Bud Barsky papers
Catalogued by Slide, Anthony
Margaret Herrick Library. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
333 S La Cienega Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Published January 2023
Descriptive Summary
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
Access
Available by appointment only.
Publication Rights
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.
Preferred Citation
Bud Barsky papers, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Acquisition Information
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.
Biography
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.
Arrangement of the Collection
1. Production files, subseries A-B as follows: A. Produced; B. Unproduced; 2. Radio files; 3. Subject files; 4. Other papers;
5. Scrapbooks
Indexing terms
Barsky, Bud
Directors
Executives
Producers
Screenwriters
Production files/Produced
folder 1
THE ADVENTURER--script
1927--1927
Record ID: 71301209
folder 2
AFRICA SCREAMS--script
Circa 1949--1949
Record ID: 71311884
folder 3
AFTER TOMORROW--script
1931--1931
Record ID: 71311885
folder 4
AGAIN PIONEERS--script
1950--1950
Record ID: 71311886
folder 5
AIR POLICE--script
Circa 1931--1931
Record ID: 71311887
folder 6
ALCATRAZ ISLAND--script
Circa 1937--1937
Record ID: 71311888
folder 7
AMATEUR DADDY--script
1932--1932
Record ID: 71311889
folder 8
ARIZONA TO BROADWAY--script
1933--1933
Record ID: 71311890
folder 9
AROUND THE CORNER--script
Circa 1930--1930
Record ID: 71311891
folder 10
BLONDIE OF THE FOLLIES--script
1932--1932
Record ID: 71311892
folder 11
BODY AND SOUL--script
1926--1926
Record ID: 71311893
folder 12
BORDER ROMANCE--script
1930--1930
Record ID: 71311894
folder 13
BORN RECKLESS--script
1930--1930
Record ID: 71311895
folder 14
CALIFORNIA--script
1927--1927
Record ID: 71311896
folder 15
CALIFORNIA--script
1926--1926
Record ID: 71311897
folder 16
CAVALCADE--script
Circa 1933--1933
Record ID: 71311898
folder 17
CHEATERS AT PLAY
Circa 1932--1932
Record ID: 71311899
folder 18
CHINA CLIPPER--script
1936--1936
Record ID: 71311900
folder 19
CHINA SEAS
1932--1932
Record ID: 71311901
folder 20
CLEAR ALL WIRES--script
1932--1932
Record ID: 71311902
folder 21
DARK MANHATTAN--script
Circa 1937--1937
Record ID: 71311903
folder 22
DAY OF RECKONING--working schedule
Circa 1933--1933
Record ID: 71311904
folder 23
THE DEVIL’S LOTTERY--script
1931--1931
Record ID: 71311905
folder 24
DIRIGIBLE--script
Circa 1931--1931
Record ID: 71311906
folder 25
DISORDERLY CONDUCT--script
1931--1931
Record ID: 71311907
folder 26
FIGHTING THRU--script
1930--1930
Record ID: 71311908
folder 27
THE FLAMING FOREST--script
1926--1926
Record ID: 71311909
folder 28
FOREIGN DEVILS--script
1927--1927
Record ID: 71311910
folder 29
FOUR SONS--script
Circa 1927--1927
Record ID: 71311911
folder 30
THE FRONTIERSMAN
1927--1927
Record ID: 71311912
folder 31
GAY CABALLERO--script
1931--1931
Record ID: 71312236
folder 32
THE GIRL FROM MISSOURI--script
