EUGENIE LEONTOVICH - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 10/29/1947 - HFSID 201653

EUGENIE LEONTOVICH
The Broadway legend writes to dear friend, asking him to come visit her in California, signs name in blue ink
Autograph letter signed: "Eugenie" in blue ink. 1 page front and verso, 7¼x10½. Addressed to "Robert Reud" in New York City. Original envelope included. October 29, 1947. In full: "Hurreh, Hurreh - your dear not has first arrived - and its wonderful, warm, and honest - It made me so happy and gave me more strength to on with my work - I am really a good girl - studying, studying, studying. Very anxious to learn the reaction of Mr. McCallum on the few notes I've sent to you on the play. As much as I understand your reasons of staying in New York - I still wish you could come to us for a good rest. It's lovely in here - The [illegible] is good - the good is fine - and you would like the Scotch I have for you - Mary and the rest of my people would love you - for you are such a Lamb! Please Robert, please write to me - if you can not come. Trust me to be your friend, and tell me of your difficulties as well as your successes - Write me everyday - make the coming of the post man an event for me. I am dreaming of going with you to hear more and more music - Have you seen any new plays? Mary and I are sending you our love". Broadway producer and press agent Robert Reud, whom these letters are addressed to, was involved with New York theatre for over twenty years, including productions of Hello, Daddy (1929), Our Town (1938), The Two Mrs. Carrolls (1943), Ramshackle Inn (1944), The Odds on Mrs. Oakley (1944), and Duet for Two Hands (1947); he was friends with many actresses including Elisabeth Bergner and Greta Garbo. EUGENIE LEONTOVICH (1900-1993) was a Russian-born American stage actress who also appeared on film and television, described as "one of the most colorful figures of the 20th-century theatre, a successful actress, producer, playwright and teacher". Born in Moscow, after studying at the city's Imperial School of Dramatic Art and the Moscow Art Theatre, Leontovich suffered tragedy when her father and brothers, officers in the Russian Imperial Army, were murdered by the Bolsheviks during the Revolution; she eventually found her way to New York and mastered English, leading her to Broadway stardom. She was first noticed as the dancer Grusinkaya in Grand Hotel (1930), and went on to appear as Lilly Garland in Twentieth Century (1932), and on the West End as Archduchess in Tovarich (1935). Leontovich originated the role of the Dowager Empress in the Broadway production of Anastasia (1954), the Queen in Cave Dwellers (1957) for which she won a Tony Award for Best Actress in 1958, and Mademoiselle Kuprin in A Call on Kuprin (1961), and in 1972 wrote her own adaptation of Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, going on to star and direct the production. She often appeared on film in productions of The Rains of Ranchipur (1955) and The Rains Came (1939). She spent the rest of her life as a teacher, referred to as "Madame" at her schools in New York and Chicago. Normal mailing folds. Lightly toned. Light surface creases. Corners rounded/ Ink corrections throughout. Otherwise, fine condition.