CHARLTON HESTON - CONTRACT SIGNED 09/29/1951 CO-SIGNED BY: MAX LIEBMAN - HFSID 158335

CHARLTON HESTON, CO-SIGNED BY: MAX LIEBMAN
Heston and Liebman signed this contract in 1951 to appear as an MC on an unspecified TV show. It was signed one year after Heston's 1950 film debut in Dark City and one year before his big break in 1952's The Greatest Show on Earth, and it offers a glimpse into his acting career before he became a superstar.
Contract signed"Charlton Heston" by Heston and "Max Liebman" byLiebman, both in blue ink. 7 pages, 8¼x10¾, one white sheet folded front and verso and four single-sided loose-leaf sheets. Sept. 29, 1951. This contract is with Max Liebman Productions, Inc. for Heston to appear as master of ceremonies on an unspecified Oct. 13 TV show (possibly Your Show of Shows, which Liebman produced and directed) with rehearsals beginning on Oct. 9. Heston received $1,000 for this appearance and agreed not to appear on any TV show sponsored by a competing product until this contract expired. According to three other sheets included with this contract, Heston appeared to have signed on for three other TV shows, as well: the Oct. 22 episode of Studio One, for which he was paid $1,000; the Nov. 23 episode of Young and Rubicam, for which he was paid $2,000; and the Dec. 22, episode of Your Show of Shows, for which he was paid $1,000. These documents give a glimpse into Heston's early career as an actor, before he became a superstar. The listed appearances were one year after his film debut in Dark City (1950) and one year before his big break in Cecil B. DeMille's The Greatest Show on Earth. HESTON (1923-2008, born John Charles Carter in Evanston, Illinois) was an Oscar-winning American actor and political activist. He made his film debut in Dark City (1950) and got his big break when Cecil B. DeMille cast him as circus manager Brad Braden in The Greatest Show on Earth two years later. Heston found his niche when DeMille cast him as Moses in The Ten Commandments in 1956, the first in a series of larger-than-life roles that included such epics as Ben-Hur (1959), for which he won the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role, El Cid (1961), The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) and Planet of the Apes (1968). In 1977, the actor was awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. Active in politics, Heston served an unprecedented three terms as President of the National Rifle Association. Theatrical jack of all trades LIEBMAN (1902-1981, born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary) wrote, composed, directed and produced for Broadway musicals from 1936, From the Second City being his last contribution. Liebman also contributed songs to film musicals, including Up in Arms (1944). From the Second City opened at Broadway's Royale Theatre on September 26, 1961, a week later than anticipated in this contract, and ran for 87 performances. It earned Severn Darden and Barbara Harris, Tony nominations for Best Featured Actor/Actress in a Musical. Lightly toned and creased. Light tears and dents along edges. Heston's signature has bled slightly. Staple holes near upper left corner. Binder holes on left edge. Folded twice and unfolded. Otherwise in fine condition.