A Job With the Phone Company

As noted earlier, June faced competing pressures when she returned to New York City during the summer of 1950.  June’s mother wanted her to aggressively launch a fashion career in New York City.  Art wanted June back in Riverhead.  Up until August 2, 1950,  June’s mother had the advantage.  But the situation changed with the robbery

of June’s apartment.

June’s father was a widely-respected employee at the Riverhead office of the New York Telephone Company – he was friendly, dependable, and the calm go-to person for handling any emergency.  After the robbery, he probably pulled some strings to position June for a job with the phone company, moving her out of the city as quickly as possible.  June’s mother’s ambitions for her

daughter’s career were stymied.

June took the phone company placement test, scored high enough to place out of standard operator duty, and landed a job in West Hampton.  Thanks to the robbery, Art’s wish came true.

June's father Theodore Anderson seated at the right at
a phone company meeting.

(Tomorrow – Goodbye to Shirley.)

© 2011 Lee Price

Assigned to the Plant Dept.

June enjoyed the weekend with Art, but then returned to the city for one final visit with Shirl.

Fashion sketches by June Anderson.

Tuesday, August 15, 1950

112 West 86th Street

New York City, NY

Dear Art,

I’m sorry I didn’t write last night.  I was so tired, I thought I’d wait till this morning.

Well, I got through everything.  Of all the girls there – and there must have been about 40 – only two of us were selected for the telephone company’s Plant Department.  The others were told they could be operators or nothing.  So I guess we were pretty lucky.  Can you imagine me sitting there dividing fractions?  I don’t even think I’ve looked at a fraction for about six years!

I’m glad it’s Westhampton.  I think that’s about the nicest thing about it.  If there are no buses, I’m sure I’ll be able to find someone to take me back and forth.  And I won’t be up in the Riverhead office either, thank goodness.

Shirl’s pretty happy – she insists she’s leaving New York for good.  She’s still trying to think up a nice logical excuse to tell Traphagen for quitting school.  I can’t seem to persuade her to stay.  So now we’re trying to figure out how to move everything by – Thursday?  Our rent is paid till next Monday.  We sent Betty a telegram last night.  She should get it this morning.  We can’t tell Betty’s
things from June O’Neal’s, so she’ll just have to come.

Shirl and I went to the movies last night and probably will tonight and tomorrow night, too.  It’s our last fling.

Darling, I’ll see you Thursday night.  Till then –

All my love,

June

© 2011 Lee Price

Counting on a Date

June at Montauk Point.

Wednesday, August 9, 1950

112 West 86th Street

New York City, NY

Dear Art,

You’ll probably know by the time you get this that I’m not going to be home Thursday night.  I just finished talking to mother.  I would have called you but I couldn’t afford it since I’ll be staying here till Friday.

By the way, Grandma is visiting in Riverhead.  That’s why I didn’t talk to my parents earlier.  They were out meeting her.

Betty called up this morning.  She says she’ll fly here for her things – probably Thursday or Friday.  Shirl and I were sure glad to hear that.

I trust, darling, that I will have a date with you Friday night.  I’ll be planning on it.  I’m sorry I won’t be in earlier because I miss you so much.  Yes, in spite of all the excitement of moving, I still have time to miss you.  That’s because I love you so much – but you know that!  You must.

All my love,

June

(For Friday – assigned to the Plant Department.)
 

© 2011 Lee Price

Buses to Westhampton

Art at Montauk Point.

Tuesday, August 8, 1950

20 Cooper Street

Southampton, NY

Dear June,

Your mother just phoned and said you wouldn’t be home till Friday.  So here I am back to writing and I hope you’re going to write again, too.  Of course, I’m sorry that I won’t see you Thursday, darling.  I miss you so much.  I love you so much.  It’s so nice to know that when you do come home it’ll be for good.

Your mother was asking me about buses to Westhampton.  I don’t know if there are any.  I hope there’s a way for you to get there.

I just came from Secunda’s class a little while ago.  I started a portrait.  He has a man posing for us.

Of course, I haven’t asked you out on a date Friday yet – so now I am.  Will you go out with me Friday night?  Good, I’ll pick you up at 8:00 then.  Pretty self-confident, aren’t I?  I love you, darling.

All my love,

Art

(Tomorrow – the excitement of moving home.)

© 2011 Lee Price

The Next Voice You Hear

Monday, August 7, 1950

20 Cooper Street

Southampton, NY

Dear June,

I’ve been wondering what Shirl said when you walked in and said you had a job and were going home.

I went to the movies tonight and saw The Next Voice You Hear.  It was pretty good.

Just think… this is my first letter of the week and it may be my last.  There may be no more.  From now on, we’ll see each other all the time and won’t need to write.

Darling, I certainly feel good tonight!  Mmmm.  I love you so much.  You sounded happy over the phone, too, sweetheart.  I guess your folks will come in on Thursday and help you move home.

Take good care of yourself.  I love you.

All my love,

Art

(Tomorrow – buses to Westhampton.)

© 2011 Lee Price

His French Wife

 

“I’ve been thinking – it looks like the best play of the year is at East Hampton this week.  It stars Edward Everett Horton and is a comedy, naturally.”

                                                                 Art Price

                                                                 Letter to June Anderson, August 3, 1950

As planned, June and Art went to see His French Wife at the John Drew Theater in East Hampton on August 5.  Capitalizing on the availability of both New York talent and sophisticated summer audiences, the John Drew Theater at Guild Hall opened in 1931 and has remained a popular and important Hamptons cultural institution ever since.

Edward Everett Horton (1886-1970) was typical of the talent that Guild Hall could draw to a Hamptons theater during the summer months.  An accomplished character actor with a flair for comedy, Horton had a very distinctive voice and a dithering personality.  In movies, he provided notable support to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in Top Hat and appeared in other popular movies such as Trouble in Paradise, Lost Horizon, and Arsenic and Old Lace.  Many may remember him as the narrator of the “Fractured Fairy Tale” segments that were a regular feature of the Rocky and Bullwinkle show in the 1960s.

In the playbill, Vicki Cummings receives equally prominent billing with Horton.  Cummings never hit true stardom, but she was a popular staple of television (much of which was filmed in New York City) in the late 1940s and early 50s.  From 1948 to 1950, she was regularly appeared on The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse, as well as on episodes of Robert Montgomery Presents and The Ford Theatre Hour.

(For Monday – The next voice you hear.)

© 2011 Lee Price

Best Play of the Year in Town

Harvest scene, oil painting by Art Price.

Thursday, August 3, 1950

20 Cooper Street

Southampton, NY

Dear June,

I’ve been busy this evening.  I went to Secunda’s class and worked on the mural some more.  Now I’ve been writing Men’s Club cards.  I wish you were here helping me.  And that isn’t all I wish you were here for – G-R-R-R.  Look out for me Friday.

I’ve been thinking – it looks like the best play of the year is at East Hampton this week.  It stars Edward Everett Horton and is a comedy, naturally.  So maybe you’d like to see it on Saturday?  I can call up for reservations.

I haven’t heard anything from the reserve yet.  It’s a little early, I guess.

Be good now and take care of yourself.  Don’t go out alone at night.  I love you.  Remember me to Shirl and anyone else that is there.  I’ve kind of lost track.

I’d better get to bed now.  I do love you, sweetheart.  Good night for now.

All my love,

Art

(For Saturday – His French Wife.)
 

© 2011 Lee Price