Nov 5, 2025 10:00 EST

Stage & Screen featuring The Estate of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.

 
  Lot 21
 

21

A Charles Addams theater advertisement "They laughed their heads off!"

ADDAMS, CHARLES
Original advertising illustration of a crowd of theatergoers sans heads. Pen and ink, wash, and white on paper, with a pasted-on printed caption "They laughed their heads off!" and signed "Chas Addams" at lower right, 16 x 16 inches (40½ x 40½ cm), framed. A bit toned with age, with a few small spots and a partially-erased pencil mark to the lower right corner, overall very good.

An original Charles Addams illustration depicting the macabe aftermath of a performance of Anniversary Waltz, a 1954 Broadway play starring Macdonald Carey and Kitty Carlisle. Critics considered Anniversary Waltz to be overly crude. Unsurprisngly, perhaps, the play's raunchiness didn't hurt its popularity with audiences. Versions of this illustration appeared as posters and newspaper advertisements for Anniversary Waltz.

Sold for $23,040
Estimated at $8,000 - $12,000

Includes Buyer's Premium


 

ADDAMS, CHARLES
Original advertising illustration of a crowd of theatergoers sans heads. Pen and ink, wash, and white on paper, with a pasted-on printed caption "They laughed their heads off!" and signed "Chas Addams" at lower right, 16 x 16 inches (40½ x 40½ cm), framed. A bit toned with age, with a few small spots and a partially-erased pencil mark to the lower right corner, overall very good.

An original Charles Addams illustration depicting the macabe aftermath of a performance of Anniversary Waltz, a 1954 Broadway play starring Macdonald Carey and Kitty Carlisle. Critics considered Anniversary Waltz to be overly crude. Unsurprisngly, perhaps, the play's raunchiness didn't hurt its popularity with audiences. Versions of this illustration appeared as posters and newspaper advertisements for Anniversary Waltz.

Auction: Stage & Screen featuring The Estate of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Nov 5, 2025

  • Popular Stage & Screen Auction on November 5, 2025 Attracted Global Audience

  • Memorabilia, Autographs, Artwork & Photographs Celebrating Theater, Hollywood, Music and Dance

  • Archive of Samuel Beckett Material from the Estate of His American Director Alan Schneider Topped $75,000

  • Sale Featured a Special Section Devoted to the Estate of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.


NEW YORK, NY -- Doyle's popular Stage & Screen auction on November 5, 2025 attracted fans and collectors around the world vying for an exciting range of offerings celebrating the performing arts of Theater, Hollywood, Music and Dance.

The Estate of Alan Schneider
Featured in the sale was fascinating collection of early Waiting for Godot material from the Estate of Alan Schneider that topped $75,000 amid trans-Atlantic competition. “The primary American director of Samuel Beckett plays” and a close friend of the playwright, Alan Schneider died in 1984, and his widow died at 101 this past summer. This remarkable archive offered an extraordinary glimpse into the creative partnership between Schneider and Beckett, spanning decades of groundbreaking theatrical work. Highlights included Schneider’s annotated working copy of Waiting for Godot used in the landmark American production, an inscribed typescript of Eh Joe, and first editions and presentation copies of Endgame and Happy Days, many personally inscribed to Schneider by Beckett. Other treasures included manuscripts, letters, awards, recordings and posters that document a pivotal collaboration in modern theater history. Read more

The Estate of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
Doyle was honored to offer a sequel to the successful 2011 auction of property from the estate of the legendary actor. Featured in the sale were artwork, furniture, photographs and memorabilia. Read More.

We Invite You to Auction!

Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for complimentary auction estimates. Our Specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.

REQUEST AN ESTIMATE

 

View all lots in this sale

Sell one like this

Your Details

Item Details

Current Location of Item(s)

Images *

Drag and drop .jpg images here to upload, or click here to select images.


Previous Doyle Contact

Marketing Preferences