Description:

Golden Age of Hollywood Archive! Dealers' Lot of 40+ Vintage Autographed Drawings, Caricatures & Photographs Collected by Broadway Playwright

An outstanding archive, perfect for the Golden Age of Hollywood movie memorabilia collectors or as a dealers' lot, of original pencil and pen and ink drawings and caricatures of 1940s celebrities in the film, music, entertainment, and aviation industries, autographed by their subjects, ca. 1944. 38 different celebrities are represented. The lot also includes a group of autographed press photographs. 40 pieces are autographed, with an additional 3 pieces having pre-printed messages, for 43 pieces total. With exceptional provenance from William F. Brown (1928-2019), the artist and collector of the archive, who later became a Tony Award-nominated playwright. More on Brown below.

We believe that both Judy Garland autographs are secretarial, and maybe other celebrity signatures also, but that the large majority of the autographs are genuine, with several bearing custom dedicatory messages.

The lot is comprised of:

1. Sixteen original pencil drawings or pen and ink caricature drawings of celebrities on sheets of tracing or sketch paper by William F. Brown, signed as "Brown" in the lower left hand corner. Expected wear including paper fold, three hole punch marks, and edge darkening, else near fine. The average size of this set of drawings is 8.375" x 10.75."

2. Nineteen original pencil, pen, and ink caricature drawings of celebrities on glossy paper by William F. Brown, initialed as "B.B." in the lower right hand corner. Expected light wear including isolated wrinkles, else near fine. The average size of the caricatures is 5.25" x 6.875."

3. Eight press photographs of celebrities, matte and glossy, black and white as well as sepia-colored, the largest measuring 8" x 10." Three of the photographs--depicting Gene Autry, Gloria DeHaven, and Roscoe Turner--are pre-printed with generic goodwill messages. Expected light wear including scattered thumbtack holes found at the corners.

Provenance

The lot is accompanied by a 1p typed document dating from January 1983 explaining the origins of Brown's autograph collection. In part: "…during the winter of 1944, when I was confined to quarters for weeks on end with some non-specific psychosomatic malady, I decided to go for the biggies with a flair. So I laboriously copied photographs and caricatures of whoever on the Silver Screen caught my fancy at the time…I drew them up, mailed them out, and the returns…make up the first part…"

William F. Brown was a 1950 graduate of Princeton University who likely benefited from the G.I. Bill after serving in the U.S. Army. (An 8" x 10" vintage photograph included in this lot shows Brown in military uniform serving overseas in Asia.) After completing his military service and higher education, Brown embarked on a career in the arts and entertainment industry. He tried his hand in television advertising and producing, freelance writing, and comic strip illustration, and was a Tony Award-nominated playwright and librettist. He is best known for contributions to the Broadway production of "The Wiz," the 1975 musical revival of "The Wizard of Oz" featuring an all-black cast and gospel, soul, and pop music.

The lot features the following celebrity autographs, in alphabetical order:

- Mary Astor (1906-1987), American actress, one caricature as "Mary Astor"

- Gene Autry (1907-1998), American singer, pre-printed press photograph

- Lucille Ball (1911-1989), American comedic actress, one caricature as "Lucille Ball"

- Lionel Barrymore (1878-1954), American actor, one pencil drawing as "To William Brown / with best wishes / Lionel Barrymore"

- William Bendix (1906-1964), American actor, one pen and ink drawing as "a very fine job / Sincerely / William Bendix"

- Ingrid Bergman (1915-1982), Swedish actress, one pencil drawing as "Ingrid Bergman"

- John Boles (1895-1969), American actor, one caricature as "Cordially, / John Boles / - 1944 -"

- Ben Blue (1901-1975), Canadian-American comedian, one caricature as "Sincerely / Ben Blue"

- Oscar Bradley (1889-1948), British bandleader, one press photograph as "To Billy Brown / with every good wish / from / Oscar Bradley"

- Gary Cooper (1901-1961), American actor, one press photograph as "Sincerely / Gary Cooper"

- Bob Crosby (1913-1993), American jazz singer, one caricature as "All good Wishes / Bob Crosby"

- Eddy Duchin (1909-1951), American jazz pianist, one press photograph as "Hello Bill / If my little / boy can have the / same honors that / you have gained at / your age - I'll be happy. / Sincerely / Eddy Duchin"

- Doña Drake (1914-1989), American singer, dancer, and actress, one pencil drawing as "Good luck! / Doña Drake"

- Judy Garland (1922-1969), one pencil drawing and one caricature, both as "Judy Garland"

- Paulette Goddard (1910-1990), American actress, one pencil drawing as "Best Wishes / Paulette Goddard"

- Katherine Grayson (1922-2010), American actress, one caricature as "Kathryn Grayson"

- Gloria DeHaven (1925-2016), American actress, pre-printed press photograph

- Bob Hope (1903-2003), British-American comedian, one pencil drawing as "Best Wishes, / Bob Hope" and one
press photograph as "'Thanks for the Memory' / Bob Hope"

- Lena Horne (1917-2010), American singer, actress, and dancer, one caricature, as "Lena Horne"

- Marsha Hunt (born 1917), American actress, one caricature, as "Marsha Hunt"

- Betty Hutton (1921-2007), American comedian, one pencil drawing as "To Bill / Best Wishes / Betty Hutton"

- José Iturbe (1895-1980), Spanish conductor, one caricature as "José Iturbe / 1944"

- Gene Kelly (1912-1996), American singer and dancer, one caricature as "Gene Kelly"

- Kay Kyser (1905-1985), American bandleader, one caricature as "To / Bill - / We'll be / 'Thinking of you' / Kay Kyser"

- Hedy Lamarr (1914-2000), Austrian-American actress, one pencil drawing as "Hedy Lamarr"

- Mary Martin (1913-1990), American actress and singer, one pen and ink caricature as "To Bill / I am 'touched' by your / 'Venus' - my best to you / always / Mary Martin"

- Jack Morgan, one caricature as "Jack Morgan"

- Margaret O'Brien (born 1937), American child actress, one caricature, as "Margaret O Brien"

- Virginia O'Brien (1919-2001), American comedic singer, one caricature as "Virginia Obrien x"

- Maureen O'Hara (1920-2015), Irish actress, one pencil drawing as "Maureen O'Hara"

- Eleanor Powell (1912-1982), American dancer, one caricature as "To - / 'Bob' / Best of everything / from your dancing / friend / Eleanor Powell / 1944"

- Mickey Rooney (1920-2014), American comedic actor, one caricature as "Mickey Rooney"

- Red Skelton (1913-1997), American entertainer, one caricature as "Best of luck / 'I dood it' / Red Skelton"

- Ann Sothern (1909-2001), American actress, one pencil drawing and one caricature, both as "Ann Sothern"

- Shirley Temple (1928-2014), American actress, one pencil drawing and one press photograph, both as "Sincerely / Shirley Temple"

- Gene Tierney (1920-1991), American actress, one pencil drawing as "Gene Tierney"

- Lana Turner (1921-1995), American actress, two pencil drawings as "Lana Turner"

- Roscoe Turner (1895-1970), American aviator, pre-printed press photograph

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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