|Friends & Links|Davey Lee
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February 26, 1949 |
To that end, I pass along the following letter from Stan Ball. I encourage you to read it, and act on it.
AN OPEN LETTER OF CONSCIENCE
TO THE WORLDWIDE MEMBERSHIP OF THE I.A.J.S.
During a most enjoyable lunch with Sybil, her daughter Toni and other friends, I enquired if she had any up to date news about Davey (Sonny Boy) Lee, who I knew was in a care home. I was stunned to learn that poor Davey is apparently a virtual forgotten entity as far as the members of our Society are concerned. He is seeing out his remaining days rarely, if ever, receiving any communication from those, like ourselves, in the Society, who once idolized and adored this man, both in his screen portrayals with our idol, Al Jolson, and when he was feted at our Conventions and other meetings in past years. It would appear, and I wouldn’t blame him if he felt the same way, that now he is of no longer use to us and our Society, that he has been cast aside in much the same way, and with about as much feeling, as a worn-out and discarded old shoe.
This state of affairs MUST NOT be allowed to continue. May I ask each and every one of you who receives this message to respond immediately and encourage your friends, especially those who love Jolson, to send Davey a greetings card without delay and let him know that we do still care about him and his welfare. It is highly unlikely that you will get a response from him but write anyway. Please don’t let this just be a “one-off” gesture but ensure you make a note on your calendar or in your diary, to repeat this and send him further cards or messages throughout the future months. If you are away on vacation, or on business, make sure you send him a postcard –- it only needs a few words and I feel sure it will mean so much to this legend of the silver screen, whom I trust we all still hold dear.
I regret to admit that I have been as guilty as the next man of forgetting about Davey, but now I want to try to right that wrong and hope that I can count on YOUR co-operation in this matter.
This letter is fully supported by our dear friend Sybil Jason who, like me, knows she can count on you, the worldwide membership of our great Society to rally to this call and do something about it yourself, now, and not leave it up to someone else to act in this respect.
His address is as follows :-
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I called the nursing home, and verified that any letters or cards sent to Davey are given to him, that he reads them and appreciates them, even though he cannot respond. While they do not have an Email address, you can you can send a fax, and ask that it be given to him. The fax number is: