Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more
information.
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material,
nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and
obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
[Identification of item]. Fanchon and Marco collection of photographs and ephemera, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Gift of Sandra Holden and William H. Simon, Jr., July 2008.
Newspaper clippings on album pages gift of Faye Hueston, 2013 (Box 17, Folder 5).
Scrapbooks of clippings gift of Sandra Holden, January 2023 (Box 19).
Preservation treatment in June 2011 included removal of photographs from the original binders for humidification and flattening,
as the items were severely warped. Photographs were individually numbered according to their original order in the binders,
interleaved, and placed in archival boxes. One original binder (volume 5) was retained as an example; the rest of the binders
were discarded.
In 2023, Kelly Kress processed the addendum to the collection housed in Box 19, and Maggie Hughes and Kelly Kress updated
the finding aid.
The sister-and-brother duo of Fanchon Wolff Simon (1892–1965) and Marco Wolff (1894–1977) founded the theatrical-production
company of Fanchon & Marco Inc. in 1923. The company, located at 5600 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California, provided
live stage shows to movie houses in California and across the country.
Born and raised in a large Jewish family in turn-of-the-century Los Angeles, Fanchon and Marco Wolff began performing on
vaudeville as teenagers. In 1919, they left the stage to produce a musical revue called "Let's Go!" A year later they created
Sun-Kist, a California-themed act starring a line of high-kicking chorus dancers. Sun-Kist opened on the West Coast before
launching a successful national tour in 1921.
In 1923, Fanchon and Marco presented their first "Idea" at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco. The Idea concept became
a Fanchon and Marco trademark and referred to a live variety show performed before a feature film, a genre also called a "prologue."
Fanchon & Marco Ideas – which centered on various themes – were distinguished by their snappy pace, intricate choreography,
spectacular costumes, lavish sets, and teams of chorus dancers, including the Sunkist Beauties and the Fanchonettes.
Between 1923 and 1936, Fanchon & Marco produced hundreds of Ideas that toured California, the Pacific Coast, and the United
States. The company closed its Hollywood offices in 1936 and stopped producing Ideas by 1938.
The Fanchon & Marco collection contains approximately 1400 photographs depicting hundreds of Fanchon and Marco Inc. sets and
performers between approximately 1925 and 1938. The collection also includes three boxes of ephemera, dated from around 1912
to 1940, that consist of newspapers clippings, scrapbooks of clippings, musical scores, miscellaneous photographs, and the
supplemental press books that were included with Fanchon & Marco's promotional magazine, Now (later The Idea), dating from
1930 and 1931.
The 16 volumes (now disbound) of photographs in this collection served as a visual inventory for hundreds of Fanchon & Marco
sets and performers. The images document the actors, dancers, costumes, sets, and concepts and appear to have been primarily
photographed during rehearsals before the shows premiered in Los Angeles theaters such as Loew's State Theater and the Paramount
Theater. The first volume contains some photographs presumably taken in San Francisco and later volumes include a few photographs
by New York-based photographers.
Accompanying descriptive information is scant with few performers identified by name. A typescript inventory with Idea titles
precedes volumes 1-8. The production name appears in pencil on the back of many of the pages in Volumes 1-12. Volume 13 contains
stage and lighting directions in typescript on the backs of some photographs.
Photographers represented in the collection are: Archer's Art Shop of Los Angeles (Volume 6, 8, 11, 13); Hollywood photographers
Irving Archer (Volume 12, 13, 14), Archer's Studios (Volume 8, 11, 13, 14); Curt Fox (Volumes 5-6); Paralta Studios (Volumes
2-4); and Harry Wenger (Volumes 1, 2-4, 6). A few photographs include the imprints of Peerless Photo of Los Angeles (Volume
13), John Sirgio (Volume 13), H.W. Steward of San Francisco (Volume 1), Talbot of New York (Volume 12), Weaver of Los Angeles
(Volume 1), and White Studio of New York (Volume 9).
