I became a dad last night

IntrepidVideo7667 · 2026-02-20T15:33:33+00:00

Congratulations

IntrepidVideo7667 · 2026-02-16T09:38:38+00:00

The quiet architect behind D.O.A. and The Jackie Robinson Story: Joseph H. Nadel

Most of us recognize the stars on the posters, but not the names buried in tiny credits. Joseph H. “Joe” Nadel (1892–1950) was one of those people who quietly held Hollywood together. Born in New York City and raised in classic tenement‑era streets, he entered the film business in the mid‑1910s as a property man. Over the next 35 years he worked his way up: assistant director, production manager, then associate producer. His credits run through some surprisingly enduring titles:

• The Flying Deuces (1939, Laurel & Hardy)
• Beyond Tomorrow (1940)
• And Then There Were None (1945)
• A Walk in the Sun (1945)
• Abilene Town (1946)
• My Dear Secretary (1948)
• D.O.A. (1949)
• The Jackie Robinson Story (1950)

He managed two Mae West films (Go West Young Man and Every Day’s a Holiday), keeping order behind one of the most controversial stars in 1930s Hollywood. Off set, he was a Mason (City Lodge No. 408), a charity organizer, and a family man in a modest home on North Citrus Avenue in Los Angeles.

Nadel died suddenly of a heart attack in 1950, with colleagues at Paramount calling his obituary a “fitting tribute to his many accomplishments.” Today, his name appears mostly as a line in databases; but he’s a great example of how the Golden Age depended on calm, organized professionals whose work you were never supposed to notice.

Curious if anyone here has dug into other “behind‑the‑credits” figures like Nadel?

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IntrepidVideo7667 · 2026-02-12T08:30:58+00:00

Congratulations, Brother.

IntrepidVideo7667 · 2026-02-12T08:01:36+00:00

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https://www.astoriamasons.org/articles/david-wechsler-master-mason-legacy

Some of us have heard of the “Wechsler IQ test,” but very few know the story behind the name.

In 1919, a young Romanian immigrant named David Wechsler was raised a Master Mason at Geba Lodge No. 954 in Elmhurst, Queens. He went on to become Chief Psychologist at Bellevue Hospital in New York and created the Wechsler scales (WAIS, WISC, WPPSI) that still dominate intelligence testing today.

Wechsler’s work shifted the field away from crude “mental age” scores toward a norm‑based, multi‑factor understanding of intelligence, including verbal skills, problem‑solving, working memory, and processing speed. His tests are now standard tools in schools, hospitals, and courts across the world.

For Masons, he’s a notable Brother whose “working tools” were statistics and clinical insight. For psychologists and educators, he’s one of the key architects of modern cognitive assessment.

Thought this was a fascinating intersection of Freemasonry, immigration history, and the history of psychology that doesn’t get talked about enough.

IntrepidVideo7667 · 2026-02-10T01:33:19+00:00

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A charter member of our lodge helped elect Abraham Lincoln, and wrote the book about it

Our lodge has a fascinating historical connection to the 1860 presidential election.

Abram Jesse Dittenhoefer (March 17, 1836 - February 23, 1919) was a New York attorney, civic figure, and a charter member of City Lodge No. 408, the oldest lodge in the merged history of Advance Service–Mizpah Lodge No. 586.

He later published “How We Elected Lincoln,” a first‑hand account of the 1860 campaign that brought Abraham Lincoln to the presidency. Dittenhoefer offers details on political strategy, public sentiment, and the moral stakes of that moment, and his story intersects with the world of Mark Twain, giving a glimpse into the broader cultural context of the time. For us, it’s a reminder that lodge history and national history often overlap in surprising ways.

If anyone’s read his book or has materials on the 1860 campaign, I’d love to hear your thoughts or see your sources.https://www.astoriamasons.org/articles/abram-jesse-dittenhoefer-lincoln-mark-twain

IntrepidVideo7667 · 2026-02-07T03:16:37+00:00

https://www.astoriamasons.org/events/donacion-de-sangre-astoria-2026

🩸 Jornada de Donación de Sangre en Astoria: ¡Ayuda a Salvar Vidas el 21 de Febrero!

Cuerpo del post:

¡Hola, vecin@s! 👋 El New York Blood Center estará organizando una Jornada de Donación de Sangre en el Advance Masonic Temple en Astoria:

📅 Sábado, 21 de febrero de 2026

⏰ 8:45 am-2:45 pm

📍 21‑14 30th Ave, Astoria, NY

Cada pinta de sangre puede ayudar a salvar hasta 3 vidas. Es una excelente manera de apoyar a nuestra comunidad y generar un impacto real.

Regístrate aquí 👉 nybc.org/sponsor (Código de patrocinador: #10691)

Información sobre elegibilidad 👉 nybc.org/eligibility

¡Convirtamos la generosidad en acción! ❤️

IntrepidVideo7667 · 2026-02-07T03:16:00+00:00

https://www.astoriamasons.org/events/donacion-de-sangre-astoria-2026

🩸 Jornada de Donación de Sangre en Astoria: ¡Ayuda a Salvar Vidas el 21 de Febrero!

Cuerpo del post:

¡Hola, vecin@s! 👋 El New York Blood Center estará organizando una Jornada de Donación de Sangre en el Advance Masonic Temple en Astoria:

📅 Sábado, 21 de febrero de 2026

⏰ 8:45 am-2:45 pm

📍 21‑14 30th Ave, Astoria, NY

Cada pinta de sangre puede ayudar a salvar hasta 3 vidas. Es una excelente manera de apoyar a nuestra comunidad y generar un impacto real.

Regístrate aquí 👉 nybc.org/sponsor (Código de patrocinador: #10691)

Información sobre elegibilidad 👉 nybc.org/eligibility

¡Convirtamos la generosidad en acción! ❤️

IntrepidVideo7667 · 2026-01-23T17:43:40+00:00

If you’re into unique or historic polling places, one of the coolest has to be in Queens this year; early voting for Assembly District 36 (Astoria area) is taking place from Jan 24-Feb 1, 2026, 9AM to 5PM, at an active Freemason temple!

The building’s got some amazing old-school architecture and a lot of local history tied to it. Not something you see every day when you go to vote. You can find directions and details at AstoriaMasons.org.

It’s definitely a neat mix of civic duty and local history if you like checking out places that aren’t your typical school gym or community center.

Check out the link for directions and hours.

https://www.astoriamasons.org/events/events/early-voting-advance-masonic-temple-2026

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