WILLIAM GARGAN - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 12/29/1960 - HFSID 31824

WILLIAM GARGAN
Gargan handwrote, signed and dated this letter to a Lou near the end of 1960, shortly after a laryngectomy that ended his career. In it, he thanks Lou for the many letters and prayers that he received and updated him on his condition, nothing that he "can say such important things as 'Scotch & Water,' 'Lets Eat' & 'Thank You'".
Autograph letter signed "Bill". 3 pages, 7¼x10¼, on Gargan's personalized stationery. Dec. 29, 1960. Stamped in purple ink on each page: "Dec 30, 1960". Addressed to "Lou". In full:"Dear Lou: Thank you for your note and also the Hundreds of other notes, Xmas Cards, Novena's [sic], Masses, Prayers from wellwishers, old Cronies I havent [sic] heard of for years, total strangers from New Jersey, Penna., N. Y. and of Course My home town of Brooklyn. I even had a real Estate Deal offered and one guy who had cancer, and beat the rap offering 5 or 10 bucks if I needed it. Yes Lou The Good Guys still outnumber the Bad Ones! Lou I just cant [sic] possibly answer them all as I'm at least a month behind thanking people for there [sic] thoughtfulness Would you for me with a couple of words? - As Regards my condition The cancer was a Carcenoma [sic] Type 3. And my good Sawbones Alvin Miller is so Pleased he gives me 95%. In other words Im [sic] a One to 19 Shot! The other 5% is taken care of by the Novena's [sic], Prayers Masses, etc being said for me. I'm running a close Second to John XXXIII or is it XXIII. One of the first Group [sic] I heard from with a series of Masses was Emil and the Waiters, Cafe & Cooks! Bless Them. I got out of 'Stir' 10 days after the operation and had the nerve to take a drivers [sic] test a week later. (Believe it or not I passed) I closed my Career with some of the Best notices I ever received, here and San Francisco. (Chas Einstein Critic Examiner, Do you know him, Hes [sic] a great kid) in National Co of "Best Man" And Here's good news: although 'I Cut my throat' I'll talk again. Ive [sic] already had four speech lessons, a La 'Esophageal' method [illegible] can say such important things as 'Scotch & Water,' 'Lets [sic] Eat' & 'Thank You' Im [sic] coming along fine, Lou and once again thanks for your thoughtfulness I thought I'd fill you in in case anyone should ask about me. Mary joins me in sending Love to Peggy. May the New Year shower you and yours with Blessings. As ever". This letter was written shortly after surgeons removed Gargan's larynx due to throat cancer, which ended his career. "Mary" is his wife Mary Kenny, who married Gargan in 1928 and stayed married to him until his death in 1979. Gargan (1905-1979, born in Brooklyn, New York) was an Oscar-nominated American actor with over 100 TV shows and movies to his credit between 1928 and 1958. Gargan started as a stage actor in 1924 and appeared on Broadway a year later in Aloma of the South Seas (1925), his first of eight Broadway appearances. His first film appearance was a bit part in 1928's Lucky Boy, with his first starring role in 1932's Rain. He played high-energy, extroverted leads in B-movies during the 1930s, moving to character roles in the 1940s. He moved to TV in 1949; his most well-known role there was probably Martin Kane in Martin Kane, Private Eye (1949-1951) and The New Adventures of Martin Kane, Private Eye (1957-1958). Gargan lost his larynx to cancer in 1960, which ended his acting career; his final role was as a mute clown in TV's The King of Diamonds. He devoted himself to the American Cancer Society after losing his speech and published an autobiography in 1969 about his fight with cancer entitled Why Me? Lightly toned, soiled and creased. Paperclip impression near upper left corner, with rust stain on first page and verso of third. Folded twice and unfolded. Otherwise in fine condition.