RUDY VALLEE 

Typed letter, 1 page, 7" x 10 1/2", August 13, 1968, on personalized letterhead

to agent H.N. Swanson ("Swannie")

In part: "Pursuant to our conversation of yesterday, I think that a letter from you to

Mrs. Brooks at Duttons will be more impressive than one from me or JOE PARKER, /

but I also would like you to drop a note to Ken McCormick at Doubleday giving him your

honest opinion of the book (maybe a little exaggeration of its merits!!!) / and stating that

if they publish it, you think its chances of a filming are good... / Do you have standard contract

such as we do in the night club field or the legitimate theatre area?..."

Mentioning his own home in a postscript, Vallee notes that "the lower building...is a veritable 

museum for which four universities have asked [for] my memorabilia. / For instance, there is 

a collection of my former girls [sic] friends..."

Signed: "Rudy"

Condition: fine; old envelope folds

Rudy Vallee (born Herbert Prior Vallee) started his career as a saxophone player and singer and later

 became a bandleader. In the 1920s and early 30s he had a hit radio program, The Fleishmann's Yeast.

He co-wrote his long-time theme song "Vagabond Lover", which was also the name of his first movie, 

 The Vagabond Lover (1929). He also appeared on Broadway in the mid 60's hit How to Succeed in 

Business Without Really Trying and reprised his role in the 1967 film. 

Born: 1901, Island Pond, Vermont; died: 1986, Los Angeles, California.