1926 Diary EARLY HOLLYWOOD & LA Millionaire Family FANTASTIC SOCIAL HISTORY
Item History & Price
Los Angeles & Silent Hollywood HistoryFantastic 1926 Detailed Day Diary of Socialite's Activities in Early Beverly Hills, CAPlus! Portraits of the Millionaire & Actress WifePhotographs of Beverly Hills MansionOffered here is a fascinating collection from the estate of the Whitaker family who were prominent in Beverly Hills society during the 1920's - 1930's. The collection's highlight is the original 1926 pocket sized day-diary, carefully hand written by this early Los Ang...eles millionaire, recounting his day-to-day activities in the budding Los Angeles area.
Headed by Francis Whitaker, whose wife Margaret was an occasional actress, the Whitaker family lived at 811 Bedford Drive in Beverly Hills and had several friends in the movie business including Philo McCulloch, Donald McDonald, Hoot Gibson, William Morrissey, Midgie Miller, and Gertrude Childs Huntington, all of whom are referenced in the day-book.December 14, 1926“Went to an auction of Rudolph Valentino‘s things in Hollywood."
During this week in 1926, the estate of the great screen lover was auctioned to the public, including his legendary Beverly Hills estate, Falcon Lair, just three months after his untimely death at age 31.
As noted in the diary, the couple attend many silent film screenings and plays at local Los Angeles theatres including the Mason Theatre, The Majestic Theatre, Biltmore Theatre, etc.April 14, 1926“In the evening we saw 'The Big Parade' [John Gilbert], a good war movie, at Grauman's Egyptian Theater, Hollywood."
January 31, 1926 “We went in the evening to Beverly Theater to see Lon Chaney in 'The Blackbird', very fair movie." (The film had its premiere two weeks earlier on January 11, 1926)
“All went to see ‘Charlot’s Review’, a good musical show, at El Capitan Theater, Hollywood."
June 16, 1926“In the evening we saw Irene Bordini [star of Broadway] in 'Naughty Cinderella', a good musical show at Biltmore Theater.”
July 30, 1926“Margaret and I saw Jeannie Eagles in 'Rain', very good play, at the Biltmore Theater in the evening." (Eagles was then touring with 'Rain')
“Then they saw matinee of Morrissey's Review, good musical show at Orange Grove theater."
“In the evening we saw Monte Blue [silent film leading man] and Patsy Ruth Miller [who played Esmeralda in 1923's The Hunchback of Notre Dame opposite Lon Chaney] in 'So This is Paris', good movie, at the Beverly Theater.“
Local Los Angeles nightclubs, hotels and hot spots of the 1920's referenced include:
The Beverly Hills Hotel, Montmartre Cafe (Hollywood), Victor Hugo Cafe, The Zulu Hut, The Orpheum, Los Angeles Athletic Club, Hotel Biltmore, Encino Country Club, The Beverly Tearoom, Westport Beach Club, Beverly Cafe, The Talmadge Apartment, Hotel Del Coronado (San Diego), Club Casa Del Mar (Santa Monica), The Gables Club, Santa Monica Swimming Club, Southern Pacific Station, Los Altos Apartments, Beverly Hills Club (the Whitakers attended the first social dinner of the new club); “a chop suey place in Hollywood”, a “Spanish cafe in Hollywood”, Marchetti’s Cafe (5th and Western), Jonathan Club, El Encanto Hotel, El Mirasol Hotel, Barbara Worth Hotel, Palais de Glacé (Melrose near Vermont), Los Angeles Country Club, and the Brentwood Country Club.
Towns and roads in Los Angeles which are referenced include:
Hollywood, Culver City, Santa Barbara, Via Ventura, Calabasas, Beverly Canyon, Beverly Hills, Western Avenue, Long Beach, San Pedro, Redondo, Venice, Ocean Park, Los Feliz Boulevard, Wilshire Boulevard, Plymouth Boulevard, Wrigley Field, Lake Arrowhead, Arlington Lodge, San Bernadino, Huntington Drive, Pasadena, Pomona, Laurel Canyon, Calabasas, La Jolla, Del Mar, Santa Ana, Oceanside, Whittier, Palm Springs, Chatsworth, Franklin Canyon.
