Box 1

Scope and Contents note Standard printed contract (ASCAP 1966-1975 30M 7-65): "Agreement Between John H. Mercer, doing business as Commander Publications, and American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers [. . .]." Stamped after Rec'd: "Nov 3 1965." The contracted was signed November 30, 1965 in ink by "John H. Mercer" and printed signature of Stanley Adams, president of ASCAP. With this contract, Mercer grants to the Society the right to license non-dramatic public performances of all works Commander...

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Typescript contract letter on printed letterhead of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, addressed to "Mr. Johnny Mercer; c/o Mr. Irving Lazar; 211 South Beverly Drive; Beverly Hills, California": Details of payment schedule are included: "we agree to pay you as compensation therefor and for all rights herein granted and/or agreed to be granted to us the sum of $30,000.00." Signed by Loew's Incorporated Vice-President Marvin H. Schenck, and approved, accepted, and signed by Johnny Mercer.

Scope and Contents note Typescript contract letter on printed letterhead of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, addressed to "Mr. Johnny Mercer; c/o Mr. Irving Lazar; 211 South Beverly Drive; Beverly Hills, California": "The following shall constitute the agreement between us with reference to our contract of employment with you dated March 26, 1952." Revises the first sentence of the fifth subdivision of paragraph 7 of the March 26, 1952 contract. The new paragraph concerns publication rights for the photoplay...

Scope and Contents note Standard printed contract and transmittal letter: The contract is dated September 8, 1955, between Edwin H. Morris & Co. Inc. and Johnny Mercer and Walter Weschler, assigning rights to "Daybreak Blues." The printed form used is the "1947 Revised Uniform Popular Songwriters Contract." The contract assigns copyright of the song to Edwin H. Morris & Co. for 28 years. Payment for the song is spelled out in detail. The contract is for publication rights. Signatures on last page are of...

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Standard printed contract: Contract dated August 8, 1933, between T.B. Harms Company, John Mercer and Margot Millham for the Canadian rights to the song "Down a Long Long Road." The document is signed by John Mercer and Margot Millham.

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Standard printed contract: Contract dated August 1933, between T.B. Harms Company and John Mercer for the song "Down a Long Long Road." The printed form used is the "Standard Uniform Popular Songwriters Contract." The form has the payment schedule filled in, and is signed by John Mercer and a representative of T.B. Harms Company.

Scope and Contents note Standard printed contract and transmittal letter: The contract is dated May 13, 1955, between World Music, Inc. and Serge Walter and Johnny Mercer, assigning rights to "The Echo of a Dream." The printed form used is the "1947 Revised Uniform Popular Songwriters Contract." The contract assigns copyright of the song to World Music for 28 years. Payment for the song is spelled out in detail. The contract is for publication rights. Signatures on last page are of a representative of World Music...

Scope and Contents note Typescript contract attached to blank standard printed contract form: Contract on stationary of Mansion Music Corporation, dated July 17, 1959, between the Corporation and Johnny Mercer and Serge Walter for rights to "The Echo of a Dream." Contract letter refers to "terms and conditions of which shall be identical with the paragraphs of the "1947 Revised Uniform Popular Songwriters Contract," a copy of which is herewith annexed [. . .]" The next paragraph gives the fee structure. The...

Scope and Contents note Typescript contract: "Agreement made this 26th day of October, 1971 by and between Johnny Mercer [. . .] and Chappell & Co., Inc. [. . .]" Chappell acquired the rights to Jacques Arel's song "Quand ce jour arrive," with French lyrics by Frank Gerald. This contract with Mercer is for the English lyrics, "Forget-Me-Not." The contract gives Mercer one dollar for the rights to his lyrics, and assigns to Mercer set amounts of royalty payments that are clearly spelled out in the contract....

Scope and Contents note Standard printed contract and transmittal letter: The contract is dated July 22, 1965, between Bregman, Vocco and Conn, Inc., and Johnny Mercer, Milton Samuels, and Charles Hale assigning rights to "Fountain in the Rain." The printed form used is the "1947 Revised Uniform Popular Songwriters Contract." The contract assigns copyright of the song to Bregman, Vocco and Con for 28 years. Payment for the song is spelled out in detail. Payment distribution gives Mercer 50% and the other two men...

