The Letters of Cole Porter
Page 54
We think about you both and talk about you constantly; and, by the way, Linda and Sturges and I have decided that you write the best letters in the world. Where did you get this beautiful literary style?
Lots of love,
[signed:] Cole
Early in the new year, Porter wrote to advise Sam Stark to avoid Rodgers and Hammerstein’s latest musical – an interesting sign of his animosity towards the great Broadway writers:
5 January 1954: Cole Porter to Sam Stark75
Dear Sam: –
Thank you for your letter of December 28th. I suggest that you see Murray Anderson’s ALMANAC* instead of that gloomy “Me and Juliet”. The sketches are very funny.
Give me a ring when you get here if you have time.
Best,
[signed:] Cole
He also wrote to his regular Hollywood agent Irving Lazar to thank him for his efforts, perhaps in trying to get a film agreement for Can-Can:
19 January 1954: Cole Porter to Irving Lazar76
Dear Irving: –
Thank you for your letter of Jan. 13, 1954. Again I congratulate you on your patience in trying to put over that Metro deal for me.
I shall await any further news from you with great interest.
Best regards,
[signed:] Cole
On 17 February, the great composer and producer Jule Styne wrote to Porter to report on progress with a television version of Anything Goes that was to be aired on 1 March, starring the original Reno Sweeney, Ethel Merman: ‘I am terribly excited, sitting here with Leland, only wishing that you were here to see what is going to be done with “Anything Goes” with Ethel, Bert Lahr, and Frank Sinatra. It’s a pretty good score.’ Styne wanted permission to add new lyrics for some of Porter’s songs for use in the commercial breaks so that other music would not be heard in the middle of the show.77 Initially Porter was willing to allow this but changed his mind.78 Nonetheless, Styne’s production of the show was a triumph, with one reviewer commenting: ‘To hear Miss Merman run through “You’re The Top,” “I Get A Kick Out of You,” “Blow, Gabriel, Blow” and the title song was to have the best in Broadway musicals right in the home.’79
Porter wrote to Sam Stark in late February with his usual miscellany of topics:
26 February 1954: Cole Porter to Sam Stark80
Dear Sam: –
Thanks for your letter dated “St. Valentine’s Day”. Do you realize that there were two St. Valentines?
Thank you for the book by Aldous Huxley, “The Doors of Perception”.* I had already read it, so I shall give the copy you sent to me to the Old Sailors Home.
As for the wine, “Camp Vallon”, try the following man: E. Des Baillets, 2008 Whitney Avenue, Hollywood 28; Telephone, Hollywood 4-5098. I believe that we used to get that wine from him. In any case, he is the best man I know for all wines, as he really knows about them. Don’t forget the delicious white wine from the River Loire, “Sancerre”. It is very light and very dry.
I arrive on the Coast during the second week in April.
Love to you both,
[signed:] Cole
In March, Porter flew to Switzerland, staying at the Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, where he encountered the actress Paulette Goddard (1910–90) and her future husband, the German novelist Erich Maria Remarque (1898–1970) of All Quiet on the Western Front (1928) fame:
15 March 1954: Cole Porter to Paulette Goddard81
Dear Paulette – you were sweet to send the charming carnations. They do a lot toward neutralizing the horror of this early Badruttian sitting-room.
We missed you + Eric in the grill tonight. Your table was occupied by a dull-looking gentleman + a lady who looked like quite a good horse.
Otherwise the grill was empty as the Cadoval-Niarkos* [sic] gang was throwing a big dinner in the bowling alley. This same gang danced until 9 A.M. this morning when the orchestra left as it’s [sic] contract with the hotel was over. Cadoval + Niarkos [sic] caught them at the Italian frontier + bought [sic] the orchestra back to stay on until the gang collapsed.
Don’t forget, when you hit N.Y., I live in those li’l ole Waldorf Towers.
It was a joy seeing you both + Mr. Sturges + I send you our love.
Cole No-Mind.
