking the the machines machines apart apart and and figured figured out out the puzzle. the puzzle.

There There was was a segment a segment of of the bombsight the bombsight where where if you if you pushed pushed a little a little button, button, a powerful a powerful elec-electric tric motor motor turned turned on, and on, and withwith a little a little improvisation improvisation you you could could havehave yourself yourself a relatively a relatively inexpensive inexpensive automatic automatic garagegaragedoordoor opener. opener.

There There werewere rheostats rheostats thatthat could could be repurposed be repurposed for many for many critical critical household household uses,uses, and and eveneven an early an early analog analog computer computer was was builtbuilt in. in.

TheThe brothers brothers tooktook a fulla fullpagepage ad in adthe in the Cleveland Cleveland PlainPlain Dealer Dealer describing describing howhow eacheach of the of the bombsight’s bombsight’s thirtythirtysix separate six separate comcomponents ponents might might be repurposed. be repurposed.

For For three three or four or four days,days, you you couldn’t couldn’t fightfight youryour wayway intointo our our store. store.

Cleveland’s Cleveland’s renowned renowned CaseCase School School called called and and bought bought two two entire entire unitsunits for $2,800 for $2,800 apiece— apiece— a tremena tremendousdous amount amount of money of money then. then.

It was It was bedlam— bedlam— maybe maybe $200,000 $200,000 in in revenue revenue for afor few a few days.days.

Uncle Uncle Joe Joe and and my father my father werewere ebullient. ebullient.

It wasn’t It wasn’t so much so much the the money, money, but but thatthat theythey had had taken taken something something thatthat had had beenbeen offered offered around around everywhere everywhere and and onlyonly theythey had had the vision the vision to see to its seepossibiliits possibilities.ties.

They’d They’d invented invented a huge a huge success. success.

ThisThis was was the romance the romance of retailof retailing. ing.

AndAnd the brothers the brothers Newman Newman werewere romantics. romantics.

It hadn’t It hadn’t started started thatthat way,way, certainly certainly not not for my for father. my father.

When When he he was was a young a young man,man, my father my father wanted wanted to be toabe writer; a writer; it was it was really really all all he wanted he wanted to do. to Not do. Not longlong afterafter returning returning fromfrom his service his service in World in World

10

•

• 10 the the extraordinary extraordinary lifelife of an ofordinary an ordinary manman

ARTHUR ARTHUR NEWMAN NEWMAN SR . ATSRHIS . ATOFFICE HIS OFFICE IN 1938 IN 1938

WarWar I, heI, became he became the the youngest youngest reporter reporter everever hired hired by the by the CleveClevelandland Press.Press.

But But brother brother Joe Joe seduced seduced himhim intointo joining joining his fl his edgling fledgling sportingsportinggoods goods business, business, which which originally originally had had specialized specialized in selling in selling electricalelectricalexperiment experiment kits kits for boys for boys as well as well as more as more sophisticated sophisticated microphones, microphones, transmitters, transmitters, and and telegraphs. telegraphs.

(The(The big move big move to sportto sporting ing goods goods came came afterafter the the government government banned banned private private telegraphy telegraphy equipment equipment salessales following following America’s America’s declaration declaration of war of war on the on Kaithe Kai-

paulpaul newman newman 11 •

•

11

ser in ser1917.) in 1917.)

Joe Joe was was the the firm’s firm’s president, president, my father my father the the secretarysecretarytreasurer, treasurer, and and he fell he fell under under the the shadow shadow of my of uncle. my uncle.

He He couldn’t couldn’t findfiand way a way out— out— he was he was just just starting starting a family, a family, he had he had responsibilities, responsibilities, and and he was he was an honorable an honorable man.man.

He He couldn’t couldn’t possibly possibly place place all the all the financial financial burden burden on his on young his young wife,wife, and and Arthur Arthur Newman Newman Sr. never Sr. never believed believed in divorce. in divorce.

He became He became a prisoner: a prisoner: imprisoned imprisoned by the by the store, store, imprisoned imprisoned by by his dick, his dick, withwith no time no time to really to really think think through through his decisions. his decisions.

I don’t I don’t think think his work his work ultimately ultimately pleased pleased him.him.

I don’t I don’t think think his his castle castle pleased pleased him.him.

AndAnd I don’t I don’t think think his family his family pleased pleased him,him, either. either.

