Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
P. Dodd Ackerman’s wife from 1937 until his passing in 1963 was Helen. Helen’s maiden name was Helen M. Hamilton. She married William Fling in 1918, becoming Helen M. Fling; her nickname was “Nell” at this time. In 1937, New Jersey married records list the union of P. Dodd Ackernman to Helen Fling. At the time of their wedding, the couple lived in New York, with Ackerman working as a well-known Broadway designer and running a scenic studio. The same year that they were married, Fling published a series of four marionette books under the name Helen Fling. It was at this time that the Ackerman’s life took an interesting turn when they moved south. This is a long post.
On April 21, 1939, the Fort Myers “News-Press” announced, “Mr. and Mrs. P. Dodd Ackerman of New York have arrived to spend a month in Fort Myers” (page 4). They soon moved to Florida, making Fort Myers their home. Their first Florida home was known as “River House,” being mentioned when the couple hosted Miss Elsie Knapp of New York, a well-known numerologist (News-Press, 16 Nov. 1940, page 3). Also called “Riverhouse,” it was the club-home of the Ackermans and a social gathering place for interesting characters (News-Press, 14 Jan, 1940, page 7). Guests over the years included well-known artists and marionette artists Tony Sarg of New York (News-Press, 28 Jan 1941, page 3) and Harry Archer, the well -known composer of music for musical shows, also of New York (News-Press, 7 Jan., 1942, page 3).
By 1940, the Ackerman’s were hosting the Fort Myers “Little Theater group” at River House (News-Press, 17 May 1940, page 4). Philip and Helen were two of the group’s founders and their home became the hub of activities (News-Press, 24 May, 1948, page 5)..A decade later, the Ackermans would still be integrally involved with the Fort Myer’s Little Theater’s, helping teach dramatic classes. Still held at 8PM, the 1950 classes took place at the Ritz Theater in the Patio de Leon. There were both children and adult classes, with Mrs. Ackerman acting as chairman for registration and occasional instructor (News-Press, 12 June 1950, page 5). In 1946 the Little Theatre planned a new play at Thomas A. Edison college, “Claudia.” Mr. and Mrs. Ackerman were art of the committee that approved the production of the new play (News-Press, 4 Feb. 1946, page 1).
The 1940s ushered in a new age and new location for Ackerman, with the couple becoming increasingly involved in general community activities. By 1940, P. Dodd was 65 years old and Helen was 54 years old., each had made a name for themselves. It was a time in their lives when they both worked together as a semi-famous and semi-retired couple. In 1941, Mr. and Mrs. P. Dodd Ackerman were credited with fashioning an exhibit of soldiers and sailors out of fruit and vegetables (News-Press, 2 Feb 1941, page 3). They sought out a variety of new creative outlets, always making a splash in the papers.
In 1943, Mrs. Ackerman was the supervisor of the craft division at Edison Park School in Fort Myers. She was called a “handicraft artist,” supervising crafts and hobbies for boys ang girls in the area (News-Press, 1 June 1943, page 1). She was also in charge of the hobby bazaar, held in the storeroom on First Street, next door to the Western Union office. The event had a successful six-day run with 1000 people attending (News-Press, 15 Jul 1943, page 1). In 1943, Mr. and Mrs. P. Dodd Ackerman were contracted to renovate the Edison Park school stage with new equipment and scenery (News-Press, 10 March 1943, page 3). One foot in the professional world and one foot in a retirement community, they were extremely active.
There were also many other social and the humanitarian activities that the Ackermans participated in during this time. Mrs. Ackerman enrolled for nutrition classes at Florida Power and Light Sunshine kitchen, a skill that she would apply to her continued social work (News-Press, 29 Jan, 1944, page 5). In 1944, Mrs. Ackerman helped distribute clothing and bedding to the hurricane victims (News-Press, 9 Nov. 1944, page 2). This was likely the reason that the Ackermans also moved from River House” to the Bayside park development area in 1945, purchasing their new property on First Street in January 1945 (News-Press, 18 Jan 1945, page 1). They purchased one of six available homes in the new Bayside park development. As with the previous “River House,” their new home on Bayside hosted a variety of social events. On Nov. 13, 1949, the “News-Press” announced, “Mr. and Mrs. P. Dodd Ackerman open new Mexican rancho-style home, “River House” (page 4).
