Clara Bow papers

Catalogued by Sin, Lauren; Catalogued by Francis, Allison

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 collection includes clippings, reviews, and publicity materials for CALL HER SAVAGE (1932), DANGEROUS CURVES (1929), HOOPLA (1933), IT (1927), MANTRAP (1926), THE PLASTIC AGE (1926), RED HAIR (1928), and WINGS (1927). The subject files consists of clippings, correspondence, and fan mail. Of particular interest is Bow’s fan mail, ranging in years from 1926 to 1965.

Collector: Bow, Clara

Dates: 1926-1965

Dates: 1926-1935

Dates: 1950-1964

Collection number: 511

Collection Size: 3.5 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

Clara Bow papers, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Rex Bell Jr., 2002

Collection Scope and Content Summary

The Clara Bow papers span the years 1926-1965 (bulk 1926-1935 and 1950-1964) and encompass approximately 3.5 linear feet. The collection includes production and subject files. The production files contain clippings, reviews, and publicity materials from some of Bow’s biggest box office and critical successes, including CALL HER SAVAGE (1932), DANGEROUS CURVES (1929), HOOPLA (1933), IT (1927), MANTRAP (1926), THE PLASTIC AGE (1926), RED HAIR (1928), and WINGS (1927). The subject files consist of clippings, correspondence, and fan mail. The clippings, both domestic and foreign, include articles, portraits, and magazine covers with annotations by Bow. There are also clippings regarding the trial of Daisy DeVoe, Bow’s former assistant, and clippings from the "Los Angeles Examiner" of a multi-part biography of Bow written by Louella O. Parsons in 1931. Also included are non-career related clippings that Bow collected during her life. Among the correspondence are cards and letters from Clarence Badger, Harry Richman, Gilbert Roland, Barbara Stanwyck, and Bow’s husband, actor Rex Bell. Of particular interest is Bow’s fan mail, ranging in years from 1926-1965.

The photograph series of the Clara Bow papers includes production, biography, and subject series. The majority of materials are photographic prints, but there are also 40 postcards across all series. The motion picture production series contains 37 items from a wide range of films, including RED HAIR (1928), DANGEROUS CURVES (1929), and WINGS (1927). The biography series contains 121 items, the bulk of which is Clara Bow and her family, including husband, actor Rex Bell. Other notable people include James Garner and President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The subject series contains 31 photos of residences, pets, and the 1939 World’s Fair.

Biography

Clara Bow (1905-1965) was born Clara Gordon Bow in Brooklyn, New York. An American silent film actress, Bow embodied the Roaring Twenties and was personified as “The It Girl.” Bow’s acting career began in January 1921 after she won a movie role in the "Fame and Fortune Contest" sponsored by "Motion Picture Magazine." Even though Bow’s part in the film BEYOND THE RAINBOW (1922) was cut, she continued to pursue an acting career. Bow’s screen debut arrived with her next film, DOWN TO THE SEA IN SHIPS (1923). Although Bow was only a supporting player, many New York film critics singled her out for her exceptional performance. Shortly thereafter, Jack Bachman, a partner with B.P. Schulberg in Preferred Pictures, an independent production and distribution company based in Hollywood, offered Bow train fare to California and a three-month trial at $50 a week. A week before her 18th birthday, Bow departed New York's Grand Central Station for Hollywood. Initially unimpressed by Bow’s looks, B. P. Schulberg reluctantly granted Bow a screen test, but her natural acting ability changed his mind. In 1924 Bow was named a WAMPAS baby star by the Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers, the highest honor of the day for an aspiring screen actress. Bow worked constantly over the next few years, making more than 20 films before THE PLASTIC AGE (1926) made her a star. In 1926, when Schulberg was appointed head of productions at Paramount Pictures, he brought Bow with him and paired her with top talent and better directors. Her big break came with MANTRAP (1926), directed by Victor Fleming, which opened to rave reviews and big box office. Paramount then signed Bow to a five-year contract. Bow reached the height of her popularity as a shopgirl who seduces her employer in IT (1927), adapted from Elinor Glyn's novella. Bow was consequently dubbed “The It Girl”- “It” being a euphemism for sex appeal. Bow's next film, WINGS (1927), became one of the biggest successes of the silent era, winning the first Academy Award® for Best Picture. Although Bow was one of Paramount’s biggest silent film stars, her fame waned after she appeared in Paramount's first sound film, THE WILD PARTY (1929). At the height of her career, Bow was besieged by fan mail, with thousands of letters arriving each month. The media documented her numerous personal problems including her broken engagements and a damaging public court trial involving her former assistant, Daisy DeVoe. In 1931, Bow took a one-year hiatus from acting and married actor Rex Bell. Bow signed a two-picture deal with Fox Film Corporation in 1932 and returned to the screen with two successful films: CALL HER SAVAGE (1932) and HOOPLA (1933). Bow then retired from the screen at age 28 and devoted the rest of her life to her husband and two sons.

