MAURICE MOSCOVITCH - DOCUMENT SIGNED 02/04/1933 - HFSID 281539

MAURICE MOSCOVITCH
Endorsement for membership in Hollywood's Masquers Club, signed in 1933
Document signed: "Maurice Moscovitch" in black ink. 2 pages, 7¼x5½, 1 sheet, front and verso. Feb. 4, 1933. Headed: "Endorsement of Applicant for Membership". This document was signed to endorse someone for a "3 Mo. Membership" in Hollywood's Masquers Club. The Masquers Club was a Hollywood actors club that was founded in 1925. Membership was by invitation only, but members could sponsor outsiders for membership. The club is especially important in Hollywood because the Screen Actors Guild was conceived in its clubhouse at 1765 Sycamore St. in 1932 by members Claude King, Ivan Simpson and Boris Karloff. The club is still active, although its clubhouse was demolished in 1985. Maurice Moscovitch (1871-1940), born Morris Maaskov, was a veteran of Yiddish theatre in New York and Shakespearean roles in London before entering Hollywood films in 1936. The versatile character actor appeared in such films as Suez (1937), Everything Happens at Night (1938) and Chaplin's The Great Dictator (1940). He was the father of actor Noel Madison. Saul Goodman (1919-2003), a New York business man by day, pursued his love of film and theatre in the evening, making friends with many celebrities. While other autograph seekers offered album leaves, Goodman presented stars with snazzy photographs, a rarity then, to sign in fountain pen. Lightly toned and creased. Light nicks at top and bottom edges. Staple holes top margin at left corner. Rounded corners. Folded in half and unfolded. Pencil note (unknown hand) in upper left corner. Otherwise, fine condition.