In 1944, Philip, Jr., then age 23 yrs. old, was completing military training in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Philip Jr. was the biological son from Ackerman’s previous wide Harriet. On May 30, 1944, the “News-Press” reported, “Second Lieutenant Philip D. Ackerman, jr., has been selected to attend the officers’ communication course of the field artillery school at this point. Lieutenant Ackerman is the son of Mr. and Mrs. P. Dodd Ackerman of 2226 Bayside parkway, Fort Myers (page 1). In 1946, the “News-Press” reported, First Lieutenant P. Dodd Ackerman, jr., arrived yesterday for a visit with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. P. Dodd Ackerman. Ackerman returned from Luzon in the Philippines and is now on terminal leave, after four years in the army. He will return to the University of Florida in Gainesville, Feb. 6, where he will graduate in June” (6 Dec. 1946, page 7). By 1949, the “News-Press” would announce, “Mr. Ackerman, who has received his BA and MS degrees at the University of Florida will receive his PHD at Columbia University next year” (3 June 1949, page 10). By 1953, the “News-Press” reported, “Capt. And Mrs. Philip D. Ackerman of New York City arrived by plane Sunday to visit his parents, Mr. and Mrs. P. Dodd Ackerman of Bayside Parkway. Capt. Ackerman is connected with Equitable Life Insurance Society. Mrs. Ackerman is doing research work with Cornell University Laboratories” (5 Nov. 1953, page 18).
The 1945 Florida State Census listed Philip Dodd Ackerman as an “architect,” with his level of education being “college art academy.” This is the first and only mention of Ackerman as an architect that I have encountered to date. The Ackerman’s were living at 2226 Bayside Rd in Ft. Meyers, Florida, with his wife Helen and “Theodore D. N. Ackerman.” No relation was listed for Theodore, but is occupation was U. S. Army. I have to wonder if the census worker got the name wrong, and it was really Philip jr., a distant relation, or a friend of Philips.
By the late 40s, Phillip Sr., Philip Jr. and Helen were living and working together. Around this time, Mrs. Ackerman became involved with the more feminine aspect of Fort Myer society; fashion shows, hair style shows and “charm school.” A highlight at this time was the 1948 Edisonia Fashion show under the direction of Mr. and Mrs. P. Dodd Ackerman, who supervised and directed the event. Special lighting effects were provided by P. Dodd Ackerman, Jr.; this was the first mention that I have located about Philip Jr. being involved in any theatrical endeavors. An article in the “News-Press” about the event gave a little more information about Mrs. Helen Ackerman. It reported, “Mrs. Ackerman’s experience in theatrical work led to some of the pantomime sequences which were a real treat and quite different in a fashion show” (News-Press, 10 Feb 1948, page 3). She trained the models, both singly and in groups. This is also the first picture that I have been able to locate, showing Mrs. Ackerman working on the event. Mr. Ackerman was also pictured in the same article.
