When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
An original 8x10" vintage photo (NOT a modern reprint) from a large collection of hundreds of hand-signed photographs that we acquired from the estate of a collector named Al. From an analysis of his collection it appears that he collected the vast majority (or all) of these in person or via mail.
Due to the consistency, spot verifications we made, and size of this collection we are confident in the autograph\'s authenticity and are happy to warranty the full price of your purchase to this fact.
Photo Overview
Vintage hand signed 8x10 publicity photo of American character actor Anthony Caruso, boldly autographed in blue ink and inscribed "For Al." Caruso smiles warmly at the camera in a light-colored jacket over a dark open-collar shirt, posed against a dramatic geometric studio backdrop with his name printed along the bottom border.
Anthony Caruso (1916-2003) was one of Hollywood\'s most recognizable character actors, best remembered as the safecracker Louis Ciavelli in John Huston\'s classic heist film The Asphalt Jungle (1950). Over a career spanning more than five decades he appeared in hundreds of films and television episodes, often cast as gangsters, henchmen, and Native American chiefs. Sci-fi fans know him as gangster boss Bela Okmyx in the original Star Trek episode "A Piece of the Action." This autographed portrait comes from a large single-owner collection of hand-signed celebrity photographs assembled by a dedicated collector named Al, to whom the photo is personally inscribed.
Historical Notes
After breaking through with The Asphalt Jungle, Caruso became one of the busiest supporting players in Hollywood, working steadily into the 1990s. His long friendship with Alan Ladd led to roles in eleven Ladd films, and his television resume reads like a history of the medium - Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Untouchables, Zorro, Mission: Impossible, and dozens more. His turn as Bela Okmyx in Star Trek\'s beloved 1968 gangster-planet episode made him a fixture at fan conventions later in life, where he signed photos much like this one for admirers. Caruso passed away in 2003 at age 86, leaving behind one of the deepest filmographies of any character actor of Hollywood\'s golden age, making authentic hand-signed examples like this a solid addition to any classic film or Star Trek autograph collection.
Text Present
Handwritten in blue ink across the front: "For Al, Anthony Caruso"
Printed at the bottom front: "ANTHONY CARUSO"
Print analysis
This is a vintage promotional portrait photo with the actor\'s name printed in the border, hand signed in blue ink. The print appears to be a photographic publicity print of the type distributed by the actor for fan requests and appearances, consistent with a Type 1 original of its printing period, circa 1970s. The bold, confident blue ink signature with personal inscription sits on top of the emulsion and is a genuine hand-applied autograph rather than a printed facsimile.
Condition
In good to excellent vintage condition. Please see scans of the image we have provided for the most accurate and complete state of the photo.
