Finding aid of the Charles Pierce Photographs, Papers, Costumes, and Memorabilia
Coll2008-019
Michael C. Oliveira, Bill Kaiser, Arthur Eades, and Jeff Snapp.
An addendum to this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources.
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: Charles Pierce Photographs, Papers, Costumes, and Memorabilia
creator:
Pierce, Charles
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2008-019
Physical Description:
54 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1850-2000
Date (bulk): bulk
Abstract: Photographs, clippings, programs, correspondence, lyrics, music, costumes with accessories, audio and video recordings, and
souvenirs from the life and performances of Charles Pierce (1926-1999), impressionist and comedian, one of the foremost American
female impersonators of the second half of the 20th century. The bulk of materials date from 1970-1990.
Physical Description: 7 records boxes + 9 archive cartons + 2 archive half-cartons + 11 oversize boxes + 8 shelves + 2 map case drawers.
Access
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
Publication Rights
Researchers wishing to publish materials must obtain permission in writing from ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives as the
physical owner. Researchers must also obtain clearance from the holder(s) of any copyrights in the materials. Note that ONE
National Gay and Lesbian Archives can grant copyright clearance only for those materials for which we hold the copyright.
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain copyright clearance for all other materials directly from the copyright
holder(s).
Preferred Citation
Box #, folder #, Charles Pierce Photographs, Papers, Costumes, and Memorabilia, Coll2008-019, ONE National Gay and Lesbian
Archives, Los Angeles, California.
Acquisition Information
Circumstances of acquisition unknown.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Michael C. Oliveira, Bill Kaiser, and Arthur Eades, 2007-2008. An addition to the collection was processed by Jeff Snapp, 2015.
Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Biography
Charles Pierce, impressionist and comedian, was one of the foremost American female impersonators in the second half of the
20th century. Born in Watertown, New York, on July 14, 1926, he started his acting career at the Pasadena Playhouse in the
early 1950s. During this period, he was inspired by several nightclub acts in Los Angeles to develop his own act. His first
professional performance was at Café La Vie in Altadena, California, in 1954. Because of laws against cross-dressing, Pierce
performed in a tuxedo with accessories such as a boa, hats, and pocketbooks. It was not until ten years after he began his
career that Pierce donned full female costumes, reflecting changes in legislation that had made such acts legal. Pierce had
lengthy and celebrated engagements at various venues including the Plush Room in San Francisco's York Hotel in the early 1980s,
and engagements at San Francisco's Fairmont Hotel's Venetian Room and New York's Top of the Gate and The Ballroom. His portrayals
included Tallulah Bankhead, Carol Channing, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Katharine Hepburn, Gloria Swanson, and Mae West. He
appeared on numerous television shows (not always in drag), including
Fame,
Laverne and Shirley,
Designing Women,
Starsky & Hutch, and
Love, American Style. His films include
Rabbit Test (1978),
Torch Song Trilogy (1988), and
Nerds of a Feather (1990). He also issued several recordings, including Live at Bimbo's (circa 1972) on the Blue Thumb label, and a video, Charles
Pierce at The Ballroom (1988). He died in North Hollywood, California, on May 31, 1999, at the age of 72.
Sócrates Silva
Scope and Content of Collection
The collection consists of primarily personal photographs taken of Pierce by friends and family, some assembled into albums.
The photographs span his life from infancy through his retirement, with the bulk of the photographs documenting the period
between 1970-1990. Other records include personal and professional correspondence arranged by decade primarily from his mother
and his friends. The Pasadena Playhouse school records, 1946-1948, include his report cards and correspondence from the Playhouse
along with performance playbills, school bulletins, and yearbooks. Transitional and later performance documents are included
in the Performance Materials series that consists of scripts, lyrics, music and clippings of and about his performances. The
clippings contain advertisements, reviews, articles, interviews, and research materials for and about his shows. The bulk
of the Personal Series consists of family genealogical information along with remembrances and obituaries of Pierce. The series
also includes a transcript of an oral history recorded in 1989 and a photocopy of a redacted personal address book. The final
series, Artifacts consists of a sample of costumes and accessories such as hats and costume jewelry and Moppets and Moppets
costumes from Pierce's performances. The series also contains a sample of trophies awarded to Pierce, other miscellaneous
artifacts, and audio, video, and computer media of his performances and back-up copies of images from a Charles Pierce tribute
site.
