MACK "THE KING OF COMEDY" SENNETT - INSCRIBED BOOK PAGE SIGNED CO-SIGNED BY: CAMERON SHIPP - HFSID 278966

MACK SENNETT and CAMERON SHIPP
First edition copy of Sennett's 1954 biography King of Comedy, which is signed with "Best wishes" byhim and co-signed by its author and publicist on the flyleaf in blue ink
Inscribed Book Page signed: "'To' Billie Carlson/ Best wishes/ Mack Sennett/ Keep Laughing" and "Cameron Shipp" both in blue ink on fly leaf, 284p with 16p of b/w photos, 5½x8¼x1. Copy of King of Comedy, by Mack Sennett "As Told to Cameron Shipp". Published by Doubleday & Company in Garden City. ©1954 Mack Sennett. First Edition. Hardcover. MACK SENNETT (1880-1960), popularly known as the "Father of Slapstick Comedy", was the creator of the Keystone Kops. Sennett directed or produced over 1000 comedy shorts between 1909 and 1933. Sennett's films usually featured bathing beauties, custard pies, and the Keystone Kops. The Kops (sometimes spelled Cops) invented the hilarious archetype of the bumbling police force that proved their incompetence in nearly every episode. The actors who portrayed the officers changed with every short, although some comedians such as Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle and Al St. John worked with Sennett many times. Many famous comedians of the time period appeared as Keystone Kops, including Ford Sterling, Del Lord (director of many Three Stooges films), and Charlie Chaplin. His 1914 film Tillie's Punctured Romance was the first American feature-length comedy. It featured Chaplin as well as Mabel Normand. CAMERON SHIPP was apublicist who also wrote autobiographies for Lionel Barrymore and Billie Burke. He appeared on a 1954 episode of This Is Your Life that showcased Sennett. Lightly toned. Cover is lightly stained. Fabric covering on front cover is torn at top edge and near bottom edge in hinge. Cover has rounded edges. Otherwise, fine condition.