EUGENIE LEONTOVICH - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 11/14/1947 - HFSID 201664
Price: $575.00
EUGENIE LEONTOVICH
The Russian Broadway star send letter to friend, updating him on her
current activities and thoughts, signs name in blue ink
Autograph letter signed: "Genie" in blue ink. 1 page front and
verso, 7¼x10½. Addressed to producer "Robert Reud" of New York City.
Original mailing envelope included. November 15, 1947. In full: "Good
morning! I am well again and still write to you as did before - every day - For
I feel it is right thing for me to do. I have come to the conclusion - that the
work I have to do on "Romance" should be much more thorough - than I thought -
there for I can not send to you the promised copy - But with all my passion - I
am working on it - and when it's ready (to please me) then I shall give it to
you - Let it be an other item on the list of plays we consider to do. I am also
constantly with "O.C.H." - as I have never changed my mind, that this play,
properly done and probably re-written (very little) will bring you glory &
money. I would like to see you doing some fine and fraish [sic] kind of things
(Don't think, that "Romance" is stilted, it can be fraish - as morning gross -
with proper treatment) - Let's settled our minds and hearts to do so. I never
believe more than now - that - these kind of things - some where around the
corner - for both of us - I wish I new - that you are sparing yourself - not
getting aggravated for with all the stambling blocks on the way that you - eat
well - take walks - before you go to bed - for all the things are most essential
for you work. My love and blessings to you - sweet man from South - My family
and Rose send you their best". 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. Stained throughout. Otherwise, fine
condition.
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