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Bela Lugosi July 12, 1930 Letter, mentioning the Bela Lugosi July 12, 1930 Letter, mentioning the up

Currency:USD Category:Memorabilia / Autographs - Original Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:4,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD
Bela Lugosi July 12, 1930 Letter, mentioning the Bela Lugosi July 12, 1930 Letter, mentioning the up
<B>Bela Lugosi July 12, 1930 Letter, mentioning the upcoming film Dracula, with Fulton Theatre Dracula program.</B></I> An incredible two-part piece of Hollywood horror history, with the rarest and most desirable "Dracula" content of any Lugosi correspondence known to exist. First, there's a typed letter on the stationary of The Leamington Hotel of Oakland, California, dated July 12, 1930. Bela Lugosi writes to Mr. Harold Freedman of the Brandt & Brandt Dramatic Dept. of New York, expressing his gratitude to Freedman for "suggesting that I play the part in <I>Dracula</B></I> when it is filmed." Lugosi, who had created the vampire role on the New York stage in 1927, was desperately campaigning to reprise the demonic Count in the Universal film, against all odds - the studio initially expressed disinterest in securing his services. Lugosi boldly signs and underlines his name in black ink with the characteristic early accent mark over the "e." He also adds a typed footnote, providing Freedman with his Hollywood address "If you have plays in which there are great character parts suitable to my kind of ability..." Also included is a four-page <I>Dracula</B></I> play program from Oakland's Fulton Theatre, where Lugosi was then appearing as Dracula, dated July 13, 1930 - the day after Lugosi wrote the letter! Letter and program have a few small tears, and a tiny bit of paper has flaked off the margins of this 76-year old letter, but the two items have been carefully and respectfully preserved and together create a truly startling impact. This letter was featured in David Skal's <I>Hollywood Gothic</B></I> and quoted in Arthur Lennig's <I>The Immortal Count.</B></I> Lugosi's dignified, gentlemanly tone as he hopes for a job that will ultimately establish him as one of cinema's great icons is charming, touching, and - considering what he know now about his stardom and his tragedy - a bit spine-tingling. Very desirable form and content. <I>With COA from PSA/DNA.</B></I>