John Engstead and Franciene Watkins papers
Catalogued by Johnson, Doug
Margaret Herrick Library. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
333 S La Cienega Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Published January 2023
Descriptive Summary
Abstract: The collection contains photographs, clippings of Engstead’s magazine work, including covers, celebrity profiles, fashion
spreads, and advertisements; correspondence; and a heavily annotated typescript of Engstead’s book "Star Shots." The photograph
series consists of 5,472 items with two dozen film and television productions represented. The biography photographs include
files on nearly 300 individuals photographed by Engstead. Franciene Watkins was in possession of the material in this collection
at the time of her death.
Collector:
Engstead, John
Watkins, Franciene
Dates: 1908-1981
Dates: 1940-1981
Collection number: 375
Collection Size:
1 linear ft. of papers
8 linear ft. of photos
Repository:
Margaret Herrick Library. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Access
Available by appointment only.
Publication Rights
Property rights to the physical object belong to the Margaret Herrick Library. Researchers are responsible for obtaining all
necessary rights, licenses, or permissions from the appropriate companies or individuals before quoting from or publishing
materials obtained from the library.
Preferred Citation
John Engstead and Franciene Watkins papers, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Leonard Stanley, 1996.
Collection Scope and Content Summary
The John Engstead and Franciene Watkins papers span the years 1908-1981 (bulk 1940s-1970s) and encompass approximately 1 linear
foot. The collection consists primarily of subject files, which contain clippings, correspondence, drawing lessons, and a
heavily annotated typescript of Engstead’s book "Star Shots." Clippings of Engstead’s magazine work, including covers, celebrity
profiles, fashion spreads, and advertisements, comprise the bulk of the collection.
The photograph series of the John Engstead and Franciene Watkins papers spans the years 1933-1982 and encompasses 8 linear
feet, consisting of 5,472 items. The photographs are grouped into motion picture production photographs, television production
photographs, stage production photographs, and biography photographs. The library has struck modern archival prints from many
of the original negatives.
The motion picture production photographs span the years 1933-1972 and consist of material on 12 films, including such titles
as "Around The World In 80 Days" (1956), "Dragon Seed" (1944), "Seven Sinners" (1940), "The Snake Pit" (1948), and "Witness
for the Prosecution" (1957). The television production photographs span the years 1955-1982 and consist of material on 12
productions, including "Eleanor and Franklin" (1976), "The Last of Mrs. Lincoln" (1976), "The Miracle Worker" (1979), and
"Peter Pan" (1955). The stage production photographs span the years 1949-1960 and consist of material on five productions,
including "John Brown's Body" (1953) and "The World of Carl Sandburg" (1960). Each of these group of photographs is arranged
alphabetically by title.
The biography photographs, which comprise the bulk of the photograph series, span from 1933 to the 1970s and are arranged
alphabetically by name. The material includes files on nearly 300 individuals. Personalities represented include Judith Anderson,
Ann-Margret, Fred Astaire, Lauren Bacall, Lucille Ball, Theda Bara, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Ingrid Bergman, Marlon Brando, Charles
Chaplin, Claudette Colbert, Gary Cooper, Joan Crawford, Marlene Dietrich, Henry Fonda, Clark Gable, Ava Gardner, Judy Garland,
Lillian Gish, Rita Hayworth, Edith Head, Audrey Hepburn, Gene Kelly, Charles Laughton, Shirley MacLaine, Mary Martin, Liza
Minnelli, Gregory Peck, Ginger Rogers, Mack Sennett, Barbara Stanwyck, Elizabeth Taylor, Lana Turner, Mae West, Natalie Wood,
and Loretta Young. Also depicted are Franciene Watkins, Engstead's negative retoucher and administrative assistant, and Otto
Stubbs, Engstead's associate and assistant.
Biography
John Engstead (1908-1983) was born in Los Angeles. He became a film and stage enthusiast in his youth, and as a student at
Los Angeles High School he interviewed celebrities for the school newspaper. In August 1926, at age 17, he secured a position
as an office boy in Paramount Studio’s publicity department. While still working as an office boy, he began submitting feature
stories to the department and soon became a full-fledged publicity writer. In 1927 he coordinated his first still-photo shoot,
for Clara Bow. This soon led to a new position as art supervisor, where he managed and coordinated photographers shooting
portrait, scene, and off-camera stills. In 1933 he undertook his first session as a still photographer with Cary Grant during
a studio strike, but soon returned to his role as manager/coordinator of photo shoots at Paramount, a position he maintained
until he left the studio in 1941.
In 1941 Engstead started his own business as an independent still photographer and continued in that vein until 1982, during
which time he took formal portraits, fashion photos, and more relaxed candid-type shots of hundreds of motion picture, television,
stage, and literary notables. Outside his photo studio, he occasionally accepted assignments from the studios to create "special
photography" for specific films, as well as sessions for the television networks and several stage productions. He also produced
innumerable photographs for such magazines as "Ladies Home Journal," "Life," "Look," "Collier's," "Esquire," "McCall's," "House
Beautiful," "Mademoiselle," "Vogue," and "Harper's Bazaar."
Franciene Watkins was photograhper John Engstead's longtime negative retoucher and administrative assistant. She worked with
Engstead from the mid-1940s to 1982.
Arrangement of the Collection
1. Manuscripts
Indexing terms
Engstead, John
Watkins, Franciene
Photographers
folder 1
Astrological horoscope
1934--1934
Record ID: 72311393
Scope and Content Note
Engstead's astrology chart, July 23, 1934; Engstead's astrological horoscope by Carroll Righter in two parts, March 14, 1969;
natal horoscope, undated
folder 2
Clippings
1932--1962
Record ID: 72311395
Scope and Content Note
clippings regarding Engstead
folder 3
Correspondence
1927--1972
Record ID: 72311396
Scope and Content Note
photocopy of handwritten note from Bing Crosby promising to sit for portraits, 1936; note from Charles Laughton referring
to himself as a "snurge," February 21, 1940; two letters from Marlene Dietrich regarding the possibilities of altering old
photos of her to look current, 1966; handwritten letter from Angela Lansbury discussing "Dear World" (Hellinger, 1969) and
other matters, [4/9/69] September 4, 1969; handwritten letter from Ginger Rogers to Watkins, regarding retouching of photos
for J. C. Penney advertisements, June 21, 1972
folder 4
Fashion Art, Figure Construction
Record ID: 72311397
Scope and Content Note
figure construction in nine lessons
folder 5
Los Angeles High School--diploma
1926--1926
Record ID: 72311398
Scope and Content Note
Engstead's high school diploma in embossed leather pouch
folder 6
Paramount Famous Lasky Corp.--memos
1927--1930
Record ID: 72311399
Scope and Content Note
Publicity department memos from Arch Reeve
folder 7
Star Shots
1977--1978
Record ID: 72311400
Scope and Content Note
typescript of Engstead's autobiography, "Star Shots: Fifty Years of Pictures and Stories by One of Hollywood's Greatest Photographers,"
by John Engstead, E.P. Dutton, New York [heavily annotated]
box OS-1
Clippings
Record ID: 71301398
Scope and Content Note
clippings, largely from magazines, that make use of photographs by Engstead, including magazine covers, celebrity profiles,
fashion spreads, and advertisements