Porter planned to return to California in April to resume work on Silk Stockings:
22 March 1954: Cole Porter to Sam Stark82
Dear Sam: –
The wonderful “Southern Artichoke Relish” which you sent Linda must have found an artichoke in the East – as it never arrived. I look forward to my own wonderful souvenir “Artichoke Relish”, which you say will be waiting for me in the wilds of Rockingham.†
Why did you send me the enclosed clipping with the ring around “Hey, nonny, nonny?”
I hit the Coast on the night of April 6th, and I hope that during the Summer, in spite of the fact that I am a good hard-shelled Baptist, you won’t treat me like a leper.
Love to all,
[signed:] Cole
Porter also wrote to the choreographer Jerome Robbins to say he was pleased that Robbins had been put in charge of the dances of Silk Stockings:
26 March 1954: Cole Porter to Jerome Robbins*83
Dear Jerry: –
One of the nicest things that happened to me while I was abroad was the cable from Cy Feuer telling me you would be with us on SILK STOCKINGS. I can’t tell you how happy I am about this.
Please look me up when you come to the Coast. My address is 416 No. Rockingham Ave., Los Angeles 49, California; and my telephone (it is private, God knows why) is Arizona 9-3246.
All my best wishes to you on your present venture,†
[signed:] Cole
In the event, Robbins was replaced by Eugene Loring,‡ but according to Deborah Jowitt, he came in to help with the show during its troubled tryouts in early 1955.84
Porter often shared his music with other composers and was delighted when they did the same. The following letter to Noël Coward thanks the British songwriter for some recent sheet music:
29 March 1954: Cole Porter to Noël Coward85
Dear Noley: –
Four numbers from AFTER THE BALL§ appeared. They have given me great pleasure, and I congratulate you on your beautiful job.
It seems to me that you have two new standards in Sweet Day and I Knew That You Would Be My Love.
It was a joy to see you at Ina’s.*
Linda must have been confused. She expected you for tea on the Friday before you left. She was all dressed up for you, and so disappointed that you didn’t arrive. When you have time, please write her a little note.
Love,
[signed:] Cole
By early May, Silk Stockings was in the advanced stage of preparation, with actors Don Ameche† and Hildegard Neff‡ signed to play the lead roles. Porter wrote to John Wharton about choosing the right record company for the cast album:
5 May 1954: Cole Porter to John Wharton86
Dear John:
Thank you for your note of March 20th, 1954, which you had sent to Switzerland.§
Thank you, also, for your letter of May 3rd, 1954. In regard to the show album of SILK STOCKINGS, it seems to me that if RCA will give us as good a deal as Capitol offered[,] RCA would be preferable, as there might be an angle by which we could get free advertisements through RCA tieups with NBC and NBT.¶ I leave the whole matter, as from now on, in your hands.
I agree with you and the producers that it would be stupid to produce CAN CAN in London in the very near future and that it would definitely be wrong to arrange any other foreign productions before the British production.
A man called Richard G. Hubler,* who has written articles on quite a lot of people for the Saturday Evening Post, is anxious to do one on me. He has talked to the head man of the Post, who now wants to know how much money I would ask for this. I told Hubler I must write to you for your advice. He asked me to remind you that this article would come out at about the time SILK STOCK
INGS is opened in New York, just before, and would have great publicity value. Naturally, he had in mind that on account of this you should advise me to take less than would be expected. Please let me know about this.
Sincerely,
[signed:] Cole
On 8 May the MGM Porter cavalcade was postponed as Comden and Green had come up with the idea for the movie that became It’s Always Fair Weather instead; Arthur Freed agreed they would return to the Porter project afterwards.87 Then on 17 May, Porter wired Jean Howard to inform her of unexpected and alarming news:
17 May 1954: Cole Porter to Jean Howard88
DEAR JEANNIE AND CHARLIE[,] THANK HEAVEN I GOT HERE IN TIME BUT LINDA IS VERY CRITICALLY ILL[.] LOVE=COLE=
Linda’s emphysema had taken a turn for the worse. Three days later, she died at home in her apartment at the Waldorf Towers, aged seventy:
20 May 1954: Cole Porter to Abe and Carin Burrows89
DEAR ABE AND CARIN[,] LINDA DIED TODAY. PLEASE NO FLOWERS: COLE
Linda’s sudden death took her friends by surprise. The next few letters show how Porter’s inner circle was supportive with their company, messages and gifts:
22 May 1954: Cole Porter to Sam and Harriette Stark90
Dear Sam and Hariette: – [sic]
Thank you so much for your sympathy; I appreciate it deeply. Will see you soon.
