PAUL "POPS" WHITEMAN - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH CIRCA 1943 - HFSID 67422

PAUL WHITEMAN
A photograph of the "King of Jazz" christening the George Gershwin
Photograph inscribed and signed: "For/Jack Adams/Gratefully/Paul Whiteman". B/w, 9¾x7½. Pictured on Calship's 174th U.S.M.C. Liberty Ship. Ink note on verso (unknown hand): "April 22, 1943". Liberty ships, an EC2 typed designed for "Emergency" construction by the U.S. Maritime Commission during WWII, were named after prominent Americans (although President Franklin D. Roosevelt had his own name for them - "ugly ducklings"). The ship pictured is the George Gershwin (hull #1641), which was built by the California Shipbuilding Corp., Terminal Island. Whiteman is pictured preparing to christen the vessel; lyricist Ira Gershwin, George Gershwin's brother, is pictured second from left. Bandleader Paul Whiteman (1890-1967) led a U.S. Navy band before forming his own group in San Francisco. In 1920, a year after he began recording, Whiteman had his first hit with "Whispering". In 1924, he introduced George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue", which was specially arranged for Whiteman's 35-piece orchestra. Known as "The King of Jazz", Whiteman starred in a film of the same name in 1930. The film featured one of his newest discoveries, singer Bing Crosby, one of the many crooners who got their start with Whiteman's orchestra. Whiteman and his orchestra also appeared in Strike Up The Band (1940), Rhapsody in Blue (1945) and The Fabulous Dorseys (1947). From 1949-1952, he hosted The Paul Whiteman Goodyear Revue. Slightly creased and soiled. Otherwise, fine condition.