TopBilled Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 I was trying to assemble a list of contract players by studio. This is not an easy task. Why? Some studio contractees did not really make it big and were quickly demoted or dropped (Lucille Bremer). And then we get into the character actors and actresses that did have lengthy contracts but were not always featured prominently (Connie Gilchrist). Plus, there are those big name stars that had contracts shared by two studios (Melvyn Douglas), or by a studio and an independent producer (Joan Bennett). Then, there are stars that reinvented themselves and had long contracts at more than one studio (Joan Crawford). And stars that quickly escaped their studio contracts and freelanced for most of their career (Fredric March). Nonetheless I am going to attempt to list the most important contract players by studio, and I hope that if you are reading this thread you provide me with some assistance in case I make an honest mistake or omit someone unintentionally. I will only focus on the major studios for now-- WB, RKO, MGM, 20th Century Fox, Columbia, Paramount and Universal, and I will only focus on stars under contract from 1930 to 1970 (roughly covering the precode and code eras). Are you ready? Here goes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted November 19, 2013 Author Share Posted November 19, 2013 *Warner Brothers* EVE ARDEN; GEORGE ARLISS; MARY ASTOR; ROBERT ALDA; EDDIE ALBERT; ROSS ALEXANDER LAUREN BACALL; HUMPHREY BOGART; JOAN BLONDELL; GEORGE BRENT; JOE E. BROWN; DAVID BRIAN; JANE BRYAN; GERALDINE BROOKS; FAY BAINTER; RICHARD BARTHELMESS; BUGS BUNNY JAMES CAGNEY; JACK CARSON; STEVE COCHRAN; JOAN CRAWFORD; RUTH CHATTERTON; BERNICE CLAIRE; JEROME COWAN; MAE CLARKE; GARY COOPER; DONALD CRISP; RICARDO CORTEZ MARION DAVIES; HELMUT DANTINE; DORIS DAY; BETTE DAVIS; GLORIA DICKSON; OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND; TROY DONAHUE; ANN DVORAK; JAMES DEAN; ROBERT DOUGLAS; ROSEMARY DE CAMP; DEAD END KIDS; CLAIRE DODD; BILLIE DOVE FAYE EMERSON GLENDA FARRELL; ERROL FLYNN; KAY FRANCIS; DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS JR.; GERALDINE FITZGERALD; DICK FORAN; BETTY FIELD JOHN GARFIELD; SYDNEY GREENSTREET; BONITA GRANVILLE; JAMES GARNER TAB HUNTER; JOSEPHINE HUTCHINSON; ROBERT HUTTON; PAUL HENREID; MIRIAM HOPKINS; LESLIE HOWARD SYBIL JASON; AL JOLSON; ALLEN JENKINS GUY KIBBEE; PATRIC KNOWLES; RUBY KEELER; ANDREA KING; JACK KELLY JOAN LESLIE; PRISCILLA LANE; ROSEMARY LANE; MARGARET LINDSAY; PETER LORRE; IDA LUPINO; JEFFREY LYNN; VIVECA LINDSFOR; BURT LANCASTER; ALAN LADD; FRANK LOVEJOY WAYNE MORRIS; FRANK MCHUGH; DENNIS MORGAN; RAYMOND MASSEY; JAMES MELTON; PAUL MUNI; ALINE MACMAHON; BRENDA MARSHALL; VIRGINIA MAYO; JEAN MUIR; HATTIE MCDANIEL; DOROTHY MALONE; GORDON MACRAE PATRICIA NEAL; LUCILLE NORMAN; GENE NELSON PAT O'BRIEN JANIS PAIGE; DICK POWELL; ELEANOR PARKER; JOHN PAYNE; WILLIAM POWELL; JOHN PAYNE; WALTER PIDGEON GEORGE RAFT; RUTH ROMAN; RIN TIN TIN; EDWARD G. ROBINSON; RONALD REAGAN; CLAUDE RAINS; BEVERLY ROBERTS ZACHARY SCOTT; S.Z. SAKALL; CONNIE STEVENS; ANN SHERIDAN; NED SPARKS; ALEXIS SMITH; BARBARA STANWYCK; KENT SMITH; WINIFRED SHAW; JAMES STEPHENSON; RANDOLPH SCOTT RICHARD TODD; LYLE TALBOT; PHYLLIS THAXTER; GENEVIEVE TOBIN; FRANKIE THOMAS CLINT WALKER; WARREN WILLIAM; NATALIE WOOD; JANE WYMAN; MARIE WILSON; GRANT WITHERS; MARY WICKES; MARIS WRIXON; DICK WESSON; JACK WEBB LORETTA YOUNG; GIG YOUNG EFREM ZIMBALIST JR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownGoesFrazier Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Ned Sparks--WB? