Call Southampton 951



Landscape with fence,
oil painting by Art Price.



Thursday, February 2, 1950

20 Cooper Street

Southampton, NY

Dearest June,

People are still talking about Bruno.  His sister says that he didn’t regain consciousness till 8:00 in the morning.  Apparently, it was even more serious than we thought at first.

I had a busy day in the store today with only two of us working.  Joe is filling in for Bruno and may continue working through the weekend.  It looks like I won’t get any more time off this week.

My folks went to a supper at the Hampton Bays church with our minister and his family.  I stayed home tonight and ate my supper alone.

I miss you very much.  Remember me to everybody.  Don’t be too lonesome when you have to ride the subway alone and always be careful.  You know I love you.  Good night, sweetheart,

Love,

Art

P.S.  I forgot to tell you – if you should be coming home this weekend, I’m going to a men’s supper at the church Friday night at 6:30.  If you call up and don’t get an answer, you can try my mother at Southampton 951.

Lots of love,

Art

(On Saturday, roommates and weekends.)

© 2011 Lee Price

Bruno With Stitches

Wednesday, February 1, 1950

20 Cooper Street

Southampton, NY

Dear June,

I received your Monday letter today.  It’s almost as good as having you here, but not quite.

Bruno Marcincuk.

Well, I saw Bruno today.  He looks pretty bad.  Face swollen, bandages above and below one eye with the lids all swollen and black and blue.  He’s really a sight.  He’s got seven stitches below his eye, five above it, and a few more on his head.  Otherwise he says he’s fine.  Joe is filling in for Bruno at the store now.

With Joe working, I get my half day off tomorrow.  But I have to go to the dentist again so won’t be able to sleep late.

I’m glad to hear you took it easy Monday and got some sleep.  Your Life teacher must have thought
you looked pretty bad.  You look awfully good to me though, sweetheart.

“Farmer” is in the hospital with appendicitis.  You know all about that type of problem!

I guess I won’t be going out with the boys this weekend.  Bruno’s out of circulation, Joe’s working, Farmer’s in the hospital, and Frank Hoffman’s in New York City.

I went to my art class tonight.  Partida’s new assistant is still teaching.  I seem to learn more from him than I do from Partida.  I didn’t come home from there till 10:30.  (I just did some counting.  Eight more evenings ahead of me before I see you again.  I hope I’ll last that long!)

I love you.  Take care of yourself.

Love

Art

(Tomorrow – More reports on Bruno.)

© 2011 Lee Price

Shirl's Dream

Quick sketches by June Anderson.

Wednesday, February 1, 1950

46 West 83rd Street, Apt. 7B

New York City, NY

Dear Art,

You won’t get sick of seeing me if I come home this Friday, will you?  I’m certainly not giving you any time to save money between our dates.  Anyway, the main reason why I’m coming home is that Shirl needs to go home to see a doctor – so I really don’t have much choice but to come home.

I was real proud of myself today – I showed will power.  Shirl stayed in bed all day, but I went to school – why, I even stayed after for Quick Sketch!  Now I’m staying up late doing homework, getting something done but doing it lackadaisically.

Shirl dreamed about us last night.  Maybe I shouldn’t tell you what she dreamed.

How is everything around town now?  Calmed down some?  Bruno still recovering?

Be careful now.  I don’t want anything to happen to the man I love.

All my love,

June

(This afternoon – Art visits Bruno.)

© 2011 Lee Price

Everyone's Talking About Bruno's Accident

Tuesday, January 31, 1950

20 Cooper Street

Southampton, NY

Dearest June:

Art Price.

I’ve spent all yesterday and today telling people about Bruno’s car accident.  Everybody’s heard something and they figure I’ll know all about it.

Yesterday, Bruno called the store in the morning to say he wouldn’t be in.  Then in the afternoon he called again after he went to the doctor.  Now he doesn’t think he’ll be to work for a week to ten days.  He’s got six stitches under one eye and four over it.  He’s feeling pretty bad, stiff and sore all over, I guess.

Of course, we’re short on help at Roulston's without Bruno.  Besides that, Rod (my boss) is sick with a cold.  He was working today but didn’t feel good.  And on top of that, I went to the dentist and had a tooth pulled so I could hardly talk all morning.  You can see the store was in pretty bad shape!  Rod may ask Joe Cerullo to fill in for Bruno.

That’s enough about Bruno and work.  You know I love you very much and think about you all the day.  Two whole weeks without you.  I hope I’ll last that long.

Lots of love,

Art

(Tomorrow – Shirl dreams about Art.)

© 2011 Lee Price

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