MADGE KENNEDY - AUTOGRAPH LETTER DOUBLE SIGNED 05/20/1973 - HFSID 166367

MADGE KENNEDY
Madge Kennedy sends an autograph letter to Myron Brown of thanks for the heartwarming party.
Autograph Letter Signed: "Madge Kennedy" twice, 2p, 5¾x7¾, front and verso. No place, 1973 May 20. On letterhead imprinted with her name to Myron Brown. In full: "Thank you for asking me to your delightful heart-warming party. Such a joy to find so many new friends who love the movies and the theatre. It has always been to me the most wonderful joyous privilege to live my life as part of it and always prayed that the audience was having as much joy as I in playing for them. Thank you again for asking me - my special love to your darling mother - and the delightful new friends I feel are mine now - Blessings - dear Myron". Lengthy handwritten postscript on verso signed: "Madge Kennedy". In full: "Beside your lovely mother your party, beside, all the exciting young people, one darling girl with little black curls and a very busy camera whoe's (sic) name I regret I cannot remember - There was tiny and dear, very dear Evelyn Brent, so well remembered - and lovely and glowing Peggy Hamilton and her handsome delightful sister. It was a very glowing party. Thank you again for thinking of me - I'm not leaving out the charming niece! - whom, I'm so delighted to have met! - It is a gift to give such a delightful party, and [illegible] by being my attentive escort made it a complete delight to me - I pray this is not too overflowing - Sincerely". At lower left margin, Kennedy has written: "I had a very good time!!". Stage, screen and television actress MADGE KENNEDY (1891-1987) was a Broadway star by 1912, and she found similar success in films after being signed to Goldwyn Pictures by Sam Goldwyn within three months after he founded his studio. Goldwyn gave Kennedy the title of "winsome", and she lived up to the name in her light comedies, which included Baby Mine (1917), Our Little Wife (1918) and Dollars and Sense (1920). After leaving Goldwyn Pictures, Kennedy appeared in several films produced by her husband, Harold Bolster, before retiring from the screen and returning to the stage. Coaxed out of retirement by George Cukor for the role of Judge Carroll in his 1952 film, The Marrying Kind, Kennedy began a second career as a character actress, appearing in such films as Lust for Life (1956), The Catered Affair (1956), North by Northwest (1959) and The Day of the Locust (1975). She was also a guest star on a number of TV shows, from Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1954) to The Odd Couple (1972), and Kennedy had a recurring role as Theodore Cleaver's Aunt Martha Bronson on Leave it to Beaver (1957, 1958, 1959, and 1963). EVELYN BRENT (1899-1975), born Mary Elizabeth Riggs, made her film debut in the silent movies in 1915 and appeared in films until 1950. She was the WAMPAS Baby Star of 1923. PEGGY HAMILTON appeared in the 1916 silent, The House of Mystery. Slightly creased with fold, not at signature. Light show through of writing. Fine condition.