GOWER CHAMPION - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 04/22/1961 - HFSID 29472

GOWER CHAMPION
The Tony Award-winning choreographer and director signed this thank you letter in 1961
Typed letter signed "Gower" in blue ink. 1 page folded, 5½x6¾, 1 sheet folded, on stationery of the Clift Hotel in San Francisco, California. April 22, 1961. In full: "Dear Dick: Many thanks for your kind thoughts expressed by wire opening night. They contributed immeasurably to a most happy evening. Gower Champion". Carnival! opened on April 13, 1961, and spent over 18 months on Broadway. Champion received a Tony nomination for his direction of this musical. Gower Champion (1919-1980) won a total of eight Tony Awards, five for choreography and three for directing. Notable Broadway shows include Hello, Dolly! (1964), Bye Bye Birdie (1961), and 3 For Tonight (1955) He was nominated for another seven Tonys over the course of his career. In 1959, he shared an Emmy nomination for directing The Pontiac Star Parade. Gower built his career on Broadway, but he has dozens of television and film credits in numerous on-screen and off-screen positions, notably the popular musical Show Boat (1951). He was also one-half of the dance team of Gower and Marge Champion (née Bell or Belle), one of the most popular dance duos of the postwar era. The two formed their team after Gower returned from service in World War II. They appeared together on Broadway in 3 for Tonight! (1955) and on the silver screen in Mr. Music(1950), Show Boat(1951), Lovely to Look At (1952), and Everything I Have Is Yours (1952), among many others. The Champions divorced in 1973, but their legacy together lives on; in 1960, both received a star on the Walk of Fame and in 2002, the couple was awarded a career achievement award at the American Choreography Awards, with Marge there to accept the award. Lightly creased. Adhesive residue on verso with show-through on rear leaf but not front leaf. Folded in half and unfolded. Otherwise, fine condition.