Description:

Armstrong Louis

A fantastic ALS along the bottom of a printed diet menu created by Louis Armstrong and published in the Harpers Bazaar, 8.5" x 11". Signed by Armstrong in full signature as "From Satchmo Louis Armstrong". Expected folds with small piece of tape on the verso. Accompanied by a hardback book, "People of Destiny, Louis Armstrong",  8.75" x 11.25". The ALS will come with an LOA from Beckett Authentication

 

Did you over-indulge during the holidays? Are your trousers tight around the waist? Has your clothing “shrunk in the dryer”? Well, perhaps you should once again investigate this option, Lose Weight The Satchmo Way!

 

 Armstrong, familiarly known as "Satchmo," arguably the greatest artist of the 20th century, was also one of its greatest eaters. A huge fan of food Armstrong was even known for signing his letters with salutations such as "Soul Foodly Yours." and "Red Beans & Ricely Yours". The great musician had weight problems and sought a solution that didn't completely require giving up one of his favorite pastimes - eating. So he created a diet, (several diet options actually), one of which is described in this Nine day diet plan called Lose Weight the "Satchmo" Way. Armstrong convinced himself that if you ate a few healthy things and took laxatives, you could then eat whatever you want.  Armstrong was so convinced in the remedial properties of natural laxatives that he often gave bottles of them to his friends as presents. He also propagated his laxative-based diet in the media, and he produced a series of humorous flyers that depicted him as sitting on the toilet with a content smile on his face. He reportedly even elaborated his love of laxatives to the members of the British Royal family when he was their guest during his 1956 Great Britain tour. By 1955, he had lost 100 pounds, which he attributed largely to his regular use of Swiss Kriss and an antacid called Bisma Rex. After he gave interviews on the subject, demand for his dieting regimen was so high that he had it printed on cards to mail back to curious fans.

 

This perfect example of his printed diet includes a wonderful hand written letter to Kenneth G. Richards, author of the book series "People of destiny: a humanities series" which Armstrong penned along the bottom of the page:

 

"To Kenneth G. Richards,

Would be a pleasure to "Chat" with you. Either at my Hotel in my Suite or Back Stage at the Fiestival[sic]. Regards

From Satchmo Louis Armstrong"

 

With Armstrong including the word "DIG" with an arrow next to the diet requirement of A LAXATIVE AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK, IS VERY NICE

 

The letter will be accompanied by the book written by Richards, "People of Destiny, Louis Armstrong", who added his own note within his book mentioning that he missed meeting Satchmo at the Jazz Festival but talked with him briefly on the telephone.

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