Lot 268
Rare Dual Signed Program by Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin a Birthday Program for The Masquers Honoring Louella Parsons. Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis teamed up in 1945 as comedy duo at nightclubs on the East Coast and proved a sensation. They lasted 10 years together and a lot of history made. Martin would sing and Jerry Lewis would interrupt and engage in slapstick like dressing as a busboy and dropping plates. Crowds ate up their schtick and spontaneous banter.
Louella Parsons was a gossip columnist who was celebrated and feared in equal measure - actually more toxic than her rival, Hedda Hopper. Parson's birthday was being honored by a fraternal entertainment organization called The Masquers. Their club/restaurant was on Sycamore in Hollywood and would frequently be the site of numerous events and tributes. This particular event had to have taken place August of 1952 or 1953. In the program "Martin and Lewis" (not even their full names!) were "At the Table of Honor" along side Edgar Bergen, Eddie Cantor, George Burns, the notorious "fixer" Eddie Mannix, Jack Warner, Darryl Zanuck and others. The turn out of luminaries speaks volumes the sway Parsons had with her column being carried by newspapers nationwide.
Both Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis have signed the back page of the program quite boldly. Know Martin & Lewis dual signed pieces are frequently fraudulent due to their value. LOA by James Spence included with the signatures quite obviously youthful. Program itself is quite interesting with "Our Lolly" in huge letters and the package remnant of what was a large lollipop with her face on it still inside. The program itself is quite rare as well 9.25 x 13" folded. A very desirable piece. Estimated Value $400 - 900
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| Realized $247 |
