Finding Aid to the Tony Reyes Papers, 1950-2003
Coll2013.021
Finding aid prepared by Daniel Priore
Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, California, 90007
(213) 741-0094
askone@ONEarchives.org
© 2013
Title: Tony Reyes papers
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2013.021
Contributing Institution:
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
5.0 linear feet.
1 archive box, 2 archive cartons, and 2 flat boxes
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1960-1990
Date (inclusive): 1950-2003
Abstract: Tony Reyes was a Los Angeles based entertainer and a founding member of ONE Incorporated with his partner Don Slater. This
collection primarily consists of music recordings, photographs, newspaper clippings, letters, and clothing regarding Reyes'
entertainment career, but does also include personal travel and art photographs as well as pre-1964 ONE Incorporated event
recordings.
Language of Materials: The bulk of these materials are in English, however some articles and audiotapes are in Spanish.
creator:
Reyes, Tony (Antonio), circa 1929-2003
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder #, or item name] Tony Reyes Papers, Coll2013-021, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University
of Southern California.
Scope and Contents
The collection comprises music recordings, photographs, newspaper clippings, letters, and clothing regarding Reyes' personal
life and entertainment career, 1950-2003. The materials document his days as a flamenco dancer at various entertainment venues
throughout Los Angeles as well as his development as a dancer, musician, singer, and teacher. Photographs include images documenting
his personal life, art, travel, and entertainment career. The bulk of the audiotapes contains music Reyes used or created
for performing or teaching dance, music, and singing. Other audiotapes contain early recordings from ONE Incorporated meetings,
lectures, and conferences, including a recording of the 1955 Midwinter Institute.
Biography
Tony Reyes was a Los Angeles based entertainer and founding member of ONE Incorporated. He began his career as a flamenco
dancer on Olvera Street and eventually expanded into various genres of dance, music, and singing as a performer and teacher.
Reyes was together with his partner Don Slater for over 50 years and had been actively involved with Slater at ONE Incorporated
from 1952-1964. Reyes became an amateur painter later in his life.
Separated Materials
Removed to the ONE audiovisual collection
ONE Incorporated event recordings, catalog numbers ARR0089-ARR0116
Removed to the Jim Kepner Papers
Figures in German History and Shots of Keval - photograph negative reel
Toward Tomorrow, no.1 (1944)
Removed to the ONE periodical collection
Toward Tomorrow - Issue #1
Voice of Imagi-Nation - November 1941, Issue # 19
Voice of Imagi-Nation - January 1942, Issue # 20
Voice of Imagi-Nation - February 1942, Issue # 21
Voice of Imagi-Nation - VoM Suppl, Issue # 23
Voice of Imagi-Nation - August 1942, Issue # 24
Voice of Imagi-Nation - 1942, Issue # 25
Voice of Imagi-Nation - November 1942, Issue # 26
Voice of Imagi-Nation - September 1943, Issue # 27
Voice of Imagi-Nation - November 1943, Issue # 28
Voice of Imagi-Nation - January 1944, Issue # 29
Voice of Imagi-Nation - 1944, Issue # 30
Voice of Imagi-Nation - 1944, Issue # 31
Voice of Imagi-Nation - May 1944, Issue # 32
Voice of Imagi-Nation - June 1944, Issue # 33
Voice of Imagi-Nation - July 1944, Issue # 34
Voice of Imagi-Nation - August 1944, Issue # 35
Voice of Imagi-Nation - October 1944, Issue # 36
Voice of Imagi-Nation - December 1944, Issue # 37
Voice of Imagi-Nation - January 1945, Issue # 38
Voice of Imagi-Nation - January 1945, Issue # 39
Voice of Imagi-Nation - March 1945, Issue # 40
Voice of Imagi-Nation - April 1945, Issue # 41
Voice of Imagi-Nation - May 1945, Issue # 42
Voice of Imagi-Nation - June 1945, Issue # 43
Voice of Imagi-Nation - July 1945, Issue # 44
Voice of Imagi-Nation - August 1945, Issue # 45
Voice of Imagi-Nation - September 1945, Issue # 46
Voice of Imagi-Nation - October 1945, Issue # 47
Voice of Imagi-Nation - November 1945, Issue # 48
Voice of Imagi-Nation - July 1946, Issue # 49
Voice of Imagi-Nation - 1946, Issue # 50
Acquisition
Date and method of acquisition unknown.
