Audie and Ehme on Valentines Day, Southern California, 1954
A young couple poses for their Valentines Day portrait in the garden.
Cupid’s arrow pierces the dahlia-lined home made heart hanging on the clothesline between them. A simple floral bouquet stands before them. The garden hose snakes behind their feet. Her hand is in his. He cracks half a smile. She barely smirks. Their dress for the occasion is simple but smart. His cement colored sport coat, thin blue tie and a white shirt tucked into smart black trouser is timeless. Her shapely linen tweed suit and strappy sandals stand the test of time. But her hat does not. It makes her look like a nurse. Her ears are pearled and her are lips painted.
This is one of the slides that I showed when I was a guest on Martha Stewart’s Valentines Day show last year. I couldn’t believe when Martha saw Audie and Ehme her comment was “She’s not very pretty!” I couldn’t believe it. I might of thought it but I would’ve never said it.
Speaking of Martha, when I got the call to be on her show the producer told me that it would be nice if I brought something to give to Martha on the air being that it was Valentines Day and all.
The pressure was on! What in the world was I going to bring the domestic diva on Valentines Day? It didn’t take me more than a moment for the good ‘ol hometown pride to kick in. The next thing you know I’m at Logan’s Candy Store in my hometown of Ontario, California, where they’ve been making it the old fashioned way since 1933. When I walked in the door the candy man was making one of his specialties, ribbon candy. I asked him if he could make a special ribbon candy heart for Martha. He said I should make it. So after a few tries and some help from his wife I was walking out of the candy store door clutching a very well bubble-wrapped ribbon candy heart made special for Martha. All the while hoping it makes it to New York without getting broken.
Thirty-six hours later I arrive at the studio in New York for the taping. The delicate ribbon candy heart is unbroken, I present it to Martha on the air and she genuinely seems to like it. Then after the show as I was leaving the building I passed by her long conference table stacked with dozens beautifully wrapped Valentines Day gifts. And there was my ribbon candy heart right in the middle. I was so pound to share a little bit of my hometown pride with Martha.
To see the ribbon candy heart and hear how Martha responded when I asked her if she would be my Valentine… you may watch the clip on youtube.
Hers to Audie and Ehme, Logan’s ribbon candy, Martha, Valentines Day and YOU!
I wonder if the mother in law posed them for this shot? Both have eye brow smirks that are holding back more than the sun. Are they married? I can’t see the ring fingers from the photo?
Great commentary Charles!
I remember Martha’s comment when I watched this show! She seems intimidated by your powerful stage presence, but I think you won her over with the Ribbon Candy Valentine!
Re: your Martha Stewart gift and comments, I share an odd purely platonic attraction to not only Martha Stewart but also Dr. Laura Schlessinger. I must be a “bad-boy” in need of appropriate “punishment”.
Perhaps Dr. Laura could “declare the punishment” with Martha “delivering it through Community Service on her TV show”?
Hmmm? What could THAT entail?!
LOL!!! JustMeJerry
Great story – proofreading still not your strong point
They both look alike.
I love the photo and since 1954 is my birth year it seem especially nostalgic. But I wonder if those are dalhias around the heart if they are, and I can’t see them as well as you can in the photo then it can’t be Feb. Because they don’t bloom until early summer late spring. Perhaps they are Camellias which would be more in keeping with the season and a great southern california classic.
Thanks for showing Martha the So Cal has the best in everything.
I bet the woman in the picture was a bit prettier in person.
Funny, Martha’s comment wasn’t my first response. Says something about Martha, doesn’t it? Thanks again for a GREAT night at Bob Bakers for his B.Day.
They sure look like brother & sister to me!
(P.S. “Valentine’s” always has an apostrophe.)
Shame on you, Charles. You don’t recognize Lucy Ricardo’s hat when you see it? But I wonder where she left her gloves?
The woman in the Valentine’s photo is Audrey and the man is Ehme (pronounced Aim). Audrey worked for me for the last 8 yrs and her loving Ehme passed away in July ’08. They were married 53 years! So VERY much in love, Ehme cherished Audrey (Audie was his pet name for her)and treated her like a queen. I had the priviledge to see them dance together at a friend’s wedding and the spark in their eyes was still there after 50 years. There were the epitome of true love and respect. If only all of us could be so lucky in this life.
On a side note, Audrey was the most polished and well dressed woman I have met, everything always matched down to her shoes, earrings and brooches. A class act..