KEN ENGLUND - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 08/31/1936 - HFSID 19537

KEN ENGLUND
Early in his career, ostensibly responding to a newspaper analysis of the handwriting of actor Claude Rains, Englund pours out his negative feelings about his work as a gag writer ("concocting trivialities and banalities"), and expresses his hope of writing serious plays. A rare signature!
Autograph Letter signed: "Ken Englund", 3 pages, 6¼x10. 315 Central Park West, New York City, 1936 August 31. On personal letterhead to Miss Shirley Spencer, The Daily News, New York City. In full: "I have just been reading your analysis of Claude Rains' handwriting. As much as I am one of Mr. Rains' most ardent fans, your delving into his character was of extra interest to me and coincided with my opinion of Mr. Rains as an actor and as an individual. To me, Claude Rains has always been an actor with a brain - which is practically a paradox in show business. I was also much interested in your comparison of the writing of an actor and an author, being in the latter class myself, more or less, if a radio comedy writer can be euphemistically called an author. I've been in radio for the last 6 years - three years writing Phil Baker's air, stage and screen material - several months doing the Flying Red Horse Tavern - a radio program starring Eleanor Powell and Osgood Perkins - and radio guest shots and stage material for Willie & Eugene Howard, Milton Berle, Benny Rubin, George Beatty - besides several programs for Joe Penner. For the last twenty-four weeks I've been the Ken Murray air show, which I continue to do at the present time. My writing aim, however, does not lie along radio lines. Concocting the trivialities and obvious banalities that make up an ether comedy script becomes wearing after a time. I would like to use comedy as a means to an end - and write satiric plays - dramas that might do some good in the community. Farce comedies like 'Three Men on a Horse' - plays written just for the sake of inciting laughter, interests me not at all - although I naturally have respect for the successful craftsmanship involved. 'Idiot's Delight' is my idea of a contemporary play that has humor but also has something to say. It flays war and its attendant brutalities and stupidities. Someday I hope that I too can add my small voice to the mounting cry against war - with the drama. Hoping this has not taken up too much of your valuable time, I am yours sincerely". Ken Englund (1914-1993) wrote gags for The Phil Baker Show, and for the other notable stars mentioned in his letter. The very next year - 1937 - Englund signed a contract with Paramount, producing his first film script for The Big Broadcast of 1938. He went on to write numerous film scripts, including The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1943). He transferred his gag writing talent to TV, with work for Jackie Gleason, among others, and wrote some TV scripts of the 1960s, including two episodes each of My Three Sons and Bewitched. His family included several actors: his wife Patricia Englund, daughter Mabel and stepson George Englund, and brother-in-law Jack Albertson. Shirley Spencer wrote a column of analyzing celebrity handwritings for the Hearst newspapers. Normal mailing folds. Lightly toned. Corners lightly creased. Otherwise, fine condition.