Separated Materials
In 1998 and 1999, Pierce gave some of his papers to the Billy Rose Theatre Division of the New York Public Library for the
Performing Arts, where they now constitute the Charles Pierce Papers, *T-Mss 1998-008.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Gay actors -- United States
Female impersonators -- United States
Humorous music
Costumes and clothes
Clippings -- 1940-1990
Pierce, Charles
Pierce, Charles
Artifacts Series 6:
circa 1950-1999
Physical Description: 33 Linear Feet
Series Scope and Content
The Artifacts Series includes a sample of costumes and accessories such as hats and costume jewelry and moppets and moppet
costumes from Pierce's performances. The series also contains a sample of trophies awarded to Pierce, other miscellaneous
artifacts, and machine-readable media of his performances and back-up images for a Charles Pierce tribute site.
Costumes and Accessories Subseries 6.1:
circa 1980
Physical Description: 16 Linear Feet
Subseries Scope and Content
The subseries consists of a sample of the costumes, jewelry, and the accompanying accessories for Pierce's impressions of
famous actresses and other female characters. The costumes include a fake fur, a dress, and jewelry from his impression of
Bette Davis, a replica of Katherine Hepburn's costume in her role as Eleanor of Aquitaine from
The Lion in Winter, and accessories from his impression of Jeanette MacDonald. The series also includes a variety of hats and costume jewelry
from other characters Pierce portrayed.
As Bette Davis
circa 1980
Item 47
Black fake fur coat with two rhinestone brooches
circa 1980
Item 48
Black taffetta dress with attached rhinestone brooch and belt buckle
circa 1980
Box 23, Item 22-23
Rhinestone brooches of the letters, "B" and "D"
circa 1980
As Jeanette MacDonald. Accessories
circa 1980
Item 39
White satin parasol
circa 1980
Scope and Contents note
White satin parasol adorned with blue applique leaves and pink ribbons and trimmed with lace and pink sequins.
As Katherine Hepburn
circa 1980
Box 28, Item 71
African Queen dress
circa 1980
Scope and Contents
Natural linen dress with pink ruffle dickie, tan georgette [?] 'scarf' and blue cameo.
Box 28, Item 38
African Queen sunhat
circa 1980
Scope and Contents note
Sunhat adorned with sequins, cloth veil, and an artificial rose.
Item 46
Eleanor of Aquitaine
circa 1980
Scope and Contents note
Dress and costume jewelry, as Eleanor of Aquitaine in
The Lion in Winter.
As Other Actresses
circa 1980
Other Shoes, Hats, and Accessories
circa 1980
box-item 20 : 35
Pill Box Hat
circa 1980
Scope and Contents note
Silver colored pillbox hat with "Ted Hook's OnStage Busboy" patch.
box-item 20 : 36
Baseball Cap
circa 1980
Scope and Contents note
Gold colored baseball cap, with gold color sequins.
box-item 23 : 20
Costume jewelry pearl bracelet
circa 1980
Scope and Contents note
Costume jewelry pearl strands on an elastic bracelet.
box-item 23 : 21
Satin cowgirl sequined cuffs
circa 1980
Scope and Contents note
Satin cream colored cowgirl cuffs with white, red, and silver sequins and rhinestone fringe.
box-item 23 : 24-25
Costume earrings
circa 1980
Scope and Contents note
Two pairs of handmade craft-store earrings: (1) silver glitter glued on plastic bells, and (2) silver sequins mounted on Styrofoam
balls.
box-item 23 : 45
Pumps
circa 1980
Scope and Contents note
Silver colored high-heeled pumps, size 65.
box-item 24 : 40
Signed draw-string costume bag
circa 1980
Scope and Contents note
Green cloth costume bag signed "Charles Pierce".
box-item 23 - 51
Fan fragment
Scope and Contents
White ostrich plume fan fragment
Box 21, Item 34
Turban
circa 1980
Scope and Contents note
Purple turban with rhinestones, sequins and a fuchsia feather
Box 22 , Item 37
Turban
circa 1980
Scope and Contents
Silver fabric turban with rhinestones, flat sequins, and black accents
Box 29 , Item 72
Turban Lady dress
undated
Scope and Contents
Magenta velvet dress with vintage sequin appliques and findings one of many costumes used in Pierce's "Turban Ladies."
