Finding Aid for the Evelyn Venable Scrapbook
Collection
Processed by Performing Arts Special Collections staff.
UCLA Library, Performing Arts Special Collections
University of California, Los Angeles, Library
Performing Arts Special Collections, Room A1713
Charles E. Young Research Library, Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Phone: (310) 825-4988
Fax: (310) 206-1864
Email: speccoll-paging@library.ucla.edu
http://www2.library.ucla.edu/specialcollections/performingarts/index.cfm
©2006
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Evelyn Venable Scrapbook Collection
Collection number: 279
Creator: Venable,
Evelyn
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library.
Performing Arts Special Collections
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Physical location: COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE: Advance notice
required for access.
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Property rights in the physical objects belong to the 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 if the Performing Arts Special Collections does not hold the copyright.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Evelyn Venable Scrapbook Collection, 279, Music
Library Special Collections, University of California, Los Angeles.
Biography
Evelyn Venable was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on October 18, 1913, the only
child of Professor Emerson Venable and Dolores Cameron. Evelyn's acting career
began in her junior year, when at the age of 14 she was cast to play Juliet in
her high school's production of "Romeo and Juliet". The praise from critics led
to her professional debut in the Cincinnati Civic Theatre production of "Dear
Brutus". Evelyn went on to play Rosalind in "As You Like It" during her senior
year at Walnut Hills. At 16, having graduated a year early, Evelyn attended
Vassar on a full scholarship. After a year, however, she decided to return home
and studied at the University of Cincinnati for half a year. In 1932, at the age
of 18, Evelyn became a member of Walter Hampden's Shakespearean theater company.
Hampden was a good friend of Professor Venable's after having read his book,
"The Hamlet Problem and Its Solution".
Under the tutelage of Hamden, Evelyn played the part of the flower girl in
"Cyrano de Bergerac" and Ophelia in "Hamlet". Her success attracted the
attention of Hollywood producers and in 1933, Evelyn made her film debut in
"Cradle Song". The following year, she starred opposite Fredric March in "Death
Takes a Holiday" (1934) then appeared in two Will Rogers' films, "David Harum"
(1934), and "The County Chairman" (1935). Evelyn also appeared in "The Little
Colonel" (1935) staring Shirley Temple and "Alice Adams" (1935) staring
Katharine Hepbrun. While on the set of "David Harum", Evelyn met her future
husband, cinematographer, Hal Mohr. They eloped that same year in Yuma, Arizona.
Evelyn chose to devote herself to raising her two daughters, Dolores and
Rosalia, and after starring in the 1943 film "He Hired the Boss", she retired
completely from the industry.
In 1953, Evelyn resumed her academic endeavors and enrolled at UCLA where she
majored in Latin. She earned her undergraduate degree in 1956, the same year as
her eldest daughter. Evelyn continued to study Greek and Latin and after
receiving her Master's, she was immediately asked to join the faculty of UCLA's
Department of Classics as a full-time lecturer. She taught at UCLA for almost
twenty-five years and during that time she was elected for a term as President
of the Association of Faculty Women at UCLA and also served as an officer of the
Classical Association of the Pacific States. Evelyn died of cancer on November
16, 1993 in Post Falls, Idaho.
Scope and Content
The collection consists of scrapbooks ranging in date from 1933-1938. The
scrapbooks hold newspaper clippings highlighting Venable's stage and film
career. Also included is a series of loose newspaper clippings of which there
are subseries related to Venable's teaching career at UCLA, her father Professor
Emerson Venable, and a collection highlighting the stage career of Shakespearean
actor Walter Hampden. Also included is a series dedicated to Venable's roles in
Shakespearean stage performances. Of particular interest is a landscape
watercolor, attributed to an "E.V." possibly Venable or her father, as well as
an eight page typed poem by her grandfather, William Henry Venable.
The collection is organized into the following series:
- Series 1. Scrapbooks, 1933 - 1938. 3 boxes
- Series 2. Stage Performances. 4 folders
- Series 3. Loose Newspaper Clippings. 13 folders
Series 1.
Scrapbooks
1933 -
1938
Physical Description: 3 boxes
Scope and Content Note
This series contains ten scrapbooks that hold newspaper clippings
highlighting the film and stage career of Venable. The clippings also discuss
such areas as Venable's personal life as a wife and mother in Hollywood.
Arrangement
This series is arranged chronologically.
Box 1
Scrapbook Number 1
1933 July - December
Physical Description: 67 p.
Box 2
Scrapbook Number 2
1934 January - February
Physical Description: 190 p.
Box 2
Scrapbook Number 3
1934 June - July
Physical Description: 123 p.
Box 1
Scrapbook Number 4
1934 September - October
Physical Description: 102 p.
Box 1
Scrapbook Number 5
1934 November - 1935 January
Physical Description: 96 p.
Box 3
Scrapbook Number 6
1935 February - July
Physical Description: 101 p.
Box 3
Scrapbook Number 7
1935 August - 1936 September
Physical Description: 112 p.
Box 3
Scrapbook Number 8
1936 October - 1937 December
Physical Description: 119 p.
Box 2
Scrapbook Number 9
1938 January - October
Physical Description: 74 p.
Box 1
Scrapbook Number 10
1938 November -
Physical Description: 34 p.
Series 2.
Stage Performances
Physical Description: 4 folders
Scope and Content Note
This series contains materials related to Venable's stage performances.
