Asleep in my Chair

Charcoal sketch of Art's father by Art Price.

Tuesday, January 17, 1950

20 Cooper Street

Southampton, NY

Dearest June:

I slipped up and didn’t write last night but you should get this just as early anyway.  I tried to do some artwork last night but was too sleepy, then I tried to read and fell sound asleep in my chair.  So I gave up and went to bed before 10 without having written to you.  I hope you’ll forgive me.  Yesterday was a pretty busy day but today has been quiet so far.  I’m home for lunch now.  I’ll mail this on my way back to Roulston’s.

I’m thinking of you and eagerly waiting for Friday night.  I love you.  I’m expecting a letter tomorrow – I hope I won’t be disappointed.  I hope you weren’t too late to school.

Are you getting lots of work done?  If you felt like I did last night, I guess you didn’t get much done.  I’m going to try and accomplish something tonight.

I’ll keep this short as I’ll be writing again tonight.  I should have more to say then.  For now, I’ll just say I love you again and so long for now, sweetheart,

Lots of love,

Art

(Tomorrow – heavy reading.)

© 2011 Lee Price

Negotiating Weekends and Vacations

Monday, January 16, 1950

46 West 83rd Street, Apt. 7B
New York City

Dear Art,

I don’t feel like doing a darn thing.  Today at school I found out that there are three more weeks of school until our next vacation instead of two like I thought.  I’m very unhappy.  I also found out I have more work to do.  Since there are three more weeks of school I really should wait until the weekend after this to go home.  But I guess I won’t.

Portrait (unknown subject)
by June Anderson.

I had such a good time over the weekend that I hated to leave.  I enjoyed myself so much – I hope you did the same.  Has Bruno seen Mary again?

Art, darling, I’m so sleepy I can’t even write in my normal low-intelligent way.  All I can think of is that I’m tired and I have so much homework and I don’t want to do any of it and I shouldn’t go home this weekend but I want to.  Maybe after a good night’s sleep I’ll be able to write you a nicer letter tomorrow.

Until then,

Love (all of it),

June

P.S.  It is 11:30 and I feel much better now.  I worked on homework and couldn’t actually accomplish a thing.  It was Shirl who finally cheered me up.  She announced out of the blue sky that she’s going home this weekend.  How my spirits soared!  I don’t know why she decided to and I’m not going to ask – she might think it over and change her mind.  I’ll leave well enough alone.  I hate to have the feeling of chasing her home every weekend.  You know how I feel about you, so take good care of yourself.

Love,

June

(Tomorrow – Art's charcoal sketch of home life.)

© 2011 Lee Price

A Fight Broke Out

Art in uniform, circa 1945.

While Art’s attendance at the Partida School of Arts in Southampton was somewhat erratic, his work appears to have been appreciated by his teacher Elena Partida.  Two of Art's pictures from this time may give some indication as to the influence of the Partida School on his work.


Art watched a fight break out about ship while in the Navy and it made a lasting impression on him.  We don’t know when he attempted to capture the fight in his art the first time.  He may have sketched it minutes afterward, while taking a break from his work as Quartermaster, Third Class, on a minesweeper in the South Pacific.  Or this first version that we have – dated September 21, 1949 – may have been his first, done entirely from memory.

The fight, first version by Art Price.

Art returned to this image again while still at the Partida School.  With the second picture, Art has significantly changed his approach, aiming to capture the color and feel of the moment.  The sudden violence is emphasized.  The people are more varied in their responses (in fact, they're different people!) and the action more brutal.  I love the breaking table!

The fight, second version, watercolor by Art Price.

Art continued attending art classes at the Partida School of Arts throughout his courtship with June.

(On Monday, negotiating weekends and vacations.)

© 2011 Lee Price

A Date Mid-Week

Bird sketch by Art Price.

Thursday, January 12, 1950

20 Cooper Street

Southampton, NY

Dearest June:

As you can see I got home all right.  I left the city about 9 this morning and got home at noon.  I stopped in Riverhead for a minute on the way through.  Your mother was hoping I’d call to let her know how you were.  I told her you didn’t think you’d be home this week.

I’ve had a wonderful time these last two trips into the city.  Just being with you is wonderful.  In fact, I think you’re pretty wonderful yourself.  I miss you already.  I’ll count the days till your home again.

I went to work at one and worked pretty hard all afternoon.  After missing so much time, I felt that I really should.  Tonight, I went to the movies to see Tell It to the Judge with Roz Russell and Robert Cummings.  It was a comedy, quite good but it would have been much better with you.  I came right home afterward.

Just like I told you, after the holidays the boys slow down.  Bruno’s been home by 10 every night this week (so far).  He’s been in pretty bad shape the last few weeks, and I’m a little concerned because I hear Mary’s coming home this weekend.

Don’t worry about me this weekend.  I’ll take it easy.  In fact, maybe I won’t go out at all.  All the time I’m out I think of you and wish you were here.  I love you very much.

Good night for now, sweetheart,

Lots of love,

Art

(On Saturday, a memorable fight remembered.)

