It reads: “Reg, I’m really sorry that it had to be this way, but I think we both knew this was coming. I mean, I tried to tell you the way I felt in New York, which was really bad timing with your dad coming up and all, but I know if I were you, I would want to know if you didn’t love me anymore. I’ve been feeling this way for a long time now, but I was just scared of what would happen if you knew.”
2.
In early 1961, Marilyn Monroe was dealing with depression, insomnia, and dependence on barbiturates, plus recovering from surgeries. This put her in an emotionally fragile state, so her friend and psychiatrist Dr. Marianne Kris suggested she check into the Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic in New York. Marilyn agreed, believing it would be a place to rest and recuperate, but was horrified to find herself in a far more extreme facility than she imagined. Seeking help, Marilyn wrote to her acting teacher Lee Strasberg and his wife Paula.
Her letter said: “Dear Lee & Paula, Dr. Kris has had me put into New York Hospital – psychiatric division under the care of two idiot doctors – they both should not be my doctors.You haven’t heard from me because I’m locked up with all these poor nutty people. I’m sure to end up a nut if l stay in this nightmare — please help me Lee — this is the last place I should be. Maybe if you called Dr. Kris and assured her of my sensitivity, and that I must get back to class so I’ll be better prepared for the ‘rain.'”
3.
Notorious gangster and crime boss Al Capone wrote this letter to his son while imprisoned at Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary sometime in the 1930s.
It reads: “Well, Son, here is your dear Dad, with a letter for you, and pray to God, it will find you in perfect health… Junior keep up the way you are doing, and don’t let nothing get you down. When you get the blues, Sonny, put on one of the records with songs I wrote you about to Ma, to you, which I sure go to town playing them and about 500 more on my Mandola. I also have to transpose my music, from Piano Copy, as the Music people don’t print Music for the Mandola, so I transpose one key to another.”
4.
Guitar hero Eric Clapton wrote this letter to Patti Boyd, the wife of his best friend George Harrison, whom he was in love with. In something straight-out-of a soap opera, Boyd would leave the Beatles’ guitarist for Clapton — and Clapton and Harrison would remain friends!
It reads: “Dearest h……I am writing this note to you, with the main purpose of ascertaining your feelings toward a subject well known to both of us…… As you have probably gathered, my own home affairs are a galloping farce, which is rapidly degenerating day by intolerable day…. It seems like an eternity since I last saw or spoke to you!”
5.
This letter from George Washington to his dentist, thanking and paying him for some dentures, is a lot less dramatic, but still incredible to see! It’s dated Feb. 20, 1795.
It reads: “Sir, your last letter and its accompaniment came safe to my hands on Tuesday last. Enclosed you will receive sixty dollars in Bank notes of the United States, in addition to which I pray you to accept my thanks for the ready attention which you have at all times paid to my requests, and that you will believe me to be, with esteem, Sir, Your very Humble Servant, G. Washington”
6.
In the late ’60s, a serial killer dubbed the Zodiac Killer terrorized the San Francisco Bay Area, killing people (he claimed 37 victims; authorities have confirmed seven) and sending taunting letters like this one to the press.
It reads: “This is the Zodiac speaking. Up to the end of Oct I have killed 7 people. I have grown rather angry with the police for their telling lies about me. So I shall change the way the collecting of slaves. I shall no longer announce to anyone. When I commit my murders, they shall look like routine robberies, killings of anger, + a few fake accidents, etc. The police shall never catch me, because I have been too clever for them.”
7.
In April, 1962, a pre-fame John Lennon wrote this letter from Hamburg, Germany (where the Beatles were playing a residency) back to his girlfriend and future wife Cynthia. It was a tough time for Lennon. Stu Sutcliffe — Lennon’s dear friend and former Beatles’ bassist — died unexpectedly days earlier from a brain aneurysm, leaving behind his German fiancée, Astrid.
It reads: “Dear Cyn, I love, love, love you and I’m missing you like mad where are you my little (redacted). I wonder why all the newspapers wrote about Stu – especially the People – and how the hell did they find out? Who could have told them? As I wrote that I suddenly remembered there’s a fellow at the Jacaranda who’s a freelance journalist – it could have been him ‘cause Alan Williams has been helping Mrs. Sutcliffe or something. I haven’t seen Astrid since the day we arrived (editor’s note: Astrid met the Beatles upon their arrival at the airport to tell them of Stu’s death). I’ve thought of going to see her but it would be so awkward – and knowing others would come as well and it would be even worse. I won’t write any more about it ‘cause it’s not much fun. I love you.”
