Up for auction is a very rare piece of entertainment history, an original twenty-sixth (26th)Annual Academy Awards Presentation Program from 1954, awarding Walt Disney a record 4 Oscars and bringing home to Frank Sinatra the second of three Oscars he would win in his lifetime.  What makes this program especially significant and valuable for the Frank Sinatra collector is the fact that this was the defining moment in his career that officially brought him up and out of the ashes of defeat and propelled him into legendary status.  The condition of this program is very good with some browning on the cover and back page as can be seen in the images below.  There is extensive handwriting on the pages inside in blue ink by a member of a Studio Publicity Representative.  A sample of this can be seen on a copy of a press release page in one of the images below.  The note indicates that Frank Sinatra brought his children to the event instead of a date.  A factual discussion follows below and strongly underscores the value of this original Academy Awards Program as arguably a "holy grail" item for the Sinatra collector.

As you may know, Frank Sinatra was a mega star in the 1940s, but that war-time sound of his began losing popularity and his appeal began to tailspin to the point where he lost his record contract, movie contract, and concert appearance demand.  He ultimately had to take a leave from performing altogether when his vocal chords hemorrhaged in 1951 at a Copacabana performance in Manhattan.  During this time, Frank was very attached to Ava Gardner and it was reported that she had an abortion of Frank's child while she was shooting a re-make of "African Queen."  During this movie shooting, Frank was finally granted an opportunity to audition for a role that was originally meant for Eli Wallach in the Columbia movie adaptation of a James Joyce novel, "From Here to Eternity."  Frank was auditioning for the part of Maggio, which was originally offered to Eli Wallach, and it took a lot of begging and pleading by himself, Ava Gardner, and who knows who else to finally convince Columbia to get the Director, Fred Zinneman, to give him an audition.  Frank flew to Los Angeles all the way from Africa to clinch this role.  He improvised during the audition, which is dramatized by Phillip Casnoff in the Tina Sinatra production of the Sinatra TV mini-series, and convinced the director that the part of Maggio was meant for him and not someone who seemed strong and tough.  After all, as Frank explained many times later, he grew up on the streets of Hobokon with many "Maggios" and felt that he not only knew Maggio intimately, but that he was indeed a Maggio.  Wow!  Not only did he prove this to Columbia Pictures but he proved it to the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences and received enough votes in 1954 to win the Oscar for Best Supporting  Actor.

The story behind this mantlepiece of Academy Awards history is further enrichened by the fact that Mr. Sinatra was paid minimum wage for his role in "From Here to Eternity."  This pay amounted to about $8,000.00 which was minimum union pay at the time while most other "A" actors were earning about $250,000.00.  In short, Frank Sinatra's achievement in both getting this role and winning the Oscar for it is a true American Cinderella story that has never been duplicated yet.  Perhaps Disney in 1954 while receiving his record 4 Oscars was inspired by Sinatra to produce "Cinderella" a few years later.  Mario Puzo, was definitely moved to dramatize Frank Sinatra in "The Godfather" by writing in a swooner of a singer named Johnny Fontaine.  As you may recall from the Godfather, Johnny Fontaine was desperately need a part of a "war-time" movie to get back on top of his game.  Frank was not happy with the parrallels drawn from this fictionalized depiction.

In conclusion, this amazing piece of movie, Academy Awards, and Frank Sinatra history is a collectible that is highly valued for documenting the moment in time that brought Frank from his lowest point in life and career to that of legend - full of swagger, confidence, and magic.  A legend from that point until his death in 1998, and still a legend from here to eternity.

The items you will be bidding on are as follows:

1.  Original Academy Award Program;

2.  Copy of Thursday, March 25th, 1954 Press Release (2 pages);

3.  Copy of Tuesday, March 23rd, 1954 Press Release (1 page);

4.  Copy of Wednesday, March 24th, 1954 Memo to Studio Publicity Reps (5 pages);

5.  Copy of Thursday, March 25th, 1954 Press Release from General Director (1 page);

6.  Copy of Thursday, March 25th, 1954 List "Substitute Acceptors" (5 pages);

7.  Copy of telegram from Bill Miller to Frank Sinatra on 3/26/1954 (1 page not pictured below).  Bill Miller was Frank's long time friend and pianist - always included in Sinatra's inner circle.

Andre Previn was director of music for the event, and Donald O'Connor, Frederic March, and Jean Hersholt were masters of ceremony.  It is also interesting to note that Frank Sinatra would win his third and last Oscar in 1971 as the recipient of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.

This particular archive is being sold "as is" and will not be returnable unless grossly misrepresented by me.  Shipping and Handling will be $5.95.

Rarely does this item ever appear on Ebay.  I can guarantee that this particular archive cannot be found anywhere in the world, only because I possess the original telegram.  Frank Sinatra collectibles and movie memorabilia from the 1950s are rising in value every year! Don't regret not winning this and bid today!