History of the aa grapevine presented by drew h – 2025-06-10

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Unknown Tuesday Night History Workshop • 2025

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Unknown ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP

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Unknown drew h speaking on "History of the aa grapevine" in Tuesday Night History Workshop (June 10, 2025). This recording is preserved in high-fidelity with interactive scrolling transcripts.

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Unknown Interactive Transcript

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[00 00:02.960 – 00:00:07.820] Welcome to the Tuesday Night Recovery Speakers History Workshop.

0:15

[00 00:07.820 – 00:00:09.660] Thank you all for joining us tonight.

0:18

[00 00:09.660 – 00:00:14.400] My name is Tim, and tonight we have a great presentation led by Drew H.

0:23

[00 00:14.400 – 00:00:20.219] from Georgia, and Drew will be presenting on the history of the AA Grapevine.

0:27

[00 00:20.219 – 00:00:26.750] We meet every Tuesday night at the same time and at the same Zoom ID number.

0:33

[00 00:26.750 – 00:00:37.679] The me- this meeting is being recorded, and the audio from tonight's presentation, as well as all of our past presentations, can be found at recoveryspeakers.com.

0:42

[00 00:37.679 – 00:00:47.780] Um, this meeting is not affiliated with any 12-step organization, although our goal is to focus on the history of

0:48

[00 00:47.780 – 00:00:50.219] AA and other 12-step fellowships.

0:50

[00 00:50.219 – 00:01:00.240] Uh, recoveryspeakers.com is dedicated to preserving and making the audio history of AA and the 12-step

0:56

[00 01:00.240 – 00:01:03.100] movement available for everyone today and in the future.

0:59

[00 01:03.100 – 00:01:12.019] We share a daily email that features a different speaker talk in the recovery sp- from the Recovery Speakers audio library.

1:06

[00 01:12.019 – 00:01:20.799] Included in the daily emails are links to the recordings of this meeting, as well as information about upcoming presentations.

1:13

[00 01:20.799 – 00:01:33.019] If you would like to receive our daily email, you can subscribe through the link I sh- just shared in the chat a minute ago, or you can send me an email at info@recoveryspeakers.com

1:25

[00 01:33.019 – 00:01:35.200] and I will get you added to our email list.

1:28

[00 01:35.200 – 00:01:40.299] Recovery Speakers is an official 501[c][3] public charity.

1:31

[00 01:40.299 – 00:01:50.319] If you are able to, we accept contributions which allow us to continue our work, and I have shared in the chat the different ways to make contributions,

1:40

[00 01:50.319 – 00:01:54.760] or you can use the QR code that is up on the screen now.

1:45

[00 01:54.760 – 00:02:00.420] And, uh, just wanna let everyone know we have Drew presenting tonight, and we...

1:50

[00 02:00.420 – 00:02:01.329] Drew has been...

1:51

[00 02:01.329 – 00:02:03.500] He's gonna tough this one out.

1:53

[00 02:03.500 – 00:02:08.120] He's not feeling great, so we're gonna skip Q&A after the presentation.

1:58

[00 02:08.120 – 00:02:13.580] But if you have any questions, I am sending Drew's email address in the chat.

2:03

[00 02:13.580 – 00:02:16.099] And, uh, thank you all so much for being here.

2:06

[00 02:16.099 – 00:02:24.180] And Drew, thank you for stepping in tonight and, and doing this, and looking forward to hearing about the Grapevine.

2:13

[00 02:24.180 – 00:02:29.039] All right.

2:14

[00 02:29.039 – 00:02:29.680] Thanks, Tim.

2:15

[00 02:29.680 – 00:02:30.280] Hey, everybody.

2:16

[00 02:30.280 – 00:02:32.580] My name's Drew, and I am an alcoholic.

2:19

[00 02:32.580 – 00:02:36.120] And, uh, let me do a screen share.

2:22

[00 02:36.120 – 00:02:39.549] T- Tim, you mind if I, uh, screen share?

2:25

[00 02:39.549 – 00:02:45.560] Oops.

2:25

[00 02:45.560 – 00:02:46.580] Already.

2:26

[00 02:46.580 – 00:02:48.460] There we go.

2:27

[00 02:48.460 – 00:02:49.240] How about that?

2:29

[00 02:49.240 – 00:02:50.819] All right, now we're cooking.

2:31

[00 02:50.819 – 00:02:51.618] Thanks, bud.

2:31

[00 02:51.618 – 00:02:52.819] All right.

2:32

[00 02:52.819 – 00:02:55.139] And, uh, again, uh, my name's Drew.

2:35

[00 02:55.139 – 00:03:01.539] Uh, I am an alcoholic and, uh, you know, there's a lot to cover, uh, tonight, a lot of cool stuff.

2:42

[00 03:01.539 – 00:03:11.599] You know, this is one of my, uh, uh, favorite, favorite, favorite subjects, especially out of, out of the, the '40s and, and '50s because, you know, you know, when it comes to archives,

2:54

[00 03:11.599 – 00:03:17.280] you know, the, the AA Grapevine is probably one of the most richest, uh, archives, uh, there is.

3:00

[00 03:17.280 – 00:03:19.919] And, uh, you know, it's just full of everything.

3:03

[00 03:19.919 – 00:03:29.659] And, and, you know, when, when we do this, we, we, we ask, you know, a- anybody who's, you know, a home group member or, or, or in a district or something, if they're looking to, you know...

3:15

[00 03:29.659 – 00:03:39.229] If their delegate asks them to present at a, a, an, an assembly and, you know, uh, this is an excellent resource to find out a, a ton of information.

3:25

[00 03:39.229 – 00:03:48.780] So, um, and also, you know, again, you know, thank you for, for everybody, uh, uh, out there that has, uh, you know, kind of, uh, contributed and, and, and sent some of this stuff.

3:37

[00 03:48.780 – 00:03:51.340] Uh, but then we're gonna kick it off.

3:40

[00 03:51.340 – 00:03:58.199] And of course, uh, you know how the idea went from this, uh, uh, small little, uh, town.

3:46

[00 03:58.199 – 00:04:00.060] Hold on, let me do this.

3:48

[00 04:00.060 – 00:04:04.240] And hide video panel.

3:49

[00 04:04.240 – 00:04:10.599] And there we go.

3:51

[00 04:10.599 – 00:04:16.639] So, um, without, a- again, total technical, uh, difficulty, but all good.

3:55

[00 04:16.639 – 00:04:22.060] So the Grapevine, its potential soon became absolutely evident almost from the go.

4:00

[00 04:22.060 – 00:04:32.180] Uh, again, it's, you know, started out as just kind of this, this, this tiny little idea and, uh, some of its, uh, talking points through the, the, uh, the, the years are of course, you know, AA,

4:12

[00 04:32.180 – 00:04:40.000] you know, for the members starting, uh, and, and involved in World War II, you know, how to keep those alcoholics, you know, kind of grounded overseas.

4:21

[00 04:40.000 – 00:04:46.060] Uh, also explanations of our delicate principles regarding, again, the AA traditions.

4:25

[00 04:46.060 – 00:04:47.519] This was the main tool.

4:27

[00 04:47.519 – 00:04:49.639] Plus it was the need for them.

4:29

[00 04:49.639 – 00:04:51.870] Uh, an incredible amount of, uh, explanations.

4:32

[00 04:51.870 – 00:04:56.009] Plus all forms of interaction from AA members across the country.

4:36

[00 04:56.009 – 00:05:03.500] Now, when it comes to trying to hook all, you know, the groups together or, you know, stay in contact, one of the first efforts was this.

4:45

[00 05:03.500 – 00:05:05.319] This is the AA Bulletin.

4:47

[00 05:05.319 – 00:05:12.490] It's gone through several names through the years, but this was the first, and it went out on November 14th of 1940.

4:54

[00 05:12.490 – 00:05:20.819] And what's, what's interesting, again, this was the attempt to positively link the outward groups to New York and the Alcoholic Foundation.

5:01

[00 05:20.819 – 00:05:30.860] There's a great quote, "An effort to develop a mutual exchange sheet to establish a closer feeling of friendship between the AA groups from East Coast

5:10

[00 05:30.860 – 00:05:40.319] to West." So again, this was a, you know, a, a, an, an attempt to, uh, uh, uh, kind of, you know, link hands with, with, with groups all over the place.

5:20

[00 05:40.319 – 00:05:44.910] And I'll, I'll even read that one little session, uh, uh, after the, uh, uh, quote.

5:25

[00 05:44.910 – 00:05:54.680] It says, "And we hope it'll prevent the secession from AA ranks our San Francisco group who threatened." I thought that was, uh, pretty in, uh, interesting again.

5:35

[00 05:54.680 – 00:06:02.439] But again, you know, it's limited and here we are, we're looking at the second, uh, one and the, uh, of course, uh, the third one.

5:43

[00 06:02.439 – 00:06:06.110] Um, the second one is, uh, uh, January 15th, '41.

5:47

[00 06:06.110 – 00:06:10.300] It's basically flash, you know, Saturday Evening Post article is, you know, coming out.

5:52

[00 06:10.300 – 00:06:11.939] Uh, you know, keep an eye out.

5:54

[00 06:11.939 – 00:06:13.959] Uh, and also some new groups.

5:56

[00 06:13.959 – 00:06:21.939] Now the, the third one, June 30th, also of '41, but again, it, it just, you know, it's very, very limited.

6:03

[00 06:21.939 – 00:06:23.199] It's just one page.

6:05

[00 06:23.199 – 00:06:29.459] And, uh, especially, you know, with the third one, you know, it's, it's neat because do people read this stuff?

6:12

[00 06:29.459 – 00:06:30.079] Absolutely.

6:12

[00 06:30.079 – 00:06:36.579] Because again, this was the famous one where, you know, the Serenity Prayer was attached to the end of it, uh, from, uh, Ruth Hock.

6:20

[00 06:36.579 – 00:06:40.819] And, you know, it's, it's just an amazing, you know, story of that.

6:25

[00 06:40.819 – 00:06:43.189] But so this was the attempt.

6:27

[00 06:43.189 – 00:06:48.939] The newsletter will change through the years eventually becoming, uh, Box 459.

6:31

[00 06:48.939 – 00:06:54.800] It'll be the AA Bulletin, the Bulletin, uh, Exchange Bulletin, and so on and so forth.

6:36

[00 06:54.800 – 00:07:01.310] But now around this time, again, local, uh, uh, uh, areas pretty much-

6:41

[00 07:01.619 – 00:07:06.519] Start their own, uh, little newspapers and then, of course, those begin to appear.

6:46

[00 07:06.519 – 00:07:14.279] And the very first one, of course, is out in Cleveland in, uh, um, October 1942 called the Central Bulletin.

6:52

[00 07:14.279 – 00:07:21.629] Uh, and what's neat again, it takes its first steps to form this, uh, little, little newspaper and, and it's chock-full of great stuff, you know.

7:01

[00 07:21.629 – 00:07:24.659] From the go, uh, it's, it's, it's full of information.

7:04

[00 07:24.659 – 00:07:28.619] Some of those topics and just the first few are editorials, of course.

7:08

[00 07:28.619 – 00:07:34.499] A plea from New York, um, about AA members entering or already in military service.

7:14

[00 07:34.499 – 00:07:36.399] Again, that connection with World War II.

7:16

[00 07:36.399 – 00:07:38.979] Uh, Bill, uh, co-founder Bill W.

7:18

[00 07:38.979 – 00:07:39.899] coming to town.

7:20

[00 07:39.899 – 00:07:45.369] We know the 1942, uh, episode that, that happened, you know, the con- conference...

7:24

[00 07:45.369 – 00:07:50.219] It's not a confrontation, but it was a, a financial kind of hiatus.

7:28

[00 07:50.219 – 00:07:55.759] Um, and of course, you know, with trustee, um, uh, operations, financial transparency.

7:33

[00 07:55.759 – 00:08:00.169] It also gives you, you know, sponsorship or sponsor and sponsee training.

7:37

[00 08:00.169 – 00:08:02.919] Uh, again, these are just great articles.

7:40

[00 08:02.919 – 00:08:06.259] Meeting bulletin board, uh, what your groups are doing.

7:43

[00 08:06.259 – 00:08:13.759] Cleveland Central Committee, the intergroup, you know, they post their meetings on this thing so everybody can be on the same page, plus so much more.

7:51

[00 08:13.759 – 00:08:21.049] In fact, this is a perfect example of local notifications, uh, uh, for, uh, Cleveland, uh, and of course, then some.

7:58

[00 08:21.049 – 00:08:31.119] And when you flip it over, again, as a result of that Bill, you know, coming to town, there was a great article on gossip and the quote is, "It blights many lives,

8:09

[00 08:31.119 – 00:08:35.639] smites the innocent with the guilty, deadly poison." And those are just quotes.

8:14

[00 08:35.639 – 00:08:41.959] Other ones, of course, the Crawford Men's Training, the famous Crawford Men's Training, sponsor, sponsee kind of classes.

8:20

[00 08:41.959 – 00:08:47.359] Lee, uh, Road Group, uh, the women's only group, uh, uh, s- uh, seen there.

8:25

[00 08:47.359 – 00:08:49.399] And of course, the AA Male Chorus.

8:27

[00 08:49.399 – 00:08:50.939] I guess so, right?

8:29

[00 08:50.939 – 00:08:52.379] You know, might as well.

8:31

[00 08:52.379 – 00:08:57.329] Uh, Lake Group, uh, Gordon Square, and of course, uh, uh, the Wade Park Group.

8:36

[00 08:57.329 – 00:09:03.759] What's interesting about the AA Chorus is a lot of early members actually are pretty talented in, in, in, in music.

8:43

[00 09:03.759 – 00:09:06.319] Uh, anyway, they also have poems.

8:45

[00 09:06.319 – 00:09:16.359] Now, what's interesting about that poem is there's a definite, uh, uh, discovery that when it comes to poems in the AA Grapevine, they definitely didn't even

8:54

[00 09:16.359 – 00:09:20.709] wanna really come close to, to that, and it's kind of like no poems.

8:59

[00 09:20.709 – 00:09:23.839] Uh, but again, you know, uh, flip the sheet.

9:02

[00 09:23.839 – 00:09:25.799] This is just, you know, again, the second one.

9:05

[00 09:25.799 – 00:09:28.419] Uh, it's got the, uh, meeting bulletin board, you know.

9:09

[00 09:28.419 – 00:09:37.279] It's the, the, the group, uh, um, you know, kind of, uh, uh, it basically tells you every- everything, where, where all the groups are and the times.

9:18

[00 09:37.279 – 00:09:39.379] So it's, uh, the local directory.

9:20

[00 09:39.379 – 00:09:42.579] Uh, you also have accredited AA hospitals, right?

9:23

[00 09:42.579 – 00:09:45.979] So if you're f- and friendly to AA, I should say.

9:27

[00 09:45.979 – 00:09:48.379] There's about seven of them, and this is 1942.

9:30

[00 09:48.379 – 00:09:49.899] So they're doing something right out there.

9:32

[00 09:49.899 – 00:09:51.139] And, and of course prices.

9:34

[00 09:51.139 – 00:09:56.909] So if you got a guy that's, you know, uh, um, you know, having a, having a rough go, you could actually detox him at one of these.

9:43

[00 09:56.909 – 00:10:00.119] These, again, this is just an excellent tool.

9:46

[00 10:00.119 – 00:10:01.439] But it's for a local area.

9:48

[00 10:01.439 – 00:10:09.449] So again, how can, you know, the- we, we, we, we take this and, and, uh, you know, the idea is of course applied everywhere else.

9:57

[00 10:09.449 – 00:10:11.319] So many other places, uh, have it.

10:00

[00 10:11.319 – 00:10:15.139] There's one in, in Tennessee and a couple of years called The Empty Jug.

10:04

[00 10:15.139 – 00:10:17.879] Uh, there's, there, there's just several, several of them.

10:07

[00 10:17.879 – 00:10:19.039] Um, anyway.

10:08

[00 10:19.039 – 00:10:26.659] So this is a jump to the actual first Grapevine, and this great little article in there, and it's called Grapevine in a Bow.

10:16

[00 10:26.659 – 00:10:30.429] And of course, it was the April 1944, but it's a great description.

10:21

[00 10:30.429 – 00:10:37.519] It said, "Zen Bank Cleveland had one." And that was that Cleveland meeting or, or, uh, uh, the Central Bulletin.

10:27

[00 10:37.519 – 00:10:41.539] "So why not us here in the metropolitan area?" A lot of people asked that question.

10:33

[00 10:41.539 – 00:10:45.519] "We figured to take the paper out of the talking stage and put it into print.

10:38

[00 10:45.519 – 00:10:48.009] With that, the six shut up.

10:40

[00 10:48.009 – 00:10:49.939] I looked these people over.

