HANDWRITTEN TRAVEL DIARY - Wild Child - Ugly American - Drinking - Party Across Europe
Item History & Price
FANTASTIC, ORIGINAL HANDWRITTEN TRAVEL DIARY KEPT BY SHELLY GENTILE ON HER TRIP TO EUROPE FROM JULY 9 - AUGUST 16. DRINKING, PARTYING, DANCING, TOURING, 1968. Our Diarist Michelle Gentile of Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan was born in 1947, which would make her just 21 years old on this trip to Europe, where she kicked up her heels, raised havoc and a bit of happy chaos as she blasted across Europe doing everything in high speed. She didn't want to miss any of the high lights and was qui...te prolific in her like or dislike of an historic relic; churches, cathedrals, monuments, castles, towns, vistas, tourist attractions, &c. She also didn't want to miss any parties, interesting bars, or a shot at that one last drink before we have to call it a day. In one of her letters home to her mother she wrote about "Milan - Swimming in the Mediterranean - Boating on the Lakes - Lake Oro - Lake Maggorie - The Basilica - Sistine Chapel - Florence - Michelangelo - Venice - Swimming in the Adriatic Sea - Austria - Holland - "Europe is so beautiful; even the "duty" cities, " are immaculate compared to the U.S." She goes on to compare a bombed out building they see with the ruins of Detroit, and that was over 50 years ago. Additional images after listing.
"The rest of the girls in our group (group F) are young, too young. They can't believe Jean and I are schoolteachers!" Shelly commenced this trip on July 9, as she flew out of Toronto, Canada on Caledonia Airways, "After a five hour delay; 3 scotches worth & one dinner. Met two travelling salesman at the Cambridge Motor Lodge & Bar. Only 10 or 11 more hours. July 10, Still in the air - had dinner at 2 A.M. This plane has excellent service - wine w/dinner, but the engine vibrates so much that we can hardly think. By the way, the moon on the clouds is a fantastic sight! And the cities below look like they've been plugged in to the earth. Glow baby Glow!" Included with this diary is a picture of Shelly in her graduating class from Western Michigan University, and 2 letters home to her mother.
"July 10, 5 P.M. Amsterdam finally! Our hotel - Casa 400, is the largest building in Amsterdam. Looks like Statler Hilton. However on the inside its strictly dormitory style rooms Went on a tour. Saw the Red Light District! Girls sitting in windows with colored lights showing them off. Took a trolley car back to the hotel, minus 1 mile we had to walk and it finished us. July 11; Amsterdam City Tour. Visited the Diamond polishing works - Saw Anne Frank House & picked up 2 friendly Dutch boys, Dan & Anton That evening Dan & Anton took us to Lido, a very dirty disco. We left to go to the Lucky Star. Met Dutch boy, Piet Adrian, a director of underground movies. At 2 A.M. went to private club Roma. Very nice. The stairs are very different like climbing a ladder! Did not sleep. July 12, Paris - Getting off the train was an awesome event. Thousands of people; and then there was the stupefied confused Group F! I found that if you walk fast and keep your head back, the natives don't think you are stupid - just stuck up. But we are stupid for not knowing the language. The people in our group are at a loss."
"The city of Paris is much bigger and isolated than we thought. Prices are exorbitant here and there are so many traps we must look out for. Don't drink milk; count your change; and beware of the crafty Parisian! Now that we have our bearings excitement is back in the town. 3 glorious days in Paris - Hotel Cecil is old and run down, but charming. We took a tour bus of the city. They had cakes for us; earphones in 7 languages. We heard the local history & the famous history. The beauty of Notre Dame is something to study. Architecture has never fascinated me before seeing this structure! Work of Art. The Eiffel tower superb - Arc de Triumph - Invalide - Bastille - Sacre Cour - Obelisks - Napoleon;s burial place. None of them were disappointing. In between these were stuffed Moulin Rouge, House of Dion, Favori, Guirlaine, Elizabeth Arden, Le Opera. The hotel is 2 blocks from Folies Bergere. Tres Bien! Tonight dancing in the street. The Champs Elysee & watching the fireworks. Later we went to the Latin Quarter and were bumped - pushed - and shoved down Rue St. Michell. We left fast. Stayed up till 5:30 A.M. talking and drinking wine that we bought at a sidewalk cafe."
