Certified Roddy McDowall Hand-Signed 1988 Agency Contract & Rider
We are proud to present an exceptional, museum-grade piece of classic Hollywood history: an original, fully executed multi-page Theatrical and Television Multi-Agency Contract & Rider dated March 15, 1988. This historic legal instrument is personally hand-signed and initialed by the legendary stage, film, and television icon, Roddy McDowall.
From his beloved childhood roles in How Green Was My Valley and Lassie Come Home to his definitive, generation-defining prosthetic performances as Cornelius and Caesar in the groundbreaking Planet of the Apes franchise, McDowall remains one of the most revered talents in entertainment history. Fully executed agency covenants tracking his backend television assets during this era are incredibly rare, representing the zenith of entertainment memorabilia archives.
Archive Highlights
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Authentic Roddy McDowall Signature & Initials: The primary execution panel features a spectacular, crisp cursive signature "Roddy McDowall" hand-executed in dark ink. Additionally, the television rider features a prominent, highly stylized fountain pen signature block "RMcD." hand-signed next to a bright red printed INITIAL HERE indicator arrow.
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Dual-Agency Intersecting Industry Provenance: This unique document tracks a rare legal framework involving the two biggest talent monoliths in show business history. Page one is drafted on official International Creative Management (ICM) letterhead on Beverly Boulevard, while the final binding execution panel translates straight to its competing legacy house: William Morris Agency (WMA), Inc.
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Critical Rider for Long-Tail Residuals: A custom typewritten section inserts a strict legal boundary under the bold RIDER TO TELEVISION AGENCY CONTRACT header. It dictates that his representation and right to residual distributions shall continue seamlessly for as long as his television motion pictures are used, sold, or leased.
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Strict Commission Safeguards: Mandates that agency commissions shall not exceed a flat rate of ten percent (10%) of gross compensation, completely bars the agency from claiming any interest in McDowall's private corporate stockholdings, and enforces an ironclad anti-stacking double-commission rule.
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Famed Hollywood Agent Countersignature: Officially certified and signed by iconic old-school Hollywood super-agent Joseph Singer, who signs a sweeping fluid script signature over his printed name block on behalf of the William Morris Agency.
Condition & Preservation
Spanning multiple decades of elite Hollywood heritage, this complete document bundle is in magnificent vintage condition. The original heavy-bond sheets remain exceptionally clean, light, and structurally flawless, showcasing pristine borders, light natural folding lines from studio filing, and standard upper-margin binder alignment punch holes. McDowall's sharp, elegant signature, his crisp ink initials, and all accompanying typewriter fields are bold and beautifully preserved. The entire historical archive comes safely housed inside a clear, archival-grade protective sleeve.
Secure this certified contract archive—a premier crown jewel for any world-class collection of pop culture artifacts, classic cinema history, or rare twentieth-century Americana manuscripts today!
