Tom McNeely (Canadian, B. 1935) "Lon Chaney" Signed and dated lower right. Mixed Media on Paper.

Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 29c Lon Chaney, Sr. stamp issued April 27, 1994.

The son of deaf-mute parents, Lon Chaney was forced to exchange thoughts with his family by using hand gestures and facial expressions. His mastery of pantomime has often been attributed to this fact. Best-known for his unforgettable portrayals of Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Eric in The Phantom of the Opera, Chaney not only proved his spectacular acting ability but also exhibited a talent for stage makeup developed at a young age. As a property boy he often peered through a crack in a dressing room door, in awe of actor Richard Mansfield as he applied grease paint. Chaney eventually became so knowledgeable in the area of theatrical makeup that he penned articles on the subject for two publications. The gifted Chaney also conveyed realism in his work by dramatically altering his face with plastic gum and wearing a leather harness that painfully twisted his form. For his role of the "frog" in 1919's The Miracle Man, Chaney even acquired the knack of dislocating his shoulder to distort his body, a practice that left him with a permanent injury. Although Chaney lived only 47 years, he was involved in 160 films. Sadly, only a few dozen of these remain intact today. Perhaps his greatest contribution was the hope and sense of dignity he brought to the world's disabled through his sensitive portrayals of the physically and mentally handicapped characters he re-created on the silent screen.

Image Size: 21.25 x 18.25 in.
Overall Size: 21.75 x 18.25 in.
Unframed.
(B14699)

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