FRED ALLEN - AUTOGRAPH CO-SIGNED BY: GYPSY ROSE LEE - HFSID 159295

FRED ALLEN and GYPSY ROSE LEE
Signature from the comedian, with the burlesque star signing on the verso
Inscribed signature: "For Iris/from/Fred Allen" and, on verso, "Hello!/Gypsy Rose Lee", 6¼x5¼. Comedian FRED ALLEN (1894-1956) is perhaps best known as a radio personality, starring in his long-running Town Hall Tonight (1934-1941), in which he enjoyed deviating from the script for a wry or satiric ad lib, and later on The Fred Allen Show (1945). He frequently ran overtime, compelling the NBC network to cut him off in mid-sentence, and the plug was also pulled whenever Allen's wit became too biting, usually at the expense of the sponsor, a special-interest group or the network itself. Allen, who wrote most of his own material, was famous for his 1936-1937 season "feud" with fellow comedian Jack Benny. The two comic legends, who greatly admired each other's work, capitalize on the "feud" in the 1941 film, Love Thy Neighbor, and also appeared together in 1945's It's In the Bag. Allen, who had made his film debut in 1926 in Corporal Kate, also starred in several other feature films and was a regular panelist (1955-1956) on the television show What's My Line?. GYPSY ROSE LEE (1914-1970), born Rose Louise Hovick, went by the name Louise when she starred with her sister "Baby June" (later to become actress/dancer June Havoc) on the vaudeville circuit. When Louise was 15, her mother, Rose, volunteered her to replace a stripper at the burlesque house where they were working, and Louise, who later adopted the name Gypsy Rose Lee, found instant success with her routine, which was mostly "tease". She retired from burlesque after eight years to pursue a film career, appearing in such films as Belle of the Yukon (1944) and The Trouble With Angels (1966). In 1957, she published her autobiography, Gypsy, which was adapted into the successful Broadway musical and feature film. Ink notes (unknown hand) at upper margin on both sides of sheet. Mounting remnants at blank right margin on Allen's side and blank Left margin on Lee's side. Lee's side slightly soiled. Rounded upper and lower left corners. Otherwise, fine condition.