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Glendale resident publishes her grandmother’s poems
BY ALLISON BROWN Glendale Star Staff Writer
When looking into family history, some might fi nd a story of resilience, a love affair or connection to a historical fi gure. When Jodi Nasch Decker inherited generations of diaries, journals and photographs, she discovered her grandmother’s story of a seven-year stay in a Minnesota “insane asylum” in the 1920s and 1930s due to claims that she could not eat or drink anything after a secretive medical procedure.
Decker — a substitute teacher, college writing instructor and Glendale Historical Society member — did extensive research to verify the accounts. She then published “Poems from the Asylum,” which contains works by her grandmother, Martha Nasch, during her stay at the St. Peter State Hospital for the Insane. The poems are a fi rsthand account of the mistreatment and injustices against patients there. They were published with the help of her daughter, author/editor Janelle Molony.
In addition, the book is also a historical biography, explaining the details of Nasch’s condition — or lack thereof — as well as her life before and after being institutionalized.
“This is based on deep, deep medical research. We have had historians review it, we had the museum docent at the St. Peter State Hospital of the Insane review it and we had a psychologist review it,” Decker said.
“The truth of it is she actually had a physical medical condition that contributed to or prompted her mental health condition. She defi nitely had a real diagnosis, but we believe during that time period, she was both misdiagnosed and mistreated.”
Nasch was diagnosed with “a case of the nerves” by her physician in 1927 after claiming she had not and could not eat or drink anything. Her son even signed a statement saying he had not seen her eat or drink. After continuing these claims of going without food or water for over six months, Nasch was hospitalized in 1928 and stayed for nearly seven years.
Decker said during this time, diagnoses and treatments for mental illnesses were largely misunderstood. Nasch’s poetry describes some of the horrors she witnessed and may have been subjected to herself.
“We know for a fact they did force feedings back in the day,” Decker said. “They did electroshock therapy, they did hydrotherapy — which means dipping people in freezing cold bath water to shock the system. So, stuff that would clearly not be approved nowadays. They had very severe treatment.”
Nasch was eventually released into the custody of her husband and still claimed she had not had anything to eat or drink for the entire seven years. Decker said that while she was emaciated, Nasch clearly had to be getting nutrition because she was still alive.
At this point, the press caught on. Decker said she found several articles written about Nasch throughout the years that painted her in a bad light.
“They mocked her and made fun of her. They said that her being mentally ill was a hoax,” she said. “So, I guess our objective is to set the record straight and to tell the truth about her story.”
Decker said she didn’t just take what Nasch wrote to be factual, she factchecked and cross referenced every name and detail. Decker said her father and grandfather also kept journals and diaries, which included information about Nasch, her condition and state of mind. After her father died in 2019, Decker inherited the family memorabilia and started piecing the information together.
Despite Nasch’s condition, time in the asylum and media attention, she went on to live a fairly normal and good life. Decker said Nasch divorced, remarried and had a job. She added that while “Poems from the Asylum” has dark themes, it is an intriguing story.
“The tone is still redemptive or upbeat,” Decker said. “There’s a misperception that it’s depressing, but if people read it — I don’t what to say it as a happy ending, that’s not the right word — but you’re going to walk away satisfi ed. I feel Martha has been vindicated after all these years, because they wrote such harsh things about her. We base it on fact to try to make it more factual than emotional, and her words vindicate her.”
Decker published “Poems from the Asylum” in 2021, with Nasch credited as the author. Because of her fascination with history, Decker said she also joined the Glendale Historical Society to be involved locally. She said she now encourages everyone to take a deeper look into their family history, as they might be surprised at what they fi nd.
“Poems from the Asylum” can be found online at Amazon or Barnes & Noble, and Decker said she is hoping to get it into the Glendale Public Library soon.
