Lot 1082
Three portrait drawings of Bert Lahr, Ed Wynn, and Irving Berlin for the Circus Saints and Sinners Club of America
21 November 2017, 13:00 EST
New YorkUS$800 - US$1,200
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Three portrait drawings of Bert Lahr, Ed Wynn, and Irving Berlin for the Circus Saints and Sinners Club of America
Dated 1936, 1937, and 1940, charcoal on illustration board, two signed by the artist Zito and one by Bettina Steinke, each with a large group of signatures of all attendees at the event, one matted and framed. The Circus Saints and Sinners Club of America is a national organization that raises money for local charities. At the events for which these drawings were made, the charity hosted a "Fall Guy" roast in which the recipient's portrait was drawn and then signed by the recipient, the artist, and all those who attended the event. Bert Lahr, best known for playing the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz (1939) was the "Fall Guy" at the C.S.& S.C.A. luncheon at the Hotel Gotham on June 24, 1936; Ed Wynn, the voice of the "Mad Hatter" in the Disney animated film Alice in Wonderland (1951), as well as the eccentric "Uncle Albert" in the film Mary Poppins (1964) was the "Fall Guy" at the Commodore Hotel event on December 8, 1937; and Irving Berlin, considered the greatest songwriter in American history who is best known for the iconic song "God Bless America," was the "Fall Guy" at the Hotel Astor event on Nov. 27, 1940.
Each: 30 x 22 in.
Each: 30 x 22 in.
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