Last Friday we went to the OKC Art Museum to see "Sketch to Screen: The Art of Hollywood Costume Design.
Considering all the other amazing clothing and sketches which are part of this exhibit, you might wonder why I chose to draw Dick Tracy's hat on the Inchie which represents our visit.
I have good reasons.
I have lots and lots and lots of good reasons.
I have an entire box full of reasons.
When the movie came out, lo, these many years ago, we were visiting family in Arizona.
Our three oldest boys were treated to the movie as part of their vacation.
Movies didn't happen too often for them 'back in the day'.
And they went Dick Tracy crazy.
They started collecting the Dick Tracy trading cards.
They collected (multiple sets of) the Dick Tracy action figures...
...which they kept in their Dick Tracy collector's case.
They cut out, and memorized, the profiles from the action figure packaging.
They memorized the Entertainment magazine issue devoted to the Dick Tracy movie and it's stars.
They bought Dick Tracy postcards.
They wore Dick Tracy shirts...
...and Dick Tracy underwear and socks.
They had Dick Tracy pajamas, and belts, and scarves, and sandals...
...and they wore their Dick Tracy shoes until there were more holes than shoe.
And one holiday, when Prince Charming was off work, we woke the boys with music from the movie and told them it was "Dick Tracy Day".
We'd baked a cake and we'd mounted posters for decorations.
The cake had action figures from both sides of the law, shooting it out from behind graham-cracker walls.
They were surprised, and we were happy.
And then they grew up.
And the Dick Tracy cards and magazines, and belts and shoes, and shirts and underwear, and action figures and postcards, all went into a cardboard box.
And the cardboard box went into the attic.
I don't know why we kept it all.
There are many other precious things which were not saved.
But, my goodness, we've got Dick Tracy.
And we've got sweet memories.
And we still see traces of those three little boys sometimes.