1934--1934
Record ID: 71312237
folder 33
GOOD NEWS--script
1930--1930
Record ID: 71312238
folder 35
GOOSE STEP--script
Circa 1939--1939
Record ID: 71312240
folder 36
THE GRAIN OF DUST--script
Circa 1928--1928
Record ID: 71312241
folder 34
GRAND OLD GIRL
1934--1934
Record ID: 71312239
folder 37
HELL’S ISLAND--script
Circa 1930--1930
Record ID: 71312243
folder 38
HIS SECRETARY--script
1925--1925
Record ID: 71312244
folder 39-41
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL
1935--1936
Record ID: 71312245
folder 42
HOT PEPPER--script
1932--1932
Record ID: 71312247
folder 43
THE HOUSE OF SCANDAL--script
Circa 1928--1928
Record ID: 71312248
folder 44
THE INFERNAL MACHINE--treatments
1932--1932
Record ID: 71312249
folder 45
IT TAKES MORE THAN A RECIPE TO BAKE A CAKE--script
1939--1939
Record ID: 71312251
folder 46
THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD--script
Circa 1926--1926
Record ID: 71312252
folder 47
JOURNEY’S END--script
Circa 1930--1930
Record ID: 71312253
folder 48
LADIES MUST PLAY--script
Circa 1930--1930
Record ID: 71312254
folder 49-50
LAUGHING BOY
1933--1933
Record ID: 71312255
folder 51
LET’S SING AGAIN--script
1935--1935
Record ID: 71312256
folder 52
MAMBA
Circa 1930--1930
Record ID: 71312257
folder 53
MR. DODD TAKES THE AIR--script
1937--1937
Record ID: 71312258
folder 54
ON THE BORDER--script
Circa 1930--1930
Record ID: 71312259
folder 55
PAINTED FACES
1929--1929
Record ID: 71312260
folder 56-58
PENROD AND SAM
1931--1931
Record ID: 71312261
folder 59
PIER 13--script
Circa 1940--1940
Record ID: 71312262
folder 60
POINTS WEST--script
1929--1929
Record ID: 71312263
folder 61
PRIVATE DETECTIVE 62--script
1933--1933
Record ID: 71312265
folder 62
THE RAINBOW--script
1928--1928
Record ID: 71312266
folder 63
RESURRECTION--script
Circa 1931--1931
Record ID: 71312267
folder 64
ROBBERS' ROOST--script
1932--1932
Record ID: 71312268
folder 65
SAILORS’ LUCK--script
1933--1933
Record ID: 71312269
folder 66
SEQUOIA--script
1933--1933
Record ID: 71312270
folder 67
SHADOW RANCH--script
Circa 1930--1930
Record ID: 71312271
folder 68
SOLDIERS AND WOMEN--script
Circa 1930--1930
Record ID: 71312272
folder 69
THE STAR WITNESS--script
1931--1931
Record ID: 71312273
folder 70
STARS OVER BROADWAY
1935--1935
Record ID: 71312274
folder 71
STORMY WATERS
Circa 1928--1928
Record ID: 71312275
folder 72
STRAIGHT IS THE WAY--script
1934--1934
Record ID: 71312276
folder 73
STRANGER’S RETURN--treatments
1933--1933
Record ID: 71312277
folder 74-76
TARZAN AND HIS MATE
1932--1932
Record ID: 71312278
folder 77
TARZAN, THE APE MAN--script
1931--1931
Record ID: 71312279
folder 78
THE THIRTEENTH HOUR--treatments
1927--1927
Record ID: 71312280
folder 79
UNDER MONTANA SKIES
1930--1930
Record ID: 71312281
folder 87-88
Unidentified Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer feature
Record ID: 71312293
folder 80
THE UTAH KID
1930--1930
Record ID: 71312282
folder 81-82
WALLABY JIM OF THE ISLANDS
1937--1938
Record ID: 71312288
