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Warshaw Collection of Business Americana Subject Categories: Motion Pictures

Creator:
Warshaw, Isadore, 1900-1969  Search this
Extent:
2.96 Cubic feet (consisting of 9 boxes, 1 folder, 7 oversize folders, 8 map case folders, 1 flat box (partial), plus digital images of some collection material. )
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Theater programs
Ephemera
Business ephemera
Date:
1893-1969
Summary:
A New York bookseller, Warshaw assembled this collection over nearly fifty years. The Warshaw Collection of Business Americana: Motion Pictures forms part of the Warshaw Collection of Business Americana, Subseries 1.1: Subject Categories. The Subject Categories subseries is divided into 470 subject categories based on those created by Mr. Warshaw. These subject categories include topical subjects, types or forms of material, people, organizations, historical events, and other categories. An overview to the entire Warshaw collection is available here: Warshaw Collection of Business Americana
Scope and Contents note:
Motion pictures were first publicly exhibited in the United States at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois in 1893. While the films exhibited there were technically crude with little to no plot or story and far from the polished product of today, they immediately caught the public's attention.

Within a short time the motion picture industry (creation, distribution, and marketing) had grown into a lucrative business. Those first motion pictures were often short serial films run in a series to keep customers coming back to follow the story's plot line to its conclusion. Gradually, films became longer and a number of performers developed legions of fans guaranteeing a certain amount of box office business from name recognition of the star alone.

Initially, the film industry consisted of many small companies, but competition cleared the field and fewer, larger corporations cornered the market in both production and distribution. Independent theatre owners, who were at first almost wholly independent of the production companies, also became rare as the major theatre chains developed their own movie studios to ensure a steady stream of films to be shown at their theaters. The film industry, at first based in New York City and on the East Coast, moved to the famed Hollywood, California, in the late 1910s early 1920s.

The Motion Pictures section of the Warshaw Collection consists of various types of materials relating to motion pictures. The collection is especially strong for the silent movie era, 1893-1927. This portion of the collection is divided into seven series.
Materials in the Archives Center:
Archives Center Collection of Business Americana (AC0404)
Forms Part Of:
Forms part of the Warshaw Collection of Business Americana.

Missing Title

Series 1: Business Ephemera

Series 2: Other Collection Divisions

Series 3: Isadore Warshaw Personal Papers

Series 4: Photographic Reference Material
Provenance:
Motion Pictures is a portion of the Business Ephemera Series of the Warshaw Collection of Business Americana, Accession AC0060 purchased from Isadore Warshaw in 1967. Warshaw continued to accumulate similar material until his death, which was donated in 1971 by his widow, Augusta. For a period after acquisition, related materials from other sources (of mixed provenance) were added to the collection so there may be content produced or published after Warshaw's death in 1969. This practice has since ceased.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research. Some items may be restricted due to fragile condition.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Occupation:
Motion picture actors and actresses  Search this
Actors  Search this
Topic:
Dance in motion pictures, television, etc.  Search this
Actresses  Search this
Motion picture industry  Search this
Motion pictures  Search this
Theater  Search this
Motion pictures -- History  Search this
Motion pictures, American  Search this
Filmmakers  Search this
Silent films  Search this
Sound film  Search this
Entertainment  Search this
Actresses -- United States  Search this
advertising -- Motion pictures  Search this
Genre/Form:
Theater programs
Ephemera
Business ephemera
Citation:
Warshaw Collection of Business Americana Subject Categories: Motion Pictures, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0060.S01.01.Motion
See more items in:
Warshaw Collection of Business Americana Subject Categories: Motion Pictures
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8d7ad748a-7b70-4e46-90ec-f606ade06bd4
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0060-s01-01-motion
Online Media:

Mack Gordon Papers

Composer:
Myrow, Josef  Search this
Revel, Harry -- 20th century  Search this
Warren, Harry, 1893-1981 -- 20th century  Search this
Creator:
Gordon, Mack, 1904-1959  Search this
Actor:
Berle, Milton  Search this
Dailey, Dan  Search this
Dunne, Irene -- 20th century  Search this
Faye, Alice -- 20th century  Search this
Gable, Clark, 1901-1960 -- 20th century  Search this
Henie, Sonja, 1912-1969 -- 20th century  Search this
Lombard, Carole -- 20th century  Search this
O'Hara, Maureen, 1920- -- 20th century  Search this
Oakie, Jack, 1903-1978 -- 20th century  Search this
Payne, John -- 20th century  Search this
Power, Tyrone, 1914-1958 -- 20th century  Search this
Taylor, Robert -- 20th century  Search this
Singer:
Cantor, Eddie, 1892-1964  Search this
Crosby, Bing, 1904-1977  Search this
Fisher, Eddie -- 20th century  Search this
Jolson, Al, d. 1950 -- 20th century  Search this
Langford, Frances -- 20th century  Search this
Merman, Ethel -- 20th century  Search this
Dancer:
Castle, Nick -- 20th century  Search this
Producer:
Grainger, Edmund -- 20th century  Search this
Director:
Taurog, Norman -- 20th century  Search this
Extent:
1 Motion picture film
3 Cubic feet (9 boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Motion picture films
Motion pictures (visual works)
Motion picture stills
Passports
Contracts
Correspondence
Clippings
Business records
Photographs
Scrapbooks
Photograph albums
Songs
Writings
Scripts (documents)
Sheet music
Date:
1926-1977, undated
Summary:
Mack Gordon (1904-1959) was a prolific and successful songwriter, lyricist, and composer. He composed songs for stage and screen. He and Harry Warren won the Academy Award for Best Song in 1943.
Scope and Contents:
The papers document the life and career of songwriter Mack Gordon. They include business records, both personal and business correspondence, contracts, royalty statements, commercially published sheet music, a script for the motion picture Three Little Girls in Blue, photograph albums, a scrapbook of clippings, original music manuscripts, notes and writings that may have served as mnemonic devices for song ideas, an excerpt from the Paramount short film, The Collegians, funeral materials, name change documents, and a passport. The production and creative files give insight into Gordon's creative process, and ideas for lyrics, song titles, and word play are found throughout these files.

The collection is organized in seven series.

Series 1: Production and Creative Files, 1931-1950, undated. This series contains files relating to motion picture and theatrical productions, both produced and unproduced. This series also contains unidentified lyric notes, instrumental sketches, and themes.

Series 2: Business Records, 1931-1975, undated. This series contains business records, royalty contracts, telegrams, correspondence and other business records pertaining to Gordon and his work for theatrical and motion picture companies.

Series 3: Original Music Manuscripts, 1940-1952, undated. This series contains original music manuscripts written by Gordon.

Series 4: Commercial Sheet Music, 1928-1959, undated. This series contains commercially published sheet music. The sheet music was bound by Gordon into volumes he titled, Majors & Minors, there is also a folder of unbound sheet music.

Series 5: Personal and Family, 1935-1977, undated. This series contains personal documents such as passports, life insurance documents, name change documents, the auction catalogue from the sale of furnishings at Gordon's Pacific Palisades home. This series also contains personal correspondence from singer Sandra Werner to Gordon.

Series 6: Photographs, 1933-1956, undated

Series 7: Audio-Visual, 1926
Arrangement:
The collection is organized in seven series.

Series 1: Production and Creative Files, 1931-1950, undated

Series 2: Business Records, 1931-1975, undated

Series 3: Original Music Manuscripts, 1940-1952, undated

Series 4: Commercial Sheet Music, 1928-1959, undated

Series 5: Personal and Family, 1935-1977, undated

Series 6: Photographs, 1933-1956, undated

Series 7: Audio-Visual, 1926
Biographical / Historical:
Mack Gordon was a prolific and successful songwriter, lyricist, and composer who composed songs for stage and screen. Born Morris Gitler (he legally changed his name to Mack Gordon in later life) in Poland on June 21, 1904, his family immigrated to the United States in 1908 and settled in New York. His early career was as a performer in vaudeville and minstrel shows, but by the early 1930s he had formed a songwriting partnership with pianist Harry Revel. Gordon wrote for the Broadway stage and eventually made his way to Hollywood where he worked at a number of different motion picture studios.

