1919 Signed Contract for Rachel Crother's "39 East" Play for Edith Ford Gresham

16 x 8.5 inches. Dated thirteenth March, 1919.

Good Antique Condition. Previously folded. Small tares. See Image.

Rachel Crothers (1870-1958) was an American playwright and theater director known for her well-crafted plays that often dealt with feminist themes. Among theater historians, she is generally recognized as "the most successful and prolific woman dramatist writing in the first part of the twentieth century."

39 East: A Comedy in Three Acts is a 1925 play by American dramatist Rachel Crothers, focusing on a young woman from a rural background who moves to New York City to become a singer, navigating life in a boarding house and a romance with a man with a troubled past, ultimately finding success and happiness. The play, based on Crothers' own experiences, explores themes of female ambition, social change, and the clash between traditional morality and modern life, featuring a happy ending with the protagonist's career on the rise and her marriage to her love interest. 

With certificate of provenance from Rare Nest Gallery Chicago.

Catalog number PMK0258

COLLECTOR BIOGRAPHY: Edith Ford Gresham (Granddaughter of John T. Ford)

1897, Manhattan – 1976, Riverdale

Edith Gresham’s incredibly diverse career ranged from prep school performances (as Romeo) to Broadway to radio and television (The Phil Silvers Show, others) to film. Her breakthrough role was playing Sadie Clarence in 39 East by Rachel Crothers (in 1919 on Broadway and reprised in a lost silent film in 1920).

Edith began as an ingénue eventually settling in as a go-to character actress. She was often called upon to replace short-lived original performers. Edith helped define the roles of Aunt Eller in Oklahoma (Broadway and travelling) and the outlandish Countess de Lage in Clare Booth Luce’s classic The Women. In all, Edith has at least twelve Broadway credits through 1966 (The Caucasian Chalk Circle).

Considering her grandfather and father’s theatrical management it is somewhat surprising that Edith was proud of her participation in the Actor’s Strike of 1919 which led the way for labor reforms and helped to cement Actors Equity as a bargaining and governance powerhouse in the entertainment industry.

During the period of World War II and after, Edith organized and supported charitable programs for refugees and promoted bond drives. Her sub-collection includes numerous receipts and moving letters of thanks to the Oklahoma company from war survivors and refugees.

A dedicated career actress, Edith remained single throughout her life.

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