# Born in 1905 and deserve postage stamps, dammit! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 21, 2005, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-1905-and-deserve-postage-stamps-dammit/285970 "2005-01-21T20:57:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-1905-and-deserve-postage-stamps-dammit/285970/1 "2005-01-21T20:57:52Z")
If I were in charge of the US Post office, these 100-year-birthdays would be marked with postage stamps for 2005! Anna May Wong Ayn Rand Thelma Ritter Harold Arlen Joseph Cotton Henry Fonda Lillian Hellman Clara Bow Thelma Todd Dag Hammarskjöld Myrna Loy Dolores del Rio Eddie ‘Rochester’ Anderson Greta Garbo Agnes de Mille Jule Styne and last but far from least, Harriet MacGibbon (Mrs. Drysdale!) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-1905-and-deserve-postage-stamps-dammit/285970/2 "2005-01-21T21:18:18Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > Henry Fonda [May 16[sup]th[/sup]](http://shop.usps.com/cgi-bin/vsbv/postal_store_non_ssl/browse_content/stampReleaseDisplay.jsp?OID=8594) > [@](#): > > _Greta Garbo_ September 23[sup]rd[/sup] ([no image yet](http://shop.usps.com/cgi-bin/vsbv/postal_store_non_ssl/browse_content/stampReleaseDisplay.jsp?OID=8604)) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-1905-and-deserve-postage-stamps-dammit/285970/3 "2005-01-21T21:20:11Z")
One not on your list: [Robert Penn Warren](http://shop.usps.com/cgi-bin/vsbv/postal_store_non_ssl/browse_content/stampReleaseDisplay.jsp?OID=8591), April 22[sup]nd[/sup]. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-1905-and-deserve-postage-stamps-dammit/285970/4 "2005-01-21T21:22:15Z")
Well, at least they got a couple right, but, dammit, no Clara Bow, Thelma Ritter or Mrs. Drysdale stamps? Who wouldn’t want _them_ on their letters?! ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-1905-and-deserve-postage-stamps-dammit/285970/5 "2005-01-21T21:30:04Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > If I were in charge of the US Post office, these 100-year-birthdays would be marked with postage stamps for 2005! The Post Office has already issued commemoratives for some of these. > [@](#): > > Ayn Rand Honored in 1999 (or maybe 1998) as part of the Literary Arts series. > [@](#): > > Harold Arlen Included in a 1995 (year may be off) block of 4 honoring American songwriters (along with Johnny Mercer, Dorothy Fields and Hoagy Charmichael) > [@](#): > > Clara Bow Included in a ‘Stars of the Silent Screen’ booklet of 10 issued in the late 80s or early 90s (Other featured stars included Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Rudolph Valentino and John Gilbert) > [@](#): > > Dag Hammarskjöld Featured on a commemorative the year after his death (1962?) > [@](#): > > Agnes de Mille Included last year in an ‘American Choreographers’ strip of 4 (or maybe 5) ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-1905-and-deserve-postage-stamps-dammit/285970/6 "2005-01-21T21:44:51Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > If I were in charge of the US Post office, these 100-year-birthdays would be marked with postage stamps for 2005! > > Ayn Rand I’m not sure Ms. Rand and her acolytes would be to pleased with her face being on a Government issued stamp 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-1905-and-deserve-postage-stamps-dammit/285970/7 "2005-01-21T21:48:10Z")
The fact is that the “Legends of Hollywood” issues are big PR opportunities as well as huge events for collectors, so the USPS is very discretionary about their issue strategy–one a year (note that the Garbo issue is in conjunction with a mirror issue from the Swedish post office and not part of the LoH series). I’m impressed that they Edward G. Robinson come out as one of the first honorees. And they’re not about to do Anna May Wong when they haven’t even gotten to Bette Davis or Jimmy Stewart yet (though last year’s Wayne issue was a waste–he already had one!) Styne will get one soon, primarily because everyone else already has one (Yip Harburg is this year), and if Robert Penn Warren gets one (also this year), than Hellman’s overdue. But, again, in time (though I wouldn’t hold my breath on MacGibbon, even if they issues a _BH_ “Classic TV Series” stamp). ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-1905-and-deserve-postage-stamps-dammit/285970/8 "2005-01-21T21:49:39Z")
