Meet
MaryJane
By EDDE Henderson
January 25th, 2020, the lunar New Year, heralded in the year of the Golden Rat. This year (for all intents and purposes) was supposed to be a rebeginning. It also was encouraging a fresh start for the new decade in San Francisco and the world.
I became ill (not from covid19) toward the end of Black History month as the pandemic was about to explode.
I was all ready feeling alone, isolated, disconnected and lost. My ability to take care of myself, which I had successfully done for the past 69 years, was beginning to decline.
On Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras, I walked over for pancakes at “Its TOPS Fountain”, which had been serving San Francisco since 1934. By the first of March, “Its Tops” had to forever close due to the pandemic. Their old-fashioned neon sign was removed permanently.
I live near Haight-Ashbury, the iconic intersection of the 1967 Summer of Love. The Haight has been going through a metamorphosis. Shops that I knew and loved for years were closing. Places like Cha-Cha-Cha restaurant and Dolls Kill were going out of business, unable to continue to pay the high rents. Even the Goodwill was shuttered, not knowing when or if it would reopen in the future. Serendipity, a vintage furniture, art and women’s fashions boutique (established 26 years ago) was closing its doors on March 1st.
Even though I had no energy, motivation and a fixed income, my curiosity got the worst of me. So, I jumped on the 7 bus, which took me up Haight and dropped me at Serendipity.
Sure enough, the sign was up: CLOSING FOREVER all items must go. I gulped as I entered beneath the banner. To my left stood MaryJane. The proprietor immediately approached me and said, “This mannequin is in the likeness of Marilyn Monroe.”
I was having none of it and responded, “It does not resemble Marilyn to me, but where did you find her?”
I was having both an out-of-body and visceral experience. I gazed upon the delightfully painted face and her sweet sixteen curves. Her arms were above her head encircling her luscious golden blond hair. She was dressed in a pink, painted-on Jantzen one-piece bathing suit circa 1950 as well as pink high-heeled shoes. She stood on a 4-inch pedestal. Her height, minus the shoes and the pedestal, I estimated to be 5’2” and her eyes were blue.
I could not explain it, but I somehow knew that face. I guessed that I had seen her in a dream. Now, she was before me a manifestation of poise and confidence.
When I got back into my body, I focused on what was happening. I noticed no price-tag on MaryJane, instead there was a sign which read, “make an offer”.
She was surrounded by barstools, tables, lamps, kitchy clothing plus a collection of art-deco art, chinoiserie, Hawaiiana and japonaiserie the likes of which I had never seen. The prices were unbelievably low, sacrificially priced.
I snapped out of my reverie and asked, “Has she had a bid?” He replied: “Not yet”. He explained, “She has been in our basement, under a blanket. We recently brought her up.”
I asked again, “where did you find this timeless beauty?” A smiling woman, who was standing behind me, identified herself as the store owner and collector of the inventory I admired.
She told this story: “I found the mannequin in Clearwater Florida displayed in a surf shop. She was covered in all kinds of hippie necklaces. I purchased her and brought her here to my Haight location and placed her in the basement.”
“During the trip back from Florida, I purchased a number of other items for several shops I have in the Bay Area. Unfortunately, this store had been my favorite location, I cannot understand how any boutique or retail merchant on Haight can stay open with these exorbitant rents. I did not want to move these items because my other stores are also full.”
I thought to myself, “this is a once in a lifetime opportunity”. I asked if I could place a small bid on MaryJane, and they immediately said yes! I daydreamed that they were looking for a good home for MaryJane.
I had to explain that I am on a fixed income and would not be paid until the first. I said I would like to leave $50 as a down payment to hold her until I can arrange transport. I thought “There was no way I can take her on the 7 bus.”
They readily accepted my terms. They also encouraged me to look around. I hoped that I would see nothing else I liked. The truth be told my taste in artful things was all over this store! I chose a lamp and a couple of inexpensive pieces, all to be picked up that weekend with MaryJane. As I was leaving, I said: “I see that you have a few empty frames, if they do not sell, I would love to have them for my Art for Elders Program.” They agreed. I pledged to return on March 1 with transportation.
When I arrived home, I tried to find out more about MaryJane on the internet. I learned that there is a whole series of artwork of women in a red bathing suit since the late 1800s. There is a well-known poster of one that Jantzen created in the 1920s but no pink bathing suits. I found an EBAY purchase of a 2-foot tall MaryJane. It was not as detailed or life-sized. I found out that the library in Portland, Oregon had a section about Jantzen suits because the original factory began in Portland. I called the library.
I emailed a photo of MaryJane to the librarian. She was intrigued; however, she could not help me. She said that all Jantzen mannequins were nude in order that suits could be put on and taken off for display. None had a suit painted on like this one to her knowledge.
A few days passed, and I was getting more ill. I attempted any number of options to get MaryJane and my other purchases home. I can no longer drive, so I could not rent a U-Haul. A cab was not an alternative due to her size. I finally located a mover who was pricey but willing to move my items. I set a reservation for his services March 1. I returned to Serendipity on February 29, a leap day, paid my bill and told them I had a driver for the next day.
I overslept the next day. The proprietor of Serendipity called me and woke me up. He said they needed to get my items out because the landlord wants everything out. I told him that I would phone my driver. I called and got no answer. Embarrassed, I called the proprietor back and told him that I was stood up and I needed to find another mover.
He asked: “where do you live?” I told him I live in lower Haight near the store. He said, “No problem, we will bring the objects to you!”
I must have had an angel on my shoulder, I am incredibly lucky. However, it was sad that extraordinary people like these people were leaving the Haight.
I was shocked when they arrived. Not only did they bring me MaryJane and the other purchases, but they also included at least a dozen large, framed art pieces as well as the empty frames I requested.
I was almost in tears as I thanked them profusely for bringing me MaryJane and the surprises. I told them it felt like it was my birthday as they left.
They had delivered the bounty in our community room and all the other residents admired my good fortune. MaryJane was a big hit.
MaryJane now stands in my dining area and all the artworks given to me turned my living space into a gallery.
2020 for me has presented many healthcare challenges. The pandemic has robbed every one of our normal way of life. Fortunately, MaryJane has been my constant companion throughout this challenging year of the San Francisco lockdown.
MaryJane and I are feminists. We just celebrated International Women’s Day together. MaryJane is already dressed in breast cancer awareness pink. She is forever young. She represents endless summer, optimism and joy. Every time I notice her, I am filled with gratitude.
