JUDY HOLLIDAY - CONTRACT SIGNED 07/20/1960 - HFSID 262371

JUDY HOLLIDAY. Carbon Typed DS: "Judy Holliday" in ink, 1p, 8½x11. No place, but likely New York City, 1960 August 24. In letter form to Roncom Productions, Inc., New York, New York regarding a change to a July 20, 1960 contract for an appearance on Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall. Begins: "Gentlemen". In part: "With reference to our Agreement of even date pertaining to my appearance on the 'PERRY COMO'S KRAFT MUSIC HALL' program of December 14, 1960, we now hereby agree that...I hereby agree to render my services on and in connection with the taping session of the program up to 7:00 p.m. on the day in question, in the event 'LAURETTE' is performed in the evening of said day...I will not render services or authorize or knowingly permit the use of my name or likeness during the period beginning 21 days prior to and ending 8 days after December 14, 1960 for, on behalf of, or in connection with any products or services competitive with the products or services advertised on the program series herein...." Also signed by an Assistant/Secretary for Roncom Productions, Inc. At the time of this document, Holliday was starring in the title role in Laurette, a play based on the life of actress Laurette Taylor. She took ill in October and the show temporarily shut down in Philadelphia. A malignancy was found in her left breast and she underwent a mastectomy. A benign throat tumor was also removed. Holliday never returned to Laurette, which then folded. Her scheduled taping of Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall was postponed until March 3, 1961 and aired on March 8, 1961, her first public appearance since her surgery (only her throat surgery was made public). Judy Holliday (1923-1965) portrayed Billie Dawn in the Broadway production of Born Yesterday, recreated the role in the film version and won the 1950 Academy Award for Best Actress. Her "dumb blonde" roles came in handy when she was called to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee. By playing "stupid", Holliday, who had an IQ of 172, managed to survive accusations of Communist activity that would have killed her career. She won the 1957 Tony Award for Best Actress (Musical) for the role of telephone operator Ella Peterson in Bells are Ringing, which she recreated in the 1960 film, her last. Holliday died of cancer two weeks before her 42nd birthday. On thin paper. Lightly creased. Chipped at upper blank edge above staple holes. Light rust stains at upper left blank edge. Overall, fine condition.