The Incomparable Hildegarde

1956; Louis Claes Photographer, 6900 blvd. PIE IX, Montreal 36 - R.A. 5-3321

Happy birthday, Perry Como!

From left to right: Mitchell Ayers, Hildegarde, and Perry Como.

May 17, 1947: Hildegarde, Bing Crosby, Happy Chandler, Senator Robert Taft at the National Celebrities golf tournament at Columbia, Washington, D.C.

Important Handpainted Blouse gifted to Hildegarde Loretta Sell by Liberace. Including photo of Liberace Handpainting the blouse for Hildegarde. She was an inspiration for Liberace, who once acknowledged her influence on his performances: "Hildegarde was perhaps the most famous supper-club entertainer who ever lived. I used to absorb all the things she was doing, all the showmanship she created. It was marvelous to watch her, wearing elegant gowns, surrounded with roses and playing with white gloves on. They used to literally roll out the red carpet for her". Also included in the lot is a handwritten note from Hildegarde to the consignor confirming the authenticity of the blouse. Provenance: Private Sarasota Florida collection.

Happy birthday, Liberace!

Liberace painted this blouse as a tribute to Hildegarde and eventually gave it to her.

Happy birthday, Liberace!

January 22, 1955: "Liberace has always admired Hildegarde and her methods of winning attention in show business. He is frank to say that he has imitated many of her gestures, the upraised gloved arm with the waving handkerchief, as a symbol. Liberace has found other symbols to serve as attention getters - the piano signature for instance. Here we see Liberace painting a blouse with the Hildegarde symbol. He had added another of her attention getters, the rose she tosses to friends in an audience. Liberace gave the blouse to Hildegarde some years ago and she keeps it as a prized possession. Both performers talk about Milwaukee, their home town."

Happy birthday, Woody Herman!

January 9, 1945: “THE HERDSMAN: During the Big Band Era, one of the most popular sounds emanated from Woody Herman and his Herd (among their hits: ‘At the Woodchopper’s Ball’, ‘Apple Honey’, ‘Caldonia’), a success on radio (The Woody Herman Show), on records, in concerts, in clubs, and on band buses. Following a ’45 broadcast, Woody (who played clarinet, saxophone and also sang; and who had once been a member of a band led by my musical conductor Harry Sosnik) paused long enough to sign an autograph and explain that it had not been easy organizing his first group (the Herd’s personnel frequently changed). It seems that he had started with musicians who followed his lead, but with whom he would often disagree about musical selections. Others auditioned were more agreeable, while paying little attention to his conducting; so, after much wasted time, he chose the original players. The moral, of course, is ‘Never fight the band that heeds you!’”