MOIRA SHEARER - AUTOGRAPHED INSCRIBED PHOTOGRAPH CIRCA 1954 - HFSID 289467

MOIRA SHEARER
Vintage photo in striped sweater, inscribed in person to collector Saul Goodman
Photograph inscribed and signed: "Saul -/Moira Shearer". B/w, 8x10. Collector's ink note on verso dates signature: October 6, 1954. Scottish-born redheaded ballerina Moira Shearer (1926-2006), born Moira King, shot to international stardom for her starring role in The Red Shoes (1948), a memorable film about ballet. Although she would later say that The Red Shoes was very different from the world of ballet that she knew, Shearer was greeted enthusiastically upon her U.S. debut due to the popularity of the film. She later appeared in The Tales of Hoffman (1951), The Story of Three Loves (1953), The Man Who Loved Redheads (1955), Black Tights (1960), Peeping Tom (1960) and the made-for-TV movie, A Simple Man (1987). Shearer, who had debuted with the Mona Inglesby's Ballet International in 1941, then joined Sadler's Wells Ballet, which was renamed the Royal Ballet in 1956. She toured the U.S. in 1949 and from 1950-1951 with the company, whose other stars included Margot Fonteyn. Shearer danced all the classic roles with the company until 1952, including The Sleeping Beauty at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden in 1946. Also the author of two books and a column for "The Daily Telegraph", from 1977-1982 Shearer lectured on ballet in the U.S. She was married to writer and broadcaster Ludovic Kennedy from 1950 until her death. 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. Light surface scratches (not visible head on). Pencil note (unknown hand) on verso. Otherwise, fine condition.