by Cole Porter
It has the added incentive of a one-time audience of millions. It had them all along. But it was first getting used to whirling out some 18 hours of entertainment a day, and I think there just wasn’t time enough to sit back and really consider what enormous possibilities lay ahead. When television got past her baby steps, her brat stages and her self-conscious gawkiness, she decided to grow up all of a sudden. She’s a lady now and should be treated as one. She can look good in blue jeans all the time. Let her wear her mink now and then, too. We’d like to show her off just as smartly as she can, so we’re giving her the “class” treatment this Saturday.
Porter himself made a brief appearance in the finale of the show. Another important project at this time was the MGM film version of Silk Stockings. For the screen adaptation, as with Kiss Me, Kate, some of the racier lyrics had to be toned down. The censor had various objections to some of the ‘unacceptably vulgar’112 lines and Porter dutifully provided MGM with replacements:
29 September 1956: Cole Porter to Arthur Freed113
Dear Arthur: –
In answer to your letter of September 20th, 1956, including a copy of the letter to Dore Schary by Geoffrey M. Shurlock, these are the changes requested:
STEREOPHONIC SOUND: Instead of the lines,*
“If Zanuck’s Latest Picture were the good old-fashioned kind,
There’d be no one in front to look at Marilyn’s behind”
CHANGE TO:
“If folks today could witness Valentino in “The Shiek”,
They never would appreciate that lover-boy’s technique,”
STEREOPHONIC SOUND: Instead of the lines,
“Unless her lips are scarlet and her bosoms five feet wide”
CHANGE TO:
“Unless her lips are scarlet and her chest is five feet wide”
OR:
“Unless her lips are scarlet and her head is five feet wide”
SATIN AND SILK: Instead of the line,
“She can shake like hell and spell success”†
CHANGE TO:
“Any demoiselle can spell success”
JOSEPHINE: Instead of the word “Bum”* use “crumb”
Sincerely yours,
[unsigned]
There were other day-to-day questions to answer too. On 3 October, Fred Lounsberry wrote to Cole Porter, asking him to read and approve an article he had written about Porter’s lyrics for Playboy magazine.114 The document is thirty-five pages long and is headed: ‘THE COMEDY OF COLE PORTER / A guided tour of his funniest and spiciest songs / Conducted by Fred Lounsberry / Editor of the Random House book / “103 Lyrics of Cole Porter”.’ Porter responded:
7 October 1956: Cole Porter to Fred Lounsberry115
Dear Fred:
I am delighted with your copy of the PLAYBOY article. I have only one correction to make. On page six instead of “To this scurvy wench?” the line should be changed to “To this curvy wench?”
I wish you great success with this article.
Sincerely,
[unsigned]
Porter’s regular Wednesday night seats for My Fair Lady arrived when he returned to New York. He wrote to Alan Jay Lerner to thank him:
26 October 1956: Cole Porter to Alan Jay Lerner116
Dear Alan: –
My “subscription” seats for MY FAIR LADY arrived, and I can’t tell you how deeply I appreciate it.
From now on, any time you happen to be in your theatre and want a companion between the acts, I shall be there (on Wednesday nights).
If there are other people whom I should thank, please let me know.
My very best to you both,
[signed:] Cole
Porter also wired the songwriter Johnny Mercer on the opening of the latter’s musical Li’l Abner on Broadway:
14 November 1956: Cole Porter to Johnny Mercer117
DEAR JOHNNY[,] I WISH YOU EVERYTHING GOOD TONIGHT[.] I HAVE BEEN A FAN OF YOURS FOR MANY YEARS[.] ALL MY BEST=COLE PORTER=
Porter himself was out of town working ‘so hard on a film’,118 according to a letter from Madeline Smith to Bella Spewack in late November. This was presumably a reference to Les Girls, because on 5 December he sent a copy of the title song to Sol Siegel and another to Albert Sirmay for publication purposes:
5 December 1956: Cole Porter to Sol Siegel119
Dear Sol: –
I enclose a copy of a refrain of the song, Les Girls, entirely in English, as you requested.
