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Sammy Davis, Jr. being filmed by Willie Kee circa 1966.
WILLIE KEE
(1937-2001)
Willie Kee was a gifted photographer and videographer who spent the latter half of the 1960s taking compelling 'paparazzi' shots of major celebrities at various places such as Academy Awards ceremonies, political fundraisers, private parties, theatre locations and television sets. Kee's exceptional skill led to a photojournalism career at KTVU, a television station in Oakland, California which was also his hometown. It was here where Kee worked for twenty-four years, garnering numerous citations including twelve Emmy Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from The Asian American Journalists Association and noted membership in the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences 'Silver Circle' and The Bay Area Broadcast Legends group. Kee's photographs from the 1960s captured many of the 'movers and shakers' of the decade, and though his shots were published in newspapers around the world, many were never used and have remained unseen and unpublished for over thirty years.
Christie's is proud to offer The Willie Kee Archive sold with his original negatives, re-printed proof sheets (for visual purposes) and all copyrights associated with the photographs. Though the copyright for this material is not registered, it does exist under "original works of authorship." A blank transfer of these rights will be included with the sale of this lot and the new buyer's name will be added in after payment is received.
WILLIE KEE MASSIVE ARCHIVE OF UNPUBLISHED 'PAPARAZZI' PHOTOGRAPHS
1965-1969
Details
WILLIE KEE MASSIVE ARCHIVE OF UNPUBLISHED 'PAPARAZZI' PHOTOGRAPHS
1965-1969
A massive archive of 'paparazzi' photographs that Willie Kee shot from 1965 to 1969. Mostly unpublished, the collection consists of thousands of original black and white negatives and proof sheets of the beautiful people at various functions in the mid-1960s including (among others): Louis Armstrong, Count Bassie, Harry Belafonte, Tony Bennett, Jack Benny, Milton Berle, Ernest Borgnine, Sid Caesar, Carol Channing, Ray Charles, Maurice Chevalier, Dave Clark Five, Rosemary Clooney, Imogene Coca, Nat King Cole, Bill Cosby, Bing Crosby, Dorothy Dandridge, Bobby Darrin, Ann B. Davis, Sammy Davis, Jr., Phyllis Diller, Joe DiMaggio, Jimmmy Durante, Joan Fontaine, Eva Gabor, Judy Garland, Barry Goldwater, Benny Goodman, Kathryn Grayson, Celeste Holm, Bob Hope, Rock Hudson, Hubert Humphrey, Tab Hunter, Lucy Baines Johnson, Grace Kelly, Robert F. Kennedy, Edward Kennedy, Peggy Lee, Jerry Lewis, Liberace, Marcel Marceau, Princess Margaret, Ann-Margret, Dean Martin, Johnnie Mathis, Willie Mayes, Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, Ricky Nelson, Donald O'Connor, Walter Pidgeon, Ronald Reagan, Pierre Salinger, Frank Sinatra, The Smothers Brothers, Rudy Vallee, Flip Wilson and Shelley Winters among others. Also included is a large collection of original unpublished photographs that were inscribed by celebrities to Willie Kee with standouts being Judy Garland, Louis Armstrong and Dorothy Dandridge among dozens of others. (A complete lising is available upon request.)
Negative Size: 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 and 1 x 1 1/2 inches
Please note that though these photographs are being sold with copyrights, they are not being sold with performers consents, reproduction rights, licensing agreements or any other types of legal releases. The buyer must apply to the proper parties to obtain such clearances and consents if need be.
1965-1969
A massive archive of 'paparazzi' photographs that Willie Kee shot from 1965 to 1969. Mostly unpublished, the collection consists of thousands of original black and white negatives and proof sheets of the beautiful people at various functions in the mid-1960s including (among others): Louis Armstrong, Count Bassie, Harry Belafonte, Tony Bennett, Jack Benny, Milton Berle, Ernest Borgnine, Sid Caesar, Carol Channing, Ray Charles, Maurice Chevalier, Dave Clark Five, Rosemary Clooney, Imogene Coca, Nat King Cole, Bill Cosby, Bing Crosby, Dorothy Dandridge, Bobby Darrin, Ann B. Davis, Sammy Davis, Jr., Phyllis Diller, Joe DiMaggio, Jimmmy Durante, Joan Fontaine, Eva Gabor, Judy Garland, Barry Goldwater, Benny Goodman, Kathryn Grayson, Celeste Holm, Bob Hope, Rock Hudson, Hubert Humphrey, Tab Hunter, Lucy Baines Johnson, Grace Kelly, Robert F. Kennedy, Edward Kennedy, Peggy Lee, Jerry Lewis, Liberace, Marcel Marceau, Princess Margaret, Ann-Margret, Dean Martin, Johnnie Mathis, Willie Mayes, Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, Ricky Nelson, Donald O'Connor, Walter Pidgeon, Ronald Reagan, Pierre Salinger, Frank Sinatra, The Smothers Brothers, Rudy Vallee, Flip Wilson and Shelley Winters among others. Also included is a large collection of original unpublished photographs that were inscribed by celebrities to Willie Kee with standouts being Judy Garland, Louis Armstrong and Dorothy Dandridge among dozens of others. (A complete lising is available upon request.)
Negative Size: 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 and 1 x 1 1/2 inches
Please note that though these photographs are being sold with copyrights, they are not being sold with performers consents, reproduction rights, licensing agreements or any other types of legal releases. The buyer must apply to the proper parties to obtain such clearances and consents if need be.