MILLARD KAUFMAN - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 12/26/1982 - HFSID 227235

MILLARD KAUFMAN
Oscar-nominated screenwriter Millard Kaufman wrote this letter to a fan in 1992 about how he developed the nearsighted cartoon character Mr. Magoo. He writes that Mr. Magoo was based on his uncle - who had perfect vision!
Autograph letter signed: "Millard Kaufman", 1p, 7¾x9¼, on stiff textured paper. No place, 1992 December 26. In full: "I created the character of Magoo & wrote the stories, but I cannot draw a sketch for you because I am not a graphic artist. The initial drawing of the character was done by the late John Hubler, who directed the first [illegible] or so episodes. A regards my coming up with the idea: an executive at United Productions of America asked me to develop an original cartoon. The model for Magoo was my uncle, who lived in his own highly subjective, egocentric universe. He could see as well as anyone; on any optical scale he weighed in at 20-20. But he insisted on seeing only what he wanted to see, and that I found both exasperating and interesting. Thank you for your interest." Millard Kaufman (1917-2009), a screenwriter and co-creator of the nearsighted cartoon character Mr. Magoo. In fact, his first screenwriting credit was for the 1949 animated short Ragtime Bear, the first time audiences were introduced to Mr. Magoo. Kaufman has a total of 17 writing credits in film and TV as of this biography. He received Academy Award nominations for Take the High Ground (1953) and Bad Day at Black Rock (1955). Kaufman published his first novel Bowl of Cherries in 2007, when he was 90 years old. Lightly toned and creased, otherwise, fine condition.