EUGENIE LEONTOVICH - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 11/20/1947 - HFSID 201668

EUGENIE LEONTOVICH
The renowned, Tony Award-winning actress begs her friend to come to visit her in California, signs name in blue ink
Autograph letter signed: "Genie" in blue ink. 3 pages, 6x9. Addressed to producer "Robert Reud" of New York City. Original mailing envelope included. November 20, 1947. In full: "Dear Robert - my good friend: I hope you received the wire in which I ask you to come and stay with us as our most welcome guest. We'll enjoy having you - and you'll have the rest - which I think you need. We live simply and our way of living will not interfere with yours - It's a free country you know! Besides - as I wrote to you - we may try to do some business here. California is getting more and more of the Legitimate Theatre. You never can tell what we may cook up her - My main interest is our mutual one - I want to see you well and happy so I'll reflect it, In any of your disition [sic] I shall remain you lovingly Eugenie - My tribe is greeting you - so does Rose - I d my work dayly and happy with it". 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.