HOWARD HUGHES - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED CO-SIGNED BY: JEAN PETERS - HFSID 36763

HOWARD HUGHES and JEAN PETERS
Hughes writes to his wife on some great news he can't wait to tell her, but informs her he is feeling a bit under the weather, and to "handle him delicately". Peters replies she will be quiet as a mouse, and Hughes goes on to discuss how her car is almost finished. A reclusive billionaire, Hughes 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 signed: "H", "J", 1 page, 8½x14 (front and verso). No place, no date, but circa 1964. Hughes' letter begins: "Dearest Love". In full: "I will be expecting you at the saintly time - 11:15, if ok. I have really happy things to tell you tonight. -The most + best news you can possibly dream. As a result, I am a bundle of nerves, so please handle me delicately. One good startle and I will probably turn to ashes, like the man from mars always does". Peters' letter, written beneath her husband's, begins: "Dear Love -". In full: "I'll be quiet as a mouse - I don't want you to turn to ashes. I love you very much -". Hughes has penned several notes on the verso: "After the great event I was so excited I did not sleep for 2 days a successful - beyond all highest hopes which releases an entire series of acorns which have been held up pending completion of above", "Barber tomorrow or Wed.", "new diet", "new bed", "Etc.", "new house.", "I was so frightened before hand that I had Dr. here for 48 hrs. Sent him back afterward", "I didn't want to worry you by telling you", "Your automobile could have been here tonight", "I will have it for you to look at Wed afternoon 5 P.M.", "Tonight I over slept - otherwise you would have had it tonight", "Were you expecting your car tonight?". 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.