History’s Attic

This week History’s Attic will discuss a well know photographer of the Rosebud Dean Stedman and his brush with fame. Dean and Ruth came to Gregory in 1950 to manage Rosebud Photo (and later purchase it). Prior to that time Dean was going to photography school and graduated in 1949. It was this period of time when Dean had a brush with fame and and a famous Norman Rockwell painting used for the cover of the Saturday Evening Post. “The Three Umpires” was painted by Norman Rockwell for the April 23, 1949, cover for The Saturday Evening Post.

It is a timeless favorite of Rockwell collectors and baseball fans alike, a true classic for the ages. This painting was Rockwell’s second of five covers for The Post in 1949. This was also the 259th illustration Rockwell painted for the cover of The Post. It is a classic, showing three photogenic umpires Larry Goetz, John “Beans” Reardon (the home plate umpire with the body protector), and Lou Jorda. The painting is also known as “Tough Call,” “Game Called Because of Rain,” and “Bottom of the Sixth.” The original painting is in the collection of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Reardon, the head umpire for this game, reportedly refused to advise Rockwell about the weather or the game. At this point in his career, Norman Rockwell worked almost exclusively from photographs. During the 1948 baseball season, Rockwell visited Ebbets Field with a photographer who took reference photos of the umpires, some players, and the ballpark. Rockwell then completed the painting in California over the winter. Rockwell also visited Ralph Kiner, Pittsburgh outfielder, to study details of his Pirate’s uniform. The story continues with Ruth, Deans wife, telling me the particulars. She says Rockwell called the school and needed a photographer to come with him to Ebbets Field. And yes it was Dean Stedman that was designated to do it. He took the photos and Rockwell produced the Painting (The Three Umpires). And after further investigation the original painting recently sold for 1.6 million dollars. Below is Dean Steadman standing with Lucile Robertson. Yes the untold story of a Gregory Photographer that could wiggle his ears.

Next week on History’s Attic we will explore the log houses of Ponca Creek.

 

Author Richard Papousek