Marx, Harpo - 1934 Inscribed / Signed Harp Recital Program w/ Photo
HARPO MARX - 1934 Inscribed / Signed Harp Recital Program
extremely rare and certainly unique item signed & inscribed by Harpo Marx in 1934. Harpo signs this vintage 5.75" x 12" one-page program at a harp recital given by the students of Mildred Dilling at the Spence School in NYC.
The famed silent member of the Marx Brothers inscribes in-person in rich blue steel tip fountain pen ink in the upper left corner of the program to a young fan & student of Dilling's:
“To Karl Mikus from, Harpo Marx".
There are two horizontal storage folds and a minor border tear, to the lower right-hand edge. Otherwise, the piece is in fine condition.
Signing this program while attending Mildred Dilling's student recital has significance. In Harpo's 1961 autobiography, HARPO SPEAKS, he references Ms. Dilling:
"The nearest I've had to a regular (harp) teacher has been a lady named Mildred Dilling. I first met her in a music store where she was trying out a new harp. She was playing a piece called "The Music Box". I introduced myself and confessed that I couldn't read notes and asked her if she would please teach me to play "The Music Box". She was delighted too. We soon became good friends. It was she who introduced me to the world of Bach, Mozart, Debussy and Ravel..... Miss Dilling never tried to change my screwball technique. Many a time I've telephoned her (sometimes from across the country, waking her up in the middle of the night) when I've gotten stuck on a tricky chord. Night or day, she wouldn't fail me. She'd hitch her harp close to the phone in her studio and play the chord over and over until I got it, at the other end of the wire. What you might call an Extension Course."
Harpo is also extremely scarce in authentic material from the peak years of the Marx Brothers' film career!
Comes with a modern 8x10 print of Harpo playing the Harp. Will make a very fine display.