Talents from the past

Hi everyone,

The Missouri Arts Council table, where I sat on Saturday during the Heartland Book Festival, was adjacent to The Writers Place table. I belong to TWP and was privileged to speak to them last year. Among the talented authors at the table during the day were our most recent former state poet laureate, MARYFRANCES WAGNER and two of the editors on the staff during my days at Hallmark Cards more than fifty years ago, TINA HACKER and BARBARA LOOTS. Barbara gave me a copy of her book of poetry, The Bee Keeper and Other Poems.

I’m reading Barbara’s book now and thoroughly enjoying it. She’s a gifted poet. So is Tina, whose work I’ve been reading for the last several years. I’m reminded of how many talented people worked there when I did. One of the editors had a Ph.D. Another was a published novelist. BARBARA BARTOCCI went on to publish numerous books and tour the country giving inspirational talks. CHARLIE BARSOTTI became a cartoonist whose comic series, Sally Bananas, was syndicated and carried in numerous newspapers before he became a longtime contributor to The New Yorker. One time I sent Charlie a note and asked, “What are you doing?” He answered, “Just sitting here waiting for my muse to drop by.” One Hallmark editor left to start his own card company. So much talent.

At the time when I served as the Editorial Manager, the department was divided into four groups: editors of seasonal cards, editors of everyday cards, the writers, and the clerical group. As I remember, there were more than thirty of us in total. During the years after I left to return to Springfield to run Glenstone Block Company, at least one of the former staff members — LOIS HUNT –was promoted to the same job I’d had. I’ve lost track of most of the others from my days in Kansas City, 1963-1973, but I know there were others who went on to successful careers in other fields.

The art department dwarfed editorial. At that time, it was the largest commercial art group in America. Many of those who worked at Hallmark at some point in their lives were highly gifted artists who held frequent showings of their work. We have paintings by some hanging in our home. That was true in homes and museums throughout the country. One such wonderful artist (and writer) is CHERYL HARNESS, whose many books have brought joy to countless young readers and whose artwork can be found in such places as the Harry Truman Library in Independence, Missouri.

When I left science to find a more creative environment for my day job (in hopes that it would stimulate my night job of writing), I doubt that I could have made a better choice anywhere in the country. And fifty years later, I’m reading poems by Hacker and Loots and being reminded that I’ve been privileged to work with many, many talented people.

Looking back more than 40 years

Hi everyone,

I left Hallmark in 1973 so I’ve lost touch with most of the people I once knew and worked with. A year or so ago I joined a chat group of ex-Hallmarkers to see if any familiar names might pop up. I’ve posted a couple of times, including one yesterday. I was delighted to hear from an editor on my staff forty-two years ago, Ellen Green, as well as another editor from then with whom I regularly keep in touch, Tina Hacker. And there were others who checked in. What a delightful experience. I believe it was John Hunt who started the group.

I was privileged to work with a lot of talented people. One of the editors had her PhD. Another, Pony Hannah, was a novelist who wrote the book, My Shadow Ran Fast, about Caryl Chessman, who was executed on May 1, 1960. We had two groups of editors, one for everyday cards and one for seasonal cards; a writing group who handled requests for specific card needs; and a clerical staff. Altogether we were about thirty-four strong and we got out all the sentiments published on Hallmark Cards. As part of my duties I also approved sentiments published as Ambassador Cards. I also met each morning in the art division as new cards were being illustrated to offer my opinion about how well the picture went with the sentiment and intent of each card.

After we moved to Springfield so I could take over my father’s concrete block manufacturing company, I returned to Hallmark once for a visit, but that was long ago. Today I’m sure I wouldn’t recognize my old stomping grounds. Thanks again, John Hunt!