Entertainment

Movie Memorabilia

Lot 457
Bonnie and Clyde (Warner Brothers, 1967). Depression era drama of the notorious 1920s bank robbers that terrorized the southwest. Starring Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway as the lead characters.Though today considered a film classic, at the time, Bonnie and Clyde quickly opened and closed after a barrage of negative reviews. Due to the popularity of the soundtrack, fashion trends resulting from Dunaway's costumes, and the insistence of Beatty, the studio agreed to reopen the film a second time, with highly successful results.

Newspaper insert advertisement for the film Bonnie and Clyde from the Philadelphia Inquirer dated March 31, 1968. This full page, color ad features Faye Dunaway as "Bonnie" pointing a rifle at Warren Beatty, the debonair "Clyde". Verso features four comic strips, including "Little Orphan Annie". Sheet size: 21½ x 27". One vertical and two horizontal folds, toning at edges and a small chip of loss to the left margin. In fine condition overall.
Estimated Value $150-200.

Lot 458
Commemorative Oscar Statuette. Commemorative miniature (5½") Oscar used as a table decoration during the dinner honoring Columbia Pictures' 1935 15th Anniversary. "Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences First Award Columbia Pictures For the Best Picture of the Year" emblazoned on plaque at base of statue, "15th Anniversary Columbia Pictures 1920-1935" on plaque at rear base. Finish wear to statue and base. Very good condition.

A fabulous souvenir of Hollywood's Golden Age! Celebrating 15 years of Columbia Pictures achievements and the company's 1934 Academy Award "Big Five" sweep for It Happened One Night (the film won Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director and Best Screenplay), the anniversary party was a big event. The first picture ever to sweep all five awards, It Happened One Night put American men into undershirts and gave Columbia some respectability. Previously a B movie studio with successful westerns and serials, It Happened One Night helped move Columbia into the big time and, with Frank Capra's other films, helped to keep the studio going through the Depression.
Estimated Value $750-1,500.

Lot 459
D.W. Griffith's Birth of A Nation. Lot of five pieces related to Griffith's most controversial film. Three newspaper photos clipped depict scenes from Birth of A Nation and one article gives an outline of Griffith's background and dedication to his craft "...he is known in every part of the civilized globe and in many sections that are only partly civilized." Also included is a program from the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia which gives a synopsis, cast of characters and the "Play's Message of Peace." Although this was a groundbreaking film and highly controversial (probably even more so today than when it was released), there is little contemporary ephemera available.
Estimated Value $150-200.

Lot 460
D.W. Griffith's Intolerance. Newspaper archive and publicity brochure for the groundbreaking movie Intolerance. "It is unquestionably the consensus of opinion that the D.W. Griffith spectacle, 'Intolerance,' seen for the first time in the city last Friday evening, is the greatest and most wonderful production ever made for the screen...Griffith himself attended the initial presentation here..." so begins the newspaper article which makes up the first of six piece of newspaper ephemera from Philadelphia, which includes three clipped newspaper photos with scenes from the movie, most notable a 11 x 9" picture of "The Feast of Belshazzar." The standout piece is an eight page movie guide from the Chestnut Street Opera House, designed to explain the long and complex movie to the public. A synopsis of each of the four stories is included, as are quotes and "Facts Concerning the Production" which stress the historical accuracy of Griffith's vision. Minor surface soil and very faint toning. Outstanding.
Estimated Value $250-300.

Lot 461
Gone With The Wind Paperdolls. Set of 18 paperdolls with clothing, featuring all of the major characters from Gone With The Wind. The dolls and clothing have been cut from their original sheets, but remain in very good condition, specifics follow: Mammy -- fine condition, two dresses, a shawl and a headscarf; Carreen -- crease at bottom of hairstyle, left arm has minor damage with some paper loss, one parasol, three dresses, two bonnets; Scarlett -- one crease at left wrist, tiny amount of paper loss at bottom of figure, three bonnets, four dresses; Maybelle -- tiny amount of paper loss at bottom flounce , small tear at top of hairstyle, three dresses, two bonnets, one of which is torn and missing a section; Brent -- fine condition, three suits, two hats; Aunt Pittypat -- possibly missing feet, three dresses, three bonnets, assorted accessories; Ella -- fine condition, three dresses, two hats, one reticule; Ellen -- missing tips of feet, three dresses, one parasol, one purse; Stuart -- possibly missing something (riding crop?) from his hand, three suits, one hat; India -- very tip of book is missing, three dresses, one bonnet; Suellen -- light crease at base of throat, three dresses; Ashley -- fine condition, three suits, one cape; Bonnie Blue -- fine condition, three dresses, two bonnets; Gerald -- fine condition, three suits, one hat; Melanie -- faint crease at neck, four dresses, four bonnets, one parasol; Rhett Butler -- fine condition, two suits, one smoking jacket, two hats; Beau -- fine condition, four suits, one jacket; Wade -- three suits, two hats. Several of the figures have the character names penciled on the verso.