> [@Tapioca Dextrin](#): > > I’m not sure Ms. Rand and her acolytes would be to pleased with her face being on a Government issued stamp 😉 Maybe not, it’s a pretty [cool looking stamp](http://www.ny.lp.org/images/ayn_rand_stamp.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-1905-and-deserve-postage-stamps-dammit/285970/9 "2005-01-21T22:03:59Z")
[The Harold Arlen stamp.](http://www.haroldarlen.com/honors.html) ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-1905-and-deserve-postage-stamps-dammit/285970/10 "2005-01-21T22:06:38Z")
[The Agnes de Mille stamp.](http://shop.usps.com/cgi-bin/vsbv/postal_store_non_ssl/display_products/productDetail.jsp?OID=4849001&info=more) ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-1905-and-deserve-postage-stamps-dammit/285970/11 "2005-01-21T22:07:06Z")
I nominate [Tom Coakley](http://www.worldsrecords.com/pages/artists/c/coakley_tom/tom_coakley_31254.html), undoubtedly the only person ever to have been both a name band leader and a federal judge. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-1905-and-deserve-postage-stamps-dammit/285970/12 "2005-01-21T22:28:54Z")
> [@Tapioca Dextrin](#): > > I’m not sure Ms. Rand and her acolytes would be to pleased with her face being on a Government issued stamp 😉 Of course, as normal, I was completely wrong. Those [pesky objectionists](http://www.objectivistcenter.org/events/others/others-ayn-rand-stamp.asp) are just as caught up in the glitzy Hollywood world of the USPS as us normal folks. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-1905-and-deserve-postage-stamps-dammit/285970/13 "2005-01-21T22:31:51Z")
[Clara Bow](http://www.unicover.com/EA1CAKI8.HTM) ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-1905-and-deserve-postage-stamps-dammit/285970/14 "2005-01-21T23:20:14Z")
I know I’m gonna be dragged to the Pit for saying this, but I hate all these damn popularity-contest postage stamps! There’s a great line in Citizen Kane: “You buy a bag of peanuts in this town, they write a song about you.” Well these days, they print a stamp with your face on it. Me, I loved the monocromatic, raised-ink stamps of old, usually bearing faces of dead white guys. You looked at those stamps and you knew the economy was as solid as the chasis of the '57 Caddy that was in your 2-car garage. Now our stamps look like they’ve been issued by a 6-month-old banana republic whose economy is based on drugs, bat guano and the vending machine in the airport waiting room. And postage stamps. Anyway, Eve, if you really want a stamp of that Mrs. Drysdale gal, make your own. A few months ago there was a website that enabled you to create your own honest-to-goodness US postage stamps with whatever image you supplied. Of course, the process cost more than .37 per stamp. It may have been a trial program, so I don’t know if it’s still being offered. (I think there was a thread about it, so you may want to search the boards for more info.) ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-1905-and-deserve-postage-stamps-dammit/285970/15 "2005-01-21T23:40:59Z")
> [@stuyguy](#): > > I know I’m gonna be dragged to the Pit for saying this, but I hate all these damn popularity-contest postage stamps! There’s a great line in Citizen Kane: “You buy a bag of peanuts in this town, they write a song about you.” Well these days, they print a stamp with your face on it. [You’re more right than you know](http://www.virtualstampclub.com/images/40s-citkane.jpg). > [@](#): > > Me, I loved the monocromatic, raised-ink stamps of old, usually bearing faces of dead white guys. You looked at those stamps and you knew the economy was as solid as the chasis of the '57 Caddy that was in your 2-car garage. Now our stamps look like they’ve been issued by a 6-month-old banana republic whose economy is based on drugs, bat guano and the vending machine in the airport waiting room. And postage stamps. :Sniff: [Here you go. For old time’s sake](http://www.1847usa.com/identify/1950s/1957.htm). Oh, and for comparison, some [Banana Republic stamps](http://www.stampnut.com/honduras.html). Wow, I do see a difference. > [@](#): > > Anyway, Eve, if you really want a stamp of that Mrs. Drysdale gal, make your own. A few months ago there was a website that enabled you to create your own honest-to-goodness US postage stamps with whatever image you supplied. Of course, the process cost more than .37 per stamp. It may have been a trial program, so I don’t know if it’s still being offered. (I think there was a thread about it, so you may want to search the boards for more info.) What you’re describing sounds incredibly illegal. Not that it [hasn’t been tried.](http://www.reason.com/0401/cr.jw.postal.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![chukhung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@chukhung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chukhung)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-1905-and-deserve-postage-stamps-dammit/285970/16 "2005-01-21T23:43:19Z")
