The show must not go on - but you definitely must

On 29 March 1981, the musical Woman of the Year opened at the Palace Theatre on Broadway. Based on the 1942 George Stevens' film of the same name, the musical starred Lauren Bacall in the role of famous tv personality Tess Harding. (When Katharine Hepburn played Tess in the film, she was a newspaper columnist.) While Bacall earned rave reviews and a Tony Award for her role, she didn't stay with the show for its entire two-year run. In June 1982, Bacall left the production and was replaced by Raquel Welch (who had previously filled in for Bacall during her vacation in December 1981) and for the final month of the show Debbie Reynolds took over the role from a pregnant Welch. Woman of the Year eventually closed on 13 March 1983 after a total of 770 performances.

Above: After performing in Woman of the Year at the Broadway Palace Theatre, Debbie Reynolds returns for a curtain call.

On 5 March 1983, after Debbie Reynolds had given 24 performances since taking over the lead in Woman of the Year, she forgot her lines during a matinee show and suddenly fainted on stage. Fifty years old at the time, Reynolds was briefly hospitalised and doctors later said she suffered from a rare form of amnesia. Following the unfortunate incident, the actress/singer received this sweet, supportive note from Lauren (Betty) Bacall. Reynolds went back to work after a few days of rest, but not long thereafter the show was forced to close due to declining ticket sales. 

Source: Worthpoint

Transcript:

Dear Debbie —

Am so very sorry + sad for your bad luck. No matter what the producers might tell you - and as one pro to another- the show must not go on- But you definitely must.

I have been out of town + have heard only terrific things about you in "Woman of the Year". And I know it is not an easy show.

Anyway take care of yourself - get your strength back - Health comes first.

Affectionately —

Betty Bacall

Bogie always adored you

On 14 January 1957, Humphrey Bogart died of cancer at age 57, leaving behind his wife Lauren Bacall, son Stephen and daughter Leslie. He also left behind a lot of friends, many of whom were his colleagues from the film industry. One of them was Clifton Webb. Webb and Bogie had been friends ever since they starred together in the Broadway play Meet the Wife in the early 1920s. Shortly after Bogie's death, Lauren Bacall sent a note to Webb thanking him for his long and loyal friendship. Bacall's note is quite touching and is shown below.

Left photo: Humphrey Bogart, Clifton Webb and Laurence Olivier in 1933. Right: Bogie and Webb with Marilyn Monroe at Romanoff's in 1954.

Source: heritage auctions/ image reproduced with permission

Transcript:

Darling Clifton-

This is just an inarticulate but truly felt note to try to thank you for your long friendship, loyalty, and love for Bogie- for seeing him when you did and behaving as you did. I know how hard it was for you but you came through in style. Bogie always adored you. You knew him long before I did so I guess you knew that. I envy you for those extra years- you were lucky and so was I. I'm grateful for it all- there's never been a man like Bogie. It won't be the same for us, Cliff- but we have a lot that can never be taken from us and for that I'm grateful. So darling- you are now my good friend and I like that.

Always my love- Betty

Lauren Bacall wrote her message to Clifton Webb on a note card from which she had removed the "Mr. and" part. (Image source: heritage auctions)

Relaxing during a lunch for the Oliviers. In the photo, amongst others, Laurence Olivier, Clifton Webb, Vivien Leigh, Joan Bennett, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall and in the chair Maybelle Webb, Clifton Webb's mother. (Photo source: heritage auctions)

You have the guts of a lion

Lauren Bacall and John Wayne made two movies together. The first one was the 1955 Blood Alley, directed by William Wellman and produced by Wayne's production company Batjac. And two decades later, the two were reunited for The Shootist (1976), which was Wayne's final film. 

On 7 May 1979, Lauren Bacall wrote the following letter to John Wayne in which she finally thanked him for standing up for her almost 25 years earlier. Both Wayne and director Wellman wanted Bacall to be the leading lady in Blood Alley, but for some reason gossip columnist Hedda Hopper tried to keep them from hiring Bacall. Wayne told Hopper to mind her own business ("Don't tell me how to cast my picture") and then went ahead and gave Bacall the female lead. 

John Wayne and Lauren Bacall in "Blood Alley"

Here is Lauren "Betty" Bacall's warm note to John Wayne, which was written just a month before Wayne lost his battle against stomach cancer.

Source: heritage auctions/ images reproduced with permission

Transcript:

Dear Duke-

This has been on its way to you for months. You have been so very much in my thoughts. 

I never have been able to tell you how much your standing up for me in 'Blood Alley' days meant to me. I wanted to say it on 'The Shootist'- never could somehow. I know how difficult that film was for you. You have the guts of a lion-I do admire you more than I can say. 