folder 83
WAR PAINT
1926--1926
Record ID: 71312289
folder 84
WEST POINT OF THE AIR--script
1933--1933
Record ID: 71312290
folder 85
WHEN THE DOOR OPENED--script
Circa 1925--1925
Record ID: 71312291
folder 86
WOMAN TO WOMAN
Circa 1929--1929
Record ID: 71312292
Production files/Unproduced
folder 96
[BARSKY-HOUSTON STORY]
Record ID: 71312304
folder 98
[BENNET R. COHEN STORY]
Record ID: 71312306
folder 89
THE ADVENTURER
Record ID: 71312294
folder 90
ALCAZAR
1936--1936
Record ID: 71312296
folder 91
ALL ABOARD
1928--1928
Record ID: 71312298
folder 92
ALL DRESSED UP
Record ID: 71312299
folder 93
ANYTHING ONCE
1935--1935
Record ID: 71312300
folder 94
ARGENTINA
Record ID: 71312302
folder 95
THE BANDIT AND THE LADY
Record ID: 71312303
folder 97
BEGINNING AT 8 -- ENDING AT 11
Record ID: 71312305
folder 99
THE BIG CHANCE
Record ID: 71312308
folder 100
THE BIG SHOT
1937--1937
Record ID: 71312309
folder 101
THE BIG TOP
Record ID: 71312346
folder 103-107
BLACK EMPIRE
1936--1937
Record ID: 71312349
folder 108
BLACK GOLD
Record ID: 71312350
folder 109
BLACK PAWL
Record ID: 71312351
folder 102
BLACK-BIRDERS
Record ID: 71312348
folder 110
BLOOD MONEY
Record ID: 71312352
folder 111
BOY O’ MINE
Record ID: 71312353
folder 112
THE BROADWAY DRIFTER
Record ID: 71312355
folder 113
CHINCHILLA
Record ID: 71312356
folder 114
CLOTHES DON’T MAKE THE MAN
Record ID: 71312358
folder 115
THE CODE OF THE MOUNTED
Record ID: 71312359
folder 116
CRASH
Record ID: 71312360
folder 117
THE CROSS PULL
1932--1932
Record ID: 71312361
folder 118
A DAUGHTER OF THE SNOWS
Record ID: 71312362
folder 119
DAWN LIKE THUNDER
1942--1942
Record ID: 71312363
folder 120
DEALERS IN GUN SMOKE
Record ID: 71312364
folder 121
DEATH IN THE DRESSING ROOM
Record ID: 71312368
folder 122
DEVIL’S PARADISE
1932--1932
Record ID: 71312369
folder 123
DON’T PAY RANSOM!
Record ID: 71312370
folder 124
THE EMPIRE BUILDERS
1934--1934
Record ID: 71312371
folder 125
THE END OF THE EARTH
Record ID: 71312372
folder 126
EXPERIENCES OF CAPTAIN HERBERT G. MAYES, O.R.C., LATE OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN NORTHWEST MOUNTED POLICE
Record ID: 71312374
folder 127
FACE THE FACTS
Record ID: 71312375
folder 128
FEAR!
Record ID: 71312376
folder 129
FINE FEATHERS
Record ID: 71312377
folder 130
THE FRONTIERSMAN
Record ID: 71312378
folder 131
FURY
1932--1932
Record ID: 71312392
folder 132
THE GESTURE
Record ID: 71312393
folder 133
GHOST HARBOR
Record ID: 71312394
folder 134
THE GIRL FRIEND
1926--1926
Record ID: 71312395
folder 135
THE GOLDEN GEYSERS
Record ID: 71312396
folder 136
THE GOOD MAN
Record ID: 71312397
folder 137
THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE
1934--1934
Record ID: 71312398
folder 138
THE GREENBACK TRAIL
Record ID: 71312399
folder 139
GROUNDS FOR ROMANCE
1937--1937
Record ID: 71312400
folder 140
HANDICAP
Record ID: 71312401
folder 141
HE KNEW THE KAISER
Record ID: 71312402
folder 142
HELL ON THE PECOS
Record ID: 71312403
folder 143
HELLO SUCKER!
