Cecil B. DeMille collection
Catalogued by Maxwell, Genevieve
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 is comprised of material assembled and separated from the Cecil B. DeMille Photographs during processing. The
collection consists primarily of script and research material for SAMSON AND DELILAH (1949), clippings, miscellaneous papers
related to Paramount Studios, and correspondence, including a telegram from Douglas Fairbanks to DeMille about the founding
of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1927. The collection also includes clippings and promotional information
related to DeMille’s Mercury Aviation Company. There is also a drawing by Frederick Stover dating from 1941 of Grauman's Chinese
Theater.
Collector:
DeMille, Cecil B.
Dates: 1916-1980
Dates: 1930-1950
Collection number: 231
Collection Size:
1.8 linear ft. of papers
5 item(s) of artworks
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
Cecil B. DeMille collection, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Mrs. Cecilia DeMille Harper and Mrs. Cecilia Presley, both on behalf of the Cecil B. DeMille Trust, 1981
Biography
Cecil B. DeMille (1881-1959) was one of the motion picture industry's most prominent and successful pioneers. He began his
career as an actor and playwright, often working with his brother William and producer David Belasco. In 1913 he formed a
partnership with Jesse Lasky and Samuel Goldfish (later Goldwyn) called the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company. The partners
traveled to California to film the first feature-length motion picture produced in Hollywood, "The Squaw Man" (1914). The
film, co-directed by DeMille, was a critical and financial success. The Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company soon merged with
Adolph Zukor's Famous Players Film Company and ultimately became Paramount Pictures, where DeMille became a leading producer.
By the 1920s DeMille became known for a series of successful, sophisticated sex comedies, many starring Gloria Swanson. In
the 1930s and 1940s DeMille produced and directed memorable epic action-adventure films such as "The Sign of the Cross" (1932),
"Cleopatra" (1934), "The Crusades" (1935) and "Samson and Delilah" (1949). In the 1950s DeMille made two of his best remembered
films: "The Greatest Show on Earth" (winner of the 1952 Best Picture Academy Award) and "The Ten Commandments" (a 1956 Best
Picture nominee).
Arrangement of the Collection
1. Production files; 2. Subject files
Indexing terms
DeMille, Cecil B.
Directors
Producers
Screenwriters
folder 1
THE BUCCANEER--correspondence
1959--1959
Record ID: 71565037
Scope and Content Note
photocopy of letter from William Holliday of Paramount Film Distributing Corp. [New Orleans] to Gladys Percey [Paramount Studio
librarian] clarifing research for THE BUCCANEER [unclear whether for the 1938 or 1958 version] compiled by Anthony Patorno
stating "He [Patorno] has outlined, as per the attached, his findings with regards to the letter..." attached to a document
titled "Concerning Letter Supposed To Have Been Brought Back From New Orleans by DeMille Unit During Year 1937," January 19,
1959
folder 2
JOAN THE WOMAN--miscellaneous
1916--1956
Record ID: 71565040
Scope and Content Note
promotional clippings and review; carbon copy of letter from Marianna Richter [presumably of Paramount] to Peer Oppenheimer,
"Family Weekly" magazine saying she has sent a photocopy of a 1916 "Vanity Fair" article on Geraldine Farrar and asking Oppenheimer
for a copy of the issue of "Family Weekly" in which his article on "Joan" will appear, December 17, 1956
folder 3
JOAN THE WOMAN--screenings
Circa 1916--1916
Record ID: 71565041
Scope and Content Note
promotional "Memoranda for National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, In connection with special showing of "Joan The Woman"