Arrangement of the Collection

1. Production files; 2. Subject files; 3. Oversize

Indexing terms

Bow, Clara

Actresses

Manuscripts

Production files

folder 1

BLACK LIGHTNING--clippings 1926--1926

Record ID: 71430272

folder 2

CALL HER SAVAGE--clippings and reviews 1932--1932

Record ID: 71430359

folder 3

CAMILLE--program 1927--1927

Record ID: 71430876

folder 4

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT--clippings Circa 1925--1925

Record ID: 71430360

folder 5

CHILDREN OF DIVORCE--clippings 1927--1928

Record ID: 71430361

folder 6

CITY STREETS--clippings 1930--1930

Record ID: 71430544

folder 7

DANGEROUS CURVES--clippings and reviews 1929--1930

Record ID: 71430362

folder 8

DOWN TO THE SEA IN SHIPS--clippings Circa 1922--1922

Record ID: 71430548

folder 9

THE FLEET'S IN--clippings and reviews 1928--1928

Record ID: 71430363

folder 10

THE FLEET'S IN--publicity Circa 1928--1928

Record ID: 71430364

folder 11

FORGOTTEN WOMEN--reviews 1931--1931

Record ID: 71430745

folder 12

GET YOUR MAN--clippings and reviews 1927--1927

Record ID: 71430365

folder 13

HER WEDDING NIGHT--clippings and reviews 1930--1930

Record ID: 71430366

folder 14

HOOPLA--clippings and reviews 1933--1933

Record ID: 71430367

folder 15

HULA--clippings 1928--1928

Record ID: 71430368

folder 16

IT--clippings 1926--1926

Record ID: 71430370

folder 17

THE KEEPER OF THE BEES--clippings Circa 1925--1925

Record ID: 71430372

folder 18

KICK IN--clippings 1931--1931

Record ID: 71430374

folder 19

KID BOOTS--clippings 1926--1926

Record ID: 71430375

folder 20

LADIES OF THE MOB--clippings and reviews 1928--1928

Record ID: 71430376

folder 21

LOVE AMONG THE MILLIONAIRES--clippings 1930--1930

Record ID: 71430377

folder 22

MANTRAP--clippings 1926--1926

Record ID: 71430379

folder 23

MY LADY OF WHIMS--clippings and reviews 1928--1928

Record ID: 71430555

folder 24

NO LIMIT--clippings and reviews 1931--1931

Record ID: 71430380

folder 25

PARAMOUNT ON PARADE--clippings 1930--1930

Record ID: 71430382

folder 26

THE PLASTIC AGE--clippings and reviews 1926--1926

Record ID: 71430383

folder 27

RED HAIR--clippings and reviews 1928--1928

Record ID: 71430384

folder 28

ROUGH HOUSE ROSIE--clippings Circa 1927--1927

Record ID: 71430385

folder 29

THE SATURDAY NIGHT KID--clippings 1930--1930

Record ID: 71430387

folder 30

THE SECRET CALL--clippings 1931--1931

Record ID: 71430388

folder 31

THEY HAD TO SEE PARIS--clippings Circa 1929--1929

Record ID: 71430558

folder 32

THREE WEEK-ENDS--clippings and reviews 1928--1929

Record ID: 71430389

folder 33

TRUE TO THE NAVY--clippings and reviews 1930--1930

Record ID: 71430390

folder 34

TRUE TO THE NAVY--publicity 1930--1930

Record ID: 71430391

folder 35

THE WILD PARTY--clippings and reviews 1929--1930

Record ID: 71430392

folder 36

WINGS--clippings 1926--1928

Record ID: 71430394

Subject files

folder 37

Bell, George 1964--1964

Record ID: 71430457

folder 38

Bell, Rex--clippings 1932--1932

Record ID: 71430428

folder 39

Bell, Rex--correspondence

Record ID: 71430458

folder 40

Bell, Rex and Clara Bow 1930--1935

Record ID: 71430557

folder 41

Bell, Rex Jr.--clippings 1934--1936

Record ID: 71430875

folder 42

Bell, Rex Jr.--miscellaneous 1983--1983

Record ID: 71430430

folder 43