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arturo Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 A quick glance tells meyou overlooked Jane Wyman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arturo Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 ...and Paul Muni Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownGoesFrazier Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Did you overlook Ronald Reagan? You must be a Democrat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arturo Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Alexis Smith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arturo Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Ruth Chatterton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownGoesFrazier Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Edward G. Robinson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arturo Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Jane Bryan, Gernaldine Fitzgerald, Merle Oberon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arturo Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Loretta Young, William Powell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownGoesFrazier Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Wasn't W. Powell with MGM mostly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arturo Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Barbara Stanwyck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arturo Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 He was under contract at WB, after leaving Paramount, who didn't give him a raise, and before going to MGM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arturo Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Miriam Hopkins, Mary Astor, Viveca Lindsfor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arturo Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 John Payne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted November 19, 2013 Author Share Posted November 19, 2013 *RKO* FRED ASTAIRE; DESI ARNAZ LEX BARKER; LUCILLE BALL; CONSTANCE BENNETT; BOBBY BREEN; INGRID BERGMAN (courtesy David Selznick); CARLA BALENDA; WENDY BARRIE; JOHN BEAL; RALPH BYRD; HELEN BRODERICK; JOHN BARRYMORE; STEVE BRODIE TOM CONWAY; CARNEY & BROWN; MORGAN CONWAY; EDDIE CANTOR JOAN DIXON; FAITH DOMERGUE; STEFFI DUNA; MELVYN DOUGLAS FIBBER MCGEE & MOLLY GILDERSLEEVE; CARY GRANT; GLORIA GRAHAME; JANE GREER; JAMES GLEASON BARBARA HALE; ARTHUR HUNNICUTT; ANN HARDING; JEAN HERSHOLT IRENE DUNNE; RICHARD DIX RALPH EDWARDS JOAN FONTAINE; ANNE JEFFREYS KATHARINE HEPBURN; TIM HOLT; LINDA HAYES KAY KYSER; DANNY KAYE (courtesy Sam Goldwyn); PATSY KELLY (courtesy Hal Roach) CHARLES LAUGHTON; ALLAN LANE; MYRNA LOY; CHARLES