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Document 258616

EMMETT KELLY
He sells the rights to merchandise his character, Weary Willie the Clown.
Typed DS: "Emmett Kelly" (twice), 4½p, 8½x11. New York, 1955 October 31. Carbon copy of a contract between Kelly and Classic Merchandising Co., signed in ink. In part: "In consideration of the payment to you of the sum of $2500 and other valuable consideration, the receipt of which you hereby acknowledge, you hereby grant to us for the term hereof the sole and exclusive world wide right and license to exploit and merchandise the name, person, character and likeness of WEARY WILLIE THE CLOWN (portrayed by Emmett Kelly) and/or Emmett Kelly and any other characterizations of Emmett Kelly, including but not limited to the title WEARY WILLIE, any portraits, pictures, caricatures, characterizations of WEARY WILLIE and/or Emmett Kelly, and any other characterizations of Emmett Kelly, in any and all media, including but not limited to, records, stories, future literary works, musical compositions, comic scrips, dolls, toys, candies, foodstuffs, furniture, apparel, paint boxes and paint books, and I any and all fields of merchandising...." Also initialed by Kelly: "EK" three times near crossed-out areas. Emmett Kelly (1898-1979) gained world fame as hobo clown "Weary Willie". He did his first circus work as a trapeze artist and clown for Howe's Great London Circus. In 1933, while working with the Hagenback-Wallace Circus, his "Weary Willie" character was born and instantly became a symbol of hope for those hard hit by the depression. Kelly found his true home in 1941 when he joined the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. He became a major star of the circus and made appearances in films, nightclubs, television and the Broadway stage. Creased. Staple holes at upper left blank corners. Nicked at blank right margin of first page. Overall, fine condition.

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