Jun 20, 2024 10:00 EST
Stage & Screen
559
An original Al Hirschfeld depicting comedian Fred Allen
Estate / Collection: The Estate of Frances Hershkowitz
AL HIRSCHFELD
Fred Allen emerging from television with a dripping pen. Original ink on paper, signed lower left. 16 ½ x 15 inches. Framed. Some spotting, not examined out of frame.
Radio personality and comedian Fred Allen was a frequent subject for Al Hirschfeld before his death in 1956 at age 61. He was the host of the popular radio program The Fred Allen Show from 1932 to 1949 and gained popularity for his long running comedic feud with Jack Benny. Less known today, he was a favorite of President Roosevelt and influenced the next generation of comedians such as Johnny Carson. With his easily identifiable sunken eyes and serious scowl, he is featured in no less than ten Hirschfeld illustrations of the period and lends much depth of character to any Hirschfeld illustration. This image is published on the website of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation which reports it published in 1969 and provides the descriptor "Fred Allen on TV with arm and pen coming out. Used on letterhead." This is an unusually dynamic rendering by Hirschfeld. See: https://www.alhirschfeldfoundation.org/type/fred-allen
Sold for $1,408
Estimated at $1,000 - $1,500
Includes Buyer's Premium
Estate / Collection: The Estate of Frances Hershkowitz
AL HIRSCHFELD
Fred Allen emerging from television with a dripping pen. Original ink on paper, signed lower left. 16 ½ x 15 inches. Framed. Some spotting, not examined out of frame.
Radio personality and comedian Fred Allen was a frequent subject for Al Hirschfeld before his death in 1956 at age 61. He was the host of the popular radio program The Fred Allen Show from 1932 to 1949 and gained popularity for his long running comedic feud with Jack Benny. Less known today, he was a favorite of President Roosevelt and influenced the next generation of comedians such as Johnny Carson. With his easily identifiable sunken eyes and serious scowl, he is featured in no less than ten Hirschfeld illustrations of the period and lends much depth of character to any Hirschfeld illustration. This image is published on the website of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation which reports it published in 1969 and provides the descriptor "Fred Allen on TV with arm and pen coming out. Used on letterhead." This is an unusually dynamic rendering by Hirschfeld. See: https://www.alhirschfeldfoundation.org/type/fred-allen
Auction: Stage & Screen, Jun 20, 2024
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Successful Stage & Screen Auction on June 20, 2024 Surpasses Expectations!
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Fans and Collectors Drove Strong Prices for Memorabilia, Autographs, Artwork & Photographs of the Theater, Hollywood, Music and Dance
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Consignments Are Currently Being Accepted for Future Auctions
NEW YORK, NY -- Doyle's fourth Stage & Screen auction on June 20, 2024 attracted determined competition from collectors and fans around the world resulting in a sale total that surpassed expectations. Held in collaboration with the Entertainment Community Fund, these popular auctions offer artwork, memorabilia, props, autographs and photographs celebrating the performing arts of Theater, Hollywood, Music and Dance.
Recognizing the importance of the performing arts to the fabric of New York, Doyle is proud to donate 10% of our profit from this auction to the Entertainment Community Fund.
Sale highlights include the 1953-54 Tony Award for Best Musical presented to Charles Lederer and Luther Davis for Kismet that achieved $15,360, far surpassing its $3,000-5,000 estimate. A writer associated with the Algonquin Round Table, Charles Lederer (1910-1976) was raised in Hollywood's inner circle and worked as a journalist for Hearst Newspapers before turning his talents to Broadway. Kismet won three Tony Awards that year and ran for a successful 583 performances.
The Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund)
Featured in the sale was a group of celebrity memorabilia presented by the Entertainment Community Fund. While a portion of proceeds from every item in the auction benefited the Fund, 100% of the hammer price of these lots goes entirely to the Entertainment Community Fund.
Highlighting the group was the heavily annotated master script for the 1972 first Broadway production of Pippin that soared past its $800-1,200 estimate to realize $6,080. The winner of five Tony Awards, Pippin opened at the Imperial Theater on Broadway on October 23, 1972 and ran for nearly two thousand performances before closing in June 1977. The show was directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse with stage direction by Kathryn Doby who also served as Dance Captain and performed as a Player in the show.
Founded in 1882, the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund) is a national 501(c)(3) charitable organization for performing arts and entertainment professionals. The Fund helps address the specific needs of those in the industry, with a unique understanding of the challenges involved in a life in the arts. For further information on the Entertainment Community Fund, visit EntertainmentCommunity.org
We Invite You to Auction!
Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for a complimentary auction evaluation. Our specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.
For information, please contact
Memorabilia: Peter Costanzo, 212-427-4141, ext 248, Peter.Costanzo@Doyle.com
Artwork: Milan Tessler, 212-427-4141, ext 266, paintings@Doyle.com
