Friday, April 1, 2011

The Stylish Blogger Award


As June leaves for her week-long Easter break, “June and Art” is pausing for a break in routine.  While June and Art prepare to meet at the train station at 8, here we’re celebrating Stylish Blogger Award Day!

(Cross-posted on the Preserving a Family Collection blog…)  Caftan Woman, who writes a lovely blog about classic films, has been a friend and supporter of “June and Art” since the very first week.  A few days ago, I was surprised, thrilled, and humbled to receive a “Stylish Blogger Award” from her.


Purely intended for fun and promotion, the “Stylish Blogger Award” offers an opportunity for bloggers to honor their fellow blog stylists.  After all, blogging is hard, lonely work… and it’s particularly challenging if one is expected to maintain a high standard of “style.”  At the very least, we workers in a virtual medium deserve an occasional virtual award.

And now for the award obligations…  As a recipient, I am required to post seven facts about myself and then present the award to seven of my favorite stylish bloggers (yes, it is something like a chain letter, but infinitely cooler).

7 RANDOM OBSERVATIONS ABOUT ME

1.  I had a wonderful childhood.  It was great growing up with my sister Jamie, my cousins Teddy, Debbie, Carol, and Tommy (Anderson), Mark, Ricky, and Billy (Scholl), my Uncle Ted and Aunt Diane, my Uncle Bob and Aunt Dot, my grandparents, and, of course, my parents (June and Art).  You couldn’t ask for a better family.

2.  I loved dinosaurs as a child (okay, still do!).  My father painted a large mural on our basement wall of a prehistoric world replete with dinosaurs.  I’ve searched through all our old photos but haven’t found a single one that captures even a part of the wall.  Our basement was a magical
place, now only retained in memory.

3.  Today's blog entry is illustrated by Wayfarer cartoons drawn by my father from 1985 to 1988.  During those years, I published a tourist newspaper called The Wayfarer of Central Bucks County (that’s the New Hope area of Pennsylvania).  My father had recently retired and became thoroughly involved in the business.  He created the central image of the Wayfarer for the newspaper, drew dozens of cartoons over a 3 ½ year period, helped deliver each issue of the biweekly paper to over a hundred locations, and sold ads.  Many people in the area came to think of him as the Wayfarer.


4.  I’m a long-time fan of classic film.  My dozen favorite movies of 1949 (the year June and Art met) are:  The Third Man with Orson Welles and Joseph Cotten, High Diving Hare (my favorite Bugs Bunny cartoon), The Heiress with Olivia de Havilland, Late Spring by Japanese master director Yasujiro Ozu, Intruder in the Dust from the novel by William Faulkner, Mighty Joe Young with special effects by animation wizards Willis O’Brien and Ray Harryhausen, The Window with tragic child star Bobby Driscoll, The Set-Up with Robert Ryan and Audrey Totter, Kind Hearts and Coronets with Alec Guinness in multiple roles, Fast and Furry-ous (the first Roadrunner/Wile E. Coyote cartoon!), Adam’s Rib with Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, and A Letter to Three Wives who were played by Jeanne Crain, Ann Sothern, and Linda Darnell.  My mother’s favorite film from 1949 was Whiskey Galore (then known on its American release as Tight Little Island – it was one of the first of the new wave of distinctive comedies from England, many of which would star Alec Guinness).

5.  I grew up attending the Southampton United Methodist Church.  I began attending Mennonite when I met my wife and we were married in the Mennonite Church.  Now we live in New Jersey and there isn’t a convenient Mennonite meetinghouse nearby, so we’ve been Methodists for the past 15+ years.  We consider ourselves Mennonite-attending-Methodist and our core convictions remain Mennonite (very liberal Mennonite, that is).

6.  We often visited historic sites and reconstructed villages like Williamsburg when I was growing up.  I work in the field of history now.  My wife’s hobby is historic hearth cooking.  When we were looking for a house to buy, her only demand was that it have a fireplace large enough to cook in.

7.  I worked at Art’s Market, my father’s grocery store, from 1973 through 1985. 
Many of our regular customers were low-income, seasonal workers.  We had a metal box under the front counter where we kept track of their credit on filing cards.  Payment was on an honor system.  Over the years, we lost a lot of money through this old-fashioned system – but no one went hungry.

THE ENVELOPES PLEASE…

While the coveted “Stylish Blogger Award” appears to have its roots in movie blogs, my interests are fairly broad as reflected by my choices:

Porter Hovey manages this unique love blog.  It’s the only competition that “June and Art” has for the title “most romantic blog on the internet.”

I’ve praised Tom Hilton’s real-time history blog Up and Down California before, so this time I’ll happily drop a plug for Tom’s joyous Sierrablogging and Wildflowerblogging on “If I Ran the Zoo.”  He handles the microcosmic details of flowers and the macrocosmic beauty of landscapes with unfailing style.

