EUGENIE LEONTOVICH - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 11/01/1947 - HFSID 201655

EUGENIE LEONTOVICH
The legendary Broadway actress writes affectionate letter to friend, asking to hear from him soon, signs name in blue ink
Autograph letter signed: "Eugenie" and "E" in blue ink. 1 page front and verso, 7¼x10½. Addressed to "Robert Reud" in New York City. Original envelope included. November 1, 1947. In full: "My dear gentleman from South Carolina - why don't you let me know how you are? I am upset because of your silence - Otherwise I am well, working happy and getting ahead with my offers. Please let me hear from you more often. Even if there is not much to tell - still say "Hallo" to me or something. Let me know the evening when you are at home. I shall phone you. I am most interested to know the reaction of Mr. McC - on our notes. I hope he is not [illegible] by them. You know - how much I am missing you - so help me out to go through this time by being with you in letters. I am always with you sending you the best in my heart - My Family is most interested in meeting you. Be well be happy - but not too happy without out me". Post script: "I didn't write to you yesterday - the reason - I'll tell you later". 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. Ink corrections throughout. Small stains throughout. Otherwise, fine condition.