10:42

[00 10:49.939 – 00:11:00.379] A cashier, a radio script writer, an author, a bookseller, an art director, a wife and a mother of two." In the interview, asks the question, "Do you realize

10:52

[00 11:00.379 – 00:11:10.479] what that, um, you people are sticking your necks out here starting up a paper all by your little selves, not putting it into a vote or

11:01

[00 11:10.479 – 00:11:15.379] all the kind, uh, uh, kind of that thing?" And of course, this is a Southern reply.

11:06

[00 11:15.379 – 00:11:19.998] It says, "Sir, we don't think you got the correct slant.

11:10

[00 11:19.998 – 00:11:23.779] We six are sort of garage mechanics servicing the paper.

11:14

[00 11:23.779 – 00:11:24.899] We don't write it.

11:15

[00 11:24.899 – 00:11:31.339] That's the creamy part for every Jack and Doris of AA who can lay their hands on some news and a pencil stub.

11:23

[00 11:31.339 – 00:11:36.579] We wrestle with the punctuation, if any, hammer for copy, and the deadline creeps up.

11:28

[00 11:36.579 – 00:11:42.179] Paste up the dummy, and hope for the best." I'm sorry, but that's, that's definitely Southern.

11:33

[00 11:42.179 – 00:11:52.299] Uh, and of course, you know, the, the interviewer, um, "Very neat," I said, "and I wish you luck, but what's the paper going to talk about?" And of course,

11:43

[00 11:52.299 – 00:11:53.219] this is an awesome one.

11:45

[00 11:53.219 – 00:12:00.099] It says, "Talk about us alcoholics, naturally." The mother of two said, "About AA's whole design for living.

11:51

[00 12:00.099 – 00:12:03.519] There's gonna be a big full page on local group doings.

11:55

[00 12:03.519 – 00:12:09.419] Here is a Grapevine reporter in every group right now with his pencil at the ready.

12:00

[00 12:09.419 – 00:12:15.119] We are planning to get all the big general stuff on alcoholism into the paper.

12:05

[00 12:15.119 – 00:12:20.119] Best of all, we think it is the serviceman's letter." Again, one of its earliest, you know, points.

12:11

[00 12:20.119 – 00:12:22.419] So who are these six, right?

12:14

[00 12:22.419 – 00:12:28.599] Uh, Bill calls them a, a, a, a, you know, ink-stained wretches and, you know, we'll get to that in a little while.

12:21

[00 12:28.599 – 00:12:34.539] But they are a cashier, an author, a bookseller, a radio script writer, and of course, a mother of two.

12:28

[00 12:34.539 – 00:12:42.599] And of course, you know, her name is, uh, Lois Nolson, and that's one of, uh, the, the early photographs of, uh, of, uh, Lois.

12:36

[00 12:42.599 – 00:12:44.849] This was, uh, uh, back in the time.

12:39

[00 12:44.849 – 00:12:52.129] So Lois K, Lois Nolson, she actually, uh, uh, married, uh, uh, into the Dodge family, but we'll get into that.

12:46

[00 12:52.129 – 00:12:53.979] So she was the one that kind of brought this.

12:50

[00 12:53.979 – 00:12:58.499] Why don't we do something like this, but for the New York metropolitan area?

12:54

[00 12:58.499 – 00:13:01.649] And there's a great, um, uh, description in the Markings newsletter.

12:58

[00 13:01.649 – 00:13:08.599] It says, "In the spring of '44, a small group of AA members in the New York area got together to produce a monthly publication.

13:07

[00 13:08.599 – 00:13:16.779] Founders described in the first issue as the six ink-stained wretches were all volunteer staff." Bill W.

13:12

[00 13:16.779 – 00:13:26.859] was a supporter of the AA Grapevine from the beginning, and one of the original founders, Lois K, recounted in the June 1954 issue that upon being told of the idea,

13:22

[00 13:26.859 – 00:13:27.259] Bill W.

13:23

[00 13:27.259 – 00:13:32.239] responded, "Go to it and blessings on you." So he fell in love with it.

13:28

[00 13:32.239 – 00:13:34.099] There's another description in the pamphlets.

13:30

[00 13:34.099 – 00:13:44.159] Uh, uh, in '44, six New York members of Alcoholics Anonymous decided to start a newsletter that would promote harmony between the groups

13:38

[00 13:44.159 – 00:13:45.979] through knowledge and understanding.

13:40

[00 13:45.979 – 00:13:53.189] And of course, in those early days of AA, it was rare for members to communicate with each other outside of their own groups.

13:48

[00 13:53.189 – 00:13:54.679] That's true.

13:48

[00 13:54.679 – 00:13:59.919] Most people had no idea what other meetings were, how other meetings were run.

13:53

[00 13:59.919 – 00:14:02.949] Some groups had started to publish their own news-

13:56

[00 14:03.145 – 00:14:03.505] Letters.

13:57

[00 14:03.505 – 00:14:07.205] But a way to open up communication between the groups was needed.

14:01

[00 14:07.205 – 00:14:11.745] A way to bring news of the AA to those serving in the armed forces was also called for.

14:08

[00 14:11.745 – 00:14:20.395] And, uh, you know, again, looking at the time, this is, uh, the, the, the, uh, several pamphlets had come out, the, um, um, um, Akron Manual.

14:16

[00 14:20.395 – 00:14:24.785] In fact, all, you know, the three, um, uh, pamphlets out of, uh, Akron.

14:21

[00 14:24.785 – 00:14:28.545] You got the Detroit, the sh- uh, DC, uh, Little Rock.

14:25

[00 14:28.545 – 00:14:32.665] You know, people are starting to print their own literature, and this is just, um, a, a thing of that.

14:32

[00 14:32.665 – 00:14:40.925] So she married her, um, uh, Virginia, uh, Lois Virginia Nolan married into the Dodge family, Horace Elgin Dodge.

14:38

[00 14:40.925 – 00:14:46.425] And of course, yeah, that's, that's a picture of her, um, you know, driving, driving one of those, uh, uh, cars.

14:45

[00 14:46.425 – 00:14:48.165] And of course, you know, the mother of two.

14:48

[00 14:48.165 – 00:14:54.805] They had two kids, Horace Dodge, and, III, and of course Delphine, uh, Lone Pence.

14:53

[00 14:54.805 – 00:14:56.765] Now, in 1927, they divorced.

14:55

[00 14:56.765 – 00:15:00.565] Horace will be described as a millionaire playboy.

14:58

[00 15:00.565 – 00:15:02.615] In fact, interesting, but Mr.

15:00

[00 15:02.615 – 00:15:06.145] Dodge will end up being married five times.

15:03

[00 15:06.145 – 00:15:11.365] The parting arrangement was of course very, you know, good for, um, uh, uh, Lois there.

15:08

[00 15:11.365 – 00:15:18.565] But in short, Lois lived in several places, and unknown if her drinking was the beginning of separation, but again, Mr.

15:15

[00 15:18.565 – 00:15:21.345] Dodge also had traits of heavy drinking.

15:18

[00 15:21.345 – 00:15:31.425] At some point, Lois Kay's drinking progressed into hopelessness, eventually ended up living in NYC, New York City, and also Westchester, uh, uh, New York.

15:26

[00 15:31.425 – 00:15:35.785] But while getting sober, uh, she, she had this, uh, idea.

15:30

[00 15:35.785 – 00:15:42.305] And of course, for their first meeting with Lois was at Stepping Stones with, uh, uh, of course Bill and, uh, Lois.

15:37

[00 15:42.305 – 00:15:52.305] Now, from there, again, after this go-to-it and blessings-on-you approval, there was a second meeting planned at a small eatery on 23rd Street with Bill, Lois Nolan and

15:46

[00 15:52.305 – 00:15:53.185] two others, new.

15:47

[00 15:53.185 – 00:15:59.545] We got Marty Mann and of course Priscilla Peck to present her plans for a New York periodical.

15:53

[00 15:59.545 – 00:16:09.885] Uh, the exact date of that meeting is un- I'm not sure exactly when that 23rd Street get-together, uh, took place, but Marty actually made a note and remembered

16:03

[00 16:09.885 – 00:16:19.885] some facts, which she pretty much recollects, "We had no conception of what was on her mind, but when she showed us her little sheaf of paper and plans, we

16:13

[00 16:19.885 – 00:16:21.605] were swept with enthusiasm.

16:14

[00 16:21.605 – 00:16:26.085] We agreed that a monthly publication for AAs in the New York area was needed.

16:20

[00 16:26.085 – 00:16:30.365] We agreed that if it was good, it might spread beyond New York.

16:24

[00 16:30.365 – 00:16:32.445] The same thought had been expressed by Bill.

16:27

[00 16:32.445 – 00:16:40.385] We agreed to help get it started, and we agreed on a name, Grapevine." So again, it's in motion.

16:33

[00 16:40.385 – 00:16:50.325] So we have, at this time, you know, again, with, uh, uh, Marty and, and, uh, uh, Priscilla, uh, they were actually a very close couple, both of whom dealt with the alcoholism.

16:44

[00 16:50.325 – 00:16:53.825] Marty was the alcoholic, Priscilla was the non-alcoholic kind of witness.

16:48

[00 16:53.825 – 00:16:59.995] And of course, you know, it's, it's, uh, uh, uh, you know, we are the tornado type, type deal.

16:54

[00 16:59.995 – 00:17:02.585] We, you know, we think we just do this to ourselves.

16:58

[00 17:02.585 – 00:17:06.505] But these two, again, were, were, were involved.

17:01

[00 17:06.505 – 00:17:08.605] And we'll get to Priscilla in a second.

17:04

[00 17:08.605 – 00:17:18.505] But Marty at this time, uh, had, uh, uh, again, um, pretty much involved with something called the Yale School of Alcoholic Studies, almost from the beginning in a way.

17:14

[00 17:18.505 – 00:17:28.625] Uh, again, uh, it was there that she also, uh, uh, had a beginning position with the newly formed NCEA or the National Committee

17:22

[00 17:28.625 – 00:17:32.585] for Education on Alcoholism, later named NCA.

17:24

[00 17:32.585 – 00:17:42.745] Um, and of course, the purpose of both of those, in fact all of that, is an education and awareness campaign covering alcoholism and the fact, and

17:33

[00 17:42.745 – 00:17:49.665] this is something that she brought home pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty stout, it can be treated, you know.

17:39

[00 17:49.665 – 00:17:52.905] Uh, in other words, Marty was doing the work that AA could not do.

17:44

[00 17:52.905 – 00:17:59.465] Again, interact with medical professions, county, city officials, not to mention leaders of business, industry, state officials.

17:50

[00 17:59.465 – 00:18:06.405] Um, she was, uh, she was just an, an, an incredible, uh, uh, incredible lady.

17:55

[00 18:06.405 – 00:18:14.745] But Priscilla, you know, when she entered into their pictures, her employment was the art editor for Vogue Magazine.

18:01

[00 18:14.745 – 00:18:17.865] It was described as a very high position there.

18:04

[00 18:17.865 – 00:18:24.315] Uh, and of course it was a perfect candidate to give vital advice and direction on how a magazine should come together.

18:11

[00 18:24.315 – 00:18:27.545] And what's really neat is, you know, she actually, you know, got busy.

18:16

[00 18:27.545 – 00:18:31.745] That was one of her, uh, own, uh, uh, designs for the, the cover.

18:21

[00 18:31.745 – 00:18:35.025] So she, she really, um, uh, you know, got, got involved.

18:24

[00 18:35.025 – 00:18:40.905] In fact, you know, when we talk about, uh, the cutting room floor, that it's, it's a definitely that.

18:31

[00 18:40.905 – 00:18:45.285] These are just a chain of, uh, uh, uh, events from, uh, Vogue archives.

18:36

[00 18:45.285 – 00:18:55.425] But, you know, as you can see, you know, she's, she's, she's the, the go-to lady and, uh, you know, um, you know, pretty much, you know, kind of rallying around, you know, making sure

18:47

[00 18:55.425 – 00:18:56.525] everything, you know, fits.

18:49

[00 18:56.525 – 00:19:01.805] Uh, uh, and of course, you know, uh, interacting with, with everybody else.

18:53

[00 19:01.805 – 00:19:07.245] So the caption pretty much one of the top three at Vogue in early to late 1940s.

18:59

[00 19:07.245 – 00:19:16.205] In fact, there she is, Priscilla on the left with editor-in-chief of Vogue and of course fashion editor, uh, the, uh, Diana Vreeland.

19:06

[00 19:16.205 – 00:19:17.825] Uh, pretty, pretty neat.

19:08

[00 19:17.825 – 00:19:27.285] So again, uh, Lois, uh, a- uh, Grapevine number one was Lois Nolan, and of course two and three were Marty Mann and non-alcoholic Priscilla Peck.

19:17

[00 19:27.285 – 00:19:35.965] But again, some, uh, more joined the planning stages, and again, all invaluable to AA and the Grapevine.

19:23

[00 19:35.965 – 00:19:42.525] So from the first ring, uh, and this magazine idea, it's described that they brought on others to help.

19:29

[00 19:42.525 – 00:19:45.565] But first, again, there's a neat little note with, uh, Marty M.

19:33

[00 19:45.565 – 00:19:47.905] Uh, again, uh, Lois K.

19:35

[00 19:47.905 – 00:19:50.865] will- is actually described as kind of following Marty M.

19:39

[00 19:50.865 – 00:20:00.385] into, uh, some of that, at least in, in, in Marty's, uh, um, uh, memoirs and, and her book, uh, is mentioned that Lois, uh, was, was involved for that.

19:48

[00 20:00.385 – 00:20:05.745] But a few more additions, uh, with, uh, a writing experience, probably this one's a big one.

19:54

[00 20:05.745 – 00:20:16.125] Uh, Grace Orzler, again, non-alcoholic, very accomplished writer, editor, and even has knowledge of publishing, especially when advice is given from her husband, Fulton Orzler.

20:02

[00 20:16.125 – 00:20:21.615] And of course, we know him from, uh, Liberty Magazine in 1939, one of the first articles.

20:08

[00 20:21.615 – 00:20:26.365] The other one is Felicia Lenora Magruder or Countess Felicia Gazhitska.

20:12

[00 20:26.365 – 00:20:29.645] And of course, her story was The Stars Don't Fall.

20:15

[00 20:29.645 – 00:20:34.525] Now, Felicia was actually a, uh, a, a very, you know, pretty, pretty...

20:20

[00 20:34.525 – 00:20:35.985] She wrote a lot of stuff.

20:22

[00 20:35.985 – 00:20:40.525] Years later, she wrote many for The American Magazine, news stories, short stories.

20:26

[00 20:40.525 – 00:20:45.365] She wrote a novel called Flower of the South and, and several others.

20:31

[00 20:45.365 – 00:20:51.985] In fact, what's really cool is she has incredibly major newspaper background, so she is, uh, uh...

20:36

[00 20:51.985 – 00:20:54.105] A- again, we'll, we'll, we'll cover that.

20:39

[00 20:54.105 – 00:21:01.265] But first, Grace Perkins Orzler, and of course very successful longtime novelist, actress, and screenwriter.

20:44

[00 21:01.265 – 00:21:04.355] There's just a couple of her, the books that she, um, uh, produced

20:49

[00 21:04.877 – 00:21:12.097] She even had an alias, Dora Macy, and, uh, which had several movies under Dora's name, plus married Fulton Oursler.

20:55

[00 21:12.097 – 00:21:16.397] So, uh, pretty, pretty, uh, uh, impressive with, with that couple.

20:59

[00 21:16.397 – 00:21:26.397] And I should say that, you know, Fulton actually in the second Grapevine ever printed, he wrote Charming Is the Word for Alcoholics, which was, you know, kind of the cover front page, uh, uh, story

21:11

[00 21:26.397 – 00:21:26.677] there.

21:11

[00 21:26.677 – 00:21:33.577] So again, these are two impor- uh, amazingly important individuals to have, have on the, uh, the Grapevine side.

21:18

[00 21:33.577 – 00:21:41.397] And including, you know, just down the road a little bit also there is a special Grapevine tribute to Fulton Oursler in 1952 upon his passing.

21:26

[00 21:41.397 – 00:21:48.617] He kind of falls into the line with, with everybody who had a, a, a hand in Alcoholics Anonymous in the year- early years.

21:34

[00 21:48.617 – 00:21:50.257] Uh, Bill, uh, Bob.

21:36

[00 21:50.257 – 00:21:55.437] Um, in fact, Bob was, was, was, uh, you know, the, his, his, his legacy.

21:41

[00 21:55.437 – 00:21:57.977] Anyway, um, but pretty interesting.

21:43

[00 21:57.977 – 00:22:00.897] So this- these are all, again, photographs in the Grapevine.

21:46

[00 22:00.897 – 00:22:02.467] You know, do they do that now?

21:49

[00 22:02.467 – 00:22:03.957] I, I, I don't think so.

