Original Contract for Hitchcock's Vertigo

Original Contract for Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo Signed by James Stewart and Screenwriter Samuel A. Taylor

Our Collector's Treasure of the Day is this original 1957 contract for James Stewart (1908-1997) to star in the Alfred Hitchcock classic thriller Vertigo (1998), signed and initialed multiple times by actor James Stewart, screenwriter Samuel A. Taylor for Alfred J. Hitchcock Productions, and the representatives from Paramount Pictures. Tentatively titled "From Amongst the Dead", many consider Vertigo to be Hitchcock's masterpiece. 8 x 11 inches. 13 page contract for film performance, personal appearances, radio, etc. with 2 page addendum. Also included is an additional 2 page contract in which Paramount lends Stewart to Hitchcock Productions. Fine condition. Authenticity guaranteed for life by Collector's Shangri-La.

Happy Birthday William S. Burroughs

William S. Burroughs Autographed Postcard with Handwritten Junky Quote

Today marks the birthday of William S. Burroughs (1914-1997), primary figure of the Beat Generation and a major postmodernist author. Burroughs is best known for his novels Junky, Naked Lunch, and the cut-up works in his Nova Trilogy. Our Collector's Treasure of the Day is this interesting 4 x 6 postcard photo of Burroughs walking in New York, signed in black ballpoint at the bottom by the author, with an AQS on the reverse, “‘Junk is a way of life’ (or can become so when made difficult and experience of occurs.” In fine condition. Includes RRAuction COA. Authenticity guaranteed for life by Collector's Shangri-La.

Happy Birthday Katharine Hepburn

The African Queen Vaccination Certificate Hand-Signed by Katharine Hepburn

Today marks the birthday of four-time Academy Award-winning actress Katharine Hepburn (1907 - 2003), named by the American Film Institute as the greatest female star in Hollywood history. Our Collector's Treasure of the Day is the historic International Vaccination Certificate issued to Hepburn for her journey to Africa in May 1951 to make the classic adventure film The African Queen with Humphrey Bogart. The front is filled out by Katharine Hepburn with her home address and other personal information and signed twice "Katharine Hepburn." The following page is filled out in another hand, and again signed at the bottom, "Katharine Hepburn." Authenticity guaranteed for life by Collector's Shangri-La plus third party COA.

Happy Birthday Tennessee Williams

Tennessee Williams The Glass Menagerie Autographed Display Owned by Studio 54's Steve Rubell

Today marks the birthday of playwright and author Tennessee Williams (1911- 1983), best known for The Glass Menagerie, A Streetcar Named Desire, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. The Glass Menagerie is the play which catapulted author Williams from obscurity to fame in 1944. Our Collector's Treasure of the Day is this autographed display of the program from the play featuring actress Pauline Lord in her final role. Custom-made presentation binding includes original paperwork for the Kenneth Rendell Gallery. Framed display size 16.25 x 23 inches. Fine condition. Provenance Estate of Steve Rubell (1943 - 1989), co-owner of the New York disco Studio 54. Authenticity guaranteed for life by Collector's Shangri-La.

Happy Birthday William S. Burroughs

William S. Burroughs Autographed Postcard with Handwritten Junky Quote

Today marks the birthday of William S. Burroughs (1914-1997), primary figure of the Beat Generation and a major postmodernist author. Burroughs is best known for his novels Junky, Naked Lunch, and the cut-up works in his Nova Trilogy. Our Collector's Treasure of the Day is this interesting 4 x 6 postcard photo of Burroughs walking in New York, signed in black ballpoint at the bottom by the author, with an AQS on the reverse, “‘Junk is a way of life’ (or can become so when made difficult and experience of occurs.” In fine condition. Includes RRAuction COA. Authenticity guaranteed for life by Collector's Shangri-La.

