ENTERTAINER

14 x 10.5 postcard with 7 x 10 cm matte black and white metallic photographic portrait print by Studio Virgine of Paris to the right, and blank space to the left, in which Chevalier has written in blue ink, ‘Thanks to you both. Everything went fine. / Maurice’. The phtograph shows an urbane Chevalier in evening dress, hands in pockets, smiling. Somewhat aged and worn, with crease to top right corner going through Chevalier's head. See IMage.

Dodd’s entry in the Oxford DNB by Michael Billington concludes with the assessment that he was ‘the greatest theatrical comic of his age and the last link with the hallowed days of music hall’. The two items are in good condition, lightly aged. ONE: TLS, 9 October 1957. 1p, 4to. Good large signature ‘Ken Dodd’. The male recipient is not named. He apologises for the late reply to the recipient’s letter. ‘May I also thank you for the compliments paid to my performance on Television. / I am a Liverpudlian, residing in Knotty Ash Liverpool.

See his entry, and that of his brother, in the Oxford DNB. On one side of a 14 x 9 cm printed postcard. No stamp or address, the side that should carry them being blank. The other side carries an illustration of a British soldier in khaki firging a cannon behind a wall, as another soldier stands to attention beside a nearby flagpole, from which a large Union Jack flies, pited in red and blue. At the head of the saide is a snatch of musical notation, to the words ‘Under the British Flag well fight our way to glory’.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. On 17.5 x 11 cm leaf of pink paper, extracted from an autograph album. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. In a large sprawling hand: ‘All good wishes / Ivor Novello’. On the reverse: ‘The “Cock-lodger” July 1943 / Don. Dobson / (Dobbie)’.

From the Macqueen-Pope papers. See the two men’s entries in the Oxford DNB. MP is not named as the author, but there is no doubt that he is. Item one has corrections in his hand. Both versions are simply titled ‘Will Fyffe’. The two versions exhibit a number of differences from one another. It is not clear where the obituary was published, but it was probably the London magazine ‘Everybody’s’, for which MP contributed a weekly column. ONE: 4pp, 4to, double-spaced, on four leaves.

From the Macqueen-Pope papers. See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged and folded for postage. Addressed to ‘My dear Popie’ and signed ‘Yours / Clarke’ [sic]. In the previous year CR had published his autobiography ‘With a Twinkle in my Eye’, and he is now looking for an ‘opinion’ from MP that he can use for publicity purposes.

From the Macqueen-Pope papers. (See his entry in the Oxford DNB.) Letter: 1p, 4to. On cream paper. In good condition, lightly aged and creased. Folded twice for postage. The letterhead, headed ‘”The Meaning of Versatility” / Fred Lewis / Creating a good impression.’, has an illustration of a series of footprints up the left margin, some with faces in them, and such slogans as ‘Mirthful Medleys’ and ‘Brilliant Burlesque’. The feet creating these ‘impressions’ are disappearing at the head of the page.

From the Macqueen-Pope papers, and evidently received by him. (See his entry in the Oxford DNB.) Of Dunn an online source states: ‘On the 10th of November 1917, the Stage Gossip feature in the Yorkshire Evening Post recounted the career of Finlay Dunn, a stage actor. According to the report, Dunn performed as what he refers to as a stand-up comedian.

A very nice piece of musichall ephemera: a signed self-caricature by one of its leading lights. See Robey’s entry in the Oxford DNB. On a 7 x 8.75 cm piece of card, cut from a plain printed postcard. In good condition, lightly aged, with traces of the four paper label mounts on reverse. On the front, which is entirely plain apart from Robey’s writing, is his Autograph Inscription, in a close hand with stylized signature: ‘Good luck. Geo Robey.’ This is at the foot of the page, beneath a well-executed self-caricature in blue and red ink.

Dating from what his entry in the Oxford DNB describes as Askey’s ‘prime professional days’: ‘In 1938 Askey joined Powis Pinder's Sunshine concert party at Shanklin, Isle of Wight, where he performed successfully for the next eight years. In 1938 the BBC also engaged him for a new radio show called Band Waggon, in which his partner was Richard Murdoch. The show, first broadcast in January 1938, was an enormous success and its innovative style was perhaps Askey's greatest contribution to the entertainment business.’ On one side of a 12.5 x 8.5 cm piece of light-green card.

No information regarding 'Pam Chelsea' (female impersonator?) has been discovered, but the appearance of the document, and its presence in a batch of material relating to 1920s entertainment and broadcasting, date it to that period. 5pp, folio. 'No. of words. 1,063.' Written in a bold hand. In fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. The article was clearly accepted for publication, as '£1 11. 6 paid' is written at the top of the first page, and '5 line drop cap' at the start of the article.

The six items in fair condition, lightly aged and worn. The four photographs are all in black and white, and all around 12.5 x 9 cm. They show Brock swallowing and spinning swords, and balancing a microphone stand on his chin. The letter is dated 9 March 1969, and on his red and black letterhead ('New! Novel! Sensational! | Juggling Swords Balancing & Spinning Knives Illuminated Clubs'). It concerns the purchase of 'some old pro Photoes [sic] in JIMMY LYNTONS fit up article'. The pamphlet is a thin 12mo bifolium, with a drawing of Brock doing his act.

On 5 x 12.5 cm slip of good-quality laid paper. In good condition, lightly aged. In blue ink, and simply consisting of the christian name above the underlined surname: 'Maurice Chevalier'.

The collection is in fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Two of Brock's three Typed Letters Signed are addressed to theatre bookseller Barry Duncan. In one of them, written on 18 March 1969, he writes: 'I have been knocking around for 60 years i think i have played every theatre of note and played with some of the best | but i am getting tired with this club stuff you play a diffrent club every night some time you double them in a night un [sic] packing and packing up. | so i am waiting for GALAS one show a day will do me'. The third letter is to 'Jimmy', i.e.

Page detached from an autograph album, 17.5 x 11cm, good condition. On the recto the autograph signature of Harry Lauder with the trademark sketch of himself with bonnet and pipe. On the verso, the following by Logan "To | Archie | Many Happy memories | of Lauder and | Jimmy Logan [his signature] | Stonehaven | 1987." Note: [Logan] "His one-man musical based on the life of Scottish entertainer Sir Harry Lauder, was called Lauder (1976).[5] Logan collected Lauder memorabilia, which is now housed in the Scottish Theatre Archive at the University of Glasgow.".

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. He thanks him for his 'letter and expression of appreciation - judging by the wonderful reception of "Sunny" in Manchester I am hopeful of its success in London.' He is enclosing 'the two photos asked for' (not present).