A "Mayors Daughter" shines a spotlight on history of ordinary people from the greatest generation. The memories of Therese Christman generates a dynamic story which is birthed in the great depression and then accelerates to the greatest overflow of prosperity the world has ever known. A daughters memories, a father of fame and a renowned internationally known priest combine to bring a trilogy of a true story of a Michigan city, of a culture and of a society that was fashioned by grace to greatness through hard work, resilience of spirit, sacrifice of self and above all, a vision with leadership. Up from a small Midwestern community, came these two men, who by divine intervention found themselves in the broader stretch of community fame, social prominence and a cultural revolution. This story becomes compelling because it captures the amazing transformation of a community by one man's leadership. And the ultimate salvation of a society by another man's influence through eloquent radio broadcasting. This translates to special people with greatness of vision, motivated by love and that inner call that brings a profound change to the societies in which great men and women live. Henceforth the book ... "the Mayors Daughter." Finally, this book, through the memories of a daughter, rehearses historyin the City of Royal Oak, Michigan that now includes one of the top medical centers in the world - and all because of one man's vision and leadership. Moreover the freedom of the American culture, in part, is derived from a Catholic priest who dared to speak out against the evils of communism and the social depression that it causes. The memories of a daughter, form a trilogy to reveal history in some of its greatest triumphs. This book is a must read.

'This book ... provides a completely new and unique perspective on the tragedy ... [of] the Royal Oak story.--the author has ... traced the families of various souls lost with the battleship that fateful night in 1939. Their photographs and stories are representative of all their shipmates. Interviews with survivors bring the dramatic events vivdly to life, emphasizing the human tragedy and experience of war.' (Back cover)

When Soupy Sales left Detroit in 1960 after seven years on WXYZ TV, he was the highest-paid local television personality and one of the most well-known and loved celebrities in town. His daytime television programs in the early morning and noontime had an enormous and devoted following. The latter, Lunch with Soupy Sales, was nationally syndicated on ABC on Saturday, starting in the fall of 1959. His late evening program, Soupyâ (TM)s On, featured everything from renowned jazz artists to pop singers to satirical skits. While he would achieve more celebrity status in Los Angeles and New York during the 1960s, the template for the puppet characters, comedy routines, and zany sketches had been set in Detroit. This study of the content and context of Soupyâ (TM)s time on WXYZ TV provides important insights into key threads of popular culture in the 1950s, including the role of television and its impact on the family and children, the influence of Cold War and consumerist ideology, Jewish-inflected humor, and jazz, especially as a component of the Detroit socio-cultural history in this period. All of these seemingly disparate topics, however, lead back to identifying the manufacturing of a television personality at a particular moment in time and in a specific location. Beyond the network of Soupy fans, anyone interested in how a television personality achieves local and national prominence should consider reading this book. Also, those who want to understand the role of the media and popular culture in the 1950s will be enlightened, and even entertained, by this exploration of Soupy Salesâ (TM) Detroit experience.

Originally published: Peppard Common, Oxfordshire: Cressrelles Pub., 1980.