I hope all goes well with you and Bing.
My best,
[unsigned]
5 December 1956: Cole Porter to Albert Sirmay120
Dear Doctor: –
Find enclosed copy of a refrain of Les Girls, from the film Les Girls.
Please notice that it is entirely in English, as against the other refrains. Perhaps this might be useful to you later on in case of publication of the number.
In any case, put it in your files (and in the files of “Easily Accessible.”)
Love,
[unsigned]
Back in New York in December, Porter wrote brief notes to Sam Stark, this time about travel conditions and Christmas presents:
7 December 1956: Cole Porter to Sam Stark121
Dear Sam: –
I believe this is the address that you gave me for forwarding any letters to you.
I have received several postcards with joy – and a note from San Sebastian. Please write me as you travel on: About the gasoline conditions you meet, and about heat in hotels – as it will affect me if I go abroad.
My love to you both,
[signed:] Cole
28 December 1956: Cole Porter to Sam and Harriette Stark122
Dear Harriet[te] and Sam: –
The perfect present arrived from you. I have kept lists of lunch and dinner guests, together with the menu and the service used, on nasty little pads before – but now, this beautiful book will fill the bill to perfection.
Please try to find out the low-down on gasoline and oil for a car in Italy, and let me know.
Love to you both,
[signed:] Cole
Early in the new year, Porter was unwell. On 17 January 1957, Madeline P. Smith wrote to Sam and Harriette Stark: “Mr. Porter bids me . . . to let you know about his being hospitalized. They operated on him for a large gastric ulcer on January 8th, and he is still languishing up there at Harkness Pavillion – though he will probably be back in his apartment in a week or two. The doctors say that he will eventually “be better than ever”, though he is on a soft diet at the moment . . . Mr. Porter can take little walks down the hall, even though they tired him, as he is still weak.’123 Similarly, Mrs Smith wrote to Porter’s friend George Eells:
14 January 195[7]: Madeline Smith to George Eells124
Dear Mr. Eells: –
As Mr. Porter cannot yet carry on any of his affairs, he bids me thank you so very much for the lovely geraniums. I know he is enjoying these, because Paul [Sylvain] called and said to be on the look-out for more to replace these when they were gone!
But – can I find geraniums? No! “They’re out of season.” How can you – a mere man – find geraniums when I can’t?!
Well, anyway – Paul says that Mr. P. walks about a little during the day, which tires him enough to make him fall asleep when they put him back to bed. And he can have some soft foods, instead of those awful intravenous injections. But – no visitors.
He will probably be hospitalized a couple of more weeks, at least. He sends his most appreciative thanks.
Yours sincerely,
[signed:] Madeline P. Smith
Mrs. Madeline P. Smith
Secretary to COLE PORTER
In his own letter to the Starks a week later, Porter barely mentions the event:
24 January 1957: Cole Porter to Harriette and Sam Stark125
Dear Harriet[te] and Sam: –
Your words from Cannes arrived, and I am so happy that you are enjoying it.
&
nbsp; If you happen to move on during your stay in the Riviera, don’t forget the blessed Hotel de Paris of Monte Carlo, as it is one of the great hotels of the world, and there are beautiful suites overlooking the square and the sea; usually the square is wonderfully planted with flowers. Another thing about this hotel is the restaurant, which is excellent. There are quite a few other restaurants in Monaco that you would like, especially one little Italian restaurant, the name of which I forget, but where we went often and where I even gave parties as it was so charming and the food was so good.
If you have enough gasoline for your car, I recommend that you take a trip slightly inland in the mountains to see a spectacular chateau called “Gourdon”. This was once owned and occupied by an American woman whom we knew, named Miss May Morris, but she went broke doing it over and buying all the land around it so that her view would not be spoiled. I have no idea who occupies it today – but it is really something to see.
Keep me posted, and my love to you both.
