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Lot 715
Steinbeck, John. Autograph letter signed on a postcard, Los Gatos, Calif. (where Steinbeck wrote Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath), no date but postmarked Jan. 19, 1937. To Los Angeles Times literary critic Paul Jordan-Smith, his friend and strong supporter: "…I'm glad you like the new little book. It is pure experiment of course. I was trying to build a new form, a playable novel which would have the advantages of both, the ease of reading of the novel and the external compactness of the play. The description is stage set. The thing is timed and scened to play from the dialogue just as it stands. In fact, Theater Union in S.F. is going to play it soon. Then we'll see if the experiment is valid and if it is, I'll go on and develop it. St. Katy was written some time ago and has probably more rejection slips than any pig in the world. [Saint Katy the Pig, one of Steinbeck's favorite short stories, tells of a wicked pig who undergoes a religious conversion. Steinbeck's 'Pigasus' stamp bore his 'earthbound but aspiring' motto: 'To the stars on the wings of a pig.'] We never seem to get to Los Angeles. Haven't been there for several years. But if we do it will be fine to call on you. This is a sad day - dental day and I have drill cowardice to an overwhelming degree. Do come by when you can. The taxi driver in Los Gatos will lead you. You couldn't find it for yourself. Lewis Garnett looked for two days."
The Theatre Union, a labor drama group in San Francisco, presented 16 performances of the play at the Green Street theater in North Beach in May 1937. On Nov. 23, 1937, Of Mice and Men, written by Steinbeck, produced by Sam Harris and directed by George Kaufman ran for 207 performances at the Music Box Theater in New York. It was chosen as Best Play of 1938 by the New York Drama Critics. The first of several film versions appeared in 1939. Carlisle Floyd's opera was produced in 1970.
Estimated Value $4,500 - 5,500.
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