Moppets Subseries 6.2:
circa 1980
Physical Description: 12 Linear Feet
Subseries Scope and Content
The Moppets Subseries consists of the puppets, their attached accessories and several costumes. The Moppets were puppets that
allowed the expressive face of the performer to be seen seemingly attached to a puppet body. The body of the puppet allowed
for more exaggerated and comical movements. The Moppets include a Bette Davis puppet with a black dress and a red satin "Christmas"
dress and a Mae West puppet with a sequined dress, each with a drawstring storage bag. The subseries also includes an additional
green, orange, and pink sequined dress trimmed with larger white sequins.
Item 41
Bette Davis Moppet
circa 1980
Scope and Contents note
The Bette Davis moppet includes the doll its attached costume jewelry, the doll's hand holding a cigarette, a black dress
with small silver color dots, the red satin "Christmas dress," and a cloth draw-string storage bag.
Item 42
Mae West Moppet
circa 1980
Scope and Contents note
The Mae West moppet includes the doll its attached costume jewelry and hand holding a fan, a sequined dress with an attached
silver color lined cape and feather trim, and a cloth draw-string storage bag.
Item 43
Character Moppet Dress
circa 1980
Scope and Contents note
An orange, pink, and green sequined moppette dress slit to the mid-thigh, trimmed with larger white sequins and lined with
red cloth.
Trophies and Awards Subseries 6.3:
1971-1990
Physical Description: 1 records box.
Subseries Scope and Content
A sample of the trophies awarded to Pierce including a "Lulu" Entertainment trophy. The Lulu's were given at an awards show
sponsored by the Blue Angel West, a bar in Studio City, California; the award may have been named for Lew Schirtzinger, Awards
Chairman. The subseries also includes a trophy from a greeting card company that produced a line of Pierce greeting cards,
a Gay and Lesbian Adolescent Social Services (GLASS), Los Angeles trophy, and a trophy from Atlanta's Performing Arts Academy.
Box 17, Item 2
"Lulu" Entertainment trophy
1971
Item 1
Atlanta's Academy for Performing Arts, Phyllis Killer 11th Annual Oscar Award, "Special Recognition Live Performance", trophy
1979
Box 17, Item 3
"Most Successful New Card Series" trophy
1987
Box 17 , Item 4
Gay and Lesbian Adolescent Social Services (GLASS) Award
1990
Miscellaneous Artifacts Subseries 6.4:
1971-circa 1990
Physical Description: 1 archive carton, 2 oversizd boxes, 2 oversizd items in a map case drawer
Subseries Scope and Content
The subseries includes laminated photographs of Pierce with Bea Arthur, Lucille Ball, Carol Channing, Dixie Carter, Hayden
Rorke, and Heather Tom along with photograph buttons of Pierce as a variety of characters. The subseries also contains a number
of souvenirs such as collectable pins, scene clapboard, and plaque from the Walk of Fame along with a number of additional
miscellaneous items.
Box 16 , Folder 1-2
Mounted laminated photographs with stands
circa 1990
Physical Description: 2 folders containing 7 mounted images and plastic stands
Scope and Contents note
Bea Arthur, Lucille Ball, Carol Channing, Dixie Carter, Hayden Rorke, Heather Tom, and an unidentified woman individually
posing with Pierce.
Box 16, Folder 3
Miscellaneous button, jewelry, and pins
1971-1988
Scope and Contents note
Souvenir pins from Pasadena Playhouse, Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, and Warner Brothers along with a gold stick pin, a
silver color metal expansion/stretch band bracelet with inscription "Success-Bimbow's June 16th-20th 1971" and on back "Love
Mother & Dad" with color picture of his mother inside, and other miscellaneous items.
Box 16, Folder 4
Photograph buttons
circa 1980
Scope and Contents note
Photograph buttons of Pierce as Tallulah Bankhead, Bette Davis, Jeanette MacDonald, Mae West, and unidentified other actresses/characters
along with photograph buttons of Pierce at Universal Studios and Pierce with Bea Arthur.
box-folder 16 : 5-6 ; 17 (Oversize) ; 24
(Oversize)
Souvenirs
1971-1988
Scope and Contents note
Souvenirs include a clapboard slate, a door nameplate "Male Actress," Walk of Fame souvenir, blue plastic vanity license plate,
wall switch plate with an early image of Bette Davis, a white shirt with an image of Bette Davis, a pair of director chair
bookends, and a yellow artificial flower.
Map-case 8 : 1(OS)
Framed cartoon
circa 1980
Scope and Contents note
Framed
New Yorker magazine cartoon with the text, "Some men have all the luck. He looks exactly like Marlene Dietrich."
