Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Davies, Marion
- Abstract:
- The papers consist of accounting and financial information for most of Davies's later films and correspondence files from the 1950s. There is also information about Davies's business dealings, as well as her relationship with the Hearst organization after Hearst's death. The photograph series consists of glass slides, nitrate negatives, and prints of biography photographs.
- Extent:
- 6.25 linear ft. of papers 1 linear ft. of photos
- Language:
- Languages represented in the collection: English
- Preferred citation:
-
Marion Davies estate papers, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Marion Davies estate papers span the years 1906-1975 (bulk 1922-1937 and 1951-1961) and encompass 6.25 linear feet. The papers in the original gift consist of two separate groups of material. The first is accounting and financial information for most of Davies's later films, though there is some information on such early films as FIVE AND TEN (1927) and SHOW PEOPLE (1928). Credit information may be found in the accounting files, since salaries for different departments are often listed. The second group is correspondence files from the 1950s. These files are not complete; most of the material is for the years 1951-1953 and 1959-1961. Among the people writing to Davies are Diana Barrymore, Ingrid Bergman, Eleanor Boardman, Harry d'Abbadie D'Arrast, and Constance Talmadge. Of special interest is a letter from Jacqueline Kennedy describing her honeymoon stay at Davies's house. There is also information about Davies's business dealings, as well as her relationship with the Hearst organization after Hearst's death.
The 2017 Additions comprise two Subseries, Production files and Subject files. The Production files consist of fan scrapbook leaves or photographs of fan scrapbook pages documenting the films of Marion Davies. The Subject files document the disposal of Davies's estate, and also notably include correspondence from William Randolph Hearst to Davies as well as photocopies of annotated transcripts of an extended taped interview with Davies.
The donor of the Additions, Julie Payne, was the step-daughter of Marion Davies's nephew, Charles Lederer. She discovered this material in 2017, during the course of a residential relocation, in an old suitcase of Lederer's that had been in storage since his death in 1976.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Marion Davies (1897-1961) was born Marion Cecilia Douras in Brooklyn, New York, and began appearing on stage in 1913. By 1915 she was a well-known chorus girl appearing in numerous revues. That year she met William Randolph Hearst, and they began an affair that lasted until his death in 1951. In 1917 Davies made her first film, RUNAWAY ROMANY, and from then on her films were made by Cosmopolitan Pictures—Hearst's company—for release through Paramount, MGM, and finally Warner Bros. Among her best-known films were WHEN KINGHTHOOD WAS IN FLOWER (1922), THE PATSY (1928), SHOW PEOPLE (1928), and POLY OF THE CIRCUS (1932). Her last film was EVER SINCE EVE (1937). Davies was renowned as a hostess and gave memorable parties at the Hearst estate in San Simeon, as well as at her Santa Monica beach house. After her retirement, she became deeply involved with many charities, supporting a free children's clinic for many years. She married a seaman, Captain Horace Brown, several months after Hearst's death.
- Acquisition information:
- Gift of Gordon Mueller, 1992, with additions from Julie Payne, 2017.
- Arrangement:
-
1. Production files; 2. Television files; 3. Subject files; 4. 2017 Additions, subseries A-B, as follows: A. Production files; B. Subject files; 5. Oversize; 6. Photographs
- Rules or conventions:
- Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard
Indexed terms
- Subjects:
- Actresses
- Names:
- Davies, Marion
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:
-
Marion Davies estate papers, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
- Location of this collection:
-
333 S. La Cienega BlvdBeverly Hills, CA 90211, US
- Contact:
- (310) 247-3036 extension 2226