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ARCHIVE FOLLOWING DEVELOPMENT OF ONE OF HIS LAST PROJECTS
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BEMELMANS, LUDWIG. Archive of items sent to theatrical producer Mary K.
Frank concerning his play and novel,
The Street Where the Heart Lies
, including a holograph
ink drawing, unsigned, 7 Autograph Letters Signed, 7 Typed Letters Signed, an Autograph
Manuscript Signed.The drawing, a diagram of the stage, showing an outline of the scenery
and placement of important features, with holograph list of characters on verso. 6x10
3
/
4
inches; vertical folds. The letters, signed “Ludwig,” suggesting the casting and music, and
reporting on progress of the writing.The MS, two pages of revised text from a scene con-
cerning the murder of Gala.Together over 20 pages. Format and condition vary.
Vp, 1959-62
[10,000/15,000]
5 April 1959, ALS: “. . .The theme is eternal. Barbara Bel Geddes I think is ideal . . . . I lean to
Dauphin, who can look like a chauffeur or a duke at will. I think a play with a song fits this better
than a ‘musical’. Could we have someone like whoever wrote the song for Irma la Douce . . . .”
12 May 1959, ALS: “. . . Seeing Irma la Douce, looking up the composer. Lady in Paris after that.
Its nice here—green is my favorite color. . . .”
5 June 1959,TLS:“I got hold of Dauphin . . . .
“
He will accept if we make him a firm offer. . . .
“
While I don’t wish to cast the play I think he is ideal, (he has also directed Clerambard) and of
course he is French and familiar with our milieu. . . .”
3 July 1959,TLS:“I found a melody . . . it is Spanish and I think for a play easy on the ear . . . . I
don’t know who wrote it, a Spanish lady sang it on my boat . . . . Qu’est ce que ça peut faire du
moment qu’on s’aime.
“
. . . I think if Armand, whoever he be, carries with him a guitar and sings this at every effort at con-
quest, it would be both pathetic and true. . . .”
29 July 1959,TLS:“. . . I don’t know why anybody is in the theatre. I am [for] hours before my easel,
and [w]hen its finished, I don’t know how the time passed, I am happy . . . . [T]hese things you make
like a pair of shoes with your hands and you know where you are, but the theater and the awfulness of
most of the people in it, its a strange addiction and I wish you well. . . .”
18 October 1960,TLS:“Here is the book of the play, or rather the first brainspinnery.