Regina Amado Tarica

MORRIS TARICA interview

January 27, 2002

I’m married to Regina Tarica. And I met Maurice in 1940 on our honeymoon. He was very gracious. He took us all around.

Where was this, Morrie?

In New York City.

Where was he living at the time?

I don’t remember the address. But he had always had had a car and he loved to go to different places and he took us to this place and that place and that place. And he was always [INAUDIBLE] most of the time and he was very, very pleasant. And he wasn’t working at that time. I think he was recuperating or something at that time. [INAUDIBLE] in 1940, he must have not been in the chips at the time.

Was he married then, Morrie, to Rose, Maurice?

Yes. He was married to Rose. But Rose didn’t come with us [INAUDIBLE]?

No. [OVERLAPPING] not much.

Well, she was working.

Yeah. He took us all the time. We went to the jewelry mall, all over the place. We loved to go places and I had a car and we’d go around. And after that, I saw nothing of him. I saw nothing of him and we came here. I don’t know if I saw him a little bit – he built a Temple.

About what year was this, Morrie, when he came here?

1940, when I got married.

That’s when you saw him the first time. And then when was the second time you saw him?

Well, I think, to my recollection, is when he came to live here.

Right. For good, to retire here?

He retired here.

When was that? Was that in the ‘50’s?

That could be.

I’m looking at my notes.

It was after World War II?

Oh, yes.

Right. Okay. So you really got to know him when he ended up living in Beverly Hills?

Yes. He rented a little cottage, a little place on one of the streets [INAUDIBLE]. And he was there. Then one day he decided to buy his house. And I remember him saying he talked to Richard and he’s buying this house for $50,000. It was all furnished and he wanted him to see that it was done correctly but he did not want any advice of any kind, if he was paying too much, too little or anything. He wanted that house and only wanted him to deal with the legal part. He didn’t want any advice at all.

And where was the house? Do you remember what street?

On Rodeo.

It was on Rodeo?

Right.

Do you know what block on Rodeo it was on? Do you know the address?

Yeah. It was 618, I think. I believe.

This is good. So it was just north of Santa Monica then?

Yeah. Second block up from Santa Monica.

Is the house still there, do you know?

Oh, yes.

Would you recognize it?

Of course.

Okay. Good. We need to get a picture of this, I think. [GROUP IN AGREEMENT] That’s great. This is very good.

He bought the house and then he had Salvo build a second level house on the backend of the place.

As a guesthouse?

Either for a maid or a guesthouse. And he was pretty much [INAUDIBLE] part of his own house.

His own house in New York or in Turkey?

Here! The house on [OVERLAPPING].

Oh, of the main house.

Of the main house, his garage was set up not for a car. We used to play cards in there with him.

Who used to play cards, Morrie, and how often would you get together?

I saw him for years, every Friday. We went to lunch. I went to the Exchange and picked him up. Then he had a little room there and that was his – it was not the [INAUDIBLE] they have now but there were numbers that they wrote on the wall, the quotes, they changed by hand.

Oh, the Stock Exchange.

Stock Exchange, the board was [OVERLAPPING] –

Cause they run around with those little tickers.

You mean he was somewhere at an exchange or at a brokerage house?

At the brokerage house. And [INAUDIBLE].

Dean Witter, somebody like that?

I could find out [OVERLAPPING].

Did he have an office there? Or did he just go there to watch his investments?

They gave him a special room and some of his clients come in and they’d talk about stocks and that’s it and when the market closed, I took him out to – he took -- I took him but he always paid the bill.

So he’d go down there really early in the morning because it was the New York market?

No. He went out about ten o’clock.

So he just got the numbers a little later.

A little later.

Did he go everyday to his brokerage?

He had a broker [OVERLAPPING] –

Cause he wasn’t really retired.

He had a broker the name of Tom Piece, I think.

Yeah.

Piece. That kept him informed of his holdings and what was going on at all times. And they would go around and – at that time, we’d go to an antique place. There was an antique house on Wilshire near Robertson. And he’d always go in there and look for things and we would tell the man, “I’d like this, buy it for me.” Now didn’t know that the auction itself but he had read a book. But he used to make the comment, “we’re going around now and I’m buying all these things” and he says “because somebody else had them and when they died they sold them . And when I die, they’ll come back to this auction house again,” and that was the thing. And he had a friend, a very good friend of his wife’s, by the name of Wyatt. And this is a fact, he was infatuated with her. He came up to my office and this was not ever mentioned but he said he’d give a million dollars if she’d leave her husband, and this is a fact.

And she didn’t do it, huh?

Oh, no, no, no. They were friends but he was very much infatuated with Rose. And he followed his advice a great deal. Cause his wife was involved with the [SOUNDS LIKE: rent-a-car] company at that time and he was bringing her advice as to how to set up this trust, something like that. He got a lot of it. And then they had an accountant by the name of [OVERLAPPING] –

Morrie, there’s so much good stuff here. I have to go back for a second. I have to go back to how he made his money. Do you know?

