February 2017 Auction Ends Thursday, February 23rd, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/23/2017
Erle Stanley Gardner typed letter signed. Letter, dated 26 May 1959 is addressed to Hy Gardner at the New York Tribune. Upon his personal desert-scape stationery, the author writes in full, ''Memo from Gardner to Gardner relative to yours of May 19th:--Can you tell me a little more about what you have in mind, because I have a horror of answering questionnaires where a man's habits are broken down to short questions and presumably short answers. I'm a highly energetic, nervous type. I have all kinds of trouble sleeping. If I go to bed with something on my mind, I will sleep only three or four hours and then wake up with the impatient desire to get at it and get to work. Sad experience has taught me that when I get one of those fits it is best to get up and work at what I am doing until I get tired and then try to get some sleep during the daytime. I try to take a little siesta every afternoon but, of course, leading the highly irregular life I do, I can't conform to any pattern. Right at the moment, with an hour-long television show once a week added to my other responsibilities, I am really keeping my nose to the grindstone. I have but little opportunity for relaxation. My dictation and the requirements of the business keep seven secretaries busy. There are some days when as much as twenty thousand words of mail go out of the office. I am deluged with cases in the Court of Last Resort in addition to my other activities. I am interested in law enforcement and do a great deal of traveling and some public speaking. All of my activities in connection with the administration of justice are gratuitous. I pay my own traveling expenses when I put on talks; I donate my writing in this field. It has taken up more than fifty percent of my time for the last ten years. I am sixty-nine and eight-tenths years old, and drive myself at a terrific pace, not because I want to make money but because I want to get the various jobs done. As the time keeps getting less and less, my activities keep getting more and more. You want to know what it is that makes male stars in the late fifties still attractive to young girls. That I wouldn't know. I suppose it is because their names are associated with romantic ideals. -- If, however, the result of your questionnaire shows any means by which males of sixty-nine and eight-tenths years of age can become attractive to the opposite sex, wire me at once. With all my best, Yours, [signed] Erle Stanley Gardner''. 2pp. letter on 2 sheets measures 8'' x 10.5''. Toning to edges, staple punctures to upper left and a few very small spots of staining, else near fine.
'Perry Mason'' Author Erle Stanley Gardner Typed Letter Signed -- ''...You want to know what it is that makes male stars in the late fifties still attractive to young girls...''
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