Al Gilks papers, 1920s-1970s, bulk 1920s-1950s

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Summary

Creators:
Gilks, Alfred
Abstract:
Cameraman and cinematographer Al Gilks is credited with over sixty films. The collection consists of photographs, clippings, scripts, and printed trade publications related to Gilks?s career from the 1920s to the 1950s. Additionally there are mounted photographs related to his involvement with William K. Vanderbilt film, Over the Seven Seas.
Extent:
1.0 Linear Feet (2 flat boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Al Gilks papers (Collection 1324). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of material related to the career of cinematographer Al Gilks. Included are photographs, clippings, scripts, and printed trade publications. Among the photographs are 67 mounted images representing Gilks?s involvement with the William K. Vanderbilt film, Over the Seven Seas, a small number of publicity photographs from Old Ironsides, and a small number of stills and photographs from unidentified film projects. Scripts include Rius the Widower, Ruggles of Red Gap sequence B pages, and the television series Halls of Ivy. Clippings represent writings about Gilks and/or projects in which he was involved, such as Old Ironsides. A small number of trade publications publicize the 24th Academy Award winners, which included Gilks. Materials in this collection represent only a small portion of Gilks?s career.

Biographical / historical:

Al Gilks was born ca. 1892. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War I. He started his career as a cameraman in 1918. During World War II, Gilks served as a member of the Field Photographic Unit of the Office of Strategic Services under John Ford and was involved in the filming of the ?Canal Report?. Gilks worked at Paramount Studios for many years but was also involved in productions for other studios including MGM, RKO Radio Pictures, and C.V. Whitney Pictures. During his career, Gilks worked with the likes of Dorothy Arzner and Sam Wood, among others. His motion picture credits includes over sixty films such as An American in Paris, North of 36, Old Ironsides, Ruggles of Red Gap and Dr. Kildare features. In 1922, Gilks became a member of the American Society of Cinematographers. While filming Old Ironsides in 1926, Gilks's Navy background was useful for capturing the natural sailing conditions and operation of one of the first "nautical" cameras. In 1932, Gilks was involved in Over the Seven Seas, a production documenting William K. Vanderbilt?s round-the-world cruise for the Marine Museum. In 1951, Gilks shared the Academy Award in cinematography for his work on the MGM production, An American in Paris. Gilks retired in 1960. He died in 1970 from a heart attack in Hollywood, California.

Processing information:

Processed by Vanessa Villavicencio with assistance from Julie Graham.

Collections are processed to a variety of levels depending on the work necessary to make them usable, their perceived user interest and research value, availability of staff and resources, and competing priorities. Library Special Collections provides a standard level of preservation and access for all collections and, when time and resources permit, conducts more intensive processing. These materials have been arranged and described according to national and local standards and best practices.

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Physical location:
Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

Terms of access:

Property rights to the physical objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other 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], Al Gilks papers (Collection 1324). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
Website