Cassette Tape 11 Side A -- Newton Arvin / John Huston
Description
Letters relating to Newton Arvin and also to John Huston, and McCullers upcoming trip to his home in Ireland to discuss his work on her novel, Reflections in a Golden Eye.
Duration
00:31:02
Transcription
Margaret Sullivan reading letters from Newton Arvin of Smith College, North Hampton. Sept. 20, 1942--discussing Carson's recent illness, new home for her mother and new house in Nyack. Asked about her work, Reeves, his trouble sleeping, his friend Howard Dowdy, hopes to move in a month to more permanent quarters.
Three hand-written letters from Newton:
Oct 4, 1953—Good to hear from Carson after so many years of silence, hopes to see her, his distress at hearing what anguish she had suffered in the last years.
Oct 20, 1953—deeply touched by her letter and the memories of Yaddo, his illnesses and hospitalizations.
Aug 10, 1954—distressed to hear of her recent illness and wishes to hear more about her. Thinks of her often.
Next is a typed letter from Michelle Cantarella dated Oct 28, 1960 enclosing a clipping about Newton Arvin and his retirement due to his mental health and "more trouble with the state police". The clipping details the reasons for his retirement, including his arrest for "possession of obscene pictures".
Sullivan next reads material having to do with the filming of Reflections in a Golden Eye, including one dated Aug 11, 1965 from Richard Burton hoping she will get well soon, another from Marlon Brando saying that John [Huston] often speaks of you and your "desire to get out of that damn bed and get to Ireland". He tells her that she makes John do his best. Brando comments that it has been a long time since they met at her apartment. Sullivan then describes empty envelopes with John Houston's name embossed on them, used to record telephone numbers. Sullivan also reads a letter from Huston telling Carson that all arrangements for her upcoming trip to visit him at his home in Ireland will be made, and giving her details of her flight on Aer Lingus. There are also prescriptions written by Dr. Dyar, articles about fox hunting, the article from the Irish Times of April 10, 1967 that was the result of a lengthy interview with McCullers while at the Irish home of John Huston, a large map of Europe, a mention of additional letters which Sullivan does not read and finally a partial letter
May 30, 1967 from Gladys Hill conveying well-wishes from people who had met McCullers during her visit to Ireland, as well as describing Huston's trip to Rome and seeing some scenes from Reflections in a Golden Eye. The recording ends in mid-sentence.
Cassette Tape 14 Side A -- Special and Regular Letters 3
Date
1945-1967
Language
English
Original Format
cassette tape
Duration
00:30:42
Transcription
Sullivan reading letters:
April 1, 1946 [conclusion] from Christine Noble Govan about Wilson's review of Member
letter from Kenneth S. Sagen to Edmund Wilson excoriating his review
April 2, 1946 letter from Leonard Erving to Houghton Mifflin about the reviews of Member
March 24, 1946 letter from Howard Dowdy praising Member
July 7, 1945 letter from Rome on V mail from Corporal Klaus Mann describing his tour of war-torn Europe, hopes to meet Erika, hopes to be discharged before the end of the year, say hello to Reeves
"recent communications" note dated February 8, 1956 from Mary Rodgers;
Christmas 1958 postcard from Marielle Bancou saying "I never loved you and admired you as much as I do tonight"
photograph dated Paris, December 1960 with a letter saying "Darling I love you for having finished your book . . . "
August 6, 1967 letter from Marielle Bancou in London saying she would soon be in Nyack, and sending her love to Ida
Some letters typed by Carson McCullers in ALL CAPS to Mary Mercer; to Marielle about a planned cruise, about Mary Mercer's housekeeper going mad; to Marielle about the assassination of President Kennedy
Sullivan says "And here is a series of all kinds of letters to Carson"
February 4, 1950 from Ramsom H. Gurganes [?] who had met her back in Prohibition day
September 17, 1961 from Debora Davis referring to the Three Arts Club and remembering a "girl in burette and sneakers absorbed in a writer's workshop at Columbia in 1936 or 1937", "you gave me a tea pot which has survived four marriages"
July 12, 1963 from Edwin Peacock and John Zeigler with several photos dated April 1963 of them, Carson McCullers and Mary Mercer. The letter says Oliver Evans came to talk over their early days in Columbus and asking for tickets for the opening night of the play, and thanking them for gifts received from Mary and Carson
15 April, 1963 from Bob Walding [?] and Ed Berry saying that they treasure her friendship and remembering their times together in Columbus and other places, partly thorough reading her books;
21 October from Bob about an upcoming dinner party and a trip to New York, and possibly moving back to Indiana from Paris.