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Finding Aid for the Billie Jenkins papers, 1969-2006; bulk ca. 1980s-1995
322
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Title: Billie Jenkins papers,
Date (inclusive): 1969-2006;
Date (bulk): bulk ca. 1980s-1995
Collection number: 322
Creator: Jenkins, Billie Beasley, 1943-
Extent: 14 boxes (6.5 linear ft.)
Abstract: Billie Beasley Jenkins is a pioneer for professional working women and African Americans in the entertainment industry. She
has been involved in many aspects of film and television including acquisitions, business affairs, human resources and casting
to executive in charge of production for movies made for television, pilots, series and theatrical films. The collection
consists of material related to Jenkins involvement with Women In Film and her public service activities with organizations
and institutions such as The American Film Institute Gary Hendler Minority Filmmaker Program, the City of Los Angeles Cultural
Heritage Commission and the Boy Scouts of America Women of Excellence committee, among others.
Language: Finding aid is written in English.
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library.
Performing Arts Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Performing
Arts Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library, Performing
Arts Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library,
Performing Arts 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.
Portions of this collection are closed.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Billie Jenkins, 2007.
[Identification of item], Billie Jenkins papers (Collection 322). Performing Arts Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research
Library, UCLA.
Billie Beasley Jenkins was born on June 27, 1943 in Topeka, Kansas. In 1948, her family relocated to Los Angeles, California.
She attended Louis Pasteur Junior High School, graduated from Dorsey High and attended Santa Monica College. On a dare in
1976, Jenkins applied for and was hired as a receptionist in the personnel department of Columbia Pictures. Within a month,
Jenkins went to work for Jackie Cooper at Screen Gems, the television arm of Columbia. Leonard Goldberg replaced Cooper in
1969 and Jenkins stayed on as his assistant. During her time at Screen Gems, Jenkins was involved in a number of hit television
shows such as
The Monkees,
Bewitched,
I Dream of Jeannie,
The Partridge Family,
Bridget Loves Bernie, and
Brian's Song.
In 1972 Goldberg and Aaron Spelling formed Spelling-Goldberg Productions, a television production company at 20th Century
Fox. Jenkins joined Goldberg at the new company where she played a key role in the production of made-for-television movies,
theatrical films, and hit series including,
Charlie's Angels,
Family,
Fantasy Island,
Hart to Hart,
Starsky & Hutch,
The Rookies, and
T. J. Hooker. In the early 1980s the Leonard Goldberg Company was moved to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. (MGM). Jenkins was promoted to Director
of Administration and was actively involved with the production of films such as the Emmy award winning
Something About Amelia and
WarGames. She was promoted to Vice President of Administration for the Leonard Goldberg Company at Paramount Pictures in 1985. In
this position Jenkins was directly involved with the development and production of the pilots and television series
Paper Dolls and
The Cavanaughs.
Jenkins moved to 20th Century Fox Film Corporation with Goldberg in 1986 when he became President and Chief Operating Officer.
She later became Director of Administration in Studio Operations. This executive appointment made Jenkins was responsible
for seven departments on the studio lot including, Purchasing, Administrative Services, Special Events, Production Facilities,
and Special Projects. She also served as the studio facilities executive liaison for the filming of the motion picture
Die Hard. In 1990, Jenkins was named to the newly created position of Director, Production Services and Resources in the Fox Motion
Picture Division. In this capacity, she developed and implemented procedures which maximized cost controls and provided information
on available services, resources, and new technologies for use on Fox features productions. She left Fox in 1992, devoting
full time to her own company, Masala Productions, Inc.
In January 1991, Jenkins was named the first African American president of Women In Film. As a leader in the Black community
she has served as Program Coordinator for the American Film Institute's Gary Hendler Minority Filmmakers, was a member of
the Black Women's Network, and guest speaker at numerous events and seminars. Jenkins was appointed by Los Angeles Mayor
Tom Bradley as one of five commissioners to serve on the Cultural Heritage Commission, 1992-1993.
The collection consists of materials related to the career of Billie Beasley Jenkins, entertainment businesswoman and pioneer
for professional women and African Americans in the entertainment industry. The bulk of the collection are files related
to Jenkins' tenure as consultant and/or President of Women In Film and include Board agendas, meeting minutes, organization
newsletters, and other event files. Also included are materials related to her professional contributions with organizations
and institutions including The American Film Institute Gary Hendler Minority Filmmaker Program, the City of Los Angeles Cultural
Heritage Commission and the Boy Scouts of America Women of Excellence committee, among others. Additionally, there is a small
amount of printed materials, two DVDs documenting television appearances made by Jenkins, and four photographs. Also included
in the collection are restricted files pertaining to a lawsuit generated by Jenkins against 20th Century Fox Studio; the files
are closed until six months after the death of Jenkins. Notably absent from the collection are files and scripts related
to her involvement with specific film and television projects in which she was involved while working for Screen Gems or the
Leonard Goldberg Company.
Arranged in the following series:
- Women In Film
- Lawsuit -- Note: THIS PORTION OF THE COLLECTION CLOSED
- Professional Activities
- Correspondence
- Photographs
- Printed Material
- Television Appearances
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Jenkins, Billie Beasley, 1943 -- Archives
Women in television broadcasting -- California -- Archival resources.
Women in the motion picture industry -- California -- Archival resources.
Nancy Malone papers (Collection 254 ). Performing Arts Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA.
Women in Film Organization records (Collection 109). Performing Arts Special Collections, University Research Library, University
of California, Los Angeles.