ROSCOE "FATTY" ARBUCKLE - APPLICATION SIGNED 05/19/1928 - HFSID 157614

ROSCOE "FATTY" ARBUCKLE
The silent film star signs a document for membership in The Masquers Hollywood
Partly Printed Document Signed: "Roscoe Arbuckle" as Sponsor, 1p, 7½x5½. Hollywood, California, 1928 May 17. Headed: "Application for Membership". Logo of "The Masquers/Hollywood" at upper left. Arbuckle has recommended Jim Tully, who lists his profession as a "Writer", for membership in the organization, a club for actors that was founded in May 1925. Also signed by two other sponsors, including Earle A. Foxe, who had suggested the name for the club. Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle (1887-1933) quickly rose to stardom in a series of short silent film comedies with such costars as Mabel Normand, Charlie Chaplin and Chester Conkling. From 1916, he wrote and directed many of his own films as well as some of the other stars of comedy. In 1921, at the peak of success after signing a huge contract with Paramount Pictures, Arbuckle's career was ruined by a sexual assault scandal. After three trials, two hung juries, and an acquittal, Arbuckle was found innocent but public opinion forced Arbuckle's retirement from the screen. He made a brief comeback under the alias William Goodrich (he signed a six-film contract with Warner Bros. in 1932 and a feature film contract in 1933), he passed away.  Irish-American writer Jim Tully (1886-1947) was a novelist, journalist, lecturer and Hollywood columnist (1920s and 1930s). From 1924-1941, he wrote columns on the Hollywood stars of the day, writing his impressions of them in a blunt style that made him one of the most feared, but sought after columnists in Hollywood (Tully's articles on Hollywood were widely read). Tully, who was a publicist for Charlie Chaplin for 18 months, wrote a biography on Chaplin, who disliked it and halted its publication. Ink smudged at the "2" of 1928. Light diagonal crease at lower right margin. Ink and pencil notes (unknown hand) and date stamps at lower margin. Otherwise, fine condition.