Correspondence between the famous burlesque performer, Gypsy Rose Lee, and 1954 pulitzer prize journalist Royce Howes (my great grandfather). Written from the Book Cadillac Hotel in Detroit (estimated date: 1940).
I found these letters taped inside the cover of my family’s copy of The G String Murders by Gypsy Rose Lee. It is rumored that Howes provided some sort of editorial assistance to Lee, but these letters don’t provide any evidence of that…
You can find a transcript of the letter below the image.
1940 (est.)
Dear Royce Howes 1: (dammit I hit the wrong button again.)
The story is wonderful. On page nine it would be swell, on page one…..may as well face it, I’m plum tickled/.
(The Book Cadillac had an off night in the kitchen…I blame them for all the mistakes.)
Beely and the Barbarian were so happy. Beely had one bad moment when he called you about Gill’s item, but from then on the Bowery was a Glee Palace. Copies of the Free Press were being pushed under my nose from nine until four this morning.
I think “Stuss” is editor talk for padding. (Actor’s talk for stretching.) At least I hope it is. They COULDN’T mean….oh, no.
I enjoyed dining with you. Missed you tonight, in fact. Gawd what a dull dinner. Cold soup, fatigued salad and chicken that shouldn’t happen at the Bowery. As a floor show, the waiter wasn’t bad, but as a waiter…
Around November The G String Murder will be in your mail box. I only hope it proves worthy of your boost. Thanks.
Gypsy Rose Lee
Wikipedia Entry on Gypsy Rose Lee
Wikipedia Entry on The G String Murders
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