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Betty Bronson papers, 1920-1970
PASC 158
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Title: Betty Bronson papers
Collection number: PASC 158
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
4.0 linear ft.
(8 boxes and 2 flat boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1928-2009
Abstract: Betty Bronson was an actress whose career began in Hollywood's Silent Era and spanned several decades. She is best remembered
for her role as Peter Pan in the 1924 version of the film,
Peter Pan. The collection consists of materials related to Bronson's career and includes clippings, photographs, correspondence, scrapbooks,
and personal and professional ephemera.
Physical Location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library Special
Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Creator:
Bronson, Betty, 1907-1971
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library Special
Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Conditions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright,
are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright
and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audiovisual materials in this collection will require assessment and possible digitization
for safe access. To review these audiovisual materials, you must notify the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk
in advance of your visit.
UCLA Catalog Record ID:
709491
[Identification of item], Betty Bronson Papers (Collection PASC 159). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research
Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Larry Lauerhass, 1983 and 1985.
Elizabeth Ada Bronson was born November 17, 1906, in Trenton, New Jersey. She started her film career in 1922, but appeared
only in supporting roles. Her career took off when she was selected by Sir James Barrie to play the title role in in the first
film version of his play,
Peter Pan (1924). She was given top billing in a number of films, including
Are Parents People? (1925),
The Cat's Pajamas (1926), and
A Kiss for Cinderella (1926). When the silent version of
Ben Hur was filmed, she appeared in a cameo role. Bronson made the transition to sound motion pictures, and was featured in
The Singing Fool (1928) and
The Medicine Man (1930). Paramount hoped to build her up as a successor to Mary Pickford, but changing public tastes forced her into more
mature roles which diminished her popularity. She retired in 1932 to start a family but returned in 1937 to appear in the
Gene Autry western,
Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge (1937). She made several stage appearances at the Pasadena Playhouse and Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara. In the 1960s, she
re-emerged as a character actress and appeared in a television shows such as
Dr. Kildare,
My Three Sons, and
Run for Your Life and films including
Blackbeard's Ghost (1968), and
Evel Knievel (1971). Betty Bronson died in 1971.
The collection consists of material related to the career of actress, Betty Bronson. Included are clippings, photographs,
correspondence, scrapbooks, writings by Bronson, and personal and professional ephemera. Projects represented are
Are People Parents?,
Ben Hur,
Blackbeard's Ghost,
Day in Court,
Little Orchid Annie,
Sabrina Fair, and
Peter Pan, among others. The correspondence contains fan letters and a small amount of business and/or personal letters, notes and
cards. The writings by Bronson include material for an article on the Hearst Ranch, titled
Hearst Castle: Then and Now and a scrapbook of
Peeping Pixie columns written by Bronson for the
Pasadena Independent.
The collection is arranged in the following series:
- Biographical and Personal
- Projects
- Photographs
- Printed Material
- Correspondence
- Scrapbooks
- Writings
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Bronson, Betty, 1907-1971 -- Archives
Actresses--United States--Archives.