AMERICANPATRIOT

5 GREATAMERICAN DRIVESTHE FIRSTTENNISSUPERSTAR

PLANNING A TRIP?REMEMBERTHE ALAMO

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CLICK ABOVESEPTEMBER 15, 2010

AMERICANPATRIOT

THE FIRST TENNISSUPERSTARBILL TILDEN

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TIPS ON COLLECTINGAMERICANA

8ON THE ROAD5 GREAT EASTERN DRIVES

THIS WEEKIN AMERICANHISTORY

QUOTE OFTHE WEEK

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PLANNING A VACATION?REMEMBERTHE ALAMO

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FORGOTTEN HEROGEORGEROGERS CLARK

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THE FIRST TENNIS SUPERSTAR

BILL TILDEN

With the U.S. Tennis Open just a few days behind us, the focus ison the 21st century stars of the net. But the first great superstarof the gamewas “Big Bill” Tilden, who continues to occupy a specialplace among the pantheon of great athletes.

His dominance is unquestioned — he was victorious in every major competition he entered overa span of six years – but his legacy is that of a master, not merely a champion. To Tilden, whoalso shared an abiding love for acting, a tennis match was more an expressive performance thanan athletic competition. According to Tilden: “The player owes the gallery as much as an actorowes the audience.”

Born into affluence in turn of the century Philadelphia, Tilden was a sheltered child. He wasforbidden to enter the city’s parks, and was tutored in the home until junior high school. His par-ents were brooding and aloof, having lost 3 children to diphtheria prior to his birth. His family

life remained tragic, losing his mother, father,and brother all before he turned 19. Despitesuccess and fame, Tilden would live with his auntuntil he was 48 years old. This aunt suggestedthat young Bill seek refuge in tennis. Oddly,Tilden was cut from the University of Pennsyl-vania tennis team but, by age 26, independentlyreached finals of the U.S. Nationals, only to becrushed by Bill Johnson.

Knowing he had a weakness in his backhand,Tilden took a job in Newport, RI as a privatetennis coach. The arrangement allowed for un-limited indoor practice time. With a dedicationbordering on obsession, he developed his top-spin backhand, building strength by choppingwood, and repeating the stroke endlessly. Hiswork paid off: In the next year’s U.S. nationals,Tilden beat Johnson in an epic 3 hour match.“Champions are born in the labor of defeat,”said Tilden years later.

What followed was an era of dominance rarelyseen in modern sport. Tilden would win sevenU.S. singles titles, winning 73 matches out of80 total. He won at Wimbledon 3 years in a row.He didn’t lose a match in 1924. Of this period,tennis writers were in awe of Tilden’s stats andstyle. “He is an artist,” Franklin Adams wrote,“Tilden is more of an artist than 9/10s of theartists I know.” Others saw it less positively.Paul Gallico wrote: “To his opponents, it was acontest, with Tilden, it was an expression of hisown tremendous and overwhelming ego, cou-pled with feminine vanity.”

As the years pressed on, Tilden became increas-ingly enamored with theater. He wrote, directedand starred in several plays. Self-financing,Tilden lost great sums of money on his passionfor the stage, and his wealth steadily deterio-rated. He died at an age 60, bankrupt. But thoseclose to him say he was generally pleased withhis achievements.

AMERICAN PATRIOT 5

WATCH A NEWSREEL OFTILDEN VOLLEYING

In recent years, objects and art related to our nation’s history have become highlysought after by people trying to capture a piece of their heritage. As with any collectible,some examples are viewed as more desirable than others and consequently garnera higher price tag. But if you know what to look for “telling the treasures from the trash”will become a very simple process.

TIPS ONCOLLECTING AMERICANA

BELOW ARE A FEW EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE HOTTEST AMERICAN COLLECTIBLES:

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QuiltsHISTORYQuilts were more than just utilitarianobjects used for warmth. Throughout the18th and 19th century women createdthem to mark special events in the livesof families such as weddings and births.

WHAT TO LOOK FORCondition, size, quality of stitching, andpattern all effect the value of a quilt withpictorial quilts featuring vignettes of familylife or patriotic acts at the top of everycollector’s list. The most valuable quiltsare Baltimore Album quilts but good luckfinding one. Only 300 of these quilts, withintricately embroidered blocks displayingscenes of early American life, were created.Crazy quilts are also sought after by collec-tors. These are constructed of irregularlyshaped fabrics and were very popular inthe mid-1800’s.

VALUEAnywhere from $400 for a fine exampleof a crazy quilt to $2,000 for a pictoralquilt. At the high end, Baltimore Albumquilts are worth $20,000-$100,000.

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CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON POLITICALBUTTONS + MEMORABILIA IN PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS

HISTORY: America invented the campaign button. Its roots canbe traced all the way to medals handed out during Andrew Jackson’scampaign in 1824.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Popularity does not equal value when it comesto campaign pins. Scarcity is key. The number of pins that were createdand held onto directly effects the pricing. Often it is the losing candidateswhose buttons see the greatest increase in value. So it’s a good rule ofthumb that if you never heard of him it’s probably worth something.Another indicator of value is the quality of the button, pins made out ofbronze and silk bring are obviously more rare than plastic and metal.

