EDWARD ALBEE - DOCUMENT SIGNED 02/10/1967 - HFSID 275358

EDWARD ALBEE
CBS comes to an agreement with the Playwright and Warner Bros. regarding plans to use a parody of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Document Signed: "Edward Albee" in ink on last page, 4p, 8½x11, separate sheets. No place, 1967 February 10. Agreement between Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc. (CBS), Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc. and Albee regarding their differences - which led to legal action on both sides - regarding the airing of a parody of Albee's work, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. In part: "Albee represents that he is the author and sole copyright owner of a play entitled 'WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? Warner represents that it is the producer and sole copyright owner of a motion picture entitled 'WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?' CBS has produced and recorded on video tape a program tentatively entitled 'The Sid Caesar Show', an 11-minute segment of which is a sketch entitled 'Married Life' parodying or burlesqueing 'WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?' and starring Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca...The sketch was reviewed by representatives of Warner on or about January 20 and January 24, 1967. Warner, on behalf of itself and of Albee, demanded that CBS cancel any plans for telecasting the sketch and confirm that the sketch would not be employed by CBS for any program. It threatened to proceed against CBS, sponsors, advertising agencies, individuals and all others concerned for an injunction and damages unless CBS confirmed in writing that it was permanently canceling plans to televise the sketch. On January 30, 1967, CBS instituted an action...for a judgment declaring, among other things, that CBS was entitled to telecast the sketch...that the sketch does not infringe any copyrights in the play or motion picture...In consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties agree as follows: 1. CBS shall dismiss the action against Warner and Albee without costs or disbursements. 2. Neither Warner nor Albee shall institute any action of other proceeding against CBS...or to recover damages or other compensation for, the television broadcast of the sketch on or about April 5, 1967...CBS shall not in any publicity or advertising under its direct control in any way make use of the name Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc...or the name or picture of Edward Albee or the names or pictures of the producer, director, stars or of any other person connected with the production of the Albee play or with the production or distribution of the motion picture 'WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?'...Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed...an admission by Warner or Albee of any of the allegations of the complaint in the above referred to action...." Also signed by a Vice-President of Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc. and by a Secretary of Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc. and by two witnesses. We could find no reference to this sketch being aired by CBS. Caesar, who had his own show, The Sid Caesar Show (1963-1964), appeared in three films, The Busy Body, A Guide for the Married Man and The Spirit is Willing, in 1967. His television appearances included guest roles on The Carol Burnett Show, The Danny Thomas Hour, The Dean Martin Show and The Jackie Gleason Show. There is no record of him having his own show at the time of this document. Warner Bros. had released the film version of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? in 1966. Albee was given co-credit for the screenplay, for which Ernest Lehman was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium. The film won five Academy Awards: Best Actress (Elizabeth Taylor); Best Supporting Actress (Sandy Dennis); Best Art Direction - Set Decoration, Black and White; Best Cinematography, Black and White; and, Best Costume Design, Black and White. It was also nominated for Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director (Mike Nichols), Best Actor (Richard Burton), Best Supporting Actor (George Segal), Best Music, Original Music Score, Best Sound and Best Film Editing. In addition, the film was nominated for seven Golden Globes (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Screenplay), and it received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Original Score. Three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Edward F. Albee (1928-2016) is best known for his 1962 masterpiece, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. The work, his first Broadway play, won him a Tony Award and was made into an award-winning film in 1966. He also won the 2002 Tony Award for Best Play for The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?. Albee is noteworthy in the theater not only for his works, but also for his efforts to introduce new talent and techniques.The playwright taught for many years at the School of Theatre at the University of Houston, also gave writing seminars and lectures on his work at colleges around the country. Albee won Pulitzer Prizes for A Delicate Balance (1966), Seascape (1975), and Three Tall Women (1994). Lightly creased. Staple holes at upper left corner and upper and left margins, two file holes at upper blank margins. Red ink stains at upper right edges of pages one and two. Otherwise, fine condition.