RUDY VALLEE - CONTRACT SIGNED 08/09/1946 CO-SIGNED BY: DAVID W. SIEGEL - HFSID 44071

RUDY VALLÉE and DAVID W. SIEGEL
Vallée contracts to appear as a principal for two weeks, in two shows daily, in Ken Murray's Blackouts at the El Capitan Theater in Los Angeles.
Partly Printed Document Signed: "Rudy Vallée" as Artist and "David W. Siegel" as Operator, 1p, 8½x11. Los Angeles, California, 1946 August 9. Vallee contracts to star in a Los Angeles stage show for two weeks, providing he does not have movie commitments. Headed: "Los Angeles Local/American Guild of Variety Artists/AGVA Standard Form of Artists Engagement Contract". Begins: "Agreement made this 9th day of August, 1946, between Ken Murray's Blackouts hereinafter called the 'Operator' and Rudy Vallee hereinafter called the 'Artist.' 1. The Operator hereby engages the Artist, and the Artist hereby accepts said engagement, to present his act as a Principal, consisting of one & accompanist persons, at the El Capitan Theater in the City of Los Angeles, California, for a period of Two (2) consecutive weeks, seven (7) days weekly, two (2) shows daily, commencing on August 9, 1946, for which the Operator agrees to pay the Artist, and the Artist agrees to accept, as full payment, the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1000.00) weekly, payable immediately preceding the first performance on the concluding night of each week's engagement hereunder...." Under "Special Instruction": "This contract is for two weeks. August 9th through August 22nd, 1946 with option by Rudy Vallee to terminate contract any time due to motion picture commitment." Ken Murray's Blackouts, live stage shows that originally presented sketches of military life (the name itself was a reference to the "blackouts" common during the war), were presented at the El Capitan Theater in Los Angeles from the early days of WWII through the end of the decade. The shows, which were hosted by Murray and co-hosted by Marie Wilson, featured popular celebrity guests of the day. In 1946, Vallée was seen on the big screen in two films, People Are Funny and The Fabulous Suzanne, and Siegel was the Associate Producer of one feature film, Angel on My Shoulder. From the mid-1920s to the mid-1950s, RUDY VALLÉE (1901-1986), born Hubert Prior Vallée, enjoyed a successful career on radio, in movies, in Broadway musicals and with a solo nightclub act. His films include The Palm Beach Story (1942), I Remember Mama (1948), The Helen Morgan Story (1957), The Night They Raided Minsky's (1968), Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976) and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967), in which he reprised his role from the successful 1961 Broadway musical. The first singer to be called a "crooner", Vallée was known for carrying a small megaphone and for his catch phrase "Heigh-Ho, Everyone", which he first used when appearing at New York's Heigh-Ho Club. DAVID W. SIEGEL, in addition to presenting Ken Murray's Blackouts, was the "Operator" for Blackouts of 1949 on Broadway. Lightly creased with folds, lower horizonotal fold nicks the "R" of Rudy and the "V" of Vallee. Red ink smudge near by not touching the "g" in Siegel. Receipt stamp at lower portion. Overall, fine condition.
 
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