Geri, the grandson of Strongheart

As Gary writes:

American Boy magazine was published from November 1899 to August 1941. My father was born on September 25, 1914, and I guess my Dad's mother had a subscription for him, because when my father was fifteen, he entered a contest, sponsored by the magazine, and won. Geri, the great grandson of the famous "movie dog hero Strongheart," was the prize.

The magazine asked, on behalf of Geri, for "American Boys," from all over the country, to write out a job description, and to offer Geri a job. In July 1930, the magazine announced: "In the near future, [Geri] will be boarding a train for St. Anthony, Idaho, to start his life work as family manager, house detective, and all-around pal to Phil B. Patton, AMERICAN BOY reader. For Geri has selected his home.

From more than six hundred letters, written in response to the Pup's want ad in the May contest announcement, Geri finally picked Patton's as offering the most interesting and worthwhile career."

A little background: Larry Trimble, who chose Phil’s letter as the winner of the American Boy contest, was a famous animal trainer in Hollywood. Strongheart was one of the biggest movie stars after WWI and it was Trimble who trained him.

Alma told Gary that winning the dog when Phil was a teenager, was one of the most exciting and important events of his life. Phil saved the articles and correspondence that related to the contest and what came next. The story has a sad ending.

Phil had a long and intimate correspondence with Larry Trimble, a very famous motion picture director and dog trainer of the time. You can find out more about Larry Trimble here.

A typed version of the following two letters (prepared by our sister Nancy) can be found following each letter. The handwriting is difficult to decipher in many instances and some guesses had to be made.