21:51

[00 22:03.957 – 00:22:11.137] Anyway, fun fact, Grace will facilitate just an AA group in the United Kingdom in 1947.

21:56

[00 22:11.137 – 00:22:15.997] Again, busy doing for Alcoholics Anonymous in Room 202 Dorchester Hotel.

21:59

[00 22:15.997 – 00:22:19.167] It starts out with just a handful of people, and it...

22:03

[00 22:19.167 – 00:22:24.337] There's some guy called, uh, named, uh, Canadian Bob, and, uh, it goes from there.

22:08

[00 22:24.337 – 00:22:26.037] Uh, uh, incredible start.

22:10

[00 22:26.037 – 00:22:36.517] Also, uh, uh, Fulton Oursler, w- we mentioned, you know, with Liberty Magazine in, uh, '39, but he will also be a non-alcoholic Class A trustee,

22:19

[00 22:36.517 – 00:22:39.507] uh, in, uh, 1949 to 1952.

22:20

[00 22:39.507 – 00:22:45.557] In fact, he and Silkworth will both be, uh, trustees for that almost exact, uh, period.

22:26

[00 22:45.557 – 00:22:48.487] But, uh, uh, Silkworth was in '51.

22:28

[00 22:48.487 – 00:22:50.807] Anyway, just kind of moving on.

22:30

[00 22:50.807 – 00:22:54.197] Uh, Countess, uh, uh, Felicia Guczyska.

22:33

[00 22:54.197 – 00:23:00.297] Now, again, you know, when I heard the word countess I, I just was like, you know, what is, what does that mean, you know?

22:41

[00 23:00.297 – 00:23:00.717] I, I...

22:42

[00 23:00.717 – 00:23:04.357] Anyway, uh, just super, super summed up.

22:44

[00 23:04.357 – 00:23:14.316] Uh, mother Eleonore "Sissy" Patterson married Count Joseph Guczyska, uh, in Novolozsk, Poland, Russia.

22:49

[00 23:14.316 – 00:23:17.297] There was a break, and so the marriage didn't work out.

22:53

[00 23:17.297 – 00:23:25.357] An international, uh, custody battle and attempted, actually it was an actual kind of kidnapping in the United Kingdom.

22:59

[00 23:25.357 – 00:23:27.537] Uh, they took her to the Russian Embassy.

23:02

[00 23:27.537 – 00:23:34.257] Again, the daughter was, uh, held with, uh, Joseph for a while, and of course that was that embassy, uh, protection.

23:09

[00 23:34.257 – 00:23:36.997] Now, long story short, Mother got her back.

23:12

[00 23:36.997 – 00:23:47.057] So, uh, she actually got President-Elect, uh, William Howard Task, uh, to, uh, interview or intervene with, uh, the, the Tsar Nicholas II

23:20

[00 23:47.057 – 00:23:48.317] of, uh, Russia.

23:21

[00 23:48.317 – 00:23:54.657] And of course, you know, she was returned and there's just, you know, a photograph of her around the age of, uh, uh, 12 years old.

23:29

[00 23:54.657 – 00:24:00.097] Uh, again, you know, just pretty, pretty amazing, uh, story, but it was a big deal back then.

23:35

[00 24:00.097 – 00:24:04.017] But again, you know, heavy newspaper background.

23:38

[00 24:04.017 – 00:24:07.997] In fact, this was Flor- uh, uh, uh, Felicia's, uh, mother, heavy.

23:42

[00 24:07.997 – 00:24:13.497] Uh, her entire family has background going all the way back to Chicago, including the Chicago Tribune.

23:48

[00 24:13.497 – 00:24:19.517] Here's a picture of her mother in charge of the Washington Herald in 1936.

23:52

[00 24:19.517 – 00:24:28.137] So they kind of, you know, at least she, she, she's n- she, um, uh, has some, some pretty much, uh, an interesting, uh, experience.

24:00

[00 24:28.137 – 00:24:37.017] Again, and a little Georgian nugget, uh, the whole publishing bun- team actually flew down for the Gone with the Wind premiere in, uh, 1939.

24:08

[00 24:37.017 – 00:24:39.617] So, uh, again, pretty, pretty interesting.

24:10

[00 24:39.617 – 00:24:42.037] So we know Mom was a big deal.

24:13

[00 24:42.037 – 00:24:46.477] Felicia had, uh, um, uh, again, uh, her own career as a writer.

24:18

[00 24:46.477 – 00:24:49.377] She wrote, uh, House of Violence, probably, you know.

24:21

[00 24:49.377 – 00:24:52.717] Uh, I haven't read it, but I, I, I wonder what that's about.

24:25

[00 24:52.717 – 00:24:56.737] Uh, of course, uh, uh, Flowers of Smoke is another, uh, one.

24:30

[00 24:56.737 – 00:25:04.197] But sh- what's really cool is she also wrote several articles, including this one in Vogue in 1932 called Career Girl.

24:36

[00 25:04.197 – 00:25:09.297] And another interesting, uh, uh, photograph o- of, of, of as such.

24:40

[00 25:09.297 – 00:25:10.677] So, uh, pretty interesting.

24:42

[00 25:10.677 – 00:25:14.217] Now again, in short, this is just her thing.

24:45

[00 25:14.217 – 00:25:23.107] Uh, she is, uh, uh, her crazy youth, "Basically I ran away at 15 and didn't come back until I was 50." Anybody hook up with that?

24:53

[00 25:23.107 – 00:25:24.347] Absolute.

24:54

[00 25:24.347 – 00:25:27.557] Uh, including two failed marriages at this time.

24:57

[00 25:27.557 – 00:25:34.317] Uh, one to actor Drew Pearson, and of course that didn't work out in a short time to Edward Dudley del Levine.

25:04

[00 25:34.317 – 00:25:40.117] And of course, that led pretty much to this fast spiral into hopeless alcoholism.

25:09

[00 25:40.117 – 00:25:44.957] And it's, again, super summed up, but she ended up talking with her doctor, Dr.

25:14

[00 25:44.957 – 00:25:51.977] Florence Penner Maker, again, had heard of a tall, gray-haired man who could help her with her drinking.

25:20

[00 25:51.977 – 00:25:57.837] Long story short, uh, she agreed to attend one of the group's meetings, and she was mortified at first.

25:26

[00 25:57.837 – 00:26:03.777] Uh, then she ventured down to Hell's Kitchen, where the organization offices were located at the time.

25:32

[00 26:03.777 – 00:26:13.777] Bill was a tall, gray-haired, uh, uh, with a kind of asymmetric good looks and pleasant, easy manner that inspired confidence in the shaken and

25:40

[00 26:13.777 – 00:26:17.757] afraid, Felicia was relieved to discover.

25:43

[00 26:17.757 – 00:26:24.737] And of course, I'm not sure about the Hell's Kitchen, but doing the time, time stamp thing, it's, it's around Vesey Street.

25:50

[00 26:24.737 – 00:26:26.457] So, uh, but of course, you know, Dr.

25:53

[00 26:26.457 – 00:26:28.737] Florence, uh, Penner Maker, she had a say in this.

25:56

[00 26:28.737 – 00:26:31.797] In fact, she's mentioned in the very first, uh, uh, Grapevine.

26:00

[00 26:31.797 – 00:26:37.717] This is, uh, June '44, and she's mentioned in AA Goes to Sea, but, you know, pretty cool that she's there.

26:07

[00 26:37.717 – 00:26:42.047] Plus, a couple months later in February of '45, she's actually wrote a front page.

26:12

[00 26:42.047 – 00:26:48.737] So again, you know, this is something that, that, uh, uh, you know, r- really kind of, uh, trusted.

26:19

[00 26:48.737 – 00:26:58.377] When they said that for every Jane, um, uh, in, in, in, you know, in, in John, you know, member of AA writing the stories, they were serious about that.

26:28

[00 26:58.377 – 00:27:00.057] Felicia recalls this.

26:30

[00 27:00.057 – 00:27:01.957] She says, "He was a well-dressed.

26:32

[00 27:01.957 – 00:27:04.557] He was easygoing.

26:33

[00 27:04.557 – 00:27:08.757] He could see he wasn't a quack or a fanatic.

26:37

[00 27:08.757 – 00:27:18.757] He did not take out his folder or questionnaire and say, 'What is the nature of your problem?' He said to me gently and simply, 'Do you think that you are one

26:48

[00 27:18.757 – 00:27:25.057] of us?' Never in my entire life had anyone asked, 'Are you one of us?'" How cool is that?

26:55

[00 27:25.057 – 00:27:28.797] It's almost like Silkworth exact words.

26:57

[00 27:28.797 – 00:27:32.297] Anyway, uh, "Never had I felt a sense of belonging.

27:00

[00 27:32.297 – 00:27:34.257] I found myself nodding my head.

27:02

[00 27:34.257 – 00:27:44.557] He said, uh, he now said that we had a physical allergy combined with a mental obsession, and he explained this so that I saw for the first time

27:12

[00 27:44.557 – 00:27:47.037] how this could be." Wow, the connection.

27:15

[00 27:47.037 – 00:27:56.017] "He asked me if I had, uh, any spiritual belief, and when I said no, he suggested that I keep an open mind." How cool is that?

27:23

[00 27:56.017 – 00:27:58.537] What a, what a, what an amazing paragraph again.

27:27

[00 27:58.537 – 00:28:06.077] And, uh, you know, but then Bill turns around and picks up the phone and it's described that, "I've got a dame here with a name I can't pronounce-

27:36

[00 28:06.323 – 00:28:08.403] So in fact, I don't think anybody can really pronounce it.

27:40

[00 28:08.403 – 00:28:14.113] But he told someone whose number he dialed on Felicia's behalf at the end of the meeting.

27:46

[00 28:14.113 – 00:28:21.243] When he hung up, he told her he had arranged her to meet someone named Marty.

27:51

[00 28:21.243 – 00:28:24.143] Uh, "Ha," she's thinking, "Pa- he's passing the buck now.

27:55

[00 28:24.143 – 00:28:34.183] Here it comes." Felicia suspected inwardly, "Now out come, uh, now comes, uh, this, uh, uh, questionnaire that I've been ex- uh, expecting." And of course, the woman is

28:04

[00 28:34.183 – 00:28:34.743] Marty.

28:05

[00 28:34.743 – 00:28:37.463] Long story short, but it was not.

28:07

[00 28:37.463 – 00:28:39.123] Felicia made contact with Marty.

28:09

[00 28:39.123 – 00:28:45.543] The two was- women set to work on the steps, and then turn their attention to somebody that they can help.

28:16

[00 28:45.543 – 00:28:48.463] Again, another great description.

28:18

[00 28:48.463 – 00:28:58.683] Um, a woman whose background could be made a movie, became a hopeless alcoholic, had a spiritual awakening, and started doing for others in her own way.

28:27

[00 28:58.683 – 00:29:06.043] And again, she wrote her s- her story, uh, The Stars Don't Fall for the second and third edition, and it's currently in Experience, Strength, and Hope.

28:36

[00 29:06.043 – 00:29:10.522] But again, when, you know, there's two pronunciations, uh, from that last name.

28:40

[00 29:10.522 – 00:29:16.133] There's obviously a Russian one, but there's also a Polish one, and the Polish one seems to be, uh, uh, more popular.

28:47

[00 29:16.133 – 00:29:17.543] So how cool is that?

28:49

[00 29:17.543 – 00:29:21.683] Again, one of the six co-founders of the AA Grapevine, The Stars Don't Fall.

28:54

[00 29:21.683 – 00:29:23.573] And of course, others add the fray.

28:57

[00 29:23.573 – 00:29:24.853] Now, Kay M.

28:58

[00 29:24.853 – 00:29:28.843] was next, a key staffer since she worked as a proofreader, then Mauve S.

29:03

[00 29:28.843 – 00:29:29.743] and Astrid L.

29:04

[00 29:29.743 – 00:29:36.823] They also decided that male representation was needed and added some men to their staff, Chase H.

29:10

[00 29:36.823 – 00:29:38.283] and Bud T.

29:11

[00 29:38.283 – 00:29:43.963] These constitute, as Bill put it, the in- six ink-stained wretches, pictures wanted.

29:15

[00 29:43.963 – 00:29:54.003] Again, these folks started with an idea that may have been a local newsletter again- uh, local reader for New York, but now it's, um, um, you know, it's, it's

29:25

[00 29:54.003 – 00:29:56.523] bigger than that, and it's really about to be tested.

29:29

[00 29:56.523 – 00:29:58.923] In fact, there's a great description.

29:31

[00 29:58.923 – 00:30:09.373] On the evening of May 22nd, they all met in a small midtown apartment in, uh, Manhattan to review and pass judgment on the finished copies of the June '44 issue of The Grapevine,

29:42

[00 30:09.373 – 00:30:13.103] optimistically labeled Volume One, Number One.

29:44

[00 30:13.103 – 00:30:15.223] It was all ready to distribute.

29:47

[00 30:15.223 – 00:30:20.063] The first print order was for 1,200 copies at a cost of $125.

29:50

[00 30:20.063 – 00:30:30.163] They had no way of knowing after that first month's issue appeared whether or not they would sell enough at 15 cents per copy or gather enough subscriptions to pay

30:00

[00 30:30.163 – 00:30:31.503] for a second issue.

30:01

[00 30:31.503 – 00:30:37.823] But they did with a heartening number of subscriptions from outside the New York area.

30:07

[00 30:37.823 – 00:30:40.023] Big note there.

30:08

[00 30:40.023 – 00:30:41.743] Again, it was spreading.

30:09

[00 30:41.743 – 00:30:43.843] That was so exciting.

30:11

[00 30:43.843 – 00:30:52.423] The staff would hold letters from the post office box until they were all present, and then make a ceremony of opening and, of course, reading them.

30:20

[00 30:52.423 – 00:30:55.123] And of course, the very first issue pretty much...

30:23

[00 30:55.123 – 00:31:02.723] This is, uh, uh, you know, a scan of, uh, an original, and two Yale savants stress alcoholism.

30:29

[00 31:02.723 – 00:31:07.803] Well, who- one of those Yale savants is, uh, Elvin Morton Jellinek.

30:33

[00 31:07.803 – 00:31:10.393] They called him Bunky, Yale School of Alcoholic Studies.

30:36

[00 31:10.393 – 00:31:12.613] And of course, his co-pilot, Dr.

30:39

[00 31:12.613 – 00:31:17.233] Howard Haggard, also with the Yale School of Alcos- uh, Alcoholic Studies.

30:43

[00 31:17.233 – 00:31:21.663] And what's really neat, again, uh, you know, this makes sense, right?

30:47

[00 31:21.663 – 00:31:27.463] Marty had been working with the Yale School of Alcoholic Studies, also with the NCEA, later named the NCA.

30:53

[00 31:27.463 – 00:31:29.703] And of course, Lois will follow Marty.

30:56

[00 31:29.703 – 00:31:38.143] But, uh, it was pretty much, again, the purpose helping to spread the word that alcoholism is a treatable disease, hence the...

31:03

[00 31:38.143 – 00:31:41.523] And if you look back at the title, it just kind of, you know, supports that.

31:09

[00 31:41.523 – 00:31:43.283] So I thought that was, uh, pretty interesting.

31:11

[00 31:43.283 – 00:31:45.803] Uh, and again, you know, another use.

31:14

[00 31:45.803 – 00:31:46.883] How cool is this?

31:16

[00 31:46.883 – 00:31:47.963] You know, editorials.

31:17

[00 31:47.963 – 00:31:50.203] You know, the, the same thing in the Central Bulletin.

31:20

[00 31:50.203 – 00:31:51.423] Bill and Dr.

31:22

[00 31:51.423 – 00:31:55.303] Bob, you know, this was an incredible connection that they were able to do.

31:26

[00 31:55.303 – 00:32:05.563] In fact, they had the means to reach out literally from their living room inside their own homes and convey their experience and thoughts to members close by, down the street, d- across

31:37

[00 32:05.563 – 00:32:06.883] town or across the world.

31:39

[00 32:06.883 – 00:32:10.183] So, uh, again, very, very useful.

31:41

[00 32:10.183 – 00:32:20.283] In fact, all the early members, as well as many non-alcoholics like Doctors Silkworth and Tebow, Sister Nation, Sam Shoemaker,

31:48

[00 32:20.283 – 00:32:25.003] he, so many k- uh, uh, wrote, wrote, uh, early articles.

31:52

[00 32:25.003 – 00:32:29.583] And, uh, again, now these are just a few of the first, uh, articles.

31:57

[00 32:29.583 – 00:32:34.803] Again, you know the purpose, mail call for AAs in armed forces, and these are just in sequence.

32:03

[00 32:34.803 – 00:32:37.763] Do you know about home care for the alcoholic?

32:06

[00 32:37.763 – 00:32:42.583] Uh, again, an interesting little, uh, uh, description of Bill's trip south.

