Description:

Porter Cole

1p TLS on watermarked cream stationery signed by American songwriter and composer Cole Porter (1891-1964) as "Cole" on bottom, and with typed signature "From: Cole Porter" at upper left. In near fine condition, with expected paper folds. Page measures 7.125" x 10.75".

This remarkable letter to theater producer Cy Feuer (1911-2006) illuminates aspects of Porter's later personal and professional life. In it Porter mentions his wife Linda and his mother Kate, as well as business associates George S. Kaufman (1889-1961), Leueen MacGrath (1914-1992), and Feuer's partner Ernest H. Martin (1919-1995).

On September 3, 1953, Cole Porter wrote about production scheduling for what would be his last musical, Silk Stockings. Porter explained that Feuer's projected rehearsal date of February 1, 1954 was impossible to achieve: "With regard to bending every effort to get the show into rehearsal on February 1st, I don't see how we can possibly do a decent job in that short time."

Porter was busy handling personal matters in the fall of 1953. His mother, Kate Cole Porter (1862-1952) had died in August 1952, and he was scheduled to travel to Indiana in late September 1953 to sign documents related to her estate. And while Porter intended on arriving in New York to oversee production in early October 1953, he also wanted to "get up to the country and be with Linda as quickly and as much as possible." Porter's wife Linda Lee Thomas (1883-1954) would die of emphysema the following year.

Silk Stockings would only premiere a full year after Feuer's projected timeline, on February 24, 1955. The musical story, co-written by George S. Kaufman, Leueen MacGrath, and Abe Burrows, was loosely based on Melchior Lengyel's story Ninotchka, in which an overzealous Soviet agent falls in love with a French libertine. Porter wrote the music and the lyrics; Steve's song "All of You", originally performed by Don Ameche, was a break-out hit. Over the next fifteen months, the cast of Silk Stockings gave 478 performances at Broadway's Imperial Theater.

In this TLS, Porter wrote: "I am very glad to hear that the weekend with the Kaufmans was successful and await the detailed results with impatience!" At this early stage of production, relations with the husband-and-wife story writing team were still amicable. Later on, though, the Kaufmans would quit the production after strained tryouts in Detroit, Philadelphia, and Boston. Their remaining co-writer Burrows rewrote most of the script following their resignation.

Cy Feuer and Ernest H. Martin were theatrical producers whose partnership resulted in Guys and Dolls (1950) and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1961). Porter mentions Martin in our letter as "Ernie": "Of course, from there [Williamstown, Massachusetts] I can always commute once a week to see you or Ernie regarding the new show."

Cole Porter was a classically trained musician who composed music and lyrics for many Broadway hits and Hollywood musical scores. His most popular songs include "Night and Day" (1932), "You're the Top" (1934), and "I've Got You Under my Skin" (1936). His Broadway career peaked in the 1930s, with the aberration of Kiss Me, Kate in 1948, but Porter continued composing movie scores well into the late 1950s.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!
Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. ***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR SHIPMENT TO BE SENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE ON FILE WITH INVALUABLE, YOU WILL NEED TO INFORM US OF THIS AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS SUBMITTED FOR YOUR WINNINGS*** Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000