Art's Quiet Birthday

A baby, pencil sketch by Art Price.

Wednesday, December 7, 1949

20 Cooper St.

Southampton, NY

Dear June:



Art with his mother, Ada Belle Price.

Just opened and read your Monday letter, one of the nicest (and longest) I’ve ever received.  Just what I wanted for my birthday.  It sounds like I must have worn you out Sunday.  We didn’t get home late but I guess we did cover quite a distance.  I sure had a swell time.  I'm glad you did too.

Tonight I went to the first show at the movies – then met Joe and went with him to the school to see the town basketball team beat Center Moriches 53 to 38.  Moriches was section champs last year.  Then I watched Ted Mack’s Original Amateur Hour* on television, had a few beers, and was home by one.

Maybe I’d better come in when you do laundry again.  The next time you might burn down the whole building, not just the washing machine.

This is my day off.  It’s nice having nothing to do on your birthday (work, I mean).  Now I’ve got to go out to the street to mail this letter, get a haircut, and maybe get started on Christmas shopping.

Sorry you can’t be here to help me celebrate!  You know I miss you and am thinking of you.

Lots of love,

Art

* The link is to a clip from Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour, November 25, 1949 broadcast, with the last public appearance by Bill Bojangles Robinson.

(Tomorrow – June, the Picasso of Traphagen.)

© 2010 Lee Price

Oh! for a Good Night Kiss...



Western scene, pencil drawing by Art Price.

Monday, December 5, 1949

20 Cooper Street

Southampton, NY

Dear June:

As you can see I got home okay and didn’t have to stop for a nap.  I got home sometime around two.

I’m still thinking about yesterday.  It’s going to be hard to stay in town these next two weekends but I guess I’ll have to.  I kept my promise and didn’t read your last letter till this noon.  I enjoyed it almost as much as ever, even though you had already told me everything.

I didn’t go out tonight, but may go to the movies tomorrow to see that Technicolor musical Oh You Beautiful Doll with June Haver.  Since I don’t work on Wednesday maybe I’ll see if the boys are around afterward.  Don’t worry.  I’ll take it easy.

I didn’t lose any friends by sneaking off to the city.  Bruno guessed that’s where I went.  He says he has no reason to go there now anyway.

I hope Evie has all her men straightened out by now.  If she can get a date for you, go ahead – but you’ll have to allow me to be a little jealous.  Jealousy is an awful thing, but I have a feeling I might be anyway.

I hope you call me Wednesday.  I can only think of one thing better than talking to you on my birthday – and that would be you in person.

Maybe I’m more tired than I thought.  I’ll say so long now.  Oh! for a good night kiss,

Lots of love,

Art

(Tomorrow – June doodles for Art.)

© 2010 Lee Price

Walking in the Rain, Manhattan, 1949

Monday, December 5, 1949

46 West 83rd Street, Apt. 7B

New York City

Dear Art,

Happy birthday!*  Now, at last I will call you 23.  I wish I could have given you the present you wanted – being there to help you celebrate.

How I enjoyed yesterday!  Walking through Central Park, down Fifth Avenue, the ice show, Times Square – even walking in the rain.  I only hope you had half as good a time.

The radio’s playing “If I Loved You” – a beautiful song.

About 6:00 tonight, Shirl and I put our laundry in the washing machine down in the basement.  A half hour later, we decided to go down after it.  We went out to get the elevator and there were about five other people waiting for it too.  All were discussing the smoke in the hall.  They were asking, was it a small fire or a large one?  Finally a woman a little smarter than the rest decided that the fire was down below us, probably the basement, and the smoke was coming up through the elevator.  At that, the other people lost their nerve – when the elevator turned up only three people took it – Shirl, me, and the woman with brains.

Well, it worked alright – we didn’t fall to the earth.  Anyway, the woman got out in the lobby and Shirl and I continued to the basement.  Cold air surrounded us there – all the doors were opened.  Three men were there.  Shirl and I innocently went over and opened the machine.  One of the men turned on us with a “so you’re the ones” expression on his face and informed us he was of the opinion that we threw too many clothes in the thing.  It seems the motor had burned out causing all the smoke.  We felt – well, you know.  Any rate, Shirl and I have decided that the machine was just worn out – we didn’t even have it half full.

Shirl’s doing homework.  I just can’t seem to get started anymore.  I bet I could talk myself into getting homesick.  Or more likely, it would just be missing you.  But I can’t do that – I have to do homework instead.

Art, you’re getting to be an old man.  Pretty soon you’ll be 30!  Am I making you feel feeble?

They just played another nice song – one that we heard often this summer and now – “Jingle Bells!”  Now that’s more like it!  Only 11 more days of school.  Of course, that’s not counting the weekends.  I think I’ll try getting Shirl into some museum one of these weekends.

Just look at the length of this letter!  Me and Margaret Mitchell?!!  Well, you said you enjoyed my letters, poor guy – look what you let yourself in for.  Read it good – this just happens once a year – on your birthday.

Until the next letter, and especially till I see you again –

All my love,

June

* Art's birthday was on December 7.  This happy birthday wish was written with the assumption that Art would receive the letter on Wednesday, his birthday.

