Marvelous archive of material from the estate of Altovise Davis, the third wife of legendary entertainer Sammy Davis, Jr., containing a large assortment of letters, photos, and other personal keepsakes from the couple's 20-year marriage. The collection is highlighted by a brief love note from Davis to his wife, “I love you, Sammy, Jr.,” penned in blue ballpoint on an off-white 6 x 5 sheet, and a group of eight letters addressed to Davis and his wife by a notable celebrity friend, including:
TLS from Jerry Lewis signed “+ xxx, Jerry,” one page, 7.25 x 10.25, personal letterhead, July 15, 1988, addressed to Sammy Davis, Jr., in part: “I had New York put together every one of your appearances on Telethon ’87…I thought you would like to know the progression of the overall plan…so you might have an idea of what you would like to do this year!”
ALS written by a 10-year-old Christian Slater, countersigned by his mother Mary Jo Slater, one page, 7.25 x 10.5, Harrah’s letterhead, December 3, 1979, in full: “Thank you for inviting us to see you perform last night. You are truly a magic person. I really enjoyed the show and the party afterwards. It was especially fun meeting your family and getting hugged by your Dad. I can’t wait for you and your family to come to see me and Dick Van Dyke in ‘The Music Man.’ We wish you a very happy 54th birthday and another 50 years in show business.”
ALS from Robert Mitchum, signed “Bob Mitchum,” one page, 5.75 x 8.25, Hotel de Paris, Monte-Carlo letterhead, no date, in part: “I hope Altovise finally flew in…We were very sad not to see you tonite. Let’s try another evening. As you know Bob and Jim are at the Regency Beach until Monday…Sha Boom Sha Boom!”
ALS from Dionne Warwick, signed “D,” one page, 6.25 x 8.5, personal letterhead, no date, in part: “I know now that the theme ‘Knowing You Can Always Count on Me for Sure’ stands up with our friendship.”
ALS from Maya Angelou, penned on the reverse of an off-white 6.25 x 4.5 mailing card from Kensington Flowers, in full: “You have always been a prince with [with] ‘Why me?’ You promoted yourself and now I see you as a king. Your Highness, I pray for your sublime Royalty.”
ALS from Jill [Ireland] and Charles Bronson, penned in Jill’s hand, two pages, 4.75 x 7, personal letterhead, June 26, 1988, in part: “This morning I am compelled to write the very first fan letter of my life. There’s a first time for everything right? So here goes. Dear wonderful Sammy Davis, you were great last night. No that doesn’t do it. You were superb, brilliant.”
ANS from Jackson 5 manager Joe Jackson on an off-white 3.5 x 2.25 card, in full: “Good afternoon. 1. Be well. 2. Be happy. 3. Love thyself.”
ANS from Janet Jackson on an off-white 3.5 x 2.25 card, in full: “Get well soon. I love you with all my heart. I’m really enjoying your book ‘Yes I can.’”
The collection features two ring-bound binders marked “6” and “7,” both of which contain a wide assortment of photos, checks, documents, invitations, business cards, birthday cards, and letters from friends and associates. A selection from binder “6” includes: four Transamerican Entertainment Corporation business cards and one Capitol Bank business card, each belonging to Sammy Davis, Jr.; thirteen candid color photos of Davis and Altovise, as well as two of John Denver and one of Liza Minnelli; an invitation to Charles Bronson’s Christmas Party; and a press release for a series of shows by Sammy Davis, Jr., at the Twin Towns Services Club in October 1982. Binder “7” contents include: an assemblage of 26 photos of Davis and Altovise, with several depicting the pair with famous friends like Harry Belafonte and Bill Cosby; a Reprise Records 45 RPM record of ‘Me and My Shadow / Be My Love / Sam’s Song / Without a Song’; an official invitation from Secretary of State James Baker to Davis and his wife for a dinner on December 2, 1989; and a memorial service announcement for Sammy Davis, Jr., on May 18, 1990, at the Hall of Liberty.
Other featured items include: a certificate from the “City of New Orleans,” 11.5 x 17.5, conferring the title of honorary citizen upon Sammy Davis, Jr., on February 20, 1981, with affixed gold foil seal and small key, framed to a slightly larger size; eight photographs, mostly semi-glossy and ranging in size from 10 x 8 to 15.75 x 12.25, showing Davis and Altovise with a variety of their friends, the majority framed to slightly larger sizes; a color 10.25 x 13.25 hand-drawn caricature of Davis holding a microphone and covered with a large heart, and an 11 x 14 hand-drawn caricature of Altovise Davis and her friend during a dancing routine, both framed; a scrapbook containing various Japanese newspaper and advertisement clippings; a VHS cassette tape marked “Mike Douglas Show, Co Host: Sammy Davis Jr., w/ David Frye, Marlena Shaw, Pam Greer, May 14, 1975”; and a pair of U-matic video cassettes, one labeled, “’Happy Birthday Sammy,’ December 8th, 1985, (Home Version), 12/10/85,” and the other bearing a NEP Productions label marked, “Essence, Show 70/3/18, Squeezed Version, 2/24/87, Sammy Davis, Jr.,” with both housed in their original tape holders. In overall very good to fine condition. An expansive and intimate collection that boasts great personal content relating to the late career of Sammy Davis, Jr.