The way I think he made his money was, he was broke, came here. His brother lent him some money. His wife was a wonderful woman and she supported him at the time. Then at some time, he got a job with a company. I think it was called [INAUDIBLE] and Fisher, a tobacco company.

This was back in New York?

In New York. And he moved to Kentucky. And that’s where [OVERLAPPING] – I believe it’s Kentucky. And finally, the company who usually makes spun cigarettes, that’s [INAUDIBLE] of the time. And when the company was bought out and turned over, they dismissed him and they gave him separation [INAUDIBLE]. At that time, I remember he had – he bought two thousand shares of consolidated coal and about $43 a share, was in that range. And it was not a regular stock, it was a preferred. And he wanted to sell it – not sell it, but he went to see the secretary of state, at that time. [INAUDIBLE] he saw him and he says, “keep the stock,” and eventually, that thing brought him in around $2 or $3 million, that one stock. And he said he [INAUDIBLE] his statement that he would never buy a [INAUDIBLE] stock of [INAUDIBLE] because they’re using his money and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t get money while they’re holding his money. Then he went into various stocks such as [INAUDIBLE]. Then he went into [OVERLAPPING] –

Basically, he was an investor.

He was an investor.

He made some money from the tobacco job?

Yeah. [INAUDIBLE] – he got, I think $20,000 and he reinvested that into – and that propelled him up and up and up. Then when he came out here, he bought – he rented his place and he was living there where after he bought his house. And then is when he got his maid, which was Bessie and she’s a black girl. And he had Johnson as a chauffeur. He bought a car. And they were very subservient to him cause he was demanding.

Was Rose still alive?

Yes.

So they were living here [OVERLAPPING] –

No. Rose was living [OVERLAPPING] –

When Maurice moved to Los Angeles, she was still alive?

[OVERLAPPING] – she came here. Then once in a while [OVERLAPPING] –

She ran the house.

I don’t know how much she ran the house [OVERLAPPING] –

It sounds like he ran the house, that’s why I’m asking.

Maurice was the dominant individual. But she was a Christian Scientist. And occasionally, he’d take us out to dinner. It’s on the Ventura Boulevard. The Sportsman’s Lodge. And that was more or less his [INAUDIBLE]. And [INAUDIBLE] go to different places. I’d take him to the gambling casinos and have lunch there. And I’d take him around [OVERLAPPING] –

Did he gamble?

[SOUNDS LIKE: No]. He played [INAUDIBLE]. He’d have dinner at our houses on Friday night. He [INAUDIBLE] my house and my sister’s house and gamble [OVERLAPPING] – and played gin.

Stella’s house.

And play gin for a nominal [INAUDIBLE].

Yeah, for nothing.

But it usually was a determined game for him. I mean, he was enjoying it immensely. And he wouldn’t travel because I’ve seen it already. [INAUDIBLE] how am I going to go out, go to New York, for what? He says, “I’ve seen it. I’ve lived it. Inconvenience myself.” Like we went to a restaurant and if it was bothering him, he’d taboo it. I mean, he was [OVERLAPPING] –

Was kind of a picky guy?

He was a picky guy. Very nice. He was [INAUDIBLE] generous. Christmastime, he would give two bottles of [SOUNDS LIKE: Devinae’] wine to the family, that was his big gift. He took me and [INAUDIBLE] – and started me in the stock market. And he bought me things but I paid for everything. I mean, it was not – he would buy it and I’d talk to him every night and he say, “you had a good day today. You had a bad day.” As a matter of fact, I did buy some good things with him and he would buy thousands of shares. And he’s a plunger, even in gambling. I mean, [INAUDIBLE] he was shrewd. He was very shrewd. He had no too many friends that I know of. And then even one night he gave a dinner. Richard had went away to Europe or something and we gave a dinner at his house. That was the biggest thing he ever did. He never had people over at his house [INAUDIBLE].

Who was he closest to? He was close to Richard?

He was closer to [SOUNDS LIKE: family], you know? But nobody [OVERLAPPING] –

And Milton?

No.

Nobody was superseded him. I mean, or dominated him.

He was the king?

Who were his closest confidantes?

Well, all of us for in different ways. He had a name for everybody. He had a name for your grandfather. He had a name for Bernice.

You mean a nickname?

A nickname. I won’t repeat them, but anyway.

Oh, come on!

No.

Are they not good?

No. [OVERLAPPING] –

It doesn’t sound like they’re good.

He was always – I mean, he was always [OVERLAPPING] –

He was very opinionated, it sounds like?

He was a very opinionated man. He was a very good friend of a friend of ours by the name of Morris [INAUDIBLE] and they went to lunch together and he bought some stock that Maurice bought and things like that. Then this friend’s son [SOUNDS LIKE: Passie or Cassie] –

Albert.

