1933 FRANK MORGAN Pre Wizard Of OZ Close - Up Portrait 8” X 10” SIGNATURE Printed -
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:38624605 | Size: 8 x 10 |
| Original/Reproduction: Original | Modified Item: No |
| Object Type: Photograph | Country/Region of Manufacture: United States |
| Industry: Movies |
(This looks MUCH better than this pictures above.) 1933 FRANK MORGAN pre Wizard of OZ close-up portrait 8” x 10” SIGNATURE printed-in These would look great framed on display in your home theater or to add to your portfolio or scrapbook! A worthy investment for gift giving too! PLEASE BE PATIENT WHILE ALL PICTURES LOAD After checking out this item please look at my other unique silent motion picture memorabilia and Hollywood film ...collectibles! SHIPPING COST CAN BE CUT WHEN SHIPPING MULTIPLE ITEMS TOGETHER AND SAVE $ See a gallery of pictures of my other auctions HERE! This photograph is a real photo chemical created picture (vintage, from the Hollywood studio release) and not a copy or reproduction. DESCRIPTION: The Hollywood movie studios’ publicity departments had their stars photographed, usually in a photo studio, posing for images that could be used for designing ad art to advertise their films. These publicity photographs not only had the actors photographed as themselves but also “in character, ” which in turn were used to create “Lobby Cards” to promote the film as a coming attraction. The photographs of the stars were also used to promote clothing lines and an amazing variety of merchandise — all of which have become collectibles as in-demand vintage Hollywood movie memorabilia..Hollywood’s photography studios, often on the studio lots, were busy with portraiture, glamour and pin-up-style photography of the stars. Here is where some of the most famous photographers of the day worked. Highly collectible is the work of George Hurrell, Clarence Bull, Ruth Harriet Louise, Cecil Beaton, Floyd McCarty, Eugene Richee and many others.Many collectors who love vintage Hollywood movie memorabilia prize film star photos. The purpose of these photographs was to capture a movie star’s role or to promote that star. The stars were rarely left alone and a photographer was often available to capture them at home, so their social lives were always the subject of the still camera. CONDITION: This matt finish souvenir photo from 1933 is in VERY GOOD condition (old yes, and slightly aged/yellowed with patina (hand dirt) and there are pinholes in the corners which keep it from being perfect). (see photo) Finally, this is a vintage printed/studio manufactured picture and is not a chemically reproduced silver gelatin photograph. It is a collectable gift/premium from the studio to be used in the lobby of the theater this stars movie would be playing in. (This is NOT a cheap digital dupe, a re-release or copy, it is a real vintage photograph dye printed (like Technicolor) in the year of the release of the film.) These are worth more than $10-15 but since I have recently acquired two huge collections from life-long movie buffs who collected for decades… I need to offer these choice items for sale on a first come, first service basis to the highest bidder. SHIPPING:Domestic shipping would be FIRST CLASS and well packed in plastic, with several layers of cardboard support/protection and delivery tracking. International shipping depends on the location, and the package would weigh close to three quarters of a pound with even more extra ridge packing. PAYMENTS: Please pay PayPal! All of my items are unconditionally guaranteed. E-mail me with any questions you may have. This is Larry41, wishing you great movie memories and good luck… BACKGROUND: Frank Morgan was one of the foremost character actors from the early days of movies. He appeared in over 100 films, starting in the Silent era and his best known performance was in 'The Wizard of Oz' in 1939 when he played five different roles including the eponymous Wizard.Morgan received two Academy Award nominations, one for Best Actor for 'The Affairs of Cellini' in 1934 and one for Best Supporting Actor for 'Tortilla Flat' in 1942. BiographyHe was born Francis Phillip Wuppermann on June 1, 1890, in New York City. He was the youngest of six boys and five girls born into a comfortable, middle-class family. His Venezuelan-born father was the co-founder of the Angostura-Wuppermann Corporation and had made the family wealthy by shrewdly buying the American distribution rights for Angostura Bitters.After attending Cornell University Frank had a variety of jobs without settling into a career. He was attracted into show business by the example of his brother, Ralph Morgan, seven years Frank's senior, who had. started an extremely successful stage career. Frank's acting career would eventually overshadow that of his brother. Stage CareerFrank's acting career began on