MCGRAW ANN MILLER; ROBERT MITCHUM; JOEL MCCREA; CHESTER MORRIS; MICKEY MOUSE (courtesy Walt Disney); MARGO; VICTOR MOORE ANNA NEAGLE GEORGE O'BRIEN; MAUREEN O'HARA; PAT O'BRIEN; EDNA MAY OLIVER VINCENT PRICE; DICK POWELL; JOE PENNER GENE RAYMOND; JANE RUSSELL; ROBERT RYAN; GINGER ROGERS; GILBERT ROLAND; GEORGE RAFT; ROSALIND RUSSELL; JANE RANDOLPH ANNE SHIRLEY; KENT SMITH; BARBARA STANWYCK; RANDOLPH SCOTT; ANN SOTHERN; SIMONE SIMON; GEORGE SANDERS; JEAN SIMMONS HELEN TWELVETREES; LEE TRACY VIRGINIA VALE; LUPE VELEZ ORSON WELLES; WHEELER & WOOLSEY; BILL WILLIAMS; RUTH WARRICK; JOHNNY WEISSMULLER; JOHN WAYNE; FAY WRAY ROBERT YOUNG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arturo Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Jeffrey Lynn....this is still for WB. Will review your RKO list after lunch... Edited by: Arturo on Nov 19, 2013 3:41 PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted November 19, 2013 Author Share Posted November 19, 2013 >Jane Wyman...Jeffrey Lynn...etc. Thanks. I will go back and add them before the post times out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arturo Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 For RKO: Wendy Barrie Ann Harding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arturo Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 RKO: Faith Domergue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted November 19, 2013 Author Share Posted November 19, 2013 I am probably missing some of the stars that American studios had under contract in England. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted November 19, 2013 Author Share Posted November 19, 2013 *20th Century Fox* DON AMECHE; DANA ANDREWS (courtesy Sam Goldwyn); ANNABELLA; ELIZABETH ALLEN RICHARD BASEHART; ANNE BAXTER; VIVIAN BLAINE; LYNN BARI; STEPHEN BOYD; RICHARD BURTON; BARBARA BATES; ANNE BANCROFT; JOAN BENNETT (courtesy Walter Wanger); RICHARD BOONE; MARLON BRANDO; MILTON BERLE; SMITH BALLEW; WARNER BAXTER; CLARA BOW; VANESSA BROWN; PHYLLIS BROOKS; J. EDWARD BROMBERG; DORRIS BOWDEN; WALTER BRENNAN; BINNIE BARNES; TALLULAH BANKHEAD; CHARLES BICKFORD; MAY BRITT; SPRING BYINGTON; PAT BOONE LAIRD CREGAR; JOAN COLLINS; JEANNE CRAIN; RICHARD CONTE; PERRY COMO; RORY CALHOUN; PEGGY CUMMINS; JOYCE COMPTON; CORINNE CALVET; JOHN CARRADINE; IRVING COBB; MACDONALD CAREY; CHARLES COBURN; JOSEPH COTTEN (courtesy David Selznick) DOROTHY DANDRIDGE; LINDA DARNELL; BELLA DARVI; JANE DARWELL; PAUL DOUGLAS; JAMES DUNN; JOAN DAVIS; DIONNE QUINTUPLETS; CATHY DOWNS; DOLORES DEL RIO; BRADFORD DILLMAN; DAN DAILEY; BETTE DAVIS RICHARD EGAN; WILLIAM EYTHE; BUDDY EBSEN; TOM EWELL; SALLY EILERS; BARBARA EDEN CHARLES FARRELL; ALICE FAYE; HENRY FONDA; ANNE FRANCIS; PRESTON FOSTER JANET GAYNOR; MITZI GAYNOR; RICHARD GREENE; EDMUND GWENN; BETTY GRABLE; NANCY GUILD; PEGGY ANN GARNER; COLLEEN GRAY; VIRGINIA GILMORE (shared with Sam Goldwyn); CHARLOTTE GREENWOOD; JULIETTE GRECO; CHARLEY GRAPEWIN JUNE HAVER; REX HARRISON; CELESTE HOLM; SONJA HENIE; MARY BETH HUGHES; JEFFREY HUNTER; JACK HALEY; SUSAN HAYWARD; ROCHELLE HUDSON; RICHARD HAYDN; MARY HEALY; JOHN HARVEY; PHIL HARRIS; JOHN HODIAK; JEAN HERSHOLT; DICK HAYMES HARRY JAMES; BRENDA