JESSE WHITE - COLLECTION WITH DANNY THOMAS, GEORGE JESSEL, MARY WICKES, NIPSEY RUSSELL, MADELINE KAHN, BETTE MIDLER - HFSID 350356

GEORGE JESSEL, MADELINE KAHN, BETTE MIDLER, NIPSEY RUSSELL, DANNY THOMAS, JESSE WHITE and MARY WICKES
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. Her recordings include The Divine Miss M (1972) and Broken Blossom (1977). Her films include The Rose (1979), Ruthless People (1986), Beaches (1988), and as Jacqueline Susann in the critical and box office disappointment Isn't She Great (2000). She also appeared in Broadway's Fiddler on the Roof (1966-69). Bette also had a short-lived TV sitcom, Bette (2000-2001).

4.) Original Artwork signed “Best, / Nipsey”. 5x7. 2 horizontal creases, otherwise fine condition. Nipsey Russell (1918-2005) was a comedian and actor known for presenting funny poems during his appearances on variety and game shows. Russell got his TV start on music shows like Harlem Swings (1950), Rhythm and Blues Revue and Rock 'n' Roll Revue (both 1955) before landing his first big acting roll as Officer Anderson on Car 54, Where Are You?

5.) Original Artwork signed “D.T. / By / D.T.”. 5x7. Fine condition. Danny Thomas (1912-1991) debuted onscreen in 1947 in The Unfinished Dance, beginning a brief film career in corny leads or supporting comic roles. He was much more successful on TV, starring in the long-running sitcom Make Room for Daddy (later re-named The Danny Thomas Show).  He founded the St. Jude's Research Hospital, which is dedicated to finding cures for catastrophic children's diseases.

6.) Original Artwork signed “Jesse / White”. 7¾ x 10. Fine condition. Jesse White (1919-1997) appeared in nightclubs before moving to the Broadway stage in 1942. He was a hit as a sanitarium attendant in Harvey (1944), repeating the role in the film (1950). A character actor whose film roles occasionally got prominent billing (Bedtime for Bonzo, 1951; The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond, 1960), White was most familiar on TV. He was a cast regular on two simultaneous sitcoms of the 1950s, Make Room for Daddy and Private Secretary.

7.) Original Artwork signed “Mary Wickes”. 5½ x 8½. 2 horizontal creases, otherwise fine condition. Mary Wickes (1910-1995) was a regular on ten weekly television series from 1953 to 1985. She is most familiar to modern moviegoers as Sister Mary Lazarus in both Sister Act comedies (1992 and 1993). She was also the voice of one of the gargoyles in Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Framed to an overall size of 39½ x 28¾. Minor chipping at frame corners.