Son of L. Frank Baum who himself tried several times to adapt his story to theater or motion pictures, but with little luck. In 1914, he went so far as to found the Oz Film Manufacturing Company, which went bankrupt after only a year. Frank J. Baum eventually resumed an involvement with his father's work by taking over the management of the rights to the stories; it was Baum "Jr." who finally brought his father's theater and motion picture dreams to fruition. Signed manuscript, “Frank Baum,” on three sides of two 5.75 x 8.5 off-white sheets, no date. “Do you have the faith of a child who believes in fairies? Yes—there are fairies! Not the little imaginative people we read of in children’s stories, but none the less, real workers of magic. For without these little fairies—the product of our own imagination—how could we have perfected all the marvels of our day which make our civilization so comfortable? What are fairies but imagination? What are modern miracles of invention, but the product of imagination? Every physical substance used in producing the airplane, the radio, the automobile, and other modern miracles has always existed. But our fairies of imagination have enabled us to combine these old substances in new forms. Nature is always wonderful—and all the good of Nature has always existed. Regardless of gloomy days—or periods of ‘depression,’ Nature remains as fresh and beautiful—as full of joy and happiness as ever. On dark and gloomy days as we poke around in the dreary wreck of our hopes and aspirations, we may suddenly uncover one of these little spiritual fairies of imagination that has been there all the time—just waiting for recognition. Then, with a rush of enthusiasm and new optimism, we grasp tight hold of this little reflection of the Divine Spirit—and suddenly we find our mental chaos has cleared—and we stand once again in the bright, warm sun of progress and accomplishment. Times change. The old world ever rolls on to new heights of progress. Mankind never retrogrades. When our seeming great accomplishments of civilization crumble around us and for a space of time leave us bewildered—it is only because we failed to build on solid foundations. This is not disaster—it is the mere clearing away of the rubbish of childish conceptions and childish toys we have outgrown, so we may be enabled to rebuild anew—stronger—better—spiritually purified—with our feet at last planted firmly on the road which eventually leads to perfection.” Light creasing and toning, two irregularly trimmed edges, and some trivial mirroring at the bottom of the first page, otherwise fine condition. A beautifully inspirational letter from the supportive son who helped bring his father’s opus to the silver screen. RRAuction COA.
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