JOYCE; JENNIFER JONES (courtesy David Selznick); AL JOLSON JEAN KENT; NANCY KELLY; BETTY LOU KEIM FRANK LATIMORE; CAROLE LANDIS; LAUREL & HARDY; KENNETH MORE; BETTY LYNN; JUNE LANG; ELISSA LANDI; HOPE LANGE; BARBARA LAWRENCE; VIRGINIA LEITH; WILLIAM LUNDIGAN; GLENN LANGAN; ROBERT LOWERY VICTOR MATURE; JAYNE MANSFIELD; GARY MERRILL; MARILYN MONROE; GEORGE MONTGOMERY; DOLORES MICHAELS; LON MCALLISTER; CRIS-PIN MARTIN; DON MURRAY; RODDY MCDOWALL; CARMEN MIRANDA; HENRY 'HARRY' MORGAN; TERRY MOORE; GLENN MILLER; FRED MACMURRAY; FAYE MARLOWE; TONY MARTIN; CAMERON MITCHELL; DOROTHY MCGUIRE (courtesy David Selznick); ADOLPHE MENJOU; ELSA MAXWELL; HUGH MARLOWE; ETHEL MERMAN LLOYD NOLAN; SHEREE NORTH; MARIAN NIXON; HILDEGARDE NEFF; PATRICIA NEAL MAUREEN O'HARA; WARNER OLAND; GEORGE O'BRIEN; JACK OAKIE DEBRA PAGET; JOHN PAYNE; TYRONE POWER; VINCENT PRICE; JED PROUTY; JEAN PETERS; GREGORY PECK (courtesy David Selznick); MICHELINE PRESLE; ELVIS PRESLEY; SUZY PARKER ANTHONY QUINN RITZ BROTHERS; MICHAEL RENNIE; WILL ROGERS; CESAR ROMERO; SHEILA RYAN; ANNE REVERE; THELMA RITTER; LEE REMICK; GREGORY RATOFF; DALE ROBERTSON; TONY RANDALL CONSTANCE SMITH; SIMONE SIMON; MARK STEVENS; GLORIA STUART; PHIL SILVERS; MICHAEL SHEA; GEORGE SANDERS; JOHN SHEPPARD; JOHN SUTTON; SLIM SUMMERVILLE; DEAN STOCKWELL GENE TIERNEY; CLAIRE TREVOR; SPENCER TRACY; COLLEEN TOWNSEND; SHIRLEY TEMPLE DIANE VARSI ROBERT WAGNER; JANE WITHERS; CLIFTON WEBB; DANA WYNTER; RAQUEL WELCH; CORNEL WILDE; RICHARD WIDMARK; HENRY WILCOXON; MARJORIE WEAVER; MICHAEL WHALEN; ARLEEN WHELAN; DAVID WAYNE; JOANNE WOODWARD; HELEN WESTLEY; STUART WHITMAN; GEORGE WINSLOW LORETTA YOUNG; ALAN YOUNG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted November 19, 2013 Author Share Posted November 19, 2013 *MGM* JUNE ALLYSON; MARY ASTOR; LEON AMES; LEW AYRES; PIER ANGELI; FRED ASTAIRE; EDWARD ARNOLD FREDDIE BARTHOLOMEW; WALLACE BEERY; LUCILLE BALL; ANN BLYTH; SPRING BYINGTON; LIONEL BARRYMORE; JOHN BARRYMORE; ETHEL BARRYMORE (courtesy David Selznick); LUCILLE BREMER; VIRGINIA BRUCE; BILLIE BURKE; FAY BAINTER; JOHN MACK BROWN CARLETON CARPENTER; CYD CHARISSE; JACKIE COOPER; JOAN CRAWFORD; XAVIER CUGAT; JAMES CRAIG; LOUIS CALHERN; WENDELL COREY; JOHN CARROLL (shared with Herbert Yates); DONNA CORCORAN; RICHARD CARLSON LARAINE DAY; ARLENE DAHL; GLORIA DE HAVEN; MELVYN DOUGLAS (shared with Harry Cohn); MARIE DRESSLER; TOM DRAKE; MARION DAVIES; JIMMY DURANTE; NANCY DAVIS; DENISE DARCEL NELSON EDDY; VERA-ELLEN; MADGE EVANS GLENN FORD; SALLY FORREST; BOB FOSSE; ANNE FRANCIS; JANE FONDA CLARK GABLE; GRETA GARBO; JUDY GARLAND; GREER GARSON; JOHN GILBERT; KATHRYN GRAYSON; CONNIE GILCHRIST; FRANCES GIFFORD; BETTY GARRETT; AVA GARDNER; STEWART GRANGER; VIRGINIA GREY HELEN HAYES; SARA HADEN; JEAN HAGEN; WILLIAM HAINES; IAN HUNTER; JEAN HARLOW; RICHARD HART; VAN HEFLIN; KATHARINE HEPBURN; JOHN HODIAK; FAY HOLDEN; LENA HORNE; RUTH HUSSEY; ANN HARDING; MARGARET HAMILTON; MARSHA HUNT; LAURENCE HARVEY JOSE ITURBI CLAUDE JARMAN JR.; JACKIE 'BUTCH' JENKINS; VAN JOHNSON; RITA JOHNSON HOWARD KEEL; BUSTER KEATON; GENE KELLY; GRACE KELLY; DEBORAH KERR; GUY KIBBEE; KURT KASZNAR LASSIE; BERT LAHR; HEDY LAMARR; FERNANDO LAMAS; MARIO