Classic Entertainment Autographs

Cat. #001598212: BERT LAHR

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Scarce vintage 8x10-inch glossy portrait, boldly signed and inscribed in blue fountain pen in the 1960s. In fine condition for its age, with a few minor handling dings. Best known for his portrayal of the Cowadly Lion in The Wizard of Oz (1939), beloved comic character actor Bert Lahr had a long career on the Broadway and vaudeville stages, gaining popularity with his grotesque facial expressions, ad-libed one-liners, and plaintive expletive "gnaang, gnaang gnaang!" He made his starring film debut in Flying High (1931), but never truly caught on as a screen personality and rapidly returned to the stage. His lackluster film career has been attributed by some critics to his over-the-top gestures and reactions, which might have been too broad for the comparatively intimate medium of motion pictures.