11 Aug Blanche’s Café
An American airman and an OSS secretary dance in a Stockholm Cafe. I’m not sure this is Blanche’s but it could be! The beautiful secretary is Hedvig Johnson, my mother.
Since Sweden was a neutral country during World War II, internationals from all over the world congregated there. They would mingle freely in the cafes and restaurants. Those who were working for the Germans might begin a conversation with the American airmen who were interned there and hope that after a few cocktails the stories would begin to flow.
And vice versa.
In 1944, there was a café in Stockholm named Blanche’s. It was a popular meeting place for those who lived and worked around the Legations on Strandvägen. There was dining, music, dancing and intrigue. I envision that it was much like Rick’s Café in the movie Casablanca.
When I was at the National Archives I found a report written by my father, Lt. Herman F. Allen, for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS):
Sunday evening at 1700 hours, Miss Hedy Johnson and I attended the wedding of S/Sgt. Degnan at Skansen Church. After the wedding, we attended the reception at some restaurant on the outskirts of town. This lasted until 2130 hours at which time a part of us left and continued our celebration at Blanche’s. We ordered drinks and settled down for the evening.
Lt. Allen went on to describe an encounter with a suspected Nazi spy …
I would love to know where Blanche’s Café was and if anyone who was “there” can give me any more information about it.
Jonas
Posted at 14:58h, 17 AugustI found some information on Blanch´s Cafe from the swedish Wikipedia.
I have tried to do a translation (Bing translator is useful, I believe), hope it will be useful for you. Unfortunately, I have no own experiences from Blanche ´s Cafe when I added is too young.
http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blanchs_Caf%C3%A9
Blanch’s café was a famous café located in a now demolished building on Hamngatan (Harbour street) in Kungsträdgården (Kings garden) in Stockholm.
The House as recreational establishment was housed in was built in 1866 after the drawings of Architect Albert Törnqvist Ateljerbyggnadsaktiebolaget, was originally intended to hold exhibition and Studio premises and therefore was equipped with large Windows in the building’s upper storey height. This was Art Association in Stockholm premises from 1868. Opera källarens (One of Sweden’s most prestigious restaurants, my comment) former head Theodor Blanch (1835-1911), opened in its ground floor Blanch’s café in July 1868. The Interior was elegant and airy, with crystal chandeliers, soft rugs and comfortable chairs.
Live music is played every afternoon and check-in and foreign newspapers were available in the dining room. Blanch introduced waiter in white tie and white cloths on every table.
Blanch’s café in 1878 became the site of the Stockholm premiere of the electric light.
1879 Blanch established the Blanchetheater behind his café. The building was replaced in the 1960s by Sweden House as part of of Norrmalm.
Coordinates 59°19′56.9″N 18°4′11.6″E
Pat
Posted at 18:19h, 17 AugustThank you so much, Jonas! And I will try Bing Translator. Love that it says “famous cafe.” THANKS, Pat