While January 25th is already a memorable day for us here at MovieSquad (it’s the birthday of editor Carol Ann) we are also happy to report that you can buy some really cool rare documents from 20th Century Fox's archives for an auction to benefit the Motion Picture & Television Fund's insurance fund.

The philanthropic Tom Rothman and Jim Gianopulos have donated over 200 priceless pieces of papers, such as studio-system star contracts and internal memos, most of which were signed by the stars. Imagine the groovy stuff that must be in that stack of papers... and the documents should be worth a fortune to collectors!

For a sneak peek, here are some of the goodies on the auction block:
1. 1946 internal memo advising that Norma Jean Dougherty was changing her professional name to Marilyn Monroe
2. Humphrey Bogart's first studio contract, from 1930, when he was paid $400 a week and assigned the film Up the River, and another from 1951 when Bogart got paid $17,500 a week for Deadline USA
3. Contract signed by Judy Garland to star in the 1967 film Valley of the Dolls and then a termination letter drafted after she showed up for work totally wasted                                                              4. Marlon Brando's 1951 contract for Viva Zapata, which paid him $10,416.66 per week, or just shy of $125,000 for the film
5. Lucille Ball’s contract for the thriller Dark Corner, which paid her $5,000 a week, or $60,000 for the film.

They’ve got Carey Grant, Will Rogers, Rita Hayworth, Clark Gable, Katharine Hepburn and Lana Turner contracts and memos… along with tons of other stars. You could buy a slice of cinematic history that would make your little collection a major one! And you could learn about such quirks as Laurel & Hardy having to bring their own clothes to shoots, or Grant getting his own dressing-room phone as a perk. Or how Elvis was allowed to violate strict ‘grooming guidelines’ by wearing his hair anyway he wanted for Love Me Tender. Ah… there’s a whole world of useless facts out there, just waiting to be discovered. Get more info HERE about Swann Galleries who are overseeing the auction on Jan. 25 in New York, and grab yourself some groovy memorabilia of your favorite stars!