Scope and Contents note Typescript contract and debt-forgiveness letter between Bernard D. Hanighen and Commander Publications (signed by Johnny Mercer for Commander Publications) assigning copyright of seven songs co-written with Mercer to Commander Publications. The contract is effective for 28 years beginning June 21, 1956. Payment to Hanighen was $3,500, not "considered an advance against any royalties payable with respect to the aforesaid renewal copyrights." The contract instructs Hanighen to draw a will...

Scope and Contents note Standard printed contract, transmittal letter, and addendum letter: The contract is dated February 12, 1965, between Kacy Music Pub. Co. and Johnny Mercer and Gene Di Novi, assigning rights to "Have a Heart." The printed form used is the "1947 Revised Uniform Popular Songwriters Contract." The contract assigns copyright of the song to Kacy Music Publishing Co. for 28 years. Payment for the song is spelled out in detail. The contract is for publication rights. Signatures on last page are of...

Scope and Contents note Standard printed contract: Contract dated October 24, 1939, between Santly-Joy-Select, Inc. and Johnny Mercer and "Collaborator Royal Marsh," for song "Holy Smoke (Can't Ya Take a Joke?)." The printed form used is the "Standard Uniform Popular Songwriters Contract." The form has the payment schedule filled in, "Paragraph 7" crossed through (Company agrees "to publish in saleable form said musical composition within ___ from the date hereof."), and "Paragraph 14" added in typescript ("It is...

Scope and Contents note Standard printed contract and "Synchronization Schedule": The contract is dated February 8, 1954, between Joy Music Inc. and Johnny Mercer and Al Hansen, assigning rights to "Hoping." The printed form used is the "1947 Revised Uniform Popular Songwriters Contract." The contract assigns copyright of the song to Joy Music Inc. for 28 years. Payment for the song is spelled out in detail. The contract is for publication rights. Signatures on last page are of George Joy (?) for Joy Music Inc.;...

Scope and Contents note Standard printed contract and transmittal letter: The contract is dated March 27, 1958, between Winston Music Publishers and Johnny Mercer and Geoff Clarkson, assigning rights to "I Can Spell Banana (But I Never Know When To Stop)." The printed form used is the "1947 Revised Uniform Popular Songwriters Contract." The contract assigns copyright of the song to Winston Music Publishers for 28 years. Payment for the song is spelled out in detail. The contract is for publication rights....

Scope and Contents note Typescript contract attached to blank standard printed contract form: Contract dated February 14, 1969, between Universal Music Corporation and Johnny Mercer for rights to "Love Like Yours." Gives rights for 28 years to Universal Music Corporation for the lyrics to the song written by Luis Bonfa. Contract letter refers to "terms and conditions of the Form Contract [. . .] a copy of which is annexed hereto [. . .]" The next two paragraphs delete or revise sections of the Form Contract....

Scope and Contents note Typescript form contract (thermofax) and memorandum note: Contract notarized September 29, 1958, between "John Mercer" for Commander Publications, and Matty Malneck, his wife Claire Malneck, and their three (minor) children, for renewal copyrights for 12 songs listed in "Schedule A." Dates are not filled in on any pages except notary statements. Fee schedule on pages 3 through 5. Signed on page 7 by Mercer ("John Mercer d/b/a; Commander Publications), Matty Malneck, and Clarie Malneck for...

Scope and Contents note Typescript standard contract between Jeff Mercer (Johnny's son, John J. Mercer) and Muzak, a division of Teleprompter Corporation. The contract is dated January 1, 1978. Corporate office address of Muzak has been updated by hand. Muzak is receiving a license for unnamed music that was appended in "Schedule A," which is not present. The license grants Muzak rights to reproduce or record music for three years under carefully spelled-out terms and payment. The contract is signed on the last...

Scope and Contents note Typescript "Assignment of Copyrights," dated February 10, 1967. Assigns copyrights of musical copyrights owned by Palm Springs Music Co. to Commander Publications, for $1. Johnny Mercer has signed the copyright assignment and lists himself as "John H. Mercer, owner." Stamped in upper right corner, "Vol 1263 page 203." In ink at bottom, "Milt Raskin Music." Attached to the Assignment is "Schedule of Compositions" from Palm Springs Music Co. Stamped in upper right corner, "Vol 1263 Page 204."...

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Standard printed contract: Contract dated August 8, 1933, between T.B. Harms Company, Johnny Mercer and Johnny Green for the Canadian rights to the song "There's a Ring Around the Moon." The document is signed by Johnny Mercer, Johnny Green, and witness Rose Kohner. The contract was notarized on January 2, 1935 by Arthur Boucher in New York, New York.