Weaver, M. F. (Miles F.), 1879-1932
Steward, H. W.
I. Photograph volumes.
Approximately 1924-1938
Arrangement
The photographs retain their original order and volume numbers. All of the albums contain 8 x 10" pages, though volumes 1-4
and volume 5, pages 1-30, contain four 3.75 x 4.75" images per page; volume 5, pages 40-58 and volumes 6-14 are single 8 x
10" images; and volumes 15-16 contain 36 or more thumbnail images per page. Volumes appear to be arranged somewhat chronologically.
Box 1
Volume 1 (1-114).
Approximately 1924-approximately 1927
Contents
Contents list based on the typescript inventory at beginning of album and pencil identifications on photograph backs.
Box 1, Volume 1, Page 3
Books -- Bluebeard's 8th Wife
Box 1, Volume 1, Page 10
Jazz vs. Waltz -- Orientale
Box 1, Volume 1, Page 15
Ali Baba & the 39 Thieves
Box 1, Volume 1, Page 16
Eddie Peabody Specialty -- Mardi Gras
Box 1, Volume 1, Page 19
Specialty -- Berkhoffs -- Toy Box Ballet
Box 1, Volume 1, Page 20
Tunes You can Hum -- Comic Section
Box 1, Volume 1, Page 26
Thanksgiving -- Specialty Follies
Box 1, Volume 1, Page 27
Peabody -- Europe Bound -- Thanksgiving
Box 1, Volume 1, Page 36
College Capers -- Metropolitan Specialty
Box 1, Volume 1, Page 44
Russian Revels -- Milady's Dresser
Box 1, Volume 1, Page 45
Midshipman Guns -- Indian
Box 1, Volume 1, Page 46
Wee Bit 6' Scotch -- Arabesque
Box 1, Volume 1, Page 51
Chandeliers -- Trees -- Bagdad
Box 1, Volume 1, Page 54
Dresden -- Orchid -- Victor Herbert -- Screens
Box 1, Volume 1, Page 58
Alice in Wonderland -- Marble
Box 1, Volume 1, Page 63
Ali Baba -- Undersea Ballet
Box 1, Volume 1, Page 65
Haunting Melody -- Violin
Box 1, Volume 1, Page 76-93
Box 1, Volume 1, Page 94
San Francisco Beauties Idea -- Doll Dance, Reva Howitt + Alice Haas -- Yachting
Box 1, Volume 1, Page 95-102
Box 1, Volume 1, Page 103
[Stage sets and dancers for Alice in Wonderland Idea and others, with Reva Howitt]
Box 1, Volume 1, Page 104-114
Box 2
Volume 2 (1-100).
Approximately 1926-approximately 1928
Scope and Contents
Contents list based on the typescript table of contents at beginning of album and pencil identifications on photograph backs.
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 3-4
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 5-6
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 7-8
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 9-10
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 11-12
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 13-14
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 15-16
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 17-18
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 19-20
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 21-22
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 23-24
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 25-26
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 27-28
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 23-30
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 31-32
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 33-34
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 35-36
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 37-38
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 39-40
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 41-42
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 43-44
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 45-46
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 47-48
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 49-50
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 51-52
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 53-54
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 55-56
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 57-58
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 59-60
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 61-62
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 63-64
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 65-66
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 67-68
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 69-70
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 71-72
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 73-74
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 75-76
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 77-78
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 79-80
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 81-82
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 83-84
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 85-86
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 87-88
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 89-90
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 91-92
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 93-94
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 95-96
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 97-98
Box 2, Volume 2, Page 99-100
Box 3
Volume 3 (1-103).
Approximately 1929
Scope and Contents
Contents list based on the typescript inventory at beginning of album and pencil identifications on photograph backs.
