Life's That Way

Art sent this comic strip to June on February 26, 1950.  There was no accompanying letter.  Was there a precipitating incident?  Is there an implied threat?

UPDATE:  Mystery partially solved.  This clipping was not from Art!  Since it was included with all the other Art-penned letters, I assumed it was from him, too.  But the envelope above is postmarked "Lakewood, NJ," which is where Shirley Stahl's family lived.  I have no idea why Shirley's family sent this to June.

This explanation also accounts for another mystery that I didn't share.  The reverse side of the newsprint is entirely classified ads in Hebrew.  Since Shirl's family was Jewish, this isn't near as unusual as it first struck me.  So some of the pieces of this puzzle come together -- except for the pieces that would explain why it was sent to June and what precipitated sending it at all!

(Starting tomorrow – it'll be two letters a day for awhile as the correspondence heats up!)

© 2011 Lee Price

"As You Like It" with Kate Hepburn

Saturday, February 25, 1950

46 West 83rd Street, Apt. 7B

New York City, NY

Dear Art,

I just got in about midnight.  It was a wonderful night (except for one thing missing, of course).  The play was a merry little love story, and many a time as I watched them I thought about you and felt homesick.  But enough of that.  I’ll tell you about my night.

We all (seven of us) met in school at 4:00.  Since we had time to waste, we went to see the apartment where June and Betty live.  It’s very nice – not so nice as our old one but still nice.  At 6:00, we left to eat at the Brass Rail.  For dessert I had chocolate cream pie a la mode (my own invention).  It’s delicious.  Dinner broke me though!  I’ve decided it’s hopeless.  I’ll never catch up on my finances.

Seating at the
Cort Theatre.

From there we went to the Cort Theatre to see Kate Hepburn in Shakespeare’s “As You Like It.”  Art, I was really scared.  No one knows how close I came to leaving.  We were so high up – and I swear the stairs were the steepest I have ever seen.  I almost cried I was so frightened.  But I stayed – mind over matter.  My hands were just about cramped when the play was over from gripping the chair to keep from falling.  In spite of all this, the play was wonderful.  Katharine Hepburn is certainly a great actress.  As I told you before though, I was jealous when she could hold her love in her arms while mine was so far away.

I ate lunch at a different place yesterday – the Magpie instead of Jacks.  I certainly won’t make it a habit.  It took them 45 minutes to make a grilled cheese sandwich.  June, Joan Hart, Irving and I went there together.  It’s mostly a place to drink, which everyone did except me.  I sampled everyone’s drinks but I think I’ll stick to Rye and

ginger at night – preferably with you.

But Art, darling, all this and I haven’t told you the brightest spot of my day.  It was at midnight when I walked in the room to see your letter sparkling on the bureau.  I didn’t even take time off my coat before I opened your letter.  I can’t tell you how much I loved it.

Remember, just because I’m not coming home this weekend doesn’t give you leave to run around wild and pick up dates off the streets or calling women at their homes.  I have my brand on you in spirit and if that’s not enough, I’ll have to personally mark you

physically.  Please be careful, my darling, and behave yourself.

Love,

June

 (Tomorrow – a 1950 comic strip.)

© 2011 Lee Price

Home by the Phone

A duck, color pencil sketch by Art Price.

Friday, February 24, 1950

20 Cooper Street

Southampton, NY

Dear June,

I stayed home tonight and hoped for a phone call, but none came.  I’m not sure if I was really expecting one.  I can hope though.

I’ll talk to you on the phone before you get this so it won’t be very long.  I hope you enjoy Shakespeare and Katharine Hepburn.  I’m sure you will.

As to your questions in the letter:  I don’t know where Jane Hastings is.  I’ll try and remember to ask Bruno.  I worked on my course last night.  Tonight I didn’t do anything.  My folks went to the movies tonight but I’m waiting till tomorrow.  I’ll be thinking of you as always, and missing you so much.

My folks are fine.  My sister, also.  I hope yours are the same (and have you written to them lately?).  I thought we figured that you save more money by coming home.  Oh well, I suppose you really have to stay in the city once in awhile, much as I hate it.  This will be an awfully lonesome weekend without you, darling.

