Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle's personal comedy reference notebook, 5.28 x 8, containing 29 handwritten pages filled with humorous lyrics, one-liners, clever sayings, and witty observations, signed and dated on the first page in fountain pen, "Roscoe Arbuckle, April 14th, 1932." Highlighting the notebook are dozens of short jokes and one-line zingers, for example: "Hollywood is a great place, I knew an actor out there who was broke six months before he found it out," "I joined the navy to see the world and spent four years in a submarine," "What you need is a long walk on a short pier," "A sock on the foot is worth two in the eye," "I drank his health so often I almost ruined my own," and "A cynic is a person who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing."
Other notes offer bits of witty dialogue to incorporate into comedy sketches: "Who's that funny looking girl I saw you with yesterday? / Why that's my wife. / I'm sorry, my mistake. / No, mine"; "Will you join me in a bowl of soup? / Do you think there's room?"; "I'm tired of working so hard, from now on I'm going to live by my wits. / Well, a half a living is better than nothing"; "She looks like she was poured in that dress. / Yes, but she forgot to say when"; and "How many people work here? / About one out of every ten."
On a page headed "Postal cards, Telegrams," he records some dubious fan interactions, including one about signing autographs: "Dear Mr. Arbuckle, Will you please give ten autographed photographs of yourself. This may sound silly to you but they told me if I got ten pictures of you I could trade them in for one of Clark Gable." Arbuckle also makes lists of "Spot Gags" and "Song Titles," and pens complete lyrics to several comedic songs. A remarkable piece encapsulating the legendary comic actor's impeccable sense of humor. In fine condition.
