ROSCOE "FATTY" ARBUCKLE - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 09/24/1924 - HFSID 274951
Price: $2,500.00
ROSCOE "FATTY" ARBUCKLE
Arbuckle writes to his estranged wife, who had defended him during his scandalous trials
Autograph Letter signed: "Roscoe", 4p, 6x9½. Louisville, Kentucky September 4, 1924. On
letterhead of The Brown Hotel to "Dear Mint" [his first wife, Minta Durfee Arbuckle]. In
full: Received contract okay. I am glad you are pleased with the details therein. You tell Major
Sweet for me that I think he is a first class gentleman and I hope I see more of him in the future.
So you are sailing on the Majestic. You will enjoy that as it is one of the finest boats afloat. I envy
you that trip. I am also glad you have decided about Mimi. You have been a good thing all your
life. I don't mean that it isn't right to take care of them but it certainly must get on your nerves
not to have any freedom and always have to be thinking about somebody else all the time. It is
about time you were thinking about yourself once in a while. You are entitled to a little pleasure
and comfort yourself so go to it. I'm for you 100 percent. Please don't mention whay I have said to
Marie as I love her and I wouldn't hurt her feelings for anything in the world but just the same
you are the first one to be considered as far as I am concerned. Live your own life and do what you
want to do. You are entitled to it. Please destroy this so she don't [sic] see it. I have thought out
the following system of sending you your statement and check. It will always be a week behind
which I will explain, for instance. We are playing Louisville this week. My advance man has gone
on to Chicago and as he keeps his the books we cannot balance them until I arrive in Chicago. So
the Louisville statement together with check will be mailed from Chicago and so in each town we
play. Please tell me just how you want it sent. The contract states a certain bank for the check but
where will I mail the statements, or can't it be arranged in some way so I can mail the whole
Business together and close up the entire weeks business at one time and then the records are
always complete at the end of each week and the account is always up to date. Please have the
Major figure out as I don't like to keep books so would rather close each week up infull with all
details and have a complete record of each week in a separate envelope so at any time it can be
checked up at a moment's notice. We'll be at the Chicago Beach Hotel, Chicago all next week.
Give my best to Marie and everybody and all my best wishes and thanks to you." Rusty paperclip
impression on first page, binder hole at top, light folds. Otherwise, fine condition.
Accompanied by matching, autograph envelope 6½x3½), postmarked Louisville, Ky.,
September 24, 1924, addressed by Arbuckle to "Mrs. Minta D. Arbuckle/347 West 55th
St./New York City". Three-fourths-inch tear at left of upper edge. Binder hole in printed return
address. Slightly soiled. Otherwise, fine condition. Joining Mack Sennett's Keystone Kops in
1913, Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle (1887-1933) quickly rose to stardom in a series of short
silent film comedies with such costars as Mabel Normand, Charlie Chaplin and Chester
Conkling. From 1916, he wrote and directed many of his own films as well as some of the
other stars of comedy. In 1921, at the peak of success after signing a huge contract with
Paramount Pictures, Arbuckle's career was ruined by a sexual assault scandal. After three
trials, two hung juries, and an acquittal, Arbuckle was found innocent but public opinion
forced Arbuckle's retirement from the screen. He made a brief comeback under the alias
William Goodrich (he signed a six-film contract with Warner Bros. in 1932 and a feature film
contract in 1933), he passed away. Roscoe Arbuckle married Minta Durfee (1889-1975) in
1908. She soon found roles in many of her husband's comedies, but also in the films of
Charlie Chaplin and others. The couple separated in 1918, but Minta defended her
husband's innocence in the court of public opinion during his three trials. The couple
divorced in 1925, an event for which Arbuckle seems to be preparing with the financial
arrangements he outlines in this letter. Minta Durfee Arbuckle appeared in film supporting
roles for many years thereafter, her last one being The Savage Intruder (1968). Although
blacklisted from movie screens for several years, Arbuckle did carry on as an entertainer.
Regular mailing creases. Worn corners. Otherwise, fine condition. Two items. Accompanied
by PSA/DNA Certificate of Authenticity #C44346.
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