WALLACE "WALLY" FORD - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED CO-SIGNED BY: JACK ARNOLD, DAVID BURNS - HFSID 31749

JACK ARNOLD, CO-SIGNED BY: DAVY BURNS, WALLY FORD
Sheet of stationery from the Savoy Hotel London signed by B-movie director Arnold, B-movie actor Ford and Tony winner Burns
Autograph letter signed "Davy Burns", "Jack Arnold" and "Wally Ford". With pencil notation at top edge in unknown hand. 1 page, 6x7½, on stationery from the Savoy Hotel London. Addressed to "Lou" by Burns and "Louis" by Ford. Letter from Burns in full: "Dear Lou - Just a couple of bums from 'Three Men on a Horse'. Hope you're OK. Yo' pals." Letter from Ford in full: "Hi Louis! this [sic] is what pictures did for me. WOW! Good health." Postscript by Ford: "P. S. Holtz is here in the brocolli [sic]".ARNOLD (1916-1992, born in New Haven, Connecticut) was an Oscar-nominated film director who will probably be best remembered for directing and writing some of the most well-known and beloved sci-fi and horror B-movies of all time. He started out in short subjects after serving in the United States Army during World War II, earning an Oscar nomination for With These Hands (1950), before moving up to features in 1953. He quickly struck gold with It Came from Outer Space (1953) and The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), two of the most successful 3D movies of all time, and The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957). Arnold was also proficient with comedy, directing the British satire The Mouse That Roared (1959), starring Peter Sellers, and more mindless fare like Gilligan's Island (1964-1965). Mystery Science Theatre 3000 fans may know Arnold as the director of This Island Earth (1955), which Mike and the 'bots tore apart in the 1996 feature film adaptation of MST3K. BURNS (1901-1971, born in New York City) was a Tony and Emmy-award winning actor. Burns appeared over 20 times on Broadway between 1923 and 1971, with roles in hits like The Music Man (1957-1961, 1,375 performances), Hello, Dolly! (1964-1970, 2,844 performances) and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1962-1964, 964 performances). Burns captured Tony Awards for his roles as Mayor Shinn in The Music Man and Senex in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. He was also a well-known and reliable supporting player with over 40 movies and TV shows to his credit, including an Emmy win for his role as Mr. Solomon on ITV Saturday Night Theatre (1971), his second-to-last credit. FORD (1898-1966, born in Bolton, Lancashire, England) was an English actor with almost 160 movies and TV shows to his credit between 1930 and 1965. Ford made his show biz premiere in vaudeville and music halls at 11; he made his Broadway debut a decade later as Higgins in The Poppy God (1921). He debuted on the silver screen in 1930 and put bread on the table with wisecracking lead roles in B-movies, with an occasional foray into critical approval (The Informer, 1935, and Shadow of a Doubt, 1943). He also appeared on Broadway frequently during the 1920s, and he created the part of George, the friend of slow-witted Lennie, in the Broadway adaptation of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men (1937-1938 performing 207 times) Later in his career, he found work in middle-aged character roles, playing wistful drunks and wise good-for-nothings, ending his career with a powerful performance as Ole Pa in A Patch of Blue. Ford was orphaned while still a baby; his search for his parents in the 1930s drew worldwide attention and headlines. B-movie fans may recognize Ford from his leading role as Phroso in Tom Browning's legendary film Freaks (1932). Lightly toned, creased and rippled. Paper clip impression and rust stain in upper left corner. Page has been torn neatly from pad on left edge. Folded once and unfolded. Otherwise in fine condition.