Untitled (Film Set), oil on canvas, signed “Richard Whorf” lower right and signed and dated on the verso “R. Whorf/ Dec. 21, 1945.

”The painting offered here from the Sinatra collection, dated December 21, 1945 (just nine days after Frank Sinatra’s 30th birthday), possibly depicts the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Culver City backlot during the filming of Till the Clouds Roll By, the direction of the film having been taking over by Richard Whorf in December 1945. It is not presently clear if Whorf gave the Sinatras this painting as a gift, as the presence of the Dalzell Hatfield Galleries label on the verso indicates the painting may have been sourced there. Frank and Nancy Sinatra acquired a number of works from Dalzell Hatfield Galleries during the 1940’s including lots 115, 324, 325, 362 and 382 in this sale. Possibly to thank them for their business, Dalzell Hatfield gave the Sinatras two inscribed books on art (see lots 82 and 361).

Richard Whorf (June 4, 1906 December 14, 1966) was an American actor, film producer and director, and visual artist. He started his acting career at an early age in Boston, MA and was performing on Broadway by the age of 21. In the 1930s he moved to Hollywood where he became a contract player. He began directing in 1944 with his first film Blonde Fever starring Philip Dorn and Mary Astor. In 1946 and 1947 two films were released in which he directed Frank Sinatra: Till the Clouds Roll By (1946) featuring Sinatra performing “Old Man River” and the musical comedy It Happened in Brooklyn (1947) starring Sinatra in the lead role.

During the 1950s and 60s, Whorf directed multiple television shows including Gunsmoke, My Three Sons, and 67 episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies. He appeared on screen during that time as well, most notably in an episode of The Rifleman as The Illustrator, a painter with a drinking problem. In addition to his involvement in the entertainment industry, Whorf was an artist, having sold his first painting for $100 at the age of 15. Whorf’s artistic endeavors were profiled and his studio photographed for the March 17, 1963 issue of the syndicated newspaper magazine TV Channels. In the article, Whorf is quoted by the reporter, “Who says that a man has to do one thing?”


23 1/2 by 19 1/2 inches, sight

PROVENANCE From the Estate of Mrs. Nancy Sinatra; Dalzell Hatfield Galleries, Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles


Frank Sinatra