> [@stuyguy](#): > > It may have been a trial program, so I don’t know if it’s still being offered. (I think there was a thread about it, so you may want to search the boards for more info.) I believe that trial is now over and I’m not sure when, if ever, it will be restarted. While the program was still running, the folks at The Smoking Gun were able to print out valid U.S. postage featuring photos of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, Slobodan Milosevic, and Ted Kaczynski, among others. The article is [here](http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0831043stamps1.html). ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-1905-and-deserve-postage-stamps-dammit/285970/17 "2005-01-21T23:51:17Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > What you’re describing sounds incredibly illegal. Not that it [hasn’t been tried.](http://www.reason.com/0401/cr.jw.postal.shtml) Hell, some artists have been known to draw postage right on the envelopes. One of my sisters went to college with a guy like that. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-1905-and-deserve-postage-stamps-dammit/285970/18 "2005-01-21T23:53:13Z")
> [@chukhung](#): > > I believe that trial is now over and I’m not sure when, if ever, it will be restarted. > > While the program was still running, the folks at The Smoking Gun were able to print out valid U.S. postage featuring photos of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, Slobodan Milosevic, and Ted Kaczynski, among others. The article is [here](http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0831043stamps1.html). LOL! That’s hilarious (in a genuinely twisted way). [Here](http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,65202,00.html)’s a follow-up article. It looks like they may have come to a decision by now… ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-1905-and-deserve-postage-stamps-dammit/285970/19 "2005-01-21T23:53:32Z")
> [@42fish](#): > > The Post Office has already issued commemoratives for some of these . . . Included in a ‘Stars of the Silent Screen’ booklet of 10 issued in the late 80s or early 90s . . . 1. That was the most godawful travesty . . . I don’t think Al Hirschfeld even _looked_ at any photos of the people he was caricaturing. I think we should start campaigning now for a Dowagers Commemorative Issue: Margaret Dumont, Mrs. Drysdale, Marie Dressler, Norma Varden, Louise Closser Hale . . . ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-1905-and-deserve-postage-stamps-dammit/285970/20 "2005-01-22T01:00:34Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > 1. That was the most godawful travesty . . . I don’t think Al Hirschfeld even _looked_ at any photos of the people he was caricaturing. Hmmm. [Zasu](http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/artofthestamp/SubPage%20table%20images/artwork/arts/Zasu%20Pitts/BIGzasu.htm) [Pitts](http://bbchz.mercuryarchive.com/Family/Walt-Disney-World-2000/ZasuPitts.jpg). [Clara](http://www.harmonydesigns.com/product/detail.php?catalogNumber=2820) [Bow](http://rubtsov.penza.com.ru/calendar/pict/bow.jpg) [John](http://www.harmonydesigns.com/product/detail.php?catalogNumber=2823) [Gilbert](http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.silentfilm.org/pastprograms/1997festival/themerrywidow/images/1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.silentfilm.org/pastprograms/1997festival/themerrywidow/schedule1.htm&h=243&w=326&sz=49&tbnid=7abBpm0npm8J:&tbnh=84&tbnw=112&start=48&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2522john%2Bgilbert%2522%26start%3D40%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN) [Theda](http://www.harmonydesigns.com/product/detail.php?catalogNumber=2827) [Bara](http://www.threemoviebuffs.com/miscreview/fooltherewas1.jpg) :Shrugs: They look OK to me (though I’ll give you the bizarre Valentino, plus the Chaplin could be better). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-1905-and-deserve-postage-stamps-dammit/285970.md?page=2)