© 2011 Lee Price

And I Love You

It’s right in the middle of June’s letter from this past Wednesday.

“Shirl has been very lonesome.  I cheered her up.  I can’t figure out how but she says I did cheer her up – and I love you.  I know that’s an odd place to put that statement, but it looks so lonesome starting off a paragraph.  And I do love you.”  (Italics added.)

This is from the first letter of the correspondence following the two-week Christmas break and it appears to suggest that June and Art have moved forward in their relationship.  Granted there have been some very sweet declarations of pretty intense fondness (“Six long days and five even longer evenings till you’re in my arms again.  I didn’t know I could miss anyone this much.”  “I don’t think I’ll send kisses.  I’m saving them for delivery in person.”  “I like you sweet as you are.”  “Oh! for a good night kiss.”  “Even the Museum of Natural History isn’t as nice as you.”)

And they have consistently signed their letters with the “love” word:

“All my love,”

“Lots of love,”

“Loads of love,”

“Love and kisses,”

“Love, (even a kiss or two)”

“Love (lots),”

“Love,”

Nevertheless, June’s letter on January 4 may well represent a turning point – the first time that June wrote “I love you” to Art.  It’s another sign of the deepening of their relationship.

Thanks to my wife Lisa for pointing out that this was the first “I love you” in the letters.  I had missed it!

© 2011 Lee Price

Meet the Boys

The boys at Agawam Park in Southampton, circa 1945-1949, possibly
Memorial Day.  Front row, left to right:  Frank "Farmer" Stachecki,
Bruno Marcincuk, and Joe Cerullo.  Back row, left to right:  Francis Lavinio,
Walter "Singer" Hoinski, Stanley Swiderski, and unidentified, possibly
Jack Raynor.  Photo courtesy of Christine Marcincuk and Kathryn Boutcher.

In the letters, Art frequently refers to evenings with “the boys,” a group of young men approximately his own age.  Most (perhaps all) had served in the military during World War II.  As Art entered the service late, he was also one of the last to return home to Southampton.  When the above picture was taken (probably mid- to late-1940s), Art may have been on the other side of the world, serving on a minesweeper stationed in Shanghai or the Philippines.

December 13, 1949

Art to June:

Bruno Marcincuk



Poor Bruno!  He and Joe went to see the girls on Saturday night and you know Bruno was hoping to see Mary.  Well Mary was out, so he and Joe visited with Jane, Helen, and Lorraine till about 3 in the morning.  When Bruno opened the door to leave, there was Mary with her other boyfriend saying good night.  Poor Mary had no idea Bruno was in the city.  What a situation!  Everybody kept calm though, I guess.

December 15, 1949

June to Art:

Poor Bruno but, as Shirl says, what else could he have expected if he knew Mary was dating?

October 3, 1949

June to Art:

Joe Cerullo



We don’t have a radio yet and never buy a newspaper, but from what I gather from passing people in the street, the Dodgers and Yankees will play the series.  Did you and Joe celebrate?

December 7, 1949

Art to June:

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.

December 11, 1949

Art to June:

Frank "Farmer"
Stachecki

I went to the movies last night and then saw a good fight on television.  All the boys were out – Joe, Bruno, Farmer, and Singer.

December 19, 1949

Art to June:

Last night, I went to the movies with Frank Hoffman.  Then he and I and Joe Cerullo watched wrestling at the Anchorage for awhile then went to the Polish Hall and saw the rest of the boys there.  Then to Peter’s, took Frank home, and out to Julie’s with Joe.  We stopped at Pete’s again on the way back

and met Bruno, Farmer, and Singer there.

Walter "Singer"
Hoinski

Then back to the Windmill to eat, and finished the night at the Hampton Bays Diner.  Finally got home at 4 in the morning.

October 2, 1949

Art to June:

Bruno goes to the city tomorrow to march in the Columbus Day parade.  Why don’t you go over to Fifth Avenue tomorrow afternoon?  You’ll probably see some of the boys from here marching.

Special thanks to Christine Marcincuk and Kathryn Boutcher for sharing this wonderful photo of the boys!

© 2011 Lee Price

Everything Was Just Perfect

Art and June on a date in New York City, early 1950s but later than
the letters.

Sixty-one years ago, June and Art wrote letters that were filled with anticipation of their upcoming date on Saturday night in New York City.  When visiting the city, Art would often find an inexpensive hotel to spend the night and then meet up with June again on Sunday morning.  He would return to Southampton on Sunday evening.

The romance in these letters is all in the anticipation.  They are always building up toward that moment when June and Art will be together – but, of course, there’s no letter writing when they’re together.

It’s always a treat when the letters offer even a brief glimpse of the nature of a June and Art date in the big city:

Undated

June to Art:

“By the way, did I tell you I had a lovely evening with you?  The dinner, the play, the Plantation bar, and you – everything was just perfect.”

December 5, 1949

June to Art:

“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.”

December 1, 1949

Art to June:

“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.”

© 2011 Lee Price