32:10

[00 32:42.583 – 00:32:45.683] Uh, and of course, yeah, he came down for about two weeks.

32:14

[00 32:45.683 – 00:32:51.223] Uh, went through Jacksonville, Daytona, uh, Atlanta, Alabama, Chattanooga, and Knoxville.

32:18

[00 32:51.223 – 00:32:59.203] Uh, and of course, while in Atlanta, it's described that two days were spent in Atlanta, where an elaborate plan has been made.

32:26

[00 32:59.203 – 00:33:07.143] F- And of course, the parentheses, naturally, there are alcoholics too, so you know the saying, if you wanna hear God laugh, tell Him what your plans are.

32:35

[00 33:07.143 – 00:33:10.563] Well, evidently they had Him going all over the place down here.

32:39

[00 33:10.563 – 00:33:13.423] But, you know, the, the, the articles continue.

32:42

[00 33:13.423 – 00:33:14.923] Seminar on alcohol, right?

32:43

[00 33:14.923 – 00:33:16.523] Here's the overseas.

32:45

[00 33:16.523 – 00:33:22.163] You know, more, more, uh, uh, mail from, from soldiers, from the Atlantic, all over the place.

32:50

[00 33:22.163 – 00:33:23.783] Now it gets into some interesting.

32:53

[00 33:23.783 – 00:33:29.083] The Brooklyn group works closely with hospital patients.

32:55

[00 33:29.083 – 00:33:35.463] Uh, Bill's wife remembers when he and she and the first AAs were very young.

33:01

[00 33:35.463 – 00:33:39.093] And of course, did you know about the AA telephone technique?

33:04

[00 33:39.093 – 00:33:44.443] Again, this is, you know, useful information for folks who have never done it.

33:09

[00 33:44.443 – 00:33:46.223] You know, it's a great resource to have it.

33:12

[00 33:46.223 – 00:33:51.803] You know, how do you h- somebody has a hotline, how do you talk to some- how do you talk to a sponsee who's calling for help?

33:21

[00 33:51.803 – 00:33:55.783] Anyway, how it feels to make one's first beginnings in AA.

33:25

[00 33:55.783 – 00:33:59.923] My favorite, the children say what AA means to them.

33:29

[00 33:59.923 – 00:34:02.243] That is incredibly powerful.

33:30

[00 34:02.243 – 00:34:04.643] Some of those are, are, are really amazing.

33:33

[00 34:04.643 – 00:34:09.063] Uh, and of course, you know, how do you use closed meetings?

33:37

[00 34:09.063 – 00:34:12.883] How does it feel to join AA long before you have to?

33:41

[00 34:12.883 – 00:34:15.263] And of course, you know, these are just a handful.

33:45

[00 34:15.263 – 00:34:18.983] I could fill three or four screens of all this awesomeness in the early '40s.

33:50

[00 34:18.983 – 00:34:23.383] Now, the first Grapevine offices appear to be kind of in two locations.

33:55

[00 34:23.383 – 00:34:29.693] One, uh, was described in the, uh, apartment of either Lois Kay or Marty Mann's apartment.

34:00

[00 34:29.693 – 00:34:39.733] I imagine it, uh, Marty Mann's, uh, again, but it's also described that they had to move when, uh, the apartment landlord found out that they were running a business in there, and it's

34:11

[00 34:39.733 – 00:34:49.943] like, "Can't do that here." So they seek other places, and of course, they ended up moving to its first actual, quote, office in the basement of an old church building, uh,

34:22

[00 34:49.943 – 00:34:57.063] at 405 West 41st Street in New York City, conveniently called the 41st Street Clubhouse.

34:26

[00 34:57.063 – 00:35:02.183] Now again, uh, as you can see, you know, the- we're, w- we're gonna nerd out for a second.

34:33

[00 35:02.183 – 00:35:07.623] Uh, but if you look West, uh, uh, 41st Street, it's really hard to find a photograph of, uh-

34:39

[00 35:08.269 – 00:35:10.058] Um, 41st Street Clubhouse.

34:41

[00 35:10.058 – 00:35:16.829] And so you've, you, you know that, um, um, the Port Authority has an excellent archives.

34:46

[00 35:16.829 – 00:35:22.309] And of course, you know, from, from this standpoint it's actually behind that building, so it gives you some ideas.

34:53

[00 35:22.309 – 00:35:30.049] But for all intensive purposes, that's the 9th Street, and if you look at the office, uh, uh, address, it was 9th Street and, uh, uh, 41st Ave.

35:02

[00 35:30.049 – 00:35:40.169] And of course, when you're standing underneath the bridge looking kind of catty-corner, and of course you can kind of see that's what it looked like, uh, before it was totally and completely,

35:13

[00 35:40.169 – 00:35:43.489] uh, uh, torn down and that entire block was, was rebuilt.

35:17

[00 35:43.489 – 00:35:45.649] So, uh, pretty, pretty interesting.

35:19

[00 35:45.649 – 00:35:48.389] A- again, you know, the, the, the back of the Port Authority.

35:23

[00 35:48.389 – 00:35:49.869] But there's a great description.

35:25

[00 35:49.869 – 00:35:59.869] It says, "When we leased our office, we purchased a long architect's table, six chairs, a big standing lamp, and a big coffee pot." Gotta have

35:33

[00 35:59.869 – 00:36:00.429] that coffee.

35:34

[00 36:00.429 – 00:36:07.409] "Our first meeting in our new office was in September 1944, and it was a big thrill to us.

35:40

[00 36:07.409 – 00:36:10.679] We found m- more willing hands to help out.

35:43

[00 36:10.679 – 00:36:15.989] Still, all AA members experienced, proofreaders, typists, and the like.

35:47

[00 36:15.989 – 00:36:26.149] Not until the last issue of volume one came along did we have one part-time paid employee to type letters and manuscripts, and of course, help

35:55

[00 36:26.149 – 00:36:30.569] with the subscriptions." So pretty interesting description.

35:58

[00 36:30.569 – 00:36:39.349] But again, kind of nerding out a little bit, uh, only, you know, known, uh, uh, photograph that I've, I've come across of, of, uh, the, the building with the basement.

36:08

[00 36:39.349 – 00:36:44.829] And if you look at what it is today, you know, uh, uh, pretty much the, all of that is gone.

36:15

[00 36:44.829 – 00:36:52.069] Uh, and of course, just that one little, you know, checkerboard pattern is pretty much resembles that whole entire block.

36:22

[00 36:52.069 – 00:36:55.069] And, uh, what is next door is now a theater.

36:25

[00 36:55.069 – 00:36:57.549] So if you wanna find it, it is currently a theater.

36:29

[00 36:57.549 – 00:37:08.149] But when you look back at a, a map of the time, again, um, you know, where that photograph in the upper left, I mean upper right was, uh, taken was around where the 9th Street,

36:41

[00 37:08.149 – 00:37:09.949] uh, is on the bottom with that blue.

36:44

[00 37:09.949 – 00:37:19.789] And what's really cool is when they actually started to build, uh, the, uh, Port Authority bus terminal starting in '49 into '50, uh, they pretty much...

36:53

[00 37:19.789 – 00:37:26.889] Well, they took over that entire block and turned that into a ramp for buses to go into, uh, the basement of, of the Port Authority.

37:01

[00 37:26.889 – 00:37:35.188] And of course, what's, what's neat is, you know, you can actually see there's an alleyway and, and it's pretty much, uh, stands out as you can tell there.

37:11

[00 37:35.188 – 00:37:45.469] And of course, you know, when you look at the, uh, the addresses, 401, 403, and of course 405 is part of this reformed church, uh, as described.

37:19

[00 37:45.469 – 00:37:47.809] So again, caution, rabbit holes.

37:21

[00 37:47.809 – 00:37:51.369] Uh, I probably should have led off, uh, with that, you know.

37:25

[00 37:51.369 – 00:38:01.409] Uh, but, uh, again, uh, the, uh, 9th Ave and 41st, uh, uh, great, great archive with the, uh, uh, uh, uh, you know,

37:33

[00 38:01.409 – 00:38:04.409] archives with the, uh, uh, the, uh, Port Authority.

37:36

[00 38:04.409 – 00:38:07.489] Now, here's a fun fact about the 41st Street Clubhouse.

37:40

[00 38:07.489 – 00:38:13.269] And, and again, speaking of tran- uh, uh, traditions, you know, the, the, the Grapevine was in the basement.

37:46

[00 38:13.269 – 00:38:19.529] Well, it was also around the time, again, this famous, you know, 41st, 2nd clubhouse in New York.

37:52

[00 38:19.529 – 00:38:27.469] It was, was the story of the transvestite, 1945, that came in, and it's also the future home of Barry Leach.

37:59

[00 38:27.469 – 00:38:35.069] And so, you know, when they came in and, you know, they asked Bill, it's not to be confused with what happened, uh, in, uh, in Akron with Dr.

38:08

[00 38:35.069 – 00:38:46.209] Bob, but when this, uh, described a, um, um, a, a Black transvestite came in, Bill took the exact same approach that he took with Felicia.

38:17

[00 38:46.209 – 00:38:49.189] "Do you think you're one of us?" And how cool is that?

38:21

[00 38:49.189 – 00:38:54.149] Anyway, uh, again, from there, one part-time paid employee.

38:24

[00 38:54.149 – 00:38:58.389] And of course, with this we are talking about her name is Helen Wilson.

38:29

[00 38:58.389 – 00:39:04.349] Now, if that sounds familiar, pretty much it's Bill's half-sister from Father Gilman and Christine Bock.

38:34

[00 39:04.349 – 00:39:14.249] Again, Helen lived in Miami for a bit during youth, lived in a few places, later moved from Montreal to New York and ag- uh, to begin work with AA.

38:44

[00 39:14.249 – 00:39:15.669] So she bounced around a little bit.

38:47

[00 39:15.669 – 00:39:21.989] But first, uh, Bill first met her around Miami in '27 after a visit to Cuba for a stock speculation.

38:53

[00 39:21.989 – 00:39:24.709] Uh, from there they went up to Atlanta for a week.

38:57

[00 39:24.709 – 00:39:26.469] That was his second stay.

38:59

[00 39:26.469 – 00:39:32.138] Uh, there was one in '26, and now this one in '27, uh, in, in Georgia.

39:05

[00 39:32.138 – 00:39:33.749] So just giving that a plug.

39:07

[00 39:33.749 – 00:39:43.669] Uh, and again, from here, Bill asked Helen to help out, and at the age of around 29, she moved from Montreal, Canada, to New York and began work with AA.

39:17

[00 39:43.669 – 00:39:54.009] Upon arriving in New York, the realization of standard operating procedure, especially subscriptions, were extremely complex

39:22

[00 39:54.009 – 00:39:55.189] and confusing.

39:23

[00 39:55.189 – 00:40:02.509] In fact, her first charge of duty, she made the process much easier and, most importantly, very simple.

39:29

[00 40:02.509 – 00:40:06.749] In short, she pretty much made it un-alcoholic.

39:32

[00 40:06.749 – 00:40:09.109] We will screw up a glass of water, won't we?

39:35

[00 40:09.109 – 00:40:14.729] So she pretty much, you know, uh, uh, un- unscrewed it if, if, if you, if you have.

39:41

[00 40:14.729 – 00:40:21.029] And of course, thank God she stayed on for a while because I, uh, you know, we, we probably would've screwed it back.

39:49

[00 40:21.029 – 00:40:26.869] But, so she is now, uh, uh, again, you can s- you know, that w- those are two Grapevine, uh, photographs.

39:56

[00 40:26.869 – 00:40:29.749] You know, Helen with her present subscriptions by computer.

39:59

[00 40:29.749 – 00:40:30.749] So she stayed on.

40:01

[00 40:30.749 – 00:40:31.909] She's, she's incredible.

40:02

[00 40:31.909 – 00:40:35.629] Now, the first year the Grapevine went better than they thought.

40:06

[00 40:35.629 – 00:40:41.229] Soon they realized, uh, the situation needed to be clearly defined for future operations.

40:11

[00 40:41.229 – 00:40:42.889] What would this structure look like?

40:13

[00 40:42.889 – 00:40:45.079] Again, asking all kinds of questions.

40:15

[00 40:45.079 – 00:40:47.589] Would it be similar to the Alcoholic Foundation setup?

40:18

[00 40:47.589 – 00:40:49.589] Would it be something totally different?

40:21

[00 40:49.589 – 00:40:50.969] You know, what do they do?

40:23

[00 40:50.969 – 00:40:55.889] And of course, in walks, you know, kind of this outside legal aid.

40:27

[00 40:55.889 – 00:40:56.629] His name is Mr.

40:29

[00 40:56.629 – 00:40:58.989] Royal Francis Sheppard.

40:30

[00 40:58.989 – 00:41:09.138] And again, Bill wrote him a note pretty much, uh, uh, again, set forth some of the guiding principles of the magazine in '45 outlined in this letter.

40:39

[00 41:09.138 – 00:41:14.819] In short, this is a blueprint, uh, uh, for, for what AA, uh, is, uh, today.

40:45

[00 41:14.819 – 00:41:16.859] And some of these things are, are, are amazing.

40:48

[00 41:16.859 – 00:41:18.449] Again, we're just gonna cherry-pick it.

40:50

[00 41:18.449 – 00:41:22.389] It says, "The Grapevine should become the voice of AA as a whole." That was number one.

40:56

[00 41:22.389 – 00:41:30.989] Number two, "Grapevine staff should be primarily responsive to AA group opinion and tradition." Tradition.

41:01

[00 41:30.989 – 00:41:32.629] 1945.

41:01

[00 41:32.629 – 00:41:33.169] Interesting.

41:02

[00 41:33.169 – 00:41:38.089] "The Grapevine editor should be the ultimate judge of what is to be printed.

41:07

[00 41:38.089 – 00:41:43.609] Four, the trustees of the Alcoholic Foundation are the final judges of national AA policy.

41:12

[00 41:43.609 – 00:41:53.109] As such, they should have power to intervene in the affair of the Grapevine should the, uh, paper go wrong from a fiscal or a national policy standpoint.

41:21

[00 41:53.109 – 00:42:03.259] But the trustees should not have any power to dictate to the, uh, Grapevine staff so long as the paper conforms to the spirit of the 12 steps of Alcoholics

41:31

[00 42:03.259 – 00:42:06.049] Anonymous and keeps its financial house in order.

41:33

[00 42:06.049 – 00:42:09.079] Under ordinary conditions, the trustees should be-"

41:36

[00 42:09.461 – 00:42:12.081] To suggest and advise, but not command.

41:39

[00 42:12.081 – 00:42:20.401] So if anybody wonders pretty much, you know, why they, they, maybe they, they changed, uh, uh, the, uh, you know, the preamble.

41:46

[00 42:20.401 – 00:42:21.641] Uh, 'cause they can.

41:48

[00 42:21.641 – 00:42:31.961] Anyway, uh, and of course it, it continues five, uh, pretty much it shouldn't get into, uh, uh, politics, uh, sociology, sectarian religion

41:55

[00 42:31.961 – 00:42:32.441] reform.

41:56

[00 42:32.441 – 00:42:34.841] Doesn't touch any of that stuff.

41:58

[00 42:34.841 – 00:42:40.211] Six is, again, propaganda and aid to any person or cause, save AA and self.

42:03

[00 42:40.211 – 00:42:47.741] And what's neat is they can't aid in it because, again, especially if it helps Alcoholics Anonymous.

42:09

[00 42:47.741 – 00:42:48.901] That, that's a pretty neat one.

42:11

[00 42:48.901 – 00:42:54.761] Seven, uh, to future guarantee its integrity, the Grapevine should accept no paid advertising.

42:16

[00 42:54.761 – 00:43:01.141] Eight, the Grapevine should have freedom to print news articles relative to the whole field of alcoholism.

42:22

[00 43:01.141 – 00:43:08.361] Nine, though never to be operated for the profit of any individual, the Grapevine ought to be financially self-supporting.

42:28

[00 43:08.361 – 00:43:11.521] 10, original Grapevine was wholly a volunteer effort.

42:31

[00 43:11.521 – 00:43:18.901] It is most strongly felt that an able volunteer staff should serve as editorial assistants, and it continues with rotation.

42:37

[00 43:18.901 – 00:43:25.121] If you look between the lines, these are a lot of the traditions that they're about ready to, to, to, to come up with.

42:45

[00 43:25.121 – 00:43:26.441] Again, just interesting.

42:47

[00 43:26.441 – 00:43:36.441] Uh, 11, managing directors of the Grapevine Corp should be composed of two trustees, uh, two, uh, or two ex-trustees of the foundation, two members of

42:55

[00 43:36.441 – 00:43:39.741] the volunteer staff, and of course the editor, making a board of five.

42:59

[00 43:39.741 – 00:43:40.901] That has definitely changed.

