GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES [with] HAPPY BIRTHDAY [and] ALS

New York: Grosset and Dunlap; Samuel French; Ziegfield Theatre, 1925/1947/1951. Four items relating to Anita Loos's book Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and her play Happy Birthday:




1) A copy of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes with a playbill for the original production:




Anita Loos. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. New York: Grosset and Dunlap, 1925. First Photoplay edition, seventeenth printing. Octavo, 217 pages. In Very Good condition with Good plus dust jacket. Dust jacket with several chips at both top and bottom edges, some impacting text of title; somewhat age-toned. With mylar protector. Rubbing to lower edges of boards; discoloration to tops of boards. Text block age-toned.




2) A playbill for the original production of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes at the Ziegfield Theatre, which ran from December 8, 1949 to September 15,1951. This playbill is for the week of January 15, 1951. The production starred Carol Channing as Lorelei Lee. In Very Good condition. Creased down the center of the booklet, with several very small closed tears at the top of the cover. Age-toned.




3) A copy of the script for Happy Birthday from Anita Loos's personal collection, with extensive annotations apparently in her hand, along with an autograph letter signed by Loos about preparations for a production of the play.




Anita Loos. Happy Birthday: A Play in Two Acts. New York: Samuel French, 1947. Paperback with stapled and glued binding; 132 pages. In Very Good condition. Stamped on front cover and half title "From the estate of Anita Loos"; contains extensive annotations apparently in Loos's hand in pencil and red ink, changing lines and stage directs or noting song cues. With mylar protector. Cover slightly bumped and text block slightly age-toned with several rust stains from paperclips.




4) An autograph letter signed by Anita Loos regarding Happy Birthday. The text of the letter reads:




"Dear George. The enclosed is tentative (naturally), but I have tried to keep the psychological processes straight and to define correctly the character of the heroine and her father. Their relationship is the interesting and complex one and the exploration of it should be done gradually, and by progressive steps until, when Addie blows up at the climax, not only her father but the audience itself should feel like cheering.


I am now in the hands of 5 producers--Cohn--Simon--Bressler--Detlugen[?] and Sam Marks. Cohn and Bressler side with me 100%. Cohn has even gone so far as to tell the others to leave me alone. But, just the same, they all read the stuff and put their diversified fingers in the pie. I presume Cohn wishes them to earn their salaries.


Monday I am to take the floor and make my stand against turning Addie Bemis into Little Orphan Annie. Believe me I am going to be tough and stubborn.


You are a darling to take an interest. How I would relax were I sure you were to be in charge!


All love dearest George,
Anita"




Very good. Paper age-toned with one horizontal crease. Three small closed tears: one at right edge of crease, two at top margin. Text strong and clear.




CX Consignment. Shelved in Case 0. 1348238. Shelved Dupont Bookstore. (Inventory #: 1348238)