1691. LEW LEHR AND THE CIRCUS SAINTS AND SINNERS (1895-1950) Actor and vaudeville comedian best known as the announcer for Fox's Movietone News beginning in 1932. For over 25 years his voice was synonymous with the voice of the news reel. Whatever the subject, Lew Lehr's character had a sardonic and slightly-sour outlook on it, especially when it involved footage from old Edison films that Fox Movietone News would insert about once a month to lighten up their newsreels. Offered here is a highly unusual and special (and quite large) S.P. "Lew Lehr" in pencil, an original charcoal bust portrait, 24" x 30" of Lehr surrounded by approximately 100 signatures, executed by cartoonist and NBC radio's "Never A Dull Moment" host "Jolly" BILL STEINKE on the occasion of Lehr's roast at the February 16, 1938 meeting of the Circus Saints and Sinners Association, a foundation established by FREDDIE 'BING' BENHAM to benefit indigent and elderly circus performers. The signatures that surround the portrait (including Benham's) are accomplished in pen and pencil by atendees including Steinke's daughter, artist BETTINA STEINKE, aviator ROSCOE TURNER who set the transcontinental speed record in 1930, boxer and Bat Masterson protegé TEX O'ROURKE, P.T. Barnum's grandson HERBERT BARNUM SEELEY, authors GERALD PRIESTMAN and ORSON KILBORN, "pulp fiction" scribes ARTHUR LEO ZAGAT and ED BODIN, Oscar winning Movietone producer ED REEK, actor WILLARD CARY and many more. Light soiling, light white pencil mark affects image, mounted to a larger board, otherwise very good condition. Worthy of further research. $200-300