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Lillian Gish Signed Personal Letters

Currency:USD Category:Memorabilia / Autographs - Original Start Price:50.00 USD Estimated At:100.00 - 200.00 USD
Lillian Gish Signed Personal Letters
Lillian Gish Signed Personal Letters - Known as “The First Lady of the American Cinema” and listed by the American Film Institute as one of the greatest female stars of all time, Lillian Gish lived 100 amazing years (October 14, 1893 – February 27, 1993). She was an American stage, screen and television actress, director and writer whose career spanned over 75 years. She started literally at the beginning of the American cinema, working with revolutionary director D. W. Griffith (who basically invented the art of film directing) in 1912, and continuing with him through dozens of films, including her starring role in “Birth of a Nation” considered the most important influential and groundbreaking film in history. Gish continued to work non-stop up until her last film, starring with Bette Davis, Ann Sothern, and Vincent Price in “the Wales of August” in 1987. These are two rare letters from Miss Gish written to Evie Johnson, who she has been friends with for many years. They were written not long after Evie’s divorce from famous actor Van Johnson. In the first letter, dated September 5th, 1991, Gish gives her condolences to Evie for the divorce, and talks about working on her last film “The Whales Of August”, and how “Ann S.” (Ann Sothern) was a “lifesaver” during production. The second letter is a Christmas wish to Evie and her daughter Schuyler dated December15, 1991. Both are signed by Miss Gish, and include the original envelopes. Ironically, (or maybe not so ironic), the first letter includes One Cent Stamps of Margaret Mitchell (author of “Gone with the Wind”), and a Twenty-Five Cent stamp of Arturo Toscanini, considered the greatest conductor of all time, who led the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and the NBC Symphony Orchestra. Both were close long time close friends with Miss Gish. One of the envelopes also includes her original addressed return label. Both treasured letters come from the Johnson Family collection, and include a Letter of Provenience from Van Johnson’s daughter, Schuyler Johnson, along with a copy of her famous controversial cover story article “My Life As A Hollywood Princess”, about her trials and tribulations growing up in Beverly Hills with a superstar father and extended “family” with some of the most famous celebrities in the world.