Description:

Dietrich Marlene 1901 - 1992 Marlene Dietrich ALS chastising columnist Leonard Lyons for violating her privacy

2 pp ALS inscribed in black fountain pen on blue onionskin "993 Park Avenue" letterhead and signed "Marlene" vertically along left margin of second page. Paris watermarked stationery paper scrawled in Dietrich's rapid and angular handwriting. "A" and "l" of signature slightly affected by water stain. In very fine condition, with expected wear including paper folds and tiny crease to upper left corner of first page. Each page measures 7.625" x 9.625". Also comes with matching blue envelope handwritten with recipient's address and instructions "Special Delivery" in same black ink, bearing two cancelled U.S. stamps (one for 30 cents, one for 4 cents), and postmarked April 11, 1959 from New York City. Postal office notes, including cause of non-delivery, appear on more weathered envelope.

Letter contents can be found below:



"Saturday, April 11, 1959



Dear Leonard,



it is because of your devotion to me and my devotion to you that I was shocked at the item. Anything of a personal nature you overheard, always remain between us - jokes and serious matters concerning me alike, flattering, or unflattering.



You must have realized that you failed me when you printed a quote about Mrs. Morey as "Financial Troubles" which I said only For comfort - a girl at the table who had just told us how unhappy she was with her un-generous loves.

Marlene"

Leonard Lyons (1906-1976) was the recipient of Dietrich's disapproving letter. Lyons was a popular serial columnist who produced 12,000 mostly arts-related newspaper columns over a forty-year period published in the New York Post under the heading "The Lyon's Den". Lyons had the reputation of being among the more discrete newspaper columnists, but Dietrich took offense to one of Lyon's published "items". Prior to Lyons's release of the news story, Dietrich explains that her relationship with the reporter was mutually respectful. This change of attitude surprised the aging actress even more.

During this phase of her life in the spring of 1959, Marlene Dietrich (1901-1992) was holding her own, mostly as a niche cabaret singer. Her career spanned about seventy years, beginning with German silent movie roles and cabaret songs. Dietrich's sultry screen persona and deep voice enabled her to cross over into the American entertainment industry by the early 1930s. Dietrich maintained a Manhattan co-op at 993 Park Avenue until relocating to Paris, France in the late 1970s.

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