Can Anyone Identify These People?

[TomJH]

Years ago I came across an autograph album, dated from the 1930s, which I'm now considering selling. It contains about 40 signatures in it, all from show business figures, be it stage, film, musical operetta. A few of the signatures are from rather legendary figures (Walter Huston, Mary Pickford, Tom Mix, etc.). The lady, or young girl, who originally owned this album put in a wonderful effort, obviously going to the theatre a lot. (There are, for example, signatures from both John Gielgud and Lillian Gish from their 1936 Hamlet presentation at the Royal Alec Theatre in Toronto).

 

However, here are two signatures that I have difficulty identifying, and I was wondering if anyone on these boards might recognize either the signature or photograph of the individual, since the owner of the album often glued pictures of the person on the page, as well.

 

I'm copying these images from scanned images off my hard drive, so I'm hoping that you will be able to see them easily (crossing my fingers there).

 

Thanks very much for any assistance that anyone may be able to provide.

[ginnyfan]

Tom,

 

I've taken the liberty of posting the photos to my VWRS Facebook page and to virginiaweidler.net in hopes someone there will pick it up.

[TomJH]

Tom,

 

I've taken the liberty of posting the photos to my VWRS Facebook page and to virginiaweidler.net in hopes someone there will pick it up.

Thanks very much, ginnyfan. That's exceedingly kind of you.

 

One small correction on your description of the two people involved, though. While these two men were undoubtedly a part of show business, they were not necessarily actors.

 

The first picture and signature drives me particularly crazy. Years ago, as I stared as the signature, it suddenly hit me whose it was. Of course now I've completely forgotten the name that I produced but I suspect it may have been someone from the world of music, possibly a violinist or, at least, a musical performer of some kind.

 

Once again, though, thanks for posting those images elsewhere. Maybe some Virginia Weidler fan will have an idea who they were. Weidler, by the way, is not in the autograph book but another child actor is, Dickie Moore! (As well as a couple of less well remembered child actors, Jeanie Lang and Mitzi Green, both of whom I had to look up on IMBd since I had never heard of them).

[drednm]

The second one is Stanley Smith, who was in several early musicals.

[TomJH]

The second one is Stanley Smith, who was in several early musicals.

Thanks very much, drednm. I really appreciate it.

 

Stanley Smith, never heard of him (obviously).

[ginnyfan]

Danny Miller of cinephiled.com says: The first one is English actor Dennis King who did a lot of Broadway musicals and movies such as "The Vagabond King" and "Between Two Worlds." His son originated the role of Freddy Eynsford-Hill in the Broadway production of "My Fair Lady."

 

So there you go.

[TomJH]

Danny Miller of cinephiled.com says: The first one is English actor Dennis King who did a lot of Broadway musicals and movies such as "The Vagabond King" and "Between Two Worlds." His son originated the role of Freddy Eynsford-Hill in the Broadway production of "My Fair Lady."

 

So there you go.

Fantastic, ginnyfan. Now Dennis King I have heard of, having worked with, among others, Laurel and Hardy and Thelma Todd in The Devil's Brother. Thanks very much, and please thank your friend Danny for the information, as well.

 

I compared my signature to that of some on the internet of King's, and it does have very strong similarities to those others, particularly with that elaborate D in his first name.

[TomJH]

Just for the amusement of those who might be interested, here are a couple of the other pages in the autograph album.

 

The first has unexpected artwork done by either Olsen or Johnson when they signed the page.

 

The second one has a huge autograph of silent and early talkie actress Lois Wilson. (But take a look at the second small signature tucked away in the corner of the same page).

[ginnyfan]

Danny sent this photo of Stanley.

 

[TomJH]

Danny sent this photo of Stanley.

 

Yep, ginnyfan, definitely the same face and signature. It's always fun to make a discovery like this.

[ginnyfan]

The second one has a huge autograph of silent and early talkie actress Lois Wilson. (But take a look at the second small signature tucked away in the corner of the same page).

Late in her career, Lois played Ellen Creighton in BAD LITTLE ANGEL (1939). Ellen and her husband Jim, Ian Hunter, take in Ginny's orphan Patsy in the film.

 

Here are Wilson and Ginny playing Chinese checkers during a break.

 

[TomJH]

Thanks for the image of Lois Wilson, ginnyfan. At least one person in this album worked with Virginia Weidler then.

 

It was really something, opening the pages of this little autograph album for the first time, and coming across the names of stage and film luminaries of the '30s, many forgotten today, but with the occasional name scattered throughout the book that still had a lot of recognition.

 

It was like opening a musty door to the past, put together by an eager fan of the time. She is presumably gone now, along with all those who once signed her pages, but her little album is still here.

 

For those who may be interested, here's a few other signatures in the album:

[Kid Dabb]

That was exciting. This is exactly what the "Oh, that face, that fabulous face. Who's is it?" thread was like about 6 years ago. I miss those days <sigh>

 

Than you, Tom.