Mack Sennett papers, 1912-1933

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Summary

Creators:
Sennett, Mack
Extent:
41 linear feet of papers. 84 linear feet of photographs.
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

The Mack Sennett papers span the years 1912-1933 and encompass 125 linear feet. The collection consists of production records (script material, company forecast sheets, daily report sheets, suggested subtitles, inserts, cutting room sheets, preview notes, telegrams regarding title clearance, main title and subtitle sheets, complete production reports, dialogue sheets, final synopses, press and publicity material, and clippings); story material; biographical material (biography cards, studio bios, press releases, and clippings); correspondence; in-house publications; Publicity Department records, including advertising, correspondence, and publicity releases; account ledgers, balance sheets, and audit reports; income tax returns; real estate contracts and leasing agreements; contracts (with talent and distribution companies); scrapbooks, and photographs.

Biographical / historical:

Mack Sennett was a Canadian-born director, producer, actor, and screenwriter active in film from 1908 to 1935. He is best remembered as the man behind the Keystone Kops, the custard pie, and the Sennett Bathing Beauties. Sennett began acting in films at Biograph studios in mid-1908, and by late 1910 he was directing Biograph shorts. He left Biograph for the newly formed Keystone in 1912. In 1915 Keystone was incorporated into the newly created Triangle Film Corporation, functioning as an autonomous unit within Triangle. In 1917 Sennett gave up the Keystone trademark and organized his own company, Mack Sennett Comedies Corporation. He became an active member of the Academy in 1929. He received two short subject nominations in that category's first year of existence; one in the comedy division for producing THE LOUD MOUTH (1932), and the other in the novelty division for producing WRESTLING SWORDFISH (1931). He received an Oscar for the latter. In March 1938 Mack Sennett was presented with a Special Academy Award.

Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series: 1. Production files; 2. Story files; 3. Biography; 4. Subject files; 5. Financial papers; 6. Contract files, subseries A-B as follows: A. Biography; B. General; 7. Scrapbooks; 8. Oversize; 9. Photographs, subseries A-C as follows: A. Motion picture production; B. Biography; C. Subject

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Location of this collection:
333 S. La Cienega Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90211, US
Contact:
(310) 247-3036 extension 2226
specialcollections@oscars.org
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