Dear Evelyn,

This year has passed so quickly I can hardly believe that it was only May since the family gathered together at number 84 for your birthday. Thank you for your note and I am very pleased that you like the pencil set and sketch book. I am relieved to hear that Horace is well; Uncle Harold met up with him in Portsmouth whilst on shore leave last month.

I am writing this letter on the train bound for London and then I am east bound to report to camp, I have signed up for the good fight Evelyn! I am eager to break the bonds of Nottingham and I have enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters. My fluent French has already come in useful my eventual posting is to be France! As yet I know not where but I trust that the army shall best utilise my skills and give me a translation job. To this end I am undertaking some basic training at Marham aerodrome in Norfolk. There are several work palls of mine with me bound for London, however on St Pancras platform we shall have to bid Adieu to one another and go our separate ways, at least in the short term. I regret to be leaving most of my compatriots from the factory that enlisted at the same time as I, they are all undertaking their basic training at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire. My work colleague Tiggle who is sitting next to me as I write this thinks that I am just a lonely kind of soldier, stuck in my own no man’s land…he thinks the top brass are sending me to a flat field in Norfolk so that I learn how to recognise one – Stage One of basic training, ‘field recognition’. As yet I have no uniform to travel in, ‘The Kharki Courage’ they call it!

I am aware that the war has reached a kind of stalemate at the front but as I sit on this train amongst the men heading southwards for battle overseas they are eager spirits and the Hun need to be defeated. With the courage of youth I have no doubt our men at the front will triumph.  I wonder to myself as I travel south if every body on this train wants and wishes to break the bonds with somewhere, it seems like the whole world is on the move. I am not solemn about what I may face and I am optimistic that it will not be the trenches; we cannot all be destined for them can we?

Just before I left Nottingham, Uncle Harold called around to see mum and he told me that he would be travelling to Liverpool before Christmas. I have left in his possession several small gifts to give to you, Molly & Lawrence. Do you think you can save them for Christmas? Before I left Nottingham I went to the Hippodrome to see Arthur Fields, it was a truly riotous evening especially when Arthur reached the line “Let’s bury the hatchet in the Kaiser’s head.” The audience fair whooped at that. I heard today that back in July several music hall performers that I know were still in custody under the defence of the Realm Act. Our secretary of State believes that the bosh is endeavouring to recruit circus-riders, music-hall performers, and persons on the regular stage for purposes of espionage in this country. I just think our secretary of state hated the double act and DORA has much to answer for! Evelyn when I return from the war I must bring you down to Nottingham so I can take you to the Hippodrome and to Nottingham Castle, there are some wonderful paintings that I think you will like.

Please pass on my regards to Effie

Cyril

Seaton letter to Francis Roche / Postmark: Paris March 1924

 My Dear Friend,

As summer approaches, I continue to be in fine spirits. These past few months have been kind. Our noble aristocratic friend Frederick Ashton (after much persuasion and favour) has taken the decision to publish my play ‘Interrogation’. The favours that I have bestowed upon him are paying dividends for me, Frederick has asked me to direct a performance of the play at The Theatre Rotund in Nice. I am writing minor alterations at the moment and have decided that I am going to stage it as a three-day sequence; Ashton approves. It is likely thereafter that it will be performed in Paris but in a single one-day performance. I am intending to translate it into English during the summer and to spend some of my summer in Geneva with our mutual partner Berryman…if he will play host.

I am delightfully pleased to hear your own good news, ‘The Good Boy’ has been accepted by LLP! Please do send me a copy hot off the press. I hope that we shall get the opportunity to meet up very soon my dear fellow. With that very thought in mind Arthur is hosting an event at his apartment in Paris next month so I hope to see you there?

More good news, Stephanie has just give birth to twins and both mother and children are doing well. Mark was not present at the birth. He has once again fled the nest and headed for Italy with ‘Le Soleil’ the French acting troop…no doubt he will have found an accommodating female for relief. I help where I can but as you know I can offer little other than comfort and support, Stephanie appreciates that financial aid is beyond my means but I can be of service in other ways. As you know petty steeling is something I can do well, only foods mind! Fortunately on this occasion Rolf and Mary Worththorne are providing for them and Stephanie has accepted their generous offer of a roof over her head. At one time I believed that Rolf had less than honourable intentions towards Stephanie, I guess we all did! I no longer believe that he would lead himself astray from the heavenly Mary.

 The Splinter boys have moved to America!

