HOWARD HUGHES - AUTOGRAPH LETTER DOUBLE SIGNED CO-SIGNED BY: JEAN PETERS - HFSID 36755

HOWARD HUGHES and JEAN PETERS
Hughes mistakenly wishes Peters a Happy Thanksgiving, with Peters informing him that thanksgiving is actually the following day, and then thanks him for a lovely gift of flowers. Hughes, a reclusive billionaire, lived in separate quarters (but in the same house) from his wife and was mostly confined to his bedroom, speaking to her almost entirely in notes and letters.
Autograph letter double signed: "Howard", "J", "H", "J" 1 page, 8½x14 (front and verso). No place, no date, but circa 1964. Hughes' letter begins: "My Dearest in all the world". In full: "Happy Thanksgiving. I love you very very much! More than you have any idea. I will send you another note soon and we will be together very early tonight. My love again". Peters' letter, written beneath her husband's, begins: "Dear Heart -". In full: "I hate to tell you - but tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Aunt Mell + Pudding are here. I love you and await your message. Love again". Hughes: "My Sweetheart, I don't want to interfere with your having a nice evening with your friends and relatives. So please don't feel you must interrupt whatever you are doing. Just give me an estimate and then I'll expect you whenever. I love you so very much". Peters: "My Fatuta must have pushed the door - or the wind - I was waiting for John - but he was afraid to knock - Anyway, the flowers are just beautiful - the roses are no bigger than your little finger - and lilacs - Thank you so much - I was very surprised and pleased. Love". Hughes: "I wanted your guests to know I was thinking about you." Peters: "I will use them for table center-piece tomorrow - Shirl + kids are coming if it doesn't rain too much". Hughes: "But I thought you had gone on to sleep", "She says 'Police not allowed'". The relationship between business tycoon HOWARD HUGHES (1905-1976) and actress JEAN PETERS (1926-2000), which was marked with strange meeting rituals and periods of little or no direct contact, was anything but normal, yet their sincere devotion to each other endured throughout their 14-year marriage. The dashing aviator and movie mogul had met Peters in 1946, when she had come to Hollywood as a prize for winning the Miss Ohio state title. Hughes was intrigued by Twentieth Century-Fox's rising star, who made her film debut in 1947. Following 11 years of sporadic dating, the two were married in a small mining town outside of Las Vegas on January 12, 1957. Hughes, known for working odd hours into the night, preferred to relay his business and personal directives via memos and hand-written notes rather than the spoken word, and he would communicate with his wife in this same manner. They jotted notes about planned meetings, films, business and opinions in general. In 1964, Mr. and Mrs. Hughes lived at the fashionable address of 1001 Bel Aire. However, their marital arrangements included separate living quarters, and Jean often was required to make an appointment with Hughes' aides in order to see her husband. By this time in their marriage, the couple was known to usually spend a half hour together after 11 p.m. before retiring to their separate bedrooms. In November 1966, Howard Hughes confined himself to a hotel penthouse in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 1970, after having spent most of her married life with Hughes in separate accommodations, Jean Peters Hughes was granted a divorce. Small tears on bottom edge. Fold in center. Light surface creases. Fine condition.