Happy Birthday Sam Cooke

William Morris Agency Contract Signed by Sam Cooke

Today marks the birthday of popular rhythm-and-blues and soul artist Sam Cooke (1931 - 1964) who recorded such hits as "You Send Me", "Cupid", and "Twistin' the Night Away". The 33-year-old singer was shot to death under mysterious circumstances at a Los Angeles hotel on December 11, 1964. Our Collector's Treasure of the day is Cooke's autographed agreement with the William Morris Agency for representation for a 10% commission. Second page lists 21 interests which William Morris will have no interest in including music publishing, ghost writing, Sar Productions, Inc., and use of Cookes name in a beer company. In fine condition, with punch and staple holes to top edge and some scattered creases, including a couple through signature. DS, two pages, 8.5 x 11, January 31, 1963.   Authenticity guaranteed for life by Collector's Shangri-La plus third party COA.

Happy Birthday Michael Stipe

R.E.M. Letter to Jay Morgenstern Hand-Signed by Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Bill Berry and manager

Happy birthday to musician Michael Stipe, best known as the lead singer of the alternative rock band R.E.M. Our Collector's Treasure of the Day is this typed letter on R.E.M./Athens, Ltd. letterhead, Sept. 17, 1991 to Warner-Chappell Music Vice President / Genral Manager Jay Morgenstern hand-signed by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and drummer Bill Berry, as well as by counselor Bertis E. Downs and manager W. Jefferson Holt. Letter from the band thanks Jay for contributing to a fundraiser for Senator Wyche Fowler of Georgia, whom they supported. 8.5 x 11 inches. Fine condition. Authenticity is guaranteed for life by Collector's Shangri-La.

Happy Birthday Groucho Marx

Minutes Of 1st Meeting of Marx Bros. Inc. Signed by Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo Marx

Today marks the birthday of comic actor Groucho Marx (1890 - 1977), who made 13 feature films with his siblings the Marx Brothers and hosted the radio and television game show You Bet Your Life. Our Collector's Treasure of the Day is this seminal document in the second phase of Marx movie madness: the actual typewritten minutes from the first meeting in the history of the newly minted Marx Bros. Corporation after they left Paramount Pictures to make films on their own. Hand-signed by all four brothers: Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo Marx with both their given and stage names. Both pages are double cloth matted and framed with an unsigned vintage 10 x 8 photo of the brothers playing saxophones to an overall size of 31 x 18. Authenticity guaranteed for life by Collector's Shangri-La plus third party COA.

Happy Birthday Shel Silverstein - Original Draft of A Light in the Attic

A Light in the Attic Original Draft Manuscript Handwritten and Illustrated by Shel Silverstein

Today marks the birthday of Shel Silverstein (1930 - 1999), the remarkable poet, singer-songwriter, cartoonist, and author. Our Collector's Treasure of the Day is his original handwritten and illustrated draft of one of his most famous poems, “A Light in the Attic.” In addition to various changes and corrections, Silverstein added a few lines to the left of the poem, as well as a cryptic series of capital letters down the left side. This one-of-a-kind manuscript lends tremendous insight into his process as an artist and poet, a truly remarkable piece. Authenticity guaranteed for life by Collector's Shangri-La plus third party COA.

Remembering Katharine Hepburn - Collector's Treasure of the Day

The African Queen Vaccination Certificate Hand-Signed by Katharine Hepburn

Today marks the birthday of four-time Academy Award-winning actress Katharine Hepburn (1907 - 2003), named by the American Film Institute as the greatest female star in Hollywood history. Our Collector's Treasure of the Day is the historic International Vaccination Certificate issued to Hepburn for her journey to Africa in May 1951 to make the classic adventure film The African Queen with Humphrey Bogart. The front is filled out by Katharine Hepburn with her home address and other personal information and signed twice "Katharine Hepburn." The following page is filled out in another hand, and again signed at the bottom, "Katharine Hepburn." Authenticity guaranteed for life by Collector's Shangri-La plus third party COA.

New Collector's Shangri-La Channel at Youtube

Collector's Shangri-La Channel at Youtube

We just returned from the 2013 Annual Meeting of the Manuscript Society in Santa Fe, NM. We used the occasion to “jump start” a new Collector’s Shangri-La Youtube channel with four short videos we shot at the meeting. Check them out here!

