Ben Bernie Lot - with Original Oil Painting of Ben and Harry

~ 24" x 24" humorous oil painting on canvas of bandleader Ben Bernie ("The Old Maestro") and Harry Cohn (President of Columbia Pictures) flanking a map of the state of Florida below which Cohn has written "To (sic) bad I only hear the good things about you - Ben - Harry Cohn"

Bernie was a popular bandleader of the 1920s and 30s known for his sense of humor and trademark expression, "Yowsah! Yowsah! Yowsah!" Harry Cohn was known for his autocratic and intimidating management style, and asking for and expecting sex from female stars in exchange for employment (the Harvey Weinstein of his day).

The lot includes newspaper and radio gossip columnist Walter Winchell's March 8, 1937 check payable to Bernie, as well as sheet music for 3 songs ('Y' Got Me Baby,' 'Lonesome in the Moonlight' and 'Mrs. Astor's Horse') bearing Bernie's image, the 8 1/2" x 11' 30pp 'The Royal Palm Review of 1940 Musical Hits' and a 10" x 14" card promoting 'Ben Bernie's Blue Ribbon Malt Orchestra' (sponsor of his radio series). During the 1930s, Bernie had a long-running "feud" with columnist Winchell, leading to the duo to co-star in 20th Century Fox's successful musical comedies 'Wake Up and Live' (1937) and 'Love and Hisses' (1938)

Provenance: Ben Bernie family.