CAYS’ TEA-ROOM

Although Cay died in 1969, Cays Tea-Room continued to operate according to Cays rules for nearly twenty years after her death. When Cay opened her Tea Room shortly before the second World War reputable Tea Room owners only employed the best readers, so no-one began to work immediately after their interview –not even me, not even in 1979. Whether you read Astrology charts, Numbers (Numerology), Playing Cards, the Crystal Ball, Palms, or Tarot your interview consisted of reading for the boss and your starting date depended upon how soon one of your predictions came true. THEN AND ONLY THEN were you able to begin a three to six months probationary period. The first month was the longest because the boss monitored your readings by steering their fussiest and most difficult clients YOUR way. As long as those clients were satisfied with your reading,(and woe to you if they weren’t!) you could relax--but only a little. Your place wasn’t assured until you began to build a solid word-of-mouth clientele of your own! Then, as now the true merit of any reader depended upon the readers skill.

Today, virtually every large city, small town and hamlet contains at least one, if not several shops that offer books for self-enlightenment and personal readings from Astrology to Aura-Photography to Crystal Balls to Palmistry, Playing Cards, I-Ching, Runes, and Tarot. Naturally, each proprietor believes their shop to be the best and their readers – the most accurate. The more prosperous shop-owners often spend hundreds of dollars on various advertisements, in addition to hosting and attending seminars both in and out of the state or country where they live. Psychic Fairs that offer customers the opportunity to have as many “mini” readings from as many readers as they can afford in one day (and often leave folks looking like a child who ate to many goodies at a carnival) have also become a popular means of boosting business for local readers and shop-owners alike. For those who want even more there are telephone psychic services that provide readings twenty-four hours a day as well as “free” astrology and electronic Tarot Readings on-line, and all across the country (if not the world) Readers from everywhere jostle one another hoping to be featured in a newspaper, or on a radio talk-show or T.V. program. Over the last 30 years “reading” seems to have become more of an industry than an art, and this isn’t the first time.

From roughly 1850 to through the early1900’s self-styled readers began coming out of the woodwork all over America from home and abroad claiming to read anything from the bumps on your head (phrenology) to coffee-grinds and tea-leaves (tasseography) and everything in between – including those who claimed they could contact the dead via séances. All in all readings and séances became SO popular, that just like today, it seemed that ANYONE who claimed they could read the future was making money doing so.

By the beginning of the twentieth century so many people began to complain of being cheated by false readers that town-fathers all across America began resurrecting, erecting and enforcing laws against everything they deemed “fortune-telling.”

The only exceptions to these rules were traveling carnivals and circuses most of whom employed at least one reader (for entertainment purposes only) who might or might not be the genuine article and might or might not be back again next year when the carnival returned.

In Europe (especially in England) Tearooms, which featured a variety of teas, sandwiches and desserts had been in vogue since the latter half of the 19th century. Although they initially served customers of both sexes, by the dawn of the twentieth century European Tearooms were becoming more popular as a gathering place for women, whether to refresh themselves while shopping or to simply meet, chat and relax.

As the twentieth century opened here in America, and the laws against conducting professional readings became more of an impediment between reliable readers (which, by the way do NOT grow on trees) and their patrons, it just so happened, that Tearooms were also becoming fashionable here to. Since changing the law wasn’t any easier back in those days than it is now, your better readers also began opening Tearooms of their own – with their clients best wishes and sometimes even a little financial assistance.

Even in the mid 1930’s as Cay was preparing to open her Tearoom, without a relative or a good friend who had a “knack” for prognostication (forecasting the future) to receive a reliable reading, one still had to go on the Q.T. since the law still frowned upon conducting a professional reading for cash payment.

HERE'S WHAT THEY DID. A reputable reader would lease, rent or purchase a small storefront with a kitchen facility and dining capacity in a respectable section of a big city’s main business and shopping district. (Location! Location! Location!) For instance, Cays Tearoom, on 4th and Prospect in downtown Cleveland Ohio was situated above a prominent jewelry store (Sol Bergmans) which was surrounded by numerous office buildings and just up the street from the Old Arcade (a once popular business and shopping mall) and yet within walking distance of (Halles, Higbees and the May Company) three major department stores, as well as the Central Market.

The Tearooms hours of operation also coincided with the opening and closing times of their particular shopping and business district. As I recall, on Monday thru Wednesday Cays Tearoom opened at 11 am and closed at 6 pm. On Thursdays however, Cays opened at 9 am because by that time, the market was open for business and the market ladies (having been hard at work since 6:30 or 7 a.m.) had arranged their stalls and were ready to let their husband or another assistant greet the first customers while they took a break! On Thursdays Cays also stayed open till 8 p.m. to accommodate market ladies who couldn’t get away earlier in the day as well as secretaries and bank clerks who for whatever reason tended to work longer hours that day. On Fridays Cays was open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m on Saturdays. Naturally on Sundays, virtually every business including Cays was closed.

