Historic 1974 Cleavon Little The Day the Earth Moved Contract Archive

This museum-grade, fully executed Standard Actors Television Motion Picture Contract—dated July 9, 1974—stands as an exceptional artifact of modern television history, studio labor archaeology, and classic American cinema biography. Personally hand-signed on the primary talent execution panel by legendary Tony Award-winning actor and silver screen icon Cleavon Little, this multi-page legal instrument structures his casting parameters under the vanguard broadcasting banner of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC).

Executed at the absolute zenith of his career—coinciding exactly with the 1974 theatrical release of his career-defining starring role as Bart in Mel Brooks’ masterpiece Blazing Saddles—this document captures Little utilizing his immense box-office leverage to secure an elite prime-time network contract.

Production Specifications & Corporate Loan-Out Covenants

The contract, brokered via ABC's offices at 9255 Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills, outlines a highly lucrative operational and financial framework:

• The Disaster Feature Film: Casts Little in the primary lead persona of "Harley Copeland" for ABC's high-stakes suspense thriller, The Day the Earth Moved (Production No. 7403).

• Corporate Loan-Out Structure: Routes his performance tracks and compensation through his personal corporate banner: Malchi Little, Ltd., a California corporation.

• Elite Salary Matrix: Engages the actor on a premium weekly basis, guaranteeing a weekly salary of $5,000.00 for a minimum of 10 days of active employment, totaling a $10,000.00 base payout.

• Logistical Mapping: Details a principal photography start date of July 17, 1974, routing his legal notices care of the William Morris Agency and logging his private coastal residency on West Topanga Beach Road in Malibu.

Ironclad Special Provisions & Autograph Pedigree

The contract features advanced addenda safeguarding the actor's international image rights and industry rank:

• Theatrical Bonus Overrides: Guarantees an additional $10,000.00 in total bonuses ($5,000.00 domestic and $5,000.00 international) if the network movie is expanded into general theatrical release tracks.

• Prestigious Billing Card: Special Provision 33.B legally mandates an elite "Second Star" screen credit on a separate card in the main titles, ensuring no other player receives more prominent billing.

• Pristine Little Signature: Positioned flawlessly across the primary "Player" line, the comedic vanguard hand-penned an exhibition-quality legal signature: "Cleavon Little". Written in rich ink, it captures his distinct cursive calligraphy featuring an elegant capital "C" and a towering capital "L." The document is officially counter-signed on behalf of ABC by a senior studio executive.

Archival Condition

Dating back over a half-century, the original off-white contract bond paper sheets remain in magnificent, pristine condition with sharp corners and natural edges. Free from surface creases, smudging, or paper decay, the pages preserve uniform typewriter typography and incorporate a standard 1% deduction for the Motion Picture Relief Fund. For strict identity protection compliance, sensitive Social Security digits within the primary data grid have been cleanly blacked out. This certified archive represents the absolute zenith of premium 1970s Hollywood disaster cinema collecting.