Map-case 8 : 1 (Oversize)
Unframed Oil Painting of Jeannette MacDonald on a swing
circa 1980
Map-case 8 : 4 (Oversize)
Framed photograph as Bette Davis
Unknown
Scope and Contents
Framed oversize color photograph of Charles Pierce in Bette Davis costume.
Audio, Video, and Computer Media Subseries 6.4:
circa 1960-1999
Physical Description: 1 archive half-carton.
Subseries Scope and Content
This subseries consists of a variety of audio, video, and computer media including VHS videotape cassettes of
Schizo,
The Charles Pierce Show, and
Holiday Vision, Pierce's performance with the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles. The subseries also contains compact audiotape cassettes labeled
Pierce's ad-libs and soundtracks. The computer media includes two zip disks and two CD-ROM backups of the images from a tribute
website for Charles Pierce.
Box 26 , Item 64
Schizo
circa 1960
Physical Description: 1 VHS videotape cassette copy of 16mm print.
Box 26 , Item 65
The Charles Pierce Show (Uncensored) featuring Legendary Ladies of the Silver Screen
1982
Physical Description: 1 VHS videotape cassette.
Box 26 , Item 66-68
"Charles Pierce Ad-Libs San Francisco" soundtrack
circa 1985
Physical Description: 1 compact audiotape cassette.
Box 26, Item 67
"Charles Pierce Ad-Libs Forest Lawn"
circa 1985
Physical Description: 1 compact audiotape cassette.
Box 26 , Item 68
Brookside Cemetery Soundtrack
circa 1985
Physical Description: 1 compact audiotape cassette.
Box 26 , Item 69
Holiday Visions Charles Pierce and Bea Arthur with the Gay Men's Chorus Los Angeles
1993
Physical Description: 1 VHS videotape cassette, recorded by Kim Paulsen.
Box 26 , Item 70a-70b
"The Charles Pierce Web Site" CD-ROMs
1999
Physical Description: 2 CD-ROM of images from a Charles Pierce tribute website.
Box 26, Item 70c-70d
"The Charles Pierce Web Site" Zip disks
1999
Physical Description: 2 Zip disks of images from a Charles Pierce tribute website.
Correspondence Series 2:
1940-1949, 1960-1999
Physical Description: 13 folders.
Series Scope and Content
The series includes correspondence and telegrams to Pierce, organized by decade, from family and friends. The series also
includes examples from a line of campy greeting cards that utilized posed photographs of Pierce in costume.
Box 14 , Folder 1-5
Correspondence
1940-1949, 1960-1999
Physical Description: 5 folders.
Box 14 , Folder 6-7
Correspondence
No Date
Physical Description: 2 folders.
Box 14 , Folder 8-11
Telegrams
1948-1990
Physical Description: 4 folders.
Pasadena Playhouse Series 3:
circa 1943-1953
Physical Description: 8 folders.
Series Scope and Content
The series, arranged chronologically, documents Pierce’s years at the Pasadena Playhouse, 1946-1953. The series includes a
text on speaking, the Theater School’s prospectus, his school records, playbills from performances,
Pasadena Playhouse Bulletin (the school yearbook), costume sketches for the play Engaged, photocopies of photographs with identification and theatrical
programs from later Pierce appearances at the Playhouse.
Box 14 , Folder 13
The Busy Speaker's Pocket Practice Book
circa 1943
Box 14 , Folder 14
School of Theater bulletin
circa 1945
Box 14 , Folder 15
Pierce's Pasadena Playhouse school records
1946-1948
Box 14, Folder 16
Pasadena Playhouse playbills
1947-1948
Box 14, Folder 17
Pasadena Playhouse Bulletin (school yearbook)
1947-1948
Box 18, Folder 1
Engaged, costume sketches by Bob Soule
1948
box-folder 14 : 18 ; 18 : 7
(Oversize)
Photocopies of photographs with identification
circa 1949
Physical Description: 2 folders.
Box 14 , Folder 19
Playhouse programs
1952-1953
Performance Materials Series 4:
circa 1955-1999
Physical Description: 35 folders.
Series Scope and Content
The series consists of Pierce's various show materials from research materials to the ledgers he used to track receipts and
expenses. The first folders contain various early skit scripts, circa 1955 along with music and lyrics from later performances,
circa 1980. The bulk of the series includes research materials and related ephemera such as tickets, flyers, posters, and
programs, along with clippings of advertising, interviews, research materials, and reviews that span his professional career.
