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Ethel Merman, Bette Midler, Meryl Streep, Robin Williams Among Signatures on Autograph Suit to Be Auctioned; Actors Fund to Benefit
By: Dan Bacalzo · Aug 13, 2010 · New Jersey
The Actors Fund will receive a portion of the proceeds from the sale of a unique “autograph suit” featuring signatures of celebrities that wardrobe & hair professional Vince Esoldi has collected over the last 35 years.
Esoldi is seeking a buyer for the suit who he hopes will either put the suit on display in a prominent theater museum or donate it to the Smithsonian, which has expressed interest in it. Upon the sale of the suit, 20 percent of the proceeds will be donated to The Lillian Booth Actors Home of The Actors Fund, located in Englewood, New Jersey. Esoldi will be making the donation in memory of his friend and colleague Peter Howard, musical director, composer, and musician.
The suit features over 300 famous signatures, and was first signed by Ethel Merman 35 years ago at a party at Sardi’s Restaurant. It will be going on sale on eBay beginning Wednesday, August 18.
Among the other signatures are Frank Sinatra, Henry Fonda, Bette Midler, Cher, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Lena Horne, Elizabeth Taylor, Lilly Tomlin, Gloria Vanderbilt, Barbara Walters, Andy Warhol, Robin Williams, Faye Dunaway, Christopher Reeve, Mary Tyler Moore, Ginger Rogers, Mickey Rooney, Jimmy Stewart, Alec Baldwin, Bernadette Peters, Walter Cronkite, President and Mrs. Obama, Daniel Radcliffe, and Hugh Jackman.
For more information, visit www.actorsfund.org.
