Boris Karloff's Alaska Scrapbook. ...

Description

Boris Karloff's Alaska Scrapbook. A remarkable item in its own right -- with an original painting cover, and a genuine fur-trimmed front and a fur-covered back -- this scrapbook commemorates Boris Karloff's 1957 visit to Alaska to star in an Anchorage production of Arsenic and Old Lace. The play's director Frank Brink and his wife Jo (who painted the cover of a theater building backed by snow-covered mountains) created this scrapbook for Karloff, which contains 25 pages (now in plastic sleeves); there are several additional pages with clippings inside the book. Snapshots, a map, newspaper coverage of Karloff's arrival, his reception, Karloff's offer to present his proceedings to help build a new theater, the play itself, Karloff visiting an air force hospital and an oil field -- expansive coverage. The Brinks had written in the front of the scrapbook, "Evelyn and Boris, You walked so easily among us -- Surely we must have known you somewhere before. Love, Jo and Frank." The fur is detaching slightly from the lower right corner on the back cover; otherwise Very Good condition. Karloff called this visit to Alaska "the highlight of my life," saying he'd never received so warm and hospitable a greeting, so this surely must have been a cherished and meaningful keepsake for Boris. A wonderful item. From the Boris Karloff Estate Collection, accompanied by a letter of provenance from Sara Karloff Sparkman.

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