Highlights inlcude photographs, clippings from Venable's high school weekly
newsletter, a cast list, and a poem written about Venable's role as
"Juliet".
Arrangement
This series is arranged alphabetically by play title.
Box 4, Item 1
As You Like It
1929
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains an issue of The Chatterbox which discusses Venable's
role as Rosalind in the play.
Box 4, Item 2
Cyrano de Bergerac
1932
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains two newspaper clippings, one photograph of Venable as
the "Flower Girl", and one cast list.
Box 4, Item 3
Hamlet
1933
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains one photograph of Venable as "Ophelia" and a clipping
from The Chatterbox discussing Venable's role in the play.
Box 4, Item 4
Romeo and Juliet
1928
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains twenty newspaper clippings, three clippings from The
Chatterbox, the Walnut Hills High Weekly, three clippings from "The Gleam", and
one poem entitled "On Seeing Evelyn Venable As Juliet" by Jennie Moore
Bryan.
Series 3.
Loose Newspaper Clippings
Physical Description: 13 folders
Scope and Content Note
This series contains loose newspaper clippings as well as photographs, poems,
letters, and miscellaneous items.
Arrangement
The series is divided into five subseries. The subseries are arranged
alphabetically by title.
Subseries 1.
The Chatterbox
1933
Physical Description: 1 folder
Scope and Content Note
This subseries contains clippings from The Chatterbox, Venable's high school
weekly newsletter.
Box 4, Item 5
The Chatterbox
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains two clippings from The Chatterbox, the Walnut Hills High
Weekly. They are related to Venable's return to Cincinnati, Ohio as a member of
Walter Hampden's Company. Venable appeared in a performance that week at Shubert
Theater.
Subseries 2.
Emerson Venable
Physical Description: 1 folder
Scope and Content Note
This subseries contains materials related to the activities of Venable's
father, Professor Emerson Venable.
Box 4, Item 6
Emerson Venable
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains three newspaper clippings related to the activities of
Venable's father, Professor Emerson Venable.
Subseries 3.
UCLA
Physical Description: 1 folder
Scope and Content Note
This subseries contains materials related to Venable's years of teaching at
UCLA.
Box 4, Item 7
UCLA
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains two newspaper clippings discussing Venable's teaching
career at UCLA. Also included is a program for "The Rope" which was performed by
the Latin Class in 1975. There is also a flyer for a Latin film "Urbs Mea".
Subseries 4.
Walter Hampden
Physical Description: 1 folder
Scope and Content Note
This subseries contains materials highlighting the stage career of
Shakespearean actor Walter Hampden.
Box 4, Item 8
Walter Hampden
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains a program for "Hamlet" and "Cyrano de Bergerac", a
photograph of Hampden as Hamlet which was sent to Venable's father as well as
another photograph of Hampden as Hamlet along with a negative. Also inlcuded is
a reproduction on newspaper quality paper of articles commending Hampden's
performaces as Petruchio in "The Taming of the Shrew" and as Shylock in "The
Merchent of Venice". There is also a typed letter from 1929 addressed to "Mr.
Hampden" from an unknown sender.
Subseries 5.
Miscellaneous
Physical Description: 9 folders
Arrangement
This subseries is arranged by date and then alphabetically.
Scope and Content Note
This subseries contains loose newspaper clippings discussing Venable's stage
and film career. Also included is an eight page typed poem, dated 1904, by
Venable's grandfather, William Henry Venable, and a lanscape watercolor
attributed to "E.V" which may be Venable or her father Emerson Venable.
Box 4, Item 9
1933
1933
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains seven clippings that discuss Venable's first Hollywood
film appearances.
Box 4, Item 10
1934
1934
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains eighty four newspaper clippings. They discuss Venable's
film roles in "Mississippi" and "Double Door" as well as her upcoming Florence
Nightingale film. Other clippings mention little facts about how Venable is a
vegetarian, enjoys fencing and horseback riding and her choice in fashion and
beauty products. There are also several clippings that announce when Venable was
interviewd on local radio stations.
Box 4, Item 11
1935
1935
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains nineteen newspaper clippings. The majority discuss
Venable's return to the stage at Juliet as the Vine St. Theatre in Los
Angeles.
Box 4, Item 12
1938
1938
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains two articles, one in which Venable advocates for safe
driving and the other commenting upon how Venable's role as a mother did not
hinder her popularity in Hollywood.
Box 4, Item 13
1939
1939
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains thirty two newspaper clippings. The majority discuss
Venable's bout with appendicitis, her Western drama "Heritage of the Desert",
and parties attended by herself and her husband.
Box 4, Item 14
1940
1940
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains six newspaer clippings, two of which show Venable
supporting "Presto" cake mix and a dairy product by Borden's.
Box 4, Item 15
1942
1942
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains two newspaper clippings on Venable's service as a Red
Cross aide.
Box 4, Item 16
Miscellaneous Items
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains a typed, eight page poem dated 1904 by Venable's
grandfather, William Henry Venable, a lanscape watercolor attributed to "E.V"
which may be Venable or her father Emerson Venable, a business card, and a
newspaper clipping.
Box 4, Item 17
No Date
Scope and Content Note
This folder contains six newspaper clippings. They discuss Venable's film
roles as well as Venable in an advertisement for a dinner gown.
