DOROTHY (MRS. RAYMOND) MASSEY - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 12/27/1940 - HFSID 31744

DOROTHY MASSEY
Letter from the divorce lawyer turned wife of actor Raymond Massey, sending a baby photograph to columnist Louis Sobol, along with a photograph of Raymond in his first acting role (neither item included). Extremely rare!
Autograph letter signed: "Dorothy Massey/(Mrs. Raymond Massey)", in black ink, 6½x7¼. New York City, New York. December 27, 1940. In full: "Dear Louis Sobol - I can stand it no longer, these baby pictures. I must send you one, and old New Haven girl, at the age of 9 months. Hildegarde my eye! You just look at my [illegible]. Mother made it, and she was darned if it wasn't going to show in the picture - hence the lifty skirt. If you send amusement I enclose Ray in his first part - no blackmail, please [item not included]. But is [illegible] going to act if it kills him! Please return these - we have no copies. Cordially". Following his rather public estrangement from former wife Adrianne Allen, actor Raymond Massey needed to hire a lawyer to represent him in the divorce proceedings, and hired lawyer Dorothy Whitney (1902-1982). Her husband, also a fellow lawyer, represented Massey's wife Adrianne Allen. By the end of the divorce, however, both couples had split; Dorothy ended up marrying Raymond Massey and her former husband, William, ended up marrying Adrianne Allen. The amusing tale helped inspire the 1949 film Adam's Rib starring Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. After Dorothy and Raymond married in 1939, she mostly retired from law, and briefly pursued a career in entertainment as a casting director in the 1960's and a bit role actress in two films (Breakfast at Tiffany's and Oh...Rosalinda!!!). A much happier union for the couple, Dorothy and Raymond remained married until her death in 1982, with Raymond passing almost exactly a year after his wife. Louis Sobol (d. 1986) was an entertainment columnist ("New York Cavalcade" for the Hearst Newspapers. Normal mailing fold. Light surface creases. Corners slightly worn. Lightly toned on bottom margin. Otherwise, fine condition.