BARBARA STANWYCK - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 08/24/1953 - HFSID 100584

BARBARA STANWYCK
Barbara Stanwyck sends an autograph letter trying to offer advice.
Autograph Letter Signed: "Barbara Stanwyck", 1½p, separate sheets, 8½x11. No place, 1953 August 24. On her personal imprinted stationery, to Miss Barrett. In full: "In answer to your letter of last week. Believe me, I do understand ambition and certainly you must love talent. Your newspaper clippings tell that story, and your photos are most attractive. And now, I do wish I could reach out and perform a miracle for you, however, you do understand the situation of the industry today. The studios are dropping from their contract lists stars of considerable importance each day. I am a free lance player and I do not have any "ins" as they say in the business. I have always made it a point not to play politics out here or any place for that matter. I do not know if you have a reliable agent. One who is known to the studios. If you have not by all means get one. I do wish I could help you more but it is such a bad time in our business. The best of luck to you and I know that some day you will get there." Orphaned at four, a Ziegfield chorus girl at 15, Stanwyck (1907-1990) was a Broadway star by the late 1920's. Moving to Hollywood after 1930, she was often cast as a tough minded working girl who rarely met a happy ending. She received Oscar nominations for Stella Dallas (1937), Ball of Fire (1941), Double Indemnity (1944) and Sorry, Wrong Number (1948). She earned renewed popularity on television, especially as the star of the Western series Big Valley (1965-1969) for which she won an Emmy. Soiled. Fold creases. Fragile.