The last files in this series contain ledgers Pierce utilized to document his performance receipt and expenses, 1976-1990.
Box 14, Folder 23
Blood, Bats, and Bankhead (script)
circa 1955
Box 14 , Folder 24
Camera on Wine Glass (script)
circa 1955
Box 14, Folder 25
The Diary of Anne Frankenstein (script)
circa 1955
Box 14 , Folder 26
The Jitters (script)
circa 1955
Box 14, Folder 27
The Killing of Sister Butch (script)
circa 1955
Box 14 , Folder 28
The Night the Gay Boys Robbed the Costume Shop (script)
circa 1955
Box 14 , Folder 29
Sacrifice of Blood (script)
circa 1955
Box 14 , Folder 3
Sadie Thompson (script) (revised)
circa 1955
Box 14 , Folder 31
This is Bette Davis' Screen Test for ... Staircase (script)
circa 1955
Box 14 , Folder 32
Two Old Ladies (script)
circa 1955
Box 14 , Folder 33
Night club material typescript
circa 1955
Box 14, Folder 34
Miscellaneous show scripts
1988-1994
Box 14 , Folder 35
Research materials
1926-1997
box-folder 14 : 37-14 : 38
Box 14 , Folder 20
Les Moppettes flyers
circa 1960-1975
Box 14 , Folder 21
Pierce show programs
1971-1992
Box 18 , Folder 9
Pierce show posters
circa 1978-1987
Map-case 8 : 1 (Oversize)
Pierce show posters
circa 1978-1987
Scope and Contents
Contents include a color poster of "Goodbye Ladies - Farewell to Cabaret" at the Ballroom in New York circa 1988; a sepia
portrait printed by Blow Up in Los Angeles of Charles Pierce as a young man; a signed color proof sheet of the Exposed Cards
birthday notecard series “Crazy Ladies” photographed in 1985 by Bill Bernardo; a poster of “Charles Pierce Master/Mistress
of Disguise” 1978 from Studio One's Backlot Cabaret Theatre in West Hollywood; “Nightcrawling”, a caricatures poster by Philip
James Herman; and a Charles Pierce celebrity character montage signed by Ron Clemens and dated February 4, 1982.
Map-case 8 : 4, Box 27 (Oversize)
Pierce show posters
circa 1978-1987
Scope and Contents
Contents include an autographed poster from the First Annual Farewell Performance at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Los Angeles
1983; posters of Charles Pierce as Joan Collins, Bette Davis, and Mae West; a color poster from The Ballroom in New York "Charles
Pierce Un-retires"; two posters from Clinton Leupp aka Miss Coco Peru from the Bea Arthur estate including one from "the Incomparable
Charles Pierce" signed “to Charles from the gang at the Fickle Fox, We love you”, and one from "Your Best Bette" at the Plush
Room in New York, as well as many others.
Map-case 7 : 2 (Oversize)
Pierce show posters
circa 1990
Physical Description: Mounted on foam core, also includes tombstone panels and copy proofs from ‘Satirist in Sequins: the World of Charles Pierce
1926 – 1999’ at the ONE Institute and Archives Los Angeles created by Bill Kaiser circa April 2001 with brief biographical
information and references to ‘the Living Dolls’ and an announcement for ‘Charles Pierce; the Web Site’ created by Kevin Bochynski.
Box 18 , Folder 8
Aid for AIDS posters
circa 1987
box-folder 14 : 22 ; 18 : 2
(Oversize)
Box 15 , Folder 1
Biography from agent, Budd Haas Enterprises
circa 1984
box-folder 15 : 2-8 ; 18 : 3-5
(Oversize)
Clippings
1940-1999
Physical Description: 10 folders.
Map-case 7 : 2 (Oversize)
Reviews
1990
Physical Description: Enlarged clippings mounted on foam core.
Box 15 , Folder 9-11
Ledgers
1976-1990
Physical Description: 3 folders.
Personal Series 5:
1850-2000
Physical Description: 9 folders + 1 scrapbook.
