 | |
| from Aloha Wanderwell website |
When we left our beautiful heroine she had accepted a ‘position’ with Captain Wanderwell on his automotive expedition around the world. Although Aloha (previously named Idris) was fluent, or partially fluent, in Spanish, French, Russian, Chinese and Japanese, Walter Wanderwell wasted no time putting her talent to use as a driver, seamstress, laundress, public relations director, film star and ticket seller. He also used her as a translator when the need arose. She was a huge hit. Everywhere they went Aloha wowed the crowds and impressed people with her abilities (she was, after all, a woman). Now driving two Fords, the expedition set off from Paris and travelled through Portugal, Italy, Holland, Russia, Greece, Palestine, India, China and Japan. The details of her journey listed in her biography on the Official Site are incredible. Aloha camped next to the Spinx, disguised herself as a man in Mecca, barely survived the deserts of Sudan and befriended Chinese bandits. It reads like a chapter from Indiana Jones. By the time they boarded a ship for San Francisco, they had driven through 43 countries and 4 continents; showing their films and creating a buzz of excitement at every stop. It was January, 1925 when they finally arrived back in the U.S.
Not surprisingly, the Captain and Aloha fell in love (I guess she took a little time off from the laundry and selling tickets). They got married in California and had two children (Nile and Valri) who did not slow them down a bit. In 1929 the documentary of their global trek, WITH CAR AND CAMERA AROUND THE WORLD, was complete and released to fans around the world and the Wanderwell’s were off for new adventures. This time they traveled to the Amazon Jungle and when their plane crashed, Aloha was left with the Bororos Tribe for months while Walter went in search of plane parts. The film Aloha made of her experience is the earliest record of the tribe and is still used as a resource at the Smithsonian.
Captain Wanderwell’s death was just as exciting as his life. He was murdered in on his yacht in 1932 as he and Aloha prepared for their next adventure. A disgruntled employee from a previous expedition was suspected but was eventually acquitted and the case remains a mystery to this day. Aloha eventually married Walter Baker and continued to explore the world and tell her story to fascinated audience around the country. She ensured that her collection of photos, films, journals and artifacts were preserved in museums and libraries for other to enjoy (which is just what happened to me!)
I hate to end on a sad note but I must come clean with the truth. When the Wanderwell’s completed their journey, they drove their 2nd Ford, nicknamed “Little Lizzie” to Detroit and presented her to Mr. Ford as a gift. Fifty years later, Aloha wrote to the Ford Museum to track down her beloved car and received this distressing reply (from the Ford Archives, dated 1979)
“After a considerable amount of research time by our registrar, we learned that this car was included in a group of old vehicles that Henry Ford decided in 1942 were of marginal historical importance. These vehicles were transferred to the Highland Park plant and eventually scrapped (for their metal content as part of the war effort). In subsequent years, many of us associated with the Museum have had occasion to express disappointment and dismay that such a decision was made, but it is a fact we must accept obviously. John A. Conde, Curator.” (from TModelman)
That settles one thing...I’m definitely not buying a Ford.
