| Later Years Audrey Geisel Life with Audrey brought a sense of freshness and renewal to Ted; he became more social and more active in his community. The Geisels were excellent hosts, holding weekly dinner parties that included extensive and varied guest lists. These parties often took on lives of their own; Ted’s penchant for funny hats, for example, would weave its way into a dinner party theme or two, and guests were expected to wear their funniest headgear—or risk Ted assigning one from his personal collection! Ted’s interest in travel was also revived, and together he and Audrey traveled extensively. One of their more memorable adventures included a photo safari in Africa. Ted looked at the trees and exclaimed, “They’ve stolen my truffula trees!” Audrey mentioned that Ted started another book during this particular journey, but he did not have the “right” paper with him. Making do with what he did have on hand, Ted simply jotted his thoughts on laundry lists! Friends and colleagues were pleasantly surprised at Ted’s newfound zeal. With Audrey’s encouragement and inspiration, his imagination soared to new heights. This new “spark” certainly influenced Ted’s work! Some of his most critically acclaimed and socially conscious books were written during this period, and Ted began experimenting with the color palette once again. Audrey would often suggest unexpected, unusual color combinations that complemented more meaningful manuscripts. And fortunately for us, we reap the rewards of their efforts; books such as The Lorax, The Butter Battle Book, and You’re Only Old Once! are evidence of new challenges and risks that Ted was willing to take. It was also Audrey who suggested that Ted grow a beard—and for the first time in his life, he did. He figured that by doing so, shaving would be one less thing to have to worry about! Never one to interfere directly with her husband’s affairs, Audrey—a former nurse—saw her role as that of a caretaker and chief supporter, a role she continues to this day as the head of Dr. Seuss Enterprises. Honors/Tributes In 1986 the San Diego Museum of Art, under the watchful eye of Ted himself, featured a retrospective dedicated to his life and work. Several of his paintings and early sketches were included in the mix. The show was well-received by the public and traveled to many locations throughout the United States. The show was cataloged and put into book format as Dr. Seuss from Then to Now: A Catalogue of the Retrospective Exhibition. The book is no longer in print, but it offers a breathtaking array of 60 years of Ted’s work. While the show was a hit among patrons, Ted wasn’t satisfied that his paintings and position as a true artist were recognized. (Morgan, p. 267). Other Media The length of the story, the color of the Grinch, and the development of a script that did not end on a trite or overly religious note also had to be addressed. Again, Ted was always very particular about colors, and it took some convincing by Jones for Ted to concede to paint the Grinch green with evil red eyes. The songs were a collaborative effort between Ted and composer Albert Hague. To resolve Ted’s concern that the story end in a way that was not trite or overly religious, the script called for a star to rise to the heavens (rather than drop from the sky) to emphasize the power of the heart. At last, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! aired in time for the 1966 holiday season and it still ranks high in viewer ratings 25 years later. In fact, nearly 30 of Ted’s Dr. Seuss books have been adapted for television or video. |