WILLIAM "HOPPY" BOYD - AUTOGRAPHED INSCRIBED PHOTOGRAPH - HFSID 27623

WILLIAM BOYD
Sepia, 10½x13 vintage photograph of the western star shown out of character in a shirt and tie, from the chest up and facing to the left
Inscribed photograph signed: "To My Friend Mel/From/Bill Boyd". Sepia 10½x13. Mounted to a board of similar size. William Boyd (1895-1972) first starred as Hopalong Cassidy, a western hero who dressed in black and rode a white horse ("Topper"), in 66 features filmed between 1935 and 1948. He personally acquired the television rights to the films and edited the features into 30 and 60-minute segments. The series proved so popular that Boyd filmed an additional 52 episodes for television in 1951-1952. Hopalong Cassidy was televised on NBC from 1949-1951 and was syndicated from 1952-1954. In 1952, the year he signed this document, Boyd was also also seen in a cameo as "Hoppy" in The Greatest Show on Earth (1952), which was directed by Cecil B. DeMille, who had launched Boyd's career as a matinee idol when he cast Boyd as the romantic lead in The Volga Boatman (1926). In 1956, Boyd would be DeMille's first choice to play Moses in The Ten Commandments, but Boyd turned down the role, thinking that his association with "Hoppy" would hurt the film. Creased and worn. Some tears at creases which were repaired by photo being mounted but 2, ½-inch areas missing at blank edges. Main portion of photograph has separated from backing, leaving only upper right corner affixed. 1 repaired tear nearly but does not touch the "B" in Bill.