The diary is accompanied by several pieces of vintage ephemera from the Whitaker Estate.
The additional items include 1920's 8x10 portraits of Francis and Margaret V. Whitaker. Francis Whitaker no doubt was heir to the fortune amassed by his father, Thomas Drake Whitaker (1860-1896), who organized the Whitaker Cement Company, later known as the Alpha Portland Cement Company. Credit is given to the senior Whitaker as being the pioneer in the cement industry in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania.
Margaret (nee Plato, born in Kansas, 1893) was a one-time actress in the 1920's, and was photographed in the portrait included here by the famed George Steckel at his Los Angeles studio. Steckel has signed the portrait in pencil at bottom right. Steckel's most famous portraits were those taken of the father of bodybuilding, Eugine Sandow.
Also included are two 8"x10" glossy photographs of an imposing estate, itself an extraordinary piece of architecture (possibly by Los Angeles architect Carleton Winslow, a visitor mentioned in the diary) and an extremely detailed 1933 appraisal report itemizing just about every object and piece of art within their mansion.We are auctioning several other items from this private collection comprising of a series of vintage autographed photos of Hollywood movie stars of the 1920's - 1930's amassed by the Whitaker's young son, Thomas (1923-2009).
It is very evident that the Whitaker family rubbed shoulders with many actors and actresses of the time. This incredible collection gives some wonderful provenance to the autographed photographs we are also selling. A very rare piece of early Hollywood social history!CONDITIONDiary leather measures approximately 3.5" x 5.75" has wear and some loss to spine. Front and back cover leather has started to detach from boards. All pages intact and in good, clean condition. Whitaker has created an entry for nearly every single day of the 1926 calendar year. All photographs are in fair to good condition; some damage to right border of portrait of Francis Whitaker. Slight stain to top left corner of Stekel portrait of Margaret. See our other itemsPAYMENTSHIPPINGRETURNSQUESTIONS?PAYMENTSHIPPINGRETURNSQUESTIONS?Please make payment within 5 days after close of the auction. We will escalate cases with eBay if bidders do not submit payment within the 5 day period following the auction's close. If, for whatever reason you are unable to pay within this time, we will be happy to work with you if you notify us upon the auction's close.USA/CANADA - All items are sent USPS First Class unless otherwise stated in the auction listing. On dispatch you will be issued with a tracking number. Higher value items (over $50) will always be fully insured at no extra cost to you. WORLDWIDE - All items are sent USPS First Class and trackable (please note that costs for postage will vary depending on your country.) Higher value items will always be fully insured and trackable at no extra cost to you. We pack all shipments with great care so that all items arrive as they left us. We also combine items so if you win more than one auction, the cost of postage will be greatly lower.Please note that we always collate and describe the items we sell to the very best of our ability. If you have questions regarding an item please get in contact so we can help you further before the auction's close.
If for whatever reason an item you have received does not match our listing we will always issue you a hassle-free full refund on return of the item which will also include any postage costs you have incurred. It is our goal to work with you to ensure that you are fully satisfied with your purchase.If you have questions regarding this item or would like to get in touch with us, please send us a message through eBay or you may contact us through our website, Regency Antique Books.1926 Diary EARLY HOLLYWOOD & LA Millionaire Family FANTASTIC SOCIAL HISTORY! Los Angeles & Silent Hollywood HistoryFantastic 1926 Detailed Day Diary of Socialite's Activities in Early Beverly Hills, CAPlus! Portraits of the Millionaire & Actress WifePhotographs of Beverly Hills MansionOffered here is a fascinating collection from the estate of the Whitaker family who were prominent in Beverly Hills society during the 1920's - 1930's. The collection's highlight is the original 1926 pocket sized day-diary, carefully hand written by this early Los Angeles millionaire, recounting his day-to-day activities in the budding Los Angeles area.
Headed by Francis Whitaker, whose wife Margaret was an occasional actress, the Whitaker family lived at 811 Bedford Drive in Beverly Hills and had several friends in the movie business including Philo McCulloch, Donald McDonald, Hoot Gibson, William Morrissey, Midgie Miller, and Gertrude Childs Huntington, all of whom are referenced in the day-book.December 14, 1926“Went to an auction of Rudolph Valentino‘s things in Hollywood."
