Description:

Anita Loos
various, various
Anita Loos ALS with "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" & "Happy Birthday"
Archive
A group of four items relating to Anita Loos's book "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and her play "Happy Birthday". The group consists of a copy of "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" with a playbill for the original production, a copy of the script for "Happy Birthday" from Anita Loos's personal collection, with extensive annotations apparently in her hand, and an autograph letter signed by Loos about preparations for a production of the play. Good to very good condition; please refer to the detailed descriptions before for further information.

Includes:

1. "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" by Anita Loos. New York: Grosset and Dunlap, 1925. First Photoplay edition, seventeenth printing. Octavo, 217 pages. With the original dust jacket. The book dust jacket has a few chips at both top and bottom edges, some impacting text of title. Dustjacket is lightly toned. Rubbing to lower edges of boards and some minor discoloration to tops of boards. Internal text block is toned.

2. "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" Playbill. 32pp, measuring 6.5" x 9", New York, dated January 15, 1951. For the original production of "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" at the Ziegfield Theatre, which ran from December 8, 1949 to September 15,1951. The production starred Carol Channing as Lorelei Lee. Creasing down the center of the booklet, with several very small closed tears at the top of the cover. Minor toning throughout. Very good overall.

3) Copy of "Happy Birthday: A Play in Two Acts" by Anita Loos. New York: Samuel French, 1947. Paperback with stapled and glued binding; 132 pages. Stamped on front cover and half title "From the estate of Anita Loos". Contains extensive annotations apparently in Loos's hand in pencil and red ink, changing lines and stage directs or noting song cues. With mylar protector. Cover slightly bumped and text block slightly age-toned with several rust stains from paperclips. Very good overall.

4) Anita Loos ALS "Anita". 1p, measuring 8" x 12.5", n.p., n.d. An autograph letter regarding a production of "Happy Birthday". Addressed to "George" [possibly George Dewey Cukor], it reads in full: "The enclosed is tentative (naturally), but I have tried to keep the psychological processes straight and to define correctly the character of the heroine and her father. Their relationship is the interesting and complex one and the exploration of it should be done gradually, and by progressive steps until, when Addie blows up at the climax, not only her father but the audience itself should feel like cheering. I am now in the hands of 5 producers--Cohn--Simon--Bressler--Detlugen[?] and Sam Marks. Cohn and Bressler side with me 100%. Cohn has even gone so far as to tell the others to leave me alone. But, just the same, they all read the stuff and put their diversified fingers in the pie. I presume Cohn wishes them to earn their salaries. Monday I am to take the floor and make my stand against turning Addie Bemis into Little Orphan Annie. Believe me I am going to be tough and stubborn. You are a darling to take an interest. How I would relax were I sure you were to be in charge! All love dearest George, Anita." Paper age-toned with one horizontal crease. Three small closed tears: one at right edge of crease, two at top margin. Boldly signed.

Corinne Anita Loos (1888-1981) was an American actress, novelist, playwright and screenwriter. In 1912, she became the first female staff screenwriter in Hollywood, when D. W. Griffith put her on the payroll at Triangle Film Corporation. She is best known for her 1925 comic novel, "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes", her screenplay of the 1939 adaptation of "The Women", and her 1951 Broadway adaptation of Colette's novella "Gigi". She worked closely with George Cukor on "The Women", with him insisting that she be involved in all aspects of production: shooting, re-writes, publicity, previews, and even the editing of trailers.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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