at the 44th Street Theatre, Friday night, December 22d." including sections "Title," "The Star," "The Director," "The Cast,"
"The Story," undated
folder 4
SAMSON AND DELILAH--script
1948--1948
Record ID: 71565048
Scope and Content Note
script by Jesse L. Lasky Jr. and Frederic M. Frank, September 7, 1948, 186 pages
folder 5
SAMSON AND DELILAH--correspondence
1949--1949
Record ID: 71565044
Scope and Content Note
letter from Albert Deane, "Paramount International News" to DeMille saying "The attached represents our usage of the stills
you sent in connection with our cover request. Hedy not only makes the world's best Delilah--she's also a 'cover' girl" June
2, 1949; letter from Phil Koury in response to letter from Deane thanking him for his treatment of SAMSON AND DELILAH in the
"Paramount International News," June 13, 1949
folder 6
SAMSON AND DELILAH--research
1935--1949
Record ID: 71565045
Scope and Content Note
typewritten research handbook for SAMSON AND DELILAH by Henry S. Noerdlinger, Helen Gladys Percey and Research Staff [Paramount]
providing information on a selection of subjects, including historical information, translations of relevant words into Hebrew,
Arabic, Babylonian and Egyptian, approximately 203 pages, October 21, 1948 [includes "Bibliography and Sources of Information
1935-1949, Compiled by: Elizabeth Higgason Research Department Paramount Pictures Inc." 76 pages]
folder 7
SAMSON AND DELILAH--research
1948--1948
Record ID: 71565046
Scope and Content Note
typewritten research handbook for SAMSON AND DELILAH by Henry S. Noerdlinger, Helen Gladys Percey and Research Staff [Paramount]
providing information on a selection of subjects, including historical information, translations of relevant words into Hebrew,
Arabic, Babylonian and Egyptian, approximately 127 pages, October 21, 1948
folder 8
SAMSON AND DELILAH--research
1935--1949
Record ID: 71565047
Scope and Content Note
bound typewritten "Bibliography and Sources of Information 1935-1949, Compiled by: Elizabeth Higgason Research Department
Paramount Pictures Inc." 76 pages [accompanied SAMSON AND DELILAH research handbook]
folder 9
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS--interviews
Circa 1949--1949
Record ID: 71565049
Scope and Content Note
interviews with Anne Baxter, Don Robb [unit production manager], Edward G. Robinson, Charlton Heston, Sir Cedric Hardwicke,
Julia Faye, Bob Goodstein [head prop man], Chico Day [first assistant director], Yul Brynner, Yvonne De Carlo about working
with DeMille on THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1956), 29 pages [lightly annotated]
folder 10
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS--miscellaneous
1957--1957
Record ID: 71565051
Scope and Content Note
photocopy of City of Las Vegas "Proclamation" by C.D. Baker [Mayor of Las Vegas] proclaiming October 2, 1957 to be "The Ten
Commandments Day" and "...from that day through the concluding performance of 'The Ten Commandments' shown in this city at
the El Portal Theater, to be 'The Ten Commandments Week'..." signed and dated October 2, 1957
folder 11
UNION PACIFIC--clippings
1939--1939
Record ID: 71565042
Scope and Content Note
clippings of press coverage of UNION PACIFIC premiere publicity, primarily covering a "rail caravan" carrying DeMille, cast
and crew members by train from Los Angeles to the Omaha, Nebraska world premiere with multiple publicity stops in U.S. cities
on the way
folder 12
UNION PACIFIC--reviews
1939--1939
Record ID: 71565043
folder 13
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences--correspondence
1927--1927
Record ID: 71565052
Scope and Content Note
two telegrams concerning the founding of the Academy: Douglas Fairbanks to Cecil B. DeMille "...We are now preparing for a
big organization dinner and would appreciate it immenseley [sic] if you will authorize the use of your name as one of the
sponsors. Will Hays can give you further particulars regards and best wishes for your big opening," April 22, 1927 [two pages];
