This series of the Glenn D. Shirley Western Americana Collection is processed and open to researchers.
GUIDE
to the
GLENN D. SHIRLEY WESTERN AMERICANA COLLECTION, circa ? - 2002
Western Stars Series
17 cubic feet (16 document boxes, 8 flat boxes).????????
Location: TBA
Series & Subseries Description:
Western Stars Bios (circa 1915-2002) series has been
arranged in two subseries: actors and actresses. The actors’ subseries
include over 1,000 files, which contain newspaper clippings, magazine
articles, letters, and book chapters about various western stars. The
actresses’ subseries include almost 500 files, containing newspaper
clippings, and the occasional magazine article. The files are organized
alphabetically by the stars last name within each category. Shirley often
composed articles for various western magazines, topics included Art Acord,
Gilbert “Broncho Billy” Anderson, Bob Baker, and Harry Carey.
One western actor, Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle, learned that the
media could make or break a person, when following multiple criminal trials
his career was ruined. Several of these actors and actresses were rumored
to have committed suicide, including, Art Acord, Donald “Red”
Berry, John Craig and Gail Russell. Craig disappeared from his family
in the late 70s, only to have his body discovered among the Heavens Gate
cult members who committed suicide during the appearance of the Hale-Bopp
comet. Gail Russell, another actress, was an extremely shy child, whose
looks gained attention and brought her to Hollywood. Her temperament eventually
led to a drinking problem requiring Alcoholics Anonymous, although her
death was attributed to alcohol. An interesting figure is Hattie “Mammie”
McDaniel, who starred beside Vivian Leigh in Gone With the Wind, the first
African American to be nominated and win an Academy award. Several African
American support groups criticized McDaniel for her continued acceptance
of portrayals as a maid or servant. McDaniel’s response was, “it’s
better to play one then to be one.”
Motion Picture Directors is a small series containing just over 20 files, which include newspaper clippings about different projects from particular directors. The directors files are organized in alphabetical order by the directors last name. King Vidor, made famous by his multiple works, received no credit for his most infamous work, the black and white scenes of The Wizard of Oz.
Historic Film Studios is a medium series that contains 160 files about various film studios. Some of the files contain newspaper clippings with information, but most of the files contain very basic details about the different studios, and the years of creation. The files are organized in alphabetical order by the studios name. Shirley kept meticulous details about the origins of various studios as well as the dates they stopped producing films. Included in the files are cross reference labels so that names of companies purchased by larger firms remain available to researchers.
Miscellaneous consists of 3 files Violence in TV and Movies, Hollywood Cemeteries, and Black Cinema or “Race Films.” The issue of violence in television and movies was a hot point in 1999 following the massacre at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. These articles deal with the pressure put on Hollywood to tame down their violence in an attempt to have less impact on youngsters. The cemeteries file deals with multiple California cemeteries, and the stars buried in each. One cemetery, recently obtained by new owners, considered installing kiosks throughout the cemetery so that visitors could easily search through the infamous interred on its grounds. The file regarding Black Cinema contains an article about the role of African Americans in films in the 1960s, information about Canada Lee, an African American actor during the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. Lee’s skin color prevented him from making a large number of movies. There is also an article about a man who collects movie posters featuring African Americans, most of them from the 1920s and 30s.
Western Movies Produced consists of 3 files with information about states and countries where western films have been produced in the past. The files are arranged alphabetically by the state. One article refers to the use of the Alamo as a backdrop for multiple western movies.
Film Making consists of 3 files with
information about states where movies have been filmed. These files do
not solely focus on westerns, but all film making in the U.S. The files
are organized alphabetically by the state. In the file about Texas, a
magazine article explains the instances of film companies using Texas
state parks for shooting. Various train robbery movies, as well as the
2001 blockbuster Pearl Harbor, were filmed across the state. The film
companies using locations in states like Texas has prompted other states
to form research groups for securing Hollywood filming in their state.
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Subject Terms:
Personal Names:
Acord, Art, 1890-1931
Allen, Robert, 1906-
Allen, Rex, 1924-
Anderson, Gilbert M., 1882-1971
Autry, Gene, 1907-1998
Baker, Bob, 1910-1975
Bara, Theda, 1885-1955
Boyd, William, 1890-1935
Brown, Johnny Mack
Canutt, Yakima, 1895-1986
Carey, Harry, 1878-1947.
Carson, Sunset, 1922-
Cooper, Gary, 1901-1961
Corrigan, Ray, 1902-1976
Crabbe, Buster, 1908-
Elliott, William, 1905-1965
Fairbanks, Douglas, 1883-1939
Farnum, William, 1876-1953.
Gable, Clark, 1901-1960
Gibson, Hoot, 1892-1962
Hart, William Surrey, 1874-1946
Hayes, George, 1885-1969
Holt, Tim, 1918-1973
Hoxie, Jack, ca. 1885-1965
Jones, Buck, 1889-1942
LaRue, Lash.
McCoy, Tim
McDaniel, Hattie, 1895-1952
Maynard, Ken, 1895-1973
Mix, Tom, 1880-1940.
Moore, Clayton, 1914-1999
O'Brien, George, 1821-1888.
Reynolds, Marjorie, 1921-
Ritter, Tex
Rogers, Roy, 1911-1998
Silverheels, Jay, 1919-1980
Starrett, Charles
Steele, Bob, 1907-1988
Thompson, Fred, 1884-1949
Tyler, Tom, 1903-1954
Wayne, John, 1907-1979
Corporate Names:
AB Biograph Co
American Film Company
American International Pictures (AIP)
Blue Streak
Critics Choice Video
Essanay Western Studios
Film Favorites
Fox Film Company
Lubin
MGM
Republic Pictures
RKO
Thanhouser
Universal Studios
Unknown Video, San Francisco, California
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Subject Headings: Actors &
Actresses
Actors – United States
Actors – 1880-1889
Actors – 1890- 1899
Actors – 1900-1909
Actors – 1910- 1919
Actors – 1920-1929
Actors – 1930- 1939
Actors – 1940- 1949
Actors – 1950 - 1959
Actors – 1960- 1969
Actors – 1970- 1979
Actors – 1980- 1989
Actors – 1990- 1999
Actresses – United States
Actresses – 1880-1889
Actresses – 1890- 1899
Actresses – 1900-1909
Actresses – 1910- 1919
Actresses – 1920-1929
Actresses – 1930- 1939
Actresses – 1940- 1949
Actresses – 1950 - 1959
Actresses – 1960- 1969
Actresses – 1970- 1979
Actresses – 1980- 1989
Actresses – 1990- 1999
Entertainers
Made for TV Movies – United States
Motion Picture Industry
Moving Pictures
Motion Pictures
Motion Picture Producers and Directors
Motion Picture Studios
Motion Picture Studios – California
Silent Films – United States
Two-Reeler- 1908- 1957
Western Films – United States
Processing Information:
The collection was housed in metal file cabinets, and the processing,
completed by Stephanie Coon from January to May 2007, involved transferring
these materials from the original filing system to archival safe folders
and storage boxes. Additionally, Stephanie Coon created the finding aid
for this series and prepared much of it for web use.
Ownership & Literary Rights:
TBA
Restrictions on Access:
This series is open for research. It is advisable for researchers to discuss
their research with staff prior to visiting the Center.
Preferred Citation:
Glenn D. Shirley Western Americana Collection, Box ##, Folder ##, Dickinson
Research Center, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma
City, OK.
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