VAN HEFLIN - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED - HFSID 251721

VAN HEFLIN
Van Heflin writes a letter to Ken Murray on his own Memo paid about being willing to invest in a movie that Ken Murray is producing.
Autograph Letter Signed: "Love/Van & Frances", 1p, 4¼X7½. No place, no date but circa 1946-1947. On memo pad page headed "Ken Murray's 'Blackouts'/From the Desk of/Ken Murray" to Ken Murray. Begins: "Dear Ken". In full: "I change my mind - I'll take a piece of that damn bird picture. I'm still not sure about putting dough in Blackouts but maybe next year I'll change my mind on that too. We wanted to be the first - and you're not even here --". Ken Murray's Blackouts, a stage revue that Murray produced and starred in, began in 1942 and ran for seven years. The show, which featured risqué humor, novelty acts, music and starlets, ran for 3,844 performances, setting a record as the longest-running show in Los Angeles, and Blackouts was touted as a "must see" review during WWII. The "bird picture" Heflin mentions was Bill and Coo, first released in 1947 and re-released the following year with Murray appearing as himself in the film's prologue. The film, which showcased the trained birds of George Burton, who had appeared in Murray's Blackouts, featured an all-bird cast and was awarded a Special Academy Award in 1947. Stage and screen actor VAN HEFLIN (1910-1971) earned an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Johnny Eager (1941). Other well remembered roles included The Prowler (1951) and Shane (1953). He also appeared in a number of television plays on Playhouse 90 and guest starred on The Dick Powell Show (1961). Heflin was married to his second wife, the former FRANCES E. NEAL, from 1942-1967. Multi-talented comedian/actor/producer KEN MURRAY (1903-1988), born Ken Doncourt, hosted his own TV show, The Ken Murray Show (1950-1953), worked in Las Vegas showrooms and appeared in a number of feature films, including The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence (1962), and TV series, from The Jack Benny Program (1950) to Love, American Style (1969). Lightly creased with folds. ¼-inch tear at upper margin touches the imprinted "M" in Murray. Irregular upper edge from removal from pad. Overall, fine condition.