(1932) Hollywood Movie Advertising Token - American Madness (Variety - 1)
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:35036567 |
PLEASE CHECK OUT MY OTHER AUCTIONS - THIS IS JUST ONE OF 12HOLLYWOOD/SOCAL AND OTHER TOKENS BEING LISTED, AND MORE WILL BE LISTED AFTERTHESE SALES Description:Obverse: See / "AMERICAN / MADNESS" Reverse: GREATEST / PICTURE / OF / THE YEAR Brass. About 24mm in diameter. Catalog number: Hollywood K-10 (variety-1). Variety-1 has thick letters and the style of the lettering is a bit different from that on Variety-2 which is also listed on my auctions.See pictu...res for condition. A nice addition to any collection of vintage movie memorabilia. Background information: From Wikipedia (in part):American Madness is a 1932 American pre-code film produced by Columbia Pictures and directed by Frank Capra. The movie stars Walter Huston as a New York banker embroiled in scandal. At the Union National Bank, the directors are concerned because they think the bank's president, Tom Dickson (Walter Huston), has loaned too much money to people who are bad risks during this Great Depression era. They threaten to replace him. Dickson argues that he loans to people he personally knows are good risks and that none of them has defaulted, and that loaning the money keeps it circulating, without which the Depression would get even worse. He refuses to resign. His wife Phyllis (Kay Johnson) drops by. She is planning a special date for their anniversary that night, but he has forgotten it and made business plans. He promises to go out with her the next night, but promptly arranges another business meeting then. Three gangsters led by Dude Finlay (Robert Ellis) enter the office of chief cashier Cyril Cluett (Gavin Gordon) to intimidate him. He owes them $50, 000 in gambling debts, and they promise not to hurt him if he helps them rob the bank that night. They advise him to arrange an alibi for midnight, when the robbery will be. Seeing Phyllis, he claims to have always been in love with her and asks to go out with him that night. She decides to have some harmless fun while Tom is unavailable, and agrees to do it. However, they are seen by Matt Brown (Pat O'Brien), who assumes the worst about Dickson's marriage. Cluett resets the vault's time lock before leaving to meet Phyllis. They go to a play, then to his apartment; but Brown is there waiting for them, hoping to break up their affair. Meanwhile at the bank, the gang steals $100, 000, but they also murder a guard who sees them. The next day, rumors about the amount stolen become wildly exaggerated and cause a run on the bank. Dickson tries frantically to arrange emergency money to meet the withdrawals but cannot, and the board will not help, preferring to force him out. The bank still has enough resources to pay all depositors eventually, but its reputation for safety will be gone if they cannot withdraw money now. Meanwhile, the police suspect Brown, who will only say he was at home with a married woman he will not name. Eventually they hear about Cluett being seen with Dude Finlay and turn their suspicions to him. Brown is cleared, but as they talk about alibis, he blurts out Phyllis's name in Dickson's presence. Dickson, too, believes the worst about his marriage. He becomes depressed and agrees to resign his job. As the bank runs out of cash, the other bankers have an idea. They call on the people Tom Dickson has helped with loans in the past, to come in and visibly deposit all the money they can afford. They also call Phyllis, who reassures Dickson of her love. When the board sees the loyal depositors, they rally around to support Dickson, arranging immediate deliveries of money themselves. The bank is saved; Dickson recovers his positive attitude and keeps his job. Finally Tom Dickson gives Matt Brown the promotion he has been hoping for, and "orders" him to marry his girlfriend, Dickson's own secretary Helen (Constance Cummings). He then asks Helen to arrange a luxurious sea voyage—for himself and Phyllis. My seller info: My father, who is a retired coin dealer, has for years beensending me old tokens and medals from Hollywood and the Los Angeles area as heran across them. He figured that they would be of more interest to people in myarea than in Oregon where he currently resides. It is now time for me to partwith some of these interesting and historic items. Some of them picture moviestars of bygone days. Others are vintage "movie money" used by theproduction companies to represent coins in their movies, and still others areadvertising or employee tokens used at Paramount and other famous studios. Afew of the tokens are from businesses that operated in the Los Angeles areafrom the early 1900s to the 1960s. He also has a passion for other interestingU.S. and world tokens and medals issued before 1900 so some of my listings mayinclude a few of those items. I'll be starting my auctions at the price my father paid for themyears ago, and let the market take them where it will. All items are guaranteed genuine, unless otherwisestated. You will receive the exact item(s) pictured on myauction. Actual color of the item(s) being auctioned is often alittle different from the color on my pictures. Some items just don'tphotograph as well as others. Since I am not a coin dealer, I will not attemptto grade the item(s). I've tried to make the pictures as clear as possible soyou may use them to determine the grade for yourself. Obvious damage will benoted, but minor marks and wear due to age will not. Please contact me with yourquestions before bidding. I do combine shipping for auctions won within a three day period.Please contact me if you intend to bid on auctions closing on different days.Items won will usually be mailed housed in my father's original package unlessthe package has been damaged. I would love to see these items go to a newhome where there is the same appreciation for their historic significance as myfather and I have had for them. Mailing via first class USPS envelope inside a firm cardstocksleeve. Undercurrent Post Office slowdowns, other mailing options are available and otherscan be requested.Internationalbuyers: Message me after bidding to discuss shipping.
