Collection of 88 original ink caricatures of actors, actresses, and other celebrities, done by well-known Brown Derby artists Vitch, Zel, Lane, and Poncho, each on 11 x 14 off-white sheets, all of which hung at the famous Hollywood landmark. All the portraits are signed by their subject, with almost all inscribed to the restaurant or its owner Bob Cobb. Sketches include: John Barrymore (unsigned), Jerry Colonna, Marion Davies, Bob Feller, Academy Award-winning director Frank Borzage, Gene Raymond, Louella Parsons, Academy Award winner Leo Forbstein, Gene Autry, Hoot Gibson, Hedda Hopper, Princess Alexandra Kropotkin, Leslie Arliss, Gene Autry, Kenny Baker, Dr. Philip Bakerman, Sy Bartlet, John Barrymore, Frank Borzage, Harry Joe Brown, Richard Carle, John Carradine, Walter Catlett, Sidney Clark, Jerry Colonna, Con Conrad, Ely Culbertson, Sandy Cumming, Dante, R. Anderson Dardine, Marion Davies, Gloria Dickson, Walter Doninger, Paul Engbaum, Charles Farrell, Gordon Fawcett, Bob Feller, Leo F. Forbstein, Rudy Freed, Tom Gallery, Hoot Gibson, L. Wolfe Gilbert, Dr. E. B. Glass, Hugh Herbert, Hedda Hopper, ‘Hugh’, Kathryn Jane, Allen Jenkins, Wolfe Kaufman, K. Keller, Scarlett Knight, Alexandra Kropotkin, Priscilla Lane, George J. Lewis, Jeffrey Lynn, Jane Marsh, Ilona massey, Ross Mattman, Wilson Mizner, Jay Moidel, Edmund Morris, Larry Neid, Julie Nostrand, Julietta Novis, Louella Parsons, Dr. Barry Plank, Kay Proctor, Roger Pryor, Don Quinn, Billie Raphael, Gene Raymond, ‘Rosey’, Mel Shauer, Count Smith, Hanley Stafford, Joe Stauffer, Katharine Stevens, Bill Thompson, Barry Trivers, Bill Ulman, Sidney Unger, Jane Wagner, Nick Wall, Nate Watt, Paul Weston, Paul Whiteman, June Wilkins, Helen Wood, and Susanne Young. Portraits are housed in two presentation portfolios. Expected mild uniform toning from display and some dampstaining to edges of some of the sheets, slightly affecting a few of the signatures, otherwise fine condition.
Opened in 1929 by Bob Cobb, the Hollywood Brown Derby quickly became the place to see and be seen. The restuarant’s signature dish, the Cobb Salad, was reportedly created from the day’s leftovers for Cobb, who hadn’t eaten all day. Shortly after its opening, the Derby’s first artist, ‘Vitch,’ offered to sketch the patrons in exchange for a bowl of soup. Sketches soon covered the walls, including those done by longtime artist Jack Lane, with celebrities vying for a prestigious spot on the restaurant’s ‘Wall of Fame.’ An impressive collection capturing the feel of ‘old-time’ Hollywood. RR Auction COA.
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