Archive from the personal collection of prolific comedic character actor Franklin Pangborn (1889-1958), a genre pioneer who appeared in over 200 films throughout his career and, while rarely a lead actor, capitalized on his brief screen time with his distinctive comic persona. The archive includes several letters and telegrams sent to Pangborn, a large variety of candid, vintage, publicity, and studio photographs, a short handwritten summary of his early stage career, theater programs, newspaper clippings, 14-inch reel-to-reel tapes, documents, and more. The highlight of the archive is Pangborn’s leather-bound guestbook presented to him by the Motion Picture Relief Fund, 10 x 13, with the illuminated opening page reading: “Franklin Pangborn, In appreciation of your fifth appearance on our Screen Guild Players radio program, February 19, 1945.” The guestbook contains over 300 signatures of family, friends, and fellow actors and filmmakers between 1945 and 1957, which includes the following highlights: Preston Sturges, Harold Lloyd, Mack Sennett, Billie Burke, Basil Rathbone, John Carradine, Greer Garson, Sid Grauman, Ethel Barrymore, Carol Channing, Red Skelton, Victor McLaglen, Ramon Novarro, Liberace, Alla Nazimova, Dolores del Rio, Evelyn Varden, Jane Darwell, Jean Hersholt, Shirley Booth, Louise Fazenda, Ann Sothern, Ernest Truex, Andy Clyde, Del Lord (rare), Hal Smith, Bea Benaderet, Edward Everett Horton, Sterling Holloway, Andy Devine, and many more. The guestbook includes its original presentation case, which bears considerable wear. Additionally, of the archive’s approximately 60 photographs, nearly half are vintage publicity variants spanning Pangborn’s lengthy career, and seven photos are either signed or annotated by Pangborn. In overall very good to fine condition, with rusting and wear to the reels, which contain a musty odor and are very likely incapable of being played. A delightfully diverse archive rife with visual interest and notable autographs of classic Hollywood film stars, many of whom are quite rare.
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