Rare archive of 11 ALSs from classic horror actor Edward Van Sloan (1882-1964), whose memorable roles in Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931), and The Mummy (1932) have earned him immortal status in the canon of horror cinema. The collection of handwritten letters, all of which are addressed to his nephew Bill and his wife Barbara, were penned between 1950 and 1963 and amount to a total of 36 pages of handwriting and 13 signatures, with Van Sloan signing either as “Uncle Van” or “Van.” The majority of the content, in particular the later letters, consist of typical everyday events and updates on his own health, which had begun to diminish by the early 1960s. The two earliest letters, however, offer fascinating and colorful insight into Van Sloan’s thoughts, his forthright personality, and his post-Hollywood retirement.
December 12, 1950, written inside a Christmas card, in part: “I dare say you are in the midst of a real Mid-Western winter and I do not envy you. I’ve had my share of them, and want no more…Strange how the young flourish in the snow…We here are quite all right. Both Aunt Myra & I are in the best of health and live even and uneventful lives—quite to our distaste…As you perhaps know I’m supposed to be an actor (at least I have my name & picture in the ‘Players Dictionary’) however for some time past they won’t let me act—simply refuse—and so I am marking time which ain’t no easy job, believe me.”
February 3, 1958, Van Sloan begins by discussing the recipient’s work in education, segues into his disdain for retirement, and talks briefly of the Civil War, “To me that period is still the most interesting of our history.” He then touches upon a variety of notable figures of the day.
Dwight D. Eisenhower: “I admire the man and I think he served one great purpose—International prestige for the U.S. But having said that I think all’s been said. He no doubt is an able Administrator but seems to lack the qualities of a dynamic Executive…But I don’t worry too much about that, for as Lincoln said no man in the Presidency can in four years do irreparable damage to the country.”
Leonard Bernstein as conductor of the Philharmonic: “I don’t think he’s a Bruno Walter, and has lots of the weaknesses or quirks of a young conductor, but to me he has the one great virtue—he’s interesting…I think as he grows older he’ll ‘mellow’ as they say…Meanwhile I think he’s an improvement over Mitropoulos…who to me has the unforgivable vice of being deadly dull.”
On Beethoven: “In my not so humble opinion Beethoven couldn’t write for the Human Voice—he insisted on treating it as an orchestra and made demands on it the vocal chores simply couldn’t supply. I always think of a Toscanini performance of Beethoven's ‘Missa Solemnis,” and boy was that somethin’—a Tennessee hogcalling contest was a plain chant by comparison. Do I shock you?…I imagine Herr Beethoven will weather my presumption, and the ‘Ninth’ will continue to give esthetic pleasure to millions unborn.” After reflecting on nearby city work, Van Sloan remarks: “That reminds me of your failure to see the ‘Dracula’ film on T.V. How lucky you were. It was gosh awful thirty five years ago—what it must be like today! I think nothing dates faster than a motion picture.” In overall fine condition.
The archive also includes letters from other members of Van Sloan’s family, including his wife Myra, his niece Elizabeth, and his sister Katherine, who transcribes a letter from her brother to his nephew and niece, dated February 23, 1964, not long before Van Sloan’s passing on March 6th. Accompanied by two glossy photos of the actor, a copy of his death certificate, and an urn label from the Olivet Memorial Park, stating: “This receptacle contains the cremated remains of Edward Paul Van Sloan, Date cremated March 9, 1964.” An unprecedented letter collection from Van Sloan, who remains exceedingly rare across all signed and handwritten formats.
