Leslie Howard In Sing-Sing

[Leslie Howard, New York Public Library,
Billy Rose Collection, c. 1924]

On 1 January 1924 Leslie Howard began to keep a diary. Whether it was because he received a leather-bound journal for Christmas, or he had made a New Year's Resolution, or he merely wanted to keep a record of his life and the people he met, we don't know. Howard and his family were living just a block away from Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald in Great Neck, New York, at the time.

Ronald "Wink" Howard included the first six months of entries in Trivial Fond Records (1982), the book of Leslie Howard's own writings with
prefaces by Ronald. There are many days missing and Ronald does not state whether they were omitted from the book on purpose or because his father did not make an entry that day. Ronald does tell us, however, that the next to last entry was made by his angry wife, Ruth, on 18 October 1924, the day Howard's beloved daughter Leslie Ruth was born. Howard made only one other entry after that. Maybe he decided that a diary wasn't such a good idea.

Here are four entries:

Thursday, 28th February: Most of day occupied in trying to get rid of unholy headache acquired God knows how. Drive through mud to see unspeakably beastly shack with doddering fool of estate agent. Made headache much worse. Very annoyed. Train very late to town. Bored with performance. More headache—stomach probably deranged. Ruth meets train and car won't start. End of perfect day.

Sunday, 2nd March: Interesting visit to Sing-Sing prison to present Outward Bound to the dear convicts for the good of their souls. We are met by ambassadorial gent, looking like Sherlock Holmes or Lord Grey, who turns out to be forger doing second term. Name of Wyatt, son of a judge. Performance rather agonising in brown paper scenery. Dinner was pork, potatoes and salt-petre.

Monday, 3rd March: To my drawing lesson. [Alfred] Lunt not turning up—still suffering from effects of Sing-Sing. Did Mr. Hercules in yet another position. Shall soon know the gent's anatomy.

Tuesday, 4th March: Walking with Scott Fitzgerald over golf-links we discuss Otto Braun and the advance of science over the arts. Poor old Wink in bed with cold—but the snow is melting. Spring is in the air.


Howard, Leslie, ed. with Ronald Howard. Trivial Fond Records, pgs. 41-48. London: William Kimber & Co Ltd, 1982. ISBN 978-0-7183-0418-8.

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