Glossary

Laughing Record: A recording of a musician playing an instrument – most often a trumpet or trombone – is interrupted by someone else’s laughter. The musician attempts to keep playing but often is unable because of the infectious laughter.

Consumers Union: A policy and action division of Consumer Reports, working with millions of activists to pass consumer protection laws in states and Congress. They have helped reduce hospital infections, lower credit card rates, expand access to health insurance, and improve the security of financial information.

Tube: A device, also called a “vacuum tube” that controls electric current between electrodes in an evacuated container. Invented in 1904 by John Ambrose Fleming, vacuum tubes were a basic component for electronics throughout the first half of the twentieth century, which saw the diffusion of radio, television, radar, sound reinforcement, recording and reproduction, etc. The invention of the “tube” made these technologies widespread and practical.

Storage battery: An electrical battery which can be charge, discharged into a load and recharged many times.

Fencing Foil: One of the three, and most commonly used, weapons used in fencing. It is flexible, rectangular in cross section and weighs under a pound. Points are scored with contact with the tip to the lame or vest.

Tramping Lunge: From an en garde position, push the front heel out by extending the front leg from the knee. Do not bend the front ankle, or lift up on the ball of the front foot. This means that the front foot must move prior to the body weight shifting forward. As the front leg extends, energetically push erect body forward with the rear leg. Rear arm extends during forward motion as a counterbalance. Land on the front heel and glide down into final position, with front shin perpendicular to the ground, and both heels on the floor. Torso must remain erect, and not thrown forward. A important, fundamental characteristic of the lunge, to fully extend the back leg.

Sounding Board (harp): The surface of a string instrument that the strings vibrate against.

Chiffonier: An American chiffonier is a tall, narrow, elegant chest of drawers with a mirror attached on top (also called a chifforobe). A British chiffonier is similar to a sideboard but smaller the front has doors instead of drawers.

The Airports: The closest airports to Rockaway are JFK which opened in 1948 (named New York International Airport, renamed in 1963) and LaGuardia which became so named in 1953.

Spanish Jacobean: A style of furniture dating back to the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras, characteristic of straps and buckles, gothic elements and scalloped shells.

Gallagher and Shean: A musical comedy double act on vaudeville and Broadway in the 1910’s-20s, consisting of Edward Gallagher and Al Shean. The Marx Brothers were Shean’s nephews.

“Jacob, he wasn’t a wrestler”: Genesis 32:22-32, The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. Therefore to this day the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket, because he touched the socket of Jacob's hip on the sinew of the thigh.

Hassock: A padded cushion or low stool that serves as a seat or a leg rest – kind of like a pouf or ottoman.

Russia in 1903: Solomon may have left Russia in 1903 (assuming the play is set in 1968 – and he left at the age of 24) because of the precipitation of the 1905 Revolution. In 1903, Russian Marxism founder Georgy Plekhanov parted ways with Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks.

Library Table: A large table/desk for the purpose of writing and providing a workspace

English andirons: A horizontal iron bar upon which logs are laid for burning in an open fireplace.

IBM: A series of machines that pioneered the computing industries – making marked advancements in processing and memory storage in the 60s.

Lap Robe: A piece of fabric with a Velcro waistband that went over the lap of passengers in open air vehicles. It often covered all the way down to the feet. Some looked like pants and had attached booties for shoe coverage.

Opera Hat: A man’s tall, collapsible top hat, held open on in shape by springs and usually covered with black fabric.

Making Change: A cashier at an automat would change other denominations of money into nickels for patrons to utilize the machines.

Automat: A fast food restaurant where simple foods and drinks are served by vending machines. Originally, the machines only took nickels. A cashier would sit in a change booth in the center of the restaurant, behind a wide marble counter with five to eight rounded depressions in it.

1932 (economy): Unemployment rate in 1932 was 23.6, this year several acts and orders were enacted including OCC halts foreclosures, The Revenue Act of 1932 raised tax rates from 25% to 63% and adding a 1 cent per gallon tax on gasoline. The Emergency Relief and Construction Act was passed – which later became part of FDR’s New Deal and American loans to help rebuild the German economy ended.

1923 (economy): There was an economic crisis in Germany following the fall out of WWI. The price of a single loaf of bread escalated from 0.63 marks to 250 marks.

Panic of 1904 (economy): There was no Panic of 1904 and this may instead refer to the Panic of 1907 which is also called the Knickerbocker Crisis wherein the NYSE fell almost 50% in a 3 week period.

1898 (economy – in Russia): Russian industrialization was picking up and they had just adopted the Gold Standard. French banks were investing in Russia and they were beginning construction on the Transiberan Railroad.

"Took me 14 years to get the goddamn stripes”: Police officers who earn the rank of corporal wear two chevrons. Corporals are two steps above regular officers. Victor has earned the rank of sergeant and would wear three chevrons.

“Shoot the bull”: to chat and gossip

Camel’s Hair Coat: A generally golden tan colored coat made from camel’s hair, made popular in the 20s and 30s by polo players.

M.I.T.: Massachusetts Institute of Technology known for its research and education in the physical sciences and engineering.

Louise Seize: Architecture or furniture of the reign of Louis XVI of France which is characteristic of neoclassical style and mixing straight lines (as opposed to the curvilinear style of rococo) with sculpture like ornamentation.

Biedermeier: An influential German style of furniture design that evolved during the years 1815-1848, emphasizing clean lines and minimal ornamentation.

Borsalino: A hat company established in 1857 by Giuseppe Borsalino in Italy, known for its fedoras made from Belgian rabbit fur.

French gauntlets: Protective gloves, usually with an extended or flared cuff used in fencing.

Louis Pasteur: A French chemist and microbiologist renowned for his discoveries in the principles of vaccination, microbial fermentation and pasteurization. He created the first vaccines against rabies and anthrax.

City Hospitals: Hospitals funded by the local and federal governments

1936 (economy): Unemployment is 16.9% in 1936 and the economy was beginning to rebound a little but the United States was still suffering under the Great Depression.

Tube

Fencing Swords

Lunge tutorial video

American Chiffonier English Chiffonier

Spanish Jacobean Furniture

Lap Robe

Automat

Police Ranking Insignias

Louis Seize

Biedermeier

Borsalino Hat

French Gauntlets

Louis Pasteur