Description:

Cole Porter
n.p., May 8, 1953
Cole Porter Signed "Anything Goes" Contract For Scandinavian Musical Theatre!
DS

A 4pp contact signed by six individuals including Cole Porter, P.G. Wodehouse, Howard Lindsay, Russel Crouse, Lars Schmidt, and a representative of Guy Bolton. May 8, 1953. N.p. The signers' signatures appear on page 4 and are described below. Printed on legal-sized red-ruled watermarked onionskin paper, with a minor manuscript addition of part of the date on the first page. Expected light wear including flattened folds, staple holes, and minor isolated edge chips. A tape fragment is located on the right edge of page 2, which has discolored a small corresponding area on page 3. Else near fine. 8.5" x 13."

Document signers on page 4 include, from top to bottom:

- Cole Porter (1891-1964), who provided music and lyrics for "Anything Goes," as "Cole Porter";

- John W. Thurmond (?), attorney in fact signing on behalf of Guy Bolton (1884-1979), librettist, as "Guy Bolton / By John W. Thurmond / attorney in fact";

- P.G. Wodehouse (1881-1975), librettist, as "P.G. Wodehouse";

- Howard Lindsay (1889-1968), librettist, as "Howard Lindsay";

- Russel Crouse (1893-1966), librettist, as "Russel Crouse";

- Lars Schmidt (1917-2009), the Swedish theatrical producer, as "Lars Schmidt."

"Anything Goes" was a musical theatrical production with music and lyrics by Cole Porter, and libretto by Guy Bolton, P.G. Wodehouse, Howard Lindsay, and Russel Crouse. The plot of the zany comedy involves a stowaway stockbroker who falls in love with an heiress on an ocean liner, assisted in his efforts by a nightclub singer and a gangster. "Anything Goes" debuted on Broadway in 1934, running for 420 performances during the height of the Great Depression. It later enjoyed several theatrical revivals around the world including one as recent as 2021, in addition to a number of film and television versions. This Porter signed contract related to bringing "Anything Goes" to Scandinavian audiences.

The document outlines the terms of a limited time contract between "Anything Goes" "Owners" (Porter, Bolton, Wodehouse, Lindsay, and Crouse) and Lars Schmidt, known as the "Manager." According to the terms of the business arrangement, Schmidt gained access to rights relating to spoken stage productions of "Anything Goes" within a proscribed territory (Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark) for the next 5 years, agreeing to launch the first production at a first-class theatre no later than one year after the contract was signed. The rights granted to Schmidt were exclusive of television, movie, radio, and other rights. Schmidt was obligated to pay a $1,000 advance of 6% promised royalties and commit to a minimum number of performances.

The early 1950s saw a resurgence in interest in "Anything Goes" as the musical play approached its 20th anniversary. A live television version of the play starring Ethel Merman and Frank Sinatra aired as an episode of The Colgate Comedy hour in early 1954. A second film version of "Anything Goes," released by Paramount Pictures in 1956, included Bing Crosby and Donald O'Connor as castmates.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8.5" x 13"
  • Medium: DS

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