It was so great to see you Academy Award nite. I'm being inarticulate-

I want you to know how terrific you are and how really glad I am to know you. You give more than [you] know- I send you much love-

constant thoughts-

Betty

John Wayne and Lauren Bacall having fun during "The Shootist"

R.I.P. Lauren Bacall (1924-2014)

Love letter from Humphrey Bogart to Lauren Bacall

Source: letters of note

Leonard, you're a smash!

The original Broadway production of West Side Story premiered on 26 September 1957 at the Wintergarden Theatre and became a big hit. The production would run for almost two years (732 performances), then went on tour for nearly a year before returning to Broadway in 1960 for another 253 shows. In 1961, West Side Story was adapted for the big screen, receiving high praise and 10 Academy Awards to boot (no movie musical has ever won more).

On 26 September 1957, after West Side Story had opened so successfully, Lauren Bacall sent a telegram to the show's composer Leonard Bernstein. The Bogarts were close friends of the Bernsteins, and with the telegram Lauren Bacall (using her real name "Betty") wanted to congratulate Bernstein on the success of the show. 

Via: telegrams from last century

Transcript:

LOS ANGELES CALIF     1957 SEP 26 PM 4 33

LEONARD BERNSTEIN

=WINTERGARDEN THEATRE=

IT WAS WORTH ALL THE DEXAMYL ITS A SMASH YOUR A SMASH AND IM THRILLED FOR YOU BLESSINGS AND LOVE=

BETTY (added in pen) Bogart

Rock's invitation to party

Lauren Bacall was the star of the Broadway play The Cactus Flower, which opened in December 1965 and would run for two years. Her good friend Rock Hudson, whom she had played with in Written on the wind (1956), wanted to throw a party in her honour on 21 October 1966, welcoming her back to Los Angeles. A week before the party, Hudson sent a telegram to Agnes Moorehead (with whom he had starred in Magnificent obsession (1954) and All that heaven allows (1955)), announcing that "that Broadway Cactus Flower, Lauren Bacall, is coming to town" and inviting Agnes to the pajama party he'd be giving at his home the following week. Incidentally, Rock Hudson was known for giving great parties (in case you're interested, on YouTube there's a clip of a party Rock gave on Labour Day 1965, also with Lauren Bacall present (click here)).

Via: harpies bizarre

Transcript:

OCT 14 66

BEVERLY HILLS CALIF

MISS AGNES MOOREHEAD

1023 NORTH ROXBURY DR BEVERLY HILLS CALIF

THAT BROADWAY CACTUS FLOWER, LAUREN BACALL, IS COMING TO TOWN, SO I HOPE THAT YOU CAN JOIN ME IN WELCOMING HER BACK FRIDAY NIGHT, OCTOBER TWENTY-FIRST, AT EIGHT P.M. SLACKS, LOUNGING PAJAMAS ARE IN ORDER. NO TIES. COME EARLY AND STAY LATE, MUSIC AND DANCING AT NINETY FOUR ZERO TWO BEVERLY CREST DRIVE. PARKING BOYS WILL TAKE YOUR CAR AT LINDA CREST (EAST OFF COLDWATER) AND BEVERLY CREST. RSVP BRADSHAW TWO FIVE SEVEN ONE ONE

ROCK HUDSON.

Good luck, Judy!

Via: telegrams from last century

I came across this telegram from Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart addressed to Judy Garland. The telegram is dated 24 September 1955, and Betty (Bacall's real name was Betty Joan Perske) and Bogie are wishing Judy Garland good luck ("Good luck tonight. You'll be a smash and we're with you. Lots of love, Betty and Bogie"). Since this sounds like something friends would write to each other, I was curious to know if they were indeed friends.

When I think of the Rat Pack, I always think of Dean Martin, Sammy Davis jr. and Frank Sinatra, who appeared on stage together and in films in the 1960s. However, there was a Rat Pack before that. It was a group of befriended actors who hung out together in New York during the 1950s, with Humphrey Bogart leading the Pack. And yes, Judy Garland was also part of the group (she was even the first vice-president). The original Rat Pack also included, amongst others, Bogart's wife Lauren Bacall (of course), Frank Sinatra (who also belonged to the new Pack), Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, David Niven and Cary Grant. There were also visiting members, Errol Flynn was one of them. So it seems Betty, Bogie and Judy were indeed friends, and the telegram was probably meant to wish Judy luck on "The Judy Garland Show" (the first episode of the Ford Star Jubilee), which aired on television on 24 September 1955.

Judy and Bogie talking and laughing

Lauren Bacall, Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland, possibly at the Bogarts' residence, where the Rat Pack normally hung out.