Lastly, some gloomy news, the hand painted chair, ‘Le Heros Perverse’ that you so kindly gave to me is kaput! I am pleased to tell you however that its legs finally gave way in the act of duty. In the heat of my passion it broke its dear back legs. I have however kept the painted seat and I have hung it upon my wall. It is an appropriate trophy to our fine sport of ‘Bare arse riding’

Affectionately yours

Cyril

Seaton letter to his mother

Date: July 1922

Dearest Mother,

I hope that I find you in good heart, please except my most sincere apologies for not calling upon you whilst I was in England. I had not told you in my previous correspondence that I had been dreadfully poorly and I had been instructed by my doctor in London to seek a place for a period of rest. He recommended that I should not undertake any unnecessarily long journeys and that I should recuperate by the sea. I convalesced in Brighton and stopped with Leonard Furbisher at his parent’s summer retreat. The Sea air has done me the world of good and I am feeling so much stronger. The respite has been most welcome. I continue to loose my balance at times and suffer a loss of hearing, but these periods when I feel unwell are waning. The doctor has given me some potions to take and what ever is in them seems to be working. Please do not worry about me mother I really am doing very well. 

I have received a telegram from Geneva and a little theatre by the name of the Theatre nonesuch is inviting me to direct one of my own plays. It will have a modest run of five days at the theatre and it is an offer that I am going to except. The money will be most welcome. Alas dear mother this is scheduled to take place at the end of the month so I shall not be able to visit you this time.

As a small token of my love, please find enclosed a small shell that I picked up from a walk along the sands.

Your loving Son

Cyril

 Cyril Seaton Letter to Richard Fox

June 1927

Dear Richard

Thank you for your correspondence and I heartily agree with you, Philip is too fixated on details. I agree with what you say and I reiterate; it would help if he dedicated time towards helping with some of the more physical aspects of the production rather than languishing in his self-pity and his self-disgust. I genuinely like the fellow but I too cannot see how he has used his time in the service of our production. In short, the liberal way that he displays himself like a perfumed peacock is beginning to affect all. I personally had not been present on Tuesday evening when Phillip pulled down his pants in front of the production team and performed some act of affected sexual ritual. I believe this attention-seeking act is because he no longer has anywhere to lodge. Since his most resent lover has just thrown him out he appears to be on the hunt for someone and somewhere new. There must be easier ways of securing a bed for the evening with out resulting to such acts. Our ‘Great Masturbator’ has increasingly begun to take swipes at your good self and the cast; I have heard that I also come in for some stick too, it is pure raw frustration I am sure. ‘Why don’t you all love me’ he blubbers, I felt somewhat sorry for Philip when Johan told him that it was his arse that we all loved but not the rest of him. I know that I could not welcome Philip back into my bed and I believe that possibly you feel the same as I. I hope however that we can find a part for him in the production; and I think we could offer him the roll of Martindale? This would help focus his mind creatively and he would have to dedicate time to learning the script; it would give him something of substance to focus upon…rather than ejaculating everywhere. I do believe Phillip would be very good in this roll. As you know he was excellent in Marcel’s play ‘The bride’ and he can sing beautifully.

I wait to hear your thoughts on this.

Cyril   

Cyril Seaton letter to Sissy Matthews

September 1932

My darling Sissy, 

in your letter from Morocco you wrote some words very dear to me, about my having enriched your life. I cannot tell you what pleasure this gave me, our time together is treasured and I shall feel so overwhelmingly in your debt.

Time passes swiftly amid the storms and stresses of these terrible and eventful times. I unwrapped your gift to me upon my return home and I have read your book in the garden, it is a delight.

A continent and the Oceans may divide us but you remain close to me.

Your loving friend

Cyril 

A letter attributed letter to Cyril Seaton to Francis?

No Date

Dear Francis

I do not remember that you and I ever met personally. I write this now as a grateful acknowledgment for the almost inestimable service you have done

Yours very truly

 Cyril

The Hershey Chocolate Company

Hershey Pennsylvania

 Hershey Western Division Office

Oakland California

Toll 7894040

‘Made in Chocolatetown, so they must be good’ (Hershey printed Strap line) Letter starts…

November 1948

Dear Mr R. Baker,

Thank you for placing your first order 40 cases of Hershey’s GoodBar chocolate.

Hershey’s value your custom and we welcome you into Hershey world. As a token of our appreciation and our gratitude we shall include with your first delivery three complimentary boxes of Hershey’s Kisses. This product has only recently become available once more and they will make a full return to our suppliers during this next month in time for Christmas.

Seasons Greetings and if I may be of personal service to you, please feel free to contact me. It was a pleasure meeting you Ronald.