Since Tearoom proprietors were free to advertise, Cays, became known as a Tearoom/Lunchroom. Its’ spacious, yet quiet atmosphere offered ladies a welcome refuge whether from inclement weather, cranky co-workers, crabby bosses or the latest family fiascoes. Though wholesome, Cays menu was almost nondescript. Tuna, Chicken, Egg Salad and cheese (toasted or plain) sandwiches were available year round, but in the winter months you could also order a steaming bowl of Chili, Chicken or Vegetable Soup. Dessert consisted of a small bowl of jell-o or a small plate containing several unremarkable cookies. Naturally, each luncheon was accompanied by a refreshing cup of tea, whose leaves could clearly be seen resting at the bottom of the cup. If you preferred cream or sugar with your tea, upon completing your meal, one more cup of plain tea would be provided.

Yet even with its’ commonplace menu and despite its’ close proximity to any number of more fashionable restaurants, Cays Tearoom was always busy. In fact some clients had standing reservations, say for example, 1 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of every third month.

Naturally, Cay WAS still reading, and without breaking any laws. How? Well, the reading was included in price of your luncheon. After your meal either Cay or your server merely offered a “complimentary” reading - which you were free to accept or refuse.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKED. Most Q.T. Tearoom proprietors had earned their good reputation and loyal following by beginning as a reader in another Tearoom. Although most Tearooms had a “leading reader”— one whose accuracy consistently attracted the highest number of clients, in some Tearooms the readers status changed week-by-week-- very much like attending two psychic fairs on two separate weekends and discovering that “Simone” has suddenly become a better reader than “Becky” was last weekend.

Since Tearoom proprietors who lacked a lead reader were always ready to promise a “better deal” to the lead reader from a rival Tearoom, those proprietors who were fortunate enough to have a lead-reader often went to great lengths to keep that reader satisfied, particularly since more than one lead reader sometimes left their employer to open their own Q.T. Tearoom.

In its heyday (before my time) Cays sometimes employed as many as eight and sometimes ten readers. Each reader set their own schedule, according to their lifestyle. Some readers preferred to work only two days a week, while others might work four or five days. Some readers preferred working in the late morning and early afternoon, while others were more comfortable working early afternoons and evenings. Each reader had their own specialty, but Cay was the only one who read the Crystal Ball.

HERE'S WHY IT WORKED.

Since word-of-mouth always has been (and still is) the best form of marketing, every reputable reader who opened their own Tearoom was busy from day one. Like Cay, each Tearoom proprietor whose business was founded on their reputation for delivering a quality reading, brooked no nonsense from their employees, such as spells and curses. You see, their reputation was on-the-line with every reading given by their employees. So the proprietors vigilance meant that each customer could be certain of obtaining a quality reading.

In fact, when I began reading in 1979 (about forty years after Cays opened) it wasn’t uncommon for a client to remark that having a reading at Cays Tearoom whenever they came downtown was a family tradition that began with their grandmother, or a favorite Aunt.

You'd be amazed at how many “ old-time readings” passed into family legends and are still being repeated today. Upon their daughter or granddaughter “coming of age” it wasn’t unusual for a regular client to introduce the young lady to their favorite reader, very much like inheriting a family heirloom. Back then a number of the Tearooms clients also came from families who (for whatever reason) considered readings to be “taboo” yet, still believed in “feminine” intuition—as long as it came from their mom, or grandma or Aunt Sally! One can only imagine what the families response would have been if they knew the secret behind mom, or grandma or Aunt Sallys revered intuition!

THOSE OLD TIME READERS CAME FROM:

Everywhere all across the country – literally. You see, when Cays Tearoom opened the country was just working its way out of the Great Depression and into WWII. By the time I came along (in 1950) Cays Tearoom was well established. Being a regular visitor I was familiar with all Cays readers, but because I was so young at the time what I remember best was sitting on Cays lap when she wasn’t busy and sitting amidst all her plants on huge window-seat watching the people and traffic below, while she was. In 1979, however, each Thursday I had the pleasure of working with Jeannie who not only remembered me, but ( at age seventy-three ) was the last of the Cays old-time readers. As a young girl, Jeannie, had been a very popular circus entertainer -- a bare-back rider! Although Jeannie never married, upon becoming too old to ride she remained with the circus performing other tasks, until 1954 when both her sister and mother became ill causing Jeannie returned home to Ohio and begin her career as a straight-card reader (which meant she read regular playing cards) for Cays Tearoom. Over the years, although Jeannie had seen readers come and go -- she still had a loyal following of clients who wouldn’t have dreamed of consulting another reader! Every Tuesday I worked with the late, great Eleanor Mannochio, to whose memory I dedicated my book Tarot Dynamics. With her glossy red hair, tinkling laugh and ready smile Eleanor, was truly a beautiful person—inside and out. By 1979, Eleanor had been reading the Tarot at Cays Tearoom for almost five years and although the Tarot was Eleanors’ first love she was also an amazingly accurate astrologer. No on would have guessed that Eleanor --who travelled to and from work at the Tearoom via public transportation, was also a suburban housewife, and loving mother of two teenage sons! Although she passed away in 1981, I’ll never forget her kindness to a “new” reader or the good times we shared, and the classy, not crass example she set.