W. C. FIELDS Agreement with the J. Walter Thompson advertising firm setting strict rules for Fields' script for a radio broadcast, co-signed by producer and ad executive Norman Blackburn Document signed: "W. C. Fields", "Norman Blackburn", 1 page, 8¾x14. Hollywood, California, 1946 March 13. Agreement with the J. Walter Thompson advertising agency, acting as agent for Standard Brands, Inc., governing Fields' forthcoming appearance on the Chase and Sanborn radio program, March 24, 1946. The agreement stipulates that Fields must adhere strictly to a script approved in advance by the firm and by Fields himself, and that Fields shall not "improvise, extemporize or use unapproved material." It further stipulates that Fields shall be held blameless from any claims for "slander, libel, copyright infringement, etc." arising from the program. Fields is to receive $3,500 for his performance. W.C. FIELDS (1879-1946) began entertaining as an amusement park juggler at the age of fourteen. He was a vaudeville headliner before he was twenty and toured Europe in 1901, giving a command performance at Buckingham Palace. read more...

W.C. FIELDS, MAURICE CLEARY and GENE TOWNE The legendary comedian and actor and two others sign a six-month agreement for the production and airing of radio broadcasts starring Fields. Typed DS: "W.C. Fields" as Party of the First Part on page 4 and intiialed: "W.C.F." three times on page 3 and once on page 4, 4p, 8½x13, separate sheets, bound together onto 9x13¾ blue legal sheet (imprinted "Stephen Monteleone/Attorney and Counsellor at Law/Petroleum Securities Building/Flower Street at Tenth/Los Angeles)". Los Angeles, California, 1932 November 11. This agreement, which is for a period of six months (November 11, 1932-May 11, 1933), states that Fields, who "possesses special, unique and unusual ability as an artist", Cleary, "skilled and experienced in arranging for the production of any such performances [by Fields] and the disposal of the same for use over the radio", and Towne, who "possesses unique ability in the presentation of read more...

W.C. FIELDS The legendary comedian pens this letter to his mistress Carlotta in 1941 Autograph Letter signed: “W.” in black ink, 1p front and verso, 8x10½. Saturday, Bel Air. Original mailing envelope included. Addressed to “Miss Carlotta Douglas/ Hotel Paso del Norte/ El Paso/ Texas” on W.C. Fields' personalized envelope. Postmarked Los Angeles, California, December 3, 1941. To “Dear Carlotta”. In part: “I recd. your curt wire some weeks ago, saying send me $1000.00. You made no mention of the book Shoes of Happiness I had sent you several weeks previous nor made any comment on the article 'Sing Sucker Sing.' Ignored everything. It felt to me as though you had one of those real intelligent palsie walsies with you and you were going to show them the way you did things. Consequently I ignored it. I had a phone message from Weikert saying the case had been postponed until late in June and that he had, had word from you that you would be present for the trial. I shouldn't say trial. It will be the same sort of affair as the last one no press permitted. read more...

WILLIAM F. CODY ("BUFFALO BILL") 4x5 photo of Cody, signed and signed on the 7x9 photo mount in 1903 as both W.F. Cody and Buffalo Bill Photograph Mount inscribed and signed: "W.F. Cody/'Buffalo Bill'/To Ormsby Trench/1903". B/w, 7x9 overall, image 3¾x5½ (two surfaces). Photo by Marceau Studios, 258 Fifth Avenue, New York. William Frederick Cody earned the name "Buffalo Bill" for killing thousands of buffalo as a hired hunter in 1867 and 1868. Cody's theatrical career was launched in 1872 with re-enactments of Indian battles. By 1883, he formed his first Wild West spectacle, becoming a master showman. Vintage mount is lightly foxed, soiled and slightly stained with some wear at edges. Photo is lightly soiled and slightly foxed. Signature and inscription in fine condition. read more...

W.C. FIELDS. ALS: "Willie", 2p, separate sheets, 8½x11. Bel Air, Cal., Sunday (October 15, 1939). Original envelope addressed by Fields to: "Miss Jane Fowler/National Park College/Forest Glen/Maryland". Lightly creased. Fine condition. Jane Fowler was the daughter of his friend, Gene Fowler. Fields had developed a crush on Jane but the affection was unreciprocated. To "my dear nice niece Janey pie". In full: "Thanks for your letter of the 11th, but first I want to tell you that I was coming to forest Glen and engage quarters close to the college, listen to the lesson and get a little added education. Further I could watch you and see that you took your salt peter but when I read your envelope, 'W. C. Feilds' [he has circled the "ei"] I swooned. My own plum, do they not teach you I before E except after C. Suppose after our wedding you go to the Cadillac agency and say 'two 16's, one sport roadster and one coupe, hand the gentleman in attendance a check for $17,000.00 and you sign it 'Jane Feilds.' You do not like the jailhouse any more than I do. If as much. Dear do be careful. I answered your dear wire after I got the necessary funds together to pay for it but I made a mistake and sent it care of Booker T. read more...

