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Bud Barsky papers
25
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Abstract: The Bud Barsky papers span the years 1918-1940 and encompass 13 linear feet. The collection contains scripts, biographical
material, contracts, financial papers, a small amount of correspondence, clippings, miscellaneous material, and a scrapbook.
Collector:
Barsky, Bud
Dates: 1918-1940
Collection number: 25
Collection Size:
13 linear ft. of papers
Repository:
Margaret Herrick Library. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
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.
Bud Barsky papers, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Gift of Mrs. Estelle Barsky and Nadine Barsky Moroto, 1985-1986
Collection Scope and Content Summary
The Bud Barsky papers span the years 1918-1940 and encompass 13 linear feet. The collection contains production files and
subject files. Included are produced scripts for more than 60 films with which Barsky was involved. These include AFRICA SCREAMS
(1949), AGAIN PIONEERS (1950), BODY AND SOUL (1927), CALIFORNIA (1927), DARK MANHATTAN (1937), FIGHTING THRU (1930), GOOD
NEWS (1930), GRAND OLD GIRL (1935), GOOSE STEP (1940), HOLLYWOOD HOTEL (1937), IT TAKES MORE THAN A RECIPE TO BAKE A CAKE
(1939), THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD (1926), LAUGHING BOY (1934), PAINTED FACES (1929), PENROD AND SAM (1937), and TARZAN, THE APE
MAN (1932). Of particular interest are Darryl F. Zanuck's personal copy of the script for THE STAR WITNESS (1931), annotated
by screenwriter Lucien Hubbard; script material, including story material by Barsky, for TARZAN AND HIS MATE (1934); and script
and production material for WALLABY JIM OF THE ISLANDS (1937). Also included are several Fox scripts from the early 1930s,
such as CAVALCADE (1933), that do not appear to have any direct connection with Barsky. Among the unproduced scripts is a
story outline of an original idea by Robert Flaherty for A Singer of the South Seas and screenplays for two unrealized Wallaby
Jim films. The subject files contain information on Barsky's Chimps; biographical material; a few contracts; a small amount
of correspondence and clippings; and miscellaneous material, including a 1930s bank book for Famous Comedies Productions;
a cumulative receipts chart for Major Productions in 1936; a hand-drawn design for Premier Pictures, Inc.; and a 1928 tax
form showing Barsky's wages of $24,500 from Tiffany-Stahl Productions. Bud Barsky Productions is represented by a bank book
and accounts book from the 1920s and a draft prospectus, circa 1937. One scrapbook contains clippings on Barsky, primarily
from the 1920s.
Irving J. "Bud" Barsky (1891-1967) was born in Odessa, Ukraine, and was active as an independent producer in the 1920s and
1930s. He entered the film industry in 1906 and, in the 1910s, was involved with the C.L.B. Film Company and Associated Film
Sales in New York and Gotham Film Company in San Antonio. After serving briefly in World War I, Barsky worked for the Pathé
Film Exchanges in Kansas City, Missouri, and Peacock Films (then known as Pioneer Films) in St. Louis. He formed Bud Barsky
Productions in Hollywood in 1922, producing Kenneth McDonald, Al Hoxie, and Frank Merrill features and short comedies featuring
Jimmy Valentine. In 1926 he joined MGM as a unit manager, moving to Tiffany a year later as assistant general manager in charge
of production. During this time he went by the name Roy Fitzroy. In 1930 Barsky joined Columbia as studio manager and left
in 1931 to produce a series of shorts featuring a group of chimpanzees he had acquired. These chimpanzees were rented to MGM
for the first Tarzan features, and Barsky himself worked at MGM from 1932 to 1934 as a unit manager. After a brief period
as associate producer at Warner Bros. from 1936 to 1937, Barsky again became an independent producer, this time under contract
to Grand National Pictures, where he produced WALLABY JIM OF THE ISLAND (1937), his best-known feature.
1. Production files, subseries A-B as follows: A. Produced; B. Unproduced; 2. Radio files; 3. Subject files; 4. Other papers;
5. Scrapbooks
Barsky, Bud
Directors
Executives
Producers
Screenwriters