43:01

[00 43:40.901 – 00:43:51.121] And of course, 12, kind of like our, our, our concepts, 12 is pretty much, you know, a combination of, of the first 11 all wrapped up into one as, you know, um,

43:11

[00 43:51.121 – 00:43:54.221] uh, f- just for there and now.

43:13

[00 43:54.221 – 00:43:55.521] This is a long document.

43:15

[00 43:55.521 – 00:43:59.081] In short, basically outlines the structure and administrator.

43:18

[00 43:59.081 – 00:44:04.381] It's making it a third variable of AA overall administration, right?

43:22

[00 44:04.381 – 00:44:12.441] They called the Alcohol Foundation, today AA World Services, National AA Secretary, GSO, and of course, the editor of the Grapevine, now Grapevine.

43:29

[00 44:12.441 – 00:44:21.341] Again, at this early stages, it's a, it's an incredible, uh, uh, you know, description, including one little nugget that's buried in there, and that is this.

43:38

[00 44:21.341 – 00:44:27.001] It says, "Someday, perhaps rather soon, I may have to step out of the national picture entirely.

43:44

[00 44:27.001 – 00:44:30.841] In fact, the doctors have just taken me out of it for the next six months.

43:50

[00 44:30.841 – 00:44:40.921] Yet it is still a fact that half of our board of trustees have never met the Grapevine editor, nor has the Grapevine editor ever discussed a national policy with

43:59

[00 44:40.921 – 00:44:45.501] the national secretary or the trustee." Again, you know, that's an absolute setup.

44:04

[00 44:45.501 – 00:44:54.481] Uh, there's another letter of Bill, you know, thinking about that he is going to resign from, from, uh, uh, AA to, to pursue this idea he has.

44:13

[00 44:54.481 – 00:44:55.961] And of course, here's the second one.

44:16

[00 44:55.961 – 00:44:59.021] This one is in March, so I thought that was just pretty, pretty interesting.

44:20

[00 44:59.021 – 00:45:09.161] Again, also note this is the, the, the same Royal Shepherd that will have this mild, uh, mental, how should we say, you know, who's on first

44:29

[00 45:09.161 – 00:45:09.721] episode.

44:30

[00 45:09.721 – 00:45:19.811] Uh, again, uh, because he is the one that actually, uh, uh, outlines the legal, uh, document for the general service conference, and Bill hands him, you know, the,

44:39

[00 45:19.811 – 00:45:24.501] the three-panel form, the four-panel form, the two-panel form, and it just...

44:44

[00 45:24.501 – 00:45:26.121] He's trying to make sense of it all.

44:46

[00 45:26.121 – 00:45:31.961] And yeah, we, again, we will, we will mess up a, uh, uh, we will mess up a glass of water.

44:53

[00 45:31.961 – 00:45:37.141] We also have the ability to make an entirely normal, sane person crazy.

44:58

[00 45:37.141 – 00:45:41.701] Uh, anyway, so to complicate, uh, uh, you know, do we mess it up?

45:03

[00 45:41.701 – 00:45:45.471] Again, the only problem with Alcoholics Anonymous is that it's full of alcoholics.

45:07

[00 45:45.471 – 00:45:50.381] But he came through not only with this, but also with the, uh, general, uh, service conference.

45:13

[00 45:50.381 – 00:45:53.321] So an amazing guy, this, uh, Royal Francis Shepherd.

45:16

[00 45:53.321 – 00:45:56.161] So '45 is off to a great start for the Grapevine.

45:20

[00 45:56.161 – 00:46:00.001] In fact, one of the main, uh, you know, talk about a reunion.

45:24

[00 46:00.001 – 00:46:02.121] Check out the date.

45:26

[00 46:02.121 – 00:46:06.761] 10th anniversary, June 10th, 1945.

45:27

[00 46:06.761 – 00:46:07.621] How cool is that?

45:29

[00 46:07.621 – 00:46:15.461] And of course, it was in the, uh, epic gathering marks this 10th anniversary and of course, where the AA beacon was lit.

45:37

[00 46:15.461 – 00:46:20.561] And it's described that it was here where the miracle really took place 10 years ago.

45:42

[00 46:20.561 – 00:46:23.841] It took place in Cleveland, uh, for the, uh, uh, event.

45:46

[00 46:23.841 – 00:46:28.680] They drove down and, and went to, uh, the Mayflower, and that's where, uh, the, the photograph was taken.

45:52

[00 46:28.680 – 00:46:31.461] At the table is, uh, AA number three, Bill Dodson, Dr.

45:56

[00 46:31.461 – 00:46:34.161] Bob Standing, and of course, Lois and Bill.

45:59

[00 46:34.161 – 00:46:38.301] And, uh, just an, a, an amazing, uh, uh, Grapevine article.

46:02

[00 46:38.301 – 00:46:42.901] Again, into August '45, just another little plug for, for, for Georgia.

46:07

[00 46:42.901 – 00:46:50.661] Um, and of course, it talks about the Atlanta group has been successful in sobering up a hometown lad stationed in China.

46:14

[00 46:50.661 – 00:46:58.821] Uh, writing him long letters, sending him the AA book and reprint of Jack Alexander's Saturday Evening Post article of '41, plus some pamphlets.

46:22

[00 46:58.821 – 00:47:00.681] So again, pretty interesting.

46:23

[00 47:00.681 – 00:47:10.721] Uh, and you know, if you, if you do have access to, uh, the, the, the Grapevine, see if your own area, uh, uh, has, you know, articles about, you know, the first for,

46:35

[00 47:10.721 – 00:47:16.061] for, for, you know, your, your, your groups or, uh, you know, districts or, or whatever.

46:40

[00 47:16.061 – 00:47:26.201] So again, ended up appealing to Alcoholics everywhere and, uh, uh, at the request of the groups, it became known as the National Journal of Alcoholics Anonymous.

46:49

[00 47:26.201 – 00:47:33.821] And of course, it was here where the Grapevine's potential, uh, uh, reached out to all its members.

46:55

[00 47:33.821 – 00:47:42.941] And what's interesting is they put a, uh, a, a feeler out and, uh, you know, it's, it's, it's great to see how it was, uh, you know, kinda outlined again.

47:05

[00 47:42.941 – 00:47:53.121] You know, now it's then, uh, Bill has designated it the National AA Periodical, but what's really impressive and, and it's true, you know, beginning content, the original dream,

47:15

[00 47:53.121 – 00:47:56.841] asking all groups to contribute material to the following formula.

47:18

[00 47:56.841 – 00:47:59.561] And some of the things are, are incredible.

47:21

[00 47:59.561 – 00:48:01.921] You know, this is, this is what they were asking for.

47:25

[00 48:01.921 – 00:48:04.461] New item, sentence or two plus, right?

47:27

[00 48:04.461 – 00:48:14.291] Reports on new groups, banquets, any activities, membership growth, founding of new groups, special work in hospitals, institutions, plus news stories.

47:34

[00 48:14.291 – 00:48:16.431] Um, pretty much AA activities.

47:36

[00 48:16.431 – 00:48:23.241] Short item, letters 500 words or less, personal experience, manner as if talked in a meeting.

47:41

[00 48:23.241 – 00:48:23.831] Interesting.

47:42

[00 48:23.831 – 00:48:27.721] Questions you have or problems in form of a letter.

47:45

[00 48:27.721 – 00:48:30.031] Again, exchange ideas.

47:47

[00 48:30.031 – 00:48:33.181] And of course, the section, fun jokes, cartoons, humor.

47:50

[00 48:33.181 – 00:48:34.721] What's the funniest thing you heard?

47:52

[00 48:34.721 – 00:48:36.101] I thought that was pretty interesting.

47:54

[00 48:36.101 – 00:48:39.041] And again, uh, techniques, tricks of the trade.

47:57

[00 48:39.041 – 00:48:41.041] What has worked for you or your group?

48:00

[00 48:41.041 – 00:48:43.421] And they're, th- they're throwing this out to the groups.

48:04

[00 48:43.421 – 00:48:44.281] How cool is that?

48:05

[00 48:44.281 – 00:48:51.941] Again, vignettes and articles and, uh, they are aimed to be, uh, uh, an inspiration to others, and those are the long ones.

48:13

[00 48:51.941 – 00:48:53.621] Uh, uh, pretty cool.

48:14

[00 48:53.621 – 00:49:03.541] Uh, but again, the point is the Grapevine is now involving the National Fellowship instead of its small little circle of volunteers, uh, and, uh, uh, goes from there.

48:24

[00 49:03.541 – 00:49:10.711] So from here, again, uh, November, uh, 1945, the Grapevine announced it would actually add four more pages-

48:30

[00 49:11.107 – 00:49:21.167] For the December and, uh, uh, uh, issue, and of course raised the subscription rate in January, uh, which is a month later, from a dollar to

48:39

[00 49:21.167 – 00:49:25.307] $2.50 from $1.50, uh, uh, uh, per year.

48:41

[00 49:25.307 – 00:49:28.707] And of course, um, uh, uh, pretty, uh, 25...

48:44

[00 49:28.707 – 00:49:30.087] you know, $30 today.

48:45

[00 49:30.087 – 00:49:32.107] So it's, it's still pretty, pretty on point.

48:48

[00 49:32.107 – 00:49:42.557] Now in four years, '49, when the Grapevine's readership had expanded to include members in Canada and Europe, it was designated and changed to the International Journal of Alcoholics

48:57

[00 49:42.557 – 00:49:43.027] Anonymous.

48:58

[00 49:43.027 – 00:49:45.447] So again, pretty neat little jump.

49:00

[00 49:45.447 – 00:49:51.907] But the old clubhouse building, West 41st Street, was sold, and the Grapevine was of course hopeless again.

49:06

[00 49:51.907 – 00:49:57.527] And what's really cool is in steps Leonard Harrison, office number two.

49:10

[00 49:57.527 – 00:50:04.267] He was described, again, a- as he's a Rockefeller camp, but a non-alcoholic AA trustee Class A.

49:16

[00 50:04.267 – 00:50:14.627] For, uh, was also commissioner of the welfare for New York City, and so was able to find space in a small old apartment building on Minette Lane in Greenwich,

49:26

[00 50:14.627 – 00:50:17.527] building between MacDougal Street and Sixth Avenue.

49:28

[00 50:17.527 – 00:50:22.587] So this is the intersection of MacDougal Street, Minette Lane, and at the other end is Sixth Avenue.

49:35

[00 50:22.587 – 00:50:26.187] And of course, it's pretty, pretty, pretty great description.

49:38

[00 50:26.187 – 00:50:32.307] It says the building was so dilapidated that it had been condemned as unsafe for living.

49:43

[00 50:32.307 – 00:50:38.707] But Reynold, uh, Leonard pulled some strings, again got the city to permit the basement to be used for an office.

49:50

[00 50:38.707 – 00:50:49.087] Without money for moving expenses, the editors persuaded an ice truck driver who had delivered ice to the old clubhouse to move their scanty furniture, subscription

49:59

[00 50:49.087 – 00:50:55.127] cards, files and correspondence, and all other, uh, possessions to, uh, Minette Lane.

50:03

[00 50:55.127 – 00:50:59.967] And I f- you know, I thought this might be the actual smallest street in, in New York.

50:09

[00 50:59.967 – 00:51:00.757] It's not.

50:10

[00 51:00.757 – 00:51:06.047] Uh, but it's definitely, uh, uh, pretty, pretty unique little, little section there.

50:15

[00 51:06.047 – 00:51:16.187] And of course, the basement, when you look at the early maps, which, you know, we, we, we, we nerd out, uh, the original, uh, uh, listing was the odd streets were on the left-hand

50:26

[00 51:16.187 – 00:51:18.467] side, so it went from one, three to five.

50:29

[00 51:18.467 – 00:51:25.087] And of course number five, uh, uh, Minette Lane, it is the, uh, pretty much, uh, down in that little gutter thing.

50:37

[00 51:25.087 – 00:51:28.827] Uh, you can see it's, uh, uh, again pretty, pretty neat.

50:40

[00 51:28.827 – 00:51:31.227] And then right across the street is actually the horse stables.

50:44

[00 51:31.227 – 00:51:33.907] So I, I thought that was, uh, uh, uh, pretty interesting.

50:48

[00 51:33.907 – 00:51:42.977] Anyway, in a short time it's described that there was a second non-alcoholic paid employee, again, one of several for, uh, the future to come.

50:56

[00 51:42.977 – 00:51:45.947] And of course her name was Catherine Swensel.

50:59

[00 51:45.947 – 00:51:50.647] And if that name sounds familiar, it is, uh, again Catherine Burnham Swensel.

51:04

[00 51:50.647 – 00:51:56.757] In the center one you can actually see, uh, uh, that was her, uh, wedding, uh, announcement in the, in the paper.

51:11

[00 51:56.757 – 00:52:03.127] Uh, long story short, Lois's youngest sister, Lois, was maid of honor, married June 17th, '26.

51:16

[00 52:03.127 – 00:52:09.267] Right in the middle of Bill and Lois's motorcycle trip, off we roared, uh, for stock speculations.

51:22

[00 52:09.267 – 00:52:18.826] Again, and there was that accident, but they loaded the, uh, the, the bike and, you know, injured jumped on a train just in time for, uh, uh, Catherine's, uh, uh, marriage.

51:33

[00 52:18.826 – 00:52:29.267] And also Gardner Swensel, just a fun fact, is, has a, a hand in Bill's, uh, famous, you know, Apple Jack story, the prodigious business opportunity

51:41

[00 52:29.267 – 00:52:30.987] that vanished of 1932.

51:42

[00 52:30.987 – 00:52:34.247] And, uh, uh, a- again, uh, pretty cool.

51:45

[00 52:34.247 – 00:52:40.997] So she is now in, and, uh, again, with the start of '46, these paid positions within the A.A.

51:52

[00 52:40.997 – 00:52:45.606] Grapevine allowed them to grow and function as realistic newspaper to the fellowship.

51:56

[00 52:45.606 – 00:52:47.927] And that's also a, a, a Grapevine article.

51:59

[00 52:47.927 – 00:52:52.447] But right and smack dab in the front there's, there's, um, uh, uh, Catherine, uh, Swensel.

52:05

[00 52:52.447 – 00:52:55.777] And what's neat is right behind her is, um, uh, Dr.

52:08

[00 52:55.777 – 00:52:56.347] Leonard V.

52:09

[00 52:56.347 – 00:52:58.087] Strong, Bill's, uh, brother-in-law.

52:11

[00 52:58.087 – 00:53:08.106] So, but with this second office, these two paid non-alcoholic family members must have been taken back at the basement of a condemned building on Minette

52:20

[00 53:08.107 – 00:53:08.397] Lane.

52:20

[00 53:08.397 – 00:53:13.516] You know, it's kind of like they walked in and were like, "So this is sobriety?

52:26

[00 53:13.516 – 00:53:20.787] Wow." You know, "Is that a..." You know, "Is that a cat or a rat?" Uh, anyway, uh, but she has a great description.

52:34

[00 53:20.787 – 00:53:22.847] The accommodations were marginal.

52:35

[00 53:22.847 – 00:53:31.787] The wooden floors, doors, and window sills were depressingly dingy, so Helen Wilson brought some red paint and painted them herself.

52:42

[00 53:31.787 – 00:53:40.207] The floor slanted so badly the employees had to wrap their legs around the desk or table to keep their rolling chairs from sliding away.

52:50

[00 53:40.207 – 00:53:41.267] What a great description.

52:52

[00 53:41.267 – 00:53:47.197] Uh, again, so now they are in their, their, their, their second, uh, kind of home or office.

52:58

[00 53:47.197 – 00:53:52.647] And around this March time there was a actual knock at the door and, of course, you know, what's, what's...

53:05

[00 53:52.647 – 00:53:54.707] You know, this is the FBI story.

53:07

[00 53:54.707 – 00:53:57.087] You know, in '46 the FBI approached AA.

53:10

[00 53:57.087 – 00:54:04.227] And like any good alcoholic, there was probably immediate panic or denial, uh, or both.

53:15

[00 54:04.227 – 00:54:08.367] Again, but they did raise an issue regarding the name Grapevine.

53:19

[00 54:08.367 – 00:54:18.877] Uh, long story short, the FBI had been using it for their magazine, uh, f- uh, since 1938, and of course it was requested that the alcoholics

53:28

[00 54:18.877 – 00:54:21.547] stop using the name Grapevine.

53:30

[00 54:21.547 – 00:54:27.507] This is, of course, you know, the mid-1940s, and I can imagine everyone saying, "Yes, sir.

53:35

[00 54:27.507 – 00:54:28.287] Sorry, sir.

53:36

[00 54:28.287 – 00:54:30.227] Anything you want, sir.

53:38

[00 54:30.227 – 00:54:38.407] We'll get right on that." And of course, as you can see, the March 1946 Grapevine as it was, and then a month later, big change.

