Signed Contract for Tiomkin's First Film Score de Mayer, Louis. B. (1884–1957) & Tiomkin, Dimitri. (1894–1979) [Rasch, Albertina. (1891–1967)]

Used; Like New/Used; Like New. Typed document signed "Louis B. Mayer" and "Dmitri Tiomkin," 6 pages, August 21, 1929, Culver City, California. The contract (or "agreement") between Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Tiomkin is written in the form of a letter to "Dear Mr. Tiomkin"; it refers to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  in the first person plural and to Tiomkin in the second person. The contract defines the rules pertaining to the use of the Russian-born American film composer's services by MGM Studios in a "photoplay" involving the Albertina Rasch Ballet. The "photoplay" is not named, but the date and the participation of the Albertina Rasch Ballet allow to identify it as the short film A Night at the Shooting Gallery (1929). 6 pp., 8 1/2 x 11 in. Four punch holes and small torn-off section (formerly stapled?) to head. Otherwise in fine condition.
This contract documents the very beginning of Tiomkin's eminently successful career in Hollywood. Even though A Night at the Shooting Gallery was a short film with a runtime of 14 minutes only, it remains notable as the first of Tiomkin's approximately 120 film scores. He went on to win four Academy Awards, two of them for his score to High Noon (1952) and the title song of the same film, "Do not forsake me, o my darling." Tiomkin was born in what is now Ukraine and educated at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, where Alexander Glazunov was his composition teacher. Soon after his immigration to the United States in 1925 he met Albertina Rasch (1891–1967), a Viennese-born ballet dancer who had opened her own company in New York City. They started performing together and were married from 1927 to Rasch's death. Louis B. Mayer was the Vice President and uncontested ruler of MGM.
The transition to the then new and still evolving technology of sound film is accounted for in the following interesting passage: "The term 'photoplay' as used in this agreement shall be deemed to include, but not be limited to a motion picture production produced and/or exhibited with or accompanied by sound and voice recording, reproducing and/or transmitting devices, radio devices, and all other improvements and devices which are now or may hereafter be used in connection with the production and/or exhibition and/or transmission of any present or future kind of motion picture productions."