MILTON BERLE - CONTRACT SIGNED 09/15/1978 - HFSID 157850

MILTON BERLE
Two generations of TV comics meet as Milton Berle signs a contract to appear on a Steve Martin special (1978).
Photocopied Contract signed: "Milton Merle" in ink as Performer, 2 pages, 8½x11, front and verso. No place, 1978 September 15. Standard AFTRA Engagement Contract for a Single Television Broadcast between The Aspen Film Society and Berle for his appearance as Principal Performer in Steve Martin - A Wild and Crazy Guy, airing September 21, 1978, for $2,500. Also signed by a representative of Aspen Film Society. With the encouragement of the quintessential stage-mother, Milton Berle (1908-2002) played small supporting roles in silents, including the part of a newsboy in the first-ever feature-length comedy, Tillie's Punctured Romance (1914), starring Charlie Chaplin. Berle, who then moved into vaudeville and became a headliner, made occasional stopovers on Broadway and in Hollywood into the WWII years. His lengthy starring role in the 1943 edition of Broadway's Ziegfeld Follies established him as a star. After only moderate success on radio and in films, Berle made a spectacular television debut as star of NBC's Texaco Star Theatre in 1948, dominating the airwaves on Tuesday nights until 1956. He became known as "Mr. Television" and was everyone's "Uncle Miltie". Lightly creased. Staple holes at upper blank margin, light paper clip impression at lower left blank edge, which has ½-inch tear and minor nick at impression. Usual black marks from photocopying, red ink "x" to left of Berle's signature and 3 red marks at name, date and compensation. Overall, fine condition.