This is an ULTRA-RARE and unusual find for any fan of either the Twilight Zone or actress Elizabeth Allen. It is a Rittenhouse Archives Limited Edition SIGNED Trading Card number A-15 featuring the actress from her infamous Twilight Zone episode entitled "The After Hours," where Ms. Allen played a mysterious sales lady who is really a mannequin who has come to life for her one month "alive" in the "real world." The only problem is that the previous month's store mannequin, played by Anne Francis, has forgotten that her time is up and that she TOO is really a mannequin who has now outlasted her month, thus infriging on Ms. Allen's character's time. Many fans say this was among the very best of all the TZ episodes, thanks not only to its cunning plot, only revealed at the very end, but also the beauty in both Ms. Allen's looks, as well as her performance.
This card is ULTRA-RARE for the following reasons: when Rittenhouse started this series back in the late '90's, they contacted all the participants to see if they would partake in the program. If the actor/actress agreed, a box of unsigned cards was manufactured featuring the person and episode as listed, then sent to the actor/actress along with 2 blue sharpie pens for them to sign the several hundred cards enclosed and return them with verification of signature to Rittenhouse Archives. The only thing is that my aunt, Elizabeth Allen, only signed a small handful of the cards in the box before she got bored/tired with how many they wanted her to sign!! Then she fell ill, went into a nursing home, and sadly passed away in 2006. The ONLY autographed cards that exist are the few that my aunt signed before her illness and subsequent death. You can check with Rittenhouse directly if you wish to verify the scarcity of this card!! Thus, only a small handful of them exist, many hundreds less than the typical box that other actors signed. Most of the few cards that my aunt signed have already sold, but this is one of the few left that I have.
This is the ACTUAL autographed card that you will receive. Signature is a bit unsteady because my aunt was already blind in her left eye and suffering from tremors due to her Rheumatoid Arthritis when she signed it, but it is indeed her signature!!! You can match it to other autographs of her that can be found on the internet.
The card will be shipped in a hard-plastic, top-loading, 3x4 inch, Ultra-Pro brand trading card protector via First Class, Certified Mail (to USA residents). If you live OUTSIDE the USA, you MUST choose the "International Shipping" option whereas card will be shipped via Registered Mail at greater expense with rates set by the Post Office. If you live overseas and do NOT choose the "International Shipping" option, you will be sent a second invoice to cover the required higher expense in shipping. ALL buyers MUST pay via Paypal.
NOTE: You are ONLY getting the ONE "Twilight Zone" card with this purchase and NOT any of the accompanying photos. These are displayed in the auction just as an additional reference to "The After Hours" episode that Ms. Allen appeared in.
As for some information on Elizabeth Allen, I am her nephew and Godson and offering up items from her estate a little at a time. As for the body of work encompassing my aunt's very lengthy, varied and exceptional acting and modeling career, it is as follows:
Elizabeth Allen (born Elizabeth Ellen Gillease) (January 25, 1929 – September 19, 2006) was an American actress.
Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, she got her start as the “Away we go!” girl on The Jackie Gleason Show in the 1950s. The darkly, coolly attractive actress is perhaps best known on TV for her role as the creepy saleslady in the episode of The Twilight Zone where actress Anne Francis (playing 'Miss Marsha White') finally realizes that she is a mannequin and that her month of freedom and living amongst the humans is over. Allen's saleslady (seen by no one but Marsha) character is the mannequin whose turn is up next and has already been delayed by one full day, explaining her slightly peeved attitude.
In 1963 Elizabeth starred with John Wayne, Dorothy Lamour and Lee Marvin as Ameilia Sarah Dedham in the film Donovan's Reef shot on location in Hawaii on the island of Kauai, and in Hollywood. Donovan's Reef was directed by John Ford.
She also starred in Diamond Head as Laura Beckett with Charlton Heston and Yvette Mimieux, also filmed in Hawaii.
Elizabeth made numerous television appearances in guest starring roles and as a regular cast member. Her television career spanned three decades.
She was married once to Baron Karl von Vietinghoff-Scheel, but the marriage ended in divorce and she never remarried. She was twice nominated for Tony Awards for her performances on Broadway.
Allen quietly retired from show business in 1996, after appearing in both the touring and Broadway musical productions of 42 Street as the fading leading lady character of Dorothy Brock. Prior to this 15-year run, Allen appeared as the character of Victoria Bellman in the daytime TV serials Texas, and Another World. She also starred opposite Paul Lynde's on The Paul Lynde Show, in which she found herself cast from 1972-1973.
Her Broadway and Movie credits are as follows:
Broadway Credits
* 1957 Romanoff and Juliet as Juliet
* 1962 The Gay Life as Magda
* 1965 Do I Hear a Waltz? as Leona Samish
* 1967 Sherry! as Maggie Cutler
* 1983 42nd Street as Dorothy Brock (replacement for Tammy Grimes)
Film Credits
* 1955 Born for Trouble
* 1960 From the Terrace as Sage Remmington
* 1963 Donovan's Reef as Ameilia Sarah Dedham
* 1963 Diamond Head as Laura Beckett
* 1964 Cheyenne Autumn as Guinevere Plantagenet
* 1971 Starr Spangled Girl as The Landlady
* 1972 The Crazy Treatment as Evelyn Randall
* 1979 No Other Love
She died September 19, 2006 from kidney disease, aged 77, in Fishkill, New York; she was survived by a sister-in-law, Marion Gillease, a nephew, Patrick Gillease, a niece, Erin Phelan, and two grand-nieces.
Now you have all the information you need on both the auction item and it's former, famous owner. If you wish to bid, please note my high feedback rating, and bid with confidence!
DUE TO THE RARITY OF THIS CARD, THERE ** IS ** A RESERVE PRICE! IF RESERVE IS NOT MET, CARD WILL ** NOT ** BE SOLD!!!
Please add $8.00 on top of winning bid for INSURED Shipping & Handling via Priority Mail with Delivery Confirmation (domestic buyers within the USA) or $15.00 for Air Mail Shipping and Handling to overseas buyers (be sure to choose the "Other / International" shipping option at auction's end if you live outside the United States, or a second Paypal invoice will be sent to cover the additional shipping expenses prior to shipment of the set). Mastercard/ Visa/ Discover/ American Express credit card payment is acceptable through Paypal - Just click on the "PAY NOW" button at auction’s end. Payment for this auction is via Paypal ONLY, as it is the fastest and provides the most protections for both parties. Thanks for looking, please see the other auctions running NOW for "TheGreenDog," come visit me at thegreendog.com, and GOOD LUCK !! :)
Posted via web from DOGMEAT