telegram of DeMille's reply "...I am much interested in the forming of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and
gladly authorize you to use my name as one of the sponsors of it," April 22, 1927 [one page]
folder 14
Actresses--photographs
Record ID: 71565077
Scope and Content Note
reproductions of autographed publicity portraits of Clara Kimball Young, Theda Bara, Edna Mayo, Gail Kane, Vivian Martin and
Marguerite Snow
folder 15
Aviation--miscellaneous
1919--1972
Record ID: 71565087
Scope and Content Note
clippings on DeMille's Mercury Aviation Company [founded 1919]; copy of Mercury Aviation Co. "Flying: The New Industry" promotional
booklet, 1919; copy of "Popular Aviation" magazine with article "DeMille, The Airman" by Kurt Rand, September 1939; typewritten
and carbon copy of "Brief Account of Mercury Aviation Company" by Cecil B. DeMille, 10 pages, September 30, 1953; photocopy
of article "That Great Extravaganza In the Sky" about DeMille's aviation company in "Air Classics" magazine, September, 1967;
copy of "TWA Ambassador" magazine with article "Ready When You Are, C.B." January 1972
folder 16
Birthdays--miscellaneous
Circa 1955--1957
Record ID: 71565102
Scope and Content Note
carbon copy of DeMille's birthday speech, 1 page, August 12, 1955 [3 copies]; typewritten and carbon copies of Paramount press
releases for DeMille's 76th birthday [August 12, 1957], approximately 35 pages
folder 17
Clippings
1980--1980
Record ID: 71565104
folder 18
DeMille, Spencer
Record ID: 71565105
Scope and Content Note
photocopy of page listing deaths of DeMille family members with note "Mr. Hayne: This is the photostat of the page in the
Bible brought out by Spencer deMille"
folder 19
Harper, Joe--clippings
Record ID: 71565107
Scope and Content Note
photocopy of article on Joe Harper [grandson of Cecil B. DeMille]
folder 20
Lasky Barn--clippings
1956--1956
Record ID: 71565163
Scope and Content Note
clippings related to the 1956 dedication of the "Cecil B. DeMille Studio Barn" as a California historical landmark [barn was
originally located at the corner of Selma and Vine Streets, in 1927 was transferred to Paramount Studios and has also been
referred to as the "Lasky-DeMille Barn"]
folder 21
Los Angeles Times Contest--clippings
1922--1922
Record ID: 71565125
Scope and Content Note
photocopy of print and negative of "Los Angeles Times" article on DeMille's 1922 contest offering $1,000 for a winning idea
for his next film, October 8, 1922
folder 22
Notes
1973--1973
Record ID: 71565159
Scope and Content Note
miscellaneous handwritten and typewritten notes
folder 23
Paradise Ranch--poster artwork
1942--1942
Record ID: 71565164
Scope and Content Note
photocopies of handmade poster by Arthur Umiker [DeMille's driver] of map from Paramount studio and DeMille's home to his
"Paradise Ranch" with title "The Road To Paradise," August, 1942
folder 25
Silent Movie Theater--correspondence
1950--1958
Record ID: 71565106
Scope and Content Note
letters from John Hampton of Dorothy and John Hampton's Shrine of the Old Time Silent Pictures [Silent Movie Theater, Fairfax
district, Los Angeles] to Gladys Rosson and Shirley Woodbury [DeMille's secretaries] regarding requests for stills from THE
ROAD TO YESTERDAY to coincide with screenings of the film
folder 26
Zukor, Adolph--miscellaneous
1953--1953
Record ID: 71565168
Scope and Content Note
invitation, programs and clippings related to Paramount's honoring of Adolph Zukor on his 80th birthday, January 7, 1953
folder 27
THE GODLESS GIRL--clippings
1928--1928
Record ID: 71565173
Scope and Content Note
loose scrapbook pages with clippings on THE GODLESS GIRL, 1928
folder 28
Wisdom--periodicals
1956--1956
Record ID: 71565170
Scope and Content Note
copy of "Wisdom" magazine with Cecil B. DeMille cover and tribute article "DeMille, King of Spectacles" 4 pages, October 1956