Record ID: 71312404
folder 144
HIS LAST DAY OF FREEDOM
Record ID: 71312415
folder 145
HOLLYWOOD ANGELS
1932--1932
Record ID: 71312419
folder 146
HONEYMOON
Record ID: 71312421
folder 147-148
HONOLULU HONEYMOON
1937--1937
Record ID: 71312422
folder 149
HOT OIL
Record ID: 71312423
folder 176
[MORRO CASTLE]
1934--1934
Record ID: 71312467
folder 151
I’M FROM MISSOURI
1934--1934
Record ID: 71312429
folder 150
AN IDEA
1935--1935
Record ID: 71312424
folder 152
IN HER HUSBAND’S CLAWS
Record ID: 71312431
folder 153
INTO EACH LIFE
Record ID: 71312432
folder 154
INVENTORS CONVENTION
Record ID: 71312433
folder 155
ISLES OF DESIRE
1928--1928
Record ID: 71312435
folder 156
JAZZ DAUGHTERS
Record ID: 71312436
folder 157
JOHN PAUL JONES
Record ID: 71312437
folder 158
KAZAN OF THE MOUNTED
Record ID: 71312438
folder 159
LET NO MAN CONDEMN
Record ID: 71312439
folder 160
LET’S GO
Record ID: 71312440
folder 161
THE LIE BEAUTIFUL
Record ID: 71312441
folder 162
LILY OF LIMEHOUSE
Record ID: 71312442
folder 163
THE LITTLE GIRL GOD FORGOT
Record ID: 71312443
folder 164
LONG DISTANCE
Record ID: 71312444
folder 165
THE MAESTRO
Record ID: 71312445
folder 166
MAN KILLER
Record ID: 71312446
folder 167
THE MAN WHO SAW GOD
Record ID: 71312447
folder 168
MAN WITH SILVER
Record ID: 71312448
folder 169
MARCHING MEN
Record ID: 71312449
folder 170
THE MARKET OF SOULS
Record ID: 71312450
folder 171
MASTERS OF STEEL
Record ID: 71312463
folder 172
THE MEDICINE MAN
Record ID: 71312464
folder 173
THE MINTO MURDER CASE
Record ID: 71312465
folder 174-175
MISTER MELODY
1936--1936
Record ID: 71312466
folder 177
MURDER IN SING SING
1936--1936
Record ID: 71312468
folder 178
MURDER IN THE AIR
Record ID: 71312469
folder 179-180
MY WANDERING BOY
Record ID: 71312470
folder 181
NOBODY
Record ID: 71312493
folder 183
ON THE SQUARE
1937--1937
Record ID: 71312495
folder 184
ON YOUR WAY
Record ID: 71312496
folder 185
ONCE A MARINE...ALWAYS A MARINE
1929--1929
Record ID: 71312497
folder 186
ONE SHANGHAI NIGHT
Record ID: 71312498
folder 187
OUR LADY OF PARIS
Record ID: 71312499
folder 188
PARIS NIGHTS
1930--1930
Record ID: 71312500
folder 189
THE PHANTOM FREIGHT
Record ID: 71312501
folder 190
PLANE 66
1938--1938
Record ID: 71312502
folder 191
PLEASURE PIER/IT TAKES NERVE
Record ID: 71312503
folder 192
POLICE COURT
Record ID: 71312504
folder 194
RADIO JAMBOREE OF 1937
1937--1937
Record ID: 71312506
folder 195
RIDERS OF THE HIGHWAY
Record ID: 71312507
folder 196
RILEY GRANNAN’S LAST ADVENTURE AND AFTER
Record ID: 71312508
folder 197
ROAD TO MANDALAY--EAST OF MANDALAY
Record ID: 71312509
folder 198
THE ROSE OF AVENUE A
Record ID: 71312510
folder 199
THE SALAMANDER
Record ID: 71312511
folder 200
SAN FRANCISCO WATERFRONT
1936--1936
Record ID: 71312512
folder 201
SCARLET SHADOWS
Record ID: 71312513
folder 202
SEEING EYE
Record ID: 71312514
folder 203
A SINGER OF THE SOUTH SEAS
Record ID: 71312515
folder 204-205
SNOW COVERED WAGONS
1918--1918
Record ID: 71312516
folder 206
THE SNOW STORY
Record ID: 71312517
folder 207
SOLD OUT
Record ID: 71312518
folder 208
SONG & DANCE GIRL
