Cat. #00151451: IRENE HERVEY

Uncommon vintage inscribed fountain pen signature on a 4x5-inch pale green autograph album page, acquired in-person by inveterate collector Howard Davis at Boston's Colonial Theater in the 1930s and decorated with a small book image.  In fairly good condition for its age, with some light crinkling and a minute tear to the upper edge, repaired on the verso with a tiny piece of tape.  Groomed for stardom by Louis B. Mayer at MGM, attractive, dimple-cheeked Irene Hervey was booted from her contract following a notorious affair with Robert Taylor.  To make ends meet, she was forced to appear in B-level westerns and crime flicks at Universal, shining in Charlie Chan in Shanghai (1935), Destry Rides Again (1939), San Francisco Docks (1940) and Night Monster (1942) with Lionel Atwill and Bela Lugosi.  After a serious car accident in 1943, she almost completely abandoned acting, save for Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid in 1948, Cactus Flower in 1969 and a handful of television guest spots.  Of particular note was her starring role in the classic episode of "The Twilight Zone" entitled "Black Leather Jackets" (1964).