Makeup Needed

Advertisement design by June Anderson.

Monday, January 30, 1950

46 West 83rd Street, Apt. 7B

New York City, NY

Dear Art,

I forgot to set the alarm, my parents woke me up, and I just made the train back to the city.  I finally reached Traphagen at about 10:00 only to find there was nothing much to do.  Shirl didn’t arrive until noon.  I didn’t want to open my portfolio because it was packed with clothes, so I joined friends and talked, went to Jack’s for a snack, then wandered around like a stray lamb.

Detail from ad design.

This afternoon was a little better.  June, Joan and I (J, J, and J) decided to make up a life drawing assignment.  I thought I didn’t have enough marks for the class, but Mr. Lawrence, one of the Life teachers, interrupted my work to say that I do.  He looked me over (I had no makeup on) and said there was no reason I should have to make this work up and that I should get some rest instead.  Afterwards I decided I must have looked pretty bad, so I went out and put some lipstick on.

We stayed for quick sketch until 5:00, ate dinner, then went to a double feature.  No homework accomplished.

Shirl went on a date this past weekend but didn’t enjoy it much.  It was a triple date, which probably had something to do with it.  I told her she was growing up.

Well, Art darling, it’s started – two long weeks without you.  I counted though and it’s really only 11 long days.

Did you hear any more about Bruno’s accident?  Did he turn up at work today?  How is he?  I’m concerned about him.

You really have to be careful driving, too.  I’m not kidding you about it anymore.  Now be good and don’t pick up any stray girls,

All my love,

June

(Tomorrow – More details on Bruno's accident.)

© 2011 Lee Price


"Once in Love With Amy"

On one of their New York City dates in early January, June and Art went to see Where’s Charley? at the St. James Theatre, a Broadway theater located two blocks from Times Square.

Where’s Charley? was a smash hit Broadway musical starring Ray Bolger, now primarily remembered for his role as the Scarecrow in the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz.  Where’s Charley? opened in October 1948 and ran for 798 performances, closing in September 1950.  The music was by Frank Loesser, a composer of many standards (including “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” and “Heart and Soul”) as well as the later Broadway hits Guys and Dolls and How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

Ray Bolger in Where's Charley?

Many years later, Art remembered that Where’s Charley? was a good show, a bit unbalanced by Ray Bolger’s show-stopping performance of “Once in Love With Amy” early in Act Two.  Art said he never saw anything like the audience’s outpouring of love and enthusiasm.  The crowd went absolutely wild, giving a seemingly endless standing ovation and demanding multiple encore reprises.  Art remembered it as the single most memorable performance he ever saw on Broadway.

Here’s a YouTube clip of Ray Bolger doing “Once in Love With Amy” from the 1952 movie of Where’s Charley?  It appears to be very close in style to the original Broadway production, including the built-in reprise and sing-along.  However, Art said that much as he enjoyed the movie, it didn’t come close to capturing the incredible charisma of Bolger performing “Once in Love With Amy” live.

© 2011 Lee Price

Without You, Who Wants to Go Out?



Thursday, January 26, 1950

20 Cooper Street

Southampton, NY

Dear June,

This will be just a short note since I may even see you before you get this.

I stayed home on Tuesday and finished the lesson I’ve been working on.  I’ll send it in tomorrow.  I should have gone out tonight since I can sleep tomorrow morning… but, without you, who wants to go out?



Sketch of fence by Art Price.



I sure hope you had a happy birthday yesterday.  You know I love you very much, and hope you’ll be in my arms this weekend.  If you can’t come home, I think they’d have to lock me in my room to keep me from coming into the city.

Take care of yourself, sweetheart.

Lots of love,

Art

© 2011 Lee Price

June's Birthday Cards

Celebrating June’s 21st birthday, 61 years ago…

First, Art’s birthday card to June:

And Art’s mother’s (Ada Belle’s) birthday card to June:

(Tomorrow – Weekend plans.)

© 2011 Lee Price

Happy Birthday, Sweetheart

Wednesday, January 25, 1950

20 Cooper Street

Southampton, NY

Dear June,

Happy birthday, sweetheart!

Before I go any further I love you very much, you know.  It will be wonderful if you can come home again this weekend.  I wonder if I can be that lucky.  I’ve been so lucky so far maybe it will keep up.

