Mancini Stamp Released by Postal Service in Los Angeles

By John E Peterson

On April 13, 2004 the United States Postal Service honored film and television composer Henry Mancini with a postage stamp. The first day ceremony for the stamp’s release took place in the plaza of the Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County in Downtown Los Angeles. Close to 2,000 people, including 750 elementary school students attended the event.

 

 

 "John Glenn, Ginny Mancini, and PMG John Potter in front of unveiled stamp."
 

Enrico Nicola Mancini was born on April 16, 1924 in Cleveland OH and grew up in Aliquippa PA. Better known to the world as Henry, "Hank" to his friends, Mancini would go on to fame as a film and television composer as well as a best-

- 21 -

selling recording artist. Nominated 72 times, Mancini would go on to win 20 Grammy awards. Mancini won four Academy awards, including best song Oscars (with lyricist Johnny Mercer) for both "Moon River," from Breakfast at Tiffany’s and "Days of Wine and Roses" from the film of the same name. Four of Mancini’s record albums went gold, including the Music From Peter Gunn and the soundtrack to Breakfast At Tiffany’s, which spent time at the #1 position (10 weeks and 12 weeks respectively.) In 1969, a year in which musical acts such as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Credence Clearwater Revival held sway on the pop music charts, Mancini took his arrangement of the score to Romeo and Juliet, "Love theme from Romeo and Juliet" to the number one position on Billboard’s hot 100.

 

 

:"John Glenn"
 

The Postal Service outdid itself in hosting the ceremony. Recording artist Monica Mancini, Henry’s daughter, sang the National Anthem. Former US Senator and

- 22 -

astronaut John H. Glenn, a close friend of Henry’s, was the Master of Ceremonies and told some stories about his friend Hank that were quite entertaining. Glenn related how, as he was getting ready for his orbital flight around the earth, "Moon River" was heard frequently on the radio. While on a skiing trip together, Glenn overheard what he never thought anyone would say to Mancini: a ski instructor told Mancini he needed "more rhythm." Additional remarks were given by Postmaster General John Potter and Ginny Mancini, Henry’s widow.

 

 "Monica Mancini singing the National Anthem.  at right is PMG John Potter."
 

Musical tributes were paid to Mancini during the ceremony. The University of Southern California (USC) Trojan Marching Band, directed by Dr. Arthur C. Banter, performed the theme to Peter Gunn and The Great Race March. World renowned flute player Sir James Galway led 100 California high school flute players in playing the Pie in the Face Polka. All 100 flute players were listed on a second card that was part of the ceremony program. The USC Trojan Marching Band finished the ceremony by marching through the crowd playing the theme to The Pink Panther followed by, what else, the Pink Panther himself.

- 23 -

 

 Sir James Galway.
 

All of the ceremony participants were available after the ceremony to sign autographs, even though there was no autograph table set up. Needless to say, there was quite a crowd around Senator Glenn to obtain his autograph. Glenn was very patient and fielded questions that people put him. Asked if he wanted to go back into space, Glenn replied "you bet." Ginny Mancini and her children Chris, Felice, and Monica also made themselves available after the ceremony.

Also in Attendance were stamp artist Victor Stabin and Postal Service Art Director Carl Herrman. Herrman was pleased that Stabin was acknowledged during the ceremony. "Without an artist, there would be no stamp," said Herrman in conversation. Herrman related how one of the regular stamp artists the Postal Service uses did a preliminary design for the stamp in a portrait style, similar to a Legends of Hollywood stamp. This was rejected by the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC,) which wanted a stamp showing Mancini in action. Stabin was then given the job to design the stamp, his first for the Postal Service. Ginny Mancini was shown a draft of the second stamp design for her approval a little over a year ago.

There will be 80 million Mancini stamps produced. The black and gray border of the stamp extends into the selvage. Also in the selvage, in the lower left corner, is statement reminding us that the Pink Panther shown in the lower left of the stamp is a registered trademark of United Artists Corporation. One other item that made the day special was the first day cancel used by the Postal Service. It shows a script "Mancini" below which is a musical phrase (music staff and notes) from "Moon River" over the words "FIRST DAY OF ISSUE."

- 24 -