Identity area
Reference code
Beaton/A/A2/14a/92
Unique identifier
Title
Date(s)
- 3 Sep. 1950 (Circa. Letter dated 'Sunday Sept 2nd (near enough)') (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
Explains that he did not write her a letter the previous Sunday because he was working on his play with a man who is helping him. Gives his views about the opening night of 'The second Mrs Tanqueray' in London. Complains that the weather is bad and his mother gets lumbago. Mentions his drive in the countryside with Clarissa Spencer-Churchill. Misses his house at Ashcombe and describes a recent walk he took to the area. Outlines his plans for the next few days, including a visit to John Gielgud in Stratford-upon-Avon to see three Shakespeare productions. Complains that his secretary is on holiday for six weeks. Frustration at waiting for his Gainsborough play to be produced, for Garbo to visit him, and for Garbo to marry him. His opinion of 'Sunset Boulevard' and Signe Hasso's performances in 'Rosmersholm'.