An Autographed Hat Holds the History of Early Hollywood
Photographs of The Hollywood Hat by Kevin Mulligan
“Can I have your autograph?”
The streets of Hollywood have teemed with autograph hunters for a century now. Brandishing an autograph book or scrap of paper, these collectors good-naturedly accost stars wherever they find them — on the street, in restaurants, at the supermarket, at gas stations, in elevators, in their cars when stopped at red lights, and even in restrooms.
I’m not an autograph collector. Well, I wasn’t until recently when I bought a collection of movie star autographs at a Hollywood auction. There are nearly 400 of them in all, including Clark Gable, Charlie Chaplin, William Powell, Jean Harlow, John Barrymore, Janet Gaynor, Leslie Howard, Bing Crosby, Mary Pickford, Paul Muni, Gloria Swanson, Gary Cooper, Joan Crawford, Robert Taylor, Ralph Bellamy, Irene Dunne, Spencer Tracy, Alice Faye, Jack Benny, Will Rogers, Loretta Young, Lon Chaney, Helen Hayes, Pat O’Brien, Joan Blondell, Jeanette MacDonald, Robert Montgomery, Dick Powell, Marion Davies, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Wallace Beery, Myrna Loy, Jackie Cooper, Marie Dressler, Eddie Cantor, Shirley Temple (printed, not written — she was only 6 at the time), Jimmy Durante, Frank Morgan, Mary Astor, Robert Young, Constance Bennett, Charles Boyer, Nelson Eddy, Boris Karloff, Buster Keaton, Fay Wray, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Walter Pidgeon, Billie Burke, George Burns, Gracie Allen and Mickey Rooney. That’s star power.
Bing Crosby
Paul Muni
Ralph Bellamy
Irene Dunne
Spencer Tracy
Loretta Young
Pat O’Brien
Robert Montgomery
Wallace Beery
Marie Dressler
Robert Young
Walter Pidgeon
Robert Taylor
The collection is unusual in that all of the signatures are on one vintage Stetson cowboy hat – on the crown, on the brim, and even under the brim. The signatures, executed by fountain pens (this was before the days of ballpoints), all date from the 1928-1936 time period. I immediately thought of it as The Hollywood Hat.
This was an interesting era in Hollywood history. In the late 20′s, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was founded, Grauman’s Chinese Theater started collecting footprints and handprints, WAMPAS Baby Stars were all the rage and movies went from silent to “talkies.” As I researched the names on the hat, I came to realize how the switch to talking pictures affected many of the hat’s signers. Like fictional George Valentin in The Artist, lots of big-time careers crashed with the advent of sound, including these hat signers — Eleanor Boardman, Norman Kerry, Pauline Starke, Antonio Moreno, Victor Varconi, Aileen Pringle, and most famously, John Gilbert.
John Gilbert
Eleanor Boardman
Antonio Moreno
Whose Hat Was This?
But the first question on my mind was “Whose hat was this?” I came up with Theory No. 1.
Theory No. 1: The Stetson hat was worn by one very dedicated autograph collector who spent years haunting Hollywood Boulevard. The doorman at the Brown Derby probably knew him on sight. And what a great gimmick. Rather than shoving pen and paper at a movie star, ask them to sign a ten gallon cowboy hat. Who could resist? Judging by the sheer number of signatures, no one.
As I made a list of every name on the hat, it slowly dawned on me that quite a few of the signers were contract players at MGM and, to a lesser extent, at Fox, the two studios on the West Side of Los Angeles. There’s hardly anyone from Warner Brothers, Paramount or RKO, all located on the other side of town.
I voted Theory No. 1 off the island and developed Theory No. 2.
Theory No. 2: The dedicated autograph collector hung out at the front gates of MGM and Fox, which are conveniently connected by a winding street called Motor Avenue. Local lore is that Motor Avenue was built to cut down on the commute time between the two studios; it only takes about 10 minutes to toodle up or down Motor Avenue.
