1953 Topps Who-z-at Star Trading Cards
Product Details
1953 Topps Who-z-at Star is a product of the Hollywood studio system where actors were treated kind of like athletes today. They would sign long-term contracts tying them to specific production studios. But while cross-license entertainment trading card sets are largely a thing of the past, this studio system led to many different sets through the 1950s.
1953 Topps Who-z-at Star focuses on some of Hollywood's biggest names coming out of World War II. They're highlighted by gorgeous portraits and a very simple design, at least on the card fronts. Released long before the days of Photoshop, images are done using a process called Flexichrome, which makes colors pop in a very distinct and vibrant way. It's a complicated and time-consuming process that The Topps Archives does a good job of breaking down. It is worth noting that Flexichrome has nothing to do with chromium card stock (although the colors would lend themselves well to a Topps Chrome update).
The 80-card checklist includes several all-time great actors and actresses, such as Elizabeth Taylor, Clark Gable, Errol Flynn, Janet Leigh and Gene Kelly. Besides the studio portraits, card fronts have a small white box with the actor's name. There's also a note of which studio, movie or show they're affiliated with. Cards have a silver border, perhaps to go with the silver screen theme.
The Who-z-at name comes from a trivia component that's integrated on the card backs. As one might expect, each actor gets a bio as well as some sports card-esque vitals at the top of the card. Backs also have a second picture on the back and a clue for the previous card, challenging collectors to guess Who-z-at? Seeing as how this was before the Internet Movie Database, TMZ or Wikipedia, it was a little more challenging to keep up with celebrities.
1953 Topps Who-z-at Star? is somewhat overlooked today. Like athletes, a lot of movie stars have their fame rise and fall. Raw singles can be found for reasonable amounts. That soars for professionally graded copies that are Near Mint or higher.
Cards were originally sold in both one-cent and five-sent packs.
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Set Checklist
1953 Topps Who-z-at Star Checklist
2 Rex Allen
3 Forrest Tucker
4 Allan "Rocky" Lane
5 Joan Leslie
6 Roy Barcroft
7 Ella Raines
8 Rod Cameron
9 Fred MacMurray
10 Vera Ralston
11 Dennis O'Keefe
12 Ruth Hussey
13 Eve Arden
14 William Demarest
15 Scott Brady
16 Buddy Baer
17 John Lund
18 katy Jurado
19 Audrey Totter
20 Elaine Stewart
21 Jane Powell
22 Vera Ellen
23 Lionel Barrymore
24 Betta St. John
25 Marjorie Main
26 Harry Carey, Jr.
27 Deborah Kerr
28 Polly Bergen
29 Pier Angeli
30 William Powell
31 William Campbell
32 James Craig
33 Gig Young
34 Ricardo Montalban
35 Howard Keel
36 Eleanor Parker
37 Gene Kelly
38 Keenan Wynn
39 Clark Gable
40 Cara Williams
42 Van Johnson
43 June Allyson
44 Janet Leigh
45 Ava Gardner
46 Red Skelton
47 Robert Taylor
48 Carleton Carpenter
49 Esther Williams
50 Walter Pidgeon
51 Stewart Granger
52 Elizabeth Taylor
53 Cyd Charisse
54 Lana Turner
55 Greer Garson
56 Vic Damone
57 Ann Miller
58 Robert Horton
59 Vittorio Gassman
60 Rita Gam
61 Steve Forrest
62 Leslie Caron
63 Ann Blyth
64 Spencer Tracy
65 Red Buttons
66 Johnny Sheffield
67 Wayne Morris
68 Leo Gorcey
69 The Nelsons
70 Arleen Whelan
71 Richard Anderson
72 Barry Sullivan
73 Mona Freeman
74 Preston Foster
75 Robert Stack
76 Slim Pickens
77 Debbie Reynolds
78 Nanette Fabray
79 Errol Flynn
80 J. Carrol Nash
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Vicki
I have a complete set of 80 Who-Z-At trading cards in excellent condition. What are they worth? How do I get top dollar since they are a complete set?
Ryan Cracknell
Vicki » You can fill out the form here and we can try to help you get in touch with someone: http://www.cardboardconnection.com/collectopedia/resources/baseball-card-buyers/