KATE SMITH - AUTOGRAPH NOTE SIGNED CO-SIGNED BY: TONY CANZONERI, EZRA STONE - HFSID 276797

KATE SMITH CO-SIGNED BY: TONY CANZONERI and EZRA STONE
All three pen notes on this album leaf to famed comedian Red Skelton
Autograph Note Signed: "To/Mr. Skelton/With sincere wishes/Kate Smith", "To Red/with best wishes/from/Tony Canzoneri" and "To Red/Who everybody/loves even if he/is a Wm Morris/account./Admiringly,/Ezra/Stone/'Henry'", 8½x11 album leaf. Known as the "Songbird of the South," vocalist KATE SMITH (1907-1986) was one of the most popular stars of the pre-WWII era. She is best remembered for her definitive version of the patriotic anthem "God Bless America", which became a hit on no less than three separate occasions, beginning in 1938. A radio, television and recording star for five decades, Smith is also known for the song she co-wrote, "When The Moon Comes Over The Mountain", which became her theme song when The Kate Smith Show debuted on radio in May 1931. In 1950, she became a pioneer in daytime television programming with The Kate Smith Hour, which ran for four years. She was back on TV with The Kate Smith Show in 1960. Actor, producer, director, writer and lecturer EZRA SONE (1917-1994), born Ezra Chaim Feinstone, was best known for his role as adolescent Henry Aldrich, whom he introduced on the stage and radio. He had won the stage role in 1938, and Stone began playing Henry on radio in 1939, being heard as the character for 13 years. By 1941, The Aldrich Family was rated among the Top Ten radio shows, alongside the popular shows of Jack Benny and Bob Hope. A veteran of WWII, Stone played himself, Sergeant Ezra Stone in the 1943 film, This is the Army. Although he was seen in several other films as well as TV shows and made-for-TV movies, Stone found his greatest success "behind the scenes" during the "Golden Age" of television, writing sketches for some of TV funniest comedians, including Danny Thomas and Milton Berle, and Stone, and directing a number of TV sitcoms and Broadway productions. TONY CANZONERI (1908-1959) won five world boxing titles in three different divisions: Featherweight, Lightweight (twice), & Junior Welterweight (twice). He retired in 1939 with a record of 141-24-1, with 44 knockouts, and is enshrined in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Red Skelton (1913-1997), of course, was one of America's best loved radio and TV comedians. Binder holes along left edge. Slightly soiled. Light corner creases. Otherwise, fine condition.