Item 48 - Carbon copy ALS to Greta Garbo from Reddish House

Identity area

Reference code

Beaton/A/A2/14a/48

Unique identifier

GB 275 Beaton/A/A2/14a/48

Title

Carbon copy ALS to Greta Garbo from Reddish House

Date(s)

  • 21 Feb. 1949 (Circa. Letter dated 'Feb 21st Monday'.) (Creation)

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Item

Extent and medium

5 p. paper

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Name of creator

(1904-1980)

Biographical history

Photographer, artist, writer, and designer of scenery and costumes. Educated at Harrow and St John's College, Cambridge, 1922-5. Made his name as a photographer through portraits of the Sitwells. Employed by Vogue in London and New York. Published 'The Book of Beauty' (1930). Photographed the Duke of Windsor's wedding, 1937. War photographer, 1939-45. Designed 'Lady Windermere's Fan', 1945. Designed costumes for 'An Ideal Husband' and 'Anna Karenina', 1948. Worked on 'The School for Scandal', 1949, 'Quadrille' for Noel Coward, 1952, 'Turandot', 1961, and 'La Traviata', 1966. Designed costumes for 'My Fair Lady', 1956, and for the film version in Hollywood, 1963. His play 'The Gainsborough Girls', 1951 and 1959, was unsuccessful. Published 'The Glass of Fashion' (1954), and six volumes of diaries. Exhibited photographs at the National Portrait Gallery, 1968. Knighted 1972.

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Scope and content

Reminisces about the time he spent with Garbo in New York. Describes the boat journey back to England with William Somerset Maugham and Monroe Wheeler. Refers to his mother's ill health. Describes the scene on his return to Reddish House. Mentions that David and possibly Michael are in Tangier, Juliet [Duff] is in Bristol, and his sister, Baba, has visited Reddish. Sends news of Clarissa Churchill and her new cottage. Eulogises Bebe [Christian Berard], detailing the circumstances of his death. Discusses his short term plans. Refers to Nella Webb's predictions for Garbo. Writes a list of thanks, a list of things he is looking forward to, and a list of things he misses, regarding Garbo.

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