Love,
[signed:] Cole
26 May 1954: Cole Porter to Harriette and Sam Stark91
Dear Harriet[te] and Sammy:
Thank you for the three bottles of Neuchatel 1950, with the monkeys crawling over them. They are very beautiful!
Love,
[signed:] Cole
8 June 1954: Cole Porter to Jean Howard92
Dear Jean:
Thank you so much for the lovely flowers you sent for Linda’s burial.
Love,
[signed:] Cole
12 June 1954: Cole Porter to Hedda Hopper93
Dear Hedda:
Thanks a lot for your letter of condolence. It did great good.
Love always,
[signed:] Cole
20 June 1954: Cole Porter to Hedda Hopper94
DEAR HEDDA YOU WERE SO NICE TO INVITE US TO YOUR DELIGHTFUL PARTY. WE HAD A GRAND TIME AND WE SEND YOU OUR LOVE=COLE PORTER AND HOWARD STURGES
26 June 1954: Cole Porter to Sam Stark95
Dear little Sam:
I am having such fun with the Rand McNally World Guide.* It makes for charming reading while waiting for people who are late!
My love to you both.
Your chum
[signed:] Cole
30 June 1954: Cole Porter to Harriette and Sam Stark96
Dear Harriet[te] and Sam:
The very interesting book, written by the English lady on her trip to Mexico, arrived this morning. I have already started it and it fascinates me. Thank you both so much.
Your devoted,
[signed:] Cole
Porter’s business affairs had to continue through his bereavement, of course, and he mentioned Linda a little wistfully in the following letter to Wharton:
6 July 1954: Cole Porter to John Wharton97
Dear John:
Thank you for your detailed letter concerning reinvestments which you want to make on my stocks and bonds. When you arrive here you will have to give me a little time and try to explain all of this, as I understand none of it! Perhaps, also, I should take lessons when I get back to New York so that I won’t be such an idiot regarding my own estate.
I am ashamed – when I think of Linda, who was taught very carefully by John J. Milburn so that she knew exactly what she owned and why constant changes were made in her investments.
Sincerely,
[signed:] Cole
P.S. I enclose a letter from Fred Lounsberry. I have wired him that I am forwarding this letter to you and you will advise him your decision as to his “Gillettes do it” idea.*
Stark continued to keep Porter updated on the latest books and gossip in July and August:
16 July 1954: Cole Porter to Sam Stark98
Dear Sam:
You were very thoughtful to send me word of the new Britannica World Language Dictionary. I had already ordered it, but the title I asked for was incorrect, so now I shall get it very shortly from Mrs. Smith – in spite of the fact that I have no desire at all to improve my Yiddish.
Love to you both.
[signed:] Cole
12 August 1954: Cole Porter to Sam Stark99
Dear Sam:
I was amused at your quoted note from Allen [Walker].* It is true that we knew Chato Elizaga† for years in Paris. He was a very attractive young man and we were all so fond of him. Later, when I went to Mexico with [Bill] Haines and Company he and his wife entertained us. I didn’t like her at all. She seemed to feel very superior to Mexicans, as I believe she is partly Spanish. She is not your dish.
Love to you both.
[signed:] Cole
Silk Stockings was now expected to open on Broadway at the end of December, and work continued over the summer as the cast was slowly assembled.100 Meanwhile, Cy Feuer and Ernest Martin had opened up offers for Hollywood to buy the screen rights to Can-Can for $750,000, but nobody came forward.101 Other business matters, including a television adaptation of Panama Hattie with Ethel Merman, are discussed in the next letter to John Wharton:
24 August 1954: Cole Porter to John Wharton102
Dear John:
I received two letters on August 19th, one from Bob Montgomery, which I hereby acknowledge.
