[Presidential] [Kennedy, John F.] Sinatra, Frank, and Ella Fitzgerald, and Harry Belafonte, et al. John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Gala Program, signed

Washington, D.C.: The Armory, January 19, 1961. Printed program for the "Inaugural Gala In Honor of the Inauguration of The Honorable John Fitzgerald Kennedy The Honorable Lyndon Baines Johnson...", signed by most of the evenings performers. 4to. Unpaginated (20 leaves). Illustrated with black and white portraits, including the Kennedys and Johnsons, as well as the night's performers, and signed (in order) by Helen Traubel, Harry Belafonte, Milton Berle, Leonard Bernstein, Joey Bishop, Nat King Cole, Tony Curtis, Bette Davis, Jimmy Durante, Ella Fitzgerald, Mahalia Jackson, Alan King, Janey Leigh, Frederic March, Ethel Merman, Sir Laurence Olivier, Sidney Poitier, Keely Smith (inscribed to Art Sands, the autographs collector) and Louis Prima, Juliet Prowse, Anthony Quinn, and Frank Sinatra. Stapled on inner front wrapper are Sand's printed Inaugural Ball and Gala tickets. Original printed wrappers, gold spine cord and tassel, signed on front wrapper by Sands, scattered creasing and light wear, split along foot of spine, tassel detached but present.

The Inaugural Gala honoring President-elect John F. Kennedy took place on January 19, 1961 at the Washington, D.C. Armory, the night before the inauguration. Organized by Peter Lawford and Frank Sinatra, it was a star-studded event, remembered as one of the best and most glamorous parties ever held in Washington. The show was directed by Roger Edens, who was assisted by Kay Thompson. The performers represented a cross-section of the best in entertainment, including performances by Leonard Bernstein, Broadway legend Ethel Merman, comedians Milton Berle and Alan King, and others. As Kennedy was a defender of Civil Rights, the Star Spangled Banner was sung by Mahalia Jackson, and later performances included Ella Fitzgerald, as well as Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier. Notably, a performance by several members of the Rat Pack, including Joey Bishop, Peter Lawford, and Frank Sinatra, then at the height of his fame.

This is a rare and likely unique assembly of autographs from this notable event. We cannot locate another similar example.

This lot is located in Philadelphia.

To request further details about this lot, please email booksmanuscripts@freemansauction.com

1600 W. Girard Avenue, Philadelphia. Please contact the Auction Specialist for details.

Darren Winston

SVP, Head of Department, Books and Manuscripts, Philadelphia

darrenwinston@freemansauction.com 267.414.1247

Darren Winston, Senior Vice President at Freeman’s, has served as Head of Department for Books & Manuscripts, Philadelphia, since 2018. He has been a trustee of the Rosenbach Museum and Library since 2022, is a member of The Manuscript Society, The Bibliographical Society of America, and Philadelphia’s Philobiblon Club.

Raised in northern New Jersey, Darren moved to New York City in 1988 and began his career there as a bookseller in 1995. He spent the next 18 years selling to private clients and at East Coast book fairs. In 2003 he moved with his young family to Sharon, Connecticut where, in 2009, he opened his own bookshop. Darren Winston, Bookseller offered rare and vintage books, prints, fine art, and more, and hosted over 50 book signings and art shows. He was a trustee and, later, Board President, of the Sharon Historical Society, and for six years a trustee of Indian Mountain School in Lakeville, Connecticut.

Darren has hosted the radio program "Darren Winston's Book Report" for NPR-affiliate WHDD since 2009, appeared in the 2014 book-themed documentary The Paper Trail, and in 2024 he joined Antiques Roadshow as a books and manuscripts appraiser. From 1999 to 2005, Darren was the buyer and consultant to the Fine and Rare Books Department at Asprey, the British luxury goods company, at its New York headquarters. While there he spearheaded various in-store events including readings by Salman Rushdie and Dominick Dunne.

In 1993, Darren was hired as a Creative Consultant to Columbia Records, where he assisted in the repackaging of their 12-record Aerosmith back catalogue. He later sold his extensive collection of Aerosmith memorabilia, which he began amassing at the age of 14, directly to the band.

Darren now lives on the Main Line, outside Philadelphia, with his wife, two children, and dog. The family travels frequently to his wife's native England and Scotland. When not bookselling, he plays guitar in Pumped, an Aerosmith tribute band. Darren also appears on the top-rated PBS television program Antiques Roadshow.

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[Presidential] [Kennedy, John F.] Sinatra, Frank, and Ella Fitzgerald, and Harry Belafonte, et al. John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Gala Program, signed

This lot is located in Philadelphia.

Fine Printed Books & Manuscripts, Including Americana

[Presidential] [Kennedy, John F.] Sinatra, Frank, and Ella Fitzgerald, and Harry Belafonte, et al. John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Gala Program, signed

Fine Printed Books & Manuscripts, Including Americana

[Presidential] [Kennedy, John F.] Sinatra, Frank, and Ella Fitzgerald, and Harry Belafonte, et al. John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Gala Program, signed

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