A Series of Unfortunate Events

It was an accident but Arlene Francis still killed somebody.

 

On Sunday, May 26, 1963, Arlene Francis was driving herself back to Manhattan in her agent Martin Goodman's car after a few hours on Long Island. She'd come east earlier that day to discuss her appearance in a future production at the Mineola Playhouse but now she needed to get back to NYC in time for her weekly Sunday evening appearance on "What's My Line?"



(The Mineola Theatre is no longer in operation but I've indicated its location with a red dot on the Google map below and here's a photo.)

Mineola Playhouse, circa 1964

Arlene was traveling west on the Northern State Parkway and had been stuck in the right lane behind someone whose right blinker had been on for a very long time so she decided to pass him. Arlene accelerated and made her move to the left. Unfortunately, Arlene didn't realize that just ahead of her there had been a minor traffic accident, causing the car driven by Louis H. Van Dam, to skid into the divider. Arlene hit the brakes.



Google Map showing the location of the Mineola Playhouse and the approximate site of the accident.

The roads were slick and the car Arlene was driving skidded then jumped over the 18 inch dividing wall, into east bound traffic. She collided head-on into a car carrying 5 people. The passenger, Mrs. Rose Arcos, aged 34, was killed. The driver, her husband, Joseph Arcos, also 34 years-old, was in serious condition, having suffered injuries to his head, face, legs and arms. Their 9-year-old daughter Celeste received minor facial injuries. Two rear seat passengers, Anthony Catapano, aged 58, and his wife Lena, aged 52, suffered facial injuries and were transported to the hospital.

This 2016 Google Maps image will give you an idea of the road but not the weather conditions.

I'm not exactly sure where Arlene's car jumped the divider. She testified that she was near the New Hyde Park exit when she changed lanes but she didn't specify if it was before or after the exit ramp. This is the view as one travels west on the NSP and approaches the exit. This stretch of road is before the overpass that I believe the cars were moved to after the collision, although on the opposite side of the Parkway. Further on down the road, there is substantial vegetation atop the dividing wall that would impede a car's progress over the barrier. If she crossed over here, before the exit, the leap over the barrier is easier.

Arlene's own injuries were substantial but not life-threatening. She had broken ribs, a broken collarbone, assorted bruises, a head laceration and a concussion; she was hospitalized for 10 days. Kitty Carlisle stepped in to take Arlene's place on the "What's My Line?" panel that evening. Arlene wouldn't be back to work on "What's My Line?" until June 16, 1963 and when she did return she had her arm in a sling.

On July 23, 1963, a lawsuit for $1 million ($500,000 each), alleging negligence, was filed against Arlene and her agent on behalf of the Arcos family even though no criminal charges were brought. It was ruled a tragic accident. Arlene's lawyer argued that the first accident involving Mr. Van Dam caused Arlene to brake so suddenly.

On July 29, 1963 there was a hearing regarding the accident at the DMV. Testimony from both Arlene and Joseph Arcos, who had automatically had their licenses suspended, was vague as they were both suffering from partial amnesia regarding the events. 

On June 4, 1965, the Queens Supreme Court awarded the Arcos family $210,000. The breakdown was $162,500 for the death of Rose Arcos, $40,000 for Joseph's injuries and $7,500 for Celeste's injuries.

Mr. and Mrs. Catapano had filed a separate claim and but their suit was dismissed.

This was not the first time Arlene Francis had been sued in a wrongful death suit.
 

On June 23, 1960, shortly after 2 PM, Detroit native Alvin Rodecker was struck on the head and killed by an eight pound dumbbell that fell from Arlene and husband Martin Gabel's 8th floor apartment in the Ritz Towers Hotel on 57th Street in Manhattan. 

Alvin and his wife Katherine were visiting NYC for a few days to celebrate his 60th birthday. They had just emerged from the neighboring Le Pavillon Restaurant when the accident occurred.

The last thing Alvin said to his wife was about the meal. "Holy cow, that was expensive. But it was worth it. We're really celebrating."

Neither Arlene or Martin were even in Manhattan when the accident happened. They'd left the city three weeks prior and were staying in Mt. Kisco, NY while their apartment's air conditioning unit was being repaired. Arlene would be performing in summer stock in nearby Westport, CT.

The air conditioner had been taken out of the window and replaced by an ill-fitting screen that was propped in place by a pair of dumbbells belonging to the Gabel's son Peter. 

In the apartment that afternoon was the Gabel's private secretary Muriel Fleit and Effie Turner, a maid employed by the hotel. 

Muriel Fleit, Billy Rose Theatre Collection image

Effie wanted to clean the screen, so Muriel picked up one of the dumbbells making the removal of the screen possible. As the maid was taking the screen out of the window, the second hand weight rolled towards the opening. Effie grabbed for it but she wasn't quick enough. 

The 8 pound dumbbell fell and hit Alvin directly on the head, his skull was fractured and he died the next day.

Hearing of the tragedy, the Gabels rushed right back to Manhattan.

There were no criminal charges brought against the Gabels but a lawsuit on behalf of the grieving widow was filed. Mrs. Rodecker's attorney was asking for $500,000 but she was awarded $185,000. The Gabels' insurance covered $175,000 and the hotel paid $10,000.

I've uploaded a video clip from the January 13, 1957 episode of What's My Line? to the As Close To Crime YouTube channel. Why? Because the among Mystery Guests that Sunday evening were the personal secretaries of Arlene Franics, Dorothy Kilgallen and Bennett Cerf. Those women were  Muriel Fleit, Myrtle Verne and Mary Barber. This would have been 3 1/2 years before the terrible accident that took the life of Alvin Rodecker. You can find that clip at - https://youtu.be/OtP-Hz5_q0g