EUGENIE LEONTOVICH - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 12/05/1947 - HFSID 201646

EUGENIE LEONTOVICH
The renowned stage actress writes letter of affection to a friend, signs name in blue ink
Autograph letter signed: "Genie" in blue ink. 3 pages, 6x8¼. Addressed to "Robert Rend" of New York City. Original envelop included. December 5, 1947. In full: "My Lomby: Now I know why I feel like calling you one. The apple-tree Magan explained to me this something soft and [illegible] in your nature. The apple-tree story to me is like a pensive Valentine - but when you are here - I wish so much you would read me the story yourself. I am so happy thinking you would! My dear friend - my dear Robert. I can't write to you much - for I have to tell you more than paper or any - can hold - So till I see you I shall write such a disjoint pieces of notes as this. Be well my darling be happy - I feel some soft white wings - will lead us to beautiful things - I kiss your lovely forehead". 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.