Finding Aid to the Ed Menerth Papers Coll2014.050
Michael C. Oliveira
Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90007
(213) 821-2771
askone@usc.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Title: Ed Menerth papers
creator:
Menerth, Ed (Edward Franklin)
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2014.050
Physical Description:
2.0 Linear Feet
1 archives box, 2 archives cartons.
Date (inclusive): 1942-1998
Abstract: Photographs, coded notes on erotic films, correspondence, and diaries, 1942-1998 of acting and vocal coach, Ed Menerth. Menerth
attended Pennsylvania State University and was an acting coach at the University of Miami. He continued his acting and vocal
coaching in West Hollywood, California, where he was a literary agent for Dale Garrick International.
Language of Material: English
Arrangement
The materials Menerth collected and placed in numbered binders preceed his papers and photographs arranged in chronological
order.
Series 1: Binders
Series 2: Papers and photographs
Biographical Note
One of Menerth's diaries lists his home address as Mountainside, New Jersey which corresponds to the issuing state of his
Social Security number. He served in the United States Army Signal Corp in 1944. He earned his master's degree from Pennsylvania
State University and by 1953 worked in the drama department at the University of Miami. In 1971 his book,
Singing in style: A guide to performance techniques of vocal literature from the Middle Ages to the present day was published. By the mid-1970s he had relocated to West Hollywood, California, where he continued his acting and voice
coaching. During this time he also was a literary agent with the Dale Garrick International Agency. And in the mid-to-late
1970s he reviewed books and motion pictures for
Drummer magazine, using the pseudonym Ed Franklin. Menerth died in 2001..
Sources:
Ed Menerth Papers, Coll2014-050, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.
Fritscher, Jack. "The Academy: Incarceration for Pleasure," Drummer 145, December 1990, (as found in Gay San Francisco: Eyewitness
Drummer Magazine, at www.JackFritscher.com)
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries as the owner of the physical
items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Immediate Source of Acquistion
The Ed Menerth papers were a gift of the attorney for estate of Ed Menerth in 2001.
Other Finding Aids
Shawn, Ted, 1891-1972. Ted Shawn Collection, (S) *MGZMC-Res. 31, Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library
for the Performing Arts.
The Ted Shawn Papers, (S)*MGZMD 133, Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
Reflections on Directing a Thespian Show by Ed Menerth, 1952. Penn State Thespians Records (1409), Penn State University Archives,
Special Collections Library, Pennsylvania State University.
Preferred Citation
[Box #, Folder#], Ed Menerth Papers, Coll2014-050, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern
California.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Robert Graves, Patrick Mansfield and Michael C. Oliveira, August 2014.
Scope and Content
The collection, 1942-1998, primarily consists of headshots, coded notes on erotic videos, and Polariods of nude actors. The
collection also includes limited correspondence, personal photographs, and two multi-year diaries.
Separated Materials
Separted to ONE catalog collection:
1992 KW Enterprises Bondage Products Catalog.
RoB Amsterdam catalog, copyright 1988.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Diaries
Gays -- Correspondence
Photographs
Gay erotic photography
Menerth, Ed (Edward Franklin)
Binders
1977-1998
Physical Description: 1.2 Linear Feet
Scope and Content
The series consists of the contents of three-ring binders, primarily actors' headshots, Menerth's coded notes on erotic videos,
and Polaroids of nude actors.
Box 1, folder 1-24
Binder documents
1977-1998
Physical Description: 24 Files
Papers and Photographs
1942-1993
Physical Description: 0.8 Linear Feet
Scope and Content
The series contains two four-year diaries, personal photographs, correspondence, actors' headshots, and erotic photography.
Box 2, folder 1
Diaries
1942-1946, 1949-1953
Box 2, Folder 2
Personal photographs
1944-1979
Scope and Content
The personal photographs folder contain a photographic print of Tennessee Williams with Menerth.
Box 2, Folder 6-17
Headshots (actors)
1974-1977, undated
Scope and Contents
Includes photographs of Neil Breen, Jesse Will Deane (Jason Dewitt), Frank Halstead, Jason Hewison, Kevin James, Michael Kearns
( Grant Tracy Saxon), Tye Lamont, David Miller, John Millious, William Quinn, Bob Reynolds, Gary Schneider, and Jan Michael
Vincent.
Box 3, folder 1-2
Erotic photographs
1955-1993, undated
Physical Description: 2 Filesnegatives, contact sheets, photographic prints, and slides
Scope and Content
Includes images of James (Mike), Lance (David Reis), Mandingo, Chris Allen, the Christy Twins (Dyer Twins), Trenton Comeaux,
Duff Paxton, Randy Ranger (Randy Grossnickle), and Clyde Dayton Wallace.
Box 3, Folder 3-7
Palace of Pleasure (Marathon Films)
1980
Physical Description: 5 foldersnegatives, contact sheets, photographic prints, and slides
Scope and Content
Includes scene stills from the
Palace of Pleasures including
The Boxer, the Trainer, the Biker with Jason Onassis, Ted Adams, and Vic Bruno;
Fooling Around with Jeremy Scott and David Scott;
Hot Tubs with Shaun Victors and Jon Conrad;
Lifeguard and Surfers with J.W. King and Tim Christy;
Tenderfoot and the Cowboy with Jack Wrangler and Jim Rodgers.
Box 3, folder 8
Katharsis
1987-1988
Scope and Content
The folder consists of the publications of Katharsis (Daytona Beach, Florida), a fantasy magazine that focuses on physical
and/or mental abuse of men.
Box 3, folder 9
Applications (slaves)
1990-1991
Scope and Content
The folder consists of applications to serve as a slave. Attached to one of the applications is a check from Menerth to the
applicant.
Box 2, Folder 4
Programs
1954-1975
Scope and Content
The personal photographs folder contain photographic prints of Menerth with Ted Shawn and Menerth with Tennessee Williams.
Box 3
Headshots and publicity stills
undated
Physical Description: 20 Photographic Prints
Scope and Content
Includes images of models represented by Dale Garrick International Agency and others including David Dybstra, Tom Fielding,
Tom & Steve Fern, Bod Fuller, James Houghton, Don Johnson, Rick Juarez, Jim Mahoney, Michael Monroe, John Mooney, Bruce Morgan,
Sonny Padilla, Junior, Jon Pearson, Eric Thompson, and Gary Toy.
Box 2, Folder 3
Signed photographs
1950s-1984
Scope and Content
The folder contains signed photographic prints and notes of thanks to Menerth.