In regard to Mr. Roger Pryor and his desire to have my approval to use WUNDERBAR to exploit a food product, I have forwarded his request to Max Dreyfus, plus the recording which he sent me, suggesting to Max that I disapproved of this highly but if Max wants it very much I will agree.
I enclose the four signed copies of the contract for televising PANAMA HATTIE.
Best regards.
Sincerely,
[signed:] Cole
To his friend and former collaborator on Jubilee, Moss Hart, Porter wrote the following letter, mentioning Hart’s recent heart attack:
25 August 1954: Cole Porter to Moss Hart103
Dear Moss:
I was so distressed to hear about the suffering you have been through for much too long and it was reassuring to hear from Kitty [Carlisle Hart] that you are better now and will go home shortly.
In spite of having two producers* here, constantly on my neck, I have managed to go out a great deal this summer and see all of your friends. Last Sunday, for instance, I went to a party which Jimmy McHugh† gave to unveil Louella Parsons’s‡ new face. Louella just returned from London, where Dr. Gillis did the job. Dr. Gillis did a very bad job indeed, as the face seems quite the same while the neck, which used to be rather full and nice, looks now like the Duchess of Windsor’s.
You remember that in Hollywood people only give dinners for someone. Therefore, there is a great onslaught of them next week when Jean Vanderbilt arrives to stay with the Luther Davises.§ When they first arrived the constant menace was to meet “the Rodgers and Hammersteins” but since they stayed a bit no one entertains for them at all and it is rather sad.
I have seen a great deal of Edie and Bill [Goetz] this summer and my new discoveries, Jack Pressman and Claudette [Colbert],¶ and I love all four of them dearly.
I am the only man in town who hasn’t seen A STAR IS BORN* but I congratulate you heartily because everybody says it is terrific and that your script is a thing of beauty and a joy forever.
I arrive in New York on the night of Labor Day, September 6th, and until I go into rehearsal on October 18th I shall be commuting between New York and Williamstown, closing the big house – which is a major operation.†
Silk Stockings has a fine script and it seems to me that I have done a good job on the music and lyrics, although one never knows. Certainly it has been a stimulating job and I rather look forward to that strange existence that one
leads in Philadelphia for a month after an opening.
Lots of love to you and Kitty and I do hope you are better, dear Moss.
Your devoted
[signed:] Cole
P. S. Irving Berlin called me up this morning and talked to me for half an hour, telling me how GREAT the pictures White Christmas and No Business Like Show Business are.‡ His final line was “Cole, I only called you to tell you I love you”.
While working, Porter continued to keep up to date with the latest musicals, such as MGM’s Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, which was produced by Jack Cummings (who had also produced Kiss Me Kate on the screen):
14 September 1954: Cole Porter to Jack Cummings104
DEAR JACK[,] I SAW YOUR GREAT JOB SEVEN BRIDES LAST NIGHT AT A PACKED RADIO CITY. ALL MY CONGRATULATIONS=COLE PORTER=
A further brief message to Sam Stark comments on a recent fire at Perino’s restaurant, a favourite of Porter’s in California:§
17 September 1954: Cole Porter to Sam Stark105
Dear Sammie: –
Thank you a lot for sending me the clipping about the Perino fire. I am distressed for him.
Love to you both,
[signed:] Cole
He also attended the opening night of Reclining Figure, a new play by Harry Kurnitz that Abe Burrows had directed, and later attended dinner at the Burrowses’:
5 October 1954: Cole Porter to Abe Burrows106
Dear Abe: –
Your magnificent gift arrived this morning, and we shall be sitting in A 2 and 4, promptly at 8:00 P.M. on Thursday night. What a thoughtful person you are.
Love to you and Carin,
Your old friend,
[signed:] Cole
21 October 1954: Cole Porter to Carin Burrows107
Dear Carin: –
Last night was a joy, and I thank you so much.
As I told Abe, I am sending you Music and Musicians, which is practically my bible. There is a section titled “Plots of Operas”, which you will find in the latter part of the book, which is the most complete that I know.