LANZA; MYRNA LOY; ANGELA LANSBURY; PETER LAWFORD; KEYE LUKE; JANET LEIGH; LAUREL & HARDY ANN MILLER; JEANETTE MACDONALD; RICARDO MONTALBAN; JAMES MITCHELL; LAURITZ MELCHIOR; AGNES MOOREHEAD; SHIRLEY MACLAINE; FRANK MORGAN; ROBERT MONTGOMERY; KAREN MORLEY; MARJORIE MAIN; MARX BROTHERS; MARILYN MAXWELL; POLLY MORAN; UNA MERKEL; CHESTER MORRIS; GEORGE MURPHY; RALPH MEEKER; ALINE MACMAHON; DONALD MEEK; CATHERINE MCLEOD; RAY MCDONALD; DOUGLASS MONTGOMERY RAMON NOVARRO; RICHARD NEY VIRGINIA O'BRIEN; MAUREEN O'SULLIVAN; MARGARET O'BRIEN ANITA PAGE; CECILIA PARKER; SUSAN PETERS; JEAN PARKER; WALTER PIDGEON; ELEANOR POWELL; EDMUND PURDOM; WILLIAM POWELL; JANE POWELL; ELVIS PRESLEY; JANIS PAIGE; ELEANOR PARKER; MARIE PREVOST RICHARD QUINE FRANCES RAFFERTY; RAGS RAGLAND; LUISE RAINER; ROSALIND RUSSELL; MICKEY ROONEY; DEBBIE REYNOLDS; DONNA REED; PAULA RAYMOND; ANN RICHARDS; ANN RUTHERFORD NORMA SHEARER; FRANK SINATRA; JAMES STEWART; ROBERT STERLING; RED SKELTON; BARRY SULLIVAN; ANN SOTHERN; LEWIS STONE; MARGARET SULLAVAN; BARBARA STANWYCK; GINNY SIMMS; JOHN SHELTON; SIR C. AUBREY SMITH; ETHEL SMITH RUSS TAMBLYN; ELIZABETH TAYLOR; ROBERT TAYLOR; MARSHALL THOMPSON; AUDREY TOTTER; FRANCHOT TONE; SPENCER TRACY; LANA TURNER; LAWRENCE TIBBETT; PHYLLIS THAXTER; ROD TAYLOR; LEE TRACY LUPE VELEZ KEENAN WYNN; ROBERT WALKER; JOHNNY WEISSMULLER; VIRGINIA WEIDLER; MAY WHITTY; ESTHER WILLIAMS; JAMES WHITMORE; MICHAEL WILDING ROBERT YOUNG; GIG YOUNG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted November 19, 2013 Author Share Posted November 19, 2013 *Paramount* GRACE ALLEN; ANNA MARIA ALBERGHETTI GEORGE BURNS; MARY BOLAND; BOB BURNS; EDDIE BRACKEN; WILLIAM BENDIX; JOAN BENNETT; TALLULAH BANKHEAD; JACK BENNY; SHIRLEY BOOTH BING CROSBY; MACDONALD CAREY; JOAN CAULFIELD; MAURICE CHEVALIER; CLAUDETTE COLBERT; GARY COOPER; BUSTER CRABBE; MADELEINE CARROLL; ROBERT CUMMINGS; ROSEMARY CLOONEY; PAT CROWLEY; WENDELL COREY; KITTY CARLISLE MARLENE DIETRICH; ELLEN DREW; BRIAN DONLEVY; JOHN DEREK; PAUL DOUGLAS; CASS DALEY; OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND; DON DE FORE; FRANCES DEE; WILLIAM DEMAREST; KIRK DOUGLAS; RICHARD DENNING LEIF ERICKSON W.C. FIELDS; FRANCES FARMER; MONA FREEMAN; BARRY FITZGERALD; KAY FRANCIS; HENRY FONDA; JOAN FONTAINE; RHONDA FLEMING PAULETTE GODDARD; CARY GRANT; BETTY GRABLE; TITO GUIZAR; WYNNE GIBSON STERLING HAYDEN; BOB HOPE; AUDREY HEPBURN; WILLIAM HOLDEN; MIRIAM HOPKINS; CHARLTON HESTON; BETTY HUTTON; WANDA HENDRIX; SUSAN HAYWARD; HENRY WILCOXON ALAN LADD; VERONICA LAKE; JERRY LEWIS; DOROTHY LAMOUR; CAROLE LOMBARD; DIANA LYNN; SOPHIA LOREN; JOHN LUND; CHARLES LAUGHTON; BURT LANCASTER; GIL LAMB FRED MACMURRAY; MARY MARTIN; MARX BROTHERS; DEAN MARTIN; JOEL MCCREA; RAY MILLAND; SHIRLEY MACLAINE; KRISTINE MILLER; ETHEL MERMAN; JEANETTE MACDONALD JACK OAKIE WILLIAM POWELL; ROBERT PAIGE; ROBERT PRESTON MARTHA RAYE; LILLIAN ROTH; GEORGE RAFT; SHIRLEY ROSS; CHARLES RUGGLES LIZABETH SCOTT; BARBARA STANWYCK; ALISON SKIPWORTH; SYLVIA SIDNEY; SIR GUY STANDING SONNY TUFTS MAE WEST; ANNA MAY WONG; VIRGINIA WEIDLER; MARIE WILSON Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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