Description:

Hearst William



Extremely Rare William Randolph Hearst Signed 80th Birthday Photograph with Hollywood Mogul Louis B. Mayer: "--you can plainly see that manly beauty runs in our family"

 

Outstanding oversized sepia-colored photograph of publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951), extensively inscribed by him and signed as "W.R. Hearst" along top. The inscription reads: "Dear Ida - This is a very good picture of me with my grandson Louis. You can plainly see that manly beauty runs in our family. Affectionately W.R. Hearst." Mounted on contemporary cardboard, and annotated, presumably by dedicatee Ida Koverman, as "Autographed by Mr. Hearst on his 80th birthday - Apr. 29 - 1943 - " verso. Some of the ink has lightened, and there is expected light edge wear, else near fine. Extremely rare. American Book Prices Current records indicate that only one image signed by Hearst has appeared at major auctions in the past thirty years. 10" x 13" x .125".

 

Hearst, dressed in a tuxedo with tails, is shown shaking the hand of his friend and business collaborator Louis B. Mayer (1884-1957). Hearst often jokingly referred to Mayer, who was nineteen years his junior, as his son; here, he further emphasizes his advanced age by absurdly calling him his grandson. Mayer had co-founded Metro-Goldwyn Mayer Studios in Hollywood in the early 1920s. Hearst occasionally financed MGM movie productions, and carried positive reviews of MGM films in Hearst published newspapers. Mayer attempted to buy the rights to Citizen Kane to protect Hearst, who was the movie's real life inspiration.

 

Hearst celebrated his 80th birthday on April 29, 1943 with a dinner party at his palatial beach-front property in Santa Monica, California. Called the "Beach House" or "Ocean House," the 100+ room Georgian Revival mansion was built after 1926 for Hearst's mistress actress Marion Davies. The pair frequently entertained Hollywood's rich and famous, and Davies had a tradition of throwing themed costume parties for Hearst's birthday. Guests wandered in and out of the mansion's period rooms, or dallied by the salt water pool, tennis courts, or guest cottages.

 

By World War II, Hearst had rebounded from his disastrous late Depression financial difficulties. He resumed building projects, charitable giving, and small-scale collecting. Hearst died eight years after this white-tie birthday dinner party, aged 88.

 

"Ida" referred to Ida Koverman (1876-1954), Louis B. Mayer's executive secretary at MGM between 1928-1951, and the studio's Director of Publicity between 1951-1954. Koverman was a phenomenal and understated administrator. By all accounts, she expertly managed her boss's professional and personal needs, becoming one of the most influential people on the Hollywood lot. She had political connections, and also advised on casting decisions, notably lobbying for stars Clark Gable and Judy Garland.

 

William Randolph Hearst, whose publishing company still operates today, began his media conglomerate Hearst Communications in 1887, after taking on the San Francisco Examiner. Hearst's newspapers and magazines were extremely popular, thanks in part to his editorial emphasis on “yellow journalism.” This sensationalist way of reporting news events aimed to increase circulation and sales. 

 


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