(Tonight – Art's feeling a little jealous.)

© 2010 Lee Price

Red Is the Color

Not mailed.  Personally delivered to Art on Sunday, December 4.

Saturday, December 3, 1949

46 West 83rd Street, Apt. 7B

New York City

Dear Art,

It’s Saturday night and all of a sudden I’m lonesome.  It just doesn’t seem right for Saturday night.  I wanna go out!

Shirl, Evie and I went shopping all day today.  Evie’s the only one who got anything.  Shirl went along to advise and I just tagged along for the pure enjoyment of looking at dresses.  Are you going to take me out New Year’s Eve?  If so, I could stand another dressy dress – you know, I could ask Santa

for it.  He’s a sweet man who would give me

Fashion illustration watercolor
by June Anderson.

the money, then I could have so much fun spending it.  I haven’t bought any clothes in a long time.  Well, to get back to this afternoon – we went to Lord & Taylor’s, Bonwitt Tellers, Peck & Peck, Macy’s, Sac’s, etc. – in other words, we tired ourselves out.  Shirl’s sister is a big girl and hard to fit, so she didn’t find much to buy.  Anyway, we were very tired when we finally returned to the apartment.  Guess what?  The elevator was out of order.  We had to walk up to the 7^th floor.

We bought a little scatter rug for our room today.  You’d never guess what color – bright red!  If nothing else, our room sure looks cheerful now.  Just cheerful?  Why, your eyes nearly pop out, first glance!  By the way, we’re not letting people walk on it yet – it might dull the color.  Should we rename our room “the snakepit”?

Red is the color this year.  Would you like me in a fire-engine red dress?  I have a feeling you would.  After all, men are supposed to like the color.  Will it arouse the animal instincts in you?  Or is that an improper question for a nice young woman to ask?

Evie finally got a boy on the phone.  She said she could get dates for all three of us, but Shirl and I vetoed the idea.

Boy, are the Kantors having an awful fight about who should keep the check we just gave them for the rent!  Whew – zo!  I don’t like big fights – just little fights like I might have with you someday.

All my love,

June

(On Monday, walking in the rain with Art.)

© 2010 Lee Price

Friday Night at the Methodist Men's Club

Friday, December 2, 1949

20 Cooper St.

Southampton, NY

Dear June:

I’m writing this letter even though I may see you before you get it.  If the weather’s bad and I don’t make it, you’ll still get mail anyway.

I just got home from the Methodist Men’s Club a little while ago.  It was a very nice meeting and dinner.  Your minister, Mr. Boyle, was the speaker.  Didn’t stop down street afterward either. I’m planning to take it easy Saturday night too because I want to get off early Sunday.  So far none of the boys know I’m going.

I’m going to make this a short letter.  If I don’t see you Sunday, I’ll phone anyway.  Sorry I’ve been so vague about the weekend.  If I decide definitely to go, I’ll come rain, snow, or earthquake.  So long now, be good, and finish your homework before Sunday please!

                                       Lots of love,

                                       Art

(Tomorrow – an unsent letter from June.)

© 2010 Lee Price

Love (even a kiss or two)

Friday, December 2, 1949

46 West 83rd Street, Apt. 7B

New York City

Dear Art,

This will be a short letter – Shirl’s sister is here, three in this room is crowded, and I’m sleepy anyway.  I just can’t think and write when others talk.

I got another letter from you.  It’s nice to hear you did some artwork.

Instead of getting up at 7:30 tomorrow morning Shirl wants to get up at 9.  Do you know what she does?  The clock’s set for 7:30 so she leaves it that way and sets the

Drawings by
June Anderson.

clock time back half an hour.  She says she’s afraid to trick the alarm – it’s set just right.

It would be wonderful to see you before Christmas vacation, but I won’t plan on anything.  At least we get 2 weeks for Christmas.

Love, (even a kiss or two)

June

(Tonight – the Methodist Men's Club dinner.)

                             © 2010 Lee Price

A Full Moon Going to Waste

Thursday, December 1, 1949

20 Cooper St.

Southampton, NY

Dear June:

Flower drawings, colored pencil, by Art Price.

Another swell letter today.  You sound pretty satisfied with yourself.  I’m glad you’re making progress with your room and am looking forward to seeing big improvements this weekend.  So what if the drapes are crooked, if you don’t mind them?

My sister got back to college all right.  She phoned Monday night but we haven’t heard from her since.  I guess she’s like you as far as writing her parents goes.

Had a pretty busy day today taking inventory.  The boss is back and Joe’s out of a job again.  I did a little artwork and some reading this evening.

Don’t worry about me.  My car is all set, raring to go.  I got it greased, oil changed, tanks filled, etc. today.  I haven’t had a drink since our Saturday date and you know I don’t drive fast.  As for the beautiful girls, I hope to see a real special one this weekend.

Lots of love,

Art

P.S.  The moon’s almost full.  Just going to waste, tch, tch!

(Tomorrow – Shirl's alarm clock trick.)

© 2010 Lee Price