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

Things Are Missing

Monday, July 31, 1950

112 West 86th Street

New York City, NY



Dear Art,

I sit here alone tonight writing to you.  That’s right – no one’s here.

Something’s odd around here, darling.  My typewriter has disappeared.  I’ve looked all over and can’t find it.  I’m worried about that.  I’m pretty sure Shirl or Betty wouldn’t have lugged it home, but I’ll ask Shirl if she knows about it tomorrow.  I hope it hasn’t been stolen.  Other things were out of place, too.  Like my artwork.  It’s against the wall where I left it, but the portfolio the drawings were in is missing.  I don’t know what to think.

Fashion illustration by
June Anderson.

Maybe I should start from the beginning.

This morning, I packed my suitcase and wandered to the station for the 8:33 train.  I knew I was early – the station was almost deserted.  So I went into the paper store for a magazine.  When I put my suitcase down, the owner looked at me and said, “Where do you think you’re going?”  That’s when I began to suspect something was wrong.  It was.  It seems the 8:33 train doesn’t run on weekdays since the coal shortage.

So I came in on the 3:48 train.  I’m sorry now that I did.  No one is here.  I called Shirl and it seems that she caught a bad cold and went home early last week.  She’s promised she’ll come in tomorrow night.

I’ll be waiting anxiously to find out what the Veteran’s Administration lawyer told you today.  I miss you so very much but I won’t go into that now or I’ll get homesick.

All my love,

June

(Tomorrow – Don't stay in the city alone!)

© 2011 Lee Price

Competing Interests

June's father Theodore Anderson, Art Price, and June Anderson.

“Don’t let your mother push you too much.”

                                                                        Art Price

                                                                        Letter to June Anderson, July 18, 1950

Pencil sketch by
June Anderson.

Judging from the letters, June had to deal with conflicting pressures from loved ones during her return to New York City in summer 1950.  Her mother had always been a strong advocate of women’s education and she approved of women with careers.  June received a practical education and her mother was pushing for her it put it to use now.  On top of all this, June’s mother loved New York City and the prospect of her daughter finding a good job there would have been very pleasing.

On the other side, Art clearly wanted June to give up the New York City job hunt and return home to Riverhead, where she’d only be twenty minutes away.  In his letters, he offers some minimal support for the job hunt but he’s unable to hold back his real feelings for long.

“Well I haven’t heard from you, so I guess you haven’t found a job.  I still like the idea of your returning home but then I’m selfish, as you know.”

                         Art Price 

                         Letter to June Anderson, July 19, 1950

Art probably kept these sentiments to himself while visiting with June’s family.  He would have wanted to keep the peace.  His real feelings probably only slipped out in the letters.

June’s mother was at an advantage in this situation.  As long as things proceeded smoothly, her mother could keep the pressure up, pushing June to pursue that elusive dream job in the big city.

(For Monday – something's wrong.)

© 2011 Lee Price

Oops! Forgot to Write!

Pencil sketch by June Anderson.

Thursday, July 20, 1950

112 West 86th Street

New York City, NY

Dear Art,

Darling, I don’t know what happened.  Somehow I forgot to write you a letter last night!  It’s not that I didn’t think of you, either, because I did – all night.  It’s just the letter I forgot.  Please forgive me.

I haven’t found any work yet and I call home every day in case they hear something.

Shirl has been depressed lately – I wish she would snap out of it.  She doesn’t like school anymore, wishes she were home, etc.  And then there’s always that business with Ted.

Betty and I went out for a nice walk last night.  Don’t worry, it was along upper Broadway – a very nice place to walk at night.  Shirl didn’t come because she didn’t feel like getting dressed to go out.

Tonight we’ll probably go to the movies again.  I try to keep busy all the time, so I won’t be so aware of missing you so much and the time will go quicker.

All my love,

June

P.S. Darling, I just got your letter and I’ve read it twice already.  How I enjoyed it!  Not that you told me anything
in particular – it’s just so nice to hear
from you.  I love you, too.  Now I'm
going right out to mail this.

Love,

June

(For Saturday – job hunting pressure.)
 

© 2011 Lee Price

The One of You Is Beautiful

One of the few color photographs of June Anderson from
this time and possibly the picture referenced in the letter.