53:46

[00 54:38.407 – 00:54:39.247] How cool is that?

53:48

[00 54:39.247 – 00:54:41.216] They just called it the AA Grapevine.

53:50

[00 54:41.216 – 00:54:42.647] You know, problem solved.

53:52

[00 54:42.647 – 00:54:47.227] Uh, of course there will be more change, uh, uh, in April of 1975.

53:56

[00 54:47.227 – 00:54:50.267] These are just, you know, great nerd, um, uh, questions.

54:00

[00 54:50.267 – 00:54:56.707] But, you know, while we're in '46, some, some major, major stuff, including this huge year for AA.

54:06

[00 54:56.707 – 00:55:01.447] Priority, we must keep unified large number erstwhile alcoholics.

54:09

[00 55:01.447 – 00:55:06.767] We had to hang together or die separately, unify our fellowship or pass off the scene.

54:14

[00 55:06.767 – 00:55:17.007] And of course we're talking about the 12 points to assure our future, where it says, "Our experience has taught us," and each one supports the first one, AA unity.

54:24

[00 55:17.007 – 00:55:27.547] But that's when the fellowship got for the first time, uh, you know, the, the, the, the idea of, uh, uh, you know, the, the 12 traditions, uh, introduced.

54:33

[00 55:27.547 – 00:55:33.387] But what's cool is, you know, these tradition articles have been going around for, for a while.

54:39

[00 55:33.387 – 00:55:38.867] In fact, in the same one as, uh, uh, the beacon was lit, there's a great description.

54:45

[00 55:38.867 – 00:55:40.927] History offers good lesson for AA.

54:47

[00 55:40.927 – 00:55:46.627] If anybody wonders where the Washingtonians walk into the picture, that's mentioned in that Grapevine article.

54:52

[00 55:46.627 – 00:55:48.987] Other ones, rules dangerous.

54:54

[00 55:48.987 – 00:55:50.987] How cool is that, you know?

54:56

[00 55:50.987 – 00:55:54.587] Who is going to en- enforce the rules, you know?

55:00

[00 55:54.587 – 00:55:57.107] It just said put somebody in charge of somebody else.

55:03

[00 55:57.107 – 00:56:01.207] Uh, just, just a great, uh, um, uh, uh, article.

55:07

[00 56:01.207 – 00:56:02.987] A tradition born of anonymity.

55:08

[00 56:02.987 – 00:56:04.867] And of course we did the same thing.

55:11

[00 56:04.867 – 00:56:11.967] Modesty one good plank for public relations, but unity on public policy is vital to future of AA.

55:17

[00 56:12.373 – 00:56:14.613] "We're not perfect yet," Bill cautions at banquet.

55:20

[00 56:14.613 – 00:56:20.492] "With humility and charity, what greatness is impossible?" And then it just goes crazy.

55:25

[00 56:20.492 – 00:56:29.133] From the outside looking in, when alcoholics come of age seeking guidance for safe, uh, use of money, growing pains here and abroad.

55:33

[00 56:29.133 – 00:56:32.023] Anonymity in both inspiration and safety.

55:35

[00 56:32.023 – 00:56:34.033] Another plea for keeping our anonymity.

55:37

[00 56:34.033 – 00:56:35.933] That our blessings never spoil us.

55:39

[00 56:35.933 – 00:56:40.393] The individual in relation to AA as a group.

55:42

[00 56:40.393 – 00:56:42.533] Who is a member of Alcoholics Anonymous?

55:45

[00 56:42.533 – 00:56:44.253] Will AA have personal government?

55:47

[00 56:44.253 – 00:56:45.753] Traditions stressed by Bill.

55:48

[00 56:45.753 – 00:56:47.333] It just keeps going and going.

55:51

[00 56:47.333 – 00:56:48.753] So you see where I'm heading with this.

55:54

[00 56:48.753 – 00:56:52.333] It's, it just, all these articles are absolutely cool.

55:57

[00 56:52.333 – 00:56:57.913] And, and I could fill again, you know, maybe two or three of, of, of these slides.

56:02

[00 56:57.913 – 00:57:06.393] So, you know, if somebody's looking for information on, you know, a tradition, maybe they're doing a tradition study, you know, the, boy is the Grapevine a great place.

56:12

[00 57:06.393 – 00:57:16.872] Anyway, one of the things they also did, uh, it's, uh, uh, in short, they copied a few articles f- uh, from Bill, and of course, you know, turned them into short little, uh, pamphlets.

56:23

[00 57:16.872 – 00:57:19.133] And of course, here is, uh, uh, four.

56:26

[00 57:19.133 – 00:57:21.973] Seen here is 12 points to assure our future.

56:29

[00 57:21.973 – 00:57:23.213] Anonymity: Who is a member?

56:31

[00 57:23.213 – 00:57:25.073] And of course, Money, part one.

56:33

[00 57:25.073 – 00:57:29.923] They do look familiar, but what's interesting is, is, uh, again, tiny little variations.

56:38

[00 57:29.923 – 00:57:38.153] These and several other Grapevine articles will actually be accumulated in a larger pamphlet titled 1947 Transitions pamphlet.

56:44

[00 57:38.153 – 00:57:43.693] And of course, Transition, uh, Tradition, uh, pamphlet will be issued by Works Publishing.

56:49

[00 57:43.693 – 00:57:45.453] Uh, they're the ones that wrote the Big Book.

56:52

[00 57:45.453 – 00:57:50.023] But again, everything in that pamphlet came from Grapevine material.

56:55

[00 57:50.023 – 00:57:52.153] So I thought that was, uh, uh, uh, pretty amazing.

56:59

[00 57:52.153 – 00:57:53.693] In fact, here's a look at the pamphlet.

57:02

[00 57:53.693 – 00:58:00.913] Uh, and, uh, again, several more articles added, and of course, this was sent out to the groups across the coun- uh, country.

57:09

[00 58:00.913 – 00:58:04.593] Another thing they did is they also, you know, sent out this feeler.

57:14

[00 58:04.593 – 00:58:07.033] You know, "What do you think about us?" You know, "What are we doing?

57:18

[00 58:07.033 – 00:58:07.672] What can you...

57:20

[00 58:07.672 – 00:58:14.113] Is there any way maybe we can improve?" And so they sent this survey out, again, asking for feedback.

57:26

[00 58:14.113 – 00:58:21.613] There are, uh, uh, a content feeler based on the magazine's, uh, uh, content, especially in the remarks, uh, uh, section.

57:33

[00 58:21.613 – 00:58:26.553] News, Mail Call, AA Digest, you know, best, good, uh, least interested.

57:37

[00 58:26.553 – 00:58:28.693] So they were definitely taking the temperature there.

57:40

[00 58:28.693 – 00:58:30.633] I thought that was a pretty, pretty neat thing.

57:43

[00 58:30.633 – 00:58:36.803] Again, and what's, you know, June 1947, you know, the question, what is unique about this?

57:48

[00 58:36.803 – 00:58:46.913] This is, again, the, uh, uh, Grapevine editor, Tom Yutzy, has published for the first time an aspect of Alcoholics Anonymous that we read in almost every, uh, uh, opening of every

57:59

[00 58:46.913 – 00:58:47.353] meeting.

57:59

[00 58:47.353 – 00:58:57.553] And just before we get into that, you know, what's really cool is also in these early issues, if you're looking for information on your groups in, in your area,

58:09

[00 58:57.553 – 00:59:07.553] you know, for the first several, they actually ha- had all the new groups, uh, listed and, uh, uh, not just in, in, in the States, but international, and that's

58:19

[00 59:07.553 – 00:59:08.053] just a plug.

58:20

[00 59:08.053 – 00:59:09.773] Again, Georgia, Albany, Thomaston.

58:22

[00 59:09.773 – 00:59:14.153] But, you know, your chances are your, your groups are mentioned in that.

58:27

[00 59:14.153 – 00:59:24.173] But again, you turn the page, preamble, 1947, the original form again, and, uh, that's just a, a, a great photograph with, uh, uh, Tom kind of manning the

58:36

[00 59:24.173 – 00:59:27.593] Grapevine, uh, booth and, um, uh, with a, a staffer.

58:39

[00 59:27.593 – 00:59:28.853] Uh, very cool.

58:41

[00 59:28.853 – 00:59:31.013] Again, you know, at conference that was.

58:43

[00 59:31.013 – 00:59:32.293] Here's another one of conference.

58:45

[00 59:32.293 – 00:59:35.273] Nell Wing was originally brought in, uh, uh, as Grapevine.

58:48

[00 59:35.273 – 00:59:38.113] Again, switched to Bill's personal assistant.

58:51

[00 59:38.113 – 00:59:40.573] Uh, there's several, uh, uh, photographs.

58:53

[00 59:40.573 – 00:59:49.293] Again, you know, she was, uh, uh, the one that pretty much, you know, w- uh, you know, helped, uh, uh, uh, Bill pretty mu- uh, uh, this entire time.

59:03

[00 59:49.293 – 00:59:51.873] Here's a, here's a neat one of their, them at conference.

59:07

[00 59:51.873 – 00:59:58.873] And of course, uh, again, Bill would dictate these wire recordings at wit's end, and of course, take them.

59:13

[00 59:58.873 – 01:00:02.273] Nell would pretty much translate them back again.

59:16

[01 00:02.273 – 01:00:06.653] Uh, uh, uh, that, and, and, and th- that's a photograph from the Grapevine.

59:21

[01 00:06.653 – 01:00:07.873] So again, how cool is that?

59:23

[01 00:07.873 – 01:00:14.293] Write general service, type the letter, and office member looks at it as if proven, uh, uh, proofreading.

59:29

[01 00:14.293 – 01:00:16.693] Again, you know, but they're laughing at something that Bill said.

59:33

[01 00:16.693 – 01:00:17.773] Uh, pretty cool.

59:34

[01 00:17.773 – 01:00:22.573] Uh, again, you know, also in the Grapevine, it talks about the general service conference, you know.

59:40

[01 00:22.573 – 01:00:28.653] And in the back corner, this is a great picture of Nell pretty much in the general service conference filing session.

59:47

[01 00:28.653 – 01:00:36.053] So if your state is most, uh, uh, is in one of those, uh, uh, uh, little, little file folders, again, with all the information.

59:55

[01 00:36.053 – 01:00:39.413] And, uh, that is the February 1951 Grapevine.

59:57

[01 00:39.413 – 01:00:43.573] So, so pretty interesting about, um, uh, uh, you know, Nell.

60:01

[01 00:43.573 – 01:00:49.153] Not to mention, she built the GSO archives in New York, so I thought that was, uh, uh, worth mentioning.

60:08

[01 00:49.153 – 01:00:53.433] But again, 1948, Grapevine changed size.

60:10

[01 00:53.433 – 01:00:56.113] Uh, uh, it went down to a pocket size.

60:13

[01 00:56.113 – 01:01:06.813] They put a little, uh, again, the original scan, and they put a little, you know, announcement, "Hey, you know, we're gonna shrink it, uh, from about, you know, 10," uh, uh, uh, uh...

60:24

[01 01:06.813 – 01:01:12.233] They also actually had a, uh, on, on the, uh, subscription, they put the an- announcement there as well.

60:30

[01 01:12.233 – 01:01:16.033] Basically went from 10 by 12 down to 12 and a half by five.

60:34

[01 01:16.033 – 01:01:20.553] Uh, and but it exploded to 32 pages long.

60:37

[01 01:20.553 – 01:01:25.453] And of course, the following issue from August to September '48 is that.

60:41

[01 01:25.453 – 01:01:32.433] And what's neat is they're kind of, you know, the candy stripe versions, and these are the first, uh, earliest, uh, Grapevines in the small format.

60:50

[01 01:32.433 – 01:01:34.953] In fact, they, there's, there's a lot of them.

60:53

[01 01:34.953 – 01:01:39.233] In fact, from '48 to '49, Grapevine hazard around the standard cover.

60:57

[01 01:39.233 – 01:01:45.753] Uh, it wasn't until the, the, the, the '50s the covers were different, uh, a- and again, uh, from then on.

61:05

[01 01:45.753 – 01:01:55.413] And if you look very closely, it's almost like, you know, maybe they, you know, they ran out of colors, uh, or some of those pretty much matched its, uh, neighbor.

61:15

[01 01:55.413 – 01:02:00.742] Uh, but again, January '49, slight, uh, uh, name change as well.

61:19

[01 02:00.742 – 01:02:06.293] In fact, when you opened it up, it was, uh, the AA Grapevine, and of course, this is January of '49.

61:26

[01 02:06.293 – 01:02:11.833] And well, now it reads the International Monthly Journal of Alcoholics Anonymous.

61:30

[01 02:11.833 – 01:02:13.193] Uh, how cool is that?

61:32

[01 02:13.193 – 01:02:23.513] And of course, you know, towards the end there, September through December of '49, they decided to change styles and adopt any, and, uh, more, more, uh, uh, cover, uh, features,

61:42

[01 02:23.513 – 01:02:24.613] and there, there's two.

61:44

[01 02:24.613 – 01:02:25.753] Uh, can...

61:45

[01 02:25.753 – 01:02:33.433] The one that's missing is November, and that is awesome because that is, uh, the Tradition Week announcement, something that sticks out.

61:52

[01 02:33.433 – 01:02:40.233] Again, Traditions, uh, you know, it's the first introduction of, uh, the short form with, uh, uh, Earl Treat.

61:58

[01 02:40.233 – 01:02:48.173] And of course, you know, as you can see, when, once you turn that Traditions week, which later became Traditions Month, there are the six.

62:07

[01 02:48.173 – 01:02:58.373] And again, in their pr- uh, original kind of form, primary spiritual aim instead of primary purpose, and, uh, principles above personalities, uh, uh, uh, again,

62:15

[01 02:58.373 – 01:03:00.913] instead of principles, uh, before personality.

62:17

[01 03:00.913 – 01:03:03.033] So, uh, that's what it is now.

62:20

[01 03:03.033 – 01:03:03.973] How cool is that?

62:22

[01 03:03.973 – 01:03:13.783] Again, another move, uh, uh, you could describe it out of the Mineta dungeon, and of course, it's described, uh, moving late '40s, the entire, uh, office-

62:31

[01 03:13.905 – 01:03:16.845] Move to much larger quarters on 241 East Broadway.

62:34

[01 03:16.845 – 01:03:18.405] This is the closest thing we could find.

62:36

[01 03:18.405 – 01:03:21.724] You gotta go down a couple of blocks, but it's somewhere in that area.

62:41

[01 03:21.724 – 01:03:24.865] Uh, and, uh, uh, again, and it grows.

62:44

[01 03:24.865 – 01:03:28.545] Uh, early in the 1950s, there was a neat little twitch.

62:48

[01 03:28.545 – 01:03:34.115] Uh, the Grapevine editors actually moved to the offices with the GSO staff.

62:52

[01 03:34.115 – 01:03:35.985] Uh, so they were kind of separate.

62:55

[01 03:35.985 – 01:03:37.645] Grapevine editors were separate from that.

62:57

[01 03:37.645 – 01:03:46.264] And again, they moved to, uh, 141 East 44th Street, which conveniently is a great, uh, uh, Grapevine, uh, uh, article on all of that.

63:05

[01 03:46.264 – 01:03:50.185] Uh, and uh, again, November Traditions week.

63:08

[01 03:50.185 – 01:03:50.925] How cool is that?

63:09

[01 03:50.925 – 01:03:58.325] So, uh, later circulation and editorial department moved down the street there, and of course, the editors went to 141.

63:16

[01 03:58.325 – 01:04:00.825] Uh, to finish the story, again, play the tape out.

63:19

[01 04:00.825 – 01:04:11.305] Um, uh, uh, you know, uh, the, uh, uh, the, the pretty much the editorial '70s moved to four, uh, 68 Park Avenue, lastly in '92, 475

63:28

[01 04:11.305 – 01:04:13.245] Riverside Drive, where it is today.

63:30

[01 04:13.245 – 01:04:15.425] And in fact, it's actually making another move.

63:33

[01 04:15.425 – 01:04:18.545] I believe it's going from the eighth floor to the tenth floor.

63:37

[01 04:18.545 – 01:04:19.864] I might be wrong on that.

63:39

[01 04:19.864 – 01:04:27.405] Uh, anyway, forty-nine foundation pamphlet clearly shows, you know, kind of the, the, the early, uh, workings.

63:45

[01 04:27.405 – 01:04:32.505] Um, you know, this is the earliest form of, you know, we could call the upside-down triangle.

63:51

[01 04:32.505 – 01:04:37.165] In fact, you can see the Alcoholic Foundation is now made up of the Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

63:57

[01 04:37.165 – 01:04:43.665] Today, we know it as, uh, AA World Services, the General Service Office, and of course, the AA Grapevine Inc.