Cyril Seaton

Sales Reprehensive

Western Division

Liqiud Dave Cartoon

This is very interesting and may be worth pursuing further. I believe that your cousin if I am not mistaken also has a sister who still lives in Ilkeston, Derbyshire. Several years ago I paid a visit to Jenny Hildegard to interview her about Cyril. I believe the sister you refer to had emigrated to America in 1972 (to live close to her son, he played for the ‘San Jose Earthquakes’ in the American Soccer League.) Jenny lived in a caravan park called ‘River Glen’ in the Los Gatos area. We know Seaton had been living on this park for the last fifteen years of his life. Cyril died in his home on 4^th December 1976. We are confident that Cyril’s home was on a fixed site and we know the home still exists. Surrounded by the ultra hi-tech developments we know as ‘Silicon Valley’. We do have some interior images of his home taken shortly after Cyril had died. As you may well know Cyril died under suspicious circumstances and the images I have in my possession came from the San Jose Police department. The only answer I can offer at the moment is that the Airstream could have once belonged to Cyril’s close friend Stephen Kendry. We would need to find evidence somehow as to the authenticity and the provenance of the Airstream. I am continuing to piece together Seaton’s American life and I know Kendry was an important figure in this. I am aware that the two men parted company during the early1960’s and never saw each other again. Kendrey did show up at Seaton’s funeral, (one of the few people present) Kendry died in 1982. The basic information we have to date is as follows (If any one can help fill in the gaps or point me in the right direction, please let me know)…  

Seaton moved to Los Gatos, which is located in the South Bay part of the San

Francisco Bay Area, near San Jose. The town can be found just off Highway 17 (known as “the hill” to locals) as the highway begins to climb into the Santa Cruz Mountains. Seaton rented a flat above Wendy’s Discount Carpet Store on Brigham Park Street between 1947-48. Seaton was by this time of substantial bulk. This was due to the life style and job. Seaton completely adopted the drive in eateries culture by regularly eating and living on the road as he drove all over the Sunshine State for Hershey’s drumming up sales. Seaton had been for a while adrift of companionship but in Los Gatos he found a kindred spirit and friend in Stephen Kendry, the owner of a local hardware store. Kendry was also of some considerable bulk; it was not body mass however that truly united these two stately heavyweights but an interest in ‘the theatre of the absurd.’ Kendry had previously been an in-house scriptwriter for Warner Brothers Studios (writing television situation comedy shows including, ‘For the love of Lindy’ and ‘Camp Beerbrook’) before being ‘dumped’ by WB’s in 1946. Kendry had continued to write short plays, children’s stories, poetry, essays and speculative journalism on American Life. We know from Kendry’s son Massy that Seaton and Kendry performed several two man plays previously written by Kendry, ‘Joined at the Hip’ and ‘ Duel.’ Kendry also had written what he termed a ‘Sex Play’ meaning that the two characters on the stage must be played by a man and a woman. The play ‘One for Lunch’ was performed by Seaton and Kendry’s friend and aspiring actress Dorothy Moore. The play had a limited run of three performances at the Alexandria Theatre in San Francisco In 1952. It was however a touring adaptation of Alfred Jarry’s 3 Ubu plays, Ubu Roi, Ubu Enchaine and Ubu Cocu (published posthumously in 1944) that the two men brought this new work to an American audience. We have actual documentary evidence of their time working together and performing in public. The two men with the support of resident car mechanic and welder Richard Devlin purchased and renovated an ex – rental bright orange U-HAL utility trailer, fitting this out with its own collapsible sides to create the Ubu stage. Using a fusion of live performance and puppetry, Kendry and Seaton each performed the roll of King Ubu on alternate days. Ubu took to the road in June 1947 for a three week Californian tour. Costume was kept to a minimum and Seaton was particularly keen to show off his generous flesh by performing the Ubu roll with a bared belly; adding upon his tummy the recognisable painted Ubu swirl (as depicted in Jarry‘s original illustration). Massy recalls his mother Alice telling him that the Ubu plays were often performed at unarranged and at ‘off the tuff’ locations, this was to attract as little attention from police as possible. 1947 was a time of great hardship for ex-servicemen particularly in adjusting back into American life; many who attended the plays had been draft dodgers or service personnel who had recently been demobbed in the fall of 1946. Quite often these men were homeless and disillusioned Ubu resonated within them. Had they not fought a just war…to rid the world of tyranny only to see the dawn and the rise of new ones? (I am in literary mode here…forgive me…) Seaton had previously played the roll of King Ubu in a performance as far back as 1921. This original Seaton performance took place in Zurich with Alla Nazimova in one of the famous travelling ‘Spiegeltents’.

