I find a sense of freedom in the suburbs... You assume the mask of suburbia for outward appearances and yet no one knows what you really do., 1972 (print 1998)

Medium: Gelatin silver print
Dimensions: Paper: 10 x 8 in. (25.4 x 20.3 cm)
Accession Number: 2004.69.5
Credit: The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
Gift of Gary A. Richwald, MD, MPH in memory of Ann and Marvin Richwald

Collection

Bill Owens
I enjoy the suburbs. They provide Girl Scouts, PTA, Little League, and soccer for my kids. The thing I miss most is Black cultural identity for my family. White middle-class suburbia can’t supply that. Here the biggest cultural happening has been the opening of two department stores.1972 (print 1998)
Bill Owens
I don’t feel that Richie playing with guns will have a negative effect on his personality. (He already wants to be a policeman). His childhood gun-playing won’t make him into a cop-shooter. By playing with guns (SEE NOTES SECTION FOR COMPLETE TITLE)1972 (print 1998)
Bill Owens
There is nothing to do in Suburbia.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Disc Jockeyc. 1976
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Bill Owens
Massage opens up the soul. That’s why I chose it as a profession. I also make good money.c. 1976
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Bill Owens
Newspaper Editorc. 1976
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Bill Owens
Playboy Golf Tournamentc. 1976
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Bill Owens
Television cameramen are a special breed. When you read something in a book you say that’s someone’s opinion. When you see it on TV you say that’s gospel. I have one minute, thirty seconds to make a statement. (SEE NOTES FOR COMPLETE TITLE)c. 1976
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Bill Owens
United States Postal Workerc. 1976
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Bill Owens
Untitledc. 1976
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Bill Owens
Untitledc. 1976
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Bill Owens
Untitledc. 1976
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Bill Owens
Untitledc. 1976
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Bill Owens
Untitledc. 1976
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Bill Owens
The Elksc. 1975
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Bill Owens
The Military Order of the Louse is a veterans group, so-named because many servicemen got lice while ride in boxcars during World War I. The women’s auxiliary, the Cootiettes, started in 1930. (SEE NOTES SECTION FOR COMPLETE TITLE)c. 1975
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Bill Owens
Untitledc. 1975
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Bill Owens
A lot of people say we’re chunks of meat, like cattle, but we’re not. We’re all individuals with dreams and aspirations like everybody else. Being a beauty contestant has taught me...(SEE COMPLETE TITLE IN NOTES SECTION)c. 1973
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Bill Owens
My witness is here for Jehovah. Usually people walk by, but if you catch someone’s eye they will stop and take the magazinec. 1973
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Bill Owens
The Twin Valley Mothers of Twins Club got started when four mothers all with twins decided we needed moral support . . . physically and mentally. We now have twenty-six mothers and belong to the national organization (SEE NOTES SECTION FOR COMPLETE TITLE)c. 1973
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Bill Owens
The forester’s is an old fraternal organization we started back in the time of Robin Hood and his forest. Each of our new president’s makes his grand entry in a different way. One year it was a boat, a train, and this year by horse.c. 1973
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Bill Owens
Untitled, (women belong at the stove)c. 1973
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Bill Owens
Untitled, girls with flagc. 1973
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Bill Owens
Untitledc. 1972
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Bill Owens
Sunday Afternoon (Arnold Lakin)c. 1971
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Bill Owens
Untitled from Suburbiac. 1971
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Bill Owens
The Masons is the oldest fraternal organization in the world. We believe in God, Brotherhood and Charity. We stick together and stay middle-of-the-road. As a Mason you are never down and out. There is always a brother to help you.1975
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Bill Owens
Bourbon and Seven is my favorite drink.1972 (print 2004)
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Bill Owens
Doing laundry is death defying; as soon as you’re done you have to start all over again.1972 (print 2004)
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Bill Owens
Every Sunday Abe and I read The New York Times and have roast beef for dinner.1972 (print 2004)
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Bill Owens
He’s a typical Californian who doesn’t know how to relax.1972 (print 2004)
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Bill Owens
Untitled1972 (print 2004)
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Bill Owens
Untitled1972 (print 2004)
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Bill Owens
Untitled1972 (print 2004)
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Bill Owens
We don’t have to conform.1972 (print 2004)
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Bill Owens
Aaron Myra Latkin1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Andrew doesn’t like to go to the bathroom alone.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Ann and Mel Lemos1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Basically we are very much alike, the same individual. Our temperaments however are different, we reflect on things differently. My son was raised to think for himself. My father is an ex-army officer, (SEE NOTES SECTION FOR COMPLETE TITLE)1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Because we live in the suburbs we don’t eat too much Chinese food. It’s not available in the supermarkets so on Saturday we eat hot dogs.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Before the dissolution of our marriage my husband and I owned a bar. One day a toilet broke and we brought it home.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Bill Owens’ family and his in-laws.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Bill and Janet Owens, 19701972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Bonnie and Bob Powers1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Bruce and Pat Barney1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Celia and John Baker and John Jr.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Cleo and James Pruden1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Every year I go to my mother-in-law’s for Thanksgiving and every year I swear I’ll never do it again. But I always do, do it again.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