I found your watch in my ash tray today, so I decided to send it along to you.  I hope you didn’t worry about it.

I’ve been home all evening reading True Magazine.  It’s very good.  There's an article on Joseph Dunninger*, the mind reader.  Have you seen him on television?  I’ll have to introduce him to you, along with wrestling.

Don’t get all tired out doing homework this week.  Take breaks like you used to.  Remember

me to Shirl.  I hope she lets you come home next week but I’m not getting my hopes up too much.  I’d better sign off now.  I’m beginning to get drowsy.  I love you, darling.

Love,

Art

* Nice clip of Joseph Dunninger exposing spiritualism tricks of the trade.  The Dunninger clip comprises only the first four minutes of the video.

(This afternoon – June's birthday cards.)

© 2011 Lee Price

A Birthday Present, A Day Early

Tuesday, January 24, 1950

46 West 83rd Street, Apt. 7B

New York City

Dear Art,

Does the writing look any different to you?  It’s my new pen!  Yes, I know, I should have waited until my birthday tomorrow but, gee, it got here today and how could I wait?  Oh, it writes so nice and easy – I don’t need to press at all – it just glides along.  Do you realize this is the first time I’ve even written you with my own pen?  I’ve always used Shirl’s and you have to dip it into the ink constantly.  Thank you so much!

Gee, I kind of wish it would go dry again.  It’s fun filling it – you press it three times – I wonder what kind of material that thing is made out of that you press?  It’s transparent.

Shirl and I decided to postpone going out on my birthday tomorrow – too much homework for both of us.  I’m trying to finish everything possible so I won’t have too much to do while home this weekend.

I left my pocketbook on a bench in the subway station today and didn’t discover it until I was on the train.  We got off at 59th Street ran upstairs, then around and down, and caught the next subway back to 50th Street.  I ran to the bench and it wasn’t there, but the man sitting there said he just gave it to a station master who had gone upstairs.  He advised me to go to the change booth to ask about it.  So I raced up four flights of stairs to the change booth where the man told me to go back downstairs.  So down four flights I ran again.  And there at last was the man with my pocketbook.  What luck!  When he asked me to identify it I told him I had letters in there from you to me.  It was about the most tiring half hour I’ve ever spent!

Two more nights of homework and then you.  What a welcome relief.  I love you till then.

All my love,

June

(Tomorrow – Birthday greetings!)

© 2011 Lee Price

Lonesome in the Big City

Monday, January 23, 1950

46 West 83rd Street, Apt. 7B

New York City

Dear Art,

Detail of watercolor
below.

I’m here in the room, all by myself and so lonesome.  Too bad you couldn’t be here.  Shirl won’t be back until tomorrow.  Her sister Evie called me this morning to say Shirl had an attack of laziness – she worked hard all weekend and then slept all morning.  She was still in bed when Evie called.  Her mother thinks Shirl looks worn-out, undernourished, and exhausted.  She should see me!

I don’t think I could live in the city without a roommate.  It’s terrible, being here by yourself.  When Shirl’s here we can talk and liven things up a bit, so I can pass the time faster.  In high school I used to enjoy being by myself but since college I no longer like being alone.  Well, tomorrow Shirl will be here.  Then I’ll see if I can arrange to come home this weekend.

Did you work hard today?  I hope not too hard.  I didn’t work at all.  Of course, that means I’ll have to make up for it over the next couple of days.  Maybe it’s just as well Shirl didn’t come.  I’ll catch up on some sleep tonight and perhaps – I say this with incredible optimism – I’ll get a new spurt of energy for tomorrow.

In school today I just loafed and talked to everyone in range – more talking than loafing.  When anyone asked if I had a nice weekend I just smiled into space and said “Wonderful.”  But they couldn’t know how wonderful.

Evening Gown watercolor
by June Anderson.

All my love,

June

P.S.  Art, my darling – guess what time it is.  It’s after 1 a.m.!  I decided to do some homework after all.  I drew a figure with an evening gown on, transferred it, colored it, etc. – anyway, it’s all finished.  That means I’ve completed everything for watercolor class.  And do you know why I did it?  Because I’ve decided to come home this weekend.  Wouldn’t that be nice?

Love and kisses,

June

(Tomorrow – June's birthday present.)

© 2011 Lee Price