Wednesday, July 19, 1950

20 Cooper Street

Southampton, NY

Dear June,

I went to Secunda’s art class tonight and laid the mural out on the wall.  I’ll start painting next week, I guess.  And I just found out I’m chairman of publicity for this barbecue next week.  So I’ve been on the telephone tonight finding out about posters, signs, advertising in the newspaper, etc.

Remember I had some color film in my camera quite a while ago.  I just got it back today.  The one of you is beautiful.  You’ll have to come over to the house to see it.

Well I haven’t heard from you, so I guess you haven’t found a job.  I still like the idea of your returning home but then I’m selfish, as you know.  I do love you so much, my darling.

It’s getting late so I guess I’ll “hit the sack.”  I haven’t heard from the reserve yet but my mother says she heard over the radio that the reserves were frozen for now.

Take care of yourself, sweetheart.  Be careful in the city.  Good night for now my love.

All my love,

Art

(Tomorrow – forgot to write.)

© 2011 Lee Price

A Movie Star in Town

Tuesday, July 18, 1950

20 Cooper Street 

Southampton, NY

Dear June,

My darling, I love you very much.  How’s that for the beginning of a letter?

Van Johnson.

It seems like everybody in town (the female half, this is) has been loitering on the streets hoping to see Van Johnson.  He’s been around quite a bit.  Lots of people have seen him but not me yet.

By the way, Bruno had a date this weekend with a blonde from one of the summer stores.  He’s been trying hard to get acquainted with her.

I’ve been writing cards all evening and sitting around talking to my family.  I’ve got a couple of paintings ready to put in the Parrish Art Museum out here tomorrow.

I hope you’re not wearing yourself out job hunting.  Don’t let your mother push you too much.  I know this may mean I’m a stinker but I hope you don’t call this week.  And you know why you would be calling me – to say you’ll be staying in the city, maybe permanently.

I love you, darling.  Take care of yourself, my dearest,

All my love,

Art

(Tomorrow – The one of you is beautiful.)

© 2011 Lee Price

Second Grilled Cheese of the Evening

Monday, July 17, 1950

112 West 86th Street

New York City, NY

Dear Art,

Fashion illustration by
June Anderson.

I’ve had quite a busy day today, darling.  I got up at 7:00 this morning but the train was late, getting me to New York about 45 minutes late.  As a result, I wasn’t ready to begin job hunting till about 11:00.

I made the rounds to four different agencies – walking most of the way.  I’m getting quite proficient at getting turned down.  After walking around so much, the heat started getting the best of me so I came back here.  I don’t think I was ever so hot as I was today.

It’s 10:30 now, darling, and Shirl and Betty are already in bed.  Shirl’s very homesick, or so she sounds.  Betty is going home Saturday for about a week and a half.  She’s going to be a bridesmaid.

While writing to you, I’m making myself the second grilled cheese sandwich of the evening.  There.  I just finished the sandwich and it tasted real good.  But I ate too much.

Darling, I miss you so much tonight.  I wish you were able to give me at least one kiss to sleep on.  I love you, and till tomorrow’s letter –

All my love,

June

(Tomorrow – Van Johnson in town.)

© 2011 Lee Price

The Korean War

Pencil sketch by Art Price.

“I’ve been following the war news, listening to it with half-closed ears.  I just pray they won’t take you.  I’ll feel terrible if you’re taken away from me.”

           June Anderson

           Letter to Art Price, July 10, 1950

Internationally, the lead players in the Cold War – the United States, the Soviet Union, and the People’s Republic of China – were all focused on the Korean peninsula in 1950.  The North Korean Army, supported by the Chinese, invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950.  The United Nations Security Council immediately
                                                                                  responded with a condemnation,
                                                                                  followed in two days by a resolution
                                                                                  to militarily assist South Korea.

Sketch of President Truman by Art Price.

Under the leadership of President Harry S. Truman, the United States took a firm stand against communist expansion, committing the US military to full involvement in defense of South Korea.  With the Battle of Osan on July 5, 1950 (just five days before June’s letter referenced above), the United States engaged in the first major battle of the war, suffering an unexpected defeat.  Just four years after the end of World War II, the United States was faced with the prospect of engaging in another prolonged and bloody war.