In addition to Revel, Gordon worked with such well-known composers as Harry Warren, with whom he won his only Academy Award for Best Song for "You'll Never Know" from Hello Frisco Hello, and Josef Myrow, to name just three. Some of his more famous songs are "Chattanooga Choo Choo," "At Last," and "Did You Ever See a Dream Walking?". He was nominated for the Academy Award nine times and became a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He died on February 28, 1959 in New York City (some biographies have his date of death as March 1), and is entombed at the Corridor of Immortality at the Home of Peace Memorial Park, Los Angeles, California.
Provenance:
Collection donated to the Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution by Jack Gordon, son of Mack Gordon, in 2015.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Occupation:
Motion picture actors and actresses  Search this
Composers  Search this
Topic:
Motion pictures -- 1930-1940  Search this
Motion pictures, American  Search this
Motion pictures and music -- 1930-1970  Search this
Theater  Search this
Musicals  Search this
Music -- 20th century  Search this
Motion pictures  Search this
Musical theater  Search this
Music -- United States  Search this
Genre/Form:
Motion pictures (visual works) -- 1930-1950
Motion picture stills
Passports
Contracts -- 20th century
Correspondence -- 20th century
Clippings -- 20th century
Business records -- 20th century
Photographs -- Black-and-white photoprints -- Silver gelatin -- 20th century
Scrapbooks -- 1930-1940
Photograph albums -- 20th century
Songs
Writings
Scripts (documents)
Sheet music -- 20th century
Citation:
Mack Gordon Papers, 1926-1977, undated, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.1363
See more items in:
Mack Gordon Papers
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8bd1c6908-3edc-4ab4-8ec6-757e2eb3ffe5
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-1363
Online Media:

Roy Fridge papers

Creator:
Fridge, Roy, 1927-  Search this
Extent:
6 Items (microfilm reels)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Date:
1956-1985
Scope and Contents:
REELS 1443-1445 & 3368-3369: A 26 volume journal, 1959-1985, including lists of art work, illustrated ideas for sculpture, scenarios for films, plans for sailboats, a studio and houses, teaching notes, and brief essays; a souvenir book published by Fridge in 1972 containing a chronology of his life and work with photographs and drawings of his sculpture, boats, houses and films; and printed material.
REEL 1915: Clippings, invitations, exhibition catalogs and announcements; sketches for a set design; an essay "Film in Art... A Philosophy," written for the University of Oklahoma; film awards; correspondence relating to films; and photographs.
Biographical / Historical:
Sculptor and filmmaker; Port Aransas, Tex.
Provenance:
Lent for microfilming by Fridge as part of the Archives of American Art's Texas project.
Restrictions:
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.
Occupation:
Sculptors -- Texas -- Aransas  Search this
Topic:
Art and motion pictures  Search this
Motion pictures, American -- Texas -- Aransas  Search this
Sculpture, Modern -- 20th century -- Texas -- Aransas  Search this
Filmmakers -- Texas -- Aransas  Search this
Identifier:
AAA.fridroyp
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9541241be-2ed2-46dd-93f1-69f4adc5f9f0
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-fridroyp

Danish Film Stills of American Motion Pictures

Collector:
Danske filminstitut  Search this
Extent:
10 Cubic feet (23 boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Photographs
Motion picture stills
Film stills
Place:
Denmark -- motion pictures
Date:
circa 1915-1986
Summary:
The collection contains primarily black-and-white silver gelatin photographic prints, produced by film studios and distributors for advertising and theater lobby display purposes. The films are mostly American, although the collection includes some European and Japanese films. Some films are accompanied by small booklets in Danish.
Scope and Contents:
The collection contains primarily black-and-white silver gelatin photographic prints, produced by film studios and distributors for advertising and theater lobby display purposes. The films are mostly American, although the collection includes some European and Japanese films. Many prints were used for display purposes and have tack-holes in the corners. Some are in poor condition with tears, creases and folds; others are in excellent condition. Some images occur as glossy color photomechanical prints, but hand-tinted black-and-white prints are also included. There are often duplicate prints. Many prints are embossed or blind-stamped ASTATENS FILMCENSUR, with a date date. Some films include small booklets in Danish that lists the major actors and the plot of the movie. The collection has been divided into two series.

Series 1, Film Stills, is arranged alphabetically by film title, one motion picture per folder. The subjects range from pre-World War I silent films to comedies with Mickey Rooney, and European romances.

Series 2, Unidentied Film Stills, contains stills from films that can not be identified by archivists within the Archives Center. The series also contains a catalog that allows one to purchase books, pamphlets, programs, periodicals, and photographs of various films, actors, and directors.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged into two series.