Record ID: 71312519
folder 209
THE SONG OF THE CABALLERO
Record ID: 71312520
folder 210
SORRELTOP OR THE NOTCH CUTTER
Record ID: 71312521
folder 211-213
SPECIAL PROSECUTOR
1941--1941
Record ID: 71312522
folder 214
STAR ROVER
Record ID: 71312523
folder 215
STEEL
1930--1930
Record ID: 71312524
folder 216
THE SURVIVAL
1932--1932
Record ID: 71312525
folder 217
SWANEE RIVER
1929--1929
Record ID: 71312526
folder 218
SWEEPINGS
Record ID: 71312527
folder 219
TALES OF THE FISH PATROL
Record ID: 71312528
folder 220
TENNESSEE’S PARTNER
Record ID: 71312529
folder 221
THREE A DAY
1936--1936
Record ID: 71312530
folder 222
THREE IS A CROWD
Record ID: 71312532
folder 223
TILL THE END OF TIME
Record ID: 71312533
folder 224
TROOPERS THREE
1929--1929
Record ID: 71312534
folder 225
TROUBLE SHOOTER SERIES
Record ID: 71312535
folder 226
THE TROUPER
Record ID: 71312536
folder 227
TWO AGAINST DARKNESS
1937--1937
Record ID: 71312537
folder 228
TWO WEEKS WITH PAY
Record ID: 71312538
folder 229
TWO WRONGS MAKE A RIGHT
Record ID: 71312539
folder 230
UNDER THE BIG TOP
Record ID: 71312540
folder 231-235
UNTOUCHABLE
1931--1931
Record ID: 71312542
folder 236
THE VILLAIN STILL PURSUED HER
1935--1935
Record ID: 71312543
folder 237-239
WALLABY JIM #2
1937--1937
Record ID: 71312544
folder 240-241
WALLABY JIM #3
1932--1932
Record ID: 71312545
folder 242
WAYS THAT ARE DARK
Record ID: 71312546
folder 243
THE WHITE ATAMAN
1926--1926
Record ID: 71312547
folder 244
WHO KILLED ANNA KEEN?
Record ID: 71312548
folder 245
WHY GIRLS LEAVE HOME
Record ID: 71312549
folder 246
WOMAN AGAINST WOMAN
Record ID: 71312550
folder 247
WOMEN LIKE MEN
Record ID: 71312551
folder 248
YUKON TRAIL
Record ID: 71312552
folder 249
THE ZEPHYR
1927--1927
Record ID: 71312553
folder 250
THE ZIVVUG
Record ID: 71312554
folder 251-253
Miscellaneous
Record ID: 71312555
folder
BIG TOWN--scripts
1937--1939
Record ID: 71312556
folder 254
"Action" films
Record ID: 71312558
folder 255-257
Bud Barsky Productions
Circa 1937--1937
Record ID: 71312560
folder 258
Barsky's Chimps
1931--1932
Record ID: 71312561
folder 259
Biographical data
1937--1937
Record ID: 71312562
folder 260
Casting
Record ID: 71312563
folder 261
Contracts and agreements
1920--1938
Record ID: 71312564
folder 262
Contracts and leasing agreements
1924--1926
Record ID: 71312565
folder 263
Correspondence
1918--1943
Record ID: 71312566
folder 264
Exchanges
Record ID: 71312567
folder 265
Grand Canyon trip
Record ID: 71312568
folder 266
Invoices and receipts
Record ID: 71312569
folder 267
Miscellaneous
1928--1939
Record ID: 71312570
folder 268
Miscellaneous clippings
Record ID: 71312571
folder 269
Terry Trading Corporation v. Bud Barsky
1928--1928
Record ID: 71312572
folder 270
Title requests
1931--1932
Record ID: 71312573
folder 271
Scrapbooks
Circa 1920--1929
Record ID: 71312574
folder 272
Binder
Record ID: 71312576
folder 273
Bank books
1926--1927
Record ID: 71312577
folder 274
Two address books
Record ID: 71312578
box 12
Bud Barsky Productions accounts book
1924--1928
Record ID: 71312579
Scrapbook no. 1
1920--1920
Record ID: 71312580