For the last four years we have given a caroling party. We sing for at least forty families in our neighborhood. We do this because we feel that Christmas has become too commercial.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Fourteen years ago Dublin, California was a crossroads on U.S. 50 and Highway 21. The population was less than 1,000 (most of them cows). Today Dublin is the crossroads of Interstate Highways (SEE NOTES SECTION FOR COMPLETE TITLE).1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Frances, John and Steve Wheelock1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
How can I worry about the damned dishes when there are children dying in Vietnam.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
I believe in strict discipline of my children, but they also deserve the right of self-explanation.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
I believe in women’s liberation. I’m tired of the image of the woman who has the most sanitary toilet bowl, the cleanest floor, and the brattiest kids as the supermother. I want to be able to change with my children (SEE NOTES SECTION FOR COMPLETE TITLE)1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
I believe organized sports make better citizens of children. I have four boys and they all play baseball and soccer. They learn to cooperate with others...and that winning isn’t always the most important thing to do.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
I bought the Doughboy pool for David and the kids and now no one wants to take the responsibility for cleaning it.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
I bought the lawn in six-foot rolls. It’s easy to handle. I prepare the ground and my wife and son helped roll out the grass. In one day you have a front yard.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
I don’t like the space walk. It’s Saturday morning and I want to see cartoons.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
I enjoy cooking, dogs, cats, kids, soccer, and living here.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
I enjoy giving a Tupperware party in my home. It gives me a chance to talk to my friends. But really, Tupperware is a homemaker’s dream, you save time and money because your food keeps longer.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
I find the tensions of the day go away when I run a few miles before dark. The light is different, I hear new things and smell new odors like a fireplace burning oakwood. Sometimes I find that dogs are not man’s best friend.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
I get a lot of compliments on the front room wall. I like Italian Syrocco floral designs over the mantle. It goes well with the Palos Verde rock fireplace.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
I have all the cares of home ownership and the privacy of apartment living. We have an investment in the house. So I find myself doing all the undesirable chores to protect our investment.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
I love to cook. Meal time is the only time the family is together. In spite of my modern kitchen, cooking dinner for six takes two hours. Then the kids inhale the food in minutes. After they are grown (SEE NOTES SECTION FOR COMPLETE TITLE)1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
I put it off until I can’t stand it anymore. THe rottenest job in the whole house is cleaning the bathroom.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
I put my hair up once or twice a week. It’s the only way I can get curls in it. When it’s combed out, I’m willing to be seen in public.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
I really love him.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
I wanted Christina to learn some responsibility for cleaning her room, but it didn’t work.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
I’m OK You’re OK is a study of transcendental meditation.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
If Bank of American knew the truth...1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
It’s a great pleasure to watch yourself make love in the six dozen mirrors that line the ceilings and walls. I’ve spent a tremendous amount of thought and planning to get the total effect of the bedroom. (SEE NOTES SECTION FOR COMPLETE TITLE).1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
It’s fun to break up the glass. We’re doing our thing for ecology and the Boy Scouts will give us a badge for working here.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
James and Nora Ross1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Jane and Norm Volponi1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Janet and Lee Keene1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Judy and Walt Hanhy1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Katherine and Bob Riley1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Last year I got 4 pounds of candy. 72 jelly beans, 67 Candy Corns, 26 Tootsie Rolls, 18 Tootsie Pops, 21 licorice sticks, 15 jaw breakers, 14 bubble gums, 11 packs of gum, 10 Baby Ruth Bars, 11 Hershey bars, (SEE NOTES SECTION FOR COMPLETE TITLE)1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Milton and Sylvia Grissom1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday... and Friday I have my hair done.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
My dad thinks it’s a good idea to take all the leaves off the tree and rake up the yard. I think he’s crazy.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
My hobby is drinking. On the weekends I enjoy getting together with my friends and boozing.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
My husband, Pat, has a theory about watering our newly seeded lawn. The water has to trinkle from heaven and fall like tender rain drops... otherwise the lawn won’t grow properly.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
My kids love soccer and this is Saturday morning before the game.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Nonie and Jerrold Schwartz1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Once you hit the Freeway you can be in San Francisco in forty minutes.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
One of the joys of living in the suburbs is taking care of your own lawn.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Our house is built with the living room in the back, so in the evenings we sit out front of the garage and watch the traffic go by.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Paul Dumas and Linda McPherson1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