VALUE: Prices are all over the map and there is constant fluctuation.For instance, Joe Biden’s buttons from his first political campaign arenow selling for $50 when they were only selling for $2 before hiselection to the Vice Presidency.

HISTORY: The first attempts at branding in America, trade signs hungoutside stores and restaurants to add a special personality to the estab-lishment and separate them from the competition. The signs first gainedpopularity in the 18th century and obviously never went out of style.WHAT TO LOOK FOR: When it comes to trade signs, a good rule tofollow is the older the sign, the higher the value. The oldest signs aremade out of wood, double sided, and are not graphically complex.Often these signs will simply display the name of the establishmentand a date. Of special interest are signs for shops that have becomeoutmoded such as taverns, blacksmiths, tinsmiths and cobblers. Butdon’t discount later examples. While not worth as much, mid-19thcentury signs with bold graphics can fetch a pretty penny too.

VALUE: Anywhere from $300 for a cheeky 1950’s sign to $200,000for a very early tavern signage.

Trade Signs

StonewareCrocks

HISTORY: From Colonial times to the mid-1900’s stoneware crockswere used by farmers to transport their fresh crops to the marketplace.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Maker’s marks usually add the most value toa collectible. In this case, Red Wing is the top of the line. These crockscan easily be differentiated from the rest by a Red Wing marking onthe vessel. Norton and John Bell are also popular names in crocks. Ifa crock does not have a maker’s mark, the next best thing is a vibrantcolor or pattern. Cobalt blue designs fetch the highest price in thiscategory. This is not to say that plain brown or beige crocks withoutmarkings are worthless, just that the value is greatly decreased.

VALUE: Anywhere form $10 for a plain unmarked crock to $750 fora finely decorated Red Wing.

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ON THE ROAD5 GREAT EASTERN DRIVES

8 AMERICAN PATRIOT

Americans love their cars and the freedom of the road. As autumn sets in,there is no more glorious time to hit the road. Temperatures cool, leavesturn, sunsets flare, water sparkles, traffic eases. Here are five of AmericanPatriot’s favorite drives up and down the East Coast; other regions of thecountry will be featured in upcoming weeks.

SKYLINE DRIVEVirginia’s Skyline Parkway is a 100 mile highway that has thrilled drivers and nature lovers since1931. The dramatic changes in elevation, tight curves, and stunning views make the Skyline oneof America’s best inland drives. Spanning the entirety of Shenandoah National Park in the BlueRidge Mountains, the drive is a designated National Scenic Byway. A stop at the Big Meadows,located in the national park, offers magnificent views and diverse avian and wildlife populations.

AMERICAN PATRIOT 9

THE FINGER LAKES HISTORIC CAPE COD

OVERSEAS HIGHWAY OUTER BANKS HIGHWAY

THE FINGER LAKESThere are eleven “Finger Lakes” in central New York,

so named because of their shape. A drive around any

single one of the major ones is an hour well spent.

The region’s charm is well represented by the stretch

starting from Ithaca, along Cayuga Lake, then to

Hammondsport, on the tip of Keuka Lake. Offering

stunning lake and mountain views, the roads twist

through mostly-undeveloped countryside. Dozens of

wineries, both big and small, dot the landscape and

offer tours and fine dining. There are ample oppor-

tunities for hiking and boating along the route.

OVERSEAS HIGHWAYOne of America’s truly unique drives, the portion of

U.S. Highway 1 that stretches from Key Largo to Key

West, FL is a natural and engineering marvel. Con-

nected by a network of bridges, one of which spans

seven miles, the highway takes drivers over teal blue

seas and white sand beaches. It may be the best

ocean drive in the world —and for those who want a

closer look at the water, it’s also the diving capital

of the world. Key West, along the route, is worth a

full day of touring, dining, and bar-hopping.

HISTORIC CAPE CODThough Cape Cod has seen rapid development, the

core of this original, unmistakably New England

island is still very much intact. A day’s drive can take

visitors through historic towns such as Sandwich and

Yarmouth, sparsely populated and unspoiled beaches,

and working fishing villages. Sticking along Route 6,

the road becomes less crowded and more scenic

near the north of the island, with giant dunes and

marshes dominating the landscape. Provincetown,

at the northern tip of the Island, is a noted hotel and

dining destination.

OUTER BANKS HIGHWAYNorth Carolina’s Route 12 is a breezy, dune-shoul-

dered two-lane highway that runs the length of the

Outer Banks. It’s popular year round — sparkling

with sunshine in the summer, gray and melancholy in

the winter — and connects the major historical and

natural attractions of the area. A drive down the sandy

pavement, stopping at national seashores, spying

on packs of wild horses, lunching on fresh seafood:

this is the unspoiled junction of America’s Mid Atlantic

and Southern Regions.

