Pearls in the Ash Tray

Tuesday, May 16, 1950

112 West 86th Street

New York City, NY

Dear Art,

Fashion illustration by
June Anderson.

Before I say anything else, darling, please take care of your car.  And don’t let anyone use the ash trays in the back seat.  I left my pearls there.  Remember?

Art, the school has decided there will be no class on Wednesday, the last day in May.  That means I’ll stay here the weekend before that and plan on going home on Monday night.  I hope I get all my homework done in time.  Right now it looks kind of hopeless.  There are only 11 more days of school and I have at least that many assignments – big ones, too.  I’ve been working right up till now and I’ll do some more as soon as I finish your letter.  I’ll need to work hard every night this week and next week.

What’s new in Southampton, darling?  I hope you’re being good.  Shirl just said that you’re probably out drinking with the boys tonight.  I said you weren’t.  I am right – aren’t I, darling?

Oh, sweetheart, I had such a nice time with you this weekend.  Why do they have to go by so fast?  It gets harder and harder to leave you.  My, I’m getting torrid, darling!  Maybe you had better tear this letter up.

I had such a wonderful time with you, darling.  I miss you, already.  Only three more nights without you, but, oh, such long ones.

All my love,

June

(Tomorrow – painting in the woods.)

© 2011 Lee Price

I'd Rather See You Than Write

Monday, May 15, 1950

20 Cooper Street

Southampton, NY

Dear June,

Darling, I love you.  I’ve been sitting here, half listening to the radio, and trying to start this letter.  I think I’ve fallen out of the writing habit.  I’d rather see you than write.

I have tomorrow afternoon off so I’m going to try and paint.  I feel I should get to work on a really good painting.  I received a whole lot of forms and literature from the Metropolitan Museum of Art about the big contest they’re having.

Sketch by Art Price.

We had a busy day at work.  Afterwards, I worked till dark rotating my tires.  I’m a little sleepy tonight. 

I love you so very much, sweetheart.  Take care of yourself.  See you Friday night, darling.

Lots of love,

Art

(Tomorrow – pearls in the ash tray.)

© 2011 Lee Price

I Only Know I Love You

Horses, an oil painting by Art Price.

Thursday, May 11, 1950

20 Cooper Street

Southampton, NY

Dear June,

I’m so glad I’ll be seeing you this weekend.  I love you so much, darling.

I’m glad to hear your move went smoothly or should I say that Shirl moved you okay?  It sounds like you’re really setting up housekeeping.  I’ll bet you’re going to enjoy that apartment.

I didn’t do much of anything last night.  I was planning to do some work on my car this morning but it rained – as it always does on my day off.

Thanks for the phone number, darling, but I hope I won’t have to use it before I see you again.  All I’ve done this morning was get a haircut.  When I got home, your letter was here and so here I am writing.  Tonight I’ll go to art class and then on Friday night I’ll be in heaven with you.

Take good care of yourself my precious sweetheart.  So long for now.  They’re singing, “I only know I love you” on the radio.  I know I do.

Lots of love,

Art

© 2011 Lee Price

How to Cook Potatoes

Fashion illustration
by June Anderson.

Wednesday, May 10, 1950

112 West 86th Street

New York City, NY

Dear Art,

Well, darling, we cooked our first meal in the new apartment tonight and I still feel alright.  Shirl made most of it – I had to stay after school for quick sketch.  But I supervised the cooking of the potatoes – she wanted to take them off when I came in, but I made her leave them on for 15 more minutes.  They came out just about right.  Just listen to me brag!  And wait till tomorrow – when I’m supposed to do most of the cooking!

Really the only trouble here is that they’ve turned off the heat already.  It gets really cold at night.  I hope hot weather comes quick.  Aside from that, this place really is cozy and homey.  I’d like you to come in sometime to see it.

I was talking to June O’Neal today. She kind of frightened me.  I found out she’d been going out with a boy for over a year and they were pretty serious, too.  Yet they broke up.  After such a long time, too.  I hope, darling, I’m in no danger of having that happen to me.

Shirl’s out with Ted – they are still going strong.  I’ve been here alone for about two hours and haven’t done a thing, just listening to the radio and reading.  I really must do some work now.  I’m way behind.

They just finished playing “My Love Loves Me”* on the radio.  Do you, darling?

Don’t forget – I’ll be home on Friday and waiting for you.  Oh, darling, why does the week have to be so long – and the weekend so short?  I miss you so.

