GERSHWIN IRA: (1896-1983) American lyricist who... Lot 296

GERSHWIN IRA: (1896-1983) American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin. An excellent signed and inscribed 10 x 8 photograph of Gershwin in a half-length pose seated at a table, smoking a cigar and with a pen in one hand as he writes on the page of the large notebook laid before him. Signed in dark fountain pen ink to a clear area at the base of the image, further adding a quotation from Shall We Dance, in full, 'Life is short; we're growing older/ Don't you be an also-ran/ You'd better dance, little lady! Dance, little man!/ Dance wherever you can!'. An appealing signed image enhanced by Gershwin's addition of a quotation. A few very minor, light corner creases, otherwise VG The song Shall We Dance, composed by George Gershwin and with lyrics by Ira Gershwin, was written in 1937 for the RKO Radio Pictures musical comedy film of the same name which starred Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The film marked the second of the Gershwin's Hollywood musicals.