Dwain Esper papers, 1928-1984
Finding aid prepared by Anh Kiet Ngo, under the supervision of Melissa Haley; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline
Cubé.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1575
(310) 825-4988
spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
Finding aid last updated 14 July 2016.
Title: Dwain Esper papers
Collection number: 2301
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.8 linear ft.
(2 document boxes and 1 oversize flatbox)
Date (inclusive): 1928-1984
Abstract: This collection primarily contains material belonging to movie producer and director Dwain Esper and his wife Hildagarde,
including photographs, correspondence, business records, and advertisements, many of which are connected to Esper's movies
and career.
Physical Location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library Special
Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Creator:
Esper, Dwain
Restrictions on Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library Special
Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright,
are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright
and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Dwain Esper Papers (Collection 2301). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research
Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Francis M. Woods and Kimberly Douglas, 2014.
Biography/History
Dwain Esper (1892-1982) was an American producer and director of exploitation films including
Narcotic (1933),
Maniac (1934),
Marihuana (1936), and
Sex Madness (1938). He is best-known as producer/distributor of the cult classic
Reefer Madness (1936). In 1920, Esper married Hildagarde Stadie (1895-1993), who also wrote some of his movies.
Scope and Content
This collection consists of correspondence, legal and copyright material, photographs, and advertisements related to Dwain
Esper's films, and well as business and financial records. Also present are some personal papers and photographs, as well
as two sex education booklets by Hildagarde Esper. There is no material in this collection related to the film
Reefer Madness.
Organization and Arrangement
The collection is organized into the following series:
- Series 1. Film-related papers
- Series 2. Business records
- Series 3. Personal material
- Series 4. Photographs
- Series 5. Advertisements
- Series 6. Books
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Esper, Hildagarde
Renay, Liz
Exploitation films
Maniac (Motion picture: 1934)
Series 1. Film-related papers.
1930-1984.
Scope and Content
Series includes copyright paperwork, legal agreements, publicity material, correspondence, ratings paperwork, and a script
(Maniac) related to specific films produced by Esper or of interest to him. Also present is a small amount of financial records,
primarily invoices for film prints, as well as correspondence regarding theatrical releases and M.J.W. Theatrical Enterprises,
Inc. Advertisements for Esper's films are located in Series 5.
Box 1, Folder 1
"Egyptian Picture."
undated.
Box 1, Folder 2
French Peep Show.
1972-1977.
Box 1, Folder 4
Hitler's Strange Love Life.
1973.
Scope and Content
Alternative titles include Will It Happen Again? and Conform or Die.
Box 1, Folder 5
How to Undress in Front of Your Husband.
1935, undated .
Box 1, Folder 6
Ingagi.
1930, 1950, 1978.
Box 1, Folder 8
Will It Happen Again?.
1948, 1975.
Scope and Content
Alternative title for Hitler's Strange Love Life.
Box 1, Folder 9
Legal/copyright records.
1950-1984.
Box 1, Folder 10
Correspondence.
1950, 1971-1976.
Box 1, Folder 11
Financial records.
1972-1973.
Series 2. Business records.
1957-1970.
Scope and Content
Includes financial records, correspondence, and reports relating to other business or real estate dealings of Dwain and Hildagarde
Esper.
Box 1, Folder 12
Tempest Mining Corporation.
1970.
Box 1, Folder 13
Warm Springs Lead-Zinc Prospect.
1957.
Box 1, Folder 14
Financial records.
1957-1964.
Series 3. Personal material.
1942-[1984].
Scope and Content
Series includes Esper's membership cards, notes. clippings, entertainment magazines, and ephemera. Also present are photographs
(box 1), clippings, and posters related to cult film star and burlesque performer Liz Renay (1926-2007).
Box 1, Folder 16
Membership cards.
1942-1969.
Box 2, Folder 1
Magazines and ephemera.
1945-1979, undated.
Box 1, Folder 18, Box 2, Folder 2
Liz Renay material.
1970s.
Series 4. Photographs.
[1900s]-1960.
Scope and Content
Series contains primarily reprints of historic photographs of 20th century figures and events, including Adolf Hitler, Eva
Braun, Benito Mussolini, and Vladimir Lenin, as well as Nazi concentration camps. Also present are film stills from Forbidden
Adventure, images of marquees of theaters screening Esper's films, and family photographs.
Box 1, Folder 19
Hitler/Nazi Germany.
undated.
Box 1, Folder 20
Buchenwald/concentration camps.
undated.
Box 1, Folder 22
Mussolini/Italy.
undated.
Box 1, Folder 24
Other historical figures.
undated.
Box 1, Folder 25
Forbidden Adventure stills.
undated.
Box 1, Folder 26
Theater marquees.
undated.
Box 1, Folder 27
Film stills (non-Esper).
undated .
Box 1, Folder 28
Family photographs.
[1900s]-1960.
Series 5. Advertisements.
Undated.
Scope and Content Note
Series consists of lobby cards for Forbidden Adventure and mock-ups of advertisements for other Esper films, as well as some
promotional material for a few non-Esper films.
Box 2, Folder 3
Forbidden Adventure.
undated.
Box 2, Folder 5
Hitler's Strange Love Life.
undated.
Scope and Content
Includes one full-size poster.
Box 1, Folder 29
Ads (relief mats).
undated.
Box 3
Series 6. Books.
1934-1948.
Scope and Content
Contains two sex education booklets by Hildagarde Esper: Your Sex Questions Answered... What Every Modern Mother and Father
Should Know (1934), and Facts of Life: What Every Adult Should Know about Sex and Its Relation to Human Happiness (1948).
Also present is The Book of Poe: Tales, Criticism, Poems (1934).
