Letters

Fred Allen, vaudevillian and radio star of the 1930s and 40s was a unique talent whose humor pleased a vast audience-- from housewives and traveling salesmen to university professors who compared his satire to that of Jonathan Swift and Mark Twain--one of America's most admired comedians, one of radio's most frequently censored, and a master ad-libber whose style and substance influenced fellow comics. Allen was a dedicated correspondent, typing his letters out with two fingers on his portable typewriter, and the recipients were so delighted that a great many were carefully saved. When his widow, Portland Hoffa, appealed for contributions, thousands appeared from attics and cellars nation wide. Allen's letters are presented with as few explanatory footnotes and editor's comments as possible.