It may take place in the same city as “June and Art” and in only a slightly later time period, but the Mad Men series celebrated in this blog exists in a wholly different universe.  Fortunately, New York City is big enough to accommodate both.  Always best wishes to the ultra-stylish Deborah Lipp and her sister Roberta!

Robert Gelpi is one of my old IMDb Classic Film buddies where he went by the moniker Hal900 (and a fellow essayist in the book Horror 101 where I wrote about Der Golem and Jurassic Park and Robert examined The Stepford Wives).  Nowadays, he’s got this fine and stylish blog where he incisively reviews old movies and new.   He’s got a great eye for a screen capture, too!

The Uncataloged Museum
Whether leading the delightful Ukrainian Pickle Project or discussing the dung exhibit at the National Zoo in Washington, blogger Linda Norris is unfailingly entertaining, witty, and stylish.  As a fellow fundraiser and museum lover, I tip my hat to her charming and informative blog.

Colleen Dilenschneider is my social media guru.  Museums and other nonprofits are rapidly changing in this new electronic world, and I am extremely dependent upon Colleen as my tour guide in this bewildering environment.  I think she has style in abundance.

I discovered Timothy Burke’s blog through his upbeat endorsement of College of the Atlantic (where my son will begin his freshman year this September).  I stuck around because his blog entries are consistently intelligent and thought-provoking.

So there they are:  Seven stylish bloggers deserving of awards and applause.

All of today's illustrations are by Art Price.

(For Sunday – piecing together what happened on that Saturday night in March 1950.)

 © 2011 Lee Price

Thursday, March 31, 2011

They're Hanging Danny Deever


Thursday, March 30, 1950

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

Dear Art,

My last letter.  Isn’t that wonderful?

Shirl turned the alarm clock off in her sleep this morning so I didn’t get to school today. When we finally woke up, we went shopping instead.

I worked on Historic Research tonight for the first time this term.  The teacher has been asking to see the stylized heads I was supposed to be working on.  Well, I started tonight.  In about an hour and a half, I caught up with the class which has been working on them for about two months now.  Didn’t know I was so fast, did you?

I expect this vacation will do me wonders – I get too easily upset these days.  Here’s my plan for my vacation days:  Wake up at 11 in the morning, eat at 12, perhaps dabble in some homework from 2 to 4, and at 4 start getting ready to go out with you at 8.  Shirl says I’m allowing an awful lot of time for getting ready.  It’s nothing.  I’m going to make up like Cleopatra and vamp my man.  You are going to take me out aren’t you?  We’re supposed to have a date every night, remember?  Did you forget your art lessons when you said that, though?  They will take two nights away
All pencil sketches by
June Anderson.
from me.  And right in a row, too.

They just finished playing “They’re Hanging Danny Deever in the Morning” on the radio.  Nice.  I like poetry and know the poem, but had never heard it put to music.  I thought it worked well with the loud, more or less marching music.

I feel like packing.  I might even start tonight.  Well, darling, I’ll see you Friday night – the usual time, I hope.

All my love,

June

(For tomorrow – the Stylish Blogger Award ceremony.)

 © 2011 Lee Price

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Bursting With Love


Partida assignment, abstract shapes
pencil sketch by Art Price.
Wednesday, March 29, 1950

20 Cooper Street
Southampton, NY

Dear June,

Don’t worry, darling.  I’ll be bursting out with love for you Friday night.  Won’t it ever come?

I didn’t get my half-day off today.  We took inventory instead.  I hope maybe I can get a full day next week.  Sketch class was canceled tonight.  Mr. Secunda phoned and said he was having trouble getting a model so he called it off.  I paint tomorrow night, I guess.

My grandfather went to the hospital yesterday with pneumonia but is already coming home tomorrow.  He’s better and didn’t want to stay so the doctor is sending him home.  After all, he’s only 88.  Maybe if he was an old man, they’d make him stay.

Darling, I love you so much.  Only two more days!  I guess this will be my last letter.  See you Friday!

Lots of love,

Art

(Tomorrow – vacation plans.)

© 2011 Lee Price

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Intrigue and Backstabbing


Deer, oil painting by Art Price.

Tuesday, March 28, 1950

20 Cooper Street
Southampton, NY

Dear June,

I don’t know what to say except I love you.  I’ve been painting tonight.  Now I think I’ll go to bed early again.  I have to get all rested up, you know.

Your phone call certainly surprised me.  I wondered what could be wrong.  I had a few bad seconds till I heard your voice. 

I’m still waiting to hear about what happened to Jane.  I knew there was a lot of intrigue and backstabbing going on Saturday night, but I found out today I didn’t hear the half of it (although, of course, Bruno does love to exaggerate everything).  Bruno thinks they probably decided to stay through Monday since Helen doesn’t work Mondays.  They weren’t very considerate of you, though, if that was what happened.  He thinks Jane will be here for Easter so you can bawl her out then.

I’ve spoken of my grandfather who’s 88.  He’s in the hospital with a mild case of pneumonia (at 88, I guess nothing is mild).  He seems to be alright so far.

