LAUREL AND HARDY FEATURE PRODUCTIONS LETTERHEAD - TYPEWRITTEN

                August 11, 1941

Mr. Samuel Turzel,
Twentieth Century-Fox Corporation,
Beverly Hills, California.

Dear Sam:
    With the picture being about completed, we wanted you to know how much we have appreciated your many kindnesses toward us, and we hope that we have done, as we have tried, our share in cooperating to make the picture a success.
    We can not find words enough to say how pleasant our association has been during this picture and how much you have conributed in making our stay a pleasant one. Everyone speaks well of the picture and we hope it is a great picture, reflecting the work that your boys so readily and kindly always put into the production. Our only hope is that we have done as much as everybody was willing to do for us.
    My kindest regards to you all,
                Sincerely,
Stan Laurel Signature                 Oliver Hardy

Note from the Editor

This letter—signed by both Stan and Ollie—was written after the completion of Great Guns, which was Laurel and Hardy’s first picture at 20th Century-Fox to a man at Fox who worked on the production.



TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX FILM CORPORATION LETTERHEAD - TYPEWRITTEN

                August 21, 1941.

Laurel and Hardy Feature Productions,
525 West 6th Street,
Los Angeles, California.

Gentlemen:
    This letter, when accepted by you, will confirm our mutual understanding and agreement relative to the amendment of our contract with you, dated May 29, 1941, as follows:
    Whereas, in deleting the original Article Sixteenth, the lending clause, from the original draft of our said contract with you, it has made certain references to subsequent clauses in said contract incorrect, therefore, it is mutually understood and agreed that the last sentence of Article Ninth of said contract shall be and the same is hereby deemed to be deleted from said contract, and the words “Article Thirty-Fourth” contained in the second sentence of Article Fifth of said contract shall be and the same are hereby amended to read “Article Thirty-Third”.
    It is further mutually understood and agreed that Article Twenty-Fourth of said contract shall be and the same is hereby amended to read as follows:
    “TWENTY-FOURTH: That all notices from the producer to Feature, under or in connection with this agreement, may be given, in writing, by addressing the same to Laurel and Hardy Feature Productions, 523 West 6th Street, Los Angeles, California, and by depositing the same so addressed, postage prepaid, in the United States mail, or, at its option, the producer may deliver such notice to Feature personally, either orally or in writing. If such notice shall be sent by mail as above provided, the date of mailing shall be deemed to be the date of service of such notice.”
    All of the terms and conditions of your aforesaid contract with us shall remain in full force and effect, except as herein specifically modified.
    If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly execute this letter in quadruplicate under the word “Accepted” at the end hereof, returning three copies to us for our files.
    Yours very truly,
    TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX FILM CORPORATION,
                By
                Its Vice President.
                William Goetz

ACCEPTED:
    LAUREL AND HARDY FEATURE PRODUCTIONS
                By
                Its President.
Stan Laurel Signature
                Its Secretary.
                Benjamin Shipman


Salaries

Following is the list of individuals receiving compensation for personal services in excess of $75,000 for the calendar year 1939:

Charles Chaplin Film Corporation: Charles Chaplin, $152,000.

Walt Disney Productions: Walter E. Disney, $85,000.

Samuel Goldwyn, Inc., Ltd.: Samuel Goldwyn, $107,000; William Wyler, $104,999; Gary Cooper, $295,106.

Hal Roach Studios, Inc.: Hal E. Roach, $103,500; Stan Laurel, $82,500; Adolphe Menjou, $100,000.

Selznick International Pictures, Inc.: David 0. Selznick, $185,500; Alfred Hitchcock, $136,818.

—The New York Times
    August 3, 1941

Stan Watermark