Hollywood On Postage Stamps

Hollywood On Postage Stamps

For over a decade the United States Postal Service has issued a yearly stamp in the Legends of Hollywood series depicting a legendary actor or actress. Which stars have been chosen for the series?

1995 – Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962)

One of the greatest sirens of cinema, Marilyn Monroe starred in such memorable films as “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (1953), “The Seven Year Itch” (1955), “Bus Stop” (1956) and “Some Like It Hot” (1959). Monroe was featured on the premier Legends of Hollywood stamp which was 32¢ and released on June 1, 1995.

1996 – James Dean (1931-1955)

This quintessential bad boy was featured on the 32¢ stamp that was released on June 24, 1996. Although his career was short, Dean starred in “East of Eden” (1955), “Rebel Without a Cause” (1955) and “Giant” (1956).

1997 – Humphrey Bogart (1899-1957)

Legendary actor Humphrey Bogart was immortalized in “Casablanca” (1942), “Key Largo” (1948) and “The African Queen” (1951). He was featured on the 32¢ Legends of Hollywood Stamp that was released on July 31, 1997.

1998 – Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980)

Hitchcock will forever be remembered as one of the most prolific and groundbreaking directors in movies. He was behind the camera for such notorious movies as Rebecca, “Rear Window” (1954), “Vertigo” (1958), “Psycho” (1960) and “The Birds” (1963). His 32¢ stamp was released on August 3, 1998.

1999 – James Cagney (1899-1986)

James Cagney made a name for himself by starring in such films as “Angels with Dirty Faces” (1938), “Yankee Doodle Dandy” (1942) and “Ragtime” (1981). The classic star is featured on the 33¢ stamp that was released on July 22, 1999.

2000 – Edward G. Robinson (1893-1973)

Edward G. Robinson appears on the 33¢ stamp that was released by the U.S.P.S. on October 24, 2000. His successful career included “Little Caesar” (1931), “Double Indemnity” (1944), Dathan in The Ten Commandments and in 1973’s “Soylent Green”.

2001 – Lucille Ball (1911-1989)

Lucille Ball will probably be forever remembered for her role as Lucy Ricardo in the comedy classic “I Love Lucy” opposite real-life husband Desi Arnaz, who both appeared on a stamp for the 1950’s Celebrate the Century series. However, Ball had a successful movie career in such films as an appearance as a chorus girl in “Moulin Rouge” (1934), “The Big Street” (1942), the original “Yours, Mine and Ours” (1968) and “Mame” (1974). She is featured on the 34¢ Legends of Hollywood stamp that was released ion August 6, 2001.

2002 – Cary Grant (1904-1986)

Hollyood favorite Cary Grant starred in plenty of films during his distinguished career including “Arsenic and Old Lace” (1944), “Notorious” (1946), “To Catch a Thief” (1955), “An Affair to Remember” (1957) and “North by Northwest” (1959). His 37¢ stamp was released on October 15, 2002.

2003 – Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993)

Legendary screen actress Audrey Hepburn had notable roles in “Roman Holiday” (1953), “Sabrina” (1954), “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961), “My Fair Lady” (1964) and “Wait Until Dark” (1967). Her 37¢ stamp was released on June 11, 2003.

2004 – John Wayne (1907-1979)

This larger than life actor had a career that spanned several decades. John Wayne starred in “Sands of Iwo Jima” (1949), “The Alamo” (1960) and “True Grit” (1969). Wayne’s 37¢ Legends of Hollywood stamp was released on September 9, 2004. However, it wasn’t the first time he’s appeared as part of the postage series. His likeness was used for a 25¢ stamp released on March 23, 1990 for a series of 1939 movies. The movie John Wayne was featured for? “Stagecoach”.

2005 – Henry Fonda (1905-1982)

This year’s 37¢ stamp was released on May 20, 2005 and featured actor Henry Fonda. Fonda had a long and illustrious career in film, starring in “The Grapes of Wrath” (1940), “12 Angry Men” (1957) and “On Golden Pond” (1981).

2006 – Judy Garland (1922-1969)

Like John Wayne, Judy Garland has not only appeared in the Legends of Hollywood stamp series but also for 1939 movie, The Wizard of Oz. Garland, who also starred in “Meet Me in St. Louis” (1944), “A Star is Born” (1954) and “Judgment at Nuremberg” (1961), was shown on the 39¢ stamp that was released on June 10, 2006.

2007 – James Stewart (1908-1997)

The 39¢ postage stamp featuring screen legend James Stewart is set to be released in July 2007. Stewart gained fame for his roles in “The Philadelphia Story” (1940), It’s a Wonderful Life and “Spirit of St. Louis” (1957).

Hollywood Notables Featured In Other Series Include:

Abbott & Costello (Bud Abbott and Lou Costello) and Laurel & Hardy (Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy) are featured on two of the 29¢ stamps commemorating famous comedians that were released on August 29, 1991.

Theda Bera, Clara Bow, Lon Chaney, Charlie Chaplin, John Gilbert, Buster Keaton, the Keystone Cops, Harold Lloyd, Zasu Pitts and Rudolph Valentino were all featured in the U.S. Postal Service’s Stars of the Silent Screen series. The stamps were released on April 27, 1994 and were 29¢.

Lon Chaney, Lon Chaney Jr., Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi appear in character make-up for the five 32¢ stamps issued on September 30, 1997 for the Famous Movie Monsters series. Chaney is shown as the title character of “Phantom of the Opera” (1925) while his son, Lon Chaney Jr. is featured for The Wolf Man. Karloff appears twice for Frankenstein and the Mummy while Lugosi is shown for Dracula.

Charlie Chaplin would appear again as part of the Celebrate the Century series. Chaplin was featured with the 1910s decade that was 32¢ and released on February 3, 1998.

Gary Cooper in “Beau Geste” and Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh in Gone with the Wind are the other two movies featured in the four stamp series for films released in 1939.

Bing Crosby and Elvis Presley are on two of the 29¢ stamps featured in the Legends of American Music series. Presley’s stamp was released on January 8, 1993 while Crosby’s was released September 1, 1994.

W.C. Fields and Douglas Fairbanks have both been featured in the Performing Arts and Artists Series. Fields’ was immortalized on a 15¢ stamp that was released on January 1, 1980. Fairbanks followed with a 20¢ stamp on May 23, 1984.

Greta Garbo was featured on a 37¢ stamp that was released on September 23, 2005. The stamp was released to commemorate the legendary screen star’s 100^th birthday.

Orson Welles appeared in character for Citizen Kane. The movie was part of the 1940s Celebrate the Century series that was released in 1998. The stamp price was 33¢.

Several movies were also honored during the 1998 Celebrate the Century series. The 1930s were represented by the animated classic “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves” (1937). “E.T.” (1982) was part of the 1980’s commemoration while Jurassic Park and Titanic were each included in the 1990’s series. Each stamp was 33¢.