During this week in 1926, the estate of the great screen lover was auctioned to the public, including his legendary Beverly Hills estate, Falcon Lair, just three months after his untimely death at age 31.
As noted in the diary, the couple attend many silent film screenings and plays at local Los Angeles theatres including the Mason Theatre, The Majestic Theatre, Biltmore Theatre, etc.April 14, 1926“In the evening we saw 'The Big Parade' [John Gilbert], a good war movie, at Grauman's Egyptian Theater, Hollywood."
January 31, 1926 “We went in the evening to Beverly Theater to see Lon Chaney in 'The Blackbird', very fair movie." (The film had its premiere two weeks earlier on January 11, 1926)
“All went to see ‘Charlot’s Review’, a good musical show, at El Capitan Theater, Hollywood."
June 16, 1926“In the evening we saw Irene Bordini [star of Broadway] in 'Naughty Cinderella', a good musical show at Biltmore Theater.”
July 30, 1926“Margaret and I saw Jeannie Eagles in 'Rain', very good play, at the Biltmore Theater in the evening." (Eagles was then touring with 'Rain')
“Then they saw matinee of Morrissey's Review, good musical show at Orange Grove theater."
“In the evening we saw Monte Blue [silent film leading man] and Patsy Ruth Miller [who played Esmeralda in 1923's The Hunchback of Notre Dame opposite Lon Chaney] in 'So This is Paris', good movie, at the Beverly Theater.“
Local Los Angeles nightclubs, hotels and hot spots of the 1920's referenced include:
The Beverly Hills Hotel, Montmartre Cafe (Hollywood), Victor Hugo Cafe, The Zulu Hut, The Orpheum, Los Angeles Athletic Club, Hotel Biltmore, Encino Country Club, The Beverly Tearoom, Westport Beach Club, Beverly Cafe, The Talmadge Apartment, Hotel Del Coronado (San Diego), Club Casa Del Mar (Santa Monica), The Gables Club, Santa Monica Swimming Club, Southern Pacific Station, Los Altos Apartments, Beverly Hills Club (the Whitakers attended the first social dinner of the new club); “a chop suey place in Hollywood”, a “Spanish cafe in Hollywood”, Marchetti’s Cafe (5th and Western), Jonathan Club, El Encanto Hotel, El Mirasol Hotel, Barbara Worth Hotel, Palais de Glacé (Melrose near Vermont), Los Angeles Country Club, and the Brentwood Country Club.
Towns and roads in Los Angeles which are referenced include:
Hollywood, Culver City, Santa Barbara, Via Ventura, Calabasas, Beverly Canyon, Beverly Hills, Western Avenue, Long Beach, San Pedro, Redondo, Venice, Ocean Park, Los Feliz Boulevard, Wilshire Boulevard, Plymouth Boulevard, Wrigley Field, Lake Arrowhead, Arlington Lodge, San Bernadino, Huntington Drive, Pasadena, Pomona, Laurel Canyon, Calabasas, La Jolla, Del Mar, Santa Ana, Oceanside, Whittier, Palm Springs, Chatsworth, Franklin Canyon.
The diary is accompanied by several pieces of vintage ephemera from the Whitaker Estate.
The additional items include 1920's 8x10 portraits of Francis and Margaret V. Whitaker. Francis Whitaker no doubt was heir to the fortune amassed by his father, Thomas Drake Whitaker (1860-1896), who organized the Whitaker Cement Company, later known as the Alpha Portland Cement Company. Credit is given to the senior Whitaker as being the pioneer in the cement industry in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania.
Margaret (nee Plato, born in Kansas, 1893) was a one-time actress in the 1920's, and was photographed in the portrait included here by the famed George Steckel at his Los Angeles studio. Steckel has signed the portrait in pencil at bottom right. Steckel's most famous portraits were those taken of the father of bodybuilding, Eugine Sandow.
