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Rare Academy Award for “the color set decoration of ‘An American in Paris,’ 1951”
665. Academy Award Plaque: Set Decoration for An
American in Paris (1951). Rare original Academy Award plaque presented “to Edwin B. Willis and Keogh Gleason in recognition of the color set decoration of ‘An American in Paris,’ 1951,” featuring the gilt cast plaque set upon a black base. The tablet features the iconic Oscar figure in high relief, and reads: “Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, Award of Merit for Outstanding Achievement.” The engraved presentation plaque is affixed to the front panel of the base. In fine condition, with overall rubbing and tarnishing to the metal.
An American in Paris, inspired by George Gershwin’s jazzinfluenced orchestral piece of the same name, was a massive success at the start of the 1950s. The musical comedy, directed by Vincente Minnelli and starring Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron, garnered eight Academy Award nominations, winning six (including Best Picture). Willis and Keogh, the recipients of this award, were two of the most celebrated set decorators in Hollywood—both designers for MGM, they won a combined twelve Oscars between 1942 and 1959. These Academy Award plaques have an interesting history and are equivalent to their more famous sibling, the Oscar statuette. Earlier in the history of the Academy Awards, Oscar statues were reserved exclusively for ‘major’ prizes—like Best Picture and Best Actress in a Leading Role—and these plaques were awarded to winners in ‘lesser’ categories, like Best Supporting Actor and Best Art Direction. Later on, the Academy began an exchange program for recipients of the plaque-style awards, allowing them to swap the plaques for true Oscar statuettes. The plaque design and form factor remain in use today for the Academy Scientific and Technical Awards. Starting Bid $1000
Rare 1942 Academy Award still photography medal presented to Hollywood’s pin-up extraordinaire
666. Academy Award Still Photography Medal:
Whitey Schafer (1942). Extremely rare Academy Award medal, measuring 1.75" in diameter, given to Whitey Schafer in 1942 for his outstanding achievement in Hollywood photography. Front features the words “Annual Still Photography Medal” and an Oscar statuette in relief, with text on the reverse reading, “Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, First Award to A. L. Whitey Schafer, For Outstanding Achievement, Class 8, 1942.” The lustrous gold-plated award features a beautiful mirror-like finish. Complete with its original cardboard box. In fine condition, with some staining to the box. Accompanied by one of Schafer’s Paramount Pictures business cards. Perhaps best known for his pin-ups and glamour photography, Schafer found ample work in Hollywood during its ‘Golden Age.’ Beginning in the 1920s, he did photography work for Thomas H. Ince’s studio, Cecil B. DeMille’s studio, RKO-Pathé, Columbia Pictures (where he headed the photography department as of 1938), and Paramount (where he served as the director of still photography in the 1940s). Schafer’s favorite photographic subject was Marlene Dietrich, but his most famous photograph is probably ‘Thou Shalt Not’ (1940)—a satirical parody of the Hays Code, showing a scantily clad woman pointing a gun at a fallen policeman, with drugs and a bottle on the table beside them. A rare and exquisite prize from the esteemed Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. Starting Bid $1000
667. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers (2)
Signed Photographs. Fabulous pairing of portraits of the dancing stars: a vintage matte-finish 10.25 x 13.25 full-length photo of Astaire in a tuxedo and top hat, signed and inscribed in fountain pen, “To Harold Hendu—Sincerely—Fred Astaire”; and a vintage glossy 10 x 13.25 full-length photo of Rogers in a shimmering gown, signed and inscribed in fountain pen, “To Harold Hendu, my very tender wishes, Sincerely, Ginger Rogers.” In very good to fine condition, with trimmed edges, some light creasing to the Rogers photo, and very poor contrast to Rogers’ faded last name. Starting Bid $200
668. Lucille Ball Signed Photograph. Humorous oversized
vintage matte-finish 10 x 13 photo of Ball in costume as Camille the Gypsy, signed and inscribed in fountain pen to famed Hollywood gossip columnist Hedda Hopper, “Dear Hedda—Because you love beautiful things—Lucy.” In fine condition. A fantastic oversized pose with an inscription that captures Ball’s great sense of humor. Starting Bid $200
Ball and Hope present an oversized photo to Hollywood gossip columnist Hedda Hopper
