Finding Aid for the Alice Pearce papers 2147
Sarah Jardini for History Associates Incorporated
USC Libraries Cinematic Arts Library
2022 February
Doheny Memorial Library G4
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California 90089-0185
ctlibarc@usc.edu
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Cinematic Arts Library
Title: Alice Pearce papers
Creator:
Pearce, Alice, 1917-1966
Identifier/Call Number: 2147
Physical Description:
15.375 Linear Feet
13 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1937-1966
Abstract: Collection includes the scripts, photographs, clippings, correspondence, awards, and personal materials of American actress
Alice Pearce (1917-1966). Also present are music recordings from the personal collection of Pearce's first husband, composer
John Rox (1907-1957).
Language of Material:
English.
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This collection includes the scripts, photographs, clippings, correspondence, awards, and personal materials of American actress
Alice Pearce (1917-1966). Also present are music recordings from the personal collection of Pearce's first husband, composer
John Rox (1907-1957). Among the audio recordings are vinyl records, and reel-to-reel tape recordings of contemporary music.
Within the correspondence is a note from Pearce and Rox's friend Truman Capote. Various scripts are present from Pearce's
different roles and performances. Pearce's Emmy is present among other awards recognizing her work.
Alice Pearce (1917-1966) was an American television and film comedic actress best known for her Emmy Award winning role as
the nosy neighbor Gladys Kravitz in the television sitcom
Bewitched (1964-1966). Pearce was married to composer John Rox from 1948 until his death in 1957. John Rox's most popular song was
the 1953 novelty song
I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas. Pearce then remarried stage manager and director Paul Davis (1922-1984) in 1964, the two remained married until Pearce's
death in 1966.
Pearce began working in nightclubs as a comedian and was cast in the original Broadway production of
On the Town (1944-1946). Gene Kelly was so impressed by her that she became the only cast member to be included in the 1949 film version.
Her comedic performance was well received by critics and public alike, and she was given her own television variety show,
The Alice Pearce Show. More film roles followed, and Pearce made more appearances on Broadway, where she met her second husband, Paul Davis, during
a production of
Bells Are Ringing. Peace was cast as the nosy neighbor Gladys Kravitz in the television sitcom
Bewitched in 1964. She won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series posthumously after the second
season of the series. Alice Pearce died of ovarian cancer March 3, 1966.
Advance notice required for access.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
Finding aid description and metadata are licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Cinematic Arts Library
at cin@usc.edu. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Cinematic Arts Library as the owner of the physical items
and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift, November 4, 1984.
[Box/folder no. or item name], Alice Pearce papers, Collection no. 2147, Cinematic Arts Library, USC Libraries, University
of Southern California.
Collection is unprocessed.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Bewitched (Television program)Composers -- United States -- Archival resources
Television actors and actresses -- Archival resources
Television comedies -- Archival resources
Women comedians
Pearce, Alice, 1917-1966 -- Archives
Rox, John