August 2019 Auction Ends Thursday, August 29th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/29/2019
Fascinating lot related to John Wayne and his relationship with RKO Studios, headed at the time by Howard Hughes. Lot not only includes a letter signed ''Duke'' by Wayne to RKO executive C.J. Tevlin - considered Hughes' right-hand man, but also the 4pp. copy of a letter to Hughes, where he lambasts the management of RKO for its inability to make quality movies. Wayne was likely not off the mark in his assessment of RKO, as the studio was famously plagued by turmoil and expensive failures from the late 1940s until Hughes sold it in 1955.
Upon his personal stationery, Wayne writes to Tevlin on 29 April 1954 in part, ''Enclosed you will find copy of a letter I've sent to Howard Hughes. The facts in that letter you have admitted to me are true. I want you to be sure to confirm this to Mr. Hughes...[signed] Duke''. The copy of the letter to Hughes is included, marked at top ''Recd by Hughes office 2-4-54''. In that letter, Wayne laments that he's contractually obligated to RKO for two more films, as he's been unable to work for other studios during this time. Letter reads in part,
''Dear Howard, My racket isn't writing letters any more than answering them promptly is yours...I must get some serious beefs off my chest, and it is vitally important for me to invite some unadulterated facts to your attention which I don't believe are ever placed before you...
My beefs are very simple. At the other studios and for my own company, in which I have a huge stake, I seldom get involved on a picture for more than eight to ten weeks over-all. I am paid top terms for this time. At RKO, for obvious reasons, i wind up giving six months of my time -- and it's hectic, uncomfortable and unpleasant time -- for a fraction of the compensation paid me by the other studios and for only a portion of my present market value. You can resolve this problem easily by paying me what the others do for the two remaining pictures I owe you, and I must ask for this because of the abnormal amount of my time you tie up.
It is very obvious to me why RKO has always gotten into trouble from the standpoint of time. No forethought has ever really been given by your studio executives to the proper selection of important properties for me at the right time...Frankly, up to the present time, your studio executives have apparently not had enough ability or experience or interest to find, select and decide upon what represents real showmanship. Most of their efforts have been devoted to coercing me into pictures that are not ready, not properly prepared, and, in the last analysis, not even suitable for me...''
Wayne then writes about the script for ''Silver Horde'', ''Howard...The people at your studio conned you. Competent directors and writers shied away from it...I wrote you a letter about 'Silver Horde' on July 21, 1953. To the best of my recollection, it took about six weeks for you to get around to answering my letter with a telephone call. Despite my urgent pleas that you shelve the picture, you told me you would have to go ahead with it...Next I hear that you decided to abandon it, and the studio is trying to lay the blame on the fact that my divorce trial was coming up some months hence...
For three years now, I have had your two commitments hanging over my head. Both should have been finished a year ago. Because of your studio's inertia, I have not only lost considerable sums of money by being forced to wait around, but what is more important, I have been unable to make any dealings ahead of time for pictures on exact dates because there was always the possibility that RKO would preempt my time. I am speaking of outstanding quality pictures. These are the very essence and lifeblood of an actor's existence. I could have long since had another John Ford picture, which, I loved, 'The Long Gray Line', in production and by now a completed entity. If my memory serves me correctly, you were urged to do this picture by someone in your studio. You could have obtained John Ford for it. I would have given my right arm for the privilege of appearing in this picture with my old friend and sponsor, John Ford...''
With much more excellent content, Wayne closes by defending his reputation to Hughes: ''...I wish to remind you that in my 25 years in the business I have never acted in any way unreasonable that would cause me to be put on suspension by any studio, and that I have to date never been in a picture that was not momentarily successful. Every top director I have ever worked with has had complimentary things to say about my cooperation and enthusiasm on a picture. Because of these things, I say that RKO has no excuse for treating me in the manner they are now doing...I guess I've run out of words concerning this situation, but certainly not of feeling...''
Single page letter signed measures 7.25'' x 10.25''. Punch holes at top and toning, overall in very good condition. Four page letter to Hughes on four sheets measures 8.5'' x 11''. Lot also includes two movie stills of Wayne from ''Jet Pilot'' and ''The Conqueror'', the last two RKO films starring Wayne. With Beckett COA for Wayne's signed letter.
John Wayne 1954 Letter Signed to RKO Studios Signed ''Duke'' -- Wayne Includes 4pp. Carbon of His Letter to Howard Hughes, Where He Excoriates the Management of RKO
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