THE SKYLINE DRIVE

PLANNING A TRIP?REMEMBER THE ALAMO

The Fall of the Alamo (1903) by Robert Jenkins Onderdonk, depicts Davy Crockett wielding his rifle as a club against Mexicantroops who have breached the walls of the mission.

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The Alamo became well-known during the

Texas Revolution and dates back to 1718

when it was first built as a mission. The

Battle of Alamo in 1836 made it forever

famous, even though the fight itself lasted

only 13 days. Under attack from an over-

whelming Mexican force of 4,000 led by

their President Santa Anna, a small group of

182 Texans — which included such iconic

names as Davy Crockett, James Bowie and

William Travis — chose to fight to the

death for the cause of liberty rather than

surrender. Death eventually came, but the

legendary battle cry of “Remember the

Alamo” still inspires free people everywhere

and the Alamo is seen as the place where

Texas independence was born.

While the Alamo is the focus of a visit to

the city, other appealing and historic sites

to see in San Antonio include The River-

walk, three miles of paths built from stone

lining the Rio Grande and filled with

attractions, dining and nightlife; La Villita,

which offers authentic arts and crafts in

the historic downtown area; the King

William Historic District, a 25-block

radius that opens the doors to the city’s

past with an architectural tour of that

is on the National Register of Historic

Places; and Missions National Historic

Park, with five historic missions at the

historic park dating back to the early

18th century along a 12-mile mission

trail. (And for the kids, don’t forget San

Antonio Sea World, the San Antonio Zoo

and the local Six Flags!)

AMERICAN PATRIOT 11

CLICK HERE TOEXPLORE THE ALAMO

A big city with a small town feel, San Antonio enjoys a friendly reputation and

year-round sunny weather. For American Patriot readers, the main attraction of this

Texas city is the Alamo. With more than 2.5 million visitors annually, this is the

most important historical site in the city, arguably in all of the Lone Star State.

This plan of the Alamo was created by José JuanSánchez-Navarro in 1836. Places marked R and V de-note Mexican cannon; position S indicates Cos's forces.

America stands today on the shouldersof giants, but all-too-often genuineAmerican heroes are forgotten. Nothere at American Patriot. This week webring back to life, figuratively anyway,

George Rogers Clark,a celebrated and controversial hero ofthe American Revolution.

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FORGOTTENHERO

Clark, who was born in 1752 in Virginia,rose to become the highest rankingAmerican military official on the North-west front during the Revolutionary War.Serving as leader of the Kentucky militia,Clark fought throughout Ohio, Illinois andIndiana, he spearheaded the bold capturesof Kaskaskia in 1778 and Vincennes in1779. Vincennes was especially rivetingas it resulted from a surprise winter marchand the capture of the British LieutenantGovernor. These defeats served to weakenBritish influence in the region throughoutthe war. Since these victories came de-spite little support from the regular armyin men and funds, they became a sourceof Clark’s reputation as a warrior, and whennews of the triumphs reached GeorgeWashington, he used them to build moraleand to promote the ultimately successfulalliance with France. Once the RevolutionaryWar was won, the British ceded the entireNorthwest Territory to the new UnitedStates in the 1783 Treaty of Paris. Thisled Clark to be hailed as “Conquerorof the Old Northwest.” Many historiansconsider his actions to have been crucialin winning the war and shaping thegeography of the new nation.

Remarkably, all these victories wereachieved before Clark’s 30th birthday. Itwould be nice to say that the rest of his

life was also triumphant, but that was nottrue. Late in the war, he failed in an attemptto take Detroit and several other expedi-tions ended badly. After the war, he led thefight against Native Americans on thefrontier, with mixed success and rumors ofdrunkenness. The remainder of his lifewas plagued by financial difficulties — inpart because the U.S. Congress and Virginiadid not recompense him for debts he ranup financing the early military campaigns.Clark did receive a land grant in what isnow present day Indiana. Years after hisdeath in 1818, Virginia partially repaidhis estate. In 1932, President CalvinCoolidge commissioned a memorial to Clarkin Vincennes, Indiana, which includes astatue at the George Rogers Clark NationalHistorical Park. Other memorials now helpkeep the memory of Clark’s contributionsalive in Virginia, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana.

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GEORGE ROGERS CLARKConqueror of the Old Northwest

Clark's march to Vincennes—the most celebrated eventof his career—has been depicted in many paintings,such as this illustration by F. C. Yohn.

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QUOTE OFTHE WEEK

“I don’t make jokes. Ijust watch the governmentand report the facts.”—WILL ROGERSCOMEDIAN, HUMORIST, SOCIAL COMMENTATOREXCEEDINGLY POPULAR AND INFLUENTIAL IN THE 1930S.

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AMERICAN PATRIOT 15

THIS WEEK INAMERICAN HISTORY

1780.During the American Revolution, American General Benedict Arnoldmeets with British Major John Andre to discuss handing over WestPoint to the British. In return, he is promised a large sum of moneyand a high post in the British army. The plot was foiled and Arnoldbecame synonymous with the word "traitor."

WATCH THE TREASON OF BENEDICT ARNOLD: THE MOVIE

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