Albert Passie bought – sold some of it and Maurice got upset because he didn’t want him in the scheme of things. And when he got mad at everybody and his wife, everybody, it was terrible. He would denounce the [OVERLAPPING] –

He would just kind of cut you off and that was the end of it?

That was it. He didn’t want – as I say, he was an individual and [OVERLAPPING] –

And he was a very good friend of Rabbi Ott.

He was a good friend of Rabbi Ott, who helped him – he was not a religious man at all. He wanted things – like he’d go to Temple and people would have hats on and he’s like that’s some – straw hats are just – he wouldn’t – so when he got up to put [INAUDIBLE] – and he said, “well, I look nicer.” And he would [INAUDIBLE] of Rabbi Ott.

Yeah. Tell us about that.

He got Rabbi Ott, poked him for his will in leaving [INAUDIBLE] money and he left a million dollars to the Temple. He left $500,000 to the Temple [INAUDIBLE]. $100,000-$250,000 to a scholarship fund and $250,000 to an achievement. He wanted some young kid that becomes president of the class or somebody was promoted that’s special and he should get a prize. But when he died, they [INAUDIBLE] was the scholarship and that achievement award was never [OVERLAPPING] –

Realized?

I mean, I know it as that. He became very upset one time. He published the first – cause I showed him in the paper and none of us had the courtesy to congratulate him like he was [INAUDIBLE].

Who published it, Maurice?

The Temple did. I mean, his offices or something like that. He had some publication made and we did not come up and congratulate him. Well, that was [OVERLAPPING] –

A big mistake, huh?

A big mistake. But he got over that. And he is – you know, he like to go to nice places to eat. He went to the Valley and there were a couple restaurants that he used to like to go to. And he had another maid besides Bessie, another one. And then he died. But before he died, he made sure that he disinherited his wife. [INAUDIBLE] came here and he made most of his money starting from monies from New York and that would have all been community property. And New York [INAUDIBLE] property. And then he came here and got his wife to sign an agreement and that he was the sole owner of his estate. And she had a son which he never adopted and he took his name. His name is Richard. I think Richard Amado, isn’t it?

Ellis Amado.

Ellis Amado. And he told his wife that he’d take care of them, send him to college and he’d come here and had stayed here at the Del Capri Hotel.

But not at his home?

Not at his home, no.

Ellis wouldn’t stay at his home?

Rose lived there with him.

Right. But when Ellis came?

With his wife [OVERLAPPING] –

Oh! With his wife and children? They were not invited into the home, they stayed at the Del Capri?

He always provided them.

He was very [OVERLAPPING] –

Although, they had lunch and they had dinner there.

[OVERLAPPING] – and he didn’t want anybody when he was not feeling well. He didn’t want anybody to come and see him. He was a very meticulous looking fellow.

Did Rose outlive him?

No, no.

No.

She died first so it didn’t really [OVERLAPPING] –

But anyway, he came home one day. I remember this [INAUDIBLE], that he found [INAUDIBLE] will and Lucy said, “can I help you?” And he said, “when I need help, I’ll ask you.” You know? He would not take advice from anybody.

Did he have a relationship with Lucy? Because he was living in New York and she was the only family -- he didn’t necessarily have a closer relationship with Lucy than anybody else?

[OVERLAPPING] What about with Asher?

He had like the rest of us. He [INAUDIBLE] he had – was always [INAUDIBLE] started with the family. But he never gave the kids anything only just little like tokens. And I know when he died, he left a will and he made Richard one of the executor and Wyatt. But not – not Richard but Milton. I mean Milton. But Richard was devastated so they maneuvered to put him on to do that, you know? And when Richard – and Milton [INAUDIBLE] put Lucy in.

You’re talking about the foundation now?

The foundation.

Right. Lucy came on after Maurice died.

Yeah.

And Wyatt was involved.

Wyatt was involved.

And Wyatt was just a fellow [OVERLAPPING] –

No. Wyatt advised him of the [OVERLAPPING] –

No. He was [OVERLAPPING] –

[INAUDIBLE] making the foundation. [OVERLAPPING] – told him that he was [OVERLAPPING] –

Was he an attorney or was he just a fellow investor, Wyatt?

No, no. He was [OVERLAPPING] – he was involved with – not Avis but some automobile rental agency, a big company.

When you say, “involved,” was he an owner?

No. He was a lawyer for it. He was a lawyer.

A lawyer for a large rental car company?

Right. And he had a couple of other fellows that one of them was [INAUDIBLE] – took out his wallet and pulled out a hundred dollar bill and he was – what a big thing to have, a hundred dollar bill at that time. So it was quite interesting [OVERLAPPING] –

So he trusted Wyatt, in terms of financial matters?

Yes.

And he trusted Milton, it sounded like?

Well, he had nobody else to trust. He had a [SOUNDS LIKE: Rothman] [INAUDIBLE].

Yeah, who was that?

Well, an accountant. And he was with him for a long time and he did financially certain things. When he died, he left a will and left all the five of them, $15,000.

The five of Raphael’s children?