W. C. FIELDS Three-page autograph letter to his mistress Carlotta Monti, signed by Fields as "Continental Claude", calling Hitler "full of mierda" and confiding, "like the three monkeys I see nothing, know nothing, and won't drink anything 'cept Beer." Autograph Letter signed: "Continental Claude", 3 pages, 8½x11. Bel Air, Labor Day. To "Katrinka & Claudia". ["Katrinka" was Fields' pet name for Carlotta Monti.] In full: "I suppose you are wondering why you have not received your packard as yet. And telling your friends I am not a man of my word. Give me time and I can explain anything. Practically all nations will be in the war by the time this missive arrives. But you, unfortunately for yourself contended the whole world would be at war. It was then I accepted your wager 'I'll bet you the whole world will be at war by 1940. If not you give me a packard.' It was a bet made in all fairness. I forget what I was to receive had you lost. However all is fair in something or other and war. I will pay off if it becomes real serious. I firmly believe it will be of short duration, in which case you will receive a small packard. read more...

AUTHENTIC LEATHER COLLAR WORN BY BULLET, ROY ROGERS' "WONDER DOG"   [ROY ROGERS]. Dog Collar, unsigned. Black leather dog collar decorated with studs and red plastic "jewels", 19 inches long, one inch wide. "Roy Rogers" imprinted in capital letters in white on back. This collar, which was originally sold at an auction held at the Roy Rogers & Dale Evans Museum in Victorville, California, was worn by Roger's "wonder dog", Bullet. A founding member of the Western music group, Sons of the Pioneers (1934), Roy Rogers (1911-1998) broke into films as a singing cowboy the following year. Beginning in 1938, he had starring roles in dozens of Western films. From 1951-1957, Rogers, "The King of the Cowboys", and Dale Evans, "The Queen of the West", whom Rogers married in 1947, starred in The Roy Rogers Show. Their co-stars included Trigger, Roy's golden palomino, Dale's horse, Buttermilk, Pat Brady (Roy's comic sidekick) and Bullet, the Wonder Dog. Normal wear at edges. Fine condition. read more...

WILLIAM F. CODY The famous Wild West showman pens a hopeful letter to his friend, stating "New England was never big for me. But wait till we start west. I predict a big season." The letter was written during the downfall of Cody's show empire due to outside expenses draining the immense profits from his show Autograph letter signed: "Col.", 1 page, 8½x11 framed to an overall size of 25½x18½. Buffalo Bill's Wild West combined with Pawnee Bill's Great Far East. May 29, 1911. Portsmouth, [New Hampshire]. In full: "Dear Mayor Glad Light, Your letter which found me is fine health. We had two bad towns last week. Fitchburg & Newburyport. No one ever done business in either. The week hurt us at least $2000 in Lowell-sent your bank 5100 today to take up one of my notes. Been getting good deposits from the mines. Been getting in shape [illegible] or any one. I believe I'll walk a sale of the [illegible]. Note if good are doing. [illegible]. While I telegraph you for now we are all OK here-now. And barring accident we will be OK. New England was never big for me. But wait till we start west. I predict a big season. read more...

BORIS KARLOFF Movie still from 1931's Frankenstein, with Karloff as the monster and choking a victim to death in a doorway, signed "Sincerely" by him. A must have for horror fans! Photograph signed "Sincerely/Boris Karloff". B/w, 7¾x10 overall, 7¼x9¼ image, one surface. This is a prize horror autograph and one that every horror fan should have: a signed photograph of Boris Karloff as the monster in 1931's Frankenstein! Karloff (1887-1969, born William Henry Pratt in Camberwell, London, England) was an English actor. Karloff had originally wanted a career in the diplomatic service, but he instead became one of Hollywood's most frightening actors. In 1931, he starred as the monster in the original Frankenstein, a role that had been turned down by Bela Lugosi. Karloff, who also scared the daylights out of movie-goers in the films The Mummy (1932) and The Ghoul (1933), also hosted and occasionally starred in the TV series Thriller. He gave one of the best of his many film performances in the 1968 Peter Bogdanovich film Targets, in which he virtually played himself - an aging star of horror movies. Lightly toned, creased and bowed. read more...