THE STRATTON STORY: A FILM PRODUCTION ARCHIVE Collection of ten items from the production of this 1949 film, the true story of a great baseball comeback. Included are the original contract signed by Monty Stratton; his pass to the MGM studios; a baseball signed by 15 cast and crew members; a signed baseball card showing the White Sox pitcher; photos and lobby cards signed by stars James Stewart and June Allyson; a DVD of the movie; a release form signed by Hall of Fame catcher Bill Dickey allowing use of his photo stills from this film; and a souvenir album inscribed by cast and crew to Monty's son Dennis! Collection comprised of: 1) Contract signed: "Monty Stratton", 25 pages, 9x13½. Culver City, California, 1948 February 26. Agreement between Monty Stratton ("the artist") and Loew's, Incorporated ("the producer"), acquiring Stratton's services as "technical adviser, director, coach, and/or technical writing assistant" at the discretion of the producer. Also signed by a Loew's Vice President (name illegible). He may also be used as an actor, and shall make personal appearances for film promotion. Stratton is to be paid $500 per week for the length of the contract, one year beginning on the signing date. 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...

CLINT EASTWOOD Contract signed the year he reprised his "Dirty Harry" role and first directed a Western. Document signed: "Clint Eastwood", 2p (front and verso), 8½X13. Beverly Hills, California, 1973 January 11. Signed on verso. Eastwood retains the William Morris Agency as his exclusive film agent for a period of 3 years. Originally specialized in Westerns, beginning with the Rawhide, Eastwood became a major star in the "Spaghetti Westerns" of Sergio Leone, beginning with A Fistful of Dollars (1964). While continuing to make Westerns, Eastwood proved a popular, hard-boiled detective as well, beginning with Dirty Harry (1971). He can play sensitive roles as well, as opposite Meryl Streep in The Bridges of Madison County, which he also directed (1995). Eastwood has continued to succeed as an older actor in films like In the Line of Fire (1995) and Space Cowboys (2000). He has also proven to be an outstanding director, winning Oscars for Unforgiven (1991) and Million Dollar Baby (2004) and getting another nomination for Mystic River (2003). read more...

W.C. FIELDS Original Prohibition-era W.C. Fields comedy sketch. Manuscript Comedy Sketch titled and signed: "One of the six best Cellars/By/W.C. Fields", 13¼p, 6x8¼, separate sheets. No place, no date. The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution went into effect on January 16, 1920. As of that date, "the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited." Prohibition is the topic of this comedy sketch, One of the Six Best Cellars, which is written with a bit of satire. The phrase "six best cellars" was an expression first used in 1920 referring to the best hideaways where liquor was stored during Prohibition. The phrase was used in a "Los Angeles Herald" story on December 8, 1920 stating that actress Mabel Normand, known to be a heavy drinker, had one of the "six best cellars" of Prohibition liquor in the Hollywood film colony. Although not dated, this comedy sketch was likely written during the Prohibition era. In the early 1920s Fields wrote many comedy sketches while performing in New York's vaudeville, most notably in the Ziegfeld Follies read more...

W. C. FIELDS and FLO ZIEGFELD Both sign a contract for Fields' appearance in the play "J. P. McEvoy's Comic Supplement". Not a standard form contract, this one has been written with Fields in mind. Contract signed: "Flo Ziegfeld", "W. C. Fields", 4 pages, 7¼x10½. Also initialed by both at a minor correction: "F.Z.", "W. C. F." New Amsterdam Theatre, New York, N.Y., 1924 November 10. On Ziegfeld's personal letterhead, Fields signs his acceptance of a commitment to appear in a play bearing the temporary title "J. P. McEvoy's Comic Supplement," to be produced on or before January 15, 1925. Fields is guaranteed top billing in the play credits and all advertising, and will receive $1, 750 per week for the full run of the play. He must attend five weeks of rehearsals without compensation. Clause 5 is of special interest: "You agree to get in touch promptly after the execution of this agreement with the author of this play, Mr. McAvoy and to aid and facilitate him and co-operate with him in every matter to the end that the parts to be assigned to you shall be adapted to your special talents and ability. You agree to render such services without any additional compensation. read more...

JOHN WAYNE The last cowboy hat he wore on the screen Ephemera unsigned. Tan American Eagle Outfitters "Resistol 'Self-Comforting" cowboy hat, approximately 7½-size. Heavy string hatband with tassels. Stagecoach label embossed on inside band. After completing his last film, The Shootist (1976), Wayne shot a series of commercials for the Great Western Bank of California, filmed in Grants Pass, Oregon. He wore this hat in those commercials, his last work in cowboy apparel. All-American action hero John "Duke" Wayne appeared in over 250 films, primarily in war movies and Westerns. Although he had appeared in 80 low-budget films, Wayne did not become a star until 1939, when he appeared as the Ringo Kid in John Ford's Stagecoach. Near the end of his forty-year career, Wayne was honored with his first Best Actor Academy Award for his portrayal of hard-drinking, one-eyed Marshal Rooster Cogburn in 1969's True Grit. Accompanied by authenticating letter from the L.A. Prop and Wardrobe Company. Minor staining on the left crown and right brim. Otherwise, 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...

"BUFFALO BILL" CODY Handwritten letter to former rival - now partner - Pawnee Bill Lillie -  outlining plans for a California tour of their wild west show. "And if all goes well we could clean up a wagon load of money." Autograph Letter signed: "Col.", 1 page, 8½x11. Saco, Maine, May 30 (circa 1908). On letterhead of Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Pawnee Bill's Far East to "Dear Major" [William Lillie]. In full: "The reason I would not sign up with Craft. They went back on the Contract they had Bacon draw and sent two of their own fixing. You see by the route of Sells Floto that they are playing all of the Country west of the Rockies and North West. And I think we should do it. I think the summer of the Great Panama Fair at San Francisco we could show all that Country. In the Spring three shows. San Francisco July, Aug. Sep. Then Southern Cal. Oct. And if all goes well we could clean up a wagon load of money." William Frederick Cody (1846-1917) earned the name "Buffalo Bill" for killing thousands of buffalo as a hired hunter in 1867 and 1868. read more...

JOHN WAYNE Cavalry gloves he wore in The Horse Soldiers Ephemera Unsigned. Leather, US Cavalry-style riding gloves worn by Wayne in the dramatic Civil War film, The Horse Soldiers (1959). Inside the left-hand glove is a sewn M-G-M label with John Wayne's name typed on it. John Wayne (1907-1979) is considered one of the greatest actors of all time, most famous for his many Western film roles. He made his debut in the 1926 silent film Brown of Harvard in an uncredited role. His first lead role came just four years later in Raoul Walsh's The Big Trail (1930), where Wayne portrays a trapper who is part of a settlement group travelling along the Oregon Trail. This role did not lead to stardom, but he continued to appear in B-movies throughout the 1930s. John Ford's 1939 film Stagecoach is the film that rocketed the actor to fame. Wayne's films tend to be either Westerns or military-themed. His most famous Westerns, including The Searchers (1956), Red River (1948), Rio Bravo (1959), and True Grit (1969), helped define the genre. As he grew more read more...