[Authors] [Film] [Poetry] Manuscripts for Works by Noted Author, Publicist and Motion Picture Director Russell Birdwell, circa 1960s This is a small archive (about three inches) consisting of typed manuscripts for books by Russell Birdwell, perhaps best known as the publicist and press agent for "Gone With the Wind" and several other motion pictures. Birdwell was born in Texas in 1903. He worked for Hearst newspapers in Los Angeles and New York, directed two silent movies in 1929 and a short in 1933. He soon became head of publicity for David O. Selznick, who produced "Gone with the Wind" and "Rebecca," both Best Picture Academy Award winners. Birdwell opened his own office in 1939 and had offices in Beverly Hills, New York, London and Chicago. Among his many noteworthy clients were Carole Lombard, Marlene Dietrich and King Carol II of Romania. He also worked for the 1943 Western "The Outlaw," publicizing its star Jane Russell and director Howard Hughes. In 1939 Birdwell published the autobiographical novel "I Ring Doorbells." He traveled to England and wrote a book based on his observations which was published as "Women in Battle Dress" in 1942. He also wrote "Rockabye Dynamite" (a volume of poetry) and the novel "Mount Horeb" (published in 1972). Birdwell died in 1977. The manuscripts on offer here are: "Rockabye Dynamite"--Birdwell self-published this work of poetry with the subtitle "Lyrics For Our Time" in 1969. OCLC shows eleven institutions with holdings of the published work. The manuscript contains about 180 typewritten pages; it is incomplete with page numbers going to 242. Silver fastener assembly at spine, held within an 11.5" x 9" blue Acco binder. Mailing address label for Birdwell (in Beverly Hills) adhered to front with the original title "At Stud for the Pope" crossed out; handwritten above this: "An Empty Church" with the typed subtitle "(With Other Poems and Prose)" maintained. He also penciled "not complete" to the label, and there is a small post-it reading "empty church" in pencil stuck to the front as well. Contents include "The Songs," "The Rhymes," "The Poems," "The Prayers," and "The Prose." The last further divided: "Re: David O. Selznick," "Re: Howard Hughes," "Re: Sir Winston Churchill" and others. A bit of edge wear, some light creasing and faint evidence of former damp stain to corners of a few pages; very good. "Lola: An Original Treatment Based Upon the Life of Lola Montez, the Modern World's greatest and most glamorous Courtesan." with the title continuing in an inked and penciled hand, "an International Beauty Who Did Her Thing With Kings and Commoners." 19 typescript leaves measuring 11" x 8.5", brad-bound and printed rectos only. Very good with copious handwritten amendments, a faint stain to front, light even toning, and scrawl marks covering a note to top corner reading "Edward Small office." Edward Small (1891-1977) was a prolific film producer. Over the course of his 50-year career, he produced famous titles including "The Count of Monte Cristo" (1934), "The Man in the Iron Mask" (1939), "Brewster's Millions" (1945), "Black Magic" (1949), "Witness for the Prosecution" (1957) and "Solomon and Sheba" (1959). We find no evidence that this work was ever published. A thrilling selection, from page 9 (original spacing and punctuation kept): "Berlin. King Frederick William was giving a grand military review in honor of the Czar. At the height of the spectacle, a horse ridden by a gorgeous lady bolted into the royal enclosure. It was Lola. A gendarme struck Lola's horse across the nose to drive it out of the enclosure. Lola lashed out with her whip - - the same whip she had carried from Warsaw. Screaming her curses, she literally beat the gendarme out of the saddle." Two copies of "Lola" By Russell Birdwell and Otis Wiles. 19 typescript leaves (including title) measuring 11" x 8.5", brad-bound and printed rectos only. Enclosed within thin brown paper wrappers with a "Return to Edward Small Co.
