Description
The collection contains script material, clippings, programs, correspondence, some drawings, Friars Club dinner programs,
flyers and souvenir books for Friars Club Frolic, miscellaneous legal material, several pieces of short verse by Collier,
and scrapbooks.
Background
William Collier Sr. (1864-1944) was born in New York City and began acting on the stage as a young teenager. In the 1880s
he appeared in New York and London stage productions with the Daly Company. From the 1890s through the late 1920s Collier
starred in numerous plays. In New York he often wrote, cowrote, or helped adapt material for the stage, including a number
of original farces such as "Never Say Die" (1912). Collier appeared in films as early as 1915 with Mack Sennett while continuing
his stage career. He moved to Hollywood in 1929 and made a number of films at Fox. A noted character actor, often in filmed
versions of plays, he appeared in dozens of films in the 1930s. His credits include MADISON SQUARE GARDEN (1932), THANKS FOR
THE MEMORY (1938), and DISPUTED PASSAGE (1939). One of his last films was YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1943).
Extent
3 linear ft. of papers
1 item(s) of photos
Restrictions
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.
Availability
Available by appointment only.