VERA RALSTON CZECH ACTRESS AND FIGURE SKATER AUUTOGRAPHED 8X10 PHOTO WITH COA

Vera was a Czech figure skater and actress. She later became a naturalized American citizen. She worked as an actress during the 1940s and 1950s. As a figure skater, she represented Czechoslovakia in competition under her birth name V‚¬ºra Hrub¡.[citation needed] She competed at the 1936 European Figure Skating Championships and placed 15th. Later that season, she competed at the 1936 Winter Olympics, where she placed 17th. During the games, she personally met and reportedly insulted Adolf Hitler.[4] Hitler asked her if she would like to "skate for the swastika." As she later boasted, "I looked him right in the eye, and said that I'd rather skate on the swastika. The F¼hrer was furious."[7] Hrub¡ competed at the 1937 European Figure Skating Championships and placed 7th. She emigrated to the United States in 1941 and became a naturalized citizen in 1946 She moved to Hollywood with her mother and signed a contract in 1943 with Republic Pictures. During her career she was known as Vera Hrub¡ Ralston and Vera Hruba Ralston, and, later, simply as Vera Ralston. She normally played an immigrant girl, because of her limited English skills. Among the 26 films Ralston starred in were Storm Over Lisbon with Erich von Stroheim (1944), Dakota (1945) with John Wayne, I, Jane Doe (1948) with John Carroll and Ruth Hussey, The Fighting Kentuckian, also with Wayne (1949), A Perilous Journey with David Brian and Scott Brady (1953), and Fair Wind to Java with Fred MacMurray (1953). She retired from films in 1958. Reportedly only 2 of her 20 films made money.[8] In 1952, Ralston married Republic studio head Herbert Yates. Yates was nearly 40 years her senior, and reportedly left his wife and children to be with Ralston.[9] Yates used his position to obtain roles for Ralston, and at one point was sued by studio shareholders for using company assets to promote his wife. Yates died in 1966, leaving his $8 million estate to Ralston.[10] She suffered a nervous breakdown shortly thereafter, then remarried and lived quietly in southern California. She died on February 9, 2003, in Santa Barbara, California, after a long battle with cancer. For her work in films, Ralston has a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Note: These photos are 30, 40, and 50 years or older. There could be a light surface scratch, dimple, small crease, finger prints, fading, yellowing, bend, tear, food stain, etc. There are ones that do not have any defects at all. We will do the best to note all blemishes. THESE ARE TRULY RARE COLLECTOR'S ITEMS (Cool bonus on some of these >> many of them were Stamped "Property Of Paramount Studios etc." On The Back. We will try to make note of this in the individual listings) All of these photos were purchased years ago from the original collector! This collection contains a fantastic array of One of a Kind autographed photos that are both unique and RARE. These are from decades past and many have never been seen before now. Classic stars of the Golden Age of yesteryear available for a whole new generation! Plus familiar Hollywood or everyone! Additionally, when noted, the signatures are professionally authenticated by JSA (James Spence Authentication)! Get a piece of TV or movie memorabilia while it's still readily available! JSA (James Spence Authentication)! Get a piece of TV or movie memorabilia while it's still readily available!