OSCAR LEVANT- Iconic Pianist, Actor/Humorist- SIGNED 3 x 5 Index Card- LOA-JSA

Description: OSCAR LEVANT- Iconic Pianist, Actor and Humorist- SIGNED Vintage 3 x 5 Card. RARE PLEASE NOTE:- The 15 PHOTOS are NOT FOR SALE. They're shown only as a visual reference for the listing The $50 fee for the Letter of Authenticity (LOA) from James Spence Authentication is PRE-PAID. The autographed card and LOA will be protected with cardboard and bubble-wrap. They will be shipped via USPS First Class Mail ABOUT THE AUTOGRAPH- Oscar Levant signed the card in 1969. He was attending a classical musical event at the Los Angeles Music Center. My Aunt and Uncle, who were eager autograph hunters, spotted Levant in the lobby during intermission and asked for his autograph. He hated signing autographs and declined her request. But my Aunt was very persistent and the irritated Oscar Levant finally gave in. ABOUT OSCAR LEVANT Oscar Levant (1906 –1972) was an American concert pianist, conductor, author, radio game show panelist and TV talk show host, comedian and actor. He was a neurotic hypochondriac and a witty self-declared genius who was famous for being one of the leading interpreters of the music of George Gershwin. He was the son of a watch repairman and left home at the age of 16 to study music in New York, supporting himself by giving piano lessons. While Levant prepared himself for a career as a concert pianist, he worked with small dance bands. A minor part in the Broadway show "Burlesque" led to his first film role in the screen version of the play ("The Dance of Life") in 1929. Levant remained in Hollywood for the next few years, writing scores and songs for the movies. During this period, he met George Gershwin, to whom he was devoted. His own career as a composer was sidelined become George Gershwin's interpreter and virtual alter-ego. Levant also became known to the public as a knowledgeable and witty participant on radio's "Information Please" program. His popularity grew and Levant began appearing in movies, usually cast in supporting roles as a cynical wit, sometimes as himself. Levant's films include "Rhapsody in Blue" (1945), "The Barkleys of Broadway" (1949 with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers), "An American in Paris" (1951 with Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron) and "The Band Wagon" (1953). Oscar Levant frequently appeared on radio, including NBC's Kraft Music Hall, with singer Al Jolson. He accompanied Jolson on the piano with classical and popular songs. Their comedy sketches were very popular. Audiences enjoyed Levant's jokes and off-the-cuff repartee with Jolson and his famous guests. Levant's and Jolson's ties to George Gershwin led to the introduction Gershwin's song "Swanee." Levant also appeared on the late-night talk shows. He used the shows as a virtual psychiatric couch for a public display of his social gripes and psychological problems. Levant was a talented pianist and made many recordings of Gershwin's music and other classical composers. During the 1940s, Levant was the highest-paid concert pianist in the U.S. Levant talked openly on TV about his neuroses and hypochondria. Despite his afflictions,Oscar Levant was considered a multifaceted genius by some. Levant joked "There's a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line." During the course of his life, several of his books were best-sellers. In his later life, Levant became addicted to prescription drugs and was often committed to psychiatric hospitals by his wife before withdrawing from the limelight. In April 2023, Oscar Levant was portrayed by actor Sean Hayes in the Broadway play "Good Night, Oscar." The play was aa fictionalized and version of true events. It took place in 1958 when Levant was given a four-hour furlough from a psychiatric hospital to appear on "The Tonight Show." Sean Hayes won a Tony Award as Best Actor for his performance in the play.

Price: 139 USD

Location: Los Angeles, California

End Time: 2024-10-02T06:46:25.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD