Alan Light has previously written about how he and Shel attended the 60th Academy Awards ceremony in 1988 together using tickets that originated with Bette Davis. However, Shel had at least one additional, earlier connection to Bette Davis. Having been a great fan of Bette Davis for years, Shel wrote her a fan letter in 1987 and received a grateful reply. Retyped versions of these letters follow (with some typos corrected) with scans of the originals thereafter along with a 1948 sketch by Shel that looks a bit like Bette Davis.
Movies
I came to know Shel through his attendance at Cinecon, the annual classic film convention/festival that takes place Labor Day weekend in Hollywood. Shel was an enthusiastic movie fan and came every year to sit in the dark and watch rare films from the silent and early sound era.
Jim Harmon, author of “The Great Radio Heroes” and many other works and an award-winning Comic-Con guest, writes about Shel Dorf’s generous spirit, having dinner with Shel and Ray Bradbury and Stan Lee, meeting Fay Wray with Shel at Cinecon, and more.
On April 11, 1988, Shel Dorf attended the 60th Anniversary Academy Awards (Oscars) ceremony in the company of Alan Light and friends. Their tickets originated with famed actress Bette Davis.
Jack Kirby (left) and Shel Dorf — Nov. 9, 1969