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Then did her books start selling?

Not really. We made money on Gertrude, but she had a very limited audience. Nobody knew what the hell she was talking about. I wangled for her an NBC interview--coast-to- coast radio. There was no television then. I acted as M.C. We went to the studio, and Miriam Hopkins came with us. Miriam adored Gertrude, and Gertrude adored Miriam. She had Miriam running errands for her, day after day. This amused her-- having a movie star calling for shoes for her and having her clothes dry-cleaned. She ordered everybody around, and got away with it. Miriam thought she was the greatest thing that ever came down the pike. I started the radio interview by remarking, “Gertrude Stein, here you are on a coast-to-coast hook-up. This is going to be your chance to explain to the American public what you mean by these writings of yours.” I added, “I'm very proud to be your publisher, Miss Stein, but, as I've always told you, I don't understand very much that you're saying.”

She replied promptly, “Well, I've always told you, Bennett, you're a very nice boy but you're rather stupid.”

This was on a coast-to-coast hook-up. Wow! The audience in the studio let out a scream of laughter and, believe me, I didn't kid around with Gertrude for the rest of the interview. I was very respectful. She was superb. When she started explaining herself, she was great.

As we left the studio, Miriam said, “You were wonderful,