Reply #11: This one almost blew me away. One day, in springtime... um, you remember the movie "The Producers"

[Radio_Lady]

by Mel Brooks. It was also a musical, and the story line was that the lecherous old play producer was looking for the WORST PLAY in the world. It was called "Springtime for Hitler." Well, that's not the point exactly. And it didn't go as smoothly as that on my show.

However, in a moment, and in what I now refer to as one of the biggest lapses in my life, compounded by complete fatigue at the time of one of the major Christian holidays, (maybe it was Easter or Christmas... I truly don't remember), I said the following:

"Maybe we should forgive and forget Hitler."

Ouch. Oops. As soon as the words fell from my lips, the lines to the station went crazy. There were hostile calls, on and off the air. The FCC got reports calls, and I subsequently got some really terrible hate mail.

The next day, Don Trageser, the station manager, called me into his office. "Ellen, you've created a firestorm. They're calling for your resignation or they want you fired. The head of the Antidefamation League of Boston is demanding a meeting with you." Almost as an aside, he said softly, "By the way, Ellen, you did you tell me you were Jewish back when we hired you, right?"

Gulp. "Yes, I am and I did tell you that," I responded.

"Well, you'll have to show up for a meeting with the ADL. I'll let you know what I'm going to do after the meeting."

A few days later, I sat in the Conference Room with Don Trageser and the ADL people. I don't remember how many there were, but we were outnumbered. The man who headed up the ADL was a wiry fellow named Al (that's my husband's name, too) and his face was as red as his tightly curled hair. "Do you know how much the six million Jews sacrified in World War two?" Yes, I certainly did know. He continued, "Jews have a history in Germany and Poland and other countries. Hitler killed women and children and any Jew they could get their hands on."

"Yes, I know, and I'm so very sorry," I trembled with downcast eyes. "I have broadcast an apology and I will continue to apologize. I'll send you the tape, I promise."

"By the way," Mr. Trageser injected, "did you know that Ellen Kimball is Jewish?"

Every face turned to me. Now I was really in hot water. After that, I vowed to not only apologize as needed, but I said I would speak to their group about my status as a young Jewish woman who had been able to break into broadcasting. That year, I had several of their representatives on my program anytime they sent me a press release on their events.

Just one of the times I put my big foot in my big mouth.

I can tell you it's pretty easy to do if you forget to think and just blurt out something.