Processing Information
The newspaper scrapbook was formerly in box 102-A131. Collection processed by Daniel Priore, March 2013.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries 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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
ONE, Inc.
Audiotapes
Flamenco
Gay activists--California--Los Angeles
Tony Reyes papers
1950-2003
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of reel-to-reel audiotapes, 33 rpm records, and photographs regarding the entertainment career and
personal life of Tony Reyes, 1950-2003. To a lesser extent, the collection also includes correspondence, flyers, performance
programs, and clippings as well as recordings of ONE Incorporated events from 1955-1963, including the 1955 Midwinter Institute.
The bulk of the photographs consists of headshots and other entertainment photographs of Reyes, but also includes signed photographs
of other entertainers. The collection includes a Flamenco outfit with dancing shoes that Reyes used for his performances.
Arrangement
This series is arranged in alphabetical order by subject material.
Box 1, Folder 1
Accordion photographs
1976, 1990
Scope and Contents note
6 black-and-white photographs (including duplicates) and 1 negative of Reyes with an accordion.
Box 2, Folder 1
Artwork photograph album
Undated
Physical Description:
[orange/pink album cover with an image of a white cat with a blue hat]
Scope and Contents
33 color photographs of original artwork by Tony Reyes along with 2 small postcard size paintings.
Box 1, Folder 2
Autographed photographs
1959-1971
Scope and Contents note
31 autographed black-and-white photographs of various entertainers.
Box 1, Folder 3
Casa Escobar photographs
Undated
Scope and Contents note
3 black-and-white photographs and 7 black-and-white negatives of the Casa Escobar restaurant. Also includes a photocopied
image of a young Tony Reyes.
Box 5, Folder 1
Clippings and flyers
Undated
Physical Description:
[oversized]
Box 1, Folder 4
Country-western photographs
1990
Scope and Contents note
3 photographs (including duplicates) of Reyes in country-western attire.
Box 1, Folder 5
Dagoberto Reyes
1982
Scope and Contents note
Articles on artist Dagoberto Reyes.
Box 1, Folder 6
Dancer photographs
1985, undated
Scope and Contents note
14 black-and-white photographs of various dancers, including Tony.
Box 1, Folder 7
El Paseo Inn flyers
Undated
Box 1, Folder 8
El Paseo photographs
Undated
Scope and Contents note
4 black-and-white photographs (including duplicates) of Reyes for publicizing his El Paseo Inn performances.
Box 2, Folder 4
Entertainment photograph album
Undated
Physical Description:
[off-white cover with gold trim]
Scope and Contents
83 black-and-white photographs featuring a young Tony Reyes and partners in dance, music, and singing poses. Included are
flyers, clippings and two drawings of Reyes.
Box 1, Folder 9
Entertainment photographs
Undated
Scope and Contents note
14 publicity photographs (including duplicates) and 5 negatives of Reyes in professional entertainer attire. One of the photographs
was signed by Reyes.
Box 5, Folder 2
Entertainment photographs
Undated
Physical Description:
[oversized]
Scope and Contents
8 enlarged entertainment photographs of Tony Reyes and other entertainers, including 2 signed by female entertainers. 1 photograph
of Tony Reyes is a mounted 18 x 24 inch poster.
Box 2, Folder 2
European vacation photograph album
1979
Physical Description:
[green album cover]
Scope and Contents
48 color photographs of Reyes' European travels. Also includes 10 pages of clippings from vacation brochures.
Garment-bag 1
Flamenco costume
Scope and Contents note
The Tony Reyes flamenco costume includes a red and yellow cape, turquoise vest, and white ruffled shirt.
