Once upon a time (1910-89), there was a chap called Robert Pirosh. He was an American chap and in 1934 he decided that he wanted to become a screenwriter. So he went to Hollywood and sent the following application letter to all the studios. Needless to say, he got a job, and later won an Oscar.Probably the most famous films he worked on were Night at the Opera and Day at the Races.
Dear Sir:
I like words. I like fat buttery words, such as ooze, turpitude, glutinous, toady. I like solemn, angular, creaky words, such as straitlaced, cantankerous, pecunious, valedictory. I like spurious, black-is-white words, such as mortician, liquidate, tonsorial, demi-monde. I like suave "V" words, such as Svengali, svelte, bravura, verve. I like crunchy, brittle, crackly words, such as splinter, grapple, jostle, crusty. I like sullen, crabbed, scowling words, such as skulk, glower, scabby, churl. I like Oh-Heavens, my-gracious, land's-sake words, such as tricksy, tucker, genteel, horrid. I like elegant, flowery words, such as estivate, peregrinate, elysium, halcyon. I like wormy, squirmy, mealy words, such as crawl, blubber, squeal, drip. I like sniggly, chuckling words, such as cowlick, gurgle, bubble and burp.
I like the word screenwriter better than copywriter, so I decided to quit my job in a New York advertising agency and try my luck in Hollywood, but before taking the plunge I went to Europe for a year of study, contemplation and horsing around.
I have just returned and I still like words.
May I have a few with you?
Robert Pirosh
385 Madison Avenue
Room 610
New York
Eldorado 5-6024
Posts
That is so true. There are some words that can almost be tasted.
ReplyDeleteI adore his verbose resume ♥ waving hi from the hills of North Carolina :)
ReplyDeleteHere from the middle of NC Piedmont; this guy was clever!!
ReplyDeleteOh, Inky, I haven't visited for while, but this morning, a little tousled and bedraggled (who's been raggling my bed?, I stumbled back here as if the words had been calling me. I LOVE this!! 8-)
ReplyDeleteNew to your blog. Wonderful letter. I would have hired him too. Reminds me of one of my favorite movie scenes from the "Glass Slipper", with Leslie Caron, when Mrs. Toquet says, "Cinderella... Cin-der-el-la. Such a beautiful word, I like it very much. There are other words I like very much, like windowsill and elbow. El-bow. And I like Apple Dumpling too. Apple dumpling, it's a comical word. Apple Dumpling. Pickle Relish!"
ReplyDeleteYou'd just HAVE to interview him, wouldn't you?!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that. Will post a link on my blog. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLove Pirosh's cover letter - so very clever and intriguing. We have all been told, at least once in our professional lives, to 'make yourself stand out'. This letter certainly accomplishes such a feat! It is a refreshing break from the standard mutterings one churns out in a bid to 'get the job'. Pirosh's list of words lends insight into both his personal and professional personas without the shameless self promotion that one usually feels obliged to engage in when crafting a cover letter. Creative and clever...thanks so much for sharing.
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