African Americans have made extraordinary contributions to the history and culture of the United States as part of the nation and apart from it. This month, Auction Finds presents “28 days (Plus 1)” of this collaborative history. The additional day is intended to break Black history out of the stricture of a month into its rightful place as an equal partner in the history of America. Each day, I will offer artifacts culled from the auction tables and my research, along with the stories they hold.
Feb. 12, 2022
Autographed photo of Nat King Cole
Everyone knows the name Nat King Cole, one of the most mellow voices of the 20th century who had fans all over the world. This photograph was signed “To the Teardrops Best of Luck Nat King Cole.”
He autographed the photo for an Atlantic City entertainer named Paulie Teardrop, the stage name for Paul Ciaurella. He and his brother Tony performed as the Teardrops starting in the 1950s. They played the Copacabana in New York, Las Vegas and then Atlantic City. They shared the stage with many celebrities, while others came to see their show. Read the full story.
