By the end of the silent film era, he was often cited as the number one male box-office draw. His career faded rapidly in the early thirties, hastened by an alleged argument with Louis B. Mayer over Haines' refusal to end his affair with his lover, Jimmie Shields. As his film career faded to black, his interior design career boomed, resulting in major work for Jack Warner and the Bloomingdales, and culminating in the refurbishing of the American ambassador's residence in England. Although Haines was open about his sexuality and entertained many of Hollywood's gay luminaries --including George Cukor and Clifton Webb -- his story seems to have been deleted from many histories of the era. Haines and Shields remained a couple for fifty years; Joan Crawford is said to have called them "the happiest married couple in Hollywood." Vintage sepia matte-finish 8 x 10 Hurrell portrait, signed and inscribed in blue ink “Best wishes to Jaroslav Kondeka, William Haines.” In fine condition, with a coule of mild corner bends, faint edge toning. R&R COA.
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