There was a madam in my hometown, Evansville, Ind., named Sallie Walker. She became a good friend and consort of Paul Dresser, the songwriter brother of writer Theodore Dreiser (“Sister Carrie” and “An American Tragedy”), and was the inspiration for Dresser’s hit song (of the 1890s, anyway) “My Gal Sal.” Victor Mature and Rita Hayworth appeared in the movie of the same name very loosely based on Dresser’s life. I think because of the Production Code restrictions of the 1940s, Sallie Walker’s character was not in the movie. In reference to Doll Lady’s comment re Miss Kitty, since Gunsmoke originated in the 1950s when Broadcasting Programming and Standards Practices was strongly enforced, the networks probably couldn’t allow a madam to be referred to as such, especially a regular character on a popular TV series. Although Gunsmoke was considered an adult western and ran late on Saturday nights, a lot of children watched it, including myself. Of course, back in the ’50s I wouldn’t have known about sex—unlike children of comparable age today.

In your few words, you speak volumes, Edith Ann. I hope you don’t get yelled at TOO much :-) My parents never yelled at me, and they didn’t yell at each other. The only time they got close to being mad at each other happened every summer when we’d go to a peach orchard in western Kentucky and buy bushels of peaches for my mom and grandmother to can. Mom always criticized the peaches my dad collected because they were always flawed, and then he didn’t talk for several days. When I asked them about it a few years later both denied they got mad at each other. They were devoted to each other for 47 years. Wish I could go with them once more to the peach orchards. Or hear them yell. Not at each other, but at me.

Good friends, going back to youth—If they’re for real, won’t let you dump them—And that’s the truth.