Teresa Teresa Fetzko, Fetzko, my mother, my mother, was was a beautiful a beautiful young young woman woman whowho immiimmigrated grated herehere withwith her her family family fromfrom Eastern Eastern Europe Europe (what (what was was thenthen the the disintegrating disintegrating AustroAustroHungarian Hungarian Empire, Empire, the the partpart we we nownow call call Slovakia).

Slovakia).

She She arrived arrived not not longlong afterafter the the turnturn of the of the twentieth twentieth century, century, practically practically a girl, a girl, practically practically in rags. in rags.

HerHer family family was was veryvery poor, poor, and and thatthat contributed contributed to my to mother’s my mother’s everlasting everlasting fearfear of losof losing everything. ing everything.

She She claimed claimed her her father father was was a professor, a professor, but but in fact in fact he was he was a bricklayer. a bricklayer.

HerHer ownown mother mother had had dieddied when when she she was was still still a child, a child, and and at sixteen at sixteen she she married married a young a young guy, guy, but but divorced divorced himhim shortly shortly afterwards afterwards because, because, she claimed, she claimed, he abused he abused her. her.

When When my father my father metmet her, her, she was she was working working as a as ticket a ticket taker taker at the at the Alhambra Alhambra Theatre Theatre in Cleveland. in Cleveland.

Going Going out with out with my father, my father, whowho was was far more far more accomplished accomplished thanthan she she was,was, she she decided decided to convert to convert fromfrom Roman Roman Catholicism Catholicism to the to the relatively relatively less less fraught fraught (and(and perhaps perhaps less less familiar familiar to her to her beau’s beau’s Jewish Jewish family) family) Christian Christian Science.

Science.

She She soonsoon became became pregnant pregnant by my by father, my father, and and despite despite a great a great dealdeal of pressure of pressure fromfrom his family, his family, the baby the baby (my (my brother, brother, Art Art Jr.) was Jr.) was indeed indeed bornborn and and Arthur Arthur Sr. and Sr. and Tress Tress married married sometime sometime later.later.

My father My father did so didunder so under duress, duress, and and I suspect I suspect had had he not he not beenbeen suchsuch an honorable an honorable man,man, he he would would havehave left left her her in a in minute. a minute.

I’m I’m not not suresure if my if mother my mother simply simply loved loved himhim greatly, greatly, abhorred abhorred abortion, abortion, or had or had other other reasons reasons for wedfor wedlock,lock, but but the the two two of them of them managed managed to settle to settle down down together. together.

I was I was

12

•

• 12 the the extraordinary extraordinary lifelife of an ofordinary an ordinary manman

bornborn just just about about a year a year afterafter Art Art Jr., aJr., pending a pending birth birth thatthat apparently apparently prompted prompted considerable considerable discussion discussion about about alternative alternative options. options.

TheThe Newman Newman relatives, relatives, fromfrom the the beginning, beginning, had had an attitude an attitude about about Tress Tress for many for many reasons. reasons.

Because Because she she was was a Gentile a Gentile and and theythey werewere Jews, Jews, eveneven if mostly if mostly nonpracticing nonpracticing ones. ones.

Because Because she was she was gor-gorgeous. geous.

Because Because theythey considered considered her her a hussy a hussy (“Wasn’t (“Wasn’t she she a divora divorcée?”), cée?”), a gold a gold digger, digger, and and below below theirtheir social social and and educational educational station station (ironic, (ironic, given given thatthat onlyonly one one generation generation removed, removed, the the Newmans Newmans themselves themselves werewere itinerant itinerant peddlers peddlers and and tinkers). tinkers).

They They viewed viewed my my mother’s mother’s people people as anasembarrassment. an embarrassment.

HowHow inferior inferior thatthat mustmust havehave made made her feel; her feel; howhow left out left it out must it must havehave made made himhim feel!feel!

My My father father was was basically basically a shy a shy manman whowho never, never, in my in my memory, memory, mingled mingled withwith his wife’s his wife’s family. family.

My mother My mother tooktook my brother my brother and and me me every every other other week week to visit to visit our dour our dour and and silent silent grandfather grandfather (where (where we we werewere fed fed his wife’s his wife’s wonderful wonderful chicken chicken soup), soup), but but my father my father never never came came along; along; I think I think he met he met them them onlyonly twice. twice.

I also I also think think my father my father was was angry angry at usatfor us going, for going, because because we always we always visited visited our our grandpargrandparentsents on aon Sunday; a Sunday; my father my father worked worked six days six days a week, a week, and and our our tripstrips left left himhim home home alone. alone.