Series 1, Film Stills, 1915-1986

Series 2, Unidentified Film Stills, undated
Provenance:
Collection donated by a museum in Denmark, circa 1970s.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Rights:
Copyright status of items varies. Collection items are available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning intellectual property rights. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Topic:
advertising -- Motion pictures  Search this
Motion pictures, American  Search this
Genre/Form:
Photographs -- Black-and-white photoprints -- Silver gelatin -- 19th-20th century
Motion picture stills
Film stills
Citation:
Danish Film Stills of American Motion Pictures, circa 1915-1986, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0543
See more items in:
Danish Film Stills of American Motion Pictures
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8a74105f4-6c94-42f8-b5f3-b61bf9080cc4
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0543

Film poster for Crimson Tide

Distributed by:
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, American, founded 1953  Search this
Commissioned by:
Hollywood Pictures Company, American, 1989 - 2010  Search this
Subject of:
Denzel Washington, American, born 1954  Search this
Gene Hackman, American, born 1930  Search this
Medium:
ink on paper
Dimensions:
H x W: 40 × 27 in. (101.6 × 68.6 cm)
Type:
posters
Date:
1995
Topic:
African American  Search this
Actors  Search this
Advertising  Search this
Film  Search this
Hollywood (Film)  Search this
Credit Line:
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from the Personal Collection of Bill Ivory Larson
Object number:
2014.35.18
Restrictions & Rights:
© Hollywood Pictures Company
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
See more items in:
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification:
Memorabilia and Ephemera-Advertisements
Data Source:
National Museum of African American History and Culture
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5e933cf9d-af5a-40b4-a985-d43c25836db5
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmaahc_2014.35.18

Robert L. Sardino Movie Theater Collection

Former owner:
Sardino, Robert C.  Search this
Extent:
2.1 Cubic feet (7 boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Advertisements
Certificates
Lantern slides
Posters
Publicity photographs
Schedules
Motion picture stills
Date:
1914-1981, undated
Summary:
The collection consists of motion picture exhibition ephemera (lantern slides, publicity photographs, and paper) saved by Robert L. Sardino during his years working in motion picture theaters in Syracuse, New York.
Content Description:
The collection consists of archival materials saved by Robert L. Sardino during the years he was employed in motion picture theaters in Syracuse, New York. This collection also contains objects Sardino salvaged when the Paramount Theater in Syracuse, New York was demolished in 1967. He spent the bulk of his career at the Paramount Theater. Included are theater schedules; blank payroll documents; photographs of employees, theater interiors, and marquees, as well as publicity stills of actors and for motion pictures; certificates; motion picture advertising and press releases. There is a large number of glass lantern slides relating to a variety of topics such as current news events, sports, scenic views, and "coming attractions."
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged into four series.

Series 1, Personal Papers and Ephemera, 1942-1981, undated

Series 2, Paramount and Schine Theaters (Syracuse, New York), 1947-1970, undated

Series 3, Motion Pictures, Publicity Stills, Advertisements, and Souvenir Programs 1942-1968, undated

Series 4, Lantern Slides, 1914-1915, undated

Subseries 4.1, American Press Association, undated

Subseries 4.2, Brenkert Light Projection Company (BLPC), undated

Subseries 4.3, Motion Picture Advertisments, 1914-1915, undated

Subseries 4.4, Maurice Workstel, Incorporated, undated

Subseries 4.5, Other, undated
Biographical / Historical:
Robert L. Sardino was born in New York state December 11, 1897, the son of John and Palma Sardino. Both of his parents were born in Italy, and Palma notes in the 1920 census that she had immigrated to the United States from Italy in 1881. His father died at an early age and by the 1920 census Palma was listed as being head of the household. Robert joined the International Association of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), local 376, on January 24, 1915. According to family oral history Robert began work at the age of fourteen, in the 1920 census he is noted as an "operator" in a "picture show." His brothers, Frank and Alphonsa, were both in the motion picture theater business. By 1930 Frank is noted as a "theater proprietor." Alphonsa is noted as a "picture theater" manager as early as 1920. For the greatest part of his life, Robert worked in and around Syracuse, New York. During his working life, he was employed by Paramount-Publix Corporation, later known as Paramount Pictures, Incorporated and also the Schine Corporation theater owners and developers. He worked in Syracuse at the Paramount Theater which was demolished in 1967. Family history maintains Robert worked until he was seventy-five years old.

