Autographed Actors' Equity Contract & Playbill Set: Dual-Signed by Hal Holbrook (The Mackerel Plaza 1963)
This entry showcases an authentic, primary-source piece of American theatrical history, stage lore, and vintage Broadway/stock theater contract ephemera: an official Actors' Equity Association contract document and rider, hand-signed twice by acclaimed Emmy and Tony Award-winning actor Hal Holbrook, accompanied by an original vintage playbill program.
Renowned for his celebrated solo stage performance Mark Twain Tonight!, Hal Holbrook (1925–2021) enjoyed a distinguished six-decade career across stage, film, and television. After winning a Tony Award in 1966 for his iconic depiction of Mark Twain, Holbrook starred in landmark films including All the President's Men (1976), Julia (1977), Wall Street (1987), and Into the Wild (2007), for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor at age 82.
Dated May 21, 1963, this official Actors' Equity Association Stock Jobbing Contract formalizes Holbrook's starring engagement as "Andrew Mackerel" in the stage production of The Mackerel Plaza at the historic Westport Country Playhouse in Westport, Connecticut. The contract details a weekly salary of $750.00, rehearsal schedules, and first-star billing provisions above the play's title.
The archive set includes two distinct signatures by Hal Holbrook in blue ink:
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Actors' Equity Contract Page: Signed "Hal Holbrook" on the "Actor" line, countersigned by playhouse producer James B. McKenzie.
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Contract Rider Sheet: Signed "Hal Holbrook" across the lower execution line alongside matching producer signatures.
The lot is completed by an original vintage program playbill for the Westchester County Playhouse production of The Mackerel Plaza, featuring a youthful cover portrait of Holbrook.
Preserved in fine vintage condition with clean document stock, original staple marks, and two crisp blue signatures, this theater archive serves as an essential centerpiece for stage historians, drama collectors, and Hal Holbrook displays.
Contract & Display Specifications
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OFFICIAL 1963 ACTORS' EQUITY CONTRACT & RIDER: Authentic printed stock jobbing agreement executed in May 1963 for the Westport Country Playhouse.
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VINTAGE THEATER PRODUCTION PROGRAM: Accompanied by an original vintage playbill program from the Westchester County Playhouse production of The Mackerel Plaza.
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EXCELLENT VINTAGE CONDITION: Preserved in fine condition with clean document stock, clear typing, and intact margins.
Autograph Specifications & Provenance
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DUAL-SIGNED BY HAL HOLBROOK: Authentically autographed twice in blue ink ("Hal Holbrook") on both the Equity contract page and accompanying contract rider.
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CRISP VINTAGE BLUE INK SIGNATURES: Features two clean, fully legible signatures alongside stage producer James B. McKenzie counter-signatures.
