Identity area
Reference code
Beaton/A/A2/14a/77
Unique identifier
Title
Date(s)
- 24 Apr. 1950 (Creation)
Level of description
Item
Extent and medium
3 p. paper
Context area
Name of creator
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.
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Describes the springtime countryside in order to encourage Garbo to visit Reddish. Mentions the centenary of Wordsworth's death. Regrets that he cannot take an American commission from Leland Hayward to do the design for a musical show starring Ethel Merman. Refers to Nella Webb's predictions for him. Hopes to take a holiday after the Liverpool performance of 'The second Mrs Tanqueray'. Worries about the continued ill health of his secretary, Maud Nelson. Describes his week spent in London. Praises Anouilh's play, 'Ring Round the Moon'. Remarks that Lonsdale's? play was not up to scratch. Comments on the Oliviers, with whom he lunched. Mentions that Reddish House is being painted in preparation for Garbo's visit. Describes items that he has found whilst going through old boxes of papers, including letters from his father which cause him to reflect on his relationship with him. Wonders if Garbo has gone to California.