159 206
COMPOSING “LET’S FACE IT!”
239
●
PORTER, COLE. Archive of 5 Typed Letters Signed, “Cole,” to producer Vinton
Freedley, concerning the Broadway production of
Let’s Face It!
Together 6 pages, 4to, most
on “Waldorf-Astoria” stationery emended with typed Hollywood address; few with minor
paper clip stains at upper edge, folds.Two with retained copy of Freedley’s letter to Porter.
Hollywood, 1941
[2,000/3,000]
24 July 1941: “By the end of next week I shall have the entire first act finished, including all
verses and extra refrains.This is a bigger job than you may think. . . .
“
The Second Act Number ‘Goodbye Adventure’, has now become ‘I Hate You, Darling,’ and
it’s going to be a swell torch. Otherwise I have not a single idea for numbers in the Second Act.
Maybe I never shall have and you will be forced to get in Fred Koots. . . .”
25 July 1941:“ChuckWalters tells me that he just received a letter from you that rather upset
him. . . .
“
Don’t worry about him . . . . Bob, Chuck and I have had several long meetings, with the
result [that] the whole first act is laid out for dance production and it looks grand. Of course, the
ability of Bob compared to Chuck’s is so startling that it puts Chuck in a difficult position, but
. . . we ought to give him every chance. . . .”
16 August 1941: “I wired two days ago for Vivian Vance’s vocal range, but no answer as yet. I
have the Sextette [sic] already, but I can’t go on with it until I get the range . . . .
“
. . . In these days when France is starving, Russia is cracking and it looks like the definite end
of the world, your biggest worry in life seems to be the fact that I put Elsa Maxwell’s name in
one of my lyrics. Please give it up. I am delighted if you substitute any other name whatsoever,
but there is one hitch in it, you must find some one who has at least as big a behind as Elsa.”
22 August 1941: “After having been here with me three weeks, Dr. Albert Sirmay finished
yesterday. . . .
“
I still have to write the number at the end of Scene 1, Act 2, for Jean and Murial with the
ensemble. Actually I have a number for this spot, but I don’t like it enough and I want to do
better.
“
. . . I am practically all set for rehearsal.”