Paul Bern Letter to Mabel Normand. The Labor Day 1932 "suicide" of MGM producer Paul Bern, after two months of marriage to J...

Description

Paul Bern Letter to Mabel Normand. The Labor Day 1932 "suicide" of MGM producer Paul Bern, after two months of marriage to Jean Harlow, remains one of the great scandals and unsolved mysteries of Hollywood history. Bern (who supervised Grand Hotel and other major Metro films) had a reputation for falling in love with various famous ladies, and it appears Mabel Normand was one of them. In this letter, penned in black ink on pale green Ambassador Hotel stationary, Bern writes: "There is nothing in the world about which a man is as stupid as the purchaser of a gift for a woman -- unless he happens to be in love with her -- and then he makes the most senseless present it is possible to desire. Would you mind very much if I ask you to get your own gift, as useless and unnecessary as your mind may dictate? Many thanks for favors and kindnesses -- and best wishes for the New Year -- Paul Bern." The letter has a small tear (no paper missing) at the left middle top, otherwise it is in Excellent condition with a fine, full Bern signature. There's no date, but it's circa 1924. This is a fascinating artifact, associated not only with Normand (who died two years before Bern) but also with one of the most infamous dark figures of Golden Age Hollywood.

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