Series Scope and Content
The series contains Pierce family genealogical information including, pages from a family bible, family trees, clippings,
and miscellaneous notes. The Personal series also includes a 30th anniversary party sign-in book, a transcript of an oral
history recorded in 1989, and the accompanying correspondence, Pierce's redacted address book, Playbills from theater performances
he collected and a fan's (Michael's) scrapbook. Loose photographs found in the front of the scrapbook were placed in separate
folder. The last three files consist of Pierce's published obituaries and remembrances and memorial record books, books signed
by those in attendance at Pierce's memorial service.
box-folder 15 : 13 ; 18 : 6
(Oversize)
Genealogical information
circa 1850-1995
Box 19 , Folder 1
"Michael's scrapbook"
circa 1972-1982
Box 9 , Folder 5
"Michael's scrapbook" photographs
circa 1972-1982
Box 15 , Folder 14
30th anniversary sign-in book
1984
Box 15, Folder 15
Oral history transcript (Southern Methodist University)
1989-1990
Box 15 , Folder 16
Address book (redacted photocopy)
circa 1990
Scope and Contents note
Apparently redacted by Pierce's executor.
box-folder 15 : 17, box-item 26 : 45
Playbills
1949-1975
Physical Description: 1 folders, 1 unfoldered item.
Box 15 , Folder 18-19
Obituaries and remembrances
1999-2000
Physical Description: 2 folders.
Box 15 , Folder 20
Memorial record books
1999
Physical Description: 2 books.
Photographs Series 1:
circa 1950-1995
Physical Description: 8.9 Linear Feet
Physical Description: 8 archive cartons + archive half-carton + 1 oversize box + 1 map case drawer.
Series Scope and Content
The bulk of the Photographs series are personal photographs taken by friends and family, spanning Pierce's life from early
childhood, his years as a performer, to his retirement. The series also include performance publicity stills taken from his
many performances from early stage roles through his well-known performances as a female impressionist. The performance photographs
document his roles at the Pasadena Playhouse, his female impressionist shows, and his appearances on the stage, screen, and
television. The photographs also document his friendships with other celebrities and his travels across the United States
and abroad. The subseries are not entirely inclusive with some performance photographs included in the last three subseries
Celebrity, Personal, and Photograph Albums. Each of the subseries contains folders of photographs transferred from small albums
to archival photograph pages.
Impressionist Photographs Subseries 1.1:
1970-1995
Physical Description: 13 folders.
Subseries Scope and Content
The subseries includes photographs of Pierce in character or "in drag" as various actresses, organized alphabetically by the
actresses' names. The photographs document much of his career from the early 1960s through the late 1980s.
Box 1 , Folder 1
As Tallulah Bankhead
circa 1987
Box 1 , Folder 2
As Lucille Ball
circa 1980
Box 1 , Folder 3
As Carol Channing
circa 1980
Box 1 , Folder 4
As Joan Collins
1985-1989
Box 1 , Folder 5
As Joan Crawford
circa 1987
box-folder 1 : 6-7 ; 25 :
1(Oversize)
Box 1 , Folder 8
As Deanna Durbin
circa 1975
Box 1, Folder 9
As Katherine Hepburn
1979-1987
box-folder 1 : 10 ; 25 : 1
(Oversize)
As Jeannette MacDonald
1964-1977
Box 1, Folder 11
As Gloria Swanson,
The Turban Ladies
1963-circa 1975
Performance Photographs Subseries 1.2:
1947-circa 1990
Physical Description: 36 folders + 3 oversize items.
Subseries Scope and Content
The subseries consists predominately of Pierce's performances as a female impressionist at venues across the country. The
photographs also document his early stage work with Rio Dante; he and Dante developed and performed skits utilizing "Les Moppettes."
Les Moppettes were puppets that allowed the expressive face of the performer to be seen seemingly attached to a puppet body.
The body of the puppet allowed for more exaggerated and comical movements.
Box 1, Folder 13
Pasadena Playhouse photographs
1947-1949
Box 2, Folder 1
Performances
circa 1950-1977
Box 2 , Folder 2-3
Character Impressionist (In drag)
circa 1950-circa 1985
box-folder 2 : 4-5 ; 3 :
1
Character Skits
circa 1950-circa 1990
Physical Description: 3 folders.
Box 3 , Folder 3
The Diary Of Anne Frankenstein, Onyx Room, Miami Beach
1959-1961
box-folder 3 : 4-8 ; 4 :
1-2
Impressionist (In Drag)
circa 1960-circa 1990
Physical Description: 7 folders.
Box 9 , Folder 1-2
Les Moppettes/The Living Dolls
1963-1969
Physical Description: 2 folders.