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 1-2
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 3-4
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 5-6
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 7-8
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 9-10
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 11-12
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 13-14
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 15-16
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 17-18
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 19-20
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 21-22
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 23-24
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 25-26
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 27-28
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 29-30
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 31-32
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 33-34
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 35-36
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 37-38
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 39-40
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 41-42
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 43-44
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 45-46
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 47-48
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 49-50
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 51-52
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 53-54
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 55-56
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 57-58
Thru the Gates [Through the Gates]
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 59-60
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 61-62
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 63-64
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 65-66
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 67-68
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 69-70
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 71-72
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 73-74
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 75-76
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 77-78
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 79-80
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 81-82
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 83-84
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 85-86
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 87-88
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 89-90
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 91-92
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 93-94
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 95-96
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 97-98
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 99-100
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 101-102
Box 3, Volume 3, Page 103
808 Camden Drive, B.H. [group portrait including Fanchon and Marco]
Box 4
Volume 4 (1-89).
Approximately 1930; approximately 1933
Scope and Contents
Contents list based on the typescript inventory at beginning of album and pencil identifications on photograph backs.
The shows primarily date to 1930, with one photograph of the show "Bughouse," dating from approximately 1933 (page 89).
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 1-2
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 3-4
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 5-6
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 7-8
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 9-10
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 11-12
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 13-14
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 15-16
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 17-18
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 19-20
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 21-22
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 23-24
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 25-26
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 27-28
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 23-30
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 31-32
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 33-34
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 35-36
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 37-38
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 39-40
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 41-42
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 43-44
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 45-46
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 47-48
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 49-50
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 51-52
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 53-54
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 55-56
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 57-58
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 59-60
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 61-62
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 63-64
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 65-66
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 67-68
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 69-70
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 71-72
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 73-74
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 75-76
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 77-78
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 79-80
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 81-82
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 83-84
Box 4, Volume 4, Page 85-86
Box 5
Volume 5 (1-58).
Approximately 1930-approximately 1931
Scope and Contents
Pages 1-39 contain four images per page; pages 40-58 contain one image per page. Contents list based on the typescript inventory
at beginning of album and pencil identifications on photograph backs.
Box 5, Volume 5, Page 1-2
Box 5, Volume 5, Page 3-4
Box 5, Volume 5, Page 5-6
Box 5, Volume 5, Page 7-8
Box 5, Volume 5, Page 9-10
Box 5, Volume 5, Page 11-12
Box 5, Volume 5, Page 13-14
Box 5, Volume 5, Page 16-17
Box 5, Volume 5, Page 18-19
Box 5, Volume 5, Page 20-21
Box 5, Volume 5, Page 22-23
Box 5, Volume 5, Page 24-25
Box 5, Volume 5, Page 26-27
Box 5, Volume 5, Page 28-29
Box 5, Volume 5, Page 30-31
Box 5, Volume 5, Page 32-33
Box 5, Volume 5, Page 34-35
Box 5, Volume 5, Page 36-37
Box 5, Volume 5, Page 38-39
Box 5, Volume 5, Page 40-47?
Box 5, Volume 5, Page 48-49
Box 5, Volume 5, Page 50-58
Box 6
Volume 6 (1-76).
Approximately 1931
Scope and Contents
Contents list based on the typescript inventory at beginning of album; there are no pencil identifications on photograph backs.
Box 6, Volume 6, Page 1-9
Box 6, Volume 6, Page 10-13
Box 6, Volume 6, Page 14-22
Box 6, Volume 6, Page 23-26
Box 6, Volume 6, Page 27 and 27a
Conchinta Montenegro in Person, Paramount Los Angeles, Week July 28, 1931
Box 6, Volume 6, Page 29-37
Box 6, Volume 6, Page 38-46
Box 6, Volume 6, Page 47-53
Box 6, Volume 6, Page 54-59
Box 6, Volume 6, Page 60-61
Box 6, Volume 6, Page 62-67
Box 6, Volume 6, Page 68-76
Box 7
Volume 7 (1-76).
