Description:

Katharine Hepburn ALS & Signed Playbill Re: "The West Side Waltz": "It went well - The hall seems huge…[I] gobbled it up"

Two pieces relating to American actress Katharine Hepburn (1907-2003), including a 1p autograph letter signed as "Kate" and a vintage Broadway playbill for "The West Side Waltz" signed as "Katharine Hepburn" on the front cover. Both items relate to Hepburn's performance in the Ernest Thompson play, "The West Side Waltz."

Ernest Thompson, whose 1978 play "On Golden Pond" was later adapted into the hugely successful 1981 movie co-starring Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda, wrote another play called "The West Side Waltz" after receiving the George Seaton Award for Playwrights grant. The play was about the eccentric residents of an Upper West Side apartment building. Katharine Hepburn and Dorothy Loudon starred as Margaret Mary Elderdice and Cara Varnum respectively, two musical neighbors. The pair performed in these roles off-Broadway at the Ahmanson Theater in Beverly Hills, California from January 21-March 14, 1981, and reprised them at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on Broadway from November 19, 1981 - March 13, 1982.

The lot includes:

1. A 1p autograph letter signed by Hepburn at bottom right as "Kate." January 22, 1981. N.p. but presumably Beverly Hills. Boldly inscribed in black pen on custom stationery with "Katharine Houghton Hepburn" printed in red at the letterhead. Expected wear including a central horizontal paper fold, one partly blurred word ("went") found at center, and isolated edge darkening, else near fine. 6" x 8.125."

Hepburn wrote this letter to Laura Dubman Fratti (ca. 1925-1993) in acknowledgment of a congratulatory bouquet sent to Hepburn for her "West Side Waltz" premiere at the Ahmanson Theater in Beverly Hills. Dubman was a classically trained concert pianist who had given Hepburn expert musical instruction during the production of the MGM romantic drama "Song of Love" (1947). In "Song of Love," Hepburn had played Clara Schumann; she was again playing a pianist in "The West Side Waltz."

Hepburn wrote in full:

"I - 22 - 1981

Laura! It is adorable - a lovely square papered box + with anemones + ranunculas [sic] + wax flowers + a pussy willow + pink + lavandar [sic] - so pretty.

It went well - The hall seems huge + the audience far away - even tho' it is 200 seats less than Denver. But then gobbled it up - + Whitehead + Willman said that it went well. What a great great service you did me! I can't get over it.

Love

Kate."

In the letter, Hepburn refers to the play's producer, Robert Whitehead, and the play's director, Noel Willman. Despite having been an actor for over 70 years at that point, the letter suggests that even Hepburn had some degree of opening-night trepidation. Happily, however, she soon adapted to her physical surroundings so that she was able to "gobble...up" the experience.

2. A vintage playbill from the Broadway production of "The West Side Waltz" at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, ca. November 1981 - March 1982, boldly signed by Hepburn as "Katharine Hepburn" on the front cover near the top above her image. Expected wear including chipped edges and wrinkles. The front cover has partly torn around its binding staples, and several inner pages facing the Cast page have become partly detached but are included. The inner pages are clean though toned, and with edge darkening. Else good to very good. 5.625" x 9" x .25."

The play enjoyed only moderate popular success during its Broadway run, continuing for only 126 performances despite the box office pull of its two female co-stars. Nevertheless, Hepburn received a Tony Award nomination for her interpretation of Margaret Mary Elderdice.

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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