Bidspirit auction | Western Silent movie star William

Western Silent movie star William Surrey Hart signed vintage page. American silent film actor, screenwriter, director and producer. He is remembered as a foremost Western star of the silent era who ”imbued all of his characters with honor and integrity”. During the late 1910s and early 1920s, he was one of the most consistently popular movie stars, frequently ranking high among male actors in popularity contests held by movie fan magazines. He began his acting career on stage in his 20s, with his 1888 debut performance as a member of a company headed by Daniel E. Bandmann. Hart went on to become one of the first great stars of the motion picture Western. Fascinated by the Old West, he acquired Billy the Kid's ”six shooters” and was a friend of legendary lawmen Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson. He entered films in 1914, and after playing supporting roles in two short films, he achieved stardom the same year as the lead in the feature The Bargain. Hart was particularly interested in making realistic Western films. His films are noted for their authentic costumes and props, as well as Hart's acting ability, honed on Shakespearean theatre stages in the United States and England. William S. Hart autographs from the silent film era are highly collectible and generally range from £150 to £600 depending on the medium. Good condition Est.