I am back from the hospital, convalescing.
[signed:] Cole
A month later, Porter had planned two holidays to help him recover from his surgery:
19 February 1957: Cole Porter to Harriette and Sam Stark126
Dear Harriet[te] and Sam: –
Thank you very much for your Christmas card from Spain, the letter from Rome, and postcards from Naples, Pompeii and Taorinina [sic].
I do hope that when you had your audience with the Pope that he didn’t have to say to you, as he did to Clare Luce,* “But I am a Catholic”.†
I am off to Jamaica on February 22nd for a month, and then toward the end of April I hope to go abroad for a month. But these latter plans are still vague.
It will be such fun to talk to you both about your trip when we next meet again, as you have visited so many of the places that I like most in the world.
Lots of love,
[signed:] Cole
After his Jamaican holiday, he wrote to Mary Lee Fairbanks (wife of Douglas Jr.) and mentioned further travel plans:
2 April 1957: Cole Porter to Mary Lee Fairbanks127
Dear Mary Lee: –
Thank you so much for your letter. That operation of mine belongs to the forgotten past, and I am becoming well again.
I, too, am so sorry that I missed you both when you were here.
Alas, I cannot accept your invitation to the Ball on June 18th as I shall be in the wilds of California. I plan to leave in two weeks for Italy and motor about for a month, ending up in Monte Carlo and returning to the USA via Nice.
I know you will be delighted to hear that Bruno [Pagliai]* gave Merle [Oberon] a smashing diamond as an engagement ring. It is pear-shaped and blue-white – part of the great Jaeger Winston diamond. And it is adjusted so that when it becomes too heavy for her finger, she can wear it on a chain around her beautiful neck.
They don’t talk about the date of their marriage but they did mention taking a yacht for a cruise in the Aegean Sea during the summer. Also, Bruno is building a guest house connected with his place in Cuernavaca. So, I believe it will go through shortly. Merle has decided not to sell her house in Bel Air, so everything seems to be booming.
Lots of love to you both and, again I thank you for that dear letter.
Your devoted
[signed:] Cole
From Italy, Porter wrote a wry message about the weather to Jean Howard, referencing ‘The Rain in Spain’ from My Fair Lady:
30 April 1957: Cole Porter to Jean Howard128
The rain in Italy stays mainly in Bologna.
Love
[signed:] Cole
Back in America in June, Porter wrote to Montgomery to turn down a project:
14 June 1957: Cole Porter to Robert Montgomery129
Dear Bob: –
Will you please tell the lawyers for Phil Langner and Tom Ewell* that I shall have to return “Comfort Me With Apples” when I get to the Coast, as lately I have been bombarded with scripts which had to be examined, before you gave me this book.
All my best,
[signed:] Cole
Charity was again on his mind in his next letter to Montgomery:
22 June 1957: Cole Porter to Robert Montgomery130
Dear Bob:
Thank you for your letter of June 17th, 1957, regarding an offer from Rheingold Beer of $2,000.00, which I would give to the Damon Runyon Cancer Fund.
I should like to arrange this for late in the summer and it would be very nice if Rheingold would pay me more than $2,000.00 because I like to give as much as possible to the Damon Runyon Cancer Fund.
Best wishes,
[signed:] Cole
13 July 1957: Cole Porter to Robert Montgomery131
Dear Bob:
Thank you very much for your letter of July 10th. I am definitely interested in the Rheingold peoples’ offer of $2,500.00 to photograph me and let me give this sum to the charity of my choice but I want to do it much later in the summer. In fact, early September would be ideal. Will they agree to that?
I also received your letter of July 3rd, in regard to Bella Spewack. I suppose she will continue to bother us for the rest of our lives!
Will you please read the enclosed and answer it? I don’t understand it.
Best –
[signed:] Cole
He continued to struggle to find a new musical to work on:
13 July 1957: Cole Porter to John Wharton132
Dear John:
Thank you for your letter of July 10th.
