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ORIGINAL 1980s HONOLULU NEWSPAPER & CELEBRITY CORRESPONDENCE ARCHIVE
Offered here is an unusual original archive of vintage correspondence connected to Honolulu’s newspaper, entertainment and social scene during the early-to-mid 1980s.
The collection consists primarily of postcards and correspondence sent directly to Honolulu newspaper columnists and newsroom figures, particularly Don Chapman of the Honolulu Advertiser, along with material addressed to George Daacon, Dave Donnelly, Honolulu Star-Bulletin newsroom personnel, and other Honolulu media contacts.
This is not simply a collection of unused vintage postcards. The handwritten messages themselves are the important part of the archive.
Many contain entertainment news, celebrity references, travel reports, sports results, publicity requests, personal observations and potential newspaper items sent directly to the people responsible for Honolulu’s newspaper columns.
Several retain original Honolulu Advertiser / Star-Bulletin addresses, international postage, postmarks and newsroom RECEIVED stamps, creating substantial internal provenance.
HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
• Three separate Phyllis Diller postcards to columnist George Daacon, each containing an original handwritten humorous message and signed “Phyllis Diller.” The cards include a Kauai/Wailua River card, a Joshua Tree/desert card and an Elephant Hotel/Lucy the Elephant card. These appear to represent recurring personal correspondence rather than three unrelated autographs.
• A Bora Bora postcard addressed to Don Chapman, signed “Christine, Wally + Sarah.” The message refers to “the cookie” and Wally preparing for additional book tours. Research suggests a possible connection to Wally “Famous” Amos and his family. This attribution has NOT been professionally authenticated and is presented as a research finding only.
• A postcard concerning the 25th Japan Ukulele Association festival at Yamano’s Music Hall in Ginza, Tokyo, apparently from Leslie Nunes. Information contained in this physical postcard closely corresponds with an item subsequently published in Don Chapman’s Honolulu Advertiser column. This provides particularly interesting evidence of the way incoming correspondence could become material for Chapman’s newspaper column.
• A postcard signed Jack de Mello discussing travel to Munich to record.
• A detailed postcard reporting on the Sailboards Maui Grand Prix, including Gerry Lopez, competition results and behind-the-scenes information concerning the event.
• Entertainment/music correspondence discussing radio airplay, records, concerts, performers and requests for newspaper exposure.
• Opera-related correspondence referencing major productions and professional engagements.
• International correspondence from Europe, Asia, Australia, French Polynesia, South Africa and elsewhere.
• Cards sent directly to both Honolulu Advertiser and Honolulu Star-Bulletin personnel, providing an interesting cross-section of Honolulu’s newspaper world during this period.
• Numerous original postal markings and newsroom RECEIVED stamps from the 1980s.
The archive has been researched as a group because the relationships between the correspondents, newspaper recipients and messages provide considerably more historical context than the individual postcards would have if separated.
Don Chapman wrote the Honolulu Advertiser’s well-known three-dot column during this period, covering entertainment, politics, sports, business, restaurants, personalities and Honolulu’s social scene. Other recipients represented in the archive were also connected to Honolulu newspaper and column-writing circles.
The correspondence provides an unusual behind-the-scenes glimpse at the information flowing into those newspaper offices before email, social media and today’s digital publicity systems.
SOLD AS ONE INTACT ARCHIVE.
I am intentionally keeping the collection together rather than separating the celebrity signatures or selling individual postcards.
A researched dossier documenting the archive, recipients, notable correspondence and historical connections has also been prepared and can accompany the collection.
IMPORTANT AUTHENTICATION NOTICE:
The postcards themselves are original mailed vintage pieces. Unless specifically stated otherwise, signatures, handwriting and correspondent identities have not been professionally authenticated by PSA/DNA, JSA, Beckett or another third-party authentication service. Identifications and attributions are based on research, addresses, message content, postal evidence and other contextual evidence. Buyers should examine the photographs and make their own determination.
CONDITION:
Condition varies throughout the archive. Expect normal age toning, postal handling, handwriting, postmarks, newsroom stamps, corner/edge wear and other evidence of original use. These characteristics are part of the archive’s history. Nothing has been cleaned, restored or altered.
Please review all photographs carefully.
This is a distinctive piece of 1980s Honolulu newspaper, entertainment and celebrity history, and I would strongly prefer that the archive remain together with its provenance intact.