Don’t worry, I’ll take it easy over the weekend.  (I always do.)  Be good and take care of yourself, my precious sweetheart.

Lots of love,

Art

(Tomorrow – As You Like It.)

© 2011 Lee Price

June's Guiding and Calming Influence

Thursday, February 23, 1950

46 West 83rd Street, Apt. 7B

New York City, NY

Dear Art,

About seven of us girls are going to see Katie Hepburn in “As You Like It” on Broadway tomorrow night.  We’ll all eat together (at some nice place for a change) before going.  I’ll tell you in tomorrow’s letter how it was.  I still have to iron a dress tonight for tomorrow.  Honestly, Art, this room (and Shirl lying here reading a magazine) makes me feel so lazy.  Even getting up is an effort.  I keep reminding myself how energetic I am when I’m with you.  But it doesn’t help now.

I’m reclining here on the couch with wet hair streaming down my back.  Yes, I finally washed it.  I began to worry that maybe the girls wouldn’t let me come along with them tomorrow if I didn’t do something about it.

Since Shirl’s been going to the other school I’ve been getting to school on time.  That’s a phenomenon that never happened much before, I can tell you!  I think it’s mainly because I don’t bother having breakfast when I’m by myself.  I still say it’s lonesome going and coming back from school all by myself.  Eventually I suppose I’ll get used to it.

I don’t think Shirl likes the clothing course much.  Out of the eight days she’s supposed to have been there so far she’s only been there four days.

Something about it

Pencil sketch by June Anderson.

being boring, she says. Oh well, maybe when she gets deeper into the course she’ll enjoy it more.

I’m not coming home this weekend, much as I’d like to.  So don’t run around wild just because your guiding and calming influence (me) isn’t there.

All my love,

June

(Tomorrow – a lonesome weekend ahead.)

© 2011 Lee Price

A Stern Lecture

Pencil drawing by Art Price.

Wednesday, February 22, 1950

20 Cooper Street

Southampton, NY

Dear June,

What’s the idea of not writing just because a letter is a day late?  You can’t do that to me.  I love you, darling, but I’ll be angry if you do it again.  I’ll accept some excuses for not writing but not this one.  I look forward to your letters so much.  You know I wait for them just like you do.

It was wonderful to talk to you yesterday.  I would have liked to sit and listen to your voice all afternoon.  Of course, this will be a short letter.  Not much has happened since.  I washed my car this afternoon – first time in months.  Then I went to see Twelve O’Clock High tonight.  It was very good as you probably already know.  Then I came home right afterward.  I’m behaving myself.  No more beer for me.

I missed you very much last night, darling.  I miss you very much all the time.  Take good care of yourself and good night for now,

Love

Art

(Tomorrow – girls night out on Broadway.)

© 2011 Lee Price

"If You Like-A Me Like I Like-A You"

Tuesday, February 21, 1950

46 West 83rd Street, Apt. 7B

New York City, NY

Dear Art,

Fashion illustration by
June Anderson.

Please, darling, don’t be mad at me for not writing this weekend.  I don’t know what’s wrong with me – I should have realized your letters were held up by trains or something.  On Friday night, I waited and waited for your letter.  I thought it was just our landlord being slow about delivering the mail, as is usually the situation.  I hate to keep asking for my mail all the time so I waited and waited.  I worked up an awful temper.  I kicked a chair away so hard it almost knocked over the lamp.  It was miserable.  So I finally went downstairs and asked – only to find out that no letter had come for me.  After all that, do you blame me for not writing?  I’m sorry, darling, I’ll really try to behave better the next time.

Your phone call left me feeling so good last night.  I would have been very disappointed if you hadn’t called.  I don’t know what to say about your drinking Saturday night.  I like you to go out because I know you enjoy it and feel lost around the house doing nothing.  But please don’t drink too much.  After all, you’re the one that has to drive, and I don’t want anything happening to you.

Shirl and I just found out that Evie (her sister, you know) is coming here this week.  She’ll probably stay through the weekend.  Heaven knows what we’ll do while she’s here!

They just finished Henry Owens singing “Shadrack” over the radio.  I like that song!  Oh, I heard “Under the Bamboo Tree” today on the radio, too.  First time since I left college – we used to sing it so many times there.  You know the one – “I love-a you and love-a you true.”  It’s true, too.