(Left) Jodi Nasch Decker published her grandmother’s poetry, written about her experiences during her stay at a mental institution in the late 1920s and early ’30s. (Above) Nasch was sent to the St. Peter State Hospital of the Insane after claiming she had not had anything to eat or drink for months on end. (Photos courtesy of Jodi Nasch Decker)
Edited and arranged by Janelle Molony Introduction by Jodi Nasch Decker janellemolony.com/ poemsfromtheasylum Found at Amazon or Barnes & Noble $35 hardcover; $27 paperback
New musical honors military exploits of women in WWI
BY BRIDGETTE M. REDMAN Glendale Star Contributing Writer
After spending her childhood on Luke Air Force Base, Rosemarie Chandler fi nds it fi tting that she’s playing one of the fi rst women in combat during World War I in “The Hello Girls” by the Phoenix Theatre Company.
“The Hello Girls,” which runs through Jan. 30, stars Chandler as Grace Banker, a switchboard operator in charge of a corps of women who went overseas during World War I.
The daughter of two military parents, Chandler lived on Luke AFB in the mid-1990s at the age of 4.
She recalled her parents attending a charity ball and leaving her older brother in charge. Instead of listening to him, she locked herself and her best friend’s neighbor in her dad’s military closet fi lled with freshly pressed and dry-cleaned suits.
“I started doing makeup and got makeup all over his fl ight suits and dress suits,” Chandler said. “My mom came home, and she was furious.”
Her younger brother is now stationed at Luke Air Force Base. During visits, she hears stories from female lieutenants.
“It’s defi nitely been hugely impactful to understand that part of my mom and also what it is like to be a woman in general in the military today,” Chandler said. “They’ve come so far and made great strides, but I think there are still ways we can become even more inclusive.”
Her mother was a protocol offi cer in the Navy for Adm. William Crowe and traveled around the world with him. It was also how her parents met.
“They held the same rank,” Chandler said. “I love that part of their story. The fi rst time he walked into the offi ce, my mom was doing paperwork. She didn’t even look up. She just handed him his paperwork and said, ‘Here you go, Mr. Chandler.’ My dad was smitten right away and went about pursuing her.”
Uncharted waters
The women in “The Hello Girls” had a more challenging route, as there were no women in the military. The musical is a modern retelling of a critical part of history in the struggle for women’s rights.
The women were part of the Signal Corps Female Telephone Operators Unit, typically known as “The Hello Girls.” They were bilingual telephone operators who helped turn the tide in World War I and fought to make their way to the front lines. After the war, they spent decades fi ghting for equality and recognition.
The story jumped out at Cara Reichel, the show’s director and co-writer.
“As someone who makes musicals, I’m always on the lookout for stories and ideas,” Reichel said. “I kind of have a mental Rolodex of things. I remember clearly when I fi rst encountered their story — a very brief mention of them in a larger documentary on the history of women in the military. The name was ‘Unsung Heroes,’ and I thought maybe someone should sing about these women.”
Reichel co-wrote the musical with her husband, Peter Mills. The couple, along with college friends, founded the Prospect Theater in New York 20 years ago. “The Hello Girls” premiered there.
“This show is an opportunity to tell a slice of history that had a signifi cant impact on women’s rights in our country but isn’t very well known,” Reichel said. “The characters depict real-life military heroines who disrupted the status quo during the early 20th century and helped pivot the fi rst world war’s outcome.”
The National Endowment for the Arts commissioned “The Hello Girls,” and she and Mills researched these women’s stories.
“We came across a lot of fun things that inspired songs,” Reichel said. “One of the earliest songs was actually the title song. That was inspired by a particular article we read in the Army newspaper, Stars and Stripes. It had a writeup for the Hello Girls, and it was interesting to see how the men in the Army thought about them. There were some sexist perceptions, but there was also a real positivity that they were helping in the war effort.”
They also researched how the switchboards worked. The song “Connected” teaches the audience and the characters how switchboards work. It’s also a metaphor for voices coming together.
The music immediately inspired Chandler.
“Just the way the writers Peter Mills and Cara Reichel capture moments that are so tense, such as when they’re sailing across the Atlantic,” Chandler said. “It gives me goosebumps. Then, at the end of the play we come together as an ensemble and sing about making history. We ask the audience the question, ‘How do you want to make an impact?’”
The music, she said, spans many genres.
