Historic 1966 Cliff Robertson The Red Skelton Hour Contract Archive

This museum-grade, fully executed Standard AFTRA Engagement Contract for Network Television—dated October 18, 1966—stands as an exceptional artifact of classic television history, mid-century broadcasting lore, and American pop culture genealogy. Personally hand-signed and initialed by distinguished Academy Award-winning actor Cliff Robertson, this legal covenant structures his guest appearance on one of American television's highest-rated variety programs: The Red Skelton Hour.

Executed just two years prior to his legendary, Oscar-winning portrayal in Charly (1968), this multi-page portfolio offers an un-staged record of the iconic leading man navigating the backstage business frameworks of Hollywood's studio system.

Booking Specifications & Variety Show Metadata

Brokered via his talent representation at General Artists Corporation in Beverly Hills, the agreement details the strict logistical parameters managed by Van Bernard Productions, Inc. (the production company established by Red Skelton at CBS Television City):

• Production Chronology: Registers the taping cycle at CBS Studios in Los Angeles, tracking a rehearsal window starting March 4, 1967, a performance day on March 8, 1967, and a contemplated network broadcast date of March 21, 1967.

• Premium Compensation & Billing: Secures Robertson a flat performance fee of $7,500.00 for a standard commercial broadcast funded by various national sponsors. It also contractually guarantees him top-tier "First or special guest star billing" on screen.

• Foreign Market Union Scales: Explicitly logs standard AFTRA foreign use residual metrics spanning international distribution Areas 1 through 5.

Technical Contract Rider & Motion Picture Escape Clauses

The accompanying addendum formalizes advanced scheduling protections tailored to accommodate a high-demand film actor:

• The Replay Escalator: Section 23 structures a sliding-scale payment tier for broadcast replays. It mandates a fee of $3,750.00 for off-peak summer reruns, but escalates to a full $7,500.00 payout if broadcast during the peak television season.

• The Feature Film Escape Rider: Section 24 protects Robertson's cinematic mobility, giving the performer the explicit legal right to terminate the contract by January 21, 1967, if a bona fide commitment for a feature-length motion picture conflicts with the variety show taping dates.

Autograph Pedigree & Archival Condition

• Pristine Signatures: The main contract face houses an exhibition-quality cursive signature: "Cliff Robertson". Additionally, the attached rider features his crisp legal initials, "C.R.", validating the underlying technical revisions.

• Preservation Status: Dating back approximately sixty years, the premium bond paper sheets remain in magnificent, pristine archival condition. The deep typewriter typography, the corporate lines, and the executive studio counter-signatures are flawlessly preserved with absolute clarity. For data privacy compliance, sensitive Social Security digits have been cleanly blacked out. This certified archive portfolio represents the absolute zenith of premium Golden Age variety television collecting.