Harrington (Curtis) papers, 1875-2008, bulk 1945-2006

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Summary

Title:
Curtis Harrington papers
Dates:
1875-2008, bulk 1945-2006
Creators:
Harrington, Curtis
Extent:
30 linear feet of papers.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Curtis Harrington papers, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Background

Scope and content:

The Curtis Harrington papers span the years 1875-2008 (bulk 1945-2006) and encompass 30 linear feet. There are scripts, correspondence, clippings, reviews, and production material for Harrington? experimental films from the 1940s through mid-1950s, work he did as Jerry Wald? assistant from 1956 to 1963, and his own films from 1963 to 2002. There is correspondence related to his work in television, story files comprised of scripts, correspondence with experimental filmmakers, and drafts of an incomplete autobiography. The subject files include correspondence with Harrington? experimental film distributor Brandon Films, genealogical and personal material on Harrington? family, interviews, a journal, notebooks, and drafts of Harrington? oral history conducted here at the Academy. Finally, there are writings, books on film and filmmaking, periodicals, and three scrapbooks.

Biographical / historical:

Curtis Harrington was an American experimental filmmaker, director, producer, and screenwriter. In the 1940s and 1950s, he emerged as a filmmaker when he wrote and directed several experimental avante garde shorts. He served as the executive assistant to Jerry Wald from 1956 to 1961 and as an associate producer at 20th Century-Fox. Curtis largely discarded the "experimental" tradition in his feature work which specialized in low-budget horror pictures.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Curtis Harrington, 1991-1998; bequest of Curtis Harrington estate, 2007
Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series: 1. Production files, subseries A-B as follows: A. Produced; B. Unproduced; 2. Television files, subseries A-B as follows: A. Produced; B. Unproduced; 3. Story files; 4. Correspondence; 5. Subject files; 6. Writings; 7. Books; 8. Periodicals; 9. Oversize; 10. Scrapbooks

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Special Collections
Date Prepared:
© 2013
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid derived from Inmagic. Date of source: June 26, 2013

Access and use

Restrictions:

Available by appointment only.

Terms of access:

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:

Curtis Harrington papers, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Location of this collection:
333 S. La Cienega Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90211, US
Contact:
(310) 247-3036 extension 2226
specialcollections@oscars.org
Website