Mime

Pantomime Dame. Autograph Letter Signed from actor-manager Alwyn D. Fox announcing that he is ‘free for Dame for coming season pants’ and giving his credentials for playing the part.

23915 — 19 April 1951. On the green letterhead ‘The Mark of a Good Production’ of ‘ALWYN D. FOX PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT’ 38 Sutherland Street London SW1. See Michael Caine’s affectionate account of Fox in ‘The Elephant to Hollywood’ 2010 from which the anecdote at the end of this entry is taken. 1p 4to. Addressed to ‘Dear Mr. Hindin’ signed ‘Alwyn Fox’ and headed ‘Pantomime - “Dameâ€.’ While the twenty lines of text are clear and complete the item is not in the best of condition on aged and creased on discoloured paper with closed tears to edges. The letter begins: ‘I am at present free for Dame for coming season pants. and would be glad to negotiate with you. You contacted me last season but I had just fixed if you recall.’ He explains that the previous year he ‘did “Riding Hood†for Barrie Baldrick at New Cross Empire’ and gives details of four similar engagements in recent years including ‘ “Cinders Emp. Middlebro’ - Jimmie James’. He has a ‘very complete and elaborate wardrobe for any subject and all own props’ and ‘Can produce/manage if required. Terms £25.’ He is enclosing ‘last years folder and some photos’ not present. After becoming a movie star Caine lost touch with Fox ‘although years later when I was in Beverly Hills I got a letter from a social worker in Hammersmith London. He said he had an old man called Alwyn D. Fox lying destitute in one of his wards. Mr Fox he said was claiming he had discovered Michael Caine. In all likelihood it was fantasy but if there was any truth in it would I mind writing Mr Fox a letter and perhaps sending a small amount of money to make his last few weeks a bit easier I wrote at once to confirm Alwyn’s story and enclosed a cheque for five thousand dollars. Two weeks later I had another letter from the social worker returning the cheque. Alwyn had been delighted to get my letter he wrote and had spent the day he received it showing it to everyone on the ward. He had died later that night.’ 19 April 1951. On the green letterhead (‘The Mark of a Good Production’) of ‘ALWYN D. FOX | PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT’, unknown