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Original American Theater Wing Antoinette Perry Award, commonly known as the ‘Tony,’ presented to Ray Bolger, who won the award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical for his role as Charley Wykeham in the 1948 Broadway production of Where's Charley? The sterling silver medal measures 3˝ in diameter, weighs 190 gm, and features dedication text on the reverse, “The American Theatre Wing Presents to, Ray Bolger, This Award for His Performance in Where's Charley, 1948-49.” The front of the medal features the traditional symbolic dramatic masks raised in relief, encircled with the text, “Antoinette Perry Award.” The edge is stamped “Sterling.” In mint condition, with some light tarnishing. Accompanied by an original Playbill for a production of Where’s Charley? at the St. James Theatre, a custom-made presentation case, and a letter of authenticity from Ruth Ann Rickard, the niece of Ray Bolger.
This award was presented as part of the 3rd Annual Tony Awards, which were held on April 24, 1949, at the Waldorf-Astoria Grand Ballroom in New York City, and broadcast on radio station WOR and the Mutual Network. This event also introduced the design of the Tony Award medallion.
Immortalized for playing the Scarecrow in the 1939 MGM film The Wizard of Oz, Bolger was also an accomplished stage actor known for his rendition of the popular song ‘Once in Love with Amy’ from Where's Charley? The song was such a show-stopper that audiences often sang along or demanded that he sing it again. Bolger reprised his Broadway role on the big screen five years later in the 1952 Warner Bros. adaptation. Bolger also starred in the 1934 Broadway show Life Begins at 8:40, and in the 1936 and 1942 Richard Rodgers musicals On Your Toes and By Jupiter.
