Finding aid for the Louella Parsons papers 2245

Marissa Chavez for History Associates Incorporated. Additional description by Diann Benti.
USC Libraries Cinematic Arts Library
2022 February
Doheny Memorial Library G4
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California 90089-0185
ctlibarc@usc.edu


Contributing Institution: USC Libraries Cinematic Arts Library
Title: Louella Parsons papers
Creator: Parsons, Louella O. (Louella Oettinger), 1881-1972
Identifier/Call Number: 2245
Physical Description: 8.25 Linear Feet 9 boxes
Date (bulk): 1930s-1950s
Abstract: This collection consists of radio scripts, writing drafts, and records of American movie gossip columnist Louella Parsons (1881-1972). Parsons was an influential figure in Hollywood with her columns being read by 20 million people. She hosted a weekly radio program for a decade featuring movie stars.
Language of Material: English.

Biographical / Historical

Louella Parsons (1881-1972) was an American movie columnist from 1914 to 1965. She was an influential figure in Hollywood with her columns being read by 20 million people in 700 newspapers worldwide. From 1928-1938, she hosted weekly radio programs featuring movie star interviews and movie showcases. Parsons also had a few spots in movies as herself, including "Without Reservations" (1946) and "Starlift" (1951).

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of radio scripts, writing drafts, and records of American movie gossip columnist Louella Parsons (1881-1972). Parsons was an influential figure in Hollywood with her columns being read by 20 million people. She hosted a weekly radio program for a decade featuring movie stars.

Conditions Governing Access

Advance notice required for access.

Rights Statement for Archival Description

Finding aid description and metadata are licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Cinematic Arts Library at ctlibarc@usc.edu. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Cinematic Arts Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Harriet Parsons, August 21, 1968.

Preferred Citation

[Box/folder no. or item name], Louella Parsons papers, Collection no. 2245, Cinematic Arts Library, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Newspapers -- Archival resources
Gossip columnists
Radio scripts
Scripts
Drafts (documents)
American newspapers -- Sections, columns, etc. -- Front pages
Parsons, Louella O. (Louella Oettinger), 1881-1972 -- Archives

 

Scripts

Box 1 & 2, Folder 1:1

Hollywood Hotel (Warner Bros.) 1937

 

Columns and writing

 

Photoplay

Box 1 & 2, Folder 1:2

Feature Stories

Box 1 & 2, Folder 1:3

Copy 1947

 

Modern Screen

Box 1 & 2, Folder 1:4

Good News

Box 1 & 2, Folder 1:5

Copy 1947

Box 2, Folder 2:1-2

Copy 1950

Box 2, Folder 2:3-4

Copy 1952

Box 2, Folder 2:5-7

Copy 1955

Box 2, Folder 2:8

Features 1956

 

Cosmopolitan

Box 3, Folder 1

Features

Box 3, Folder 2a-2b

Copy 1947

Box 3, Folder 3

Copy 1950

Box 3, Folder 4

Copy 1952

Box 3, Folder 5

Copy 1954

Box 3, Folder 6

Copy 1955

 

Hollywood's Talking About

Box 3, Folder 7

Copy 1957

Box 3, Folder 8

Copy 1958

 

Pictorial Living Sunday Stories

Box 3, Folder 9

Copy 1957

Box 3, Folder 10

Copy 1958

 

Other writing/files

Box 3, Folder 11

Special Stories 1958

Box 3, Folder 12

Hollywood's Ten Most Exciting Women 1950-10-24

Box 3, Folder 13

Jolson Life Story by L.O.P

Box 3, Folder 14

Fuller Brush-Felicia Farr Contract 1958

Box 3, Folder 15

Mike Todd Story

Box 3, Folder 16

Miscellaneous articles written by Parsons

Box 3, Folder 17

Miscellaneous publicity about Parsons and news stories written by her

Box 3, Folder 18

Miscellaneous old film magazines

 

Radio

 

Charis Corset Radio program (1934)

 

Correspondence

Box 4, Folder 1

Columbia Broadcasting

Box 4, Folder 2

Charis Corporation

Box 4, Folder 3

Fan mail, etc.

 

Radio scripts

Box 4, Folder 4

Bennett, Constance

Box 4, Folder 5

Bennett, Joan

Box 4, Folder 6

Blondell, Joan

Box 4, Folder 7

Colbert, Claudette

Box 4, Folder 8

Daniels, Bebe

Box 4, Folder 9

Davies, Marion

Box 4, Folder 10

Eilers, Sally

Box 4, Folder 11

Francis, Kay

Box 4, Folder 12

Robson, May

Box 4, Folder 13

Shearer, Norma

Box 4, Folder 14

Sidney, Sylvia

 

Radio scripts

Box 4, Folder 15

Hollywood Premier 1941

Box 4, Folder 16

Miscellaneous

Box 4, Folder 17-33

Radio scripts (chron. Files) 1944-12-1946-04

Box 5

Radio scripts (chron. Files) 1946-09-1948-05

Box 6

Radio scripts (chron. Files) 1948-04-1950-12

Box 7

Radio scripts (chron. Files) 1951-01-1954-06

Box R1, Box R2, Box R3

Audio

Scope and Contents

This series chiefly contains audio records of Parsons' programs from the 1930s.