MICHAEL LANDON - DOCUMENT SIGNED CIRCA 1981 - HFSID 251184

MICHAEL LANDON
The actor agrees to a Letter of Agreement between NBC and Lynn Productions, Inc. for him to direct two episodes of the TV series, Father Murphy.
Typed DS: "Michael Landon", 2p, 8½x11, separate sheets. No place, no date (but after February 2, 1981, the date of the referenced Letter of Agreement and before October 2, 1981, when copies of the executed agreement were sent to Landon's representative). Letter to NBC Productions, Inc., Burbank, California, from Landon. Begins: "Gentlemen". In part: "I have read the attached letter agreement dated as of February 2, 1981 from you to Lynn Productions, Inc. (the "Agreement")..." The letter goes on to say that Landon is "familiar with all of the terms and conditions of the Agreement and I hereby consent to the execution thereof...." Landon's response covers five points, including breach of agreement and service of any notices, demands or instruments relating to the Agreement. Lightly creased. Staple holes at upper left corners. Two file holes at upper blank margins. Fine condition. Accompanied by Typed Document signed by a representative of NBC Productions, Inc. and a Secretary for Lynn Productions, Inc., 4p, 8½x11, separate sheets. Copy of the Letter of Agreement from NBC Productions, Inc., Burbank, California to Lynn Productions, Inc., Los Angeles, California. The Agreement, which is headed "Re: Michael Landon", discusses the terms of Lynn Productions, Inc. lending Landon to NBC. The Agreement covers rights "in the results and proceeds of Employee's services rendered", compensation ("If said compensation is Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00) or more, you agree to compensate Employee at the rate of not less than Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00) per annum"), breach of contract and other legal matters. Lightly creased. Staple holes at upper blank left corners. Two file holes at upper blank margins. Fine condition. With Photocopied Tranmittal letter with facsimile signature ("Jay") of Jay A. Goldberg, Director, Program and Talent Contracts, 1p, 8½x11. Burbank, California, 1981 October 2. On letterhead of NBC Entertainment to Jay J. Eller, Esq., Los Angeles, California. Headed: "Re: Lynn Productions, Inc./f-s-o Michael Landon/'Father Murphy'/Agreement dated as of February 2, 1981". In full: "Enclosed please find two (2) fully-executed copies of the above-referenced agreement for your files. Warmest regards. Sincerely". Lightly creased. Tape remnant at lower blank margin. Staple holes at upper left corner, two file holes at upper margin. Overall, fine condition. Lynn Productions, Inc., Landon's production company, was named after his second wife (1963-1982), Lynn Noe Landon. Landon directed "Father Murphy", the first episode of the series (aired on November 3, 1981) that ran from 1981-1983, and he wrote and directed "Eggs, Milk and a Dry Bed", the second episode of the series, which aired on November 10, 1981. In 1981, Landon was starring on Little House on the Prairie, and he also hosted "Walt Disney: One Man's Dream", a special tribute that aired on the TV show, Disneyland. Actor, producer, director and writer Michael Landon (1936-1991) is the only actor to have three consecutive shows on television that ran for five years or more: Bonanza (1959-1973, on which he starred as Joseph "Little Joe" Cartwright), Little House on the Prairie (1974-1983, as Charles Philip "Pa" Ingalls) and Highway to Heaven (1984-1989, as Jonathan Smith). Charles Ingalls, Landon's character on Little House on the Prairie, was ranked #4 in TV Guide's list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time" (June 20, 2004 issue). In early 1991, after 35 years of working on NBC, Landon moved to CBS to star in the pilot of a two-hour movie, Us, in which he played a man released from a long prison term after being cleared of a murder for which he was wrongfully convicted. This was going to be another one of Landon's shows but, in April 1991, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Landon was 54 when he died on July 1, 1991. One of television's most creative stars on both sides of the camera, Landon was never nominated for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Emmy Award. However, in 1994, he was inducted posthumously into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' Hall of Fame. Three items.