Jean Hersholt, Celebrity Christmas Seal Collector
Being a fan of old movies I remembered Jean Hersholt's brilliant performance of the grandfather, in Heidi. Shirley Temple, transforms her reclusive grumpy grandpa into a man with a heart. Hersholt appeared in 75 silent films, 65 sound films and directed four films. Born in Denmark, he emigrated to California before WW1 where he worked in silent film. His talent earned him a starring role as the villain in the silent film classic, Greed. He is best remembered for his long running radio series, Dr. Christian, a philosophical doctor who practiced in the typical Midwestern town.
Jean Hersholt's interest in Christmas Seals began before he portrayed the father of the Christmas Seal, Einar Holboll, in a radio drama called, the Man Who Loved Children, which aired November 1944. Early the same year Jean Hersholt was given a fine US Christmas Seal collection (download and view) by the National Tuberculosis Association, and presented by Dr. Kendall Emerson, the 4th acting Director of the NTA. The collection is housed in an Elmer Long Album, which was designed by Vernon Bressler; two old time Christmas Seal dealers. Hersholt continued to collect Christmas Seals up until the time of his death.
Of course, there are other celebrity Christmas Seal collectors, such as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who also received a presentation Christmas Seal collection from the NTA and the CS&CSS ten years before. Hersholt, like FDR, were both avid stamp collectors, so their interest in Christmas Seals came naturally. When I came across Jean Hersholt's Christmas Seal collection, I was intrigued and wondered if the FDR collection, presented in 1933, was similar to this one. This collection includes letters as well as Christmas Seals he received from dealers of the period including Charles Lorenz and May Rigney. These purchases were added to the collection.
In 1939, Hersholt broadened his social interests and played a critical role in establishing the Motion Picture Relief Fund, now known as the Motion Picture and Television Fund. Hersholt was honored for his services to the industry three times with an honorary Academy Award, first in 1940 and the second time in 1949 and the third time in 1950. Shortly after his death in 1956 the Academy created a prestigious humanitarian award in his honor. Over the years it has been given to some of Hollywood’s top figures. He is one of only 11 people with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.