LITTLER

[Sir Emile Littler, theatrical impressario.] Two Typed Letters Signed, asking theatre historian W. J. Macqueen-Pope whether he did more London pantomimes than Julian Wylie. With carbon of reply.

Author: 
Sir Emile Littler [born Emile Richeux] (1903-1985), theatrical impresario based at the Palace Theatre, London, producer of over two hundred British pantomimes [W. J. Macqueen-Pope, theatre historian;]
Publication details: 
15 and 19 November 1957. Both on his letterhead. Carbon of Macqueen-Pope’s reply, 18 November 1957, from Coventry House, 5/6 Coventry Street, W.1.
£90.00

For information on Littler see the entry in the Oxford DNB of his brother Prince Frank Littler (1901-1973), who did not share Emile’s ‘affection for plays or players individually’. Also see Macqueen-Pope’s entry in the same work. The three items in fair condition, lightly aged and creased. Both signed ‘Emile’. ONE: TLS of 15 November 1957. 1p, 4to. Reads: ‘My dear Popie, / You know about everything in the Theatre, and I am wondering if you could tell me how many London pantomimes Julian Wylie did, either by himself or as the Wylie-Tate organisation.

[Prince Littler, extensive theatre propietor.] Four Typed Letters Signed and one Typed Note Signed to theatre historian W. J. Macqueen-Pope, on topics including productions of ?Oaklahoma?, ?The King and I? and ?Plain and Fancy?.

Author: 
Prince Littler [born Jules Richeux] (1901-1973), extensive theatre proprietor, Managing Director of the Stoll, Associated and Moss Theatre groups [W. J. Macqueen-Pope (1888-1960), theatre historian]
Publication details: 
The five items between 1950 and 1956. On letterheads of Stoll Theatres Corporation Limited, Stoll Offices, London Coliseum, WC2, and Cranbourn Mansions, Cranbourn Street, London WC2.
£180.00

For more information on writer (one of West End theatre?s ?most dominant and successful landlords?) and recipient (the foremost British theatre historian of the twentieth century), see their entries in the Oxford DNB. The five items (the TNS is Item Three, the others are ALsS) are in good condition, lightly aged; Item Five with slight paperclip damage to a margin. Each folded once. All five signed ?Prince Littler? and addressed to ?Popie?, two at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, one at 9 Oakdale, London N14, and one at Coventry House, Coventry St, W1.

[ Sir Emile Littler, theatrical impressario. ] Typed Letter Signed to film pioneer Percy Nash, declining his musical 'Love's Strategy'. With a carbon copy of Nash's letter to Littler.

Author: 
Sir Emile Littler [ born Emile Richeux ] (1903-1985), English theatrical impressario [ Percy Nash [ Percy Cromwell Nash ] (1869-1958), pioneering British film director and dramatist ]
Publication details: 
On Littler's letterhead, 31 St Martin's Lane, London. 29 May 1948.
£65.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, with light signs of age. Addressed to 'My dear Percy' and headed 'Love's Strategy'. Regarding the play (which was based on Goldsmith's 'She Stoops to Conquer') Littler writes: 'I don't think the idea appeals to me very much, and I am not going to do any more productions in the West End until after Christmas.' He gives his phone number, writing that he would 'be very pleased to see you or have a word with you'. In the carbon of Nash's letter (dated 27 May 1948) he writes that he has 'not messed about with the Author.

[ Blanche Robey, wife of music hall comedian Sir George Robey. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Blanche Robey') to 'Dear Popie' [i.e. theatre historian W. Macqueen-Pope]

Author: 
Blanche Robey [ née Littler ] (b. 1899), wife of music hall comedian Sir George Robey [ born George Edward Wade ] (1869-1954) [ Walter James Macqueen-Pope (1888-1960), theatre manager and historian ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 'The Lawns', Arundel Road East [amended in autograph to Arundel Drive], Saltdean Essex. 26 August [no year, but between 1948 and 1954].
£56.00

2pp., 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged and creased. After beginning 'Dear Popie / | How are you?' she asks what the 'immediate prospects' are for her to 'get a book and a series in the paper running', as she has 'scanned a tremendous amount of George's material' since moving to 'The Lawns'. In a postscript she describes the material as a 'wonderful story for T.V. too to say nothing about the films!', adding that she has 'got G. to record a lot of his old & recent material ready!' Macqueen-Pope was an admirer of Robey's, as his 'The Melodies Linger On: The Story of Music Hall' makes clear.

[ Alan Pitt Robbins, news editor of The Times. ] Signed Copy of Typed Letter to the theatre impresario Prince Littler, regarding the possibility of a charity performance of 'My Fair Lady', and the Festival Dinner of the Newspaper Press Fund.

Author: 
Alan Pitt Robbins (1888-1967), news editor of The Times, 1909-1953; secretary of the Press Council, 1954-1960 [ Prince Frank Littler [ born Prince Frank Richeux ] (1903-1985), theatre impressario ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Newspaper Press Fund, Bouverie House, Fleet Street, London. 21 October 1957.
£56.00

2pp., 4to. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The letter begins with a reference to W. Macqueen-Pope, 'who has been a close friend of mine in the worlds of journalism and the theatre for more years than either of us may wish to remember - at least forty'. Having applied unsuccessfully for seats at the premiere of 'My Fair Lady' he suggests a 'special performance' for 'those members of the journalistic profession who fall by the wayside'.

Syndicate content