"July 14, We discovered Parisians are rude. They made fun of the way we dressed. My hair - everything. It was very uncomfortable. We went to the Eiffel tower and you can't imagine how beautiful it is. Bastille Day and we felt like one of them for a change. Danced at the Bastille Monument and met happy Frenchmen. They even danced with us. Met a doll, Jacques, who whisked Joanie & I away to Paris at night. The Seine, Notre Dame, Latin Quarter & finally the Champs Elysee for a drink. C'est bon! July 15, Started the day with the Louvre and a guided tour. The Winged Victory is immense, and the Venus De Milo has a perfect setting of light and space to give her special notice. Mona is Mona but I love Goya & Velas & Rembrandt. P.M. Folies Bergere maybe a tourist trap, but they put their all into it. Scenery & costume change is down pat. So they give us a charming and unique 3 hours of 40 acts! We stood because it was cheaper. Finale was a fitting end to our stay in Paris. Truly spectacular for a magnificent time! Must go back! Leaving Paris is very hard."
On they go to Switzerland where they hiked in the Alps; "went to the casino where they met Odo, a Swiss architect, nice! July 19, This morning we're on our way to Milan! Had 8 minutes to get on the train. The view of the mountains was spectacular. We noted a definite change in attitudes of Italians as compared to Swiss & French! Italians smile! July 20, An exciting bus ride. This country is surrounded by the Alps and sprinkled with lakes and streams. All of these narrow roads were spiced with hair pin turns. July 21, Train to Roma. These trains re most punctual. The have compartments on one side only. 1st class seats all composed of velvet seats, arm rests and trays and assorted gadgets to make travel easier. However it's still impossible to sleep on these trains! We hope to get our mail when we get to Rome." And on they go to Rome, Florence, (which she loves), "Venice (oh the smell of the Venician canals!) The water was calm so all the garbage came up to welcome us. Very Disappointing On to Innsbruck, Saltzburg, Munich where they saw a bombed out church and they then went on to Dachau where the museum was very stark & well presented." On to Bingen on the Rhine, then Rudesheim, Koln, &c. Then finally to London where she had a ball, and headed out August, 15 for home.
Genealogy: Interestingly, much of Shelly's family was in show business, mostly on the radio before television. Father Lorenzo (Larry) Gentile, was a disc jockey who hosted the all-night radio show "Dawn Patrol" on CKLW-AM in the 1930s. A Grosse Pointe Farms resident, Mr. Gentile later worked for WJBK radio and then for Grosse Pointe Cable Co. and he retired from there. He died at the age of 79, on Dec. 10, 1992. Survivors included his wife, Betty; daughter, Shelly; sons Christopher, Jeffrey and Jon; two brothers, and a sister. The following was Shelly's uncle, her father's brother. "By Mike Best The Detroit News. Joseph E. Gentile, was a radio broadcasting pioneer and the first public address announcer for both the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Lions. A native De- troiter, Mr. Gentile began his career in 1932 at Radio "S t a t i o n WSPD in Toledo, filling in for an engineer " who had become ill. His innovative brand of comedy rapidly gained popularity and from 1934-1950 he became one of 'Detroit's best-known radio personalities while working at radio station CKLW in Windsor with his Early Morning Frolic show, etc. He died at the age of 86, on Jan. 29, 1995.
Shelly's mother was Betty Joy (Sparks) Gentile, and she was quite active in Detroit. She died at the age of 87, on December 11, 2004. She was retired City of Detroit Board of Education Administrator, long-time Grosse Pointe community volunteer including the Girl Scouts of America. She was also a radio pioneer performer on WXYZ. Mrs. Gentile (Sparks) born November 18, 1917 in Detroit, graduated St. Theresa High School and graduated Michigan State University. The most that we can find on Shelly is that she was born in 1947 and attended Western Michigan University. She graduated and became a school teacher, and I believe she was living in Detroit. Further genealogy could not be found.
