DICK CLARK - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 03/26/1999 - HFSID 270173

DICK CLARK
He sends a letter to comedienne and actress Phyllis Diller
Autograph Letter Signed: "Dick", 1 page, 5½x8½. Burbank, California, 1999 March 26. On sheet imprinted with his name to comedienne and actress Phyllis Diller. Begins: "Dear Phyllis". In full: "Kari and I called upon hearing your news. Not being able to 'pierce you (sic, your) veil of security' - we were content to pray for your well being and send our love sort of by remote control! We both hope you are on your way to recovery. Please know we're thinking of you - Much love -". With original metered, typed mailing envelope. Diller, who had suffered a mild heart attack on February 10, 1999, had a pacemaker implanted on March 1. Clark would suffer his own health problems several years later; he was hospitalized after suffering a mild stroke on December 8, 2004. Clark had married his third wife, the former Kari Wigton, on July 7, 1977 (7-7-77) at 7:00 p.m. Richard Wagstaff "Dick" Clark (1929-2012) began his career in broadcasting as a radio disc jockey on WFIL in 1952, then took over the local Bandstand program (1956-1957), which went on national TV as American Bandstand in 1957. Clark hosted the show for 30 years (1957-1987), and, especially in the early years, exerted a great influence on the styles and musical tastes of young Americans. At the same time, Clark's strict dress code and preference for milder music helped rock music gain acceptance by parents. Clark has also hosted a number of TV specials, including his annual Rockin' New Year's Eve shows (which he missed for the first time in 32 years after he suffered a minor stroke in late 2004) and game shows, and has produced a long list of TV programs and specials. He has also promoted the American Music Awards as an alternative to the Grammys.Comedienne PHYLLIS DILLER (1917-2012), known for her outrageous appearance, zany outfits, distinctive laugh and a stand-up act that featured frequent references to her fictional husband, "Fang", and zingers about her sex appeal and numerous plastic surgeries, got her big break in March 1955 (at age 37), when she debuted at San Francisco's Purple Onion club. A subsequent appearance on The Tonight Show hosted by Jack Paar launched her national career, which got a big boost after Bob Hope saw Diller in a Washington, D.C. club. A favorite of the comedian, Diller would appear in three of Hope's films and 23 of his TV specials. Diller, who recorded her first comedy record album in 1959, took her groundbreaking "funny hausfrau" act to nightclubs and television variety shows and specials and she also appeared on the big screen. Her feature film credits include Splendor in the Grass (1961), The Fat Spy (1966), Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number! (1966), The Sunshine Boys (1975) and The Silence of the Hams (1994), and she provided the voice of the Queen in A Bug's Life (1998). By 2000, the comedienne, who had trained as a concert pianist before her marriage (1939-1965) to Sherwood Anderson Diller, had appeared as a piano soloist with 100 symphony orchestras across the U.S. Despite retiring from nightclub/stage tours in May 2002 at the age of 84, Diller continued to make films (Motorcross Kids, 2004; Forget About It, 2005) and occasionally appear on TV programs, including two episodes of 7th Heaven (2002, 2003) and a guest shot on The Wayne Brady Show (2004). Slightly creased with fold, not at signature. Irregular lower edge. Fine condition.