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Rare original program for the 1967 All American Open Karate Championship held at Madison Square Garden in New York City on June 24, 1967, six pages, 8.5 x 11, signed inside in black felt tip by Bruce Lee next to an image of him as Kato from The Green Hornet television show. Below the image, which bears a preprinted facsimile signature, is the text: “Bruce Lee, Kato of the ‘Green Hornet,’ Special Guest.” The program features an attractive red-and-blue illustrated karate cover and contains information on the championship, its schedule of events, contest officials, judges, and past champions. Among those prominently pictured are Chuck Norris, identified as the “1967 Champion of Champions,” and noted martial artists Ed Parker, Jhoon Rhee, Peter Urban, Don Nagle, and Mas Tsuruoka. In very good to fine condition, with toning and edgewear, including paper loss, to the covers and, less so, to the inner pages.
The 1967 All American Open came at a transitional moment in Bruce Lee’s career. The Green Hornet, which had introduced him to American television audiences as Kato, had aired its final original episode three months earlier, on March 17, 1967, and Lee was increasingly appearing at martial arts exhibitions while pursuing further opportunities in Hollywood. His appearance at Madison Square Garden on June 24 proved significant for another reason: the tournament is credited as the occasion of Lee’s first meeting with Chuck Norris, who competed at the event and captured its Champion of Champions title. The two soon began training together, beginning an association that would culminate five years later in their celebrated fight scene in The Way of the Dragon. According to the consignor, her husband attended the championship and personally obtained Lee’s autograph there.
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