LETTERS

I Scream Ice Cream

Several misconceptions in the “Corporate Cuisine” article should be clarified for your readers.

We are planning on expanding in Dallas-Fort Worth and have already opened an office in Campbell Centre. This is the Southwest Regional Marketing Office. We plan to open a new unit in Fort Worth in the very near future and are negotiating on several other locations in the area. We are inviting inquiries from interested parties.

Swensen’s does not use a custard base in the manufacture of its ice cream. The base used has a minimum of 14% butterfat and contains no egg yolk base. Milk, cream, and other essential properties comprise its total content.

Neal Cowin

Swensen’s Ice Cream Co.



Ritz’s Bloom

David Ritz writes so well that reading him is downright fattening. His piece on Stevie Wonder made me want to thank you for publishing him.

The Sam Bloom reminiscence made it a moral imperative. Bet if we ever did have that Bloom alumni meeting in the Cotton Bowl, the old man would show up and prove he still has the power to scare the hell out of us all.

Spencer Michlin

New York



Legislative D-portment

Your rating of the Dallas legislators was enlightening but under your comments about Chris Semos, your group failed to review the main purpose of the bill – to move the private employment agencies out of the Texas Department of Labor Statistics. When you refer to power play, it might be better to point out why the private employment agencies sought to pass HB-925.

Private employment agencies currently are among the most heavily regulated free enterprise small businesses in the State. Legislation also is in the hopper to put this group back under a labor-appointed political appointee who has 17 laws to administer and complains that he is greatly understaffed. This Commissioner has been reprimanded on a number of occasions for asking for more power but has not enforced the regulations he has now on the books.

After reviewing the record of this Legislature, perhaps we could use a few more free-enterprise, small business oriented legislators who are interested in upgrading an industry rather than add more tax burden for expanded welfare programs.

Norton Steward



Although you assessed some of the Dallas State Legislators well, unfortunately your article “Report Card Time for Dallas Legislators” was somewhat sloppy. I noticed the following:

Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson was elected vice-chairperson of the 1972 State Democratic Convention-not secretary.

Ms. Johnson and Chris Semos are both listed as being from District 33-0. Semos is in 33-F.

Carlyle Smith is described as both a moderate and a conservative.

Les Weisbrod

Staff Director, House Study Group

House of Representatives

Austin



Clubbing the Critic

In your April issue, David Ritz gives all of the reasons why Oz is not a continental-style discotheque. I yawned and read on. Then a nerve jangled! I had passed over the part of Mr. Ritz’s critique in which he referred to the Dallas club scene of the 1950’s as “a miserable joke.” It was inferred that the 1960’s were equally as vacuous as the preceding decade.

Didn’t Mr. Ritz ever dance to the big bands at Louann’s, our own Aragon Ballroom, or get caught up in Dick and Kiz Harp’s “Fugue For Tinhorns” at the Nintieth Floor? Then, who would miss Arthur K. Adams on the week-ends at the Blackout, or “pushing” to Joe Ramirez and the Jumping Jacks at Jimmy’s Club.

In the mid-sixties, you had to be seen at the Sunday afternoon jam sessions at Gringo’s, featuring Jesse Lopez. And on Wednesday nights it was the dance contest at the Red Jacket where Royal Earl made sounds like a combination of Jimmy Reed, B.B. King, and Bobby Blue Bland.

We carried in our own liquor in brown paper sacks, and paid 75 cents for set-ups-always good for two generous mixed drinks. Not like the $1.50 and $1.75 you pay at the new, chic cabarets for the privilege of admiring the posh decor, and listening to the “Electric Laxative” or some such group.

It was definitely an idyllic, yet frenetic era for us then Dallas swingles. We had our own Coconut Grove, Metro-pol, Mr. Kelly’s, and Preservation Hall, and we never worried about making copy for David Ritz.

Bill M. Harter



D-Rated Movies

I am not only shocked and disgusted, but in a state of total disbelief. David Brudnoy’s review of the movie “Death Wish” contains the following comment, “Charles Bronson’s vigilante story, with dialogue your neighborhood Mongoloid idiot could improve upon . . .” The term Mongoloid Idiot is about as outdated as Brudnoy’s apparent views toward retarded people. My suggestion to Brudnoy is that he see a few less movies and find out what is happening in the world around him.

Arthur J. Becker

Richardson

David Brudnoy’s review of “Death Wish” was extremely offensive and in the worst of taste.

There are over 45,000 mentally retarded persons in Dallas, and a large percentage of the persons have Downs Syndrome. Idiot is a most inappropriate and cruel reference. I work with adults who happen to be retardea None of these people are idiots. I hope Mr. Brudnoy realizes how many families he has offended and makes a public apology.

Cindy Kowalski



Mr. Brudnoy replies:

No offense toward retarded people was intended by my off-hand remark about the dialogue of “Death Wish.” It was glib, not kind, and unnecessary. But by no means was it meant to reflect upon those with Downs Syndrome, with whom I worked as a counselor some years ago. I regret the effect of that phrase in the review, and offer a sincere apology to anyone disturbed by it.

David Brudnoy



Errata

In the June issue, we incorrectly listed the price of an eight-day, seven-night package tour to Canada as $150. The correct price is $240 per person.

Also, the 15 percent food and beverage tax in Mexico noted in Victor Wdowiak’s July “Spirits” column has now been eliminated for tourists only.