All my love,

June

* The link is to a version by Anita Carter, a member of the famous Carter family.  She began recording in 1950 so June may have heard Carter on the radio.  It’s more likely that she heard a version by Fran Warren that appears to have been popular in the late 1940s.  Nevertheless, Carter’s version is so beautiful that I have no qualms about linking to it. 

(Tomorrow – I only know I love you.)

© 2011 Lee Price

Excuse the Language, Please

Tuesday, May 9, 1950

20 Cooper Street

Southampton, NY

Dear June,

It was a wonderful weekend, darling.  This week I plan to write just two letters to you, dear.  I’ll see you Friday at eight, won’t I?

I went to the movies tonight and saw The Damned Don’t Cry (excuse the language, please).  It was pretty good.

Did you see the Herald Tribune?  The races in Westhampton were on the front page.  There were almost 20,000 people there.  About an hour after the race was over a car cracked up going around the tracks by itself, leaving one guy in bad 

shape.  They didn’t quite get the races over without an accident.

As I said before, darling, it was wonderful to have you home this week and I love you so very very much.  You know that I do.  Take good care of yourself and I hope you got moved okay.  Good night, darling.

Lots of love,

Art

(Tomorrow – first meal in the new apartment.)

© 2011 Lee Price

New Address!

Monday, May 8, 1950

NEW ADDRESS!

112 West 86th Street

New York City, NY

Dear Art,

Fashion illustration by
June Anderson.

I had an absolutely wonderful weekend, darling – I’m so in love with you.  I glow inside every time I think of our time together.

Oh, did I almost forget to tell you?  I have moved!  See?  When thinking of you and how I love you, the little things like moving just slip my mind.  Shirl and I officially moved into the new apartment tonight.  (Shirl did most of the moving work.)  It’s very cozy and sweet.  And there is a sink in the kitchen so now we will start cooking more.

Shirl and I went shopping after school.  We bought dishes, can openers, pots (a double boiler), glasses, tablecloths, etc.  And we bought groceries, too.  I think it’s going to be very nice here.

They’re singing on the radio, “A man’s a fool to be alone when the sun goes down.”  I’m a woman and just lonesome.  Ted and Shirl are in the other room and I’m leaving them alone to have some time together.  I must confess I’m jealous.  Even just after just seeing you over the weekend, I wish it were you and I out in the living room.  Oh, how I wish it were!

Hmmm, how come my pleasure of being out with you still increases after almost a year?  My heart tells me you feel the same as I do.  Please take care of yourself and be good until I see you again.  Friday at 8?  I’ll be home!  Now I must do some homework.

All my love,

P.S.  My telephone # is Schuyler 4-9399 (I’m not sure of the spelling of Schuyler, it’s pronounced SKY).

(Tomorrow – excuse the language, please.)

© 2011 Lee Price

Just Finished My Income Tax

“Well, I just finished filling out my income tax.  I finally got around to it.  I wasn’t in any hurry since I won’t get anything back.”

                                                                       Art Price

                                                                       Letter to June Anderson, March 9, 1950

Income tax was just as much a routine part of life in 1950 as it is today.  So what was Art paying in taxes?  With the 1950 median family income at $3,300, I think it’s safe to assume that Art’s annual earnings for working full-time at Roulston’s grocery store were less than $2,000, putting him in 1950’s  lowest tax bracket.  Paying a marginal tax rate of 20%, he would have contributed $200 in taxes for every $1,000 earned (without figuring in any deductions).

In 1950, the average family income of $3,300 would have been taxed at a 22% marginal tax rate.  Tax rates escalated upward with income, topping out at 91% for individuals or families earning $200,000 or more.  Many deductions were allowed, so it can be assumed that most high earners significantly reduced their tax burden from that 91% rate.

To compare this with taxes in 2011, the lowest marginal tax rate today is 10% – this means, a person earning less than $17,000 per year contributes $100 in tax for every $1,000 earned (half the 1950 rate).  Then the tax rate increases with income, topping out at 35% for people earning $379,150 or more.  Many deductions are still allowed that significantly reduce the amount paid into the system by both low and high earners.

In other words, income taxes are much lower now than in 1950 for both low and high earners.

Information for this entry was drawn from the document “Federal Individual Income Tax Rates History” on the Tax Foundation website.

(For Monday – a bad day at the races.)
 

© 2011 Lee Price