VAL DUFOUR - AUTOGRAPH NOTE SIGNED 1986 - HFSID 302925

VAL DUFOUR
Handwritten Christmas greeting to Theatre World editor John Willis, hoping for a dinner meeting in the New Year
Autograph Letter signed: "Val", 1 page, 4x6. New York City, 1986. To "Dear John", in full: "I hope I see you for dinner this year. Merry Christmas and happy, healthy 1987. Love". Val Dufour (1927-2000), born in New Orleans to Parisian French parents, made his Broadway debut in High Button Shoes (1947). He may be best remembered to a wider audience for his starring roles in daytime TV dramas: Walter Curtin in Another World (1967-1972) and John Wyatt on Search for Tomorrow (1972-1979). He was seen in many TV guest spots in the 1950s and 1960s, including 4 episodes of Gunsmoke and many other Western roles. Theatre World, founded in 1945 by Daniel Blum, is America's oldest annual record of Broadway, Off-Broadway and regional theatre, referenced by industry professionals, historians, students and theatre fans worldwide. Until 1998, when a separate nonprofit corporation was established, Theatre World's editorial staff bestowed the prestigious Theatre World Awards for outstanding Broadway and Off-Broadway debuts. Screen World (from 1950) and Dance World (from 1966), administered from the same office, furnished comprehensive information on those entertainment genres. John A. Willis (1916-2010), active in Theatre World from the beginning, became its chief editor in 1965, holding that position until 2008. Willis is regarded as one of the foremost theatre and film historians of the 20th century. While producing (and presenting) the annual Theatre World Awards, Willis also served on the nominating committee for the Tony Awards. Theatre World, which received its own Tony for Excellence in Theatre in 2001, continues under chief editor Ben Hodges. Fine condition.