Lot 341: BENCHLEY, ROBERT. 1889-1945.

1. Document Signed ("Robert Benchley"), 2 pp recto and verso, 4to, Los Angeles, August 18, 1938, on M.G.M. letterhead, assigning rights to the short film, "How to Raise a Baby," minor toning, two holes punched at upper margin. A successful magazine writer, Benchley enjoyed a second career as a comedian starring in a series of short "How To" films for M.G.M., including How to Sleep, How to Behave, and the work mentioned here.
2. Typed Letter Signed ("Bob B"), 1 p, 8vo, n.p., July 13, 1937, to George Cukor, on personal stationery, staining at upper and lower left margin. Benchley forwards his share of the tip from a recent cruise: "Myron, Eddie and I were held in quarantine aboard until mid-afternoon, thereby swelling the gross largess by about ten dollars an hour, as we kept feeling more and more generous as the day wore on."