Identity area
Reference code
Beaton/D/1/9/13
Unique identifier
Title
Date(s)
- 14 February 1951 (Creation)
Level of description
Item
Extent and medium
2p 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
Beaton writes that Sherek's letter of 8 Feb. altered all their plans. Myers is very disappointed that the play cannot open in April, but they all agree that Margaret Johnson is worth waiting for. Glenville is exhausted by his production of "Romeo and Juliet" with Olivia de Havilland. Beaton cancelled his sailing to visit him in Boston and ask him to produce the play. If Glenville refuses he will come back by the next boat, otherwise he will work with him on the designs. Barring Glenville, Margaret Johnson and Beaton want Banbury to direct, and Beaton wants to know if he is free. Myers will agree to any director and cast. Beaton thinks Barry Jones may be interested.