669. Lucille Ball and Bob Hope Signed Photograph.
Outstanding oversized vintage matte-finish 10.75 x 13.5 photo of famed Hollywood gossip columnist Hedda Hopper seated on a throne over the fallen Ball and Hope on the set of the 1960 romantic comedy The Facts of Life, signed and inscribed in blue ballpoint to Hopper, “At your mercy, Love, Lucy” and “Dear Hedda, This looks like me in Germany—Love, Bob.” Triple-matted and framed to an overall size of 17 x 20. In fine condition. Starting Bid $200
Top-notch Humphrey Bogart portrait, beautifully signed by the leading man
670. Humphrey Bogart Signed Photograph. Vin-
tage matte-finish 8 x 10 photo of Bogart in a blazer looking pensively skyward, beautifully signed and inscribed in fountain pen, “To Johnny, Good luck, Humphrey Bogart.” Archivally cloth matted and framed to an overall size of 14.5 x 16.5. In fine condition. A striking pose of Hollywood’s legendary leading man that boasts a beautifully penned, bold autograph. Starting Bid $300
Exceptional oversized portrait from The Cowboy and the Lady
671. Gary Cooper Signed Photograph. Magnificent
vintage glossy 10.75 x 13.5 portrait of Cooper in his role as Stretch in the 1938 film The Cowboy and the Lady, signed and inscribed in fountain pen, “To Walter Mutal, Best regards, Gary Cooper.” Reverse bears a Coburn photographer’s stamp. In very good to fine condition, with scattered creasing, two intersecting creases passing through Cooper’s image, and poor-to-moderate signature contrast. An extraordinary, crystal-clear image of Cooper in Western costume by one of Hollywood’s acclaimed photographers. Starting Bid $200
Garland in the 1944 box office hit Meet Me in St. Louis
9.25 MGM publicity portrait of Judy Garland as Esther Smith for the 1944 Christmas musical Meet Me in St. Louis, signed and inscribed vertically in blue ballpoint, “To Fred, love, Judy Garland.” Reverse bears an MGM property stamp. In very good condition, with trimmed edges and scattered creasing, heaviest to the upper right corner area. Starting Bid $200
Wonderfully early portrait of “Archie,” not long before joining Paramount as ‘Cary Grant’
673. Cary Grant Oversized Photograph Signed as
“Archie”. Circa 1920s vintage matte-finish 10 x 13 photo of a young, handsomely dressed Cary Grant by James Hargis Connelly of Chicago, signed and inscribed in bold fountain pen, “To Lester—I know us better than—, So B— it!! Archie.” Double-matted and framed to an overall size of 17.5 x 21. In fine condition.
Following his successful role in the musical Nikki, a 27-year-old Cary Grant—then using his given name Archibald Alec Leach— signed a five-year contract with Paramount Pictures on December 7, 1931. But B. P. Schulberg, the studio’s general manager, thought “Archie” needed a name change, ‘something that sounded more all-American like Gary Cooper.’ The actor agreed as well, noting that ‘Archie just doesn’t sound right in America. It doesn’t sound particularly right in Britain either.’ His Nikki costar Fay Wray suggested he choose ‘Cary Lockwood,’ the name of his character in their musical. Schulberg liked the name ‘Cary’ but was dimissed ‘Lockwood’ and gave Grant a list of surnames compiled by Paramount’s publicity department, out of which he chose ‘Grant.’ Starting Bid $200
674. Audrey Hepburn Signed Photograph. Gorgeous
vintage glossy 3.5 x 5.5 photo of Hepburn wearing a hat and strings of pearls, signed and inscribed in fountain pen, “To dear Sidney, with love from Audrey.” In fine condition. Starting Bid $200 677. Boris Karloff Signed Photograph. Glossy 9.25
x 7.25 photo of Boris Karloff and Vincent Price hamming it up in a publicity still for the 1963 comedy horror film The Raven, signed in black grease pencil, “Sincerely, Boris Karloff.” Double-matted to an overall size of 12.75 x 10.75. In fine condition, with some light marks, and a crease to lower left corner. Starting Bid $200
Print of Clark Gable. Massive limited edition 35.5 x 48 silver gelatin print by Hollywood portrait photographer George Hurrell of Oscar-winning actor Clark Gable smiling in a tuxedo, numbered 16/60, signed in the lower right corner in white ink, “Hurrell.” Framed and in fine condition. This dashing image, taken in 1932, appeared in Hurrell’s ‘Portfolio I.’ Starting Bid $200
