RED BUTTONS - CONTRACT SIGNED 06/15/1953 - HFSID 257354

RED BUTTONS
The actor employs the William Morris Agency to be his agent from October 12, 1953 until October 11, 1956.
Carbon Partly Printed Contract signed: "Red Buttons" in ink as Artist, 2 pages, 8½x13¾, front and verso. New York, New York, 1953 June 15. Headed: "Exclusive Agency Contract". Buttons employs the William Morris Agency to be his "sole and exclusive Agent and/or Artist's Manager" for a term of three years, beginning on October 12, 1953 and ending on October 11, 1956, at a commission of ten percent. Also signed by an Agent for the William Morris Agency. Over the term of this contract, Buttons did not make any feature films, and he only appeared once on television, starring as St. Emergency on an episode of Studio One that aired on March 26, 1956. The following year, he would win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. Born Aaron Chwatt, RED BUTTONS (1919-2006) got his nickname as an 18-year-old singing bellhop in a Bronx tavern. His TV show was a big hit in its first season (1952), landing him on the cover of "Time" magazine. Buttons won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Sayonara (1957), and nominations for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Harlow (1965) and They Shoot Horses, Don't They (1969). Lightly creased with folds, not at signature. Four ½-inch tears at blank left margin and ½-inch tear at lower right blank margin at lower horizontal fold. Staple holes and ink note (unknown hand) at upper left corner, file holes at upper blank margin. Minor soiling from carbon at blank margins. Overall, fine condition.