Wednesday
Dear Pat,
Received your letter today with work application. You might have applied for saur krout [sic] stumper or grape presser. Surely there are rarer occupations than the ones you picked.
Hope your rehearsal pictures turned out well. If you finish the roll, rewind as per instructions in the Argus booklet -- before opening the camera, please -- pop the magazine into the can, the can into the yellow bag, address to the processing plant at Fair Lawn, New Jersey (address in the film instruction sheet) show our York address for return, affix two three-cent stamps and mail. We'll have the slides back in a week. I had ordered two rolls of film but the one received bore a processing date of Sept. 1955 so I sent it right back. Hope they replace it in time for us to get some Xmas pictures. I'm not sending you any black & white film. Can't buy it any cheaper here unless you take a chance on unknown brands. Kodak Plus X or Super X will work fine. Don't use Tri-X unless you want it specially forpoor [sic] light conditions. The print quality suffers for the sake of high sensitivity.
Mother decided not to send your clothing. It would arrive about the time you were ready to come home. If you ca't take everything back with you after Xmas, we'll send it.
Our shipment arrived from Gen. Mdse. Co. today. Nothing back-ordered, thank goodness. Actually it arrived at the Gazette yesterday but we were still grounded by the Civil aeronautics Board. Got the car back from Stetler's this afternoon with the front all patched up good as new. Cost $70.00 and three days' doing without.
Theatre Arts also arrived today. Might as well hold that 'til you come home, too. Script of the Bad Seed. Also ANTA's ambitious plan to produce 40 different shows per year -- 10 each at four regional talent centers -- and send them 'round a circuit of 40 theaters such as the Court Square in Springfield for a one week run in each. It would mean ressurecting [sic] the theatres and refurbishing them. Establishing a producer, ten directors and ten companies at each talent center and a lot of other work. They figure that with standardizing lighting equipment, basic stage set-ups, etc. they can save plenty on road expense. Think they can present a 40week season in each of the 40 cities with $2.50 top admission. More power to 'em if they can pull it off.
Saw Slewfoot Janice and Franchot Tone in a good play last night on TV. Watch for Wells Fargo Ballet (or whatever) coming up on TV this week end. Also Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy and Eileen Heckart about next Tuesday in a play in the "playwright's 56" series, [sic]
Write us what train we are to meet in Lancaster and bear in mind you must call from New York at least an hour before it is scheduled to arrive in Lancaster if you have to take a later train. Mother signed you up to go along to the Gazette dinner next Saturday in honor of Mr. & Mrs. Gitt. It's an early evening affair and shouldn't interfere too much in any other plans you may make for Saturday night.
Mother is co-hostess with Clara tonight at their class meeting. She took along a guessing game in the form of jars containing a little vinegar, ammonia, turpentine, coffee, tea, etc. to test their smellers.
I must sign off and get to bed. This getting up in the morning early enough to get the bus is taking its toll.
Love,
Dad
[handwritten postscript]
Will send earrings as soon as finished. Mother
[York Junior College students in a play, and Pat's friend Jane Thornton designed sets in a play for Barnard's Wigs and Cues.]