#13662 • Les Paul, Mary Ford, Alan Freed Court Docs W/COA

Part of Celebrity Memorabilia Bing Crosby & Others (timed auction by GWS Auctions)

Starting at $1.00

Status: Sold

Est. $30,000-$32,500 Les Paul, Mary Ford, & Alan Freed Court Documents on the Payola Trials (Notorized Statement, Two Checks, & Two Supoenas) W/COA - This lot includes: a notorized statement signed by Les Paul and Mary Ford, with information about their television appearance on the Alan Freed Show, two checks, one each for Les Paul and Mary Ford, payment for the television appearance, and two supoenas, one each for Les Paul and Mary Ford, ordering them to appear before a Grand Jury in a trial against "John Doe". The checks are from Stamford Productions to Trade Bank and Trust Company. Both of the checks are for $90.92, and are endorsed on the back by Les Paul and Mary Ford. However, on the bottom of the letter is a short note from Mary Ford stating that neither her nor her husband endorsed the checks, or authorized anyone to do so. The supoenas are dated December 2nd, 1959, with an appearance date of December 4th, 1959. The notorized statement is dated December 4th, 1959. The Payola Scandal began in the 1950's, and refers to disk jockeys taking payment and bribes from record labels in exchange for playing certain songs on their programs. The two most popular jockeys at the height of the scandal were Dick Clark and Alan Freed. When the trials heated up, Freed was singled out due to the fact that he was abrasive, he jive talked, smoked constantly and looked like an insomniac. Clark, on the other hand, was squeaky clean, handsome, and polite, and only got a slap on the wrist by Committee chairman Oren Harris, who called him “a fine young man.” Les Paul and Mary Ford were a popular 1950's husband-and-wife musical duo, in which Les Paul played the guitar and Mary Ford sang. They sold six million records in 1951 alone. The documents are in good condition, and have been stored in a plastic sleeve with a protective cardboard back. The documents will come with a certificate of authenticity.