Dorothy Parker, a short-story writer, poet and drama critic, was honored with a 29-cent commemorative Aug. 15 by the U. S. Postal Service.
The commemorative is the 10th in the Literary Arts Series that began in 1979. First day cermonies were at the West End Park section of Long Branch, N.J., her birthplace.
Parker (1893-1967) grew up in New York and in 1917 became drama critic for Vanity Fair magazine. Her stint there ended after three years because the publisher was at odds with her caustic drama reviews. Parker then joined the New Yorker magazine.
Her first book of verse, ”Enough Rope” (1926), included a well-remembered couplet, ”Men seldom make passes/ At girls who wear glasses.”
In 1929, Parker won the O. Henry Award for the best short story of the year with ”Big Blonde.”
Parker and her second husband, Alan Campbell, went to Hollywood in 1933 and collaborated as screen writers.She became active in left-wing politics, and during the post-World War II anti-Communist hysteria that gripped Hollywood, she had difficultly finding fulltime work.
Parker wrote reviews for magazines and collaborated on plays. She died in New York City.
First day collectors who prepare their covers should affix stamps on self-addressed envelopes and mail requests to Customer Affixed Envelopes, Dorothy Parker Stamp, Postmaster, 60 Third Ave., Long Branch, N.J., 07740-9991. Or, send self-addressed envelopes and check or money order of 29 cents to Dorothy Parker Stamp, Postmaster, 60 Third Ave., Long Branch, N.J., 07740-9992.
