Truckline Cafe, 1946

I was offered the chance to go on the road with I Remember Mama but I was sick of it and turned it down. Luckily, before I ran out of money I was offered a part in a new Maxwell Anderson play, Truckline Cafe, which was to be produced by Elia Kazan...I was given the part in Truckline Cafe largely because of Stella [Adler]...The critics didn't like it and it closed after less than two weeks. Still, short-lived though it was, Truckline Cafe changed my life. He came through like a bolt of lightning. It was a monologue, a good page of script, why he killed his wife. In the fifty years in the business, I've never seen it happen before, and it's never happened since. He stopped the show. Nobody could continue for over a minute and a half, two minutes. The audience shouted, they screamed, they stamped their feet. - Karl Malden

Details

Truckline Cafe, 1946
A rare, early award for Marlon Brando's Broadway performance of Truckline Cafe, 1946, the 10 karat gold medal inscribed on the obverse The Donaldson Award with raised lettering and engraved on the reverse TO MARLON BRANDO, BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, 1945-1946, "TRUCKLINE CAFE"; accompanied by a corresponding certificate The Billboard Third Annual Donaldson Awards For Outstanding Achievement In The Theatre Season Of 1945-1946 Presented By The People Of The Theatre To Marlon Brando, Best Supporting Performance By An Actor For "Truckline Cafe" -- 14½x11¼in. (36.8x28.6cm.); a typescript letter on The Billboard headed stationery from Editor, Leonard Traube, to Marlon Brando, dated 16th August, 1946, informing him In [sic] behalf of The Donaldson Awards Committee of the Third Annual Donaldson Awards, I am extremely pleased to send you a gold key and scroll emblematic of your contribution to the Broadway Theater during the season 1945-1946. Enclosed, also is a reproduction of the full story of the 1945-1946 Donaldson Awards. Congratulations!, 1p.; accompanied by the corresponding story; in original mailing envelope with The Billboard address label with typescript details Mr. Marlon Brando, Hotel Park Savoy, 158 West 58th St., New York..., the envelope frankmarked Aug 21, 1946

Lot Essay

Truckline Cafe opened on 17th February, 1946 at the Belasco Theatre. In letters home to his parents, Brando expressed his excitement about the play: The play is called Truckline Cafe - a play that deals with returning vets. I have a good part, however comparatively small (for which I am glad) but they liked me so much they are willing to pay two hundred a week, of which I shall net, what with agency fees and tax, about $154...It's a good break!...The show looks good...My part is a sensational role that takes plenty of sweat. It's coming along all right however. People that see it tell me I'm going to be very good, so I guess things will be O.K...

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