Condition: Hard bound travel diary is in good condition, internally fresh, tight, and with crisp and clear handwritten entries. Measures approx. 4 x 6 1/2 inches, has 98 pages of handwritten entries and is a very worthy acquisition indeed. Europe seen from the eyes of a young lady of 21 on her first trip to all these countries, where she partied, played, saw all that there was to see and had a funtastic time, and I do mean funtastic!
Payment and Shipping: Please see our feedback and bid with confidence. Never a reserve and very low opening bid as always bidders with no established feedback must contact us before bidding. Payment must be received within 3 days after close of auction. Thank you.
"The rest of the girls in our group (group F) are young, too young. They can't believe Jean and I are schoolteachers!" Shelly commenced this trip on July 9, as she flew out of Toronto, Canada on Caledonia Airways, "After a five hour delay; 3 scotches worth & one dinner. Met two travelling salesman at the Cambridge Motor Lodge & Bar. Only 10 or 11 more hours. July 10, Still in the air - had dinner at 2 A.M. This plane has excellent service - wine w/dinner, but the engine vibrates so much that we can hardly think. By the way, the moon on the clouds is a fantastic sight! And the cities below look like they've been plugged in to the earth. Glow baby Glow!" Included with this diary is a picture of Shelly in her graduating class from Western Michigan University, and 2 letters home to her mother.
"July 10, 5 P.M. Amsterdam finally! Our hotel - Casa 400, is the largest building in Amsterdam. Looks like Statler Hilton. However on the inside its strictly dormitory style rooms Went on a tour. Saw the Red Light District! Girls sitting in windows with colored lights showing them off. Took a trolley car back to the hotel, minus 1 mile we had to walk and it finished us. July 11; Amsterdam City Tour. Visited the Diamond polishing works - Saw Anne Frank House & picked up 2 friendly Dutch boys, Dan & Anton That evening Dan & Anton took us to Lido, a very dirty disco. We left to go to the Lucky Star. Met Dutch boy, Piet Adrian, a director of underground movies. At 2 A.M. went to private club Roma. Very nice. The stairs are very different like climbing a ladder! Did not sleep. July 12, Paris - Getting off the train was an awesome event. Thousands of people; and then there was the stupefied confused Group F! I found that if you walk fast and keep your head back, the natives don't think you are stupid - just stuck up. But we are stupid for not knowing the language. The people in our group are at a loss."
"The city of Paris is much bigger and isolated than we thought. Prices are exorbitant here and there are so many traps we must look out for. Don't drink milk; count your change; and beware of the crafty Parisian! Now that we have our bearings excitement is back in the town. 3 glorious days in Paris - Hotel Cecil is old and run down, but charming. We took a tour bus of the city. They had cakes for us; earphones in 7 languages. We heard the local history & the famous history. The beauty of Notre Dame is something to study. Architecture has never fascinated me before seeing this structure! Work of Art. The Eiffel tower superb - Arc de Triumph - Invalide - Bastille - Sacre Cour - Obelisks - Napoleon;s burial place. None of them were disappointing. In between these were stuffed Moulin Rouge, House of Dion, Favori, Guirlaine, Elizabeth Arden, Le Opera. The hotel is 2 blocks from Folies Bergere. Tres Bien! Tonight dancing in the street. The Champs Elysee & watching the fireworks. Later we went to the Latin Quarter and were bumped - pushed - and shoved down Rue St. Michell. We left fast. Stayed up till 5:30 A.M. talking and drinking wine that we bought at a sidewalk cafe."