Hepburn. Massive limited edition 35.5 x 48 silver gelatin print by Hollywood portrait photographer George Hurrell of Oscarwinning actress Katharine Hepburn in an attractive up-close pose, numbered 16/60, signed in the lower right corner in black felt tip, “Hurrell.” Framed and in fine condition. This lovely image, taken in 1941, appeared in Hurrell’s ‘Portfolio I.’ Starting Bid $200
x 5.75 deckle-edge German postcard photo of Grace Kelly for the 1955 film To Catch a Thief, signed in fountain pen. In fine condition, with moderate signature contrast. Starting Bid $200 679. Laurel and Hardy Signed Photograph. Vintage
glossy 5.5 x 3.5 photo of the comedy duo side-by-side in their iconic bowler hats, signed and inscribed in fountain pen, “Hello Heather! Stan Laurel” and “Oliver Hardy.” In fine condition. Starting Bid $200
680. Carole Lombard Signed Photograph. American
actress (1908–1942) who enjoyed great success as a popular screen comedienne in the 1930s, and who became Mrs. Clark Gable in 1939. On January 16, 1942, the plane in which Lombard was traveling en route to a war bond rally crashed into Mount Potosi near Las Vegas, killing all 22 aboard. Breathtaking oversized vintage matte-finish 10.75 x 13.75 full-length photo of Lombard in an off-the-shoulder dress and bathed in soft light, signed and inscribed in fountain pen, “For Shim, Cordially, Carole Lombard.” In fine condition, with light creasing to the edges and corners. Starting Bid $200
681. Peter Lorre Signed Photograph. Vintage
glossy 8 x 10 photo of Lorre as Raskolnikov in Josef von Sternberg’s 1935 film adaptation of Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment, signed and inscribed in fountain pen, “To Wally, Peter Lorre, 1936.” In fine condition. Starting Bid $200
682. Marx Brothers Signed Photograph.
Superb vintage matte-finish 10 x 8 photo of the Marx Brothers—Groucho, Harpo, and Chico— posing together with oversized dumbbells, signed by each in fountain pen, with a secretarial inscription to the upper left, “To Dolores, Merrily yours.” In fine condition, with light soiling, and a faint stain to the left edge. Accompanied by the original “Marx, MGM Studio” transmittal envelope postmarked at Culver City, California, on February 11, 1941. Starting Bid $200
683. Steve McQueen Document Signed. DS, signed “Steven T. McQueen,” fifteen pages, 8.5 x 11, March 31, 1971. Document outlining the “By-Laws of Astral Productions International, Inc.,” pertaining to shareholder meetings, directors and management, stock ownership, and corporate record keeping. Signed at the conclusion in felt tip by Steve McQueen, William J. Maher, and Gerald Breslauer as directors, and signed again by Maher as secretary. In fine condition. Starting Bid $200
Marilyn remembers her mom in notes for a meeting with her psychoanalyst: “Mother always tried to get me to ‘go out’ as though she felt I were too unadventurous”
684. Marilyn Monroe Handwritten Notes. Intriguing
handwritten notes by Marilyn Monroe, unsigned, one page, 5 x 8, September 9, no year but likely 1957. In full: “Remember, somehow, how mother always tried to get me to ‘go out’ as though she felt I were too unadventurous. She wanted me even to show a cruelty toward women. This in my teens. In return, I showed her that I was faithful to her.” At the top of the page Monroe adds “For Kris, Sept 9, Janes 10th Birthday on 7th same year.” In fine condition. The notes along the top refer to two women who recently entered Monroe’s life—her psychoanalyst Dr. Marianne Kris, whom Monroe had begun seeing after leaving Dr. Margaret Hohenberg in the spring of 1957, and Jane Miller, Monroe’s stepdaughter with husband Arthur Miller. A fascinating handwritten note from Monroe, who no doubt used this sheet as a reminder for an upcoming appointment with Kris. Starting Bid $500
Feverish handwritten acting notes from Monroe— “What is the matter with my voice—Maybe just let the voice come out of my body however it does under certain circumstances”
