ILKA CHASE - DOCUMENT SIGNED 05/19/1947 CO-SIGNED BY: MADELINE ROBINSON - HFSID 178249

ILKA CHASE and MADELINE ROBINSON
Ilka Chase and Madeline Robinson both signed this contract in 1947 to give Robinson the option to produce a series of Chase-written shorts. Chase was to receive a tidy payment of $2,500 per short.
Carbon copy typed contract signed "Ilka Chase" and "Madeline Robinson" (under "Agreed to and Accepted") in ink. With pencil notation in lower right corner in unknown hand. 1 page, 8½x11. May 19, 1947. In letter form to Miss Madeline Robinson, New York, N.Y. Chase gives Robinson the option to produce a series of "shorts" she will write. In full: "I hereby give and grant to you an option for a period of ninety (90) days from the date hereof to engage my non-exclusive personal services as actor and writer for a series of six (6) motion picture shorts to be produced by you and released through a 'major' motion picture company, as such term is commonly understood in the motion picture industry. In the event that you exercise the aforesaid option you agree that the said series of shorts will be completed within a period of one (1) year following the date of the exercise of such option. For my services as actor and writer I am to receive the sum of $2500. per short. All other terms and provisions shall be mutually agreeable between us. The foregoing option may be exercised by you at any time, but not later than ninety (90) days from the date hereof, by notice in writing addressed to my agents, William Morris Agency, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, New York 20, New York." Robinson apparently didn't take up this option, as the only movie credit that Chase has during this time is an acting credit as Cassie Van Allen in the feature-length film Miss Tatlock's Millions (1948). Stage, screen and television actress Chase (1903-1978, born in New York City), the daughter of the editor of Vogue, made her Broadway debut in 1924 in The Red Falcon. She appeared in her first "talkie" feature film, Paris Bound, in 1929, the year she also made Why Leave Home?, The Careless Age, Red Hot Rhythm, Rich People and South Sea Rose, and would go on to appear in such features as The Florodora Girl (1930), The Animal Kingdom (1932), Now, Voyager (1942), Johnny Dark (1954), The Big Knife (1955) and Ocean's Eleven (1960). A fixture on early TV, Chase hosted the early talk show, Glamour-Go-Round (1950) and appeared as a panelist on Celebrity Time (1948), Masquerade Party (1952), It Should Happen to You (1954) and Keep Talking (1958-1959). Her TV guest appearances include The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre (1949), Kraft Television Theatre (1952, 1953, 1958), Playhouse 90 (1958), The Defenders (1961), Checkmate (1962) and The Patty Duke Show (1963). In addition to being known as an actress, Chase was also a widely read newspaper columnist, essayist and novelist. Worthy of further research. Lightly toned, creased and rippled. Carbon smudges touch text and signatures (all legible). 6 file holes at upper blank margin, staple holes at upper left corner. Light dents and tears on right and bottom edge. Folded four times and unfolded. Vertical fold underlines Chase's signature and touches the upper portions of the letters of Robinson's signature. Otherwise in fine condition.