Session: 123456789101112131415161718192021222324         Page 313314315316317318319320321322323324325326327328329330331332333334335336337 of 592

I know he's interested, so I come out. He says, “I'd like to do it.” I said, “But you know we don't have any money.” He says, “Did I ask you for any money?” “So what do we do?” He says, “What you do is you put down on a piece of paper what the text is. ‘Bread and Roses: Cultural Project,’ or whatever you want to say. Dates. Give me a schedule when you must have it. Also send me photographs of workers, of hospital workers.” So I said, “Then what happens? Do I see it? Do I look at it and say, ‘Look, you should put a mustache on?’” “No, no,” he says. “When I'm finished I'll show it to you. If you like it, you can use it. If you don't like it, don't use it.” I said, “But Paul, you know, we don't have any money.” He says, “I didn't ask for money. This is my contribution to Bread and Roses.” I say, “You know, we'll make you famous [laughter] because it's going to be on the subways!” He says, “Oh great! Good.” Because I'd seen his posters on the subways -- you know, the Papp things. Three Penny Opera. He sold it for 15,000 dollars to the Museum of Modern Art.

Of the Papp.

Of the Three Penny Opera poster. Because I remember I said to him, “Look. We don't have 15,000 dollars.” [laughter] Anyway.

Later on Paul calls me -- you know, a month or so later -- and he says, “I'm coming in to the city, I'll be at our apartment, I have it.” Myrna gets on and says, “Moe, you're going to love it. I love it, you'll love it.” Oh! In between he calls me up one day. He says, “Moe, on the pictures you sent me. Do you mind if I use someone as a model? I have somebody who poses for me.” I said, “Isn't it going to cost?” He said, “No, it's not going to cost you anything.” So I come and he shows me the thing. I said, “Gee -- it's wonderful. I love it. It's great. It's terrific.” I said, “Paul, I want to tell you this. We want to get this poster on the subways.” We had to print it. I said, “Who can distribute a poster like this?” He says, “Poster distribution is terrible. The only one who distributes my posters is a thief. Jack Rennert of Darien House. He never gives me the right accounting. I've given up on this - - I can't do a thing on posters.” I said, “Look. If I can get any money on the sale of your posters, I will take care of you first.” He says, “Look, don't worry about it.”

So I get in touch with Jack Rennert. By this time the poster is on the press -- the large size. Jack Rennert says, “Where is the poster?” I said, “It's on the press.” He says, “Which printer?” So I told him. It's a printer that -- Paul had to select a printer. Because that was one condition -- “It had to be a printer that I select.” Because you know he didn't want a schlock printer. So it's on the press now. He says, “Okay,