Birthday cards

Record ID: 71430431

folder 44

Caesar, Sid

Record ID: 71430432

folder 45

Christmas cards 1930--1930

Record ID: 71430433

folder 46

Christmas cards

Record ID: 71430434

folder 47

Christmas cards--notables

Record ID: 71430435

folder 48

Clippings 1924--1933

Record ID: 71430441

folder 49

Clippings 1935--1965

Record ID: 71430442

folder 50

Clippings

Record ID: 71430443

folder 51

Clippings

Record ID: 71430444

folder 52

Clippings

Record ID: 71430445

folder 53

Clippings

Record ID: 71430446

folder 54

Clippings

Record ID: 71430447

folder 55

Clippings--family

Record ID: 71430798

folder 56

Clippings--foreign 1928--1933

Record ID: 71430436

folder 57

Clippings--foreign 1930--1931

Record ID: 71430437

folder 58

Clippings--foreign (miscellaneous) 1928--1930

Record ID: 71430438

folder 59

Clippings--miscellaneous 1961--1964

Record ID: 71430449

folder 60

Clippings--miscellaneous

Record ID: 71430881

folder 61

Clippings--pictorial 1928--1930

Record ID: 71430440

folder 62

Correspondence 1931--1944

Record ID: 71430450

folder 63

Correspondence 1951--1959

Record ID: 71430451

folder 64

Correspondence 1960--1965

Record ID: 71430453

folder 65

Correspondence

Record ID: 71430456

folder 66

Correspondence--notables 1931--1964

Record ID: 71430455

folder 67

Daisy DeVoe case 1930--1931

Record ID: 71430448

folder 68

Dempsey, Jack 1947--1947

Record ID: 71430460

folder 69

Drawings 1930--1931

Record ID: 71430461

folder 70

Fan letter response

Record ID: 71430462

folder 71

Fan mail 1926--1929

Record ID: 71430463

folder 72

Fan mail 1930--1932

Record ID: 71430464

folder 73

Fan mail 1950--1959

Record ID: 71430465

folder 74

Fan mail 1960--1965

Record ID: 71430466

folder 75

Fan mail

Record ID: 71430467

folder 76

Fleming, Victor 1926--1926

Record ID: 71430792

folder 77

Get-well cards

Record ID: 71430468

folder 78

Horse racing

Record ID: 71430801

folder 79

Louella O. Parsons serial 1931--1932

Record ID: 71430439

folder 80

Memorial service 1965--1965

Record ID: 71430469

folder 81

Miscellaneous 1930--1930

Record ID: 71430470

folder 82

Music 1928--1928

Record ID: 71430471

folder 83

Notes 1951--1962

Record ID: 71430472

folder 84

Pamphlets 1933--1941

Record ID: 71430473

folder 85

Political 1953--1961

Record ID: 71430474

folder 86

Postcards 1951--1951

Record ID: 71430475

folder 87

Restaurant menus 1932--1933

Record ID: 71431161

folder 88

Richman, Harry--clippings 1930--1930

Record ID: 71430799

folder 89

Richman, Harry--correspondence 1935--1935

Record ID: 71430459

folder 90

Scrapbook leaves 1923--1930

Record ID: 71430476

folder 91

Song lyrics

Record ID: 71430477

folder 92

Story

Record ID: 71430478

folder 93

Valentine's Day cards

Record ID: 71430479

folder 94

Will (trust) 1960--1960

Record ID: 71430480

Oversize

folder 95

Hollywood Picture News Service 1929--1929

Record ID: 71431099

folder 96

Magazine covers 1927--1938

Record ID: 71431140

folder 97

Magazine covers--foreign 1927--1930

Record ID: 71431135

folder 98

Magazines 1927--1952

Record ID: 71431141

folder 99

Magazines--foreign 1927--1931

Record ID: 71431139

folder 100

Newspapers 1931--1934

Record ID: 71431123

folder 101

Scrapbook leaves 1928--1931

Record ID: 71431124