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Finding Aid of the Russell M. Saunders film collection
0323
0323
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Title: Russell M. Saunders film collection
Collection number: 0323
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
8.0 Linear feet
8 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1939-1980
Abstract: The Russell M. Saunders film collection consists of slides, 16mm and 8mm films of performers at Muscle Beach in Santa Monica
and other acrobatic, gymnastic and/or athletic acts in a variety of locations. Most of the films show men, women and children
involved in acts such as adagio, acrobalance, acrobatics, teeterboard, ballet, trapeze, gymnastics, trampoline, uneven bars,
rings, tightrope, ice skating, water skiing, tandem surfing, cannon jumping, Olympic diving and various other variety and
circus performances, including some with animals. Russell M. Saunders was one of the star performers at Muscle Beach in Santa
Monica, where he also taught acrobatics and gymnastics for free.
creator:
Saunders, Russell M., (Russell Maurice), 1919-2001
The Russell M. Saunders film collection was donated by Paula Boelsems in 2005.
[Box/folder# or item name], Russell M. Saunders film collection, Collection no. 0323, Regional History Collection, Special
Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
The film portion of the Russell M. Saunders film collection consists of 90 to 100 reels of 16mm film (roughly 10,000 feet
of footage) and over 100 reels of 8mm film. Some of the content is "home movie" footage of Muscle Beach from the 1950s and
60s, including muscle men, beauty contests and acrobatic acts performed for beach crowds. Most of the footage was shot in
various places in Southern California, but some reels were shot in Hawaii, Oregon, New York and Canada. All other footage
includes, but is not limited to, stage performances, circuses, Olympic tryouts, ice skating performances, water skiing, surfing
and various commercially-made productions featuring Russ Saunders and his performance troupe. Most of the films show men,
women and children involved in acts such as adagio, acrobalance, acrobatics, teeterboard, ballet, trapeze, gymnastics, trampoline,
uneven bars, rings, tightrope, ice skating, water skiing, tandem surfing, cannon jumping, Olympic diving and various other
variety and circus performances, including some with animals. The collection also includes nearly 500 slides and some reels
of 1/4" audio tape.
The 16mm film has been examined and cataloged at the reel level; the 8mm film reels and the slides, however, have not been
cataloged individually.
Russell M. Saunders was born in Manitoba, Canada on May 21, 1919. He grew up on a farm outside of Winnepeg and developed his
acrobatic and gymnastic skills at a summer camp and by watching movies at the local theater. Saunders moved to California
before World War II and began working in water shows and as a stunt double in Los Angeles. During World War II, he served
in the Armed Forces Aquacade as a diver. After the war, Saunders became one of the star performers at Muscle Beach in Santa
Monica, where he also taught acrobatics and gymnastics for free. He met Paula Boelsems in 1940, and they performed together
for the next fifty years. In 1975, they became the first two American judges accredited by the International Federation of
Sports Acrobatics. Saunders was also a renowned stunt man who doubled for many of Hollywood's most famous actors, including
Gene Kelly, Alan Ladd and Jack Benny. He passed away in Los Angeles on May 29, 2001.
The collection contains film and audio footage. Please consult the Regional History Curator for license and copyright information.
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access. The collection is housed in the Hugh M. Hefner Moving Image
Archive, located in the basement of the Norris Theater Complex. Access to select films (those that have been digitized) is
available there.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Boelsems, Paula
Saunders, Russell M., (Russell Maurice), 1919-2001
Acrobatics--Archival resources
Aerialists--Archival resources
Amateur films--Archival resources
Beaches--California--Santa Monica--Archival resources
Beauty contests--Archival resources
Bodybuilding--Archival resources
Circus performers--Archival resources
Circus--Archival resources
Gymnastics--Archival resources
Home movies
Santa Monica (Calif.)--Archival resources
Slides (photographs)
Sound recordings
Stunt performers--Archival resources
Trampolining--Archival resources
Tumbling--Archival resources