Historic 1964 National Orange Show Performance Contract — Lorne Greene Hand-Signed AGVA Variety Engagement Agreement, Scheppers Brothers Agency Corporate Layer, and Vintage Bonanza Era Stage Appearance Portfolio

This listing highlights an exceptional, museum-grade artifact of live performance history, western television heritage, and mid-century Hollywood biography: an original, fully executed corporate American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA) Standard Form of Artists Engagement Contract dated February 14, 1964. This historic labor covenant formalizes a high-profile personal appearance booking for the commanding screen legend and beloved patriarch of classic television, Lorne Greene.

The document outlines the operational terms, union parameters, and financial structures governing his live headline appearance at a celebrated California regional exposition. Executed precisely during the absolute zenith of his career—while starring as Ben Cartwright on NBC's massive, top-rated global television phenomenon Bonanza—this contract captures the lucrative live performance circuit populated by the era's premier Western television stars. Fully executed labor guild instruments carrying a pristine, active-era legal signature from this towering entertainment icon represent a premier cornerstone acquisition asset for advanced television history archives, Western Americana curators, and elite manuscript collections worldwide.

Key Archive Features & Production Specifications

• THE CELEBRITY HEADLINE BOOKING: Section 1 and Section 2 codify the core star billing and professional union identification digits tracking to the actor:

  • The Name of Act: Explicitly typewritten as LORNE GREENE.

  • The Archive Registry: Tracks alongside his official vintage account notation: -8-1-104.

• HISTORIC SWING AUDITORIUM VENUE: The ledger records the exact performance coordinates and regional geographical markers mapping to the venue site:

  • The Event: NATIONAL ORANGE SHOW.

  • The Exhibition Complex: SWING AUDITORIUM — San Bernardino, California (the historic arena that served as a premier Southern California entertainment hub for major mid-century variety acts, touring big bands, and historic rock concerts).

• EXPOSITION TIMELINES & PRODUCTION PARAMETERS: Section 3 and Section 7 structure the rigid calendar tracks and on-site scheduling windows governing the star's live appearance:

  • The Performance Date: MARCH 21, 1964.

  • The Working Period: Dictates an evening report time running from 7:30 pm onward.

  • The Stage Manager: Logs the on-site event coordinator as producer Bernie Scheppers.

• POWERHOUSE CELEBRITY LOANOUT PROVENANCE: The document routes its formal talent channels and business coordinates through the star's active Hollywood representation and the regional production office:

  • The Booking Agency: POLLERS BROTHERS / SCHEPPERS BROTHERS AGENCY.

  • The Hollywood Embassy: 6513 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 28, Calif. — Hollywood 4-8281.

  • The Production Base: 287 So. Mount Vernon Ave., San Bernardino, Calif..

  • The Artist's Address: Records Greene's active professional mailing hub of the era: 1626 No. Vine St., Hollywood.

• HIGH-VALUE COMPENSATION & OVER-SCALE RIDERS: Section 4 codifies the financial payout structure arranged to secure the Bonanza headliner's live services:

  • The Contracted Fee: Formally typewritten across the primary compensation block for the flat sum of $1,000.00.

  • The Premium Classification: Explicitly stamped with the elite labor rider text: OVER SCALE.

• REGIONAL TERRITORIAL EXCLUSIVITY PROTECTION: Highlighting the strict territorial radius clauses typical of mid-century star bookings, the special provisions mandate that the "Artist not to appear in San Bernardino prior to this engagement without approval of producer.".

• AMERICAN GUILD OF VARIETY ARTISTS COMPLIANCE: Formally regulated under the oversight of the American Guild of Variety Artists (National Headquarters, 1697 Broadway, New York 19, N.Y.), the contract invokes the standard AGVA National Code of Fair Practice for Club Dates and Casual Engagements. It details mandatory employer contributions to the AGVA Welfare Fund and the Supplemental AGVA Welfare Fund to protect traveling stage performers.

Key Autograph Feature

• AUTHENTIC LORNE GREENE SPECIMEN SIGNATURE: The primary execution quadrant at the base of the sheet features an absolute exhibition-quality, remarkably sharp cursive signature "Lorne Greene" hand-penned by the screen icon in dark ink. Positioned flawlessly across the designated "Performer" validation block directly adjacent to his typed name, this clean, commanding signature stands as a gold-standard example of his mid-century handwriting pedigree.

Collector's Archival Condition

Dating back over six decades to a legendary era in American network television and regional entertainment culture, this single-page labor contract is in magnificent, museum-quality vintage condition. The original white presentation paper stock remains exceptionally clean, crisp, and structurally flawless, showcasing sharp corners, clean edges, and perfectly uniform, deep typewriter typography across all recorded fields.

Lorne Greene’s signature and the corporate agency counter-signatures are beautifully preserved on the paper face with immense clarity, providing spectacular visual contrast for premium framing, gallery exhibition, or archival evaluation. The sheet displays pristine historical integrity, free of surface creases, modern ink bleeding, edge tears, or structural decay. This highly coveted piece of television history comes safely protected within an archival-grade display sleeve to ensure permanent preservation.

Disclaimer

Please be advised that the financial figures, text fields, performance locations, event titles, and structural metrics provided map directly to the exact physical vintage 1964 AGVA engagement document and verified ink handwritings preserved within this archive portfolio. As an authentic, hand-signed biographical collection from an entertainment giant whose booming baritone voice, immense gravitas, and unforgettable portrayal as the iconic Cartwright family patriarch permanently anchored the golden age of the American television Western, the precise character of the pen strokes, the aging of the vintage paper stock, and the structural legal phrasing are entirely unique to this individual piece of show business lore.

Own an Unrivaled Piece of Western History Today!

While common modern reproduction prints, standard glossy publicity photographs, or generic commercial trading cards can be found anywhere in the open marketplace, an original, fully executed live appearance contract from Lorne Greene’s peak career timeline represents the absolute zenith of premium entertainment heritage collecting. Because elite talent bookings and labor guild covenants require legally binding signatures from the principal entertainer to clear public performance rights, satisfy national union regulations, regulate high-value scale compensation, and authorize studio production funds, they offer a completely un-staged, official confirmation of a legendary icon's private daily footprint and real-world commercial power long before walking out under the arena lights. Directly tracking to his individual identity alongside Bonanza history, the Hollywood Vine Street records, and a flawlessly preserved ink signature profile, this certified live entertainment archive is a premier crown-jewel centerpiece for any world-class collection of fine art artifacts, classic television history, or rare twentieth-century Americana manuscripts.