Certified Eddie Albert Hand-Signed 1953 "The United States Steel Hour" Network Television Contract — Golden Age Live Anthology History

This listing is for an exceptional, museum-grade piece of broadcasting history and classic Hollywood lore: the original, fully executed Standard AFTRA Engagement Contract for a Single Television Broadcast issued by The Theatre Guild for a starring performance by legendary stage, film, and television icon Eddie Albert. Formally dated November 9, 1953, this striking light blue document captures the Green Acres star, Academy Award nominee, and activist contractually locking in a premier dramatic anthology performance during the inaugural season of one of television's most prestigious live franchises.

Key Archive Features:

• AUTHENTIC EDDIE ALBERT HAND-SIGNED AUTOGRAPH: The face of the contract features a spectacular, crisp ink signature "Eddie Albert" hand-executed across the primary "Performer" line of the execution panel. Official network covenants personally handled and signed by Albert during the pioneering days of live 1950s television are extraordinarily rare and highly sought after by entertainment manuscript collectors.

• HISTORIC "THE UNITED STATES STEEL HOUR" FRANCHISE COVENANT: The agreement formalizes the definitive performance metrics for Albert's leading role on the prestigious, Emmy Award-winning live anthology series, explicitly typewritten as "THE UNITED STATES STEEL HOUR". The document records the program type as a Dramatic — Network and Commercial broadcast sponsored directly by The United States Steel Corporation.

• LIVE TELECAST & ABC STUDIO PROVENANCE: Documenting the geographical and operational framework of early television networks, the contract tracks the following live-to-air parameters:

  • Date & Time of Performance: Scheduled for Tuesday, November 24, 1953, from 9:30–10:30 P.M.

  • Place of Performance: Formally designated on location at the historic Studio #1 ABC, 7 West 66th Street, New York City.

• CHARACTER ASSIGNMENT & TOP-TIER 1953 COMPENSATION: Operating within the strict structural rules of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, the agreement logs premium talent metrics:

  • Classification & Role: Albert's AFTRA classification is logged as Actor, cast to portray the principal part of "Paul Donovan" in TIN WEDDING.

  • Premium Salary Scale: Commands an exact contractual salary of $2,000.00 by check, a massive sum for a single performance in 1953, dictating that the disbursement be made payable directly to his representation at the William Morris Agency at 1740 Broadway, New York City.

• INTENSE LIVE-SHOW REHEARSAL GRID: Highlighting the demanding nature of early live telecasts, the contract outlines a grueling, multi-week rehearsal log leading right up to the broadcast time:

  • Initial Read & Block Windows: Rehearsals on 11/16 (split blocks from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.), continuing daily from 11/18 through 11/20 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

  • Run-Through Blocks: Intensive rehearsal strings on 11/21 (1 p.m. to 5 p.m.), 11/22 (1 p.m. to 6 p.m.), and 11/23 (1 p.m. to 5 p.m.).

  • Final Dress & Air Day: On-location camera blocks on 11/24 running from 3:15–6:00 p.m. and 7:30–8:45 p.m. directly leading into the 9:30 p.m. live national broadcast.

• POWERHOUSE REPRESENTATION & PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT LINEAGE: The document bridges multiple industry giants of the Golden Age:

  • The Producer: Contracted by The Theatre Guild, located at 23 West 53rd Street, New York 19, New York. The execution line is formally certified and signed by iconic associate producer Armina Marshall.

  • The Agent: Routed care of the legendary William Morris Agency, located at 1740 Broadway, New York City, N.Y.

• OFFICIAL ARCHIVAL PRODUCTION MARKINGS: Highlighting its institutional background, the baseline displays the technical production stamp tracking index number 537254 alongside standard AFTRA boilerplate guidelines.

Collector's Archival Condition:

Spanning over seven decades of American broadcasting heritage, this historic television document is in magnificent vintage condition. The original light blue paper stock remains exceptionally clean, crisp, and structurally sound, showing an excellent presentation with clean mechanical margins. Eddie Albert's bold ink signature, Armina Marshall's executive production autograph, and all custom typewriter fields are flawlessly distinct and beautifully preserved. To ensure personal security and data compliance, the Social Security data box has been safely and neatly blacked out. The entire archive comes safely housed inside a clear, archival-grade protective sleeve to ensure museum-quality preservation.

Disclaimer:

Please be advised that the text fields and descriptions provided map directly to the exact physical 1953 Theatre Guild network television contract, live rehearsal schedules, and verified ink signatures you will receive in this listing. As an authentic, hand-signed entertainment industry artifact from the dawn of nationwide live television drama, the precise flow of the pen strokes, the mechanical alignment of the typewriter fields, and the natural properties of the vintage paper stock are entirely unique to this individual piece of broadcasting history.

Own an Unrivaled Piece of Television History Today!

While standard promotional photos or later-career autographs can be found, original, fully executed live television contracts from the pioneering era of the early 1950s represent the absolute highest tier of historical collecting. Because live anthology contracts required strict legal execution to clear prime-time corporate sponsorships and intense physical performance grids, they offer a completely un-staged, official confirmation of a Hollywood legend's active early-career daily reality. Directly linking Eddie Albert to the historic Theatre Guild, ABC's flagship Studio #1, the William Morris Agency, and the inaugural season of The United States Steel Hour, this certified archive is a premier crown-jewel centerpiece for any world-class collection of pop culture artifacts, classic television history, or rare twentieth-century Americana manuscripts.