TENNESSEE WILLIAMS.  Autograph note handwritten by Tennessee Williams to his lover Mike Steen on the back of an Air Mail envelope: “Mike, Alarm set at 4:45, I must pick up my car.”  Measures 7.5 by 4 inches and in fine condition with wrinkling and an open tear from removing the letter.

AUTOGRAPH NOTE HANDWRITTEN BY TENNESSEE WILLIAMS TO HIS LOVER MIKE STEEN

Accompanied with a typed letter signed by Dr. William Shelton Gray, Jr. to Steen that was originally in the envelope and sent from Baton Rouge to Los Angeles on September 17, 1960: “Do you have any additional film prospects?...Do you know any more about ‘Sweet Bird’?...Have you got Anais [Nin], Chris[topher Isherwood], and Gavin [Lambert] to write in my books for me and have you sent them to me?”

STEEN WAS AN ACTOR AND AUTHOR WHO STARRED IN THE HORSE SOLDIERS (1959), THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW (1960–1961), SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH (1962), AND CLEOPATRA (1963) AND WROTE A LOOK INTO TENNESSEE WILLIAMS (1969) AND HOLLYWOOD SPEAKS (1974)

Both Steen (1928–1983) and Gray (1926–1992) were close friends and confidants of Williams.  Steen was an actor and author who starred in The Horse Soldiers (1959), The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1961), Sweet Bird of Youth (1962), and Cleopatra (1963) and wrote A Look into Tennessee Williams (1969), of which Gray wrote the introduction, and Hollywood Speaks (1974).  Gray famously edited Williams’ only book of poetry, In the Winter of Cities, published in 1956 and he is acknowledged on the copyright page.  Gray inspired the creation of several characters in Williams’ works, he is referenced in dozens of biographies on Williams, and his private collection on Williams is currently housed at the Historic New Orleans Collection.