Your little monster, Jim

On 8 April 1954, a day after signing his contract with Warner Brothers, James Dean left New York and headed for California to prepare for his first leading role in Elia Kazan's East of Eden (1955). Production of the film was to start at the end of May, and until then Dean would be rehearsing and doing wardrobe and make-up tests. With no place to live in Los Angeles, Dean was initially forced to stay at the house of his father and stepmother, a living arrangement he was not at all happy with. Later Kazan arranged for Dean to rent a cheap, tiny apartment close to the Warner Bros. studio, which he would share with his Eden co-star Richard Davalos. Dean hated LA and missed his beloved New York (read more about it in this previous post). Shooting on Eden ended early August 1954, but the actor wouldn't return to New York until late December that same year.

Above: James Dean photographed by Roy Schatt in 1954. Below: Dean doing wardrobe tests for his role as Cal Trask in East of Eden, his performance eventually garnering him a (posthumous) Oscar nomination for Best Actor.

Jane Deacy was Dean's agent in New York City and had signed him as a client around May 1952. As Dean's own mother had died when he was nine years old and he couldn't get along with his stepmother, Deacy was regarded by Dean as a second mother. A woman with a warm personality, she looked out for her client, arranged jobs for him and also handled his personal finances. Deacy had asked the Famous Artists Corporation Agency to represent Dean while he was in LA, not having an office on the US West Coast herself. The Famous Artists Corporation (founded by Charles Feldman) had assigned Dick Clayton, one of the younger agents and a former actor, to handle Dean's affairs. Dean was very happy with the agency, and in particular with Clayton, as he wrote in a letter to Deacy in (circa) mid-April 1954. In the letter, the actor also mentioned the fact that he was "very brown and healthy looking", much to Elia Kazan's satisfaction. During Dean's first week in LA, Kazan thought he looked too pale and tired and subsequently sent him to the desert to get a tan.

Transcript:

Dear Mom, 

Like always I can trust your judgement. I am very happy with the office you chose for me. Dick Clayton is a prince of a guy. Old man [Charles] Feldman is in equal rights a prince. The rest of them are patronizing and nice (think I'm a weird one of course, as always, they will catch on.) If I would louse up the picture Dick would still talk to me.

I haven't quite settled down yet but will soon. Rented a car. Very brown and healthy looking, Kazan is pleased. I love you.

Send Mr. Feldman a copy of my contract so he can see whats up. Please as soon as you can. 

Love 

Your little monster 

Jim

_____

In (circa) late April 1954, Dean sent another letter to Deacy, keeping her informed on several aspects of his life. Strapped for cash, Dean told his agent that he was still waiting for the checks to arrive from Danger, one of several TV shows he had played in. Furthermore, Dean talked about his health, both physical and mental. Regarding the latter, the actor mentioned he was going to look for a therapist after returning to New York. (Since he wouldn't go back to NY until December later that year, Dean reportedly found a psychoanalyst in Los Angeles in late summer/early autumn.)

Transcript:

Dear Jane 

I had a wire sent to my bank (Chase) and their reply to my frantic question was $121.00. Sure went fast. I had to give up the rented car idea. It cost me $138.00 the two weeks that I had it. I hope that I still have the checks from Danger coming. I can't live with my stepmother another minute and I'll have to find a mode of transportation. As you know without a car your [sic] good as dead in Calif. I hate this place anyway. Please tell me that I still have the Danger checks because I love you.

Have found a good dentist after a long and discreet search. Cliffton [sic] Webbs dentist (oh well). Have been going to a throat specialist because of a pigmented tongue [self-portrait drawing]. Too much smoking. Has [sic] stopped completely, also stopped drinking. Taking vitamins also. I was really run-down. I'm fatter now and feel much better. Tear myself up in New York. Build myself up in Calif. (health and maybe career huh?) 

The address at my fathers place is 1667 So. Bundy Drive, L.A. 19, Calif. or write to Dick Claytons office address and tell me that I have still the Danger checks. Returning home after picture to find analyst. (Is that spelled right, doesn't look right). Miss you 

Love 

Jim

August 1953, Walter Hampden, James Dean and Betsy Palmer in the anthology series Danger; the episode was called Death Is My Neighbor.

James Dean photographed in Jane Deacy's office in January 1955; unfortunately I couldn't find a photo of Deacy herself.

On 30 April 1954, Deacy replied to Dean's letter, being mainly concerned with his financial situation. As Dean had spent a lot of cash in a short time —the $700 advance he had received on 7 April, when signing his contract with Warners, was nearly gone— Deacy suggested that he earn some money by doing a television or a radio show while waiting for filming on Eden to start. Dean had already thought of a different way to obtain money, though, having asked Warners for a second advance on his salary. On the same day that Deacy wrote her letter to Dean, the studio agreed to give him another $700 ("... in order that you make take care of certain personal matters"). With part of the money Dean subsequently bought a used MG TD sports car. 

While Deacy was very hopeful about Dean's future, tragedy would strike a year later. On 30 September 1955, Dean was killed in a car crash, driving his newly purchased Porsche 550. He was only 24 years old.

Incidentally, "Lenny", as mentioned in the letter, is probably Leonard Rosenman, Dean's best friend in New York, and composer of the scores for Eden and Rebel Without a Cause (1955).

Source of all letters: Nate D. Sanders Auctions (here, here, and here) (I may share more of Deacy's letters to Dean in a future post.)