Sunday, Sunday, in fact, in fact, was was less less happy happy for him for him thanthan any any other other day day of the of the week. week.

Still,Still, my father my father didn’t didn’t wantwant anything anything to to do with do with them; them; I don’t I don’t eveneven know know if heifever he ever allowed allowed them them to set tofoot set foot in our in house. our house.

They They werewere the poor the poor relations. relations.

It’s It’s probably probably not not surprising, surprising, then, then, thatthat my my mother mother became became a a veryvery private private woman woman withwith onlyonly a few a few closeclose friends. friends.

AndAnd while while she she was was devoted devoted to her to house her house and and her husband, her husband, she ultimately she ultimately despised despised them them both, both, and and mistrusted mistrusted all ofallher of family. her family.

She She was was the most the most suspisuspicious cious woman woman whowho everever lived, lived, hysterical hysterical withwith the thought the thought she’dshe’d never never be accepted be accepted or get or her get fair her fair share share of anything. of anything.

AndAnd those those suspicions suspicions followed followed us throughout us throughout our lives. our lives.

What What my mother my mother did embrace did embrace was was her own her own consuming consuming passions— passions— although although never never the the objects objects thatthat created created the the passion. passion.

She She came came to to lovelove opera, opera, for example, for example, and and would would dragdrag me to mefito ve-fihour ve-hour Wagner Wagner performances performances at Severance at Severance Hall;Hall; the the music music would would provoke provoke a soara soaring response ing response in her. in her.

As aAs child, a child, I might I might do something do something cutecute or come or come

paulpaul newman newman 13 •

•

13

ARTHUR ARTHUR AND TRESS AND TRESS IN 1921 IN 1921

downstairs downstairs looking looking especially especially pretty, pretty, wearing wearing littlelittle shorts shorts and and a a sweater, sweater, and and she she reveled reveled in the in the greatgreat flood flood of emotion of emotion thatthat flowed flowed through through her, her, whether whether it was it was tearstears or joy. or The joy. The childchild himself himself was was not not really really seen, seen, just just as the as the opera opera was was not not really really heard. heard.

What What happened happened inside inside her her headhead and and heart heart had had veryvery littlelittle to do towith do with the Wagner the Wagner or or withwith me, me, onlyonly withwith her her ownown flood flood of ecstasy. of ecstasy.

YouYou could could onlyonly praypray

14

•

• 14 the the extraordinary extraordinary lifelife of an ofordinary an ordinary manman

thatthat she’dshe’d let go letofgoyou. of you.

AndAnd if the if child the child managed managed to pull to pull awayaway or the or the music music stopped, stopped, she she wouldn’t wouldn’t havehave missed missed either either of them; of them; her her emoemotionstions would would havehave continued, continued, fed by fedtheir by their ownown size size and and scale, scale, untiluntil theythey dieddied of exhaustion. of exhaustion.

OnlyOnly thenthen might might she have she have asked asked “Where “Where is is he?”he?” or “Did or “Did someone someone turnturn off the off music?” the music?”

Sexually Sexually you you could could probably probably havehave taken taken awayaway her partner her partner and and the the passion passion wouldn’t wouldn’t havehave stopped stopped untiluntil she she came came and and asked asked “Where’d “Where’d he go?” he go?”

That’s That’s a terrible a terrible thing thing to say to about say about youryour mother, mother, I know, I know, but but I think I think it’s terribly it’s terribly funny— funny— and and terribly terribly sad.sad.

There’s There’s an image an image I seeI in seemy inmind’s my mind’s eye where eye where I’m I’m a child a child in some in some kindkind of pain of pain withwith a splinter a splinter in my in fimy nger, finger, and and my mother my mother surrounds surrounds me, me, cooing cooing and and grappling grappling and and groping groping untiluntil the life the is life squeezed is squeezed out out of this of this littlelittle wretch. wretch.

AndAnd as she as she discovers discovers the the lifeless lifeless formform in her in her arms, arms, bewildered, bewildered, she she criescries out,out, “But“But I was I was onlyonly trying trying to comfort to comfort the poor the poor thing!” thing!”

I wasI was like like one one of those of those poorpoor fucking fucking dogsdogs of hers of hers whowho became became can-cancerous cerous and and so obese so obese theythey could could hardly hardly move, move, and and my mother my mother would would keepkeep feeding feeding them them chocolates chocolates untiluntil she she killed killed them them withwith kindness. kindness.

