Shootout on 82nd Street

Monday, November 14, 1949

46 West 83rd Street, Apt. 7B

New York City

Dear Art,

Did you see in Sunday’s Journal American about the robbery on 82nd Street on Saturday night?  Shirl and I were witnesses.  You know – a cop, bandit and bystander were shot at the liquor store robbery?  We were on a bus when the shooting started.  The bus continued up the block and stopped at that corner and stayed.  It was just like watching a movie.  We saw the robbers chased after, shot at, and caught.  It just didn’t seem real.

I was down in the dumps last night.  Everything was wrong.  I have so much homework, I’ve spent so much more money than I should have, and above all I was terrified I would get sick again.  Well Daddy says never mind the money, but I still feel guilty.  Anyway, I had a good cry last night and feel fine today.  No matter what anybody says, a good cry will chase the blues away.  I almost enjoy them.

Well, tomorrow’s the 15^th – exactly a month since my operation.  What happens to time?  Just think – I’ll never have one of those attacks again.  Hooray!



Fashion sketch by
June Anderson.

It was nice to hear your voice on Sunday.  I always seem to have plenty to say until the phone rings.  That’s all right – I like to listen to you.  Looks like you are going to the Anchorage more now than you did when I was home.  Did you stay there all Saturday night or did you meander around?

I don’t like that long, low whistle in your latest letter.  Ha!  You’d better watch your step, young man!  My prescription – you should go out with some nice young art student, approximately 20 or 21.  To be more specific, a fashion illustration student is the ideal treatment for you.  See what you can do about that.

I shall be very happy to give you the pleasure of my company Friday night (some conceit!).

Loads of Love,

                                                                              June

(Tomorrow, spending money at Macy's...)

© 2010 Lee Price

Lena Horne in Person

Friday, November 12, 1949

46 West 83rd Street, Apt. 7B

New York City

Dear Art,

Got another letter from you today in which you stated you had not heard from me yet.  It’s swell of you to write so nicely with no word from me.



Watercolor fashion design by
June Anderson.

Went to the movies last night and saw Lena Horne* in person!  She was the whole show.

What happened to all the boys?  Don’t they go out anymore?  Well, at least you’re getting plenty of sleep.

I hear you called up Mother yesterday to find out if I was coming home.  I’m very sorry my letters haven’t been getting to you sooner.  I’ll be home next weekend for sure.  Don’t forget!

Love,

June

* Link to Lena Horne with the Teddy Wilson Band doing "Unlucky Woman."  Looks like it might be 1949, too.

(For Monday, robbery on 82nd Street...)

© 2010 Lee Price

Breakfast at Jacks

Thursday, November 11, 1949

46 West 83rd Street, Apt. 7B

New York City

Dear Art,

I have just finished reading your “Hello-Goodbye” letter again – the shortest, I believe, on record.  However, I won’t say anymore about it, for I’d much rather receive a lot of short letters during the week than one long manuscript.

This will be short, too.  Work, work, work.  That’s what I should be doing now.

You can forget about my weight problem.  Just mark it off the list.  I’ve been eating like an honest to goodness hog.  After finishing supper tonight, Shirl and I ate a

nice big ice cream roll.  Gee, was it good!  (All gone

now.)

Two watercolor
portraits by
June Anderson.

I had breakfast this morning at “Jacks” near the school.  My breakfast was orange juice, and halfway through the glass I decided I wouldn’t feel well if I finished it.  When I got to the door, Jack discovered the half-full glass and yelled across at me to come and finish it.  I couldn’t very well shout back, so I kept shaking my head while he intoned me to finish it.  All the people were having a free show and seemed to enjoy it immensely.  Oh well, that’s life!

 I miss you, too.  Maybe I’m glad I have all my homework to keep me busy.  Then I haven’t got time to think about missing you so much.

Be seeing you a week from tomorrow.  Oh, no, I’m not going to ask you for a date!  That’s up to you.

Love,

June

(Tomorrow – Lena Horne!)

© 2010 Lee Price

Perfect Mood Music

Wednesday, November 10, 1949

46 West 83rd Street, Apt. 7B

New York City

Dear Art,

Pencil sketch by June Anderson.

As I stumbled up to the apartment tonight, the landlord handed me your letter – believe me, I skipped the rest of the way.  It’s so nice to hear from you!

Bruno and Mary sure have everyone guessing, don’t they?  Have the girls heard anything from Jane Hastings?

Shirl just dropped everything that was on the desk, and she’s talking a mile a minute.  I can’t think what I’m writing.  Now she’s finally settling down to homework.

What’s the matter?  Didn’t you vote?  The Democrats got in all over!

