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Lot #671
Irving Berlin (2) Typed Letters Signed

"It took me sixty years to get from a 15¢ flop house on the Bowery to a house on the East River"

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Estimate: $200+
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Description

"It took me sixty years to get from a 15¢ flop house on the Bowery to a house on the East River"

Two TLSs signed "Irving," each one page, 7.25 x 10.5, personal letterhead, July 13, 1967, and February 15, 1968. The first, in part: "Here are the three new items I've written for the 'Madam' spectacular. The 'Way Out' number replaces 'Washington Square Dance' which was in the original party scene given by Perle Mesta. The title song 'Call Me Madam' was not in the original score. It's based on a tag laugh at the end of the show. The Lichtenberg Ambassador decorates Perle Mesta saying 'Now you are a Dame.' This cues her into the title number. The rewritten version of 'Ike' speaks for itself. The same situation with two Democratic Congressmen and one Republican."

The second, in part: "Speaking of Mr. Hoffman, you no doubt got his notice of a new address. He finally had to get out of the dump he lived in on 48th Street and through an acquaintance, a mystic by the name of Sam Shaw, he got himself the God damnedest apartment you have ever seen…It took me sixty years to get from a 15¢ flop house on the Bowery to a house on the East River on Beekman Place. The Boff did it in a sleeper jump. Incidentally, he did all the interior decorating himself. He's very proud of this and thinks of himself as the Jewish Cecil Beaton." In overall fine condition.

Auction Info

  • Auction Title: Fine Autograph and Artifacts Featuring Classical Music
  • Dates: #661 - Ended April 12, 2023