Box 1, Folder 10
Guitar photographs
1960, 1970
Scope and Contents note
7 black-and-white photographs (including duplicates) and 1 black-and-white negative of Reyes with a guitar.
Box 1, Folder 11
Headshots
Scope and Contents note
24 black-and-white photographs (including duplicates) and 8 negatives of Tony Reyes for professional use.
Box 2, Folder 3
Janina and Antonio photograph album
1979-1980, undated
Physical Description:
[green album cover]
Scope and Contents note
143 color and black-and-white photographs of Reyes with Janina Laufer on vacation and at weddings as well as 4 photographs
of Reyes at a younger age.
Box 1, Folder 12
Naila and Antonio oriental duet with tambourine
1989
Scope and Contents note
5 black-and-white photographs (including duplicates) and 3 negatives of Reyes with partner Nalia in their oriental duet attire.
Box 3
Music recordings
1962-1964
General Physical Description note: [11 7-inch reel-to-reel audiotapes, 7 5-inch reel-to-reel audiotapes, 5 3-inch reel-to-reel audiotapes, 11 33rpm records,
3 empty but labeled reel-to-reel containers, 2 empty but labeled records sleeves, and 1 loose 3x5-inch card label]
Scope and Contents
The audio reels consist of piano, guitar, orchestral, and singing music for Tony Reyes' dance, music, and voice performances
and/or lessons. The recordings include music for the waltz, tango, rumba, swing, cha cha, samba, and flamenco. The audio reels
contain piano music recorded by Janina Laufer as well as guitar music and singing by Reyes. One record contains an autograph
by Graciela Flores, another a live recording of Reyes with others on Olvera Street. One reel is labeled as "Sleep Tape: Invocation
of Thoth."
Box 4
Music recordings
1963-1996
General Physical Description note: [22 5-inch reel-to-reel audiotapes]
Scope and Contents
The audio reels consist of piano, guitar, orchestral, and singing music for Tony Reyes' dance, music, and voice performances
and lessons. The reels include singing performances by Tony Reyes and piano music played by Janina Laufer and Ms. Franco.
One reel contains a compilation from Don Slater's favorite records.
Box 2, Folder 5
Newspaper scrapbook
1950-1979
Physical Description:
[red album cover]
Scope and Contents
Scrapbook of newspaper articles, flyers, and advertisements for shows hosted by Tony Reyes.
ONE Incorporated recordings
1955-1963
General Physical Description note: [28 reel-to-reel audiotapes]
Scope and Contents note
The audio reels contain recordings of various programs, panels, lectures, and discussions hosted by ONE Incorporated, including
the 1955 Midwinter Institute. The recordings also include broadcast tapes concerning gay and lesbian issues, often involving
a member of ONE Incorporated. For more information, refer to catalog numbers ARR0089-ARR0116 in the ONE audiovisual collection.
Box 1, Folder 13
Orchestra negative
1976
Scope and Contents note
1 negative of a pianist and drummer.
Box 1, Folder 14
Personal papers
1990-2003, undated
Scope and Contents note
Performance and teaching flyers, clippings, and correspondence. Includes Reyes' entertainment resume and a one page biography
of his entertainment career.
Box 1, Folder 15
Personal photographs
1979-1990, undated
Scope and Contents note
23 color and black-and-white photographs of Tony Reyes with friends and family including his partner Don Slater. Also includes
8 black-and-white photographs and 1 black-and-white negative of Reyes' artwork as well as 4 black-and-white photographs of
Louise's [no last name given] family from what appears to be the early twentieth century.
Box 1, Folder 16
Reyes Troupe advertisement
Box 1, Folder 17
Singing photographs
1987
Scope and Contents note
3 black-and-white photographs (including duplicates) and 1 black-and-white negative of Reyes singing.
Box 1, Folder 18
"Those Were the Days"
Scope and Contents note
Sheet music and song lyrics.