RICHARD RODGERS - AUTOGRAPH NOTE SIGNED - HFSID 159452

RICHARD RODGERS
The songwriter and Broadway producer Richard Rodgers, one-half of Rodgers & Hammerstein, sends an autograph note of thanks for the wire
Autograph Note signed: "Dick", 1p, 3½x5½. Black bordered mourning card with printed message on verso: "The family of the late Doctor William A. Rodgers thank you for your kind expression of sympathy." In full: "I can't tell you what your wire meant to me but I think you can guess. Golly, it's good to have friends! My love to all of you." Rodgers has also written at bottom right of printed side: "(Over)". Pencil note (unknown hand) below note: "(to John Green)". Richard Rodgers was the second son of Dr. William A. Rodgers and Mamie Levy Rodgers. William, born in 1871, served as a customs officer to work his way through Bellevue Medical School. He graduated in 1895 and married Mamie in 1896. Rodgers (1902-1979) collaborated with lyricists Lorenz Hart and later Oscar Hammerstein II to produce dozens of America's most beloved popular songs and many of its most successful musicals. Collaborations with Hart produced such standards as "With a Song in My Heart", "The Lady Is a Tramp", "My Funny Valentine" and "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered". After Hart's death (1943), Rodgers teamed up with Hammerstein to produce one Broadway hit after another, including Oklahoma, South Pacific, The Sound of Music and The King and I. The John Green to whom this note was sent was probably the conductor and composer (1908-1989) who won four Oscars for his musical scores between 1948 and 1968). Lightly shaded. Staple holes in lower left. Otherwise, fine condition.