Also included are two 8"x10" glossy photographs of an imposing estate, itself an extraordinary piece of architecture (possibly by Los Angeles architect Carleton Winslow, a visitor mentioned in the diary) and an extremely detailed 1933 appraisal report itemizing just about every object and piece of art within their mansion.We are auctioning several other items from this private collection comprising of a series of vintage autographed photos of Hollywood movie stars of the 1920's - 1930's amassed by the Whitaker's young son, Thomas (1923-2009).
It is very evident that the Whitaker family rubbed shoulders with many actors and actresses of the time. This incredible collection gives some wonderful provenance to the autographed photographs we are also selling. A very rare piece of early Hollywood social history!CONDITIONDiary leather measures approximately 3.5" x 5.75" has wear and some loss to spine. Front and back cover leather has started to detach from boards. All pages intact and in good, clean condition. Whitaker has created an entry for nearly every single day of the 1926 calendar year. All photographs are in fair to good condition; some damage to right border of portrait of Francis Whitaker. Slight stain to top left corner of Stekel portrait of Margaret. See our other itemsPAYMENTPlease make payment within 5 days after close of the auction. We will escalate cases with eBay if bidders do not submit payment within the 5 day period following the auction's close. If, for whatever reason you are unable to pay within this time, we will be happy to work with you if you notify us upon the auction's close.SHIPPINGUSA/CANADA - All items are sent USPS First Class unless otherwise stated in the auction listing. On dispatch you will be issued with a tracking number. Higher value items (over $50) will always be fully insured at no extra cost to you. WORLDWIDE - All items are sent USPS First Class and trackable (please note that costs for postage will vary depending on your country.) Higher value items will always be fully insured and trackable at no extra cost to you. We pack all shipments with great care so that all items arrive as they left us. We also combine items so if you win more than one auction, the cost of postage will be greatly lower.RETURNSPlease note that we always collate and describe the items we sell to the very best of our ability. If you have questions regarding an item please get in contact so we can help you further before the auction's close.
If for whatever reason an item you have received does not match our listing we will always issue you a hassle-free full refund on return of the item which will also include any postage costs you have incurred. It is our goal to work with you to ensure that you are fully satisfied with your purchase.QUESTIONS?If you have questions regarding this item or would like to get in touch with us, please send us a message through eBay or you may contact us through our website, Regency Antique Books.1926 Diary EARLY HOLLYWOOD & LA Millionaire Family FANTASTIC SOCIAL HISTORY!
Headed by Francis Whitaker, whose wife Margaret was an occasional actress, the Whitaker family lived at 811 Bedford Drive in Beverly Hills and had several friends in the movie business including Philo McCulloch, Donald McDonald, Hoot Gibson, William Morrissey, Midgie Miller, and Gertrude Childs Huntington, all of whom are referenced in the day-book.December 14, 1926“Went to an auction of Rudolph Valentino‘s things in Hollywood."
During this week in 1926, the estate of the great screen lover was auctioned to the public, including his legendary Beverly Hills estate, Falcon Lair, just three months after his untimely death at age 31.
As noted in the diary, the couple attend many silent film screenings and plays at local Los Angeles theatres including the Mason Theatre, The Majestic Theatre, Biltmore Theatre, etc.April 14, 1926“In the evening we saw 'The Big Parade' [John Gilbert], a good war movie, at Grauman's Egyptian Theater, Hollywood."
January 31, 1926 “We went in the evening to Beverly Theater to see Lon Chaney in 'The Blackbird', very fair movie." (The film had its premiere two weeks earlier on January 11, 1926)
“All went to see ‘Charlot’s Review’, a good musical show, at El Capitan Theater, Hollywood."
June 16, 1926“In the evening we saw Irene Bordini [star of Broadway] in 'Naughty Cinderella', a good musical show at Biltmore Theater.”
July 30, 1926“Margaret and I saw Jeannie Eagles in 'Rain', very good play, at the Biltmore Theater in the evening." (Eagles was then touring with 'Rain')
“Then they saw matinee of Morrissey's Review, good musical show at Orange Grove theater."
