Showing posts with label love letters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label love letters. Show all posts

Friday, August 19, 2011

Love Letters



Another fave that has taken me awhile to shoot is this Circa 1947 fire-engine red concoction, designed by José Ferrand and released in 2000. From the story card:

The film Love Letters was set for a Valentine's Day release—and couples all over the country had marked their calendars with a big red heart to make sure they'd be there for the most romantic picture of the year.

In Love Letters Gene is a shy young woman who answers a lonely hearts ad. Quick and courteous postcards turn to long and loving letters—and finally a marriage proposal. They arrange to meet at the train station on Valentine's Day. “How will I recognize you, my Mysterious Lady?” he writes in a postcard.



"I'll wear something red, for the occasion," she replies in a card.

Valentine's Day finally arrives. As he enters the train station, his arms filled with heart-shaped candy box, bouquet, and corsage, his eyes search the crowd for even a hint of red. And there is Gene, resplendent in a red dress, red hat, red shoes—and a sign that says, "Be Mine!"

Rushing to her, her bespectacled pen pal suddenly stops short. His face turning as red as her dress, he takes off his glasses and whispers, "I hope you're not disappointed. Will you still marry me?"

"Does Niagara have Falls?" says Gene, with a slight catch in her voice. "Let's get on that train." But before they turn to go, she points a stern finger at his nose and says, "But NO picture postcards to any Mysterious Ladies, okay?” And, laughing, they make their way to the Honeymoon Express.


The last two show Gene modeling a rare red Tucker automobile from 1948. Uniquely designed (just like Gene!), the Tucker had the engine in the back and the trunk in the front.





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Monday, August 8, 2011

Friendly Connection & The Tucker Automobile



The 1948 Tucker Automobile was revolutionary in its day. Some of its features included:

• A directional third headlight (aka "Cyclops Eye"), which would activate at steering angles of greater than 10 degrees to light the car's path around corners

• A rear-engine and rear wheel drive

• A perimeter frame surrounding the vehicle for crash protection, as well as a roll bar integrated into the roof

• A steering box behind the front axle to protect the driver in a front-end accident

• A padded dashboard for safety

• A windshield made of shatterproof glass, protectively designed to pop out in a collision

• Seat belts, a first in its day.



Only 51 were produced before Tucker was shot down by a myriad of problems, including the possibility that The Big Three automakers and Michigan senator Homer S. Ferguson played a major part in its failure.

One of the best known Tuckers was painted Waltz Blue (matching the color of one of Mrs. Tucker's favorite dresses), making it the perfect one to attract Gene Marshall's attention.



Here, Gene models Love Letters while posing with a red colored Tucker:



That's right; luggage in the front, engine in the back!



See more Gene Marshall & Friends doll photos at my regular website.