WELLES ORSON: (1915-1985) American actor & film director, Academy Award winner. T.L.S., Orson (with a simple drawing of a star beneath his signature), one page, 8vo, n.p., n.d., to Leonard Lyons ('Dearest Lennie'). Welles writes 'Mr. Sidney Kaufman, who wired me some time ago that he was interested in backing “CAESAR” - and mentioning your name, has fallen unaccountably silent. Could you give me a hint as to what this is about?', further stating 'I can't tell you how much I appreciate all your efforts in my behalf, but I'm afraid that with M.G.M. almost half way through shooting their version, unless something turns up miraculously and awfully quickly, I'm going to have to forget the whole project'. A couple of light, very minor stains to the borders and some light age wear, otherwise VG

 

Leonard Lyons (1906-1976) American newspaper columnist for the New York Post where his columns, The Lyons Den, became a New York institution covering theatre, movies, politics and art.

 

In 1937 Welles had co-founded the Mercury Theatre which opened on 11^th November with Caesar, Welles's modern-dress adaptation of William Shakespeare's tragedy Julius Caesar. Welles produced, directed and starred in the adaptation, which broke all performance records for the play.