Well, darling, not many more days left, just three more till I’m in paradise.  I do love you very much.  I think this has been the longest two weeks of my life.

Lots of love,

Art

(Tomorrow – bursting with love.)

© 2011 Lee Price

Monday, March 28, 2011

Stood Up!


Monday, March 27, 1950

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

Dear Art,

Pencil sketch by June Anderson.
I’m mad at you and everyone else tonight.  Shirl says I’m being foolish and childish and I guess I am.  In the letter I received today you said that you were up to midnight on Friday night and weren’t used to those hours without me.  Then you stay out till 4 in the morning on Saturday night.  You never stay out that late with me!

But I’m mainly upset because I’ve been stood up and I hate that.  We waited for Jane in that drugstore from 5 till 6:30.  What’s more, no one answered at the BKLYN number – which probably means that the girls stayed in Southampton.  And I swear, Art, if you were fooling around with them or going out again tonight like Saturday I’ll pull every hair out of your head one by one and laugh like a fiend doing it.

So what were you doing Sunday, by the way?  On Friday night, I expect some quick talking.

- - - - -

Darling, it’s about 9:30 now and I just talked to you.  I’m sorry I bothered you by calling.  I know it was silly, but I was depressed and it was the only thing I could think of to cheer me up, and it did.  Of course, your mother must think me an awful fool calling up like that.  I hope she makes allowances for emotional immaturity and instability.

We called up Jane after I talked to you and she was home.  Both she and Helen came in on the 6:00 train tonight.  Apparently, Mary called us last night to tell us that Jane wouldn’t be here.  Someone took the message for us but it never got through.

- - - - -

It’s now 5 after 1 in the morning, darling.  Now I’m feeling remorse for bawling you out.  You’re so sweet.  I should remember never to get mad at you except in person when… oh, well, you’ll see.

Shirl and I have been working on the cape tonight.  Do you realize that we’re halfway done?  It makes me feel good.  I will like it even if no one else does.

Jane said you went to a donkey basketball game.  I would have loved to have seen it.  I’ve only seen one once and I sure did enjoy it.

I’ll be so glad to see you again, my darling.  It’s only four more days, but right now it seems like years away.

All my love,

June

(Tomorrow – intrigue and backstabbing.)

© 2011 Lee Price

Sunday, March 27, 2011

A Strain of Jealousy


Fashion illustration by June Anderson.

Sunday, March 26, 1950

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

Dear Art,

Just because I’m writing to you before midnight doesn’t mean I’m going to bed early.  As a matter of fact, I have to sew some more on my cape, wash some things, iron a blouse, set my hair, and take a shower.  Then I’ll go to bed.  Normally, I wouldn’t bother about all that, but I want to look halfway decent when I see Janie tomorrow.

Well, Art, I can’t ask you much about your Saturday night in a letter and I know it would be hard for you to write about it to me.  But just wait till Friday night!!!  Here I was missing you, and you were out having such a good time!  It’s a good thing Shirl didn’t go out Saturday night.  Then I would have been really lonely and when I heard about your good time I might have felt bad or even mad.  I’m sorry, darling – I know I should be glad when you get to go out and have a good time instead of moping around the house.

You must have been in fine condition for church!

I’ll be coming home soon now.  Think you’ll be glad to see me?  Sounds like I’ll be awfully quiet and dull to have around after what you got used to over the weekend.

Don’t worry, darling, I think I still love you in spite of everything.  It’s just that I need attention and love.  And you had better come Friday prepared with plenty of both.  Have you noted, dear, a strain of jealousy through this letter?

Take good care of yourself, darling.  I’m looking forward to my vacation with you so much.

All my love,

June

(Tomorrow – stood up.)

© 2011 Lee Price

Fallout from Saturday Night


Sunday, March 26, 1950

20 Cooper Street
Southampton, NY

Dear June,

It was wonderful to talk to you today, darling.  I’m so glad I’m forgiven.  Don’t you be jealous about my Saturday night.  You know there’s no reason to be.  I love you very much, darling.  It really was a weird evening.

I saw Mary and Helen for a minute this afternoon in Irene’s.  Bruno came in and they wouldn’t even look at him.  Jane had a date with Singer this afternoon.  Joe never got a chance to say anything to Jane about the dance so I don’t know how that will turn out.

I rode around a little this afternoon all by myself and felt lonesome for you, sweetheart.  Then I went to the first show tonight, Alfred Hitchcock’s Stage Fright.  It was quite good.  Hitchcock usually is.

As you can probably guess, I’m feeling kind of sleepy right now so I’d better go to bed.  I have to rest up this week,
sweetheart.  You had better rest up, too.  You have a date with me every night next week.  Now who’s possessive?

Enjoy yourself tomorrow, dear, but don’t you ride back from Brooklyn alone.  Make them come back with you.  I worry about you and miss you so much, my precious sweetheart.  Only five more days, darling.  Till then,

All my love,

Art

(Later today – you must have been in fine condition for church!)

© 2011 Lee Price