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Finding Aid for the Warner Brothers Studios Music
Collection
317
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Title: Warner Brothers Studios Music Collection
Collection number: 317
Creator: Warner
Bros.
Extent:
ca. 1200 boxes
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library.
Performing Arts Special Collections
Los Angeles, California 90095-1490
Abstract: A brief initial view of the collection presents 390
boxes of music used for silent film, including printed dance band arrangements
(scores and parts), sheet music, and other published and some unpublished music;
137 boxes of sheet music, choral editions, and other published and unpublished
music used as a music reference library; 47 boxes of books, mostly about music,
frequently stamped with "Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Music Library". Many of these books
are signed by the authors. Many more are signed by George Schneider, Music
Librarian at MGM from 1928-1956, who founded and developed the MGM Music
Library, which by the late 1940's was one of the largest music collections in
the country. This great library was sent to landfill in the '60's as part of
what has been called the "MGM Holocaust", the tragedy that destroyed most of the
great manuscript scores composed for MGM films, triggering a great deal of film
music preservation activity, including the work that has been done here at UCLA.
The materials we have just received from Warner Bros may in fact represent the
last (only?) remaining portion of the MGM Library. The collection is in the
midst of being processed and the finding aid will be updated
periodically.
The collection is open for research.
Property rights in the physical objects belong to the UCLA Music Library.
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 if the Music Library does not hold the copyright.
[Identification of item], Warner Brothers Studios Music Collection, 317,
Performing Arts Special Collections , University of California, Los Angeles.
One of the most respected, diversified and successful motion picture and
television studios in the world, Warner Bros. Studios began when the brothers
Warner (Albert, Sam, Harry and Jack L.) incorporated their fledgling movie
company on April 4, 1923. In 1927, the release of the world's first "talkie,"
(synchronized-sound feature film), "The Jazz Singer," set a character and tone
of innovation and influence that would become synonymous with the name Warner
Bros. And--as Al Jolson foretold in this milestone movie--"you ain't heard
nothin' yet!"
Since those early days, Warner Bros. Studios has amassed an impressive legacy
based on world-class quality entertainment and technological foresight and
created a diversified entertainment company with an unparalleled depth and
breadth. Its unmatched consistency and success is built on a foundation of
stable management throughout its history (especially by entertainment industry
standards), long-term creative relationships with many of the world's leading
talent, and an unwavering dedication to excellence. Today, the vast Warner Bros.
library, considered one of the most prestigious and prodigious in the world,
consists of more than 6,650 feature films, 40,000 television titles and 14,000
animated titles (including over 1,500 classic animated shorts).
The collection consists of music used for silent film, including printed
dance band arrangements (scores and parts), sheet music, and other published and
some unpublished music; 137 boxes of sheet music, choral editions, and other
published and unpublished music used as a music reference library; 47 boxes of
books, mostly about music, frequently stamped with "Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Music
Library". Many of these books are signed by the authors. Many more are signed by
George Schneider, Music Librarian at MGM from 1928-1956, who founded and
developed the MGM Music Library, which by the late 1940's was one of the largest
music collections in the country. This great library was sent to landfill in the
'60's as part of what has been called the "MGM Holocaust", the tragedy that
destroyed most of the great manuscript scores composed for MGM films, triggering
a great deal of film music preservation activity, including the work that has
been done here at UCLA.
The collection is organized into the following series:
- Series 1. Books
- Series 2. Periodicals
- Series 3. Published Sheet Music
- Series 4. Silent Film Music
The following terms have been used to index the description of this
collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Warner Bros. --
Archives.
Motion picture studios -- California
-- Los Angeles -- Archival resources.