Motor Avenue connects MGM and 20th-Century Fox
But then I started spotting autographs of directors. Unless they’re Spielberg or Hitchcock, who the hell asks a director for their autograph? King Vidor, W.S. Van Dyke, Roy Del Ruth, Robert Z. Leonard, Thornton Friedland, Alfred E. Green, Archie Mayo, Eddie Buzzell. And I thought, okay, it’s time to tool up Theory No. 3.
King Vidor
W. S. Van Dyke
Theory No. 3: The hat belonged to an insider — someone with frequent access to the two studios. Maybe they were an extra or maybe the hat belonged to a movie crew member. The only thing working against Theory No. 3 is an immutable law of Hollywood once behind the studio walls: don’t bother the stars.
The hat is a crazy quilt of signatures, and I kept seeing new names. On the underbrim, I was stopped cold by the signature of British playwright G. Bernard Shaw. What on earth is the signature of George Bernard Shaw doing on this hat? I know Shaw visited Hollywood in his lifetime. Once. In 1933. For three hours.
George Bernard Shaw
I asked myself again: Whose hat was this?
Over 90-percent of the names on the Stetson were actors and actresses, plus the aforementioned directors as well as a gaggle of World Heavyweight Boxing Champions (more about them later). And then, in the midst of all this celebrated celebrity, there were the John Hancocks of four men who worked in studio make-up departments. No set designers. No costume designers. No sound recorders or music arrangers. Just four make-up men. Curious.
Theory No. 4: The hat belonged to someone in the make-up department at MGM or Fox. Make-up people would have daily access to stars at their most relaxed and vulnerable, when they’re just sitting there with nothing better to do than autograph a cowboy hat.
Very helpful article. I HAVE A HAT JUST LIKE THIS! However, my hat has those who have played in cowboy movies. I wonder if there was a certain method to obtaining signatures on both hats, perhaps by genre?!?
Didn’t you notice that all the handwriting looks the same?
What an interesting article and what a fantastic piece of memorabilia. I wonder if someone like AC Lyles of Paramount would know about this hat? He has worked for the studio for over 80 years. I would be interested in knowning how much you paid for it.
Great story. I think George Bernard Shaw visited Hollywood for more than 3 hours….I’m pretty sure that I read he spent some time at Pickfair — where he signed Mary Pickford’s autograph book.
Thanks for the compliment. In my research, I came across a number of confusing references to George Bernard Shaw visiting Pickfair and signing Mary Pickford’s autograph book. Apparently, he never visited Pickfair, but he did sign Pickford’s autograph book when she was in England and went to visit him.
I just LOVE this story !! and i will share it with my movie buff friends back home in New England. The Hollywood Studio Museum on Highland once had in their collection a drum cover that included signatures of performers who participated in Cecil B. DeMille’s Lux radio program. it was a “who’s -who” in Hollywood. My wife Laurie was a volunteer at the barn. Every time I’d go visit here, I’d run over to the drum and marvel at the signatures. Sad to say, there was a fire at the barn and the signatures went up in flames.
I am directing and co-producing a feature documentary on actress-activist Marsha Hunt. I wonder if she signed the hat? I’ll have to ask her. thanks again for your wonderful story take good care of that hat!! ..
THANK YOU for this wonderful story I’m going to share it with my movie buff friends back home in New England. This is such an important piece of Hollywood history!! At one time, the Hollywood Studio Museum had a large drum cover of sorts – that everyone who was on Cecil B. DeMille’s LUX radio show signed. I LOVED looking at all the famous people who signed it. Unfortunately, there was a fire at the barn, and the signatures were lost forever. . Congrats on your piece of Hollywood History! I’m directing and producing a feature documentary on actress – activist Marsha Hunt ( “Marsha Hunt’s Sweet Adversity”) I wonder if she signed the hat?? I’ll have to ask her.. thanks again!! roger c. memos
so sorry for the double click. AND HERE IS MY CORRECT WEBSITE ADDRESS. for Marsha Hunt documentary thanks again! roger
That was such an interesting and well-written article! So happy I serendipitously stumbled upon it! I’m related to one of the signers (Grace Moore, my great-aunt) and am a serious student of silent films and, more specifically, Hollywood itself during the silent/early-talkie era. How fortunate you are to have become the caretaker of this marvelous relic! That is what we antique collectors are, you know…”caretakers” who shepherd these valued treasures until they find their next caretaker.
