John M. Price

John M. Price died on Monday, January 19, 2009 at his home in Radnor, Pennsylvania. He would have been 91 on February 5.Mr. Price was born in Plymouth Meeting, the second son and middle child of Eleanor Forbes (Corson) and John Morris Price. He lived on the Dickinson-Albertson Farmstead, which is now the Plymouth Meeting Historical Society. He attended Plymouth Friends, William Penn Charter and graduated from George School in Newtown, Pennsylvania. In 1939, he was graduated from Pennsylvania State University where he was a member of Theta Chi and was the art editor of the campus magazine, Froth.Mr. Price had three careers. Following graduation, he was a cartoonist. His cartoons appeared in Colliers, Esquire, The New Yorker and The Saturday Evening Post, which culminated in the 1952 publication of his book, Don't Get Polite With Me. Next he was a television art director with N.W. Ayer & Son and worked for four years in New York City and another four in Philadelphia. He began his third career, John M. Price Films in 1962. He did promotional films for many commercial and non-commercial organizations including DuPont, General Electric, Kodak, Lees Carpets, Longwood Gardens, Lufthansa Airlines, Penn Dairies and United States Information Agency.After retiring in 1987, he pursued what he loved—painting watercolors, taking photographs, and making videos. His artwork was recently displayed at the Arts Scene in West Chester where he spoke about his art techniques. He called one technique "animatography" where slides are shown in rapid succession to make commercial shorts. His artwork was also displayed at the Plymouth Meeting Historical Society, the Wayne Art Center and the Woodmere Art Museum in Chestnut Hill. One painting won the Harrison Morris Prize at the Wayne Art Center.Other awards throughout his career include the CINE Golden Eagle, Gold Award of the Film and TV Festival of New York, International Broadcasting Award of the Hollywood Advertising Club, The International Award of Art Directions Magazine, The Artist Guild of Philadelphia Certificate of Achievement, The Award of Excellence in Art and Design at the 29th Annual Exhibition from The Art Directors Club of Philadelphia and The Silver Screen Award at the U.S. Industrial Film Festival for Outstanding Creativity in Production of Audiovisual Communications in International Competition.On November 5, 2005, The Upper Merion Park and Historic Foundation presented him with The Communication Award to John M. Price for Capturing the Beauty of McKaig in Sound and Video at their Foundation Anniversary Dinner Meeting.John M. Price was predeceased by his wife, Elizabeth (Steindl) Price, his parents, his brother, Forbes Brinton Price, and a sister, Alice Albertson (Price) Sharpley. Surviving are three nieces and three nephews and many Costa Rican friends. He returned from his 51st trip to Costa Rica on January 7, 2009.A private memorial service will be held at the discretion of the family.In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in John's memory to the McKalg Nature Education Center, c/o Upper Merion Township, attn: Park & Recreation Dept., 175 W. Valley Forge Rd., King of Prussia, PA 19406. (put Price in memo).Arrangements are by The Bacchi-Courtney Funeral Home and Crematory Ltd., Bridgeport, PA. www.bacchicourtney.com