My My mother mother was was oblivious oblivious to the to the damage damage being being done. done.

HerHer needneed to to bestow bestow affection affection not not onlyonly overwhelmed overwhelmed the the object object she she bestowed bestowed affection affection upon, upon, but had but had nothing nothing to dotowith do with thatthat object. object.

My mother’s My mother’s dogsdogs werewere an analog an analog to her to children, her children, to that to that empty empty decoration decoration run-runningning around around loose loose grabbing grabbing all the all aff theection affection while while his orphaned his orphaned corecore just just triedtried to protect to protect himself himself fromfrom being being crushed crushed by the by decoration. the decoration.

It took It took fiftyfiyears fty years before before the core the core could could sit down sit down and and begin begin to deal to deal withwith it. it.

She She never never saw saw the dogs the dogs themselves, themselves, onlyonly her her ownown kindness. kindness.

AndAnd she was she was so flso ooded flooded withwith and and in love in love withwith her own her own kindness kindness thatthat she she keptkept poisoning poisoning these these squat, squat, obese obese dogsdogs till they till they melted melted like like ice- icecream cream cones cones and and slithered slithered down down the the sideside of the of the living living room room couch couch to join to join all those all those white white hairshairs they’d they’d shedshed on her on black her black carpet. carpet.

paulpaul newman newman 15 •

•

15

lucille lucille newman newman WAS WAS PAULPAUL ’ S AUNT ’ S AUNT , ,

THE WIFE THE WIFE OF ARTHUR OF ARTHUR NEWMAN NEWMAN SR .’ S SR BROTHER .’ S BROTHER , JOE, JOE

BothBoth of the of Newman the Newman boys, boys, PaulPaul and and Arthur Arthur Jr., have Jr., have to realto realize that ize that bothboth theirtheir mother mother and and father father werewere sicksick people. people.

SickSick in the in sense the sense thatthat theythey had had no peace, no peace, real real peace, peace, ever,ever, and and thatthat theythey werewere drowning. drowning.

If Art If Art Sr. had Sr. had triedtried to divorce to divorce Tress, Tress, given given her temper, her temper, she she might might havehave donedone something something veryvery irrational. irrational.

She She was was a lonely a lonely person, person, and and some some of the of things the things she could she could do were do were plainplain cruel. cruel.

I really I really don’tdon’t know know whatwhat kindkind of life ofArt life Art Sr. would Sr. would havehave had had if he’d if he’d married married someone someone else;else; there there really really was was a tremendous a tremendous attraction attraction there. there.

AndAnd to Tress, to Tress, he represented he represented a kind a kind of secuof security. rity.

Whether Whether she had she had real real lovelove for him, for him, I don’t I don’t know. know.

But But she she couldn’t couldn’t havehave really really loved loved anything anything except except thatthat blind, blind, fat dog fat dog she fed she the fed candy the candy to. to.

OneOne of the of ways the ways theirtheir marriage marriage maymay havehave affected affected my father my father was was thatthat he developed he developed intointo a secret a secret drinker, drinker, an alcoholic. an alcoholic.

I’d always I’d always thought thought thatthat when when my father my father died,died, in 1950, in 1950, the the cause cause was was cancer. cancer.

But But it is itonly is only recently recently thatthat we examined we examined the the results results of his of autopsy his autopsy and and discovered discovered thatthat it was it was alcohol’s alcohol’s effects effects on his onpancreas his pancreas thatthat was was a major a major contributor contributor to his tountimely his untimely death death at age at fi age fty-fisix. fty-six.

ThisThis was was the routine: the routine: TheThe NewmanNewmanStern Stern storestore would would closeclose eacheach evening evening at 5:30. at 5:30.

It would It would taketake my father my father exactly exactly twelve twelve minutes minutes to to walkwalk fromfrom there there to the to Terminal the Terminal Tower Tower in downtown in downtown Cleveland Cleveland to to catch catch the the rapidrapidtransit transit traintrain to Shaker to Shaker Heights.

Heights.

ThatThat would would leaveleave himhim seven seven minutes minutes to stop to stop intointo FredFred Harvey’s, Harvey’s, the the bar bar where where all all the the businessmen businessmen wentwent afterafter work, work, and and quickly quickly down down a couple a couple of of drinks— drinks— two two double double bourbons bourbons withwith water water chasers. chasers.

He’dHe’d dashdash for his for his