Save the Date! UACC Authentication Course at the Next Hollywood Show

UACC Authentication Course at the Next Hollywood Show

The Universal Autograph Collector's Club (UACC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the education of the autograph collector. The UACC will hold its Basic Autograph Authentication Course at the next Hollywood Show in Los Angeles, April 20-21. The hands on course will include identification of the most common fake autographs including Autopens and Stamped signatures. Free to UACC members and $5.00 to all others. Course will be taught by Michael Hecht, UACC President and Kevin Segall, Proprietor of Collector's Shangri-La.

Plus get discounted tickets to the show at this link!

Happy President's Day from Collector's Shangri-La!

George Washington Autograph, Hair, and Coat Display

Collector's Treasure of the Day: a beautifully framed display featuring an autograph of President George Washington (1732-1799), a square piece of Washington’s coat, and a lock of approximately six strands of Washington’s hair. A certification of authenticity from noted American dealer and collector Charles Hamilton is included. Authenticity guaranteed for life by Collector's Shangri-La.

The Document That Changed the Course of Marx Brothers' History

Minutes Of 1st Meeting of Marx Bros. Inc. Signed by Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo Marx

The Marx Bros. translated their success in vaudeville onto film under contract with Paramount Pictures. Harpo, Chico, Groucho, and Zeppo became household names and made five great films in five short years –The Cocoanuts (1929), Animal Crackers (1930), Monkey Business (1931), Horse Feathers (1932), and Duck Soup (1933).

Although these films were zany and madcap, all was not rosy behind-the-scenes. Both artistic and financial differences raged – in particular during pre-production for Duck Soup. Paramount had been developed from Adolph Zukor’s Famous Players and Jesse Lasky’s company, and a reorganization of Paramount around the time of Duck Soup brought fears that money due the Marx Bros. wouldn’t be paid.

In 1933 the boys surprised the world by forming their own company – a challenge to the powerful studio system that was akin to therevolutionary formation of United Artists 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks. These actual typewritten minutes from the first meeting of the newly minted corporation document the moment the Marx Bros. struck out on their own – March 28, 1933.

All four signed on the second page their given and stage names: “Arthur Harpo Marx,” “Herbert Zeppo Marx,” “Leo Chico Marx,” and “Julius Groucho Marx.” On the first page, “Arthur Harpo Marx” signed again as Chairman and “Leo Chico Marx” signed again as Secretary. Both pages are double cloth matted and framed with an unsigned vintage 8 x 10 inch photo of the brothers playing saxophones to an overall size of 18 x 31 inches. When Marx Bros. Inc. was born, the new corporation wasn’t simply a negotiating ploy. Eventually Duck Soup was completed and released, but both Paramount and the Marxes knew the relationship was over.

Chico Marx played cards with producer Irving Thalberg who told the Marx Bros. that he wanted to do things differently than they had been done at Paramount – not make “lousy pictures like Duck Soup.” Groucho recollected being annoyed by that statement, but Thalberg explained that he could “make a picture with you that would have half as many laughs as your Paramount films, but they will be more effective because the audience will be in sympathy with you.” (p. 203 Marx Bros Scrapbook) 

Groucho would soon learn that Thalberg was right. The brothers began making pictures with Irving Thalberg and putting them out through M-G-M. Thalberg insisted on a stronger story structure than in the Paramount films with the Marxes playing more sympathetic characters.

In a 1969 interview with Dick Cavett, Groucho said that the two movies made with Thalberg - A Night at the Opera (1935) and A Day at the Races (1937) - were the best that they ever produced. If the Marx Bros. had never left Paramount and formed Marx Bros. Inc. we may never have had the famous overcrowded stateroom gag, Chico’s oft-quoted line “There ain't no sanity clause,” or countless other priceless laughs. The second act of their career all began with this two-page document, and the rest they say, is history.

Article by Kevin Segall, Proprietor of Collector's Shangri-La

Appears in The Pen & Quill Magazine Number 4, November 2012