I’m planning to go home on the 20^th (the weekend after this) and get a ride back.  And after that there’s Thanksgiving.  Goody!  However I am staying here this weekend to try to accomplish some homework.

The music from the radio is sweet and low.  Perfect mood music – but no good when you’re not here.

All my love,

June

P.S.  Don’t forget to write.  You know how much I enjoy hearing from you.

(Tomorrow – orange juice showdown at Jacks.)

© 2010 Lee Price

"I just about feel good!"

Tuesday, November 9, 1949

46 West 83rd Street, Apt. 7B

New York City

Dear Art,

I feel much better, in fact, I just about feel good!  Sh-h-h, don’t say it out loud.  It seems that I’m not too far behind in homework.  There’s plenty to be done, alright, but not as much as I feared.  The teachers told me that I could stay over part of Christmas to make up some work if I wanted.  Indeed I don’t!  I’d rather stay in June if need be.

I spent all yesterday in school.  At 4 p.m., we met Shirl’s friend Naida at the bus station.  After I called you we went to the Roxy and saw Everybody Does It.  I enjoyed it very much, but almost fell asleep just the same.  Then got back here and to bed, but of course Shirl and Naida wanted to talk so I didn’t get to sleep until after 1 a.m.  I’ve never been so tired in all my life.

14th century figures sketched on
tracing paper by June Anderson.

This morning, I was awakened at 9:00.  Seems I had to copy some figures at the Cloisters, up on 190th Street or so.  We ate, then took the subway there.  After arriving we had to walk about 10 blocks, up and down hills, then had to climb 5 staircases.  Coming back we took the bus for an hour over the bumpiest roads in New York, then walked down Fifth Avenue – the girls wanted to and I was tired beyond objection.

So that brings you up to now.  I’m going to eat supper and go right to bed – homework notwithstanding.  The teachers have been very nice.

Take care of yourself and all my love,

June

© 2010 Lee Price

A New Apartment

Filling in with some background information during a letter-writing hiatus from October 6 to November 9, 1949, as June recuperates at the hospital from a ruptured appendix…

When June returned to New York City in early November 1949, it was to a new and cheaper apartment.  We can assume that her roommate Shirley Stahl must have done the legwork of finding a more appropriate apartment while June was recovering from the ruptured appendix.

The new apartment was located one block west of Central Park and two blocks north of the American Museum of Natural History.  It was twelve blocks closer to Traphagen than her previous address, but that would have only meant a couple of minutes difference in travel time on the subway.

 Before June left for the city, she and Art agreed to immediately resume the correspondence they had started in early October only to be interrupted by June's appendix crisis.  While Art kept his side of the bargain and began writing letters right away, the first weeks worth of letters from him appear to be lost.  Therefore the next week will be dominated by June's letters (plenty of them!) and Art will rejoin the back-and-forth on November 20.  It's good to be getting back to the letters at long last! 

Tomorrow, the correspondence resumes!

© 2010 Lee Price

The Year 1949

Filling in with some background information during a letter-writing hiatus from October 6 to November 9, 1949, as June recuperates at the hospital from a ruptured appendix…

While June and Art were romancing, the world was changing.

World War II dominates the decade of the 1940s, with its repercussions still being felt three years after its conclusion.  Political concerns were rapidly shifting toward Soviet Union anxieties and the burgeoning Cold War.  No one could predict how hot the simmering Cold War might become.

President Harry S. Truman,
drawing by Art Price

Movies and radio were still going strong, but television was beginning to change the paradigm for nightly entertainment.  Art’s family didn’t have a television yet, but he would frequently watch televised events – like the popular boxing matches – at the local Southampton bars with the boys.

Harry S. Truman was president, NATO was created by a treaty signed in April, the Soviet Union conducted its first nuclear bomb testing, “Tokyo Rose” was sentenced to six years in prison for treason, the United Nations building opened in New York, a 31-year-old North Carolina evangelist named Billy Graham led a major tent crusade in Los Angeles, Harvard Law School opened its doors to women, Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell was published, Margaret Mitchell (author of Gone With the Wind) died at the age of 49, Ingrid Bergman divorced her husband and entered into a scandalous relationship with Italian director Roberto Rossellini, “The Hokey Pokey” and “The Harry Lime Theme” were unexpected novelty song hits, the New York Yankees defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers in the World Series, a rocket testing ground was established in Cape Canaveral, Silly Putty was successfully marketed, Pillsbury introduced its “bake-offs,” and Sara Lee offered its first baked goods.

Meanwhile, June and Art were dating.

(Tomorrow, life on 83rd Street…)

Countdown:  Correspondence resumes in 2 days.

© 2010 Lee Price