RUSSELL J. BIRDWELL - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 05/13/1952 - HFSID 19075

RUSSELL BIRDWELL
Legendary publicist Russell Birdwell signed this letter, typed on his personalized stationery, to a Hollywood radio station in 1952. In it, he thanks the recipient for having Vanessa Brown on his show in connection with a recently released song, Vanessa.
Typed letter signed "Birdwell". Blue mark along left edge. 1 page, 7½x11, on Birdwell's personalized letterhead. May 13, 1952. Addressed toMr. George Sanders, KFVD Radio, Hollywood, California. In full: "My dear George Sanders, All of us are most happy that you are going to have Vanessa Brown on your show, in connection with the introduction of Bernie Wayne's instru-mental number, 'Vanessa,' which was written in honor of the actress and which has been recorded for RCA Victor by Hugo Winterhalter. This is most cooperative and we look forward to a continuence [sic] of working with you. I am attacking a list of our film account [not included] in the hope that we will be able to mutually serve each other. Sincerely, Russell Birdwell". Birdwell (1903-1977), born Russell Juarez Birdwell, directed 5 movies between 1929 and 1957, but is best known for being one of Hollywood's most flamboyant press agents and publicists. Among Birdwell's best remembered stunts are launching a three-year publicity campaign for Gone With the Wind (1939), that included a nationwide search for an actress for Scarlett O'Hara and pressuring Clark Gable into the role of Rhett Butler; ads for Howard Hughes' The Outlaw (1943) that focused on buxom star Jane Russell's, ahem, two enormous talents; and hiring a "Woman in Black" to lay flowers at the grave of Rudolph Valentino, a stunt that developed a life of its own when a woman unrelated to the stunt started showing up annually at the grave. Birdwell was also a screenwriter, with writing credits on I Ring Doorbells (1946) and Jim Thorpe - All American (1951). Lightly toned, soiled and creased. Light tear in top right corner. Folded twice and unfolded. Otherwise in fine condition.