The one thing missing from your wonderful article is the “back story” on how you came upon it and how you came to own it. Was it random, or had you heard about it in advance of the auction? I dont’ suppose it’s anyone’s business, but was it outrageously expensive or did you get a “deal”? And as one of the other commenters asked, it’d be interesting to know how it ended up in an auction house, and whether Cecil’s daughter had sold it herself or if she had somehow lost track of it and was thrilled to rediscover it? Maybe all of this is for your next installment. In any case, I thoroughly enjoyed your article and look forward to your future postings. Thank you, Gregory Moore NYC
What a great article. We should never forget the pioneers. Cecil was one of them. They all paved the way for all of us today working in the industry today with or without winning awards. God Bless Them.
A great, thoroughly researched piece of history! But for collectors, a large part of the interest is about the acquisition itself. What were the circumstances of the discovery, the bidding process, if other similar items were also part of the lot, and of course, the final cost. For those of us searching for old Hollywood autographs, such information would be interesting to know about. But that is one absolutely stunning slice of history! The only problem might be how to display it fully enough to reveal all the signatures without undue handling of the item.
JOE!!!!!!! This is the find of a lifetime!!!! I will treasure this almost as much as you are treasuring the hat!!!! I will send this to many friends who’ll really savor this wonderful story, so lovingly told. I miss you.
x
Vicky
This article just hit so close to my heart for a couple of reasons. I used to collect autographs myself as a young girl as I lived near MGM. Right after highschool my first job was as a messenger girl at MGM. Later in life I became a member of the Makeup Artists and Hairstylist Union, Local 706. at MGM and worked with 2nd, and 3rd generations of artists that Cecil Holland trained. Reading his history just make me relive all that wonder life. Thank you Joe , great job.
I’d like to how such a cherished piece ended in an auction and not with Holland’s family. It’s a really great article. Wish it mentioned the last leg of the hat’s journey.
Bob Schiffer, long time head of make-up at Disney studios, once asked me if I’d ever heard of Cecil Holland. I said yes, but that I didn’t know much about him. “He taught me make-up”, Bob said.
This is such a wonderful article about one of our founding members, and a make-up artist who is still an icon. You’ve done a remarkable job researching and uncovering so many facts and details, so valuable to our history. Make-up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild, IATSE Local 706 celebrates its 75th anniversary this year and I’m going to do my best to make sure every one of our members gets an opportunity to read this. Thank you so much – it’s a wonderful article.
Excellent! Old pal, you can sure research and you can sure write.
But am I the only one who wants to know – so, what did you PAY for the hat??
Fabulous article. Why you’re a better sleuth than Nick Charles.
What a fantastic part of history…
Thanks for the share. : )
WOW! I LOVED this article, Joe! I know it really took a lot of research and the result is truly a joy to read. What a great part of Hollywood history to uncover!
This is amazing! Wonderful article and what an amazing find!
Fantastic research into a fascinating artefact of early Hollywood. A great piece of detective work, and a most entertaining piece of writing. Excellent photography showing the autographs so clearly (no surprises, Kevin!). Thank you for sharing.
This is without question one of the very best articles I have ever read about early Hollywood–and I have read many over the last 40 years! It is very well-written, and I truly enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about one of the little-known aspects of filmmaking–makeup. I would love to see you write a biography of Holland, and/or a study of 100 years of Hollywood make-up. These are both subjects ripe for study and publication, perhaps by McFarland & Company, the publisher of my book about film director Robert Siodmak. I strongly encourage you to pursue this subject further!
What a wonderful example of forensic research. Kudos to you, Joe!
This is a delightful article, wonderfully executed and covering an irresistible subject. Thank you for sharing the hat, the signatures and best of all, the theories as to how it came to be!
This was fascinating! Such a creative way to get autographs and you told such a great story of The Hollywood Hat. What a wonderful item to find!
This story is terrifically entertaining with a mystery of the “undeciphered” thrown in. I’ll be checking back to see if anyone can come up with the names. Wild Guess: (Undeciphered #3 – James Arness?) “The Farmer’s Daughter” was filmed in 1947.