685. Marilyn Monroe Handwritten Notes on Acting.
Radio and Television Executives Society, Inc. mailing envelope addressed to “Miss Marilyn Monroe” at 2 Sutton Place South in New York City, 9.5 x 4, which contains handwritten pencil notations by Monroe that start on the reverse and continue on the front. The notes cover the envelope, overlapping and intertwining, and were likely taken during an acting class with Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio in New York City. In part: “I somehow am seeing with my body also and when I am truly listening…What is the matter with my voice—Maybe just let the voice come out of my body however it does under certain circumstances.” The remainder of the notes are more frenetic, reading, in part, “Strassberg [sic] says we remember with our senses—Not brain or mind (remember with the body) Tell Hohenberg about the period during when I stopped secreatly [sic] play acting so fully it was the time I got my first job acting at 20.” In fine condition.
Accompanied by a full letter of authenticity from Beckett Authentication Services.
Provenance: Julien’s Auctions, Property from the Life and Career of Marilyn Monroe, November 2016. Starting Bid $500
Unique archive from the estate of Sylvia Sidney, including her sketchbooks, correspondence, and photographs
686. Sylvia Sidney Estate Archive: Autographs, Sketches, Photographs, and Papers. Large archive from the
estate of Academy Award–nominated actress Sylvia Sidney, including her personal sketchbooks, hundreds of photographs, and numerous signed photographs and pieces of correspondence. Among the highlights are a Christmas gift from Judy Garland and Vicente Minnelli, over 60 letters by Sidney to her second husband, photos inscribed to Sidney by Ronald and Nancy Reagan, eight letters from her cousin Albert Sabin, ten photographs signed by Sidney, and nearly one hundred original sketches by Sidney. Starting Bid $200
The ‘Screwball King’ talks French film and the keys to success: “The beginning should be clear, the ending should be short, and all of it interesting”
688. Preston Sturges Autograph Letter Signed.
Academy Award-winning American director and screenwriter (1898–1959) best known for fast-paced screwball comedies like Sullivan’s Travels, The Palm Beach Story, and Lady Eve. ALS in French, signed “Preston,” three pages both sides, 5.5 x 7, Dorchester Hotel, London letterhead, March 14, 1954. Handwritten letter to Maurice Bessy, making reference to several contemporary directors. He starts with a reference to Abel Gance, from whom he is expecting a letter, and then writes about his own current film project, which “cannot start until May or even June.” He refers to having recently seen Pagnol’s Manon des Sources: “My God, he has such talent! It’s disgusting!…What dialogue! What a wonderful story!” Sturges finishes with a discussion of another film and quotes Alexandre Dumas fils, “who gave this advice to a young author: ‘How does one ensure that one’s work is a success? Very simple—the beginning should be clear, the ending should be short, and all of it interesting.” In very fine condition. Starting Bid $200
687. Max Steiner Document Signed. Prolific Austrian-born American film composer (1888–1971) who won three Academy Awards from a total of 26 nominations. Among his best-known scores are those for King Kong, Gone With the Wind, and Casablanca. DS, thirteen pages, 8.5 x 11, June 12, 1934. Agreement between Steiner and RKO Studios by which Steiner is hired to render “his exclusive services as musical director, composer and arranger, in charge of the Corporation’s music department.” The document outlines the terms of his employment, including a salary of $850 per week, and the agreement that the “Corporation shall own all rights of every kind and nature whatsoever in and to all music, lyrics, scores, arrangements, adaptations and compositions written, composed, prepared, directed or suggested by the Composer during the term.” Signed at the conclusion in fountain pen by Steiner, and countersigned by B. B. Kahane as president of RKO. In fine condition. Starting Bid $200
