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

Robbed!

Wednesday, August 2, 1950

112 West 86th Street

New York City, NY

Dear Art,

Sketch by June Anderson.

I was robbed!  That’s right.  Shirl came in about 5:00 and we took inventory.  Missing are:  my typewriter, Shirl’s lapel watch (more or less a family heirloom), Shirl’s steam iron, and three suits – two of Shirl’s and one of mine.  Mine is the brown one, which I liked the least of any of my suits – one thing to be thankful for.  I had my two favorite suits at home.  We can’t tell if anything of Betty’s is missing.  We told Mr. Silver and he called the police.  Shirl talked to them, too.  There’s really not much they can do about it – we don’t have identification marks and don’t remember any serial numbers.

I just can’t seem to think or write straight tonight.

So tonight I’ll only say I love you.  By the way, don’t change that Monday class back to Tuesday yet.  You can’t tell – I might be home again in a couple of weeks, darling.  Hmmm, I love you.  I’d squeeze your breath

away if you were here right now.  I wish you were.

I’ll be waiting Friday at 8 for you, darling. Be good, and don’t get in any accidents or flirt with any blondes.

All my love,

June

(Tomorrow – Edward Everett Horton comes to town.)

© 2011 Lee Price

Don't Stay in the City Alone!

Tuesday, August 1, 1950

20 Cooper Street

Southampton, NY

Dear June,

Well, darling, I went to see the lawyer again today.  He called up the district headquarters in N.Y. and talked to the person in charge of the enlisted reserve.  He’s also sent a letter to him.  Anyway I guess we’ll get things straightened out.  I may have to go into the city though.

I didn’t paint tonight.  Secunda called me up to see if I was coming but I decided to wait till tomorrow night.  I went to the movies instead – The Flame and the Arrow.  It was pretty good.  Then I dropped in at Gene’s for a minute afterward.  All the guys shook hands with me and welcomed me back.  I didn’t stay long though.

It’s been an awfully hot day, with lots of humidity.  I hope it wasn’t too bad in the city.  Since I haven’t heard otherwise, I assume that Shirl must still be there.  Don’t you dare stay in the city alone, darling!  You come right home!

Boy, I hope you can read this sloppy letter.  I’m all out of practice writing.  I love you very very much, my sweetheart.  I’ll be looking for you Friday night.  Don’t work too hard.  (I know you won’t.)

Good night for now, my darling sweetheart.  M-m-m if only I could squeeze you in my arms now, and kiss you good night.

All my love,

Art

(Tomorrow – Robbed!)

© 2011 Lee Price