Broadway in the play 'A Woman Killed with Kindness / Granny Maumee' in 1914. Although it only ran for one performance, Morgan made an impression and he went on to make many appearances on the Broadway stage in such productions as 'Mr Wu' in 1914, 'Under Fire' the following year, 'Rock-a-Bye Baby in 1918, 'The Lullaby' in 1923 and 'The Firebrand' in 1924.These successes led to his being cast in top quality productions which became smash hits, such as 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' in 1926, 'Topaze' in 1930 and 'The Band Wagon' in 1931. Morgan's star was in the ascendant, but he made the important decision to switch to movie acting. Movie CareerAlthough stage work was his main focus from the outset, Morgan also appeared in many early movies, beginning in 1916 with 'The Suspect', billed as Frank Wupperman. He continued the following year with a leading role in 'A Modern Cinderella' and a strong role supporting his friend, John Barrymore, in 'Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman'.Morgan's movie output at this time was not great as he preferred to concentrate his talents on the stage. After 'The Gray Towers Mystery' and 'The Golden Shower' in 1919, he did not make a movie for five years, His next venture on the large screen was with Gloria Swanson in 'Manhandled' in 1924. He followed it the following year with 'The Crowded Hour' and 'The Man Who Found Himself' and then in 1927 with 'Love's Greatest Mistake', opposite Evelyn Brent and William Powell. TalkiesFor the next three years Morgan concentrated on the theater, until the advent of Sound movies changed his acting focus completely. His strong speaking voice made him a natural for the new medium. After a short subject called 'Belle of the Night' in 1930, Morgan made his feature film debut in Talkies in the same year with the comedy Western 'Dangerous Nan McGrew'During the 1930's and 1940's Frank Morgan's film career came to successful fruition. His stock rose considerably when he was given a lifetime contract by top studio, MGM, and he found himself very much in demand. He appeared in numerous movies each year including memorable films such as 'Bombshell' with Jean Harlow in 1933 and the following year he received a Best Actor Academy Award nomination for 'The Affairs of Cellini'. He tended to play important supporting comedic roles as in 'The Good Fairy' in 1935, 'The Great Ziegfeld in 1936 and with Shirley Temple in 'Dimples', also in 1936. He showed his acting range by also successfully portraying villains as in 'The Crowd Roars' with Robert Taylor in 1938. The Wizard of Oz 1939Morgan will always be remembered for his portrayal of the Wizard in 'The Wizard of Oz'. He only got the role after it had been turned down by both W.C. Fields and Ed Wynn and he actually played five parts in the picture, including the Wizard himself, Professor Marvel, the stern Gatekeeper, the Carriage Driver, and the Guard. It was an acting tour-de-force by Morgan and very few actors could have managed to differentiate the five characters so well.Morgan continued to be much in demand during the 1940's with impressive performances in more serious parts, including in 1940 the charming 'The Shop Around the Corner' and 'The Mortal Storm' one of the first Hollywood movies to uncompromisingly anti-Nazi. He was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for his moving performance in 'Tortilla Flat' in 1942 and he gave another memorable performance in 'The Human Comedy' in 1943, which Louis B. Mayer claimed to be his favourite film. Morgan continued to excel in character roles. He played a shepherd in 'Courage of Lassie' in 1946, the drunken Uncle Sid in 'Summer Holiday' in 1948, and King Louis XIII in 'The Three Musketeers' also in 1948. Radio CareerMorgan had a successful career on radio parallel to his movie career. During the 1940's he co-starred with Fanny Brice in 'Maxwell House Coffee Time' which became simply ''The Frank Morgan Show' after Brice's departure. He appeared in numerous other popular radio shows including 'The Fabulous Dr. Tweedy' from 1946-47, 'The Don Ameche Show', 'Command Performance', 'The Bickersons' and 'Kraft Music Hall'.PersonalMorgan married once, to Alma Muller, the daughter of a New York property magnate, in 1914. They had one son and the marriage ended with Morgan's death.The couple were very comfortably off and owned a 550-acre ranch in Hemet Valley, California, where they raised cattle. Morgan was also a yacht owner. Morgan was a popular member of the Hollywood fraternity and was well respected for his professional attitude on set and sociability off it. He was a heavy drinker and is thought to have been a functioning alcoholic. After completing the film 'Key to the City' in 1949, he began filming 'Annie Get Your Gun' in the role of Buffalo Bill when he died from a heart attack on September 18 1949.
