Autographed Television Contract: Hand-Signed by Danny Thomas (The Mike Douglas Show)
This entry showcases an authentic, primary-source piece of classic television history, Hollywood production lore, and vintage entertainment industry ephemera: an official Standard AFTRA Engagement Contract for The Mike Douglas Show, hand-signed by Emmy Award-winning actor, comedian, producer, and humanitarian Danny Thomas.
Best known as the star of the hit 1950s sitcom Make Room for Daddy (The Danny Thomas Show), Danny Thomas (1912–1991) was a titan of Golden Age American broadcasting. Beyond his celebrated screen career, Thomas was a pioneering television mogul who co-founded Desilu-style production empires, backing legendary series including The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Andy Griffith Show, and The Mod Squad. Beyond entertainment, his legacy endures worldwide as the founder of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Dated February 25, 1981, this official American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) agreement outlines an engagement between Mike Douglas Productions, Inc. (Metromedia Square) and Rose Marie Prods. FSO Danny Thomas. The contract specifies Thomas’s appearance as a Principal Performer on The Mike Douglas Show (#145) recorded at Metromedia Square in Hollywood, California, detailing a compensation rate of $518.75 + 10%.
On the execution line designated for the Performer, Danny Thomas has rendered a crisp, bold signature in dark blue ink ("Danny Thomas").
Accompanied by an official Certificate of Authenticity document from Everything Entertainment (Las Vegas, NV), signed by owner Gerry Bondell, guaranteeing the genuine status of the signature for the life of the piece.
Preserved in fine vintage condition on standard off-white contract paper stock, featuring clear typed terms, clean borders, intact edges, printed AFTRA terms and conditions on the reverse, and a dark signature, this signed contract serves as an essential centerpiece for television historians, Hollywood ephemera archivists, and classic entertainment collectors.
Contract Specifications
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OFFICIAL AFTRA ENGAGEMENT CONTRACT: Original typed Standard AFTRA Engagement Contract dated February 25, 1981, for The Mike Douglas Show.
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METROMEDIA SQUARE HOLLYWOOD PRODUCTION: Details Thomas’s performance terms, producer details, and agreed compensation.
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EXCELLENT VINTAGE CONDITION: Preserved in fine condition with clean document paper stock, sharp corners, and legible printed text on both sides.
Autograph Specifications & Provenance
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HAND-SIGNED BY DANNY THOMAS: Authentically signed in blue ink ("Danny Thomas") on the performer signature execution line by Danny Thomas.
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EVERYTHING ENTERTAINMENT COA: Fully verified with an official Certificate of Authenticity document issued by Everything Entertainment.
