ROBERT
TAYLOR $15.00
Taylor, one of the true "leading men" of the 40's-50's
left behind a very
explicit 20 page will and an even more explicit 12 page
codicil (modification), in which RONALD and NANCY REAGAN (remember them?)
are appointedguardians of his children. This package is one of our more
interesting finds. Death certificate included. |
WILLIAM
DESMOND TAYLOR $20.00
The silent film director's 1922 murder was quite possibly
Hollywood's first scandal, involving famous names of the day such as Mary
Miles Mintner and Mabel Normand, and remains unsolved more than 80 years later. The
50 pages we provide are the entire contents of his probate file, which
includes many inventories of his belongings, claims against the estate
(including detailed funeral expenses). Though age 50 at his death, Taylor
never took the time to draft a will, dying intestate. Any silent film buff
will truly enjoy this file. Both Mary Miles Mintner and Mabel Normand can
be found elsewhere in our catalogues. |
IRVING
THALBERG $15.00
The brains behind Louis B. Mayer at MGM in the 30's.
This is an extremely rare and interesting find; a 20 page will plus a 4
page petition bearing his wife Norma
Shearer's signature and a 1 page letter. Because Thalberg's original
will was apparently stolen from his probate file, what we presentis the
unsigned attorney's copy. |
DANNY
THOMAS $10.00
From still another sequestered file, we have the funnyman's
4 page will, a 2 page Petition for Probate as well as the court order to
sequester the file. |
TERRY
THOMAS $5.00
Another of Britain's famous funny men, Thomas left behind
a short, simple 3 page will (with an indistinguishable signature, due to
the debilitating disease that took his life), plus the Grant for Administration |
SPENCER
TRACY $10.00
Still another MGM great. Tracy's 12 page will and 3 page
codicil (modification) have an underlying feeling of deep sadness to them.
Death certificate included. We now offer Tracy
pal Katharine Hepburn's last will and testament elsewhere in our catalogues. |
FORREST
TUCKER $10.00
Tucker, perhaps best known as Sgt. O'Roarke from the
TV series F TROOP, left behind a simple 4 page will to which we have added
3 pages of funeral info. Additionally, there is a claim by Tucker's widow
against her stepson regarding the "theft" of numerous items from the Tucker
householdto which she (and he) both lay claim. |
BEN
TURPIN $10.00
We consider Turpin to be one of the unsung and forgotten
stars of the silent comedies, and we were most pleased to have located
his probate file. Included are a single page hand-written will from 1926
and a 4 page petition by his sister to have the will revoked. Collector's
item. |
RUDOLPH
VALENTINO $15.00
We've spent 10 years looking for the Valentino file in
the L. A. County Superior Court Archives, and have come up empty handed...until
now...We discovered that a typewritten copy of his will (and lacking a
signature) was recorded at the same time that the original documents were
filed in 1926. What we present is the filed text copy of Rudolph Valentino's
Last Will and Testament (2 pages) along with copies of the Register Of
Actions (14 pages) that show every document filed in his probate case,
from September 10, 1926 to the final filing on January 10, 1942. This is
a very informative file, though we will continue to search for the original
file. |
RUDY
VALLEE $10.00
A favorite crooner from the heyday of Hollywood left
us a 7 page will, and we include a 2 page petition for probate. Most interesting
is the final accounting of the value of the estate, which surprised even
us. Death certificate included. |
LEE
VAN CLEEF $15.00
One of the great movie villains, Van Cleef actually started
out as an accountant. His big break came as henchman Jack Colby in HIGH
NOON, a role that brought him great recognition despite having no dialogue.
His will, as expected is a highly detailed 16 pages and to this we add
the 3 page Petition for Probate, the Letters of Probate, and an impressive
7 page Inventory and Appraisement of the estate. |
CONRAD
VEIDT $15.00
Probably best remembered for his role as the Nazi Officer
in CASABLANCA (though we relish his role as the somnambulist in CABINET
OF DR. CALIGARI), Veidt's 1936 will (he died in 1943) is 7 wonderful pages.