Box 4 , Folder 3
The Gilded Cage, San Francisco
circa 1965
Box 4, Folder 4
Pierce and Rio Dante
circa 1955-circa 1965
Box 4 , Folder 5
Rio Dante
circa 1955-1967
Box 4, Folder 6
Los Angeles Music Center
1972
Box 25, Item 57
Pierce and performers dressed as sailors
1971
Physical Description: Photograph stuck to glass.
Scope and Contents
Charles Pierce with "His Boys" Kirk Frederick (left) and Peter Sill (right, backstage at Ciro's on Sunset Strip, Hollywood,
California.
Box 25 : 57 (Oversize)
Pierce images as a female impressionist
circa 1978-circa 1987
Box 4, Folder 8
Fairmont Hotel
circa 1980
Box 9 , Folder 3
Studio One and Atlanta
1981-1983
Box 4, Folder 11
Backstage Freddy's, Bea Arthur in San Francisco; Studio One, Dottie's
circa 1983
Box 4, Folder 12
Mayfair Theater, Santa Monica; Rue McClanahan, George Chakris, K. Curtis, D. Lamous; Freddy's, V. Grey, J. Harris, L. Frey,
C.N.R., V. O'Brien, U. Hagen
1984
Box 4 , Folder 14
Studio One, Ballroom, Fairmont, Manhattan Theater Benefit at New York Hilton
1986-1987
Box 4 , Folder 15
Bob Hope Cultural Center, Palm Desert
July Fourth weekend, 1988
Box 4 , Folder 16
Studio One; Fairmont Hotel with Vincent Price, Coral, C.N.R., David Ogden Stiers, Gary Graver, Lars Hansen, Joan E. Wayland,
Barbara Bladen
1988
Box 4, Folder 17
The Ballroom, New York City; Lucy;
Designing Women party at Beverly Garland Hotel
1988
Box 4, Folder 18
The Ballroom, New York City
1989-1990
Box 5 , Folder 1
The Ballroom, New York City; Van Johnson, Dorothy Loudon, Margaret Whiting, Betty Garret, George Sardi, Jack Wrangler, Linda
Hopkins
1989-1990
Box 5 , Folder 2
The Ballroom, New York City
1990
Box 5, Folder 3
The Ballroom, New York City
1990
Box 5 , Folder 4
Plush Room; Les, Bea at Patio Cafe, M. Biagi Rehearsal Peter Minton, Jean Martin, Gene Nelson, Boris the Harpist
1990
Box 25, Item 60
Framed photograph of Pierce performing
circa 1990
Physical Description: Photograph stuck to glass.
Stage, Screen, and Television Appearances Subseries 1.3:
circa 1970-1988
Physical Description: 13 folders.
Subseries Scope and Content
The subseries consists of personal and publicity photographs of Pierce’s appearances, on the stage, in motion pictures, and
in television shows. The personal photographs include those taken off-set, at cast parties, and of the television broadcasts.
Box 5, Folder 5
Talk show appearances
circa 1970
Box 5 , Folder 6
Applause cast photographs
1974
Box 5, Folder 7
Chico And The Man appearance
1976
Box 5 , Folder 8
Rabbit Test publicity stills
1978
Box 5 , Folder 9
Laverne And Shirley appearance
1980
Box 5 , Folder 11
Fame on the set at MGM;
Music of Your Life; Baby Jane, Blanche, at Bill Bernardo's
1983
Box 5 , Folder 12
Designing Women appearance
1987
Box 5, Folder 13
Nerds of a Feather Encino, Santa Monica
1988
Box 5 , Folder 14
Torch Song Trilogy cast and Pierce as "Bertha Venation"
1988
Celebrity Subseries 1.4:
circa 1950-1995
Physical Description: 5 folders + 1 oversize item.
Subseries Scope and Content
Pierce attracted a diverse audience, including many celebrities. The subseries contains photographs of Pierce usually in costume
with other celebrities, along with autographed celebrity photographs to Pierce. The folders are arranged chronologically;
however the individual photographs have not been arranged.
Box 6 , Folder 1-2
Autographed to Pierce
circa 1950-1995
Physical Description: 2 folders.
box-folder 6 : 3-6 ; 7 : 1-2
With Celebrities
1959-1994
Physical Description: 5 folders.
Box 7 , Folder 3
Michael Feinstein, Betty White, Estelle Getty, Rose-Marie, Joan Collins, Johnny Ray, Big Jimmy, Kobus, Brochu,
Designing Women, etc.
circa 1985
Box 7 , Folder 4
With Celebrities
circa 1985
Box 7 , Folder 5
With Joan Elgers
circa 1985
Box 25 , Item 58
With Van Johnson
circa 1990
Physical Description: Photograph stuck to glass.
