The Mysterious D.D.D.

Last week an original, 1933 portrait of Franchot Tone by famed photographer George Hurrell went up on Ebay.  Its inscription, "My beloved D.D.D. I love you - Franchot," has had me stumped.

Here's an enhancement of the signature from the auction photo:

Franchot's son, Pat, is stumped as well.  We both thought that possibly it could have belonged to Franchot's last wife, Dolores Dorn, but Pat spoke with her and she said it wasn't hers.  Franchot's brother-in-law, Jack Wallace, did not remember ever seeing it and did not believe it belonged to his sister, Jean Wallace, who was Franchot's second wife and the mother of his two sons.

I talked to the auctioneer, Phillip Weiss, in Oceanside, New York, for more clues.  Phil told me that the photo was part of an large collection that belonged to a gentleman who spent many years purchasing vintage movie photos and who has since passed away.  No notes came with the photo to indicate its origins.

In looking at Franchot's inscription more closely, Phil thought that perhaps it could read "D.O.D." which made me think it could have meant one of Franchot's college friends, Otto Doering.  But after speaking with Otto's son this week, Otto III, that doesn't seem likely either.

Inquiries I made for possible clues to various Joan Crawford experts, such as Stephanie Jones of The Best of Everything: A Joan Crawford Encyclopedia, and to Barbara Payton's biographer, John O'Dowd, (both actresses also being former Mrs. Tones) which equally resulted in no definitive answers or clues.

The photo is dated 1933 and also signed by George Hurrell.  Hurrell expert Mark Vieira of the Starlight Studio told me that the photo in question looks to be genuinely vintage as that paper was not manufactured much after the 1930s.  He also thought Hurrell could have possibly signed this particular print in the 1980s based on the signature.

But when did Franchot sign it?  And to whom?

I've seen, and own, a lot of photos signed by Franchot, and this is probably the first I've ever seen floating around in public that has such an intimate inscription. So, who is this mysterious D.D.D.?  Another question about Franchot that keeps me awake at night.  Please leave a comment here if you have any suggestions on where to look next.

The portrait will be auctioned off by Phil this Saturday, June 9, in Oceanside.  Absentee bidding is being accepted via Ebay.  See the listing here.

Comments

[lisa the other]

What if "D.O.D" was "Dear old Dad"? Was his father still alive then?

[Linda Myers]

Could it be dearest darling daughter
Did he have a daughter

[Catherine Perez]

Maybe D.D.D. stands for Deanna Durbin?