People throw away a lot of good things: clothes, toys, broken toasters, record players, and in the newer areas they throw out tables and chairs that don’t fit in their new house. The ecology movement doesn’t matter. (SEE NOTES SECTION FOR COMPLETE TITLE)1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Renee and Dennis Alberts1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Rhonda and Joy Gilbert1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Richard and Ivy Osyerude1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Sara and Abraham Goldberg1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Some days when there is no one to play with I build Glenn a tent play house out of two chairs and two blankets.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Sunday afternoon we get it together. I cook the steaks and my wife makes the salad.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
The California garage today, out of necessity, requires that you move the cars out and the tools in. To a point I enjoy working in the garage, but I’d rather be doing something else.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
The best way to help your city government and have fun is to come out on a Saturday morning and pull weeds in a median strip.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
The furniture is worn out. Don and Tom have grown up and soon will leave for college. Pat will have to cook for two.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
They’re still going together.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
This is Valerie’s world in miniature. She makes it what she wants it to be... without war, racial hate or miunderstanding. Ken and Barbie (dolls) are man and woman rather than Mom and Dad. They enjoy living and (SEE NOTES SECTION FOR COMPLETE TITLE)1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
This is our outdoor garage sale... last minute kids’ items for Christmas shoppers.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
This is our second annual Fouth of July block party. This year thirty-three families came for beer, barbequed chicken, corn on the cob, potato salad, green salad, macaroni salad, and watermelon. After eating (SEE NOTES SECTION FOR COMPLETE TITLE).1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
This isn’t what we really want - the tract house, the super car, etc.... But as long as we are wound up in this high speed environment, we will probably never get out of it! We don’t need the super car to be happy; (SEE NOTES SECTION FOR COMPLETE TITLE)1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Togetherness really exists in our family. My daughter and I operate the lunch room at the Valley Inn. My sons work part-time with their dad, hanging sheet-rock. And my eldest two sons work at the Gulf gas station (SEE NOTES SECTION FOR COMPLETE TITLE)1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Tuo-Tuo, our dog, is a very expensive household pet. It costs 30¢ a day to feed him--that’s $109 a year--and $13 a month to have him groomed--that’s $155 a year--not including the vet bill. We spend over $350 a year, but we don’t care. We love him.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Untitled1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Untitled1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
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Bill Owens
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Untitled1972 (print 1998)
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Untitled1972 (print 1998)
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Untitled1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Untitled1972 (print 1998)
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Untitled1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Untitled1972 (print 1998)
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Untitled1972 (print 1998)
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Untitled1972 (print 1998)
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Untitled1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Untitled1972 (print 1998)
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Untitled1972 (print 1998)
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Untitled1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Untitled1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Washing cars is a great way for a group of kids to make some money.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
We enjoy having these things.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
We feel most people have the wrong attitude towards sex, that it’s nasty and has to be done only in the dark. With us sex takes care of itself.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
We had a ball on the Fourth of July. The whole neighborhood came out for the parade.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
We have to move. My husband’s been transferred to Southern California.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
We like to play war.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
We lived in our house for a year without any living room furniture. We wanted to furnish the room with things we loved, not early attic or leftovers. Now we have everything but the pictures and the lamps.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
We moved up to a nicer house. We thought we’d do better, but the real estate man got us. Closing costs were supposed to be $295 but they turned out to be $750. They have you where they want you--you’ve already moved into the house.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
We really enjoy getting together with our friends to drink and dance. It’s a wild party and we’re having a great time.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
We really enjoy living in a mobile home. My hobby is collecting coins and my wife plays her Wurlitzer for entertainment.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
We’d rather play games than watch TV.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
We’re home three weekends a year. Our camper is our real home. Being a member of the National Campers and Hikers Association gives our family the opportunity and the enjoyment of getting out of town every weekend... and to camp with other families.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
We’re really happy. Our kids are healthy, we eat good food, and we have a really nice home.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
We’ve been collecting rocks since 1958. It’s enjoyable to get out into the open and hunt for rocks, and it’s really fun to cut open a rock and find a gem inside.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
We’ve been married two months and everything we own is in this room.1972 (print 1998)
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Bill Owens
Hell’s Angels at Altamot1969