Boris Karloff Rehearsal Negative, 1942....

Description

Boris Karloff Rehearsal Negative, 1942. In March of 1942, Boris Karloff, then starring on Broadway in Arsenic and Old Lace, appeared in an all-star fund raiser for Navy Relief, presented at Madison Square Garden. Karloff appeared in drag as part of the Florodora Sextette. This negative shows Boris in a rehearsal publicity pose (in male attire and with parasol) with fellow Sextette members Ed Wynn, Vincent Price, Clifton Webb, Danny Kay and Eddie Cantor. Standing behind the men are the ladies who appeared in the act in male drag (and here wearing male hats) -- Leonora Corbett, Peggy Wood, Eve Arden, Sophie Tucker, Tallulah Bankhead, and Gertrude Lawrence. This picture appeared in the 1975 book Dear Boris by Cynthia Lindsay and is a very rare shot of a variety of show business legends all clearly having great fun. Excellent condition. From the Boris Karloff Estate Collection. Accompanied by a letter of provenance from Sara Karloff Sparkman.

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