I haven’t done a bit of homework here yet.  I really work harder at home than here.  Tomorrow I have to start though.  It’s terrible to get behind.

Do take care of yourself, darling, and keep writing.

All my love,

June

(Tomorrow – unacceptable excuses.)

© 2011 Lee Price

The Movies They Watched

From February 14 through 21, June and Art is participating in For the Love of Film (Noir):  The Film Preservation Blogathon.  The June and Art letters are still here, but during this week they will be embellished with film noir images and other supplementary material.

Through this blogathon, over 80 bloggers are hoping to raise significant funds to support the work of the Film Noir Foundation and restore The Sound of Fury, a 1950 film noir starring Lloyd Bridges.  Please contribute to the effort by going to this link, the Maltese Falcon donation
button, or through the donation buttons on host sites
Ferdy on Films and the Self-Styled Siren.

“Then we’ll probably go to a movie.”

                                                                     June Anderson

                                                                     Letter to Art Price, Feb. 18, 1950

June and Art met on May 30, 1949 and began dating very soon afterward.  Movies were a big part of both their lives.  Their letters reflect this.

These were the glory days of film noir.  The genre reached its peak in the late 1940s/early 1950s and will forever be associated with the evocative black-and-white cinematography of these movies.

Looking at the nine months of their courtship to date (June 1949 to February 1950), chances are they watched a number of the following film noir releases:

1949

June

Criss Cross with Burt Lancaster and Yvonne De Carlo

July

Follow Me Quietly with William Lundigan and Dorothy Patrick

House of Strangers with Edward G. Robinson, Susan Hayward, and Richard Conte

Scene of the Crime with Van Johnson and Arlene Dahl

August

Too Late for Tears with Lizabeth Scott and Dan Duryea

The Window with Bobby Driscoll

September

Red Light with George Raft and Virginia Mayo

White Heat with James Cagney and Virginia Mayo

October

Beyond the Forest with Bette Davis and Joseph Cotten

Border Incident with Ricardo Montalban, George Murphy, and Howard Da Silva

Chicago Deadline with Alan Ladd and Donna Reed

The Clay Pigeon with Bill Williams and Barbara Hale

Johnny Stool Pigeon with Howard Duff, Shelley

Winters, Dan Duryea, and Tony Curtis

Thieves’ Highway with Richard Conte, Valentina Cortese, and Lee J. Cobb

Trapped with Lloyd Bridges and Barbara Payton

The Woman on Pier 13 with Robert Ryan and Laraine Day

November

Abandoned with Dennis O’Keefe and Gail Storm

Port of New York with Yul Brynner and Neville Brand

Strange Bargain with Martha Scott and

Jeffrey Lynn

They Live By Night with Farley Granger and Cathy O’Donnell

Whirlpool with Gene Tierney and Richard Conte

December

The Big Steal with Robert Mitchum and Jane Greer

The Reckless Moment with James Mason and Joan Bennett

The Threat with Charles McGraw and Virginia Grey

Undertow with Scott Brady and Dorothy Hart

1950

January

The File on Thelma Jordan with Barbara Stanwyck and Wendell Corey

Gun Crazy with John Dall and Peggy Cummins

The Hidden Room with Robert Newton and Sally Gray

Tension with Richard Basehart, Audrey Totter, and Cyd Charisse

February

Backfire with Virginia Mayo, Gordon MacRae, and Edmond O’Brien

No Man of Her Own with Barbara Stanwyck and John Lund

Reign of Terror with Robert Cummings and Richard Basehart

The Secret Fury with Claudette Colbert and Robert Ryan

The Tattooed Stranger with John Miles and Patricia Barry

The Third Man with Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, and Orson Welles

Woman in Hiding with Ida Lupino and Howard Duff

Interesting distribution of movies...  I wonder if the studios thought these films weren’t appropriate summer fare and therefore held off releasing their darker crime dramas until fall and winter.

Thanks to the IMDb Advanced Title search engine for allowing me to sort by date!

(Tomorrow – June's temper tantrum.)

© 2011 Lee Price