To this we add 22 more pages, including invoices for his funeral, the tax
appraiser's inventory of his estate, and more. |
HERVE`
VILLECHAIZE $15.00
Certainly best known as Tatoo from FANTASY ISLAND (de
plane, de plane!) Villechaize' career took a nose-dive after he was fired
from the series over salary demands, later taking his own life
with a gun. This 25 page probate file is quite unique in that it actually
contains a handwritten copy of Villechaize' pained suicide note, as well as a transcript of
the same. Also included: petitions, claims, a great licensing proposition
to put his image on T-shirts, as well as the death certificate. Villechaize
died intestate, thus, no will. |
ERICH
VON STROHEIM $10.00
Still another of Hollywood's more sinister character
actors, and a great director in his own right. Von Stroheim's 1943 will
is 3 pages long, and we include the 2 page Petition for Probate. |
JACK
L. WARNER $15.00
Warner, the last of the brothers to run the studio that
bore his name was notorious, even by Hollywood's standards. His lengthy
(20 pages) will is detailed and anyone familiar with Warner will find it
highly enlightening as well as entertaining. Also included are a 3 page
claim by his niece for 25% of his estate (rejected), a $2,400,000 claim
by his widow (approved) plus a 2 page claim for funeral expenses. This
is truly a great file, and another customer request. |
JOHN
WAYNE $20.00
The Duke's last will & testament is 27 fascinating
pages, plus we include 2 pages of petitions, 2 pages of funeral information,
and the death certificate. One of our best. |
CLIFTON
WEBB $10.00
Mr. Webb, probably best known for his MR. BELVEDERE-type
characters is said to still be haunting his old home in Los Angeles (talk
about staying-power).Webb's will in this package is 8 pages in length,
to which we add the 2 page Petition for Probate, 2 pages of funeral information,
and lastly a claim by his agent for 10% of uncollected royalties. Death
certificate included. |
JACK
WEBB $15.00
"Right. Got it. Thanks." Words that will live in TV history
forever,thanks to DRAGNET reruns. Webb's will (and 3 codicils) are interestingin
light of the changes taking place in his life at the time of their drafting.
The will is 13 pages, and the codicils total 6 pages to which we add the
2 page Petition for Probate. Included is a copy of Webb's death certificate.
You can find Jack Webb's autopsy report elsewhere in our catalogues. |
ORSON
WELLES $10.00
One of our favorite finds. The unquestionably (and amazingly)
talented director and star left us with a 5 page will, a three page Petition
for Probate, a single page Letters of Testamentary, and lastly a copy of
Welles'death certificate. |
JAMES
WHALE $15.00
Whale made his monumental contribution to the horror
film genre directing such classics as FRANKENSTEIN, THE INVISIBLE MAN,
and BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN. As horror movies lost favor, he retreated to
a more private and hedonistic life, finally committing suicide by drowning
in his pool in 1957. We offer his 7 page will (loaded with bequests), the
2 page codicil, 4 page Inventory and Appraisement (very detailed), the
Petition for Probate, and 14 pages of creditor's claims and petitions pertaining
to funeral costs, his Trust, and psychiatric treatment. Death certificate
included. |
BERT
WHEELER $5.00
The stage, screen, vaudeville and television actor (and
sometimes screenwriter) was half of the comedy team of Wheeler & Woolsey,
and left a simple2 page will to which we add the 2 page Petition for Probate. |
FLIP
WILSON $15.00
On the FLIP WILSON SHOW Wilson's wonderful character
Geraldine popularized the phrase "what you see is what you get (honey)."
Therefore, can not a claim be made that Geraldine coined the PC term WYSIWYG?"
Wilson's 10 page will (which makes mention of the fact that he possibly
had children out of wedlock, and that he specifically disinherited) is
interesting, but not as interesting as the 11 page objection to the
filing of his will, brought by his son Kevin. Also included is the 4 page
petition for Probate. |
CORNEL
WILDE $15.00
The talented actor left behind an 8 page will to which
we've added the12 page Petition for Probate, a 4 page Creditor's Claim
(which shows funeral expenses) and a 10 page Creditor's Claim for last illness
medical expenses. |
ED WOOD $20.00
What can you say about Ed Wood, except that he made what is widely considered the worst movie of all time (PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE) and was eventually turned into a major cult figure by Tim Burton in his awesome biopic ED WOOD. Wood died intestate in 1978;
we offer documents from the 1998 filing wherein two women claim to be Wood’s surviving spouse, each wanting their cut of the small estate. Included are Wood’s death certificate, a marriage record for Wood and one of the women, and a neat inventory of the films and screenplays
Wood left behind. This is a unique file, to say the least. NEW
FILE
|
ED
WYNN $10.00
Wynn was one of the funnymen of radio's heyday, and a
vaudeville star to boot. His 1961 will is 10 pages and makes for interesting
reading. To this we add a 2 page codicil and 3 pages of funeral information.
Death certificate included. |
GIG
YOUNG $10.00
Gig Young came to a tragic end, recently married, he
killed his new wife and then himself in 1978. We offer his six page will
(which makes no mention of his new wife), a tax report showing the value
of his estate, and finally a copy of the death certificate, showing him
as "widowed." |
DARRYL
F. ZANUCK $20.00
One of the founding fathers of TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX.
If you are looking for controversy and intrigue, this package will amaze
you! In addition to Zanuck's hotly contested 19 page will and 3 page codicil
are an additional 20 pages of claims and accusations regarding forged signatures,
kidnapping, death threats, you name it. This is one of our absolute best. |
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