WILLIE HOWARD - CONTRACT SIGNED 06/13/1944 CO-SIGNED BY: ANNA SOSENKO - HFSID 76048

WILLIE HOWARD and ANNA SOSENKO
Anna Sosenko and comedian Willie Howard signed this contract in 1944 to have Howard appear on Sosenko's radio show The Raleigh Room. Howard was paid $600 for this appearance.
Contract signed "Willie Howard" and "Anna Sosenko/Pre." for Sosenko Productions. Pencil marks in bottom left corner in unknown hand. 1 page, 8¼x12¾, carbon copy. June 13, 1944. Addressed to Sosenko Productions, Inc., Plaza Hotel, New York City. Howard and Sosenko signed this contract for Howard to guest star on Sosenko's radio show The Raleigh Club (sponsored by Brown & Williamson Tobacco Company) from 10:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. that day. Howard was to be paid $600 for his appearance. WILLIE HOWARD (1886-1949), born Wilhelm Levkowitz in Paramus, New Jersey, and his brother EUGENE HOWARD (1881-1965), born Eugene Lefkowitz in Neustadt, Germany, who were sometimes billed as the Howard Brothers, were a popular comedy act that appeared on vaudeville and in a number of musical revues, including the Ziegfeld Follies, George White's Scandals and The Ballyhoo of 1932 revue, in which they were the top billed act and a comedian named Bob Hope was the master of ceremonies! Willie, the skinny member of the team, also appeared in several feature films, including five films as Professor Pierre Ginsbairge: The Affairs of Pierre, The Smart Way and Playboy Number One (all 1937) and Pardon My Accident and The Miss They Missed (both 1938). A business manager and producer in an industry dominated by men, ANNA SOSENKO (1909-2000, born in New York City) produced the hit radio talk show The Raleigh Room, sponsored by Raleigh cigarettes and hosted by the entertainer Hildegarde. The show's theme song, Darling Je Vous Aime Beaucoup, was written by Sosenko, who was also Hildegarde's manager. (The song was later made famous by Nat King Cole) Sosenko put her vast knowledge of theatre and music to work, conceiving and producing star-studded musical evenings that honored the greats of the theatre. A congenial, outspoken and intense woman, Sosenko probably knew more of the great stars of the theatre of the last 60 years than anyone. Lightly toned and creased. Staple holes and paper clip impressions in top left corner. Light nick in right side. Random carbon copy marks. Folded nine times and unfolded. Otherwise in fine condition.