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Movie contracts and agreements for some familiar faces ... and their rates of pay.


In the photo left, a smiling Tom Keene signs with Monogram Pictures as the hero in four westerns which were released in 1937 - 1938. Holding the six-shooter is Scott R. Dunlap, Monogram's vice president in charge of production.

Photo from the July, 1937 Motion Picture Herald, available at the Internet Archive.


Researcher Phil Arnold has collected a variety of contracts over the years, and we thank Phil for sharing his wonderful contract archive.

Western and serial performers functioned under various contracts and agreements. And many obtained work - and income - in films other than oaters and cliffhangers.

There were many "day players" trying to eke out a living - and they were paid a day-at-a-time for background and face-in-the-crowd roles as a townsman, saloon patron, member of a wagon train, etc.

Those with substantial roles were hired on a weekly or picture commitment basis.

A few were lucky and signed term player contracts with a studio or production company ... and that arrangement provided consistent paydays and lots of work. Examples are Roy Barcroft, LeRoy Mason, Tom London, Kenne Duncan, and several others who were under term player deals at Republic Pictures in the 1940s.

Examples below cover movie jobs at Republic Pictures, Samuel Goldwyn productions, and Tex Ritter westerns for producer Ed Finney's "Boots and Saddles" production company.

Below are Tom Tyler's contract to play "Captain Marvel" and an agreement by Dave Sharpe as a "general stuntman" at Republic Pictures in 1940.

And there's contracts for Roy Barcroft, Charlie King, John Merton, Frank Ellis, George Chesebro, 'Slim' Whitaker, Ed Cassidy, a few others. And an agreement for a 1925 silent film is at the bottom of this page.

The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) was formed in 1933, and they developed a standard contract and examples mention a 1935 agreement and the "Revised Producer-Screen Actors Guild Basic Minimum Contract of 1938".

More on the Screen Actors Guild formation and 1930s activities at the SAG website, and this link will open in a separate window / tab: https://www.sagaftra.org/about/our-history/1930s

The documents indicate a movie title, start date, and a daily or weekly rate of pay - basically, the job being offered. And being a SAG member was a condition of employment.

Also among the (many) terms and conditions was a requirement for the performer to dress appropriately for the role. Thus, if you were doing an oater, better show up wearing western clothing, cowboy boots, and a gunbelt. However, any specialty or unique items related to the costume or characterization would be furnished by the producer / production company. Wardrobe clause example below.

Compared to today, the pay amounts shown in these agreements appear miniscule. But according to the Census Bureau and other sources,

the average family income in 1940 was $1,368.00
and median income for a man in 1940 was $956.00





Free Lance player weekly agreement for Tom Tyler starring in the serial ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MARVEL (Republic, 1941; 12 chapters).

Tyler's contract is two pages. Below is the top of page 1 and the signature area at the bottom of page 2.

$250.00 weekly.

According to Jack Mathis' books on Republic Pictures, filming on MARVEL took nearly six weeks - from December 23, 1940 to January 30, 1941.



(Courtesy of Phil Arnold)




Agreement between Dave Sharpe and Republic Pictures for his work as "general stuntman" which included stunt work on the serial MYSTERIOUS DR. SATAN (Republic, 1940; 15 chapters).

$250.00 weekly; 3 week minimum.



(Courtesy of Phil Arnold)




Free Lance player weekly agreement for Charles King as "Trigger" in the Tex Ritter western ROLLIN' PLAINS (Grand National, 1938) for producer Edward Finney's Boots and Saddles production company.

King's contract is two pages long. Below is the top of page 1 and the signature area at the bottom of page 2.

$100.00 per week; one week minimum.



(Courtesy of Phil Arnold)




Day player agreement for Edward Cassidy as "Sedley" in the serial KING OF THE TEXAS RANGERS (Republic, 1941; 12 chapters) which starred football great Slingin' Sammy Baugh.

$25.00 per day; $125.00 weekly.



(Courtesy of Phil Arnold)




Day player agreement for Charles 'Slim' Whitaker as "Jake" in the serial KING OF THE TEXAS RANGERS (Republic, 1941; 12 chapters) which starred football great Slingin' Sammy Baugh.

$25.00 per day; $125.00 weekly.



(Courtesy of Phil Arnold)




Free Lance player weekly agreement for Roy Barcroft as "Ross" in the serial KING OF THE TEXAS RANGERS (Republic, 1941; 12 chapters) which starred football great Slingin' Sammy Baugh.

Barcroft's contract is four pages long. Below is the top of page 1 and the signature area at the bottom of page 4.

$100.00 weekly; one week minimum.



(Courtesy of Phil Arnold)




Day player agreement for Frank Ellis as a "western character" in THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY (Samuel Goldwyn, 1947) which starred Danny Kaye and Virginia Mayo.

$50.00 per day; $250.00 weekly.



(Courtesy of Phil Arnold)




Day player contract for John Merton as "Brent" in the serial DICK TRACY VS. CRIME, INC. (Republic, 1941; 15 chapters) which starred Ralph Byrd.

$25.00 per day; $125.00 weekly.



(Courtesy of Phil Arnold)




Free Lance player weekly agreement for George Chesebro as "Fargo" in a film with a working title of LITTLE TENDERFOOT. That Tex Ritter western was released as SONG OF THE BUCKAROO (Monogram, 1938) and produced by Edward Finney's Boots and Saddles production company.

Chesebro's contract is two pages long. Below is the top of page 1 and the signature area at the bottom of page 2.

$66.00 per week; one week minimum.



(Courtesy of Phil Arnold)




Free Lance player weekly agreement for Jim Corey as "Lee Webb" in THE WESTERNER (Samuel Goldwyn, 1940) which starred Gary Cooper and Walter Brennan.

Corey's contract is two pages long. Below is the top of page 1 and the signature area at the bottom of page 2.

$66.00 per week; one week minimum.



(Courtesy of Phil Arnold)




Day player contract for Earl [sic] Hodgins as a "shell game dealer" In COME AND GET IT (Samuel Goldwyn, 1936) which starred Joel McCrea and Edward Arnold.

Notice that he signs his name as "Earle Hodgins".

$50.00 per day; $250.00 weekly.



(Courtesy of Phil Arnold)




Day player contract for Hooper Atchley as a "bit man" in LITTLE FOXES (Samuel Goldwyn, 1941) which starred Bette Davis and Herbert Marshall.

$50.00 per day; $250.00 weekly.



(Courtesy of Phil Arnold)




Day player contract for Jess Cavin as an "archer" in the silent HIS SUPREME MOMENT (George Fitzmaurice Prod / Samuel Goldwyn, 1925) which starred Ronald Colman and Blanche Sweet.

$12.50 per day, and at least four days employment.



(Courtesy of Phil Arnold)


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