Collection of 88 original ink caricatures of actors, actresses, and
other celebrities, done by well-known Brown Derby artists Vitch, Zel,
Lane, and Poncho, each on 11 x 14 off-white sheets, all of which hung at
the famous Hollywood landmark. All the portraits are signed by their
subject, with almost all inscribed to the restaurant or its owner Bob
Cobb. Sketches include: John Barrymore (unsigned), Jerry Colonna, Marion
Davies, Bob Feller, Academy Award-winning director Frank Borzage, Gene
Raymond, Louella Parsons, Academy Award winner Leo Forbstein, Gene
Autry, Hoot Gibson, Hedda Hopper, Princess Alexandra Kropotkin, Leslie
Arliss, Gene Autry, Kenny Baker, Dr. Philip Bakerman, Sy Bartlet, John
Barrymore, Frank Borzage, Harry Joe Brown, Richard Carle, John
Carradine, Walter Catlett, Sidney Clark, Jerry Colonna, Con Conrad, Ely
Culbertson, Sandy Cumming, Dante, R. Anderson Dardine, Marion Davies,
Gloria Dickson, Walter Doninger, Paul Engbaum, Charles Farrell, Gordon
Fawcett, Bob Feller, Leo F. Forbstein, Rudy Freed, Tom Gallery, Hoot
Gibson, L. Wolfe Gilbert, Dr. E. B. Glass, Hugh Herbert, Hedda Hopper,
‘Hugh’, Kathryn Jane, Allen Jenkins, Wolfe Kaufman, K. Keller, Scarlett
Knight, Alexandra Kropotkin, Priscilla Lane, George J. Lewis, Jeffrey
Lynn, Jane Marsh, Ilona massey, Ross Mattman, Wilson Mizner, Jay Moidel,
Edmund Morris, Larry Neid, Julie Nostrand, Julietta Novis, Louella
Parsons, Dr. Barry Plank, Kay Proctor, Roger Pryor, Don Quinn, Billie
Raphael, Gene Raymond, ‘Rosey’, Mel Shauer, Count Smith, Hanley
Stafford, Joe Stauffer, Katharine Stevens, Bill Thompson, Barry Trivers,
Bill Ulman, Sidney Unger, Jane Wagner, Nick Wall, Nate Watt, Paul
Weston, Paul Whiteman, June Wilkins, Helen Wood, and Susanne Young.
Portraits are housed in two presentation portfolios. Expected mild
uniform toning from display and some dampstaining to edges of some of
the sheets, slightly affecting a few of the signatures, otherwise fine
condition.
Opened in 1929 by Bob Cobb, the Hollywood Brown Derby
quickly became the place to see and be seen. The restuarant’s signature
dish, the Cobb Salad, was reportedly created from the day’s leftovers
for Cobb, who hadn’t eaten all day. Shortly after its opening, the
Derby’s first artist, ‘Vitch,’ offered to sketch the patrons in exchange
for a bowl of soup. Sketches soon covered the walls, including those
done by longtime artist Jack Lane, with celebrities vying for a
prestigious spot on the restaurant’s ‘Wall of Fame.’ An impressive
collection capturing the feel of ‘old-time’ Hollywood. RR Auction COA.
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