HATTIE McDANIEL and DANIEL T. O'SHEA The year the famous actress won her Academy Award for Selznick's Gone With the Wind, the first Black American to win an Oscar signs an agreement to work for Selznick International Pictures in 1940 with options through 1946. Partly Printed Contract signed: "Hattie McDaniel", 22p, 8½x11. Culver City, California, 1939 December 30. Countersigned: "Daniel T. O'Shea" as Producer. In part: "Subject: Producer employs Artist to render her services exclusively to Producer as an actress, performer, or entertainer in motion picture photoplays, television, and to make radiobroadcasts and personal appearances when, where and as requested by Producer. Term: From: January 1, 1940 (20 week guarantee) To: June 30, 1940. Compensation: $500.00 per week (20 week guarantee)…." Eight options after the principal six month period ends are listed, raising McDaniel's salary to $550 per week to the end of 1940 with consecutive annual raises which would reach $1500 per week if she worked for Selznick through 1946. read more...

WILLIAM F. 'BUFFALO BILL' CODY The man known for his showmanship and scouting skills signed this handwritten letter concerning his financial issues. Various close associates liquidate Cody's assets so that he can pay his creditors. Autograph Letter Signed: "W. C. Cody" one page both sides, 8.5 x 11, Chicago Shan-Kive and Round-Up letterhead. Dated September 18, 1916. Letter to his attorney Henry Hersey regarding his grim financial situation. In Part: “They can explain this situation to you better than I care for they have not kept me well footed. But if you do not hear from them, I'll write you all I know. First Link got judgement for about $11,800. And sold the Irma hotel and four lots and bid it in him self. I have until Jan. 15th 1917. In which to reclaim the property. There separately he sold the fixtures, paintings, etc - I furnished the money and had W.L. Walls bid them in for me. Then Link advertised and sold a hotel of mine called Pahaska Tepee. I furnished the money and had Walls bid that in for me.” read more...

W. C. FIELDS Signing as "The great man/Continental Claude", he pens a letter to his mistress Carlotta in New York Autograph Letter signed: "The great man/Continental Claude", 1p, 8½x10¼. On lightweight airmail paper. No place, no date, but with original envelope postmarked Los Angeles, Hollywood, December 27, 1939. Addressed by Fields to Miss C. Douglas [Carlotta Monti], Hotel Marie Antoinette, Broadway at 66 St., New York City. Torn flap. Creased, soiled and worn. Unrelated notes on verso (unknown hand). In full: "Something or other was at ah La Cava's Morales you know her and she enquired about you. I told her you were making the grade in N.Y. That you had been on here to attend your case but returned. She expressed regrets she had not seen you. She made La Cava a sweater. I think I admired the sweater and she suggested making me one. Being continental and never forgetting the days of chivalry I accepted graciously. She evidently knows Margo and they are coming some afternoon to measure me. Do you think I should order a pair if drawers too? This thing is running into a book, so will saw off. Keep well- and think for pastime. Always my best and most important wishes. M.M. sends Love." Creased, folds, lightly nicked edges. W.C. read more...

ANNIE OAKLEY Recovering slowly from an auto accident late in her life, she writes a 4-page letter to a female journalist, enthusiastically describing her move to North Carolina. Autograph Letter signed: "Annie Oakley Butler", 4 pages (integral leaf), 5½x6¾. Greensboro, North Carolina, October 10 (Pencil note in unknown hand dates it 1923.) Oakley has struck through the original letterhead of the O'Henry and written her new address in Greensboro. To "Dear Miss Tildesley", in full: "I was pleased to see the sweet letter. We left Cambridge just two weeks ago. And stopped off in Balto. to see Dr. Baer. He said there was an improvement in my foot though it had been very slow. But for me to fight on and he was sure I would win out in time. So we both feel incouraged. I can walk much better than when you seen me. We have just left the Hotel and taken A suite here. We have A pretty living room, furnished in wicker with pretty colors. A wicker table with plate glass top so we can make coffee. Tea. Toast. and even boil eggs if we like. A french door opens on A private varanda with pretty flowers. It faces the East. read more...

MGM STARS: JOAN CRAWFORD, GRETA GARBO, NORMA SHEARER, JACKIE COOGAN, LON CHANEY, HARRY CAREY, SR., POLLY MORAN, AILEEN PRINGLE, EDMUND GOULDING, THELMA HILL, KARL DANE, SALLY O'NEIL, BILL HAINES, SIDNEY FRANKLIN, DOLORES DEL RIO, BERT WOODRUFF, AVONNE TAYLOR, LOUISE LORRAINE, DOROTHY SEBASTIAN, REGINALD BARKER, CONRAD NAGEL, GEORGE HILL, LEW CODY, 'SNORPY' HILL, FRED NIBLO, TIM MCCOY, EILEEN PERCY Photo of a large crowd taken outside at a 1927 MGM convention, signed by 27 MGM stars, including Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, Norma Shearer, Jackie Coogan and Lon Chaney, Sr. Photograph signed "Aileen Pringle", "Thelma Hill", "Edmund Goulding", "Karl Dane", "Sally Oneil", "Bill Haines", "Best Wishes Sidney Franklin", "Dolores Del Rio", "Bert Woodruff", "Avonne Taylor", "Greta Garbo -", "Joan Crawford", "Louise Lorraine", "Lon Chaney", "Norma Shearer", "Dorothy Sebastian", "Jackie Coogan", "Reginald Barker", "Harry Carey, Sr. 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...

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...

WILLIAM F. "BUFFALO BILL" CODY His autograph letter, signed as Cousin Will, asking to be sent "some more headache powders" to relieve the headache caused by his financial woes Autograph Letter signed: "Cousin Will", 1 page, 8x10. New Rochelle, N.Y., no date. To "Dear Frank and Nellie". In full [spelling errors in original]: "I've had a lot of hard upset. Twice I've had moneyed men who were ready to put up a $150,000 to back me with a new show. And that man Tammen has scared them out by telling them he had a contract for my services for 1916 which he hasent. But he still thinks if I cant get out with a show I come back and make more money for him, which will never do. However, I haven't given up. But will stay here until know what I can do. The men are still working at the mines. Say, please send me some more headache powders. This nervous strain makes my head ache. I am living here at Rochelle with my nephew and neice. Its only 45 minutes from New York. Love ever." William Frederick CODY (1846-1917) earned the name "BUFFALO BILL" for killing thousands of buffalo as a hired hunter in 1867 and 1868. Cody had begun his wild west career herding cattle at age nine. read more...

W. C. FIELDS Handwritten letter to his mistress Carlotta Monti, signed as "The Great Man". Monti is not spared Fields' caustic wit: "You say your voice has improved ... Thank Christ you never took up the cornet." Autograph Letter signed: "The Great Man", 2 pages (integral leaf), 8½x11. No place, 1939 January 11. To "Dear Carlotta". In full: "You say your voice has improved, but if you cannot commercialize on it, it will do you very little good, and cause others who have to listen to it quite a bit of business. Thank Christ you never took up the cornet. I will ask mickey mouse or pals to meet you at the station with station wagon. So look for either upon your arrival. [next 3 sentences written in cramped script in margin.] I will call you up at 8th St. Don't be fretting about your birthday. You know money is very good and I hate to hear anyone mention it. I will be out of town as the painters come in Monday. We will be most anxious to see you and have you tell us about London, Berlin, Paris, Moscow, etc. Carlo-Ta-Carlo-Ta". W.C. Fields (1879-1946) began entertaining as an amusement park juggler at the age of fourteen. read more...