Issued in the 1940s, these dolls are an original piece of Gone With The Wind merchandising and have survived in remarkable condition, making for a highly desirable collectible.
Estimated Value $250-300.

Lot 462
The Jazz Singer. Warner Brother's landmark "talkie", The Jazz Singer featured Al Jolson as the young Jewish man who runs away from home to become a famous singer and ultimately returns home for a final reconciliation with his dying father, taking his place as cantor on Yom Kippur. The sentimental story took second place to the then stunning use of Vitaphone recorded songs in sections of the film and Jolson's ad-libs between songs -- lines that made Jolson the first actor in a feature-length film to speak onscreen. The 1300 audience members at the October 6, 1927 premiere in New York erupted into cheers when Jolson uttered the now-famous "You ain't heard nothin' yet" and by the end of the movie the crowd was yelling and stamping their feet. Excitement over the new "talking pictures" spread across the country as the movie was released ,with great acclaim, city by city. By the end of its run, The Jazz Singer had grossed $2.6 million, saved Warner Brothers Studio from bankruptcy and effectively ended the silent era.

Two color, four page brochure advertising the opening of The Jazz Singer at Fox Theatre in Philadelphia on February 6 (1928?), 5½ x 6¾". Three horizontal folds, minor age toning at edges. Very good condition.

Wonderful graphics on the front and back pages and photos and reviews on the center pages distinguish this beautiful leaflet, which trumpets the opening at the Fox Theatre of "Warner Bros. Supreme Triumph...The Jazz Singer," with the "First Philadelphia Showing at Popular Prices." A gorgeous piece of advertising for a landmark motion picture.
Estimated Value $150-200.

Lot 463
King Kong (1933, RKO) Billed as "The Strangest Story Ever Conceived By Man" and "The Most Awesome Thriller of All Time," King Kong captured audience imaginations in 1933 and continues to be a favorite with movie fans. Ground-breaking stop-motion special effects, an exotic island, a girl in jeopardy and an unforgettable title character ensured the success of King Kong from its opening weekend in New York, where it earned $ 89,931 in four days (ticket prices hovered at the $ 0.15 mark). The popularity of the movie saved RKO from bankruptcy and provided some of the most enduring images of early movie making: King Kong fighting the tyrannosaurus rex, Fay Wray cradled in Kong's palm and the fabulous shot of King Kong at the top of the Empire State Building.

Lovelace, Delos W. King Kong. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1932. First Edition. 5½ x 8¼". No jacket. Inscribed in black ink "To Lincoln Bond / Fay Wray" on half title. Cloth peeling away from boards at right edge, spine wear, fading with possible water damage to front cover, binding at front and back covers has split, three free pages at front and three loose pages at back, very minor ink bleed to photographs at front and back, minor foxing, toning and soil to a few pages, top of all pages has blackened, pencil marks opposite half title and owner's name penciled on title page. Overall, fair condition.

A highly desirable Photoplay edition of King Kong with some damage, which is compensated for with the autograph of "Ann Darrow" herself (obtained in person by the consignor).
Estimated Value $200-300.

Lot 464
Negulesco, Jean. "Portrait of Gloria Swanson". Gouache on textured paper-board. 1930. Signed and dated at the lower right, "J. Negulesco 30". Size: 14 x 19". Light surface dirt. No longer in frame as pictured. Otherwise, in very good condition.

Against a bold green background, Negulesco portrays the glamorous queen of the silent screen: Ms. Gloria Swanson.
Negulesco's paintings are known, but his portraits are rare and seldom found at auction. Sought after collectibles, both for their association with the Golden Age of Hollywood and the personalities they feature, works like the one offered here are truly unique.
Estimated Value $500-750.
From the collection of actress Constance Moore.

Lot 465
Negulesco, Jean. "Study of a Woman." Ink on rice paper. 1954. Signed and dated at the lower right, "Negulesco 54", also signed, inscribed and dated at the lower left, "To Bill and Frances / with love / Jean and Dusty 1955". Image size: 19½ x 29½". Framed for an overall size of 22 x 32". A 6" soft crease at the lower right, a 2" horizontal fold at lower center, and another small fold at lower center edge. Still, in very good condition.

Clearly inspired by Asian techniques, Negulesco sketches the profile of a woman as seen from the back. Negulesco's simple lines and elegant strokes make his Asian-inspired works quite lovely and quite sought after.
Estimated Value $400-500.
From the collection of actress Constance Moore.