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. Interestingly, the contract never mentions The Stratton Story.

The first black actress to win an Academy Award is shown standing in a living room and wearing a fur coat in this sepia photograph, signed in blue felt tip. Inscribed Photograph Signed: "Best Wishes/Always To/Miriam Hutchinson/From/Hattie McDaniel/9-3-46" in blue felt tip. Sepia, 8x10. Hattie McDaniel (1895-1952) was the first Black actress to win an Academy Award, capturing the Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 1939 for her role of Mammy in Gone With the Wind. McDaniel had a strong film resume even before Gone With the Wind, especially in light of the limited opportunities for black actors in that era, beginning with small roles in films like Mae West's I'm No Angel (1934) and Shirley Temple's The Little Colonel (1935), working up to major roles in Saratoga (1937) and The Shopworn Angel (1938). She was also the first Black woman to sing on American radio, and after many performances on such radio programs as Amos 'n Andy and the Eddie Cantor Show, she starred in the title role of Beulah on the radio. Because of other commitments, she appeared in only six 1952 episodes of the television version, which ran from 1950-1953. Autographs of McDaniel are scarce and desirable. Minor crease at lower right background. Lightly soiled at right background, edges slightly worn.

The Chief Projectionist's personal copy of the complete original movie script, signed by 32 other members of the cast and crew, presented in a custom 34½ x 37¼ display box. Original Movie Script signed. Typed on the cover at the upper left corner: "FOR USE OF CHIEF PROJECTIONIST", signed: "George Cukor" (Director), "David O. Selznick" (Producer), "W.C. Fields" (Micawber), "Lionel Barrymore" (Dan Peggotty), "Freddie Bartholomew" (Copperfield as a boy), "Frank Lawton" (Copperfield as a man), "Basil Rathbone" (Mr. Murdstone), "Maureen O'Sullivan" (Dora), "Edna May Oliver" (Aunt Betsey), "Roland Young" (Uriah Heep), "Fay Chaldecott/Little Emily" (Little Emily as a child), "Madge Evans" (Agnes), "Elizabeth Allen/(Mrs. Copperfield)", "Marilyn Knowlden/(Little Agnes)" (Agnes as a child), "Harry Beresford/Dr. Chillip", "Una O'Connor" (Mrs.

He signs a contract with Disney Productions and inscribes a photo of himself as Zorro's comic foil. Collection of two items: 1) Document signed: "Henry Calvin", 8¼x11. Burbank, California, 1958 July 23. On letterhead of Walt Disney Productions, Calvin signs his acceptance of a documentary letter from Disney Productions loaning him a copy of the Zorro episode "Garcia Stands Accused" for a period of five years and in exchange for $10. Calvin had requested permanent possession of a print of the episode, but Disney policies forbade that. Calvin promises not to make commercial use of the print. Lightly toned. Mailing folds. Staple holes in upper left corner. Ink note (unknown hand) on verso shows through faintly in upper right corner. Otherwise, fine condition. 2) Photograph inscribed and signed: "11-15-73/Billie, Dearest!/This is simply to/say 'Happy Birthday or and/to let you know/I LOVE YOU!!/Always/Henry". B/w, 8x10. Shown as Sergeant Garcia in a publicity photo. Captioned in lower margin. Light corner creases. Otherwise, fine condition. Calvin (1918-1975), who appeared in many Disney projects, was best known as Sergeant Garcia on Zorro, televised on ABC from 1957-1959.

Early portrait signed by the legendary vaudeville performer and American comedian. Photograph signed: "W. C. Fields" B/w, 4½x6½. 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. His Broadway debut in The Ham Tree (1905) was followed by appearances in the Ziegfeld Follies (1915-1921) and in George White's Scandals (1922). Fields starred in Poppy on Broadway (1923) and the next year made his first film, Janice Meredith (1924). Fields' style, verbal rather than visual, and his irascible con-man philosophy made him a favorite, especially with the advent of sound, where his raspy voice provided the final touch to his comedy. He starred in movies including My Little Chickadee (1940) and Never Give a Sucker an Even Break (1941). Nobody contributed more wry quotations ("Anyone who hates children and animals can't be all bad.") to American folklore. Signature in poor contrast but legible. Light silvering. Surface creases. Corners worn and chipped. Ink stamp on verso. Multiple pencil marks (unknown hand) on verso. Finger print impressions at top right. Otherwise, fine condition.

B/w movie still from one of Charlie Chapin's later film, with Chaplin and other old man sitting at a tea table and looking startled (and with Chaplin tossing the sugar cubes in the air, of course) Photograph signed "Chas Chaplin". B/w, 9¾x8. The first great screen comedian, and arguably the best of all time, Chaplin (1889-1977, born Charles Spencer Chaplin in London, United Kingdom) was also a talented director and screenwriter. In the silent era, his many outstanding films included Tillie's Punctured Romance (1914), The Kid (1921), Gold Rush (1925) and City Lights (1931). Chaplin was less consistently successful in the talking era, the great strength of his character the Little Tramp having been physical comedy, but his later noteworthy films included Modern Times (1936), The Great Dictator (1940) and Limelight (1952). Lightly toned, creased and bowed. Errors in negative were reproduced in photo. Light scratches on image (not visible head-on). Otherwise in fine condition.

