American humorist, author, and screenwriter (1904-1979) best known for his humorous short pieces written for The New Yorker. TLS signed “Sid P.,” two pages, 8.5 x 11, April 27. Letter to literary agency H. N. Swanson, in full: “Something went distinctly haywire in your secretarial division; your reply to my letter was sent to some fabulous, non-existent address and had to be returned to the Coast and lingeringly forwarded back to me. Without resorting to the knout, will you please see that the girls get my vital statistics straight?
S. J. Perelman
14 Washington Square North,
New York City. Telephone: Gramercy 7-3022
I don't know whether Leah wrote you after receiving a carbon of the letter you sent me, but neither of us could understand your statement that you haven't been able to quote a salary figure on me. She and I had discussed that frequently and she says she has both written and wired it to you. It was our feeling that you probably ought to ask twelve-fifty for me, and settle for a thousand if necessary. Laura and I got a thousand together, as you recall, and figuring the intervening success of ONE TOUCH OF VENUS, I don't think a thousand for me is exorbitant. Also I am assured by my toadies that in the past several years my reputation has expanded somewhat. That last book of mine, CRAZY LIKE A FOX, sold close to 60,000 copies. In reply to your question, Random House will publish in September a new one called KEEP IT CRISP (also a collection).
However, I do want to emphasize the fact (which may not have emerged too strongly in my last letter) that I would welcome an assignment, and soon, for a variety of reasons moral and financial. I don't know how intimately you concern yourself with the actual business of going out and selling clients nowadays, but I do wish you could give this your personal touch so it could be arranged with all possible speed. Your suggestion that I come out without an actual assignment, unfortunately, isn't possible; I've always found that pretty wearing, and what with housing difficulties and family complications, I just can't do it.
In reference to your question about radio, my meager contact with it hasn't convinced me that I would be happy in it. I'm primarily interested in getting a studio spot and whatever influence you can exert in that direction will endear you enormously to me and mine. If, incidentally, someone insists on Laura and myself as a team, I think it could be arranged, but I'd rather you exhausted all possibilities for me solo. Well, this is just about everything at present, dearie, and I'll appreciate some fast action. I know you're concerned that I fit into a good spot that would result in a shiny credit, but on the other hand I've got to get back into harness again. Let's go, Brunonia!” In fine condition, with light creasing, and irregular faint toning to the second page.
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