So far I have found no work that I like. [Irving] Lazar can find me nothing in the way of a picture and the only people who are pressing me about a show are Feuer and Martin. They are lunching with me this coming Tuesday, but this is a heavy project with no fun in it so I am really not enthusiastic about it.
As for my health, I feel better but not well enough, but it is a bad rumor to spread so I am keeping it very quiet. I have a trainer-masseur every day and I swim, but so far the energy has not returned and I am tired of being patient.
Best –
[signed:] Cole
On 18 July the movie version of Silk Stockings opened at the Radio City Music Hall. The reviews were enthusiastic, with Bosley Crowther calling it ‘delightful and entertaining’ and even suggesting that a national holiday should be declared so that everyone had the chance to see it.133 And Porter wrote to John Wharton about another possibility of bringing Nymph Errant to New York:
20 July 1957: Cole Porter to John Wharton134
Dear John:
I enclose a letter from Bob Montgomery who, it appears, is on vacation and a letter from Albert Da Silva regarding an off-Broadway production of NYMPH ERRANT. I have no objection to an off-Broadway production of this show if you don’t think it might hurt any possibility of an important Broadway production being made of it, or 20th Century Fox, who has the rights to it, adapting it for a musical picture.
I feel that this is a very good score of mine but the actual book would have to be entirely re-written to be suitable for today. I must leave it to your judgment to decide on this matter.
My best to you.
[signed:] Cole
A further possibility of work came up a few days later:
27 July 1957: Cole Porter to John Wharton135
Dear John:
In regard to Bob Montgomery’s letter of July 12th, about ALL ABOUT EVE* being made into a musical play, strangely enough it had just been suggested to me by an agent here as a possible motion picture and Charles Brackett has offered to run it. I told Irving Lazar about this and he and I are going to 20th Century Fox to see it one day, although Lazar thinks it would be no good either as a musical play or as a motion picture.†
I received your telegram in regard to José Ferrer directing a production of CAPTAIN’S PARADISE.‡ This does not interest me at the present moment as I don’t want to embark on any show yet.
Irving Lazar has a very good idea for me, which is to collaborate with S. J. P
erelman§ on a television show based upon Aladdin’s Lamp. Perelman is coming out here in about ten days with an outline, after which I could make up my mind. If I like the outline and decide to do it it does not mean a rush job and will be just the amount of work that I feel up to at the moment. I shall keep you informed about this.
All my best –
[signed:] Cole
In the event, Porter was less than impressed with Perelman’s initial work on Aladdin:
10 August 1957: Cole Porter to John Wharton136
Dear John:
Thank you for your letter of July 30th, 1957.
Your criticism of Perelman, I am afraid, is right! He has sent me a treatment for the “Aladdin” television Spectacular and it strikes me as being dead and heavy. I have sent it to Irving Lazar to read, in the hope that he may find some saving grace, as I definitely want to work and nothing else is in the offing.
I enclose a letter from ASCAP. I never received the letter referred to. Will you kindly answer this for me?
Sincerely,
[signed:] Cole
Lazar must indeed have found a ‘saving grace’ because Porter took the job on Aladdin. It would be his final score.
Back in January, a feature in the New York Times on the new roses for the coming season had mentioned the Linda Porter rose: ‘Linda Porter was personally selected by composer Cole Porter as the one rose he considered worthy of being named for his wife. The plant is vigorous and healthy. It produces good stems. The beautiful clear China pink flowers are delightfully flagrant.’137 Porter sent two to Jean Howard:
17 August 1957: Cole Porter to Jean Howard138
Dear Jeannie:
I have ordered from the east two Linda Porter rose bushes sent to you. It may take some time before they arrive, but when they do arrive don’t be surprised.
Love –
[signed:] Cole
7 September 1957: Cole Porter to Jean Howard139
Dear Jean:
I enclose a copy of the order from the people who will ship you the two Linda Porter rose bushes. They inform me that they will probably be shipped in December.