Approximately 1931
Scope and Contents
Contents list based on the typescript inventory at beginning of album and photograph number prefixes written on images; there
are no pencil identifications on photograph backs.
Box 7, Volume 7, Page 1-6
Box 7, Volume 7, Page 7-14
Box 7, Volume 7, Page 15-21
Box 7, Volume 7, Page 22-27
Box 7, Volume 7, Page 28-35
Box 7, Volume 7, Page 36-42
Box 7, Volume 7, Page 43-48
Box 7, Volume 7, Page 49-59
Box 7, Volume 7, Page 60-64
Box 7, Volume 7, Page 65-66
Box 7, Volume 7, Page 67-68
Box 7, Volume 7, Page 69-76
Box 8
Volume 8 (1-86).
Approximately 1931-approximately 1932
Scope and Contents
Contents list based on the typescript inventory at beginning of album; there are no pencil identifications on photograph backs.
Box 8, Volume 8, Page 1-6
Box 8, Volume 8, Page 7-13
Box 8, Volume 8, Page 14-24
Box 8, Volume 8, Page 25-31
Box 8, Volume 8, Page 32-38
Box 8, Volume 8, Page 39-46
Box 8, Volume 8, Page 47-53
Box 8, Volume 8, Page 54-56
Box 8, Volume 8, Page 57-59
Box 8, Volume 8, Page 60-64
Box 8, Volume 8, Page 65-67
Box 8, Volume 8, Page 68-69
Box 8, Volume 8, Page 70-73
Box 8, Volume 8, Page 74-77
Box 8, Volume 8, Page 79-83
Box 8, Volume 8, Page 84-85
Box 9
Volume 9 (1-85).
Approximately 1932
Scope and Contents
Contents list based on pencil identifications on photograph backs.
Box 9, Volume 9, Page 1-9
Box 9, Volume 9, Page 12-18
Box 9, Volume 9, Page 19-33
Box 9, Volume 9, Page 34-42
Box 9, Volume 9, Page 45-52
Box 9, Volume 9, Page 53-59
Box 9, Volume 9, Page 60-65
Box 9, Volume 9, Page 71-79
Box 9, Volume 9, Page 82
Trixie Friganzo's Discoveries
Box 9, Volume 9, Page 84-85
Box 10
Volume 10 (1-75).
Approximately 1932
Scope and Contents
Contents list based on pencil identifications on photograph backs.
Box 10, Volume 10, Page 1-6
Box 10, Volume 10, Page 7-15
Box 10, Volume 10, Page 16-22
Happiness [Eddie Peabody performance]
Box 10, Volume 10, Page 23-28
Box 10, Volume 10, Page 29-36
Box 10, Volume 10, Page 37-43
Box 10, Volume 10, Page 44-47
Box 10, Volume 10, Page 48-49
Box 10, Volume 10, Page 50-55
Box 10, Volume 10, Page 56-70
Box 10, Volume 10, Page 71-75
Box 11
Volume 11 (1-75).
Approximately 1932
Scope and Contents
Contents list based on pencil identifications on some photograph backs and photograph numbers that were written on the negatives.
Box 11, Volume 11, Page 1-4
Box 11, Volume 11, Page 5-13
Box 11, Volume 11, Page 14-24
Box 11, Volume 11, Page 25-31
Box 11, Volume 11, Page 32-41
Box 11, Volume 11, Page 42-50
Box 11, Volume 11, Page 51-59
Box 11, Volume 11, Page 60-64
Box 11, Volume 11, Page 65-70
Box 11, Volume 11, Page 71-75
Follow Thru [Follow Through]
Box 12
Volume 12 (1-87).
Approximately 1932
Scope and Contents
Contents list based on pencil identifications on photograph backs.
