Signed Neil Simon Aegis Theatre Club Award Certificate 1967 Broadway New York

(Neil Simon)  Original hand-painted Aegis Theatre Club Award certificate given to playwright Neil Simon on May 2, 1967 for bringing happiness to theatregoers while having three of his plays on Broadway (Barefoot in the Dark, Odd Couple, and Star Spangled Girl), 18 by 24 inches in a slightly larger frame under Plexiglas, in very good condition (the award has not been examined outside the frame).  The certificate features a column of garlands on the left that is signed JH on the bottom of the column.   On the back paper lining, it appears that Neil Simon has autographed the piece.  (I have sold several signed Neil Simon items and this appears to be his distinctive autograph.)  The award comes from a large Southern California collection of awards given to entertainers that I acquired from the dealer who was hired to dispose of it. 

The Aegis Theatre Club Award is considered to be one of the most important awards that was presented to prominent people connected with Broadway theatre in New York.  I believe the club met regularly and voted to make presentations of the award when they agreed that a performance or personality was worthy.  I found several references to other awards that were all presented in the 1960s but I am unaware of the span of years they were actually awarded.   I saw another award certificate presented to Van Heflin that is framed exactly the same as this one.