8.
Speaking of pre-fame Beatles, John, Paul, and George were often in search of a drummer before they met Ringo Starr. On August 12, 1960, an 18-year-old Paul McCartney sent this invitation to an unknown drummer offering him a chance to audition.
It read: “Dear Sir, in reply to your advertisement in Echo, Wed. night, we would like to offer you an audition for the position of drummer in the group. You will, however, need to be free soon for a trip to Hamburg (expenses paid £18 per week (approx.) for 2 months). If interested, ring Jacaranda club, Slater St. [ROYAL 6544] and ask for either a member of The BEATLES, Alan Williams, or else leave a message, stating when you will be available.”
9.
Chief Officer Henry Wilde — who was second in command of the Titanic — wrote this letter on Titanic letterhead before her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York.
It reads: “My dear Frank & Edie, thanks for your letter received this morning, which I was glad to have and to know that you were alright. I would have written to you, but I have been so busy and so uncertain what I was going to do. I am now in the “Titanic” but am not sure that I am sailing in her yet. I tried to get to Liverpool yesterday but could…“ (The rest of the letter — written April 7, 1912, on board R.M.S. “Titanic” — is on another page or below the fold.)
10.
Princess Diana was known to leave notes of gratitude to the staff of the Royal Family. On July 30, 1981 (the day after her wedding to Prince Charles), Diana left this one for William Tallon, a longstanding servant of the Royal Family,
It read: “Dear William & Rejina, I cannot thank you both enough for showing such extreme kindness to me by putting such flowers in my room at Clarence House. I was so thrilled & delighted to see them there & they added to the atmosphere running gorgeous flowers. With love from, Diana” (Note: I’m not sure if “running” is right, I can’t read it clearly, lol.)
11.
Academy Award winning filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola sent this letter to Marlon Brando about his hopes for the film he was developing, Apocalypse Now, which he hoped Brando would star in.
It reads: “Dear Marlon, I got a note from Phyllis, saying that she brought you the typed pages, and that you called her afterward to say that you thought the writing was excellent. Needless to say, that made me very happy. I think that your reaction was just the shot in the arm that I needed, because I really believe in this material, and I think that it can be something extraordinary.”
12.
Shortly before his death, legendary American humorist Mark Twain believed his business manager, Ralph Ashcroft, was plotting to swindle him. So, on an envelope from Ashcroft (addressed to Mr. Samuel L. Clemens, Twain’s real name) he jotted a deliciously snarky note.
It read: “Letter from a sniveling hypocrite who is also a skunk and a professional liar. It is precious; it has no mate in polecat literature — don’t let it get lost.”
13.
In 1959, Elvis Presley wrote this letter to what appears to be a fan, or based on the personal nature of the letter, perhaps the president of a fan club or the like.
It read: “Dear Kapp, here I am again thanking you for your wonderful gifts and encouraging letter. As you know I’m still pretty busy on my next movie ‘The Black Star,’ in which the title has been changed from the ‘Flaming Lance.’ I’m doing quite a bit of horseback riding these days and it’s keeping me in very good shape.”
14.
And finally, during the English Civil War, Oliver Cromwell (and Sir Thomas Fairfax) led the Parliamentarian forces to defeat King Charles 1 and the Royalist forces on June 14, 1645. The very day of the battle, he wrote this letter to the speaker of the House of Commons.
“Sir, being commanded by you to this service, I think myself bound to acquaint you with the good hand of God towards you, and us. We marched yesterday after the King, who went before us from Daventry to Harborough, and quartered about six miles from him. This day we marched towards him. He drew out to meet us. Both armies engaged. We, after four hours’ fight (very doubtful), at last routed his army, killed and took about 5000. Very many officers, but of what quality we yet know not. We took also about 200 carriages, all he had, and all his guns, being 12 in number, whereof two were demi-cannon, two demi-culverins, and (I think) the rest sakers. We pursued the enemy from three miles short of Harborough to nine beyond, even to right of Leicester. Whether the King be fled, I yet this know not.”