"July 14, We discovered Parisians are rude. They made fun of the way we dressed. My hair - everything. It was very uncomfortable. We went to the Eiffel tower and you can't imagine how beautiful it is. Bastille Day and we felt like one of them for a change. Danced at the Bastille Monument and met happy Frenchmen. They even danced with us. Met a doll, Jacques, who whisked Joanie & I away to Paris at night. The Seine, Notre Dame, Latin Quarter & finally the Champs Elysee for a drink. C'est bon! July 15, Started the day with the Louvre and a guided tour. The Winged Victory is immense, and the Venus De Milo has a perfect setting of light and space to give her special notice. Mona is Mona but I love Goya & Velas & Rembrandt. P.M. Folies Bergere maybe a tourist trap, but they put their all into it. Scenery & costume change is down pat. So they give us a charming and unique 3 hours of 40 acts! We stood because it was cheaper. Finale was a fitting end to our stay in Paris. Truly spectacular for a magnificent time! Must go back! Leaving Paris is very hard."
On they go to Switzerland where they hiked in the Alps; "went to the casino where they met Odo, a Swiss architect, nice! July 19, This morning we're on our way to Milan! Had 8 minutes to get on the train. The view of the mountains was spectacular. We noted a definite change in attitudes of Italians as compared to Swiss & French! Italians smile! July 20, An exciting bus ride. This country is surrounded by the Alps and sprinkled with lakes and streams. All of these narrow roads were spiced with hair pin turns. July 21, Train to Roma. These trains re most punctual. The have compartments on one side only. 1st class seats all composed of velvet seats, arm rests and trays and assorted gadgets to make travel easier. However it's still impossible to sleep on these trains! We hope to get our mail when we get to Rome." And on they go to Rome, Florence, (which she loves), "Venice (oh the smell of the Venician canals!) The water was calm so all the garbage came up to welcome us. Very Disappointing On to Innsbruck, Saltzburg, Munich where they saw a bombed out church and they then went on to Dachau where the museum was very stark & well presented." On to Bingen on the Rhine, then Rudesheim, Koln, &c. Then finally to London where she had a ball, and headed out August, 15 for home.
Genealogy: Interestingly, much of Shelly's family was in show business, mostly on the radio before television. Father Lorenzo (Larry) Gentile, was a disc jockey who hosted the all-night radio show "Dawn Patrol" on CKLW-AM in the 1930s. A Grosse Pointe Farms resident, Mr. Gentile later worked for WJBK radio and then for Grosse Pointe Cable Co. and he retired from there. He died at the age of 79, on Dec. 10, 1992. Survivors included his wife, Betty; daughter, Shelly; sons Christopher, Jeffrey and Jon; two brothers, and a sister. The following was Shelly's uncle, her father's brother. "By Mike Best The Detroit News. Joseph E. Gentile, was a radio broadcasting pioneer and the first public address announcer for both the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Lions. A native De- troiter, Mr. Gentile began his career in 1932 at Radio "S t a t i o n WSPD in Toledo, filling in for an engineer " who had become ill. His innovative brand of comedy rapidly gained popularity and from 1934-1950 he became one of 'Detroit's best-known radio personalities while working at radio station CKLW in Windsor with his Early Morning Frolic show, etc. He died at the age of 86, on Jan. 29, 1995.
Shelly's mother was Betty Joy (Sparks) Gentile, and she was quite active in Detroit. She died at the age of 87, on December 11, 2004. She was retired City of Detroit Board of Education Administrator, long-time Grosse Pointe community volunteer including the Girl Scouts of America. She was also a radio pioneer performer on WXYZ. Mrs. Gentile (Sparks) born November 18, 1917 in Detroit, graduated St. Theresa High School and graduated Michigan State University. The most that we can find on Shelly is that she was born in 1947 and attended Western Michigan University. She graduated and became a school teacher, and I believe she was living in Detroit. Further genealogy could not be found.
Condition: Hard bound travel diary is in good condition, internally fresh, tight, and with crisp and clear handwritten entries. Measures approx. 4 x 6 1/2 inches, has 98 pages of handwritten entries and is a very worthy acquisition indeed. Europe seen from the eyes of a young lady of 21 on her first trip to all these countries, where she partied, played, saw all that there was to see and had a funtastic time, and I do mean funtastic!
Payment and Shipping: Please see our feedback and bid with confidence. Never a reserve and very low opening bid as always bidders with no established feedback must contact us before bidding. Payment must be received within 3 days after close of auction. Thank you.
