Billie Burke

SUMMARY: This offering is an autogrph of Billie Burke.Price: $225.00

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illie Burke (1885-1970). Legendary American Actress and Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, in the classic The Wizard of Oz (1939). Very Rare Vintage Signature, cut from an album, no place or date but circa mid-1930s, on a small octavo sheet, with a black and white bust portrait of Burke laid on to the sheet, and accented with an attractive gold paint pen design. Signed and inscribed: "To Grace - Sincerely Billie Burke". $950. (#11094)

Named for her father Billy Burke, the internationally famous clown, Billie Burke was destined to be immortalized forever when, at age 54, in the role of Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, she asked Dorothy "Are you a good witch?" with that helium voice and cheery, dimpled smile, in the classic The Wizard of Oz (1939).

'Billie,' aka Mary William Ethelbert Appleton Burke, made her debut as an actress at age 18, and her career was off and running. Appearing in over 80 films, From 1916 to 1921, she starred in silent films, such as Gloria's Romance (1916), Peggy (1916), Arms and the Girl (1917), The Make-Believe Wife (1918), and The Education of Elizabeth (1921) before returning to Broadway. When Burke's husband, Florenz Ziegfeld, was wiped out in the Wall Street crash, she went back to Hollywood, and all but patented the role of the ditsy, fluttery, upper-class matron. Among her numerous sound films are A Bill of Divorcement (1932), Dinner at Eight (as the hostess), Topper (1937, as Mrs. Topper), Parnell (1937), Topper Takes a Trip, Zenobia (both 1939), Irene (1940), Topper Returns, The Man Who Came to Dinner (both 1941), In This Our Life (1942), and Father of the Bride (1950).

In 1938, Billie received her first and only Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Emily Kilbourne in Merrily We Live. This was probably the best cinematic performance of her career, but in 1939 she became part of cinematic legend and folklore with her performance of Glinda the Good Witch of the North. No Wizard of Oz cast collection of signatures are complete without her, and after Charley Grapewin (Uncle Henry) and
Clara Blandick (Auntie Em), probably the most difficult to obtain. This one was trimmed evenly on left margin, very light buckling from application of Burke's bust image on left margin, with gold paint pen designs toning as shown, minor age. Overall in very good condition. Ideal for framing. $950. (#11145).

The autograph comes with a letter of authenticity as to its origin, history and authenticity.

Price: $225.00