Details
GILBERT ROLAND/GRETA GARBO
A group of thirteen letters in their original mailing envelopes, from Greta Garbo to Gilbert Roland. All handwritten in pencil from July through December, 1943. After their night of romance in California, Mr. Roland and Ms. Garbo continued their secret relationship while he was stationed in North Carolina and in Washington. D.C. In his unpublished autobiography he wrote, "...We were together frequently. Some days she was happy, smiling, laughing. Other times she was silent, moody, mororse." The letters reflect the actress's confusion and concern regarding their affair, and she does acknowledges her poor spelling.
July 27,1943; "I do not know if this will come to you. So I am not going to tell you any secrets. Only one small one, that I miss you. It is strange to go around missing someone you don't even know.
August 2, 1943; Greta Garbo explains her "two personalities" to Gilbert Roland, calling her feminine side "Eleanor" and her masculine side "mountain boy" or "m-boy". "I do not think you should call Eleanor anymore. She will then begin to think she knows you - and she will get terrible desires to comb you, and as there is no chance to do so she will suffer." Regarding m-boy she writes, "...Now about the mountain boy, He is different! He is a cold careful bachelor. But he is contradictory. Because he is also gentle and sweet. He ones found someone, with a lot of gold on that someones enchanting body, and never had a chance to kiss the golden one the way he wanted to."
August 5, 1943; "I shall tell you something more. The M-boy has been wearing your ring for two days. I told him he shouldn't be..."
August 18, 1943; "Please tell me how "fond" you are of the m-boy often, all the time. he loves to be loved, and he never asked anyone that before. But he could hear it always, always he never gets tired when he likes something. As a matter of fact, he is strange nowadays. I don't recognize him. But, you would not know about that. I think you and I should meet and talk it over. You are the only one I could talk to about it. Come, come."
September 7, 1943; "I am confused and in chaos (slighlty). But I usually try not to bother my fellow beings when I am that way. I do what they animals do when they are ill, go alone somewhere and wait to get well or dye."
September 30, 1943; "I shall call the number you gave me and if they ask who is calling, I shall say Harriet Brown. That is my new name."
October 6, 1943; "My little soldier, This is going to make you sad, but it must be done. Please don't be too unhappy, and try to understand. I cannot see you for awhile. And you must not call me, if you do, it will be more difficult. It takes too much out of me to see you, and I will not get well."
November 9, 1943; "My poor little soldier boy. I am so sorry, but I was in the place of my people. (sic) Please take care of you and don't be unhappy. It is not good to be that."
December 4, 1943; "Dear Soldier, I am sorry to hear you are not well. Don't pull a Miss Brown and stay that way. I will be unable to see you for many reasons. Please forgive me, but I cannot help it."
December 22, 1943; Some day after the war and we maybe playing tennis, I can explain a few things. But there is the old saying never complain, never explain. And I am complaining like mad." (13)
A group of thirteen letters in their original mailing envelopes, from Greta Garbo to Gilbert Roland. All handwritten in pencil from July through December, 1943. After their night of romance in California, Mr. Roland and Ms. Garbo continued their secret relationship while he was stationed in North Carolina and in Washington. D.C. In his unpublished autobiography he wrote, "...We were together frequently. Some days she was happy, smiling, laughing. Other times she was silent, moody, mororse." The letters reflect the actress's confusion and concern regarding their affair, and she does acknowledges her poor spelling.
July 27,1943; "I do not know if this will come to you. So I am not going to tell you any secrets. Only one small one, that I miss you. It is strange to go around missing someone you don't even know.
August 2, 1943; Greta Garbo explains her "two personalities" to Gilbert Roland, calling her feminine side "Eleanor" and her masculine side "mountain boy" or "m-boy". "I do not think you should call Eleanor anymore. She will then begin to think she knows you - and she will get terrible desires to comb you, and as there is no chance to do so she will suffer." Regarding m-boy she writes, "...Now about the mountain boy, He is different! He is a cold careful bachelor. But he is contradictory. Because he is also gentle and sweet. He ones found someone, with a lot of gold on that someones enchanting body, and never had a chance to kiss the golden one the way he wanted to."
August 5, 1943; "I shall tell you something more. The M-boy has been wearing your ring for two days. I told him he shouldn't be..."
August 18, 1943; "Please tell me how "fond" you are of the m-boy often, all the time. he loves to be loved, and he never asked anyone that before. But he could hear it always, always he never gets tired when he likes something. As a matter of fact, he is strange nowadays. I don't recognize him. But, you would not know about that. I think you and I should meet and talk it over. You are the only one I could talk to about it. Come, come."
September 7, 1943; "I am confused and in chaos (slighlty). But I usually try not to bother my fellow beings when I am that way. I do what they animals do when they are ill, go alone somewhere and wait to get well or dye."
September 30, 1943; "I shall call the number you gave me and if they ask who is calling, I shall say Harriet Brown. That is my new name."
October 6, 1943; "My little soldier, This is going to make you sad, but it must be done. Please don't be too unhappy, and try to understand. I cannot see you for awhile. And you must not call me, if you do, it will be more difficult. It takes too much out of me to see you, and I will not get well."
November 9, 1943; "My poor little soldier boy. I am so sorry, but I was in the place of my people. (sic) Please take care of you and don't be unhappy. It is not good to be that."
December 4, 1943; "Dear Soldier, I am sorry to hear you are not well. Don't pull a Miss Brown and stay that way. I will be unable to see you for many reasons. Please forgive me, but I cannot help it."
December 22, 1943; Some day after the war and we maybe playing tennis, I can explain a few things. But there is the old saying never complain, never explain. And I am complaining like mad." (13)