“In the evening we saw Monte Blue [silent film leading man] and Patsy Ruth Miller [who played Esmeralda in 1923's The Hunchback of Notre Dame opposite Lon Chaney] in 'So This is Paris', good movie, at the Beverly Theater.“
Local Los Angeles nightclubs, hotels and hot spots of the 1920's referenced include:
The Beverly Hills Hotel, Montmartre Cafe (Hollywood), Victor Hugo Cafe, The Zulu Hut, The Orpheum, Los Angeles Athletic Club, Hotel Biltmore, Encino Country Club, The Beverly Tearoom, Westport Beach Club, Beverly Cafe, The Talmadge Apartment, Hotel Del Coronado (San Diego), Club Casa Del Mar (Santa Monica), The Gables Club, Santa Monica Swimming Club, Southern Pacific Station, Los Altos Apartments, Beverly Hills Club (the Whitakers attended the first social dinner of the new club); “a chop suey place in Hollywood”, a “Spanish cafe in Hollywood”, Marchetti’s Cafe (5th and Western), Jonathan Club, El Encanto Hotel, El Mirasol Hotel, Barbara Worth Hotel, Palais de Glacé (Melrose near Vermont), Los Angeles Country Club, and the Brentwood Country Club.
Towns and roads in Los Angeles which are referenced include:
Hollywood, Culver City, Santa Barbara, Via Ventura, Calabasas, Beverly Canyon, Beverly Hills, Western Avenue, Long Beach, San Pedro, Redondo, Venice, Ocean Park, Los Feliz Boulevard, Wilshire Boulevard, Plymouth Boulevard, Wrigley Field, Lake Arrowhead, Arlington Lodge, San Bernadino, Huntington Drive, Pasadena, Pomona, Laurel Canyon, Calabasas, La Jolla, Del Mar, Santa Ana, Oceanside, Whittier, Palm Springs, Chatsworth, Franklin Canyon.
The diary is accompanied by several pieces of vintage ephemera from the Whitaker Estate.
The additional items include 1920's 8x10 portraits of Francis and Margaret V. Whitaker. Francis Whitaker no doubt was heir to the fortune amassed by his father, Thomas Drake Whitaker (1860-1896), who organized the Whitaker Cement Company, later known as the Alpha Portland Cement Company. Credit is given to the senior Whitaker as being the pioneer in the cement industry in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania.
Margaret (nee Plato, born in Kansas, 1893) was a one-time actress in the 1920's, and was photographed in the portrait included here by the famed George Steckel at his Los Angeles studio. Steckel has signed the portrait in pencil at bottom right. Steckel's most famous portraits were those taken of the father of bodybuilding, Eugine Sandow.
Also included are two 8"x10" glossy photographs of an imposing estate, itself an extraordinary piece of architecture (possibly by Los Angeles architect Carleton Winslow, a visitor mentioned in the diary) and an extremely detailed 1933 appraisal report itemizing just about every object and piece of art within their mansion.We are auctioning several other items from this private collection comprising of a series of vintage autographed photos of Hollywood movie stars of the 1920's - 1930's amassed by the Whitaker's young son, Thomas (1923-2009).
It is very evident that the Whitaker family rubbed shoulders with many actors and actresses of the time. This incredible collection gives some wonderful provenance to the autographed photographs we are also selling. A very rare piece of early Hollywood social history!CONDITIONDiary leather measures approximately 3.5" x 5.75" has wear and some loss to spine. Front and back cover leather has started to detach from boards. All pages intact and in good, clean condition. Whitaker has created an entry for nearly every single day of the 1926 calendar year. All photographs are in fair to good condition; some damage to right border of portrait of Francis Whitaker. Slight stain to top left corner of Stekel portrait of Margaret. See our other itemsPAYMENTSHIPPINGRETURNSQUESTIONS?PAYMENTSHIPPINGRETURNSQUESTIONS?Please make payment within 5 days after close of the auction. We will escalate cases with eBay if bidders do not submit payment within the 5 day period following the auction's close. If, for whatever reason you are unable to pay within this time, we will be happy to work with you if you notify us upon the auction's close.USA/CANADA - All items are sent USPS First Class unless otherwise stated in the auction listing. On dispatch you will be issued with a tracking number. Higher value items (over $50) will always be fully insured at no extra cost to you. WORLDWIDE - All items are sent USPS First Class and trackable (please note that costs for postage will vary depending on your country.) Higher value items will always be fully insured and trackable at no extra cost to you. We pack all shipments with great care so that all items arrive as they left us. We also combine items so if you win more than one auction, the cost of postage will be greatly lower.Please note that we always collate and describe the items we sell to the very best of our ability. If you have questions regarding an item please get in contact so we can help you further before the auction's close.
