Promises Promises Mystery?

[BwayBoundJoe]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 7:34pm

So, I went thrift store shopping this weekend. I found some old records (Promises Promises, Merman Annie Get Your Gun, and Carousel) and while going to put the Promises Promises record on my record player, it got stuck in its sleeve. I pulled it out harder to find that stuffed inside, was an OBC photo program. Inside the program, was a peice of paper that said "Dear Jerry, Thanks for your patience. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year." with a signature. It could just be nothing, but If it is a find, I thought it would be really cool. Anyone have any info on the sig?




photo

Updated On: 5/31/10 at 07:34 PM

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 7:57pm

The signature looks like it says "Art Kane" so some googling brings me this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Kane

[willep]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 8:39pm

Art Kane was definitely a big time photographer who was in New York in the 60's. Very fascinating find.

[D2]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 8:48pm

MURMAN!!?!!

[BwayBoundJoe]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 8:53pm

Oh wow. Thats really awesome.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 9:06pm

Whoever it was, Jerry obviously didn't give a sh*t.

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 9:10pm

Or, That could have very well been Jerry Orbach's record that his family could have lost/pawned after his death. You, sir, have found Oliver North's gold. Err--American Dad reference--Jerry Orbach's record.

[BwayBoundJoe]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 11:16pm

Oh my Gosh! What is the likelyhood of that?

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 11:28pm

Or maybe it belonged to another guy named Jerry. Maybe Jerry Lewis.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 10:21am

I also think that the letter is directed to some Jerry... not THE Jerry Orbach.

[mallardo]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 11:32am

As someone noted Art Kane was a very famous New York photographer at the time of Promises Promises. It wouldn't have been at all unusual for him to photograph the star of the show - Jerry Orbach. It would be worth checking publicity materials from the show or, more likely, magazine photo spreads, to see if his photo credit appears.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 11:49am

Why would someone buy the star of a show the recording for that show?

[CapnHook]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 11:54am

You should contact the Art Kane estate, show them the picture, and see if they can solve your mystery. If it has any sort of significance, they may want to purchase it from you.

http://www.artkane.com/ and click on "Contact" at the top. There is a phone number and e-mail there.

Let us know how it turns out!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 12:31pm

Why would someone buy the star of a show the recording for that show?

Exactly. Methinks there's less here than meets the eye.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 12:36pm

I like the idea that Jerry Orbach's family pawned it after his death.

[walkedthroughmany]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 12:56pm

The paper was loose inside the record -- Jerry could've easily received the note and stuffed it in the sleeve later. It doesn't mean he was given the record and note together.

[sparrman]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 12:59pm

But this is a piece of paper inside an OBC photo program inside an album sleeve. While the latter two are obviously "Promises Promises" related, the piece of paper might not necessarily be. I assume you've checked for photo credits inside the photo program? Maybe Kane just wanted to make sure Orbach saw his work in the program, and Orbach at some point stuffed the program in the album and forgot about it. Or of course, it might be another Jerry entirely.

I have somewhere an old Playboy where Jerry Orbach is posing with some nude women. So it could be Orbach-related, but not "Promises Promises" related. Who knows.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 2:28pm

Perhaps Kane gave Jerry an advance copy of the program before they were mass produced and Jerry kept it in his LP sleeve to keep his mementos together.

[Marquise]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 7:45pm

That's quite possible. The original poster should definitely get it checked out.

I don't get how some people on this board just ASSuMEd that the record was given as a present to Jerry from Art Kane.

On the other hand it may not be Jerry Orbach but then again it very well could be.

[Piper3500]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 11:17pm

"The paper was loose inside the record -- Jerry could've easily received the note and stuffed it in the sleeve later. It doesn't mean he was given the record and note together."

yes, exactly.

it could/couldn't be. but it certainly doesn't mean he was given something he would've had of his own accord like the record. separate, loose piece of paper for another reason me thinks.

[BwayBoundJoe]

Posted: 6/2/10 at 11:40am

I looked through the program three time to find that there is no photo credit in the entire thing. It must have been made after the tonys because in the bio's it tells who "won a nomination" for thie role. I also called the Art Kane website and left a message and emailed them a photo of it. We'll see.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 6/2/10 at 1:41pm

Good luck. Regardless of who that note was to, it is still a really cool find, in my opinion.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 6/2/10 at 2:00pm

Yes, a very cool find! A personal note signed by Art Kane, regardless as to who it is written to, is probably worth a little bit of dough. Nothing tremendous, maybe $500ish?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/2/10 at 2:05pm

Yes, a very cool find! A personal note signed by Art Kane, regardless as to who it is written to, is probably worth a little bit of dough. Nothing tremendous, maybe $500ish?

Highly unlikely. I have a personal letter from Bob Fosse (on his own stationary) to some stranger and I got it appraised. It was only worth about $20. I doubt a letter from an uknown (until this thread) Art Kane would bring in $500.

[BwayBoundJoe]

Posted: 6/2/10 at 10:19pm

My email responce. "That's definitely Art Kane's signature. How did you come to have this letter? Did you meet Art?"

I'm twenty, I was 5 when he died. Anyway, I doubt it would be $500 dollars as well. I just find this whole thing fun and exciting. I'll be talking to them more later.