Robert served in the military during World War I. On his registration card he is described as being of medium height and build, grey eyes, and black hair. He was then working as an auto mechanic in Old Forge, New York. In May 1928, Robert married Florence Owen, daughter of David and Charlotte Bostwick Owen. They had two children, Delores and Roberta. The marriage ended and in the 1940 census Robert was living with his daughters and was noted as being a projectionist in a movie theater. Later that year he married Irene Boniface Simiele, also a divorcee, with a young son, Joseph.

Robert died in Syracuse, New York on February 3, 1981.
Related Materials:
The Division of Culture and the Arts (now Division of Cultural and Community Life) holds these objects associated with this collection: Accession number 1984.0789 includes: Basket; Frame, Exit Sign; Screen, Cinerama; Speaker, Car, Drive-in Movie; Plate, End-Seat Aisle Camp Cover; Holder; Disc, Transcription.
Provenance:
Collection donated by Irene B. Sardino, widow of Robert L. Sardino, to the Division of Social and Cultural History, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, in 1984.
Restrictions:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection is open for research.
Topic:
Theaters  Search this
Motion pictures, American  Search this
advertising -- Motion pictures  Search this
Genre/Form:
Advertisements
Certificates
Lantern slides
Posters
Publicity photographs
Schedules
Motion picture stills
Citation:
Robert L. Sardino Movie Theater Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.1471
See more items in:
Robert L. Sardino Movie Theater Collection
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep82ef039d4-0cda-4915-ac63-058f02976bf5
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-1471

Roy Fridge papers, 1956-1985

Creator:
Fridge, Roy, 1927-  Search this
Citation:
Roy Fridge papers, 1956-1985. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Art and motion pictures  Search this
Motion pictures, American -- Texas -- Aransas  Search this
Sculpture, Modern -- 20th century -- Texas -- Aransas  Search this
Filmmakers -- Texas -- Aransas  Search this
Theme:
Diaries  Search this
Lives of artists  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)8917
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)211102
AAA_collcode_fridroyp
Theme:
Diaries
Lives of artists
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_coll_211102

Unseen cinema : early American avant-garde film 1893-1941 ; a retrospective of restored and preserved films detailing the unknown accomplishments of American pioneer filmmakers / edited and annotated by Bruce Posner

Author:
Posner, Bruce Charles 1953-  Search this
Physical description:
160 p. : ill. ; 22 cm
Type:
Exhibitions
Place:
United States
Date:
2001
Topic:
Experimental films  Search this
Motion pictures--History  Search this
Motion pictures, American--History  Search this
Call number:
PN1995.9.E96 U57 2001
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_718881

Latina filmmakers and writers : the notion of Chicanisma through films and novellas / by Jenny Dean

Title:
Latina filmmakers & writers
Author:
Dean, Jennifer Watson 1979-  Search this
Physical description:
245 p. ; 22 cm
Type:
Books
Date:
2007
C2007
Topic:
American literature--Mexican American authors--History and criticism  Search this
American literature--Women authors--History and criticism  Search this
Mexican American women in literature  Search this
Mexican American motion picture producers and directors  Search this
Women motion picture producers and directors  Search this
Mexican American women in motion pictures  Search this
Call number:
PS153.M4 D427 2007
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_837586

L'esclavage dans le cinéma américain = Slavery in American cinema

Title:
Slavery in American cinema
Author:
Webster, Don film writer  Search this
Smithsonian Libraries African Art Index Project DSI  Search this
Type:
Articles
Date:
1998
Topic:
Slavery in motion pictures  Search this
Slaves in motion pictures  Search this
Motion pictures, American--Plots, themes, etc  Search this
Call number:
PN1993.5.A35 E27X
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_689732

Screening enlightenment : Hollywood and the cultural reconstruction of defeated Japan / Hiroshi Kitamura

Author:
Kitamura, Hiroshi 1971-  Search this
Physical description:
xiv, 263 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
Type:
Books
History
Place:
Japan
Date:
2010
Allied occupation, 1945-1952
1945-
Topic:
Motion pictures, American--Influence  Search this
Motion pictures--Social aspects--History  Search this
History  Search this
Civilization  Search this
American influences  Search this
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_1097511

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