Cue card

Cue cards did not become widespread until 1949 when Barney McNulty,[3] a CBS page and former military pilot, was asked to write ailing actor Ed Wynn's script lines on large sheets of paper to help him remember his script.

[4] McNulty continued to be Bob Hope's personal cue card man until he stopped performing.

Marlon Brando was also a frequent user of cue cards,[5] feeling that this helped bring realism and spontaneity to his performances, instead of giving the impression that he was merely reciting a writer's speech.

[6][7] During production of the film Last Tango in Paris, he had cue cards posted about the set, although director Bernardo Bertolucci declined his request to have lines written on actress Maria Schneider's rear end.

[8] Tony Mendez became a minor celebrity for his cue card work on the Late Show with David Letterman.