If for whatever reason an item you have received does not match our listing we will always issue you a hassle-free full refund on return of the item which will also include any postage costs you have incurred. It is our goal to work with you to ensure that you are fully satisfied with your purchase.If you have questions regarding this item or would like to get in touch with us, please send us a message through eBay or you may contact us through our website, Regency Antique Books.1926 Diary EARLY HOLLYWOOD & LA Millionaire Family FANTASTIC SOCIAL HISTORY! Los Angeles & Silent Hollywood HistoryFantastic 1926 Detailed Day Diary of Socialite's Activities in Early Beverly Hills, CAPlus! Portraits of the Millionaire & Actress WifePhotographs of Beverly Hills MansionOffered here is a fascinating collection from the estate of the Whitaker family who were prominent in Beverly Hills society during the 1920's - 1930's. The collection's highlight is the original 1926 pocket sized day-diary, carefully hand written by this early Los Angeles millionaire, recounting his day-to-day activities in the budding Los Angeles area.
Headed by Francis Whitaker, whose wife Margaret was an occasional actress, the Whitaker family lived at 811 Bedford Drive in Beverly Hills and had several friends in the movie business including Philo McCulloch, Donald McDonald, Hoot Gibson, William Morrissey, Midgie Miller, and Gertrude Childs Huntington, all of whom are referenced in the day-book.December 14, 1926“Went to an auction of Rudolph Valentino‘s things in Hollywood."
During this week in 1926, the estate of the great screen lover was auctioned to the public, including his legendary Beverly Hills estate, Falcon Lair, just three months after his untimely death at age 31.
As noted in the diary, the couple attend many silent film screenings and plays at local Los Angeles theatres including the Mason Theatre, The Majestic Theatre, Biltmore Theatre, etc.April 14, 1926“In the evening we saw 'The Big Parade' [John Gilbert], a good war movie, at Grauman's Egyptian Theater, Hollywood."
January 31, 1926 “We went in the evening to Beverly Theater to see Lon Chaney in 'The Blackbird', very fair movie." (The film had its premiere two weeks earlier on January 11, 1926)
“All went to see ‘Charlot’s Review’, a good musical show, at El Capitan Theater, Hollywood."
June 16, 1926“In the evening we saw Irene Bordini [star of Broadway] in 'Naughty Cinderella', a good musical show at Biltmore Theater.”
July 30, 1926“Margaret and I saw Jeannie Eagles in 'Rain', very good play, at the Biltmore Theater in the evening." (Eagles was then touring with 'Rain')
“Then they saw matinee of Morrissey's Review, good musical show at Orange Grove theater."
“In the evening we saw Monte Blue [silent film leading man] and Patsy Ruth Miller [who played Esmeralda in 1923's The Hunchback of Notre Dame opposite Lon Chaney] in 'So This is Paris', good movie, at the Beverly Theater.“
Local Los Angeles nightclubs, hotels and hot spots of the 1920's referenced include:
The Beverly Hills Hotel, Montmartre Cafe (Hollywood), Victor Hugo Cafe, The Zulu Hut, The Orpheum, Los Angeles Athletic Club, Hotel Biltmore, Encino Country Club, The Beverly Tearoom, Westport Beach Club, Beverly Cafe, The Talmadge Apartment, Hotel Del Coronado (San Diego), Club Casa Del Mar (Santa Monica), The Gables Club, Santa Monica Swimming Club, Southern Pacific Station, Los Altos Apartments, Beverly Hills Club (the Whitakers attended the first social dinner of the new club); “a chop suey place in Hollywood”, a “Spanish cafe in Hollywood”, Marchetti’s Cafe (5th and Western), Jonathan Club, El Encanto Hotel, El Mirasol Hotel, Barbara Worth Hotel, Palais de Glacé (Melrose near Vermont), Los Angeles Country Club, and the Brentwood Country Club.
