Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Charles Schlaifer papers
20
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Title: Charles Schlaifer papers
Date (inclusive): 1929-1957
Date (bulk): 1929-1948
Collection number: 20
Creator:
Schlaifer, Charles
Extent:
2 linear feet of papers.
Repository:
Margaret Herrick Library. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Languages:
English
Important Information for Users of the Collection
Available by appointment only.
Property rights to the physical object belong to the Margaret Herrick Library. Researchers are
responsible for obtaining all necessary rights, licenses, or permissions from the appropriate companies
or individuals before quoting from or publishing materials obtained from the library.
Charles Schlaifer papers, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Gift of Charles Schlaifer, 1985
Charles Schlaifer was an American film publicist. Schlaifer got his start in the motion picture
business in 1928, as an advertising manager of the Paramount Theatre in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska.
From 1936 to 1942 he was managing director of United Artists Theater in San Francisco. He joined the New
York staff of 20th Century-Fox in 1942, serving as an advertising manager before becoming the director of
advertising, publicity, and exploitation. Shortly after his departure from Fox in 1949, Schlaifer founded
Charles Schlaifer and Company, a New York-based firm that specialized in motion picture marketing.
Collection Scope and Content Summary
The Charles Schlaifer papers span the years 1929-1957 (bulk 1929-1948) and encompass 2 linear feet.
The collection consists of advertising material, correspondence, and two scrapbooks. The scrapbooks
contain advertising, publicity, and exploitation materials from Publix Theatres Corporation in Omaha,
circa 1929-1932. There are files containing numerous movie ads from the United Artists Theater in San
Francisco, circa 1933-1941. Schlaifer's years with 20th Century-Fox are represented by correspondence
between Schlaifer, company president Spyros Skouras, and company vice president Darryl F. Zanuck. These
letters, memos, and reports discuss the promotion and marketing of Fox releases, as well as campaigns for
specific films. Particularly detailed are the files relating to the advertising campaigns for GENTLEMAN'S
AGREEMENT (1947) and THE IRON CURTAIN (1948). The collection contains several files of clippings and
press releases regarding Schlaifer's work with the MPAA, in particular the 1947 campaign to revise and
strengthen the industry's advertising code. There is little material on Charles Schlaifer and Company,
although two proposals, "The Greatest Concentrated Point-of-Sale Campaign in Showmanship History" (circa
1956) and an untitled document outlining "a campaign to bring about a renaissance of the motion picture
theatre in America" (1957), are of interest. Also included are transcriptions and lecture notes for a
course in motion picture advertising and publicity taught by Schlaifer at the New School for Social
Research in 1948.
Arrangement
Arranged in the following series: Not arranged in series.
Schlaifer, Charles , 1909-1997--Archives.
publicists