“There’s your classic Broadway number titled ‘The Hello Girls’ when they fi rst arrive in Paris and the doughboys are thrilled to have American operators,” she said.
“It’s a Broadway dance number. You even have a rock number called ‘The Front’ where the girls get together and agree that they need to get to the front, whatever it takes, and they make a pact to make it happen.”
She said recurring musical phrases defi ne the characters.
“If I could describe the music in two words, it is smart and moving,” Chandler said. “It’s really just an honor and a joy to be able to sing it.”
“The Hello Girls” premiered in New York in 2018 and received three Drama Desk Award nominations for outstanding musical, music and lyrics.
“It still feels relevant,” Reichel said. “We are fi ghting the war against COVID. This requires us to come together as a society and solve problems. I hope that the show will have an even deeper resonance given what we are going through. We were just really grateful that the Phoenix Theatre reached out to us and wanted to tell the story here in this community.
“It’s not only a celebration and testament to the Hello Girls, but the arc of the story really turns to the audience and makes us ask a question of them. I hope the audiences walk away from it asking how they want to answer the call in their life and how do want to make an impact on people. That’s all that really matters at the end of the day. Without each other, we would be nothing.”
Rosemarie Chandler as Grace Banker and Gabrielle Smith as Suzanne Prevot in the Phoenix Theatre Company’s production of “The Hello Girls.” (Photo by Reg Madison Photography)
WHEN: Various times through Jan. 30 WHERE: The Phoenix Theatre Company’s Hormel Theatre, 1825 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix COST: Tickets start at $44 INFO: 602-254-2151, phoenixtheatre.com
January 13, 2022
The Duttons understand the value of music
BY ALLISON BROWN Glendale Star Staff Writer
Known for their upbeat, family-friendly shows, the Duttons weren’t always performers.
In fact, matriarch Sheila Dutton admitted she never really saw the value in performing until she had the chance to do it with her kids.
“As a matter of fact, if you were to pick someone, the most unlikely thing that I would be doing would be performing out on a stage with my family, but the kids really wanted to do it together as a family,” she said. “We never made a conscious decision to be performers or entertainers. It was just one thing kind of led to another.”
The Duttons will show off their performance chops as the musical entertainment at the Lovin’ Life Expos on Monday, Jan. 24, at the Sundial Recreation Center in Sun City and Wednesday, Jan. 26, at the Mesa Convention Center.
The family has been hitting stages full time since 1991 and has since become a force. They landed among the top 10 fi nalists on “America’s Got Talent”; were voted America’s most musical family by Nickelodeon; won several awards for performance; and entertained thousands at their theaters, including one in Mesa.
The Duttons fi rst brought their show to sunny Arizona in the winter of 2005 and have since made it their winter home. In 2010, the Duttons partnered with East Valley High School in Mesa to renovate and update their auditorium. Shows that blend bluegrass and country kick off on Friday, Jan. 14, and continue every weekend through Thursday, March 31.
What began as just mom, dad and their four children has grown to include their in-laws and grandchildren. Dutton said the family ties run deep. Everyone is closely involved in all aspects of the business.
She said working, performing and touring with family has brought them closer together.
“We traveled over a million miles giving all these concerts around the United States,” she said. “So, they grew up together in the bus, and I always said that the best way to help families be together is to get in a bus, and then if they have issues, they have to work them out.
“They can’t run to their bedrooms or to their friend’s house. They have to sit and talk about it and work it out. So, the kids learned early on to forgive each other really quickly. I think that was an unexpected advantage of touring.”
She said there is more to The Duttons than performances and accolades. The music comes down to the fans. Sheila said she was amazed to learn how their shows could bring joy to audiences. She recalled fans telling her that their performances encouraged them to reunite with their own families or pursue music. Dutton isn’t quite sure what the future holds for the family business. As the children have aged, they’ve pursued different lines of work. However, there is a third generation of Duttons who may choose to take up the mantle. No matter what lies ahead, Dutton said she feels they are forging the right path.
“We just feel so honored and blessed that we’ve been led into something that we didn’t even see the value in the beginning,” she said.
