WILLIAM S. HART - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED CIRCA 1933 - HFSID 253986

WILLIAM S. HART
William S. Hart wrote this letter in 1933, giving a fellow writer advice and griping about an upcoming court date. With sepia-toned photo of Hart on a wagon with two men and original mailing envelope.
Autograph letter signed "Bill Hart". 2 pages, 6x9 ¼, on stationery from the Hotel Astor in New York City. Dated "Monday". In full: "Dear Arlene Osman Close to 5 weeks It's been here and not in court yet! 'Nuff' said! It has me nearly daffy - There will be no Agent fee - He must get a small % of the Author royalties - The chg was for Reading, and Editing - After Nov 8 will be plenty of time - Dont [sic] crowd yourself - you can't do good work that way. You will find Jonas a vy [sic] fine man to do business with - Good luck to you Sincerely".Postscript in pencil: "I'm all [illegible] - in getting a clear meaning of Jonas Ideas - then you can work better". Lightly toned, soiled, creased and rippled.Handwriting, but not signature, is lightly spotted and smeared in places, but legible. Random ink stains Folded twice and unfolded. Otherwise in fine condition. Accompanied by: 1) Original mailing envelope from stationery of the Hotel Astor in New York City. Postmarked New York City, Sept. 27, 1933. Addressed to Miss Arlene Osman, Hollywood, California.Lightly toned, soiled, creased and rippled. Postmark touches address. Envelope is torn open at right edge. Otherwise in fine condition. 2) Photograph unsigned. B/w sepia-toned, 8x9¾ overall, 7½x9¼ image, one surface, printed on cardstock. With black ink notations on verso in unknown hand: "225/On the Verdi Ranch - Mohave Desert near/Victorville, Cal. - April1-1919/Wm S. Hart - Bob Broadwell/Bert Jackson.". Lightly toned, soiled, creased and bowed. Light tear at top edge. Otherwise in fine condition. Hart was a writer as well as an actor. Among his works were A Lighter of Flames (1923) and Hoofbeats (1933), as well as his autobiography My Life East and West (1929). He also had 11 screenwriting credits. Hart (1870-1946, born in Newburgh, New York) began acting onstage in New York, going on to make his name as a Shakespearean actor on Broadway. By his 30s, he was a highly popular stage performer, particularly in western plays. He had spent his youth traveling around the country with his father, an itinerant laborer. Hart was 44 when he starred in his first film in 1914. Basing his westerns on his own memories of the West, he insisted on stark realism, using bare, unglamorous storylines that emphasized plot and character over action. In the early 20s, other western stars emerged who emphasized spectacular action and larger-than-life heroics, and Hart's popularity faded. In 1925 he made his final film, Tumbleweeds. Hart was a friend of legendary lawman Wyatt Earp and was a pallbearer at Earp's 1929 funeral.