Handsome matte-finish 9.75 x 13.5 chest-length Harris & Ewing photo, signed and inscribed in ink in the blank lower border, “To Mrs. Thomas H. Ince & three sons with best wishes, Calvin Coolidge.” The inscribee was the wife of director and producer Thomas H. Ince (1882-1924), whose mysterious death aboard the yacht of publisher William Randolph Hearst became one of the most notorious scandals in Hollywood lore. Though Ince's death was officially reported as resulting from a heart attack, ominous rumors soon surfaced and were quickly hushed by the Hearst media machine. The most pervasive of these is that Hearst himself shot Ince in a fit of jealousy over his lover, Marion Davies-possibly intending to have targeted Charlie Chaplin, whom he suspected of carrying on an affair with the actress. A speculative reconstruction of the events was the subject of the 2001 film The Cat's Meow. Small marginal corner crease, a touch of very subtle soiling, and photo affixed at corners to a same-sized page (a subtle hint of rippling), otherwise fine, bright condition. Auction LOA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
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