Towns and roads in Los Angeles which are referenced include:
Hollywood, Culver City, Santa Barbara, Via Ventura, Calabasas, Beverly Canyon, Beverly Hills, Western Avenue, Long Beach, San Pedro, Redondo, Venice, Ocean Park, Los Feliz Boulevard, Wilshire Boulevard, Plymouth Boulevard, Wrigley Field, Lake Arrowhead, Arlington Lodge, San Bernadino, Huntington Drive, Pasadena, Pomona, Laurel Canyon, Calabasas, La Jolla, Del Mar, Santa Ana, Oceanside, Whittier, Palm Springs, Chatsworth, Franklin Canyon.
The diary is accompanied by several pieces of vintage ephemera from the Whitaker Estate.
The additional items include 1920's 8x10 portraits of Francis and Margaret V. Whitaker. Francis Whitaker no doubt was heir to the fortune amassed by his father, Thomas Drake Whitaker (1860-1896), who organized the Whitaker Cement Company, later known as the Alpha Portland Cement Company. Credit is given to the senior Whitaker as being the pioneer in the cement industry in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania.
Margaret (nee Plato, born in Kansas, 1893) was a one-time actress in the 1920's, and was photographed in the portrait included here by the famed George Steckel at his Los Angeles studio. Steckel has signed the portrait in pencil at bottom right. Steckel's most famous portraits were those taken of the father of bodybuilding, Eugine Sandow.
Also included are two 8"x10" glossy photographs of an imposing estate, itself an extraordinary piece of architecture (possibly by Los Angeles architect Carleton Winslow, a visitor mentioned in the diary) and an extremely detailed 1933 appraisal report itemizing just about every object and piece of art within their mansion.We are auctioning several other items from this private collection comprising of a series of vintage autographed photos of Hollywood movie stars of the 1920's - 1930's amassed by the Whitaker's young son, Thomas (1923-2009).
It is very evident that the Whitaker family rubbed shoulders with many actors and actresses of the time. This incredible collection gives some wonderful provenance to the autographed photographs we are also selling. A very rare piece of early Hollywood social history!CONDITIONDiary leather measures approximately 3.5" x 5.75" has wear and some loss to spine. Front and back cover leather has started to detach from boards. All pages intact and in good, clean condition. Whitaker has created an entry for nearly every single day of the 1926 calendar year. All photographs are in fair to good condition; some damage to right border of portrait of Francis Whitaker. Slight stain to top left corner of Stekel portrait of Margaret. See our other itemsPAYMENTPlease make payment within 5 days after close of the auction. We will escalate cases with eBay if bidders do not submit payment within the 5 day period following the auction's close. If, for whatever reason you are unable to pay within this time, we will be happy to work with you if you notify us upon the auction's close.SHIPPINGUSA/CANADA - All items are sent USPS First Class unless otherwise stated in the auction listing. On dispatch you will be issued with a tracking number. Higher value items (over $50) will always be fully insured at no extra cost to you. WORLDWIDE - All items are sent USPS First Class and trackable (please note that costs for postage will vary depending on your country.) Higher value items will always be fully insured and trackable at no extra cost to you. We pack all shipments with great care so that all items arrive as they left us. We also combine items so if you win more than one auction, the cost of postage will be greatly lower.RETURNSPlease note that we always collate and describe the items we sell to the very best of our ability. If you have questions regarding an item please get in contact so we can help you further before the auction's close.
If for whatever reason an item you have received does not match our listing we will always issue you a hassle-free full refund on return of the item which will also include any postage costs you have incurred. It is our goal to work with you to ensure that you are fully satisfied with your purchase.QUESTIONS?If you have questions regarding this item or would like to get in touch with us, please send us a message through eBay or you may contact us through our website, Regency Antique Books.1926 Diary EARLY HOLLYWOOD & LA Millionaire Family FANTASTIC SOCIAL HISTORY!