“It has enriched our lives, provided us with the best friends in the world that we have met through performing, provided us with a second family who we had adopted and given us an opportunity to work on something that makes a difference and that is really a positive thing in our lives.”
Lovin’ Life Expos
lovinlife.com/expos
The Duttons
theduttons.com/arizona The Duttons are a multigenerational family of performers set to hit the stage at the Lovin’ Life Expos. (Submitted photo)
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Wildlife World Zoo welcomes 200-pound fi sh
BY GLENDALE STAR STAFF
Gar fi sh, weighing in at over 200 pounds and stretching 7 feet in length, now call the massive Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park’s River Monster exhibit their home.
“Fortunately, we can provide these incredible and huge fi sh the space they need to thrive and be ambassadors to the public, helping their wild counterparts that are struggling to exist,” said Kristy Hayden, media relations director.
Other River Monster arrivals include the sharp-toothed, red-bellied piranha and the giant black pacu.
The Wildlife World Zoo has welcomed other new family members recently, including an Asian smallclawed otter family.
With more than 600 species and 6,000 animals on display, there are always new arrivals at the Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park.
Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park is located at 16501 W. Northern Avenue, Litchfi eld Park. It is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Aquarium exhibits welcome visitors from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission includes access to the zoo, aquarium and safari park.
For more info, call 623-935WILD (9453) or visit Facebook, Instagram or Twitter @ZooWildlife, and wildlifeworld. com.
Lovin’ Life Expos return to the Valley
BY ANNIKA TOMLIN Glendale Star Staff Writer
After a 2020 pandemic pause, the Lovin’ Life After 50 Expos are returning.
They are set for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 24, at the Sundial Recreation Center in Sun City, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26, at the Mesa Convention Center.
“We’re going to have great entertainment, a lot of informative exhibitors, and it’s just a great way to get out and find out what is going on in the community,” Lovin’ Life After 50 publisher Steve Strickbine said. “It’s a great way to meet lots of people and have some fun.”
Previously, the Lovin’ Life After 50 Expos have attracted thousands of people who network and gather information, as well as participate in the raffle prize giveaway and take a shot at hourly $100 cash prizes.
“These expos were started as just a way to allow organizations in the community to come together with people over 50 to show what they have to offer,” Strickbine said. “To give them information about things that are coming up in their organizations.
“It has become a very good event, though, for entertainment and just a great way for getting out.”
Among the exhibitors that will have booths at both the Sun City and Mesa Expos are 4C Medical Group (Optum Care), Arizona Liver Health, Home Concepts Custom Remodeling, Humana, AFC Physical Medicine and Hospice of the Valley.
Specifically at the Sun City Expo will be Arizona Institute and Cosmetic Laser Center, Edward Jones and MediSolutions LLC.
Unique to Mesa are Bright Health Plan, Mesa Marketplace Swap Meet, Emphasis Advisors and National Cremation Society.
“With COVID we are being very careful with how we proceed, and we are following the CDC guidelines, of course, to make sure that we are operating with best practices to make sure that everybody that does attend stays safe,” Strickbine said.
In terms of entertainment, the Duttons will be returning to the stage once again.
For those who don’t know, “they’re a band that has a theater in Branson, Missouri, where they play during the summer months, and then they also have a theater in the East Valley (in Mesa) where they play during the winter months. They were on ‘America’s Got Talent’ at one point,” according to Strickbine.
The Duttons’ set list includes bluegrass, country and pop music.
“They always attract a big crowd,” Strickbine said.
Ms. Senior Arizona 2022 winner Patricia Person will meet and greet with attendees.
“I think a lot of people are anxious to get back out,” Strickbine said.
Lovin’ Life After 50 Sun City Expo
WHEN: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 24 WHERE: Sundial Recreation Center, 14801 N. 103rd Avenue, Sun City COST: Free INFO: lovinlife.com
Lovin’ Life After 50 Mesa Expo
WHEN: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26 WHERE: Mesa Convention Center, 263 N. Center Street, Mesa COST: Free INFO: lovinlife.com
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