Impressive and extensive Edgar Bergen archive, consisting of twenty-seven letters, almost all of which are ALS, written by Bergen from between 1923-1925. All the letters are written to a Miss Lynwood Bope, who resided in Michigan, and was apparently a love interest of Bergen’s at the very beginning of his career. Most of the letters are sent to Bope either at her school or home, written from the road by Bergen or while he was at school. Archive is all drawn together by an original September 18, 1952 edition of the Decatur Republican, with front page bearing an article of Bergen’s return to his hometown, mentioning his long time friend Dr. W. P. Bope, as he prepares for a radio program. One letter, signed “Edgar, reads in part, “I have good news - I have been signing contracts!...My good news is that I will play the Temple Theatre, Detroit...Just make up your mind now that you will spend a considerable amount o time in a certain young man’s dressing room of the Temple Theatre on that said week.” Also included in the envelope is a funny legal letter, typed by Bergen, suing Bope for “a breach of correspondence and affection...as per agreement on departure from the city of Chicago.” An early letter to Bope, shows Bergen’s obvious longing for affection, “And don’t have anyone at the depot that’s going to object to me kissing you. For nothing is going to stop me...Am also eating a banana [sic] Oh I spelled it wrong, it’s banana, isn’t it...My how I would like to have my lunch of banana interrupted with kisses. He signs at the conclusion, “Eddie” drawing a detailed self-caricature of himself eating a banana and daydreaming of an encounter on a porch swing. Bergen sends a letter on his way to the hospital in in 1923, stating “I’m afraid dear your folks have but little confidence in me, tell me Lyn do they think I am a wild sort kid? He closes the letter with a neat little sketch of himself having his tonsils removed. Another letter from 1923 is signed “Ever your passionate Uncle, and again featuring a nice ink sketch of a young angel. In a 1924 TLS, signed “E. B.” Bergen encloses a news clipping giving a review of his performance in a one act play with The Prentice Players. Bergen writes from South Carolina in 1924, “I nearly burned the hotel here - I laid a cigarette on my toothbrush handle and left the room. I soon smelt [sic] celluloid burning - the room was full of smoke and a hole burnt in by dresser. I must move out before they catch me.” Again he closes with a cute sketch of a girl sitting on a block of ice. From Louisville, Bergen writes another letter as his popularity is on the rise, signed “Your torrid Eddie,” he writes “I should go back to college and yet I’m nuts about going to California or Vaudeville this winter. My agent is begging me to go out at a wonderful salary. But I don’t want gold! and fame! What care I for riches!! Give me a little cottage on the old swap road with a bed of roses at the door and a row or two of celery.” In a 1924 ALS, Bergen defends himself from allegations of starting a fire, “We had a fire last week in Ky., and the tent burned down after my program. I lost $45.00 worth of material. But thank God! I saved my dummies. They don’t know how it started and because I use fire in my program - some hint that I was the cause...The manager asked me the other day if I thought I started the fire - well I thought a long time and said - no!” In an August 1924 letter, Bergen makes reference to Charlie McCarthy, “Charlie and I have been getting very reckless of late, we say anything but what is in the program.” As 1924 comes to an end, Bergen makes a critical decision. “I quit college six weeks ago, meanwhile have written and produced my new vaudeville sketch...You remember I was talking to you about Charlie ‘the dummy’ in the operating room for a tonsil operation? Well that’s what I’m doing. But much more elaborate.” His final letter is written while traveling through California, including experiencing two earthquakes. Also included in the archive are two vintage matte-finish 8 x 10 signed photos, one of Bergen alone signed and inscribed in fountain pen, “To the girl i loved when I was a boy. And I’m still very young. Most sincerely, Edgar Bergen.” Second photo featured Bergen and one of his dummies, looking very close to Charlie McCarthy, signed in fountain pen “Riverside Theatre N. Y. Jan. 1926 Edgar Bergen and Co. Voice Illusionist. Final interesting piece is a TLS, one page, dated April 3, 1937, signed “Charlie McCarthy,” written to Dr. Bope. McCarthy sends several off-color comments, “You know Edgar has been playing the doctor part so long he really thinks he knows something about it, but he has spent the last three weeks treating a man for yellow jaundice when he discovered it was a Chinaman.” McCarthy’s postscript is a racially insensitive medical joke. In very good overall condition. R&R COA.
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