Ken Murray's Blackouts of 1943: Souvenir Program [*SIGNED* by two performers]

Los Angeles: Oscar Tittman. Near Fine. [1943]. Stapled wraps. [minor wear to extremities, small white smudge on rear cover]. (B&W photographs, one cartoon drawing) 20-page souvenir program booklet for the popular Hollywood revue, "A Screamline Variety Laff Riot," produced, staged, directed and emcee'd by Murray at the El Capitan Theatre on Hollywood Blvd. from 1942 through 1949. Purportedly the longest-running variety revue in the history of American theatre, it was basically a ramped-up vaudeville bill, featuring singers, dancers, comedians, acrobats, and one notable animal act: Daisy the Wonder Dog, pictured on the front cover along with Murray and the real star of the show, scatterbrained comedienne/actress/model Marie Wilson. Wilson is prominently pictured on both the front and rear covers of this program, and gets a page to herself inside (as do Murray himself and "Renfro and Daisy"). The roster of performers in this iteration of the show ("Subject to Change Without Notice"), apart from Wilson, ranges from the forgotten to the obscure (although film buffs will readily recognize actor Jack Mulhall, then past his prime as a movie leading man but still working steadily in small roles and uncredited bits). A few examples: Grace Poggi & Igor (a dance team); Tip, Tap & Toe (an African-American dancing trio); the Hollywood Elderlovelies (a group of seven ladies -- singers, I guess -- who appear from their photo to be in their 50s or 60s); and, most importantly, the acrobatic duo of (Frank) Park & (Bob) Clifford. Why "most importantly"? Because both Park & Clifford have autographed this program, on their featured page, with brief generic inscriptions ("Sincerely") to its one-time owner. (Laugh if you must, but I defy you to find another Park & Clifford-autographed anything.) The peforming dog Daisy, by the way, was the very same dog who was featured in several of the "Blondie" movies of the late 1930s, although the Blackouts was purportedly "the first time [she] has ever been on the stage." And speaking of "Blondie," the last page of the program features a cartoon drawing by Chic Young, depicting Blondie and Dagwood proudly presenting "our little Daisy in person Signed by Associated .