MARY PICKFORD - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH CIRCA 1961 CO-SIGNED BY: CHARLES "BUDDY" ROGERS - HFSID 131950

MARY PICKFORD and CHARLES "BUDDY" ROGERS
Signed photo of Rogers helping Pickford with her academic gown, the day she received an honorary doctorate from Middlebury College (1961).
Photograph signed: "Mary Pickford", "Buddy Rogers". B/w, 5x7. Pickford shown in academic robe. Ink note (unknown hand) on verso: "This photograph of Mr. and Mrs. Charles 'Buddy' Rogers was taken in June 1961 at the time Middlebury College in Vermont awarded Mary Pickford (Mrs. Rogers) an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humanities." MARY PICKFORD (1893-1979) began working at Biograph Studios in 1909 at $40 a week. By 1912, she was making $500 weekly at Adolph Zukor's Famous Players. Her salary was doubled periodically. In 1916, Pickford signed an astounding contract with Zukor for $10,000 a week plus a $300,000 bonus plus the formation of The Mary Pickford Company (later, The Pickford Corporation), a studio devoted exclusively to the making of her films. She was also to share the profits in Zukor's studio. Pickford was the first superstar of the movies. In 1919, Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, D.W. Griffith and Douglas Fairbanks formed United Artists to distribute their films. In 1920, Pickford and Fairbanks were married. They separated in 1933, which coincided with Pickford retiring from the movies. Pickford and Fairbanks were divorced in January 1936. Later in 1936, she became First Vice President of United Artists and, in 1937, established the Mary Pickford Cosmetics Company. CHARLES "BUDDY" ROGERS (1904-1999) played with a California-based swing band in the 1930s, but was better known for his films. He debuted in the silent film Wings (1927), which won the first-ever Oscar as best picture. That same year the actor who would be known at the peak of his popularity as "America's Boyfriend" was paired with "America's Sweetheart", Mary Pickford, in My Best Girl. In 1937, Rogers became Pickford's third and last husband. In later years he would often act as spokesman for his increasingly reclusive wife. Rogers' other films include Abie's Irish Rose (1928), Young Eagles (1930), Golden Hoofs (1941) and his last starring role, An Innocent Affair (1948). Pinhead-sized spot in center of upper margin. Otherwise, fine condition.