In 1950, the Ackermans again partnered to direct an elaborate Hair Style Show at the Civic Center for the Hairdressers Association. It is hard not to think of behind the scenes clips form “Strictly Ballroom” here. They were accommodating a different type of clientele that sought increased theatricality for local and regional societies and events. In an article about the event, the “News-Press” reported, “Mr. and Mrs. P. Dodd Ackerman, well known theatrical producers directed the show” (8 May 1950, page 5). That same year, Mrs. Ackerman gave presentations on “The Art of Being Graceful and Charming” (9 Sept. 1950, page 5). She was the featured speaker at the meeting of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. “Charm school” became Mrs. Ackerman’s new passion, instructing young women in “courtesy, voice, personality, walking, standing, sitting, radio techniques and dancing – in short, in everything they would learn at smart finishing schools” (Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 1950, page 6). Girls between the ages of 16 and 22 were personally instructed by Mrs. Ackerman, now credited as a “former New York stage star and author of four books on marionette art that are the accepted texts in the field.” The most widely publicized accomplishment of Mrs. Ackerman’s school was a personal invitation from Arthur Godfrey for ten of her girls to appear for 10 minutes as guests on Godfrey’s morning radio show. The chance to be a “charm girl” became a local honor. They helped out the Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce in many different ways, such as serving tea.
By 1954, the Ackermans were still living in Fort Meyers, Florida, with the directory listing their residence at 1639 ½ 1st Street. Unfortunately, there seemed to have been a falling out with the Little Theatre group and the entire Fort Myers community. A small dispute played out in the local newspaper. The editor published a lengthy response to Mr. Ackerman, asking at one point, “I would like to ask Mr. Ackerman upon what basis he can assume that ‘no thought whatsoever is given in the Fort Myers Little Theater’ to the matter of an institution not only of culture but one of considerable educational learning…as to whether or not Fort Myers is ‘ready to support and relish a Little Theater’; no community in this sense is ever ‘ready.’ You don’t get ready to soak up some culture simply by sitting around and waiting for it to happen. You do something about it. You lend your support in whatever group or organization is striving, in their blundering way perhaps, to serve up some culture, that is. You don’t suggest disbanding and dropping the only cultural straw to which we are clutching” (News-Press, 15 Nov. 1954, page 4). That may have been the final nudge for the couple to settle elsewhere,
In1955 the Ackermans left Fort Myers and headed north. On October 23, 1955, the “News-Press reported, “Mr. and Mrs. P. Dodd Ackerman will leave Wednesday for Hicksville, L.I., N.Y. to make their home. They will live at 25 Blacksmith Lane, near their son, and daughter-in-law. They have been residents for 18 years” (page 16). The Ackermans did not stay away long, as in 1956 the “New-Press” announced,” Mr. and Mrs. P. Dodd Ackerman, former residents, have returned from Hicksville, New York, where they spent the past two years. They are making their home at the Shadowlawn Apartments, Mr. Ackerman was a prominent stage designer on Broadway for many years and Mrs. Ackerman was an authority was an authority on puppets and puppet theaters. She is an author on several books of the subject” (6 Dec. 1956, page 15). By 1959, the Ackermans moved to their new home, back in Bayside Parkway at 2065. They stayed in the area and in 1960, hen living at 2053 Bayside Pkwy in Fort Myers, Florida.
Although they moved back to Florida, they never seemed to fit in again. The Fort Myers community grew weary of the Ackermans’ self-promotion and constant comparisons with life in New York. The most telling was in a letter to the “New-Press” on Jan. 20, 1958. In a letter to the Editor, one Floridan wrote, “I think Mr. P. Dodd Ackerman needs to have his eyes examined if he can’t read the ‘walk and wait’ signs. I can read them across the street easily and I am an old lady. I think that they are just wonderful and give even an old person like myself plenty of time to cross. I sure hope they keep them. Why do people like Mr. Ackerman compare everything that happens down here with things up north? If it is so much better up there why don’t they stay there? We like to have visitors here but we sure do hate to have them compare everything, and unfavorably too, with some northern state and comparing Fort Myers with New York City makes me laugh. But maybe that is sort of a backhand compliment. I sure hope they keep the lights even if they are not as good as those in New York City” (page 4). Little else was published about the Ackermans after that. Philip Dodd Ackerman passed away at the age of 87 on Jan 9, 1963. He is buried in Kings, NY.
Helen Ackerman, still residing at Bayside Parkway, passed away on August 25, 1979 in Lee, Florida. She was 92 years old.
To be continued…
