[Theater] [Jack Cheatham] [Mae West] Archive of actor Jack Cheatham by Cheatham, Jack - 1928

1928. [Theater] [Jack Cheatham] [Mae West]
Archive of actor Jack Cheatham, 1928

A fantastic small collection of annotated scripts, programs, drawings and other ephemera pertaining to actor Jack Cheatham's role of Spider Kane in "Diamond Lil," written by and starring Mae West. See inventory, below.

Jack Cheatham (1894-1971) appeared in two Broadway performances and nearly 200 films, 100 of them features, from the 1920s to the 1940s. "Diamond Lil" starring West and Cheatham played at the Royale Theatre on Broadway for 176 performances from April to September 1928. Cheatham's notable films include: "The Petrified Forest" (1936), starring Leslie Howard, Humphrey Bogart, and Bette Davis; Frank Capra's 1936 comedy, "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town," starring Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur; the classic "Meet John Doe" (1941), directed by Capra and starring Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck; Alfred Hitchcock's 1942 suspense drama, "Saboteur," starring Priscilla Lane and Robert Cummings; and a small role in Michael Curtiz' 1949 melodrama, "Flamingo Road," starring Joan Crawford.

We locate no institutions with archival holdings pertaining to Cheatham, and a few archives of Mae West fan letters, images and other documents in auction history listings.

Inventory:
1. The Unique Tattler, a weekly publication of the Unique Club on West 54th Street in New York City. Its rear advertises "A Cure for All Ills / See - Hear / Charming Mae West in 'Diamond Lil' / A Drama of the Underworld by Mae West" starring "Miss Mae West" as Diamond Lil and Jack Cheatham as Spider Kane. 6 ⅞" x 5 ⅞", [4] pp. Creased at old center fold, light edge wear and a bit of spotting to front. Very good.

2. Original pencil sketches of Jack Cheatham and Mae West, along with artwork for "Diamond Lil - It's a Gem." Signed by artist Robert Sterling and by Cheatham. One 7" x 10 ¾" sheet featuring four 7" x 4 ¼" drawings, two on each side. Lightly chipped and moderately soiled, mostly at edges, very good minus.

3. [6] pp. (11-13 and 20-22) from script for "Diamond Lil" with Cheatham's handwritten notes and annotations. Six 11" x 8 ½" typed manuscript leaves, printed rectos only. Some chipping, edge wear and creases at old folds; about very good minus.

4. Jack Cheatham's copy of the script for his role of Spider Kane in "Diamond Lil." Nine pp., brad bound in light blue cloth wrappers with (KANE) in type to front, (SPIDER) handwritten above it and Cheatham's signature in bottom corner. Copious handwritten notes by Cheatham throughout. 5 ¾" x 8 ¼". Moderately spotted and worn, about good plus.

Housed in mylar sleeves within a white vinyl folder measuring 11 ⅜" x 8 ⅞". Sleeves and folder near fine.