Maurice Zolotow Autographs, Memorabilia & Collectibles

Maurice Zolotow (1913-1991) was among the first to write realistic Hollywood biographies, including the only biography of Marilyn Monroe published in her lifetime. (No fewer than 23 subsequent chroniclers of Monroe have used references from Zolotow's book.) Other biographies included John Wayne, Billy Wilder, and Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne. He wrote shorter profiles of many other celebrities, including Grace Kelly, for Life, Collier's and other journals. His youthful admiration of Harry Houdini inspired his novel The Great Balsamo. Zolotow who wrote the first national review of Duke Ellington, also wrote on food and drink for Playboy, and published a book about his days at the racetrack.