Vintage hollywood film memorabilia autograph photo of actress and singer Diana Galen in costume in 1936. Autographed by Diana Galen, known as the phantom voice of the stars who was the singing voice of Olivia De Havilland, Greta Garbo, Norma Talmadge and others.

In the late 1920s, she moved to Italy to study voice and learn French, Italian, Spanish, and German. Diana Galen performed opera in Milan for three years, before returning to America, where she found that the “talkies had suddenly taken the country by storm.” In 1931 she applied for a voice test at picture studios in Hollywood and she was selected to do “hidden singing” for lead actresses that did not have the ability to sing. Miss Gaylen also supplied the singing voices for Walt Disney’s’ animated female characters in Silly Symphonies. Because of her operatic experience, she was also able to “dub” in French, German and Italian for foreign versions of the animations.

In 1936, Diana Gaylen opened as the lead, Mitzi, in “Blossom Time” with her own name on the billing which is where this signed photograph originates from. She eventually sang more than 30 operatic roles in America and Europe including the title roles of Madame Butterfly, La Boheme, Hansel and Gretel, and Frederika.

This signed photograph was taken by the famous Maurice Seymour company of Chicago. Maurice (1900-1993) and Seymour Zeldman (1902-1995), Russian expatriate photographers, formed the "Maurice Seymour" studio in 1929. Inspired by the example of Maurice Goldberg, the foremost photographer of classical dancers and concert musicians of the 1920s and regular contributor to the New York Times, the brothers chose to make a particular forte of ballet dancers. From 1929 to 1950 they plied their trade in a studio at the St. Clair Hotel in Chicago.

A great addition to your Hollywood film memorabilia collection.

MEASUREMENTS

Framed photo measures 9.5“ wide by 12" long and weighs almost 2lbs. Unframed photo measures 8" wide by 10" long.

CONDITION

In good used condition with the stand up back of the frame missing but can be hung (please see all pictures as they form part of the condition description).

Shop Ref: Box No. Art Shelf 6

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