American Actress, Memorabilia Collector. Born Billie Nelson on the east coast, the aspiring actress arrived in Hollywood during the early 1940s, where she met and married actor David Tyrrell. The couple became close friends with Hollywood luminaries of the era ranging from Margaret O’Brien to Jackie Coogan. In the 1940s, she starred in off-Broadway plays, appeared in various early television shows and had roles in such films as 'Untamed Woman' and 'Lost Island'. According to one magazine of the day, she was "the holder of no less than 32 beauty titles". During the 1950's, she developed an interest in the history of theatre, films and early Hollywood and was determined to preserve its history. In her home, she kept scrapbooks that were filled with personal autographs and had trophies and awards won by the famous or the soon-forgotten. In the 1970s, she opened an antique doll store, drawing clients from the star-filled area, many clients actually were stars who were always delighted to sign their names on vintage celebrity dolls representing themselves, including Shirley Temple, Jane Withers, Judy Garland and Sonja Henie. She also amassed an extensive collection of Charlie Chaplin dolls and toys. Her collection grew to include not only the autographed dolls, but also objects, letters, autographed photographs, even furniture, paintings and posters that related to those stars that the dolls represented. In early 2011, an auction of her collection fetched hundreds of thousands of dollars.
American Actress, Memorabilia Collector. Born Billie Nelson on the east coast, the aspiring actress arrived in Hollywood during the early 1940s, where she met and married actor David Tyrrell. The couple became close friends with Hollywood luminaries of the era ranging from Margaret O’Brien to Jackie Coogan. In the 1940s, she starred in off-Broadway plays, appeared in various early television shows and had roles in such films as 'Untamed Woman' and 'Lost Island'. According to one magazine of the day, she was "the holder of no less than 32 beauty titles". During the 1950's, she developed an interest in the history of theatre, films and early Hollywood and was determined to preserve its history. In her home, she kept scrapbooks that were filled with personal autographs and had trophies and awards won by the famous or the soon-forgotten. In the 1970s, she opened an antique doll store, drawing clients from the star-filled area, many clients actually were stars who were always delighted to sign their names on vintage celebrity dolls representing themselves, including Shirley Temple, Jane Withers, Judy Garland and Sonja Henie. She also amassed an extensive collection of Charlie Chaplin dolls and toys. Her collection grew to include not only the autographed dolls, but also objects, letters, autographed photographs, even furniture, paintings and posters that related to those stars that the dolls represented. In early 2011, an auction of her collection fetched hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Bio by: Louis du Mort
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