64:03

[01 04:43.665 – 01:04:51.605] So, uh, again, this was, uh, the, the tradition, uh, uh, I mean, the, uh, uh, pamphlet about the Alcoholic Foundation.

64:10

[01 04:51.605 – 01:04:58.925] And then they sent out some newsletters, and this one's really cool, especially with the, um, uh, um, you know, the stats here.

64:18

[01 04:58.925 – 01:05:04.685] And you can clearly see membership is hovering around seventy-five thousand, with seventeen thousand Grapevine subscriptions.

64:23

[01 05:04.685 – 01:05:06.145] Hospitals, same thing.

64:25

[01 05:06.145 – 01:05:09.425] What's really cool is prisons, sixty-six groups.

64:27

[01 05:09.425 – 01:05:13.364] Forty-four of them have signed up for the Grapevine.

64:30

[01 05:13.364 – 01:05:15.305] I thought that was pretty interesting.

64:33

[01 05:15.305 – 01:05:24.985] Again, um, you know, pretty much also being sent to the groups in this later, uh, time period, starting around, you know, '49, really '50.

64:41

[01 05:24.985 – 01:05:35.075] Um, this is a type of how to run your group handbook for the secretary, and there is a section, uh, for the AA Grapevine, um, described pretty much the

64:51

[01 05:35.075 – 01:05:39.545] concept for a Grapevine rep, a group Grapevine rep, a GVR.

64:54

[01 05:39.545 – 01:05:49.624] And of course, these are just two of, of the pages, but it pretty much, you know, it, it tells you, you know, not only the information on how to subscribe, which a lot of people,

65:06

[01 05:49.625 – 01:05:59.684] you know, use, but it also talks about, you know, um, you know, o- ha- having a group representative, group projects that you could bring to your home group, and of course, you know, the

65:18

[01 05:59.684 – 01:06:01.185] criteria of what is involved.

65:20

[01 06:01.185 – 01:06:07.365] So it's basically another rendition of that later, you know, asking the groups to contribute.

65:25

[01 06:07.365 – 01:06:17.365] And of course, this is just a, a, a neat little one, but, um, uh, some- a friend of, uh, you know, uh, Atlanta, um, uh, again, down in South Georgia, but this was,

65:36

[01 06:17.365 – 01:06:18.245] this was her story.

65:37

[01 06:18.245 – 01:06:21.005] So, uh, she, she definitely, uh, contributed.

65:40

[01 06:21.005 – 01:06:22.535] Again, here's the point, right?

65:42

[01 06:22.535 – 01:06:23.985] Anyone can do it.

65:43

[01 06:23.985 – 01:06:26.585] Sometimes it goes nowhere, right?

65:45

[01 06:26.585 – 01:06:29.065] You, you write it and you don't hear anything.

65:49

[01 06:29.065 – 01:06:31.405] But again, try again and again.

65:51

[01 06:31.405 – 01:06:36.865] Um, a lot of people, uh, have, uh, gotten there, uh, uh, including a couple of people on this call.

65:57

[01 06:36.865 – 01:06:37.925] I know, I know Gary's here.

66:00

[01 06:37.925 – 01:06:39.605] Uh, just an amazing thing.

66:02

[01 06:39.605 – 01:06:45.385] Uh, but again, uh, the, the, the, the, the Grapevine moves on major, major events.

66:07

[01 06:45.385 – 01:06:46.135] How about this one?

66:08

[01 06:46.135 – 01:06:48.075] Uh, the first international conference.

66:10

[01 06:48.075 – 01:06:51.235] Uh, again, humility may be the keynote.

66:13

[01 06:51.235 – 01:06:56.545] Tradition articles from forty-five to fifty, you know, help spread awareness, right?

66:17

[01 06:56.545 – 01:06:57.645] Their need for unity.

66:18

[01 06:57.645 – 01:06:59.205] Well, it took place here.

66:20

[01 06:59.205 – 01:07:05.654] In fact, you know, what's interest- of interest for you is a, a great little, uh, back in Cleveland milestones.

66:27

[01 07:05.654 – 01:07:12.265] Again, some of the speakers, again, it's a type of be there or be square issue, uh, report of the proceedings.

66:34

[01 07:12.265 – 01:07:13.985] Uh, seen here are Lewis B.

66:36

[01 07:13.985 – 01:07:14.535] Seltzer.

66:37

[01 07:14.535 – 01:07:24.585] He did AA in industry, and of course, at this convention, he reported that since, uh, uh, that, uh, you know, alcoholics can be helped,

66:45

[01 07:24.585 – 01:07:25.565] not fired.

66:46

[01 07:25.565 – 01:07:27.385] Boy, does that sound like, like Marnie Mann.

66:49

[01 07:27.385 – 01:07:30.864] You got Clinton Warren Duffy, AA in prisons at this convention.

66:53

[01 07:30.864 – 01:07:36.985] He reported that since AA penal recidivism rates went from eighty percent down to twenty percent.

66:58

[01 07:36.985 – 01:07:37.975] And of course, Dr.

67:00

[01 07:37.975 – 01:07:40.705] William Duncan Silkworth II, Dr.

67:02

[01 07:40.705 – 01:07:45.385] Meyer Texon, his story or, or his talk was AA in hospitals.

67:06

[01 07:45.385 – 01:07:50.245] Basically, huge success with hopeless cases in AA ward at Knickerbocker.

67:10

[01 07:50.245 – 01:07:55.685] Uh, so again, you know, pretty, pretty amazing stuff and, uh, pretty much, you know, sums it up.

67:16

[01 07:55.685 – 01:08:03.925] Uh, so every international since nineteen fifty has had a section in the Grapevine, including the upcoming twenty twenty-five in Vancouver.

67:23

67:25

[01 08:05.465 – 01:08:09.985] Again, Grapevine, you know, dedicated an entire issue to this first.

67:28

[01 08:09.985 – 01:08:15.345] This was the, you know, pretty much the first general service conference, right?

67:33

[01 08:15.345 – 01:08:18.555] And it was appropriately named the First General Service Conference.

67:36

[01 08:18.555 – 01:08:25.825] Uh, but again, it's a, it's an incredible, you know, read when you, when you get in there because this was, this was one of the, you know, when, when Dr.

67:46

[01 08:25.825 – 01:08:28.455] Bob gave the blessing, "Let's, let's try this thing.

67:50

[01 08:28.455 – 01:08:29.925] Give it a five-year trial run.

67:52

[01 08:29.925 – 01:08:33.585] If we don't like it, we can go back." This was the one that kicked it off.

67:58

[01 08:33.585 – 01:08:35.375] Several, several neat little photographs.

68:00

[01 08:35.375 – 01:08:39.945] Again, you know, as, as found the-- Some of the, some of the people, uh, uh, seen.

68:05

[01 08:39.945 – 01:08:42.375] Again, these are the delegates at a luncheon.

68:08

[01 08:42.375 – 01:08:45.485] Uh, you know, just naming some of the folks on here.

68:12

[01 08:45.485 – 01:08:47.925] You got Kenneth Garrett, Arkansas, William G.

68:14

[01 08:47.925 – 01:08:52.165] Griffith from Pittsburgh, Charles McIntosh, who is the youngest one.

68:18

[01 08:52.165 – 01:08:53.345] See if you can pick him out.

68:21

[01 08:53.345 – 01:08:55.825] This is the front row going from left to right.

68:24

[01 08:55.825 – 01:08:59.825] Uh, but Charles McIntosh from M- Muskeagon, Michigan.

68:27

[01 08:59.825 – 01:09:01.695] Olin Lancaster from Dallas, Texas.

68:29

[01 09:01.695 – 01:09:04.465] Walter Banfield from Morristown, New Jersey.

68:31

[01 09:04.465 – 01:09:06.265] Lewis Hunt from Evanston, Illinois.

68:33

[01 09:06.265 – 01:09:14.885] Earl Treat, again, the guy that shrunk the traditions in that November, uh, uh, uh, helped Bill shrink the traditions to parallel them with the steps.

68:41

[01 09:14.885 – 01:09:16.865] Um, he is, uh, there.

68:43

[01 09:16.865 – 01:09:21.605] Of course, uh, Henry Raymond Eshelman in, uh, Grosse Pointe, Michigan.

68:47

[01 09:21.605 – 01:09:25.965] And if anybody knows Big Mike from, from, uh, uh, Michigan, that's Big Mike's brother.

68:52

[01 09:25.965 – 01:09:32.195] Uh, Bill Wilson, of course, and you know, he's kinda, you know, the two eyes poking up in the corner.

68:59

[01 09:32.195 – 01:09:35.325] And Andrew Leroy Tripman from the Rockefeller camp.

69:02

[01 09:35.325 – 01:09:38.665] So, but these, you know, several, several photographs that go on.

69:06

[01 09:38.665 – 01:09:42.325] Uh, a-again, you know, some of this, Jack Norris is in that.

69:10

[01 09:42.325 – 01:09:44.685] Um, um, Dick Stanley's in that.

69:12

[01 09:44.685 – 01:09:46.645] Um, pretty, pretty interesting.

69:14

[01 09:46.645 – 01:09:55.905] We, we could even call this the, the Pacific, uh, Northwest 'cause, uh, you got Helen Brown, um, uh, you got, uh, uh, AA number three, Bill Dodson.

69:23

[01 09:55.905 – 01:09:57.965] You have, uh, Dale Anderson.

69:25

[01 09:57.965 – 01:10:03.525] And on the far left, we were talking about, you know, BC, uh, that is, uh, Charlie Brown.

69:31

[01 10:03.525 – 01:10:06.305] He was the first delegate for, uh, British Columbia.

69:34

[01 10:06.305 – 01:10:09.185] So you'll probably hear a lot about him, uh, up there.

69:38

[01 10:09.185 – 01:10:13.765] And of course, the photograph that we already shared with, uh, uh, uh, uh, Katherine Swenzel.

69:43

[01 10:13.765 – 01:10:15.315] And this one's the one that-

69:45

[01 10:15.511 – 01:10:18.871] Uh, there, there he is, Tom Y., Class B trustee at this point.

69:50

[01 10:18.871 – 01:10:20.451] Again, past editor of the Grapevine.

69:52

[01 10:20.451 – 01:10:22.210] And they had this booth.

69:54

[01 10:22.210 – 01:10:27.481] A- again, shows the transition from large beginnings, uh, to, uh, the, the, the pocket reader.

69:59

[01 10:27.481 – 01:10:27.871] You can...

70:00

[01 10:27.871 – 01:10:30.251] You know, this was, um, what they, uh, displayed.

70:04

[01 10:30.251 – 01:10:31.361] There were several booths.

70:05

[01 10:31.361 – 01:10:34.611] Again, highly recommend read the, read the Grapevine.

70:08

[01 10:34.611 – 01:10:36.751] It's got everything in there.

70:10

[01 10:36.751 – 01:10:43.851] Uh, again, another milestone, 20th, uh, uh, uh, the- probably the biggest milestone, uh, 20th anniversary, St.

70:16

[01 10:43.851 – 01:10:47.131] Louis 1955, adoption of the General Service Conference.

70:18

[01 10:47.131 – 01:10:54.171] The third legacy of service, and of course Bill's aim where the fellowship became the successors to the co-founders.

70:25

[01 10:54.171 – 01:10:54.971] How cool is that?

70:26

[01 10:54.971 – 01:10:58.191] And of course it e- uh, you know, just a few pictures.

70:30

[01 10:58.191 – 01:11:07.951] You know, Lois and, and Nell wing- walking, you know, smiling, you know, thinking, "Hey, you know, the, the, the, it's in good hands now." Uh, pretty, pretty amazing stuff.

70:40

[01 11:07.951 – 01:11:09.211] Again, all that took place.

70:42

[01 11:09.211 – 01:11:13.251] Again, another, uh, uh, 1955 thing, December, right?

70:45

[01 11:13.251 – 01:11:14.891] The Man on the Bed painting.

70:47

[01 11:14.891 – 01:11:17.231] Original title was Came to Believe.

70:49

[01 11:17.231 – 01:11:24.711] It was painted by Robert M., uh, Grapevine illustrator for the centerfold that came out in December of '55.

70:55

[01 11:24.711 – 01:11:30.351] But in '73 they renamed it Man on the Bed after Bill's book, Came to Believe, was published.

71:01

[01 11:30.351 – 01:11:32.971] So, uh, uh, again, pretty amazing stuff.

71:04

[01 11:32.971 – 01:11:39.401] But Robert M., well, his name is Robert William Myers, uh, great, great, uh, uh, illustrator.

71:09

[01 11:39.401 – 01:11:43.671] He actually is described, he studied at the Grand Central Art School.

71:13

[01 11:43.671 – 01:11:48.111] Around 19 he started, uh, uh, painting, um, people in his neighborhood.

71:17

[01 11:48.111 – 01:11:58.631] Uh, he studied, uh, at other places like the National Academy of Design, uh, Tarfon- uh, Tarfagen School in Fashion, and of course it's described that

71:26

[01 11:58.631 – 01:12:01.591] there he shows his true mastering of figures in his work.

71:30

[01 12:01.591 – 01:12:06.141] After World War II he began illustrating for children's books, western paperbacks.

71:34

[01 12:06.141 – 01:12:08.531] In 1950 he got employment at Charles E.

71:36

[01 12:08.531 – 01:12:10.111] Cooper Studios in New York.

71:38

[01 12:10.111 – 01:12:19.331] He was a lead- uh, a leading illustrator, uh, uh, one of them, for the Saturday Evening Post from 19, uh, uh, um...

71:46

[01 12:19.331 – 01:12:22.751] Actually, that should be in context.

71:48

[01 12:22.751 – 01:12:23.771] He wasn't a leading.

71:49

[01 12:23.771 – 01:12:33.971] It led to him being an illustrator for the Saturday Evening Post from '52 to '62, including two years remotely doing, uh, work from

71:57

[01 12:33.971 – 01:12:34.671] Wyoming.

71:58

[01 12:34.671 – 01:12:40.291] Uh, and of course his archive at the, uh, Saturday Evening Post, from the Wild West to romance.

72:04

[01 12:40.291 – 01:12:44.411] And just to give you an idea of his style, uh, there's just a couple other ones.

72:10

[01 12:44.411 – 01:12:48.801] Uh, began to raise a family in Bergen County, uh, northern New Jersey.

72:14

[01 12:48.801 – 01:12:57.431] And of course he was a brilliant illustrator for the Saturday Evening Post with 94 publications, plus several for the Reader's Digest.

72:21

[01 12:57.431 – 01:12:59.411] Uh, he was just all, all over the place.

72:24

[01 12:59.411 – 01:13:01.411] And again, here's a, here's another one.

72:27

[01 13:01.411 – 01:13:03.051] Now here's the big note, right?

72:29

[01 13:03.051 – 01:13:11.671] When an artist paints or sculpts or whatever, they develop a certain style, and those traits are seen in pretty much all of the work during a certain period.

72:39

[01 13:11.671 – 01:13:15.571] Most will eventually progress and change as skill advances.

72:42

[01 13:15.571 – 01:13:24.431] But for the 1950s, again, you know, this, uh, Robert's, uh, uh, uh, M.'s, you know, uh, uh, style is, is, is definitely well captured.

72:50

[01 13:24.431 – 01:13:25.771] Uh, how cool.

72:52

[01 13:25.771 – 01:13:27.651] Uh, again, you know, these are just some of it.

72:55

[01 13:27.651 – 01:13:30.931] He, he, he, he was very, very gifted and talented.

72:59

[01 13:30.931 – 01:13:37.251] And then when you look, kind of, you know, compare them side to side, it's, it's, it's, it's pretty, pretty, pretty amazing.

73:06

[01 13:37.251 – 01:13:39.331] Again, Came to Believe, December '55.

73:08

[01 13:39.331 – 01:13:40.611] Man on the Bed, '73.

73:10

[01 13:40.611 – 01:13:50.111] Uh, he moved to, uh, the beauty of Wyoming, and with Yosemite as his backdrop he painted hundreds of paintings depicting western frontier subject matter.

73:18

[01 13:50.111 – 01:13:53.971] Saturday Evening Post was toning down on their illustrations.

73:22

[01 13:53.971 – 01:14:03.971] He needed work and he decided, "I am going out West." And of course now, uh, it's, uh, uh, sitting in, of course, uh, uh, uh, Stepping Stones, you

73:31

[01 14:03.971 – 01:14:04.671] know, on the wall.

73:33

[01 14:04.671 – 01:14:05.511] How cool is that?

73:34

[01 14:05.511 – 01:14:09.251] And what's really neat is, you know, where it's located in this photograph.

73:39

[01 14:09.251 – 01:14:15.291] Again, you can see the, this, this piano and, and, you know, you can't help but think, you know, Bill and, and Lois jamming out.

