Bay Street Sells Note from Grey Gardens' Little Edie Beale
Infamous East End duo Edith “Little Edie” Bouvier Beale and Edith “Big Edie” Bouvier Beale of East Hampton’s Grey Gardens estate have continued to give to the East End, even in death.
A note from Little Edie to veteran publicist /author Walter Newkirk (memoraBEALEia, Letters of Little Edie Beale, The Secret Life of Walter Newkirk) recently sold for $980 as part of a silent auction at Bay Street Theater’s gala fundraiser on July 11.
Proceeds from the sale will benefit Bay Street and their programs.
The message on the note reads:
Dear Walter
Am weathering the separation from “G.G.” I was not able to manage any trip
West or South – too much unfinished business – I really needed another month!
Hope you are enjoying the holiday season – I have the cats!
Have a New Years Eve job at a local nightclub. Will do the Reno Sweeney songs I guess!
With love – E.
Bay Street Theatre will be reviving Grey Gardens the Musical being shown from August 4–30, with the opening night on August 8. The show stars Tony winner Betty Buckley as Big Edie, and Rachel York as Little Edie Beale.
Special guests at Bay Street’s Summer Gala included Matthew James Thomas, Aaron Lazar, Tony Award winner Patina Miller, Norm Lewis, Stephen Bogardus, Julia Murney, Kyle Barisich, John Treacy Egan, Ryan Knowles, Joanna Howard, Julia Motyka and Anna Schiavoni.
Actor Richard Kind served as celebrity auctioneer for the night.
Also among the star-studded guest list, former Congressman Tim Bishop along with photographer/playwright Joe Pintauro, the night’s honorees.
Another 10 of Beale’s letters from Newkirk’s collection were auctioned in two separate lots of five by Beverly Hills “auction house to the stars” Julien’s Auctions on June 26. Each lot closed at $2,500, well exceeding their $600–$800 estimates.