ALICE (ALICE LAPIZE) DELYSIA - AUTOGRAPHED INSCRIBED PHOTOGRAPH - HFSID 324889

ALICE DELYSIA
Rare signed photograph of the French actress and vocalist draped in pearls, signed in black ink to a fan
Inscribed photograph signed: "Bon souvenir/to dear old/Bert/Alice Delysia", in black ink, Sepia 5¼x8¼ affixed to 8¼x11¼. Accompanied by vintage program from the Central Theatre on 47th and Broadway. Alice Delysia was the stage name of French actress and singer Alice Lapize (1889-1979), who appeared in chorus lines from age 14 and found success on English music hall and theater stages. Impresario C. B. Cochran, shown on the letterhead here, promoted her to a starring role in Odds and Ends (1914). (London censors demanded changes in Delysia's "startling disrobing act" in one skit.) Cochran's As You Were, had her appearing as Cleopatra, Helen of Troy, Elizabeth I and Lucifer (the latter role evoking another intervention by the censors due to her "negligible" dress. Her starring role in Afgar (1919-1921) included a successful US tour. On with the Dance, featured here, established Noel Coward as a major entertainer, with Delysia singing his first hit song, "Poor Little Rich Girl." Delysia earned medals from the British and French governments for her performances for Allied troops during World War II. She married a Free French officer and retired from the stage. Corners worn and creased. Heavily toned. Soiled across front and verso. Bottom left corner clipped. Surface creases throughout. Corners and edges of photograph slightly worn. Small tear on top margin. Otherwise, fine condition.