pethel robert tex darrow (1 Ergebnisse)

Captivating snapshot of American thrill shows during the early 1940s: a scrapbook of original photographs, cyanotypes, clippings and programmes, maintained by motorcyclist Tex Darrow, chronicling his career with well-known national troupe, the Hollywood Daredevil Aces. Darrow, real name Robert L. Pethel (1919-1981), was a motorcycle enthusiast and stunt rider, renowned for his death-defying leaps over multiple parked cars. The sharply focused cyanotypes and original snapshots present here capture Pethel's motorcycle leaps, crashes through flaming boards, rollovers, a "Wreckem Race", cars being driven head-on through brick walls ("Human Battering Ram - Ouch!"), the stunt crash of a biplane into a mock building, and more. Pethel would serve with the US Navy during the Second World War (1944-45) and in the Korean War (1950-51). Later he would become an electrician for Puget Sound Bridge & Dredge Co., and finally end his career as electrician foreman with Lockheed Shipbuilding in Seattle. The Hollywood Daredevil Aces were led by either Captain Bob Ward or Captain Harry Simpson. Originally from Kansas, Ward was a Hollywood stuntman who claimed to have worked on stunts for Howard Hughes's 1930 picture Hells Angels. His Thrills, Inc. shows featured stunt driving by Ward and all manner of hair-raising stunts. The first and longer of the two typed letters signed from Ward to Pethel (dated 8 February 1941; the other 24 February 1941), offers an insight into the vagaries of the life of a daredevil performer: Ward expresses his relief in getting hold of Pethel as he needs a rider ("I am splitting up the crew and making 3 units out of it, I want you with the first unit or the biggest one"); reports the death of another driver, Johnnie Northern ("I wont let him stay buried in a pauper's grave. We both know that he was a swell guy"); mentions that "After many more operations I am feeling fine and dandy The outfit has grown much larger since you were with me. I now have many cars, trucks, motorcycles and planes. This next year will be the banner year of them all"; says that he has "48 streight [sic] weeks booked and more bookings coming in all the time"; and that Pethel should join them for the "spring showing in Mexico City, Mexico". Small folio (355 x 280 mm). With 15 original silver gelatin photographs sized 76 x 115 mm to 90 x 110 mm, 22 cyanotypes, sized 63 x 63 mm up to 115 x 127 mm; 3 telegrams from Captain Bob Ward to Pethel; 2 typed letters signed from Ward to Pethel (Thrills, Inc. letterhead): 67 clippings & photocopies, 10 broadsides and programs (printed on thick coloured cardstock); King County certified death certificate for Pethel. Contemporary commercial post-binder scrap book of light bluish green morocco-grain cloth, green ties, front cover embossed in dark green. 40 pp, thick beige paper stock. A few white splash marks to front cover of binding, wear to corners and fore edge, a few pieces laid-in, occasional toning, one leaf loose, minor tears to clippings, creasing to letters & telegrams; overall remaining very presentable.