Box 12, Volume 12, Page 1-10
Box 12, Volume 12, Page 11-19
Box 12, Volume 12, Page 20-23
Box 12, Volume 12, Page 24-31
Box 12, Volume 12, Page 32-37
Box 12, Volume 12, Page 38-54
Box 12, Volume 12, Page 55-67
Box 12, Volume 12, Page 68-71
Box 12, Volume 12, Page 72-76
Box 12, Volume 12, Page 77-82
Box 12, Volume 12, Page 83-87
Box 13
Volume 13 (1-130).
1934-1936
Scope and Contents
The shows are unidentified; dates are included with the photographer imprints on the images.
Box 13, Volume 13, Page 1-20
[Unidentified shows with dates written on images]
Box 13, Volume 13, Page 21-24
California Exposition, San Diego, California, Feb. 12th to Sept. 9th, 1936
Box 13, Volume 13, Page 25-100
Box 13, Volume 13, Page 101
[Unidentified with typescript lighting direction for "Champagne Waltz" on verso]
Box 13, Volume 13, Page 102-130
Box 14
Volume 13 (131-222).
1932-1934 (bulk 1933-1934
Scope and Contents
Dates written on images. The images are primarily unidentified, though most of items 152 to 222 have dance, stage, and lighting
directions in typescript on the backs of the photographs. Gloria Wolff Holden, Marco's daughter, is identified in items 132
and 140.
Box 15
Volume 14 (1-106).
1936-1938
Scope and Contents
Dates written on images; the photographs are unidentified.
Box 16
Volume 15 (1-30)
Scope and Contents
Pages 1-29 of volumes 15 and 16 contain the same sets of thumbnails, except for volume 15 (30), which is a laid-in 8 x 10"
still from the film "Millions in the Air."
The thumbnails appear primarily to duplicate images found in the volumes, in reverse order, with the last thumbnails on page
29 corresponding to the
Circus images on page 97 of Volume 2, and earlier pages corresponding to later volumes.
Box 16
Volume 16 (1-29)
Scope and Contents
Pages 1-29 of volumes 15 and 16 contain the same sets of thumbnails, except for volume 15 (30), which is a laid-in 8 x 10"
still from the film "Millions in the Air."
The thumbnails appear primarily to duplicate images found in the volumes, in reverse order, with the last thumbnails on page
29 corresponding to the
Circus images on page 97 of Volume 2, and earlier pages corresponding to later volumes.
II. Ephemera.
Approximately 1912-1940
Box 17, Folder 3
Programs, song sheets, and scores.
1919-1938
Scope and Contents
Consists of song sheets and scores for: "Midnight Maid" (copyright 1919); "My Girl is Like a Rainbow" (copyright 1922); "Pollyanna
(The Glad Girl)" (copyright 1920); "My Sweetie's Smile" (copyright 1920); "Happy My Baby Just Said 'Yes'" (copyright 1928);
and "Hollywood Suite" by Ferde Grofe (copyright 1938). As well, there is the July 21, 1928, issue of
Newsette and a promotional publication for the Marcel Silver's Hollywood Ballet (1936).
Box 17, Folder 4
Photographs related to Fanchon and Marco (various).
Approximately 1917-1938
Scope and Contents
6 prints, 8 x 10" and larger; chiefly copy photographs.
Box 17, Folder 5
16 album pages with Fanchon and Marco clippings.
Box 17, Folder 6
Photocopies of clippings.
Box 18
Empty original binder for Vol. 5.
Box 18
Fanchon & Marco modes fashion promotional publication produced in association with Phiffer's dress manufacturer.
Approximately 1930
Box 18
Now and
The Idea issues.
1930-1931
Scope and Contents
Supplemental press book issues of
The Idea, from February 19, 1930 (Vol. 4, No. 7) through the February 28, 1931 (Vol. 5, No. 8), presented initially as Part II of
Now, published by Fox West Coast Theatres and later as Part II of
The Last Word. The issues are accompanied by the binder they were originally housed with the cover title "Now file."