Early JOHN GILBERT ESTELLE TAYLOR Lobby Card A CALIFORNIA ROMANCE 1922 rare MINT

Description

(This looks MUCH better than the picture above.)
Early JOHN GILBERT ESTELLE TAYLOR Lobby Card A CALIFORNIA ROMANCE 1922
This 11 x 14 inch Lobby Card would look great framed on display in your home theater or to add to your portfolio or scrapbook! Some dealers buy my lots (see my other auctions) to break up and sell separately at classic film conventions at much higher prices than my low minimum. A worthy investment for gift giving too!
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This LOBBY CARD is an studio release (vintage, from the original Hollywood studio/distributor original) and not a digital copy or reproduction printing.
DESCRIPTION:
On the verge of leaving Fox Studios for MGM, silent romantic star John Gilbert appeared in California Romance. Gilbert plays a soldier-of-fortune, living in pre-statehood California. With the aid of the US cavalry, Gilbert fends off those who would block California's entry into the Union. Along the way, he wins the heart of separatist-sympathizer Estelle Taylor. Director Jerome Storm, who'd previously worked on the popular Charlie Ray vehicles at Ince, wrapped this one up in a fast four reels. In 1800s California, Patricio and Dolores are in love but are torn by politics--he believes California should join the US, while she believes it should remain a part of Mexico. Convinced that Patricio is a coward and a traitor, she becomes engaged to Juan Diego, an officer in the Mexican army. However, Juan has a dark secret that Dolores knows nothing about that will affect not only his relationship with her but put all of California in jeopardy.
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CONDITION:
This quality vintage and original Lobby Card is in MINT condition (but somebody would probably find something to complain about otherwise it would be perfect), it has sharp, crisp details and it is not a digital or a repro copy. (SEE PHOTO)   It came from the studio to the theater and then went into storage where the collector I bought them from kept them for many years!  I have recently acquired two huge collections from life long movie buffs who collected for decades… I need to offer these choice items for sale on a first come, first service basis to the highest bidder.
SHIPPING:
Domestic shipping would be PRIORITY and well packed in plastic, with FOUR layers of cardboard support/protection and delivery tracking. International shipping depends on the location, and the package would weigh close to a pound (14-16 ounces) with even more extra ridge packing. I can also ship 1 to 50 lobby cards all for the price of one!
PAYMENTS:
Please pay PayPal! All of my items are unconditionally guaranteed. E-mail me with any questions you may have. This is Larry41, wishing you great movie memories and good luck…
BACKGROUND:
John Gilbert was born into a show-business family - his father was a comic with the Pringle Stock Company. By 1915 John was an extra with Thomas H. Ince's company and a lead player by 1917. In those days he was assistant director, actor or screenwriter. He also tried his hand at directing. By 1919 he was being noticed in films and getting better roles. In 1921 he signed a three-year contract with Fox Films. His popularity continued to soar and he was turning from villain to leading man. In 1924 he signed with MGM which put him into His Hour (1924). In 1925 he appeared in the very successful The Big Parade (1925) and was, by now, as popular as Rudolph Valentino. Lillian Gish, who had a new contract with MGM, picked Gilbert to co-star with her in La Bohème (1926). With the death of Valentino, his only competition, John was on top of the world. Then came Greta Garbo, who starred with him in Love (1927), Flesh and the Devil (1926) and A Woman of Affairs (1928). The screen chemistry between these two was incredible and led to a torrid off-screen affair. The studio publicity department worked overtime to publicize the romance between the two, but when it came time to marry, John was left at the altar. His performances after that were devoid of the sparkle that he once had and he began to drink heavily. Added to that, the whole industry was moving towards sound, and while his voice was not as bad as some had thought, it did not match the image that he portrayed on the screen. Even his characters had changed, in such films as Redemption (1930) and Way for a Sailor (1930). He was no longer the person that bad things happened to, but he now was the cause of bad things which happen. MGM did little to help John adjust to the new sound medium, as studio chief Louis B. Mayer and Gilbert had a fierce and nasty confrontation over Garbo. John was still under contract to MGM for a very large salary, but the money meant little to him. His contract ran out in 1933 after he appeared in Fast Workers (1933) as a riveter.   Garbo tried to restore some of his image when she insisted that he play opposite her in Queen Christina (1933), but by then it was too late. He appeared in only one more film and died of a heart attack in January 1936.
A former typist, Estelle Taylor married a banker at age 14 and, after leaving him, moved to New York to study dramatic acting. She also modeled for artists and appeared in the chorus of a couple of Broadway shows. In the early 1920s she came to Hollywood and was noted as one of the film colony's most beautiful women. In 1925 she married 1920s heavyweight champion boxer Jack Dempsey. On the night of December 4, 1944, she spent an evening of dinner and drinks with actress Lupe Velez and was the last person to see Lupe before she committed suicide. Taylor was founder and president of the California Pet Owners' Protective League and was widely known for her devotion to pets. In 1953 served on the Los Angeles City Animal Regulation Commission.