BEN TURPIN - DOCUMENT SIGNED 07/27/1929 - HFSID 43353

BEN TURPIN
Ben Turpin signs a document agreeing to pay a fellow actor in his act $50.00 per week.
Typed Document Signed: "Ben Turpin", 1p, 8½x11. No place, 1929 July 27. Countersigned: "M.V. Kane" and two witnesses. Kane allows Turpin "to use the vaudeville act entitled THE INTERVIEW, of which M.V. Kane is the sole author and owner". Turpin agrees to pay Kane $50.00 per week "for every week Ben Turpin draws a salary for appearing before an audience in said act: 'The Interview'" and credit Kane as the author whenever possible. Lightly creased, touching the "T" in Turpin's signature. Folds, horizontal fold touches the upper loops of the "B", "T" and "p" in Turpin's signature. Shaded at upper left and upper and lower right margins. Overall, fine condition. Accompanied by a TLS of Mrs. Kane to Turpin and unsigned carbons of letters from Turpin to Kane and to one of his employers. In the former two, Turpin and Kane analyze revisions to the act. In the latter, Turpin will not work for "less than $1750 per week" at the Palace Theater in New York. All are lightly creased, chipped at edges, else fine. Ben Turpin joined Essanay shortly after the company began operating in 1907, but it wasn't until 1917, when he joined Mack Sennett, that he became a leading comedy star. He enjoyed his greatest success in a series of parodies of hit movies of the period, lampooning famous screen personalities. His films included Uncle Tom Without the Cabin (1919), The Shriek of Araby (1923), The Reel Virginian (1924) and A Harem Knight (1926). He derived much laughter from the contrast between his small size and ludicrous face and the dashing, sophisticated characters he portrayed. Turpin had insured his eyes with Lloyds of London against uncrossing. Four items.