Four legendary actors draw caricatures of themselves and sign them in ink, completing this incredible framed collection Comprises: 1) Self-caricature signed: "Ernest Borgnine" 7½x6½ visible. Lightly toned. Otherwise, fine condition. 2) Self-caricature signed: "John Gielgud/ 1985". 2¾x4½. Fine condition. 3) Self-caricature signed: "Good Wishes/ Alec Guinness/ 1981". 5½x8. Fine condition. 4) Self-caricature signed: "Ch". 5¼x8. Fine condition. These four actors - two Brits, two Americans - dominated the screen and stage on both sides of the Atlantic for decades. JOHN GIELGUD (1904-2000) was born a generation before the other three. He performed on Broadway and London stages for many years, eventually becoming an accomplished theatre director as well. He was the fourth person to win at least one individual Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award. ALEC GUINNESS (1914-2000), much like Gielgud, earned acclaim on the stage and transitioned to film and television right after WWII. One of his most famous screen roles is that of Obi-Wan Kenobi in the first trilogy of Star Wars films.

Inscribed and signed photo of the film pioneering showing off photographs of the Lumière brothers and some early pieces of movie equipment. Photograph inscribed and signed: "To Mr. Marx Reimers/From/Francis Doublier/1894./Motion Picture Pioneer/April 20th 1941/Fort Lee, N.J." B/w, 7¼ x 9½. Doublier, who is surrounded by relics from the early days of motion pictures, has also initialed: "F.D." under a description of several pieces of equipment. In full: "Camera, printer,/projector used/in 1895 to 1900". He has also identified two photographs displayed around him: "Louis Lumière" and "Auguste and Louis Lumière". FRANCIS DOUBLIER (1878-1948), the first to see moving pictures projected onto a wall, signed and dated this photograph while Vice President of Major Film Laboratories, Inc. of New York. His photographic career began in 1894, when the 16-year-old became associated with brothers AUGUSTE MARIE NICOLAS LUMIÈRE (1862-1954) and LOUIS JEAN LUMIÈRE (1864-1948) and their experimentation with motion picture photography.

Garbo filled out and signed this application for a title search on a property in Beverly Hills (1944). Partly Printed DS: "Greta Garbo". 1 page, 8½ x 11. No place, 1944 September 8. Title Insurance Application for use by the Title Company in searching the records in connection with the purchase of property at 603 N. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, California. She has filled in her name, birthplace, address, and occupation. In 1954, Garbo was awarded a Special Academy Award "for her unforgettable screen performances" in films such as Anna Christie, Anna Karenina, Camille and Ninotchka. After four Oscar nominations, she retired in 1941 at the age of 36. A millionaire many times over, Garbo had no need to act, nor any desire to conduct an active social life. Even after her death in 1990, the legend of Garbo was undiminished. To her devotees, she was not so much film legend as film goddess. Lightly creased. Fine condition. Anything signed by the reclusive Garbo is rarely encountered. Framed to an overall size of 32 x 18½.

10¼x13 rare, stunning image of the ill-fated star, signed "for the lovely hair", from the estate of Hollywood hairdresser Wally Wallace! Exceptional item from Farmer, who is rare in any format! Photograph signed: "For the lovely hair/Frances F.". B/w, 10¼x13. FRANCES FARMER (1913-1970) had a reputation as a talented, but demanding and rebellious, actress who battled the studios, alcohol and other addictions and mental illness. At the time of the release of her film Son of Fury, costarring Tyrone Power, in 1942, the 29-year-old actress was arrested and convicted of drunk driving. Inundated with negative publicity, she traveled to Mexico. However, by leaving the U.S., Farmer was found in violation of her probation. Put on trial and deemed mentally ill, Farmer was committed to a mental institution where she underwent shock treatments, hydrotherapy baths and reportedly received a trans-orbital lobotomy. Over the next few years, her physical and mental health deteriorated; she developed a debilitating dependency on alcohol and suffered from a series of nervous breakdowns. Her best films included Come and Get It (1936) and Son of Fury (1942). A film about her life, Frances, starring Jessica Lang, was released in 1982.

George Burns' smoking jacket, size Medium, style 0783. Red and black silk with black pinstriped belt. Label, 2¾ inches by ¾ inches, of fashion designer Fernando Sanchez sewn in. George Burns  was a well-known cigar smoker. In 1994, Arthur Marx, son of Groucho, interviewed Burns for "Cigar Aficionado Magazine" and asked him why he started smoking cigars. Burns' answer: "I smoked them because I wanted people to think I was doing well. When they saw me walking down the street smoking a cigar, they'd say, 'hey, that 14-year-old kid must be going places.' Of course, it's also a good prop on the stage. That's why so many performers, including your father, use them. When you can't think of what you are supposed to say next, you take a puff on your cigar until you do think of your next line…If I'd taken my doctor's advice and quit smoking when he advised me to, I wouldn't have lived to go to his funeral." Burns died in 1996 at age 100. Fine condition.

Original self-caricatures drawn by these legendary comedians. Collection comprised of 7 pieces of signed original artwork that includes: 1.) Original Artwork signed “George/Jessel”. 5x7. Fine condition. George Jessel (1898-1981, born in New York City), who became known as the "Toastmaster General of the United States" for his frequent role as Master of Ceremonies at entertainment and political gatherings, appeared in vaudeville (he was a partner of Eddie Cantor at age 11) and on Broadway before having a radio show, That's My Kid. 2.) Original Artwork signed “M. Kahn”. 5½ x 9. 2 horizontal creases, otherwise fine condition. Operatically trained, Madeline Kahn (1942-1999) achieved her greatest successes in manic comedy roles, earning Best Supporting Actress nominations for Paper Moon (1973) and Blazing Saddles (1974). She garnered a Golden Globe nomination for her short-lived TV sitcom, Oh, Madeline! (1983) and won a Tony for her performance in The Sisters Rosenzweig (1992). 3.) Original Artwork signed “BETTE”. 5¼ x 8¼. Fine condition. Midler is a Grammy and Emmy Award-winning singer, and stage and film actress known for her vibrant personality on and offstage.