Reader Michael Lanning contacted me recently asking if I would be interested in seeing photos of a book autographed by Lloyd Douglas. Here’s what he sent:
When Michael emailed me these pictures, I was excited. I knew the story behind this autograph.
On March 8, 1937, Lloyd Douglas and actress Anita Louise appeared together at The Broadway, a Los Angeles department store, to autograph copies of his novel Green Light. Anita Louise played Phyllis Dexter opposite Errol Flynn in the film version, which was in theaters at that time. Here’s an advertisement for that event:
That’s one of the worst photos I have of him, by the way. He usually posed for photographs and was quite photogenic. Around this time, however, he sat for a photographer who told him, “You remind me of Whistler’s Mother.” “I’m going to find another photographer,” Douglas said. This picture, though, was obviously taken by a member of the press corps.
On the day of the event (March 8, 1937), Douglas mentioned in a letter to his agent/editor, Rich Kent: “Today noon I am, with Anita Louise, autographing GREEN LIGHT at a downtown department store. It would not surprise me very much if the young lady failed to show up. Movie actors are notorious for the ease with which they break such engagements, on short notice.”
But he was pleasantly surprised. On March 16 he wrote, “Anita Louise showed up at the autographing party and gave an excellent account of herself; a very charming and gracious young lady. I liked her very much. She is coming here for dinner tonight. The girls [his wife Besse and grown-up daughters Betty and Virginia] are quite a-pip with curiosity to see her. Homer Simmons, the pianist, is to be here also.”
Douglas and his wife owned a mansion in Bel-Air, a suburb of L.A. (and future home of “The Fresh Prince”).
Douglas and Anita Louise were at The Broadway to autograph copies of Green Light because the movie was in theaters, but the book White Banners had been published the previous October. He gave her a copy of White Banners at that event, and autographed it with this inscription: “Presented to my excellent friend Anita Louise with admiration for a great job in the role of Phyllis Dexter.”
Although I knew about the event, I didn’t know that Douglas gave her a copy of White Banners until I received these images from Michael. If you have any information about Lloyd Douglas that you’d like to share with me, please email me at rjohnsonsmallworld@gmail.com.
The Lloyd C Douglas Page 