Personal Photographs Subseries 1.5:
1926-1995
Physical Description: 17 folders + 3 oversize items.
Subseries Scope and Content
The bulk of these photographs are personal photographs with family and friends; the series also includes performance and celebrity
photographs. Folders marked small album contain the photographs of a single small flipbook photograph album. This series contains
the earliest of photograph albums of Pierce as a child.
Box 7, Folder 10
As a child
circa 1935
Scope and Contents
Two black and white photographs of Charles Pierce as a boy with his mother donated by Clinton Leupp [aka Miss Coco Peru] from
the Beatrice Arthur estate.
box-folder 7 : 6-9 ; 8 : 1
Out of costume
1926-1996
Physical Description: 5 folders.
Box 8 , Folder 2-3
With friends
circa 1955-circa 1990
Physical Description: 2 folders.
Box 25, Item 50
Framed photograph collage
circa 1960- circa 1985
Physical Description: Mounted on foam core.
Box 8, Folder 4
"Let's Have Another Drink" Book
1982-1983
Box 8, Folder 5
Bea Arthur, Conrad Bain Christmas; Rudy-Tom at Christmas at Dixie's;
Nerds of a Feather
1982-1989
Box 8 , Folder 6
30th Anniversary party at Don Kobus's
1984
Box 8 , Folder 7
Dom DeLuise brunch; Joan Collins Roast, Las Vegas; Freddy's: Hildegarde and Henny Youngman; Mayfair Music Hall Photos; Freddy's
glamour photos
1984
Box 8 , Folder 8
The Woods, Alliance for Gay and Lesbian Artists (AGLA), etc.
1984
Box 8 , Folder 9
Michael Brooks, etc.
1984-1985
Box 8, Folder 10
Donald Rawley party; Skip E. Lowe Show with Jay; Dixie-Hal New Years Eve party
1991
Box 8, Folder 11
Charles Nelson Reilly party; Bea Arthur in San Francisco; Masterpiece Theater 406 Franklin Street
1991
Box 8, Folder 12
Angela, Bea, Larry, Peter
1991
Box 25 , Item 59
Pierce and his mother at the Tower of London
1991
Physical Description: Photograph stuck to glass.
Box 8, Folder 13
Vincent Price, Bea Arthur, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.
1992
Box 9 , Folder 4
Pierce at home and in a woodland setting
circa 1995
Map-case 7 : 2 (Oversize)
Pierce in a woodland setting
circa 1995
Physical Description: Mounted on foam core.
Photograph Albums Subseries 1.6:
1940-1998
Physical Description: 25 albums.
Subseries Scope and Content
The series consists of variety of photograph albums in size and composition. Overall the albums are the most comprehensive
of the subseries containing some of the earliest to some of the last pictures of Pierce. Several of the albums include information
on the events, people, and places photographed.
Box 10 , Folder 1
Pierce and his mother
circa 1940-1980
Box 13 , Folder 2
Pasadena Playhouse friends and performances
1946-1947
Box 13 , Folder 4
Friends and performances
1955-1960
Box 12 , Item 3
Pasadena Playhouse performances, friends, and family
1955-1974
Box 13 , Folder 5
Mostly performances
1956-1971
Box 12, Folder 7
Friends and performances
1962-1972
Box 12, Folder 8
Mother, friends and performances
1965-1982
Box 11 , Folder 9
Mostly performances
1967-1969
Box 12, Folder 1
Mostly performances
1969-1971
Box 10, Folder 11
Parties with friends and performances
circa 1980
Box 10, Folder 13
Friends traveling (Atlanta?) and performances
1989
Box 10, Folder 14
Friends and Pasadena Playhouse reunion
circa 1990
Box 10 , Folder 15
Return to Pasadena Playhouse(?)
1990
Box 11 , Folder 16
Cemeteries, holidays with friends, performances
1990-1992
Box 11 , Folder 17
London, friends and family, performances
1991-1992
Box 11 , Folder 19
Parties with friends and performances
1992-1994
Box 13 , Folder 2
Friends and performances
1993
Box 11 , Folder 21
Friends, travel, cemeteries, family, and some performances
1994-1995
Box 13, Folder 24
Friends and holidays
1997-1998