EDDIE CANTOR - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 01/13/1942 - HFSID 262599

EDDIE CANTOR
Eddie Cantor sends a letter to Dinah Shore extending the time that she will work with him.
Typed Letter Signed: "Eddie Cantor", 1p, 7¼x10¼. New York, New York, 1942 January 13. On imprinted letterhead to Miss Dinah Shore, Forest Hills, Long Island, New York. In full: "Please take notice that the undersigned hereby exercises option 'E' of Paragraph nine, contained in our agreement dated August 23, 1940, and engages your services for a further period of thirteen (13) weeks, said term to commence at the termination of the present series of thirteen (13) weeks. Very truly yours," Shore, who had been named "New Star of Radio 1940" would make her film debut in 1943's Thank Your Lucky Stars, in which Cantor was also featured. The two singers were also performers on Armed Forces Radio Services productions. DINAH Shore (1916-1994), a popular solo songstress, was known for such 1940s hits as "Buttons and Bows", "Blues in the Night", "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To" and "I'll Walk Alone". She moved on to a successful TV career with a musical show, The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (1956-1962), and a series of talk shows (1970-1980). It has been said that her opening and closing lyrics of the Chevy Show, "See the U.S.A. in your Chevrolet...America's the greatest land of all", practically defined the 1950s. A rolling-eyed actor with a high-pitched singing voice, EDDIE Cantor (1892-1964) didn't truly hit the big time until he was hired for Ziegfeld's Midnight Frolics in 1916. He stayed with the Ziegfeld Follies throughout the 1920s. In addition to his expertly timed comic patter, often appearing in black-face, Cantor achieved fame by introducing such songs as "If You Knew Susie," "Dinah," "Makin' Whoopee" and of course, "Ida," a paean to his wife of 49 years, Ida Tobias. He performed inexhaustible work on behalf of dozens of charities, most prominently the March of Dimes, and regularly put his career on the line on behalf of various actors unions' activities. Lightly creased with folds, vertical and horizontal fold at the "E" of Eddie and "C" of Cantor. Paper clip impression and rust stains at upper left blank corner. Overall, fine condition.