Geoffrey Keen and Bobby Driscoll, in the "crow's nest"
scene from Walt Disney's Treasure Island
Autograph of Bobby Driscoll,
from a 3x5 card
Autograph of Geoffrey Keen
from a 3x5 card.
My autographed memorabilia of choice, is the signed photograph. Something I can display on the wall is the ideal, even though I have to admit, most of my collection remains in binders. Being of often limited means to pursue my passion for collecting, I do purchase other signed items, like 3x5 cards, short writings and various other interesting signed bits of memorabilia. I try to find photos and other items to go with the loose autographs, so to make a "cut-piece" display.
My acquisition of the Bobby Driscoll* autograph shown above was one of my most fortunate finds. I had long searched for a Bobby Driscoll I could Afford. My collecting has always been done on a budget, and Bobby Driscoll, being one of the more valuable autographs, as well as one of my favorite child stars, seemed out of reach.
I had never seen an autographed photo of Bobby, but occasionally a signature from a card or autograph book would emerge. I purchased this signed card at auction, in 2006, and got it for a bargain price, perhaps because of the slight water smear at the end of the signature. Upon purchase, I immediately began exploring how I would mount and display it.
Bobby Driscoll as Jim Hawkins from
from Walt Disney's Treasure Island.
I initially thought I would display it with a picture of Bobby as Jim Hawkins from Treasure Island, as that was my favorite Bobby Driscoll movie. As I looked for photos of Bobby, I came across two from my favorite scene in the film, the struggle between Jim Hawkins and Pirate Israel Hands.
One, in the crow's nest, just before the pirate throws the knife hitting Jim in the shoulder, and the other 
just as the knife hits Jim's shoulder, and he fires his pistol. I had often said that I would love to have an autographed photo from this scene. I could not find any photos available of these two photos, but I did find a gentlemen who had a large stock of Disney photos that were used to send to newspapers to promote the films. I found the black and white picture at top, which shows the scene directly after the shot is fired, and Israel Hands is falling. I acquired this picture, but then had the task of seeing if I could find the name of the actor playing Israel Hands, and if I had a chance of finding an autograph!
On the back of the press picture, I discovered the "blurb" the studio had given to be placed along with the picture, and there was the name of the actor; Geoffrey Keen^. Probably a bit player, I said to myself, but started doing research. To my surprise, Geoffrey Keen was well known, and sought after in autograph circles, as one of the James Bond regulars. Keen played Frederick Grey, minister of Defense, in six Bond films between 1977 and 1987.
With the popularity of the Bond films, and the subsequent interest in the actors autographs, Keen's was not hard to find, and one was purchased from England.
I have yet to mount these autographs and picture, but they will make a fine display, even though Bobby Driscoll is not shown as "cute" as he often is. The photos from this scene really show the power of Bobby's acting, which is striking.
*Bobby Driscoll
Bobby was born Robert Cletus Driscoll on March 3,1937, and was truly one of Hollywood's tragic child actors. Bobby did a large body of movie and TV work between 1943 and 1960, much of it for the Walt Disney Company. He stared in some of the most popular live action films for the Disney Company, such as Song of the South in 1946, So Dear to my Heart in 1948, and of course, Treasure Island in 1950.
Under contract to Disney, Bobby was "loaned" to RKO Studios to do The Window, based on Cornell Woolrich's novel, The Boy Who Cried Murder.
When it was released in 1949, it was a surprise hit. The New York Times credited Bobby with the success:
"The striking force and terrifying impact of this RKO meoldrama is cheifly due to Bobby's brilliant acting, for the whole effect would have been lost were there any suspicion of doubt about the credibility of this pivotal character. The Window is Bobby Driscoll's picture, make no mistake about it."
So Dear to My Heart and The Window earned Bobby a special Academy Award in March 1950, as best juvenile actor of 1949. Bobby's last major success was Disney's Peter Pan, in which he did the voice of Peter, and was used for close up model for the character.
Upon the release of Peter Pan, Bobby's contract with Disney was canceled. Walt had felt that Bobby was now alright for playing "bullies", but was not good for leads any longer. Also, a bad case of acne, which affects most teens, caused "too much time in make-up", and was used as further reason to terminate Bobby's contract.
At 17, Bobby began to experiment with drugs, mostly heroin. In 1956, Bobby was arrested for the first time, for possession of marijuana. Hedda Hopper said; "This could cost this fine lad and good actor his career." Bobby was married for about three years and had three children.
Bobby went to prison as a drug addict, and upon release was unable to find work. He relocated to New York, and was for a time part of Andy Warhol's Greenwich Village art community known as the Factory.
Bobby left the Factory in 1968, and without funds, became lost in Manhattan's underground. His body was found by some boys playing in some old tenements, about three weeks after his 31st birthday.
Jim Hawkins (Bobby Driscoll) and Israel Hands (Geoffery Keen)
fight in this scene from Waly Disney's Treasure Island.
^Geoffrey Keen
Actor Geoffrey Keen was born in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, in 1916. He was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, and made his film debut in 1946 in Raiders of the New Forest. He soon began to appear in better known films like Odd man out (1947), The Fallen Idol (1948) and The Third Man (1949)
Of course, in 1950, he appeared as pirate Israel Hands in the Disney production of Treasure Island, which was filmed in England.
Geoffrey Keen as Pirate Israel Hands in the Disney
Production of Treasure Island.
Keen was mainly cast as establishment characters, including ministers, senior police officers, and military figures. His portrayal of Frederic Gray in the James Bond Movies lasted through 6 films; The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker , For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy, A View to a Kill, and The Living Daylights.
Throughout his career, Geoffrey Keen made 100 films before his retirement in 1991. Geoffrey Keen Passed away on November 3, 2005 in London, England.
Even though Keen was born 21 years before Driscoll, he out lived Bobby by 37 years. In the movie Treasure Island, it is Jim (Bobby) that comes out on top. In life, Geoffrey was as successful as Bobby was Tragic. But they both brought us moments of excitement, adventure and an escape from our hum-drum lives. In this, they were both winners.
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