73:47

[01 14:15.291 – 01:14:22.751] And there's, there's definitely a, a, a note of, of thanks to Robert for, for, you know, his, his contribution.

73:54

[01 14:22.751 – 01:14:25.131] Other things, uh, with the Grapevine.

73:56

[01 14:25.131 – 01:14:25.871] Looking at my time.

73:58

[01 14:25.871 – 01:14:27.931] Again, cartoons, right?

73:59

[01 14:27.931 – 01:14:30.351] AA Grapevine had cartoons from '44 to '48.

74:02

[01 14:30.351 – 01:14:36.351] That's one of my favorites right there, and you know, the, the angry, you know, uh, uh, whiskey, you know, chasing you down.

74:09

[01 14:36.351 – 01:14:39.931] "Drink!" Uh, the first one is pretty fascinating, right?

74:13

[01 14:39.931 – 01:14:46.891] It was an etching, uh, pretty much, uh, from the 1840s, which again, going back to that Washingtonian's comment.

74:19

[01 14:46.891 – 01:14:49.871] Well, this was from that, that timeframe.

74:21

[01 14:49.871 – 01:14:52.991] And what's interesting is again how it's described.

74:24

[01 14:52.991 – 01:15:03.071] It says, "Among other things he said that a man cannot be taught how much strong drink is too much, for in some excitable systems,

74:33

[01 15:03.071 – 01:15:09.971] the very first drop of strong drink takes away the power of self-control." How cool is that?

74:38

[01 15:09.971 – 01:15:10.991] They knew back then.

74:40

[01 15:10.991 – 01:15:16.011] And you know, uh, again, uh, uh, just a, a, a, an amazing thing.

74:45

[01 15:16.011 – 01:15:19.011] And of course, you know, they got better as time went on.

74:49

[01 15:19.011 – 01:15:21.911] You know, several illustrators, uh, you know, black and white.

74:52

[01 15:21.911 – 01:15:23.991] Uh, you know, the serious, right?

74:54

[01 15:23.991 – 01:15:25.411] You know, climbing the steps.

74:56

[01 15:25.411 – 01:15:26.731] You know, getting dragged down.

74:58

[01 15:26.731 – 01:15:31.171] Um, you know, w- the hand of hel- uh, AA always to be there, you know?

75:04

[01 15:31.171 – 01:15:32.511] Uh, keep, keep coming up.

75:06

[01 15:32.511 – 01:15:35.291] Uh, the bridge of sanity going over Rum River.

75:09

[01 15:35.291 – 01:15:35.901] Ill health.

75:10

[01 15:35.901 – 01:15:39.531] You know, all the, all, pretty much all the, the, the, the horrible.

75:14

[01 15:39.531 – 01:15:42.531] Death, despair, loneliness, it's all down there.

75:17

[01 15:42.531 – 01:15:49.111] Uh, another one that's pretty, uh, uh, famous, again, uh, uh, Jack Morley, uh, victory cartoons.

75:22

[01 15:49.111 – 01:15:53.191] Uh, and, uh, it's a g- it's a great, you know, rendition.

75:26

[01 15:53.191 – 01:15:58.381] It always starts with a guy hesitantly walking into a bar, and then always gets diverted by something to do with AA.

75:34

[01 15:58.381 – 01:16:01.931] Uh, like the f- you know, the first one there, they put a phone booth.

75:39

[01 16:01.931 – 01:16:06.531] Of course, you know, when, when it talks about technique of answering the phone.

75:43

[01 16:06.531 – 01:16:07.751] You know, he, that's what he's...

75:46

[01 16:07.751 – 01:16:10.071] You know, he's, he's definitely making a call for help.

75:49

[01 16:10.071 – 01:16:12.251] And of course the bottom one, he's sweating it.

75:52

[01 16:12.251 – 01:16:15.171] Sees a bunch of people with s- smiles and bags.

75:56

[01 16:15.171 – 01:16:20.191] He asks what's happening, and he said, "They're going to Atlanta in 2015." Which I gotta...

76:01

[01 16:20.191 – 01:16:23.511] You know, there's probably one of these for, for Vancouver.

76:04

[01 16:23.511 – 01:16:25.291] Uh, just, just, uh, saying.

76:06

[01 16:25.291 – 01:16:27.011] And of course some of the other ones.

76:09

[01 16:27.011 – 01:16:32.691] You know, I, I like the, uh, "Shall we close the business meeting with a serenity prayer?" Anybody's home group like that?

76:17

[01 16:32.691 – 01:16:36.531] Or of course, you know, "Hi, gorgeous, I'm home." Very humor.

76:20

[01 16:36.531 – 01:16:41.751] Um, and again, most of the, uh, best cartoons are actually in a book, Rabbit Walks Into a Bar.

76:27

[01 16:41.751 – 01:16:43.691] There's several, uh, books out there.

76:29

[01 16:43.691 – 01:16:46.731] I think there's, uh, a precursor and a second one.

76:32

[01 16:46.731 – 01:16:51.571] Pretty much this one is also one of the cool ones.

76:36

[01 16:51.571 – 01:16:52.991] Uh, prospect, right?

76:38

[01 16:52.991 – 01:16:57.331] "Now my brother John, he's a guy who really needs AA." See, I, I, I relate to that.

76:44

[01 16:57.331 – 01:17:04.431] But again, when you see this on one page and something like this on the other page, the seriousness of it, it does carry a message.

76:52

[01 17:04.431 – 01:17:07.611] Uh, so again, you know, from '44 to '48, how cool is that?

76:57

[01 17:07.611 – 01:17:10.191] Johnny One Step thinks it's an escalator.

76:59

[01 17:10.191 – 01:17:13.211] Uh, uh, again, you know, later they tried new things.

77:03

[01 17:13.211 – 01:17:16.781] Again, you know, starting around, you know, '66 they had a mini Grapevine.

77:07

[01 17:17.237 – 01:17:19.957] Uh, this one, uh, about the size of a business card.

77:11

[01 17:19.957 – 01:17:23.177] Uh, they reissued them, '66, '77, '79.

77:13

[01 17:23.177 – 01:17:25.277] There, there's, there's, there's several of them.

77:16

[01 17:25.277 – 01:17:29.337] Uh, another, uh, uh, little jump again, the name change.

77:19

[01 17:29.337 – 01:17:33.137] Um, what is Box 1980?

77:21

[01 17:33.137 – 01:17:38.557] And when I started seeing that on, on Grapevines, I'm like, "Is that, is that a year?" You know, what is that?

77:28

[01 17:38.557 – 01:17:41.377] Anyway, all the Grapevines, major changes.

77:31

[01 17:41.377 – 01:17:42.537] This one was the last.

77:33

[01 17:42.537 – 01:17:45.297] First one was the FBI, of course.

77:35

[01 17:45.297 – 01:17:50.397] Uh, the second one was, uh, the format from, from large, uh, to small.

77:40

[01 17:50.397 – 01:17:54.957] And of course, third, the International Monthly Journal of Alcoholics Anonymous.

77:44

[01 17:54.957 – 01:18:05.357] And what's cool is in 1974, postal regulations were changed, and it became necessary for the full name of the publication to appear both on the cover of the magazine

77:53

[01 18:05.357 – 01:18:15.747] itself and on the outside of the mailing envelope, a move with severe implications for the principle and practice of anonymity.

78:00

[01 18:15.747 – 01:18:16.957] Interesting.

78:01

[01 18:16.957 – 01:18:17.977] It wasn't a choice.

78:02

[01 18:17.977 – 01:18:18.937] We had to do it.

78:04

[01 18:18.937 – 01:18:20.357] In fact, there's a great description.

78:07

[01 18:20.357 – 01:18:28.427] It says, "The A at Grapevine, since PO Box 1980, had long been part of the Grapevine's mailing address.

78:13

[01 18:28.427 – 01:18:30.617] It was familiar to subscriber.

78:14

[01 18:30.617 – 01:18:40.637] The Box 1980 was duly registered with the post office and now appears on the cover of the magazines in all official mail." By the way, this box number was assigned by the

78:25

[01 18:40.637 – 01:18:43.397] post office and has nothing to do with the year 1980.

78:28

[01 18:43.397 – 01:18:44.597] That answered my question.

78:30

78:32

[01 18:46.017 – 01:18:48.927] Again, so full name 1980, A.A.

78:34

[01 18:48.927 – 01:18:49.857] Grapevine, Inc.

78:35

[01 18:49.857 – 01:18:59.917] And of course, when you look at it in person, you know, the, the down there small print at the bottom with the Serenity Prayer, April 1974, a month later, Box 1980, A.A.

78:46

[01 18:59.917 – 01:19:02.017] Grapevine, Inc, in its full saying.

78:48

[01 19:02.017 – 01:19:04.177] So, uh, pretty, pretty amazing.

78:50

[01 19:04.177 – 01:19:14.277] Another little fun thing about the, the, you know, links to, to the Grapevine, uh, the responsibility declaration, again, was written by a man by, uh,

78:58

[01 19:14.277 – 01:19:17.537] Al Statement, past Class B trustee, and he was also A.A.

79:03

[01 19:17.537 – 01:19:20.817] World Service director, Grapevine director, Grapevine editor.

79:05

[01 19:20.817 – 01:19:31.197] There's a great little, uh, caption that says, "In '49, early Grapevine, he wrote many articles for the Grapevine, and he would sign them with different initials,

79:14

[01 19:31.197 – 01:19:37.437] so not to draw attention how many he wrote." That's, that's, that's true alcoholic fashion, passionate about A.A.

79:20

[01 19:37.437 – 01:19:41.937] And of course, you know, they've, they said it here, 1965, Toronto.

79:24

[01 19:41.937 – 01:19:44.937] You know, the responsibility declaration was introduced.

79:27

[01 19:44.937 – 01:19:55.117] Bill saying, "Under God's grace, we are gathered in grateful remembrance of what he has wroth, uh, wrought among us in 30 years, and we are, uh, now gone

79:36

[01 19:55.117 – 01:19:55.937] down into A.A.

79:37

[01 19:55.937 – 01:20:05.997] history." And of course, "Let us rededicate ourselves to those vast responsibilities with the long future will hold for us." Again, it's a long quote,

79:46

[01 20:05.997 – 01:20:10.917] but, "We shall join in hands and repeat." And of course, that's an, a, a great, you know, photograph.

79:52

[01 20:10.917 – 01:20:15.167] There's several photographs of them all sitting, but that's them res- standing reciting the prayer.

79:57

[01 20:15.167 – 01:20:18.637] It says, "I am responsible when anyone, anywhere reaches out for help.

80:01

[01 20:18.637 – 01:20:19.597] I want the hand of A.A.

80:04

[01 20:19.597 – 01:20:24.997] to always be there, and for that, I am responsible." Again, you know, roots go into the Grapevine.

80:10

[01 20:24.997 – 01:20:32.817] I should also say he had a hand in, in, uh, the, the, um, uh, u-unity, uh, statement as well, where it's as described.

80:18

[01 20:32.817 – 01:20:39.837] But, you know, not going anywhere without talking about, you know, the, the, the, the whole family here, and of course, we're talking about La Viña.

80:27

[01 20:39.837 – 01:20:41.237] And a great...

80:28

[01 20:41.237 – 01:20:51.277] You know, in '91, the General Service Conference issued a recommendation seeing, uh, uh, that the Grapevine begin publishing at least one article in Spanish, uh,

80:37

[01 20:51.277 – 01:20:52.017] every month.

80:38

[01 20:52.017 – 01:21:00.277] In '95, the conference gave its approval to a five-year trial run of the Spanish language edition for the, uh, Grapevine.

80:45

[01 21:00.277 – 01:21:10.817] In short, a guy by the name of Ames Sweet, managing editor of the Grapevine at the time, he did a spot issue completely in Spanish and brought it to the '95 International Convention in, uh, San Diego

80:57

[01 21:10.817 – 01:21:11.377] that year.

80:58

[01 21:11.377 – 01:21:14.377] At this, uh, point, the proposed magazine had no name.

81:01

[01 21:14.377 – 01:21:18.037] It consisted of Grapevine stories translated into Spanish.

81:04

[01 21:18.037 – 01:21:24.557] And of course, June, uh, couple of months later, '96, 7,000 copies of the initial issue came off the press.

81:11

[01 21:24.557 – 01:21:29.706] La Viña was published on a bimonthly basis as it is, uh, today.

81:15

[01 21:29.706 – 01:21:38.877] And again, uh, first containment of a mixture of stories translated from Grapevine, but also a few original gra- uh, Spanish, uh, uh, stories as well.

81:24

[01 21:38.877 – 01:21:41.617] Uh, and of course, that's, uh, pretty interesting.

81:27

[01 21:41.617 – 01:21:47.817] And yes, they too had to put Box 1980 on the top of, uh, um, their, their, uh, uh, reader.

81:33

[01 21:47.817 – 01:21:53.497] And, you know, it, it pretty much, you know, it comes down to, to, to something like this.

81:39

[01 21:53.497 – 01:21:55.777] You know, this was, you know, the, the original.

81:42

[01 21:55.777 – 01:22:01.357] You know, Lois K., Grace Worser, Felicia, Helen Wilson, Catherine Twensel, Priscilla, Marty.

81:47

[01 22:01.357 – 01:22:07.017] You know, the, the, the major hands, uh, that, that, uh, they, they, they, they existed.

81:52

[01 22:07.017 – 01:22:10.177] And again, you know, the Grapevine has some amazing stuff.

81:56

[01 22:10.177 – 01:22:13.976] You know, here's, here's the, uh, February '69, later years.

81:59

[01 22:13.976 – 01:22:18.217] This was, uh, the, you know, the take from Dewey Spice, uh, from San Mateo.

82:04

[01 22:18.217 – 01:22:18.387] Dr.

82:05

[01 22:18.387 – 01:22:20.057] Bob on Tradition 11.

82:06

[01 22:20.057 – 01:22:30.657] Uh, again, you know, what a great, "Since our tradition of anonymity designates the exact level where the line should be held, it must be obvious to everyone who can read and understand the English language.

82:18

[01 22:30.657 – 01:22:36.657] To maintain anonymity at any other level is definitely a violation of this tradition.

82:23

[01 22:36.657 – 01:22:37.437] The A.A.

82:24

[01 22:37.437 – 01:22:40.037] who hides his identity from his fellows A.A.

82:27

[01 22:40.037 – 01:22:44.197] by using only a given name violates the tradition just as much as A.A.

82:32

[01 22:44.197 – 01:22:52.317] who permits his name to appear." And I believe, Tim, that Mike actually has the original of that, which is, uh, just beyond awesome.

82:40

[01 22:52.317 – 01:23:00.437] Another cool, you know, talking about, you know, things that you can use, you know, with, with Tradition 11, again, with, with the anonymity bit.

82:48

[01 23:00.437 – 01:23:03.037] Uh, you know, it basically breaks it down.

82:51

[01 23:03.037 – 01:23:06.777] "We live in a world of personal promotion." This is April 1967.

82:55

[01 23:06.777 – 01:23:17.217] And what's really cool is, you know, again, IM can be dis- disastrous, but when you really break it down, you know, and, a-and look at the fine, it says, uh, you know, again,

83:06

[01 23:17.217 – 01:23:25.317] "All of those individuals are grandstanding on what seems to be the problem," and they're all standing on the capital letter I.

83:13

[01 23:25.317 – 01:23:35.597] Grapevine is an incredible tool, especially in the later years, including, you know, again, one of my favorites, "When the Big Guy Becomes Nobody," uh, from, uh, Harry Tebow,

83:23

[01 23:35.597 – 01:23:37.997] and, uh, at the time he was a Class A trustee.

83:27

[01 23:37.997 – 01:23:40.837] That is pretty much, uh, uh, it.

83:29

[01 23:40.837 – 01:23:44.557] I think I, uh, um, went a little over.

83:32

[01 23:44.557 – 01:23:48.477] So, uh, uh, Tim, my friend, I will, I will hand it back to you.

83:38

[01 23:48.477 – 01:23:52.017] Thanks so much, Drew.

83:39

[01 23:52.017 – 01:23:53.097] Great job.

83:40

[01 23:53.097 – 01:23:59.977] And, uh, for anyone that has any questions, please, uh, email Drew directly.

83:45

[01 23:59.977 – 01:24:04.837] I just sent a message in the chat with Drew's email address.

83:49

[01 24:04.837 – 01:24:07.837] And that is it for me.

83:51

[01 24:07.837 – 01:24:09.517] Happy Founders Day, everyone.

83:53

[01 24:09.517 – 01:24:10.997] Hope you had a great day.

83:55

[01 24:10.997 – 01:24:12.976] 90 years.

83:55

[01 24:12.976 – 01:24:16.477] And, uh, now I will allow everyone to unmute and thank Drew.

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History of the aa grapevine presented by drew h – 2025-06-10

History of the aa grapevine presented by drew h – 2025-06-10

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