Wonderful collection of 525 vintage one-of-a-kind candid photos of actors and actresses taken between 1955 and 1958; sizes range from roughly 3.5 x 2.5 up to 3.5 x 5, and most are black and white, although there are a smattering of color photos as well. The good-natured subjects are generally posed outside of theaters (occasionally with the collector who took these pictures, a spouse, or an admiring fan), while others are shown emerging from cars, out for a night on the town, or lightly hamming it up for the camera.
The 425 unsigned photos include names such as Ralph Bellamy, Joan Blondell, Dirk Bogarde, Pat Boone, Jeremy Brett, Perry Como, Sean Connery, Joan Crawford (shown signing an autograph), James Darren, Bette Davis, Doris Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Ava Gardner, James Garner, Stewart Granger, Alec Guinness, Katharine Hepburn (on her bike), Lena Horne, Rock Hudson, Tab Hunter, Michael Landon (30 different), Jack Lemmon, Gina Lollobrigida, Anna Magnani, Johnny Mathis (very young), Yves Montand, Kim Novak, Donna Reed, Cliff Robertson (60 different), Maria Schell, Jean Seberg, Robert Stack, Stuart Whitman, and Michael York.
The 100 remaining photos are all signed in-person by the pictured celebrity, many of whom have inscribed them to “Joe.” Names include Richard Basehart, Stephen Boyd, Rossano Brazzi, Jeremy Brett, Rory Calhoun, Joan Collins, Valentina Cortese, Doris Day, Angie Dickinson, Anita Ekberg, Denholm Elliott, James Garner, Hermione Gingold, Laurence Harvey, Jack Lemmon, Donna Reed, Dale Robertson, Barbara Rush, Maria Schell, Alida Valli, Robert Wagner, Esther Williams, and Natalie Wood.
Overall condition is fine, with moderate contrast to some of the signatures against darker backgrounds. An enjoyable romp through Hollywood’s later golden age, with both lesser and brighter stars captured in uniquely fleeting moments.