With hostilities rapidly escalating in Asia, many Reservists were being called back to service.  Art had remained in the United States Naval Reserve following his Navy service (1944-1947).  During the summer of 1950, he met with a lawyer at least twice regarding his status in the Reserve.  There are indications that Art was seriously considering reenlisting at this time, probably against June’s wishes.  It’s unclear why a lawyer was involved.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
General Omar Bradley, pencil sketch by Art Price.

General Douglas MacArthur, pencil sketch by
Art Price.

(For Monday – rejection and grilled cheese sandwiches.)
 

© 2011 Lee Price

Invitation to Paint a Mural

As we enter the final three months of this blog, the pace quickens as we compress over a years’ worth of life and courtship into just a few months.  This month, we highlight a run of June and Art letters from July and August 1950.

Color pencil sketch by Art Price.



Thursday, July 13, 1950

20 Cooper Street

Southampton, NY

Dear June,

I went to Secunda’s art class yesterday and he asked me to paint a mural.  It’s for the YMCA.  He had a pretty good sized class today, 9 or 10, mostly women.  Believe me, darling, you don’t haven’t a thing to worry about.  They’re mostly beginners.  I know some of them from the store.  I may go back to the class again tonight.  I don’t know how long I’ll be able to keep up two classes a week.

I hope you’re having good luck in the city and that your interview went alright.

My folks are out again tonight.  This time they’re baby sitting across the street with Pete.

Already it seems as if you have been gone for ages.  I can hardly wait till you’re in my arms again.  Look out for me.  I’m liable to get “drunk” again!  Good night, my darling.

All my love,

Art

(For Saturday – the war news.)
 

© 2011 Lee Price

Hat and Gloves

As we enter the final three months of this blog, the pace quickens as we compress over a years’ worth of life and courtship into just a few months.  This month, we highlight a run of June and Art letters from July and August 1950.

Wednesday, July 12, 1950

112 West 86th Street

New York City, NY

Dear Art,

Fashion illustration with hat and gloves by
June Anderson.

Darling, I hate to admit it, but I’m afraid I didn’t do much at all today.  I spent most of the day trying to find a hat.  I finally bought one and some gloves, but I don’t particularly like them.  By the way, did I ever leave a pair of white gloves in your car?

By the time I bought everything it was getting late, about 2:00.  Just as Betty and I were leaving to come back to the apartment, there was a cloudburst.  My permanent didn’t take – my hair came completely straight.  So even if I had wanted to look for a job, it would have been impossible.  In fact, I’m afraid I won’t be able to look for a job any day that it rains.  I hope this won’t be a wasted week.

Oh, did I tell you Shirl and Ted have definitely broken up?

There are three of us here and on the surface the conversation is cheerful and spritely.  But, darling, underneath, I’m lonely for you.  I love you so much.

All my love,

June

(Tomorrow – an invitation to paint a mural.)

© 2011 Lee Price

New Pictures for the Wallet

As we enter the final three months of this blog, the pace quickens as we compress over a years’ worth of life and courtship into just a few months.  This month, we highlight a run of June and Art letters from July and August 1950.  After a month in Riverhead following her Traphagen graduation, June returned to New York City to look for work  Art remained behind in Southampton, working at Roulston’s grocery store and attending his art school classes…

Tuesday, July 11, 1950

20 Cooper Street

Southampton, NY

Dear June,

Gosh I haven’t written to you for so long.  I hope I haven’t forgotten how!  I had a wonderful time all the time you were home, my darling.  I love you so very much.

Don’t tire yourself out job hunting!  Get lots of sleep – and save all your strength for me, you’re going to need it, GRRR!  Oh, I love you so much.  The only thing I accomplished tonight was to add a couple of pictures to my wallet.  And guess who

they were of?

I hope you’re writing to me at the same time I’m writing this.  I like to think so.  I’ll be looking for a letter Wednesday, another Thursday, and you on Friday.  I’ll see you at 8:30 unless you want me to pick you up somewhere.  Let me know if you do.

I was busy all day at work.  I stayed home tonight, just dozing in the easy chair.  My folks have gone to the movies.  I wish you

were here.  Wish I could kiss you good night and kiss you and kiss you ---

All my love,

Art

(Tomorrow – more shopping than job hunting.)

© 2011 Lee Price