Movie Star Pens

[speerbob]

Hi, I have some of these very cool celluloid Person Fountain Pen Co pens from Japan. c. 1960 or so I think. I of course recognize Marilyn but who are the other actors and actress? Anyone know? Thanks, BOB

[corniche]

Hi Speerbob,

 

The third one looks like a poor man's version of Joan Crawford. The other two; no idea.

 

Sean

[corniche]

The second one... maybe Cary Grant?????

[Mercian]

The blonde on the fourth pen is, like you said, clearly Norma Jeane.

 

My first thought for the brunette on the third was Ava Gardner.

 

I also think that the man on the second pen is Cary Grant.

 

My first thought for the man on the first pen was Frank Sinatra.

[Parker51]

No, first pen picture is Gary Cooper.

Edited February 6, 2020 by Parker51

[corniche]

No, first pen picture is Gary Cooper

Yeah, I think so.

 

https://www.google.com/search?safe=active&client=ms-android-samsung-ss&sxsrf=ACYBGNQKQRmYqMkaTK6Vul-ZRsqeK-M8aA%3A1580952709824&ei=hWw7XoD9McOCytMPjeyZkAo&q=gary+cooper&gs_ssp=eJzj4tDP1TdINipJM2D04k5PLKpUSM7PL0gtAgBQwAde&oq=gary&gs_l=mobile-gws-wiz-serp.1.0.46i67i275j0i67j0i10i67j46l2j0i67j46l2.1690904.1694418..1695497...1.0..1.314.1497.12j1j0j1......0....1.......8..46i39i275j0i20i263j0j46i362i39i275j46i362i39j35i362i39j35i39j46i67j46i20i263.EImRp2HtZv0#imgrc=ESUWNa1I6L5D5M:

[Parker51]

I believe the third picture is Ethel Merman.

[corniche]

I believe the third picture is Ethel Merman.

That's certainly possible; that third one is a bit of a coin toss. One thing, now that I've blown up the pic, I don't think it's Joan anymore.

[Parker51]

Given the ages of the different celebrities, I date the photographs as early 1950s. Specifically the lack of wrinkles and frown lines in the older male celebrities, the changes in Ethel Mermans almost signature makeup and it being a picture of a young Marylin Monroe.

[Parker51]

My guess is the pen is from the Korean War period when many US troups had contact with Japan and frequently hard R & R there as related to serving in Korea. It could also date a little later given the long contact between the US and Japan. It does not strike me as a piece made for export, rather for tourists.

Edited February 6, 2020 by Parker51

[Mercian]

No, first pen picture is Gary Cooper.

 

You’re clearly right

[Mercian]

I believe the third picture is Ethel Merman.

I still think it’s Ava Gardner - specifically this photo of her:

https://www.oldtimeradiodownloads.com/assets/img/actor/56b76efb58c15__ava-gardner-24.jpg

(The picture is large.)

 

Ava Gardner was a ‘glamorous’ actress/movie star.

Ethel Merman was a talented star, but was not (afaik) noted for being ‘glamorous’.

[praxim]

A name is not coming to me at the moment but I am not convinced that the second one is Cary Grant. He reminds me more of an American actor who may have appeared in Westerns and dramas.

[Parker51]

I still think it’s Ava Gardner - specifically this photo of her:

https://www.oldtimeradiodownloads.com/assets/img/actor/56b76efb58c15__ava-gardner-24.jpg

 

(The picture is large.)

 

Ava Gardner was a ‘glamorous’ actress/movie star.

Ethel Merman was a talented star, but was not (afaik) noted for being ‘glamorous’.

I agree regarding Ethel Merman's status versus Ava Gardner, but the picture on the pen does not match Ava's narrow nose, high cheekbones, or slightly indented-cleft chin, nor is the woman in the pictures head ovoid as Ava's was, but rather round. It may not be Ethel Merman, but I haven't found anyone else during that period with the right ethnicity to better match the picture.

[Parker51]

A name is not coming to me at the moment but I am not convinced that the second one is Cary Grant. He reminds me more of an American actor who may have appeared in Westerns and dramas.

I went looking, it was James Mason, I found a picture which matches it through Bing.

[cellopen]

I think pen number 2 resembles Gregory Peck

[Parker51]

I agree regarding Ethel Merman's status versus Ava Gardner, but the picture on the pen does not match Ava's narrow nose, high cheekbones, or slightly indented-cleft chin, nor is the woman in the pictures head ovoid as Ava's was, but rather round. It may not be Ethel Merman, but I haven't found anyone else during that period with the right ethnicity to better match the picture.

I went looking again in Bing and I found a picture that matched and it was Marie Callas.

[Parker51]

I agree regarding Ethel Merman's status versus Ava Gardner, but the picture on the pen does not match Ava's narrow nose, high cheekbones, or slightly indented-cleft chin, nor is the woman in the pictures head ovoid as Ava's was, but rather round. It may not be Ethel Merman, but I haven't found anyone else during that period with the right ethnicity to better match the picture.

I went looking again in Bing and I found a picture that matched and it was Marie Callas, before she lost 80 lbs, which puts the picture at about 1951 or 1952, the approximate same time period as the other photographs.

[speerbob]

Hi, Thanks for all the info. So I think I'll go with Marilyn and Marie (maybe Ava) and Gregory Peck and Cary Grant. These are very cool pens! Cheers, BOB

[Mercian]

...but the picture on the pen does not match Ava's narrow nose, high cheekbones, or slightly indented-cleft chin, nor is the woman in the pictures head ovoid as Ava's was, but rather round.

 

 

The picture on the pen has been wrapped around the cylindrical body of the pen, and also has discolourations on it. One cannot make out e.g. the width of the nose because of those discolourations.

 

The photo to which I linked shows Ava Gardner with her face titled at exactly the angle on the picture on the pen, with exactly the same hair, the same eyebrow shape, and exactly the same shadow under the collar on her left (the lower right of the picture) as those in the picture on the pen. I am certain that it’s the same photograph.

 

Maria Callas had thicker, straighter eyebrows and different-shaped eyes.