The locations often would mean that the play had frequently been performed to very meagre audiences and on occasions to no audiences at all. It was Alice’s Mission once they had arrived at their chosen location to drum up the audiences. Publicity consisted of a printed flyer (I have some in my care) and Alice would take the delivery truck and head into the local town to distribute them. On no occasion it appears, that during the three week tour the two men were never deterred from performing the play and they went on to undertake at least 30 performances. The Accounts of these 30 performances is recorded in Alice Kendy’s Diary, Massy believes that more than the thirty performances were probably undertaken as it was not uncommon for the two men to perform Ubu twice a day. The references to the Ubu tour in Alice’s diary are in the main vague, however the performance given in a car park that looked out across San Francisco Bay towards the Golden Gate Bridge was clearly memorable for Alice who provides us in her own words, a vivid account. (stuff for the book I think.) Note the cat in the image…It belonged to next door!

Rex

Inside Seaton's Mobile Home

Colleagues,
I have recently received contact from the cousin of an expired denizen out of The States, who claimed her uncle may have known CS intermittently but intimately during his declining years. Her uncle lived in an area not far outside San Fransisco known colloquially as Bonnie View, somewhere in the Los Gatos area, and saw fit to leave as part of his legacy to her, both pictures and notes from the era many of which she claims directly concern CS.

She was able to pass on this alleged (we would need further proof I feel, thoughts on this colleagues) picture of the trailer where her uncle claims CS impatiently waited out much of his remaining time and she also claims to have other pictures and artifacts which we may be interested in. The inclusion of the above picture with her correspondence is, I feel, in the manner of a ‘teaser’ but I also need to point out that, it worked for me.

The, ‘may‘ be interested, is her wording, as we would of course be panting at the bit (is that the correct usage?) for further contact with any small piece, proof or word of this part of the Seaton story.

The cousin, Ethel Hilldegard by name, remembers visiting the trailer in question a number of times in her formative years. It was one of the ubiquitous Airstream trailers, now of dubious vintage, and she retains hazy memories of ritualistic dancing, accordion playing and some circular screaming habits by CS and his drinking cohorts which very much unsettled her at the time, she being of delicate years and a sheltered sensibility.
I feel we should push for an interview with Ms Hildegard (for it is mightily certain she will turn out to be Ms) via some of the new technology now available, as well as politely requesting access to any of the newly unearthed CS memorabilia she claims are in her possession at the most urgent opportunity.

I remain, as we all do until the day arrives
yours
Tyler S.T.

Dear Rex

I have just put it to CSCR the idea of developing some Seaton merchandise. Badges, Seaton White collarless shirts and tour T shirts for those who require something more inhabitable. We were thinking of incorporating some of Seaton’s ‘Anan’s’ on the T shirts and I believe you possess several original scripts? We are aware that the Seaton Family Estate have some (20) but they are holding on to them for a future ’Anan’s’ publication . Do you know how many of these ‘Anan’s’ are in existence? I believe a fake turned up on E-bay several months ago and I wondered how we will know if we have a access to some genuine ‘Anan’s? (Yours I know will be the real thing and hopefully well meet up when I’m in the States… you can let me know how to spot a genuine one. )

best

Harry SS

Hi Simon, Chris and Gareth, please send me any tour dates as I’m keen to catch you guys in action. Any plans to visit the Sates in 2009? If so, do contact Sarah at Syracuse, she’s booking acts for October fest!

As you know, I did a lecture at the University of Lincoln a couple of weeks ago and I met two people who were really impressed by the performance you did at the drill hall in February. One of them, Kris Konrath(?) said he’d met Chris in a pub and was making a film about Seaton. Is this true (and if so, why wasn’t I informed)!
Rex b

Hello Seatonists’

I just thought that I would inform you all that on the 4th December I will be going into Daisy-Ville Hospital for surgery. I am having a delicate operation to have my
In-growing toenail removed. I anticipate that I will be placed under a local anaesthetic and following surgery shall remain in hospital for several more hours…I will be out of contact at this time as I am required to turn off my mobile phone. Miss Anne Tardy my new PA at the University will be putting me up at her house during my convalescence. Any get well messages that you wish to send me please make them out to Rex Barker care of ‘The Fantastic Anne’ Unit 9, Wonton Avenue, University Park. SYU 9 USA. (Flowers, Chocolates would be most welcome)

PS. On the 17th December I am presenting my paper ‘Unknown Spaces’ for the ‘Whiteout’ Conference at Seattle University.

Yours

Rex Barker