Finding Aid for the Harry Pilcer papers, 1911-1940s
Processed by Michele James with assistance from Julie Graham; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé after
initial encoding by Julie Graham.
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
©2014 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Title: Harry Pilcer papers
Collection number: 1941
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.0 linear ft.
(2 boxes and 1 flat box)
Date (inclusive): 1911-1940s
Abstract: Harry Pilcer was an American dancer and entertainer. The collection consists of papers and photographs pertaining to his life
and career, particularly the time he spent partnering with Gaby Deslys, the French dancer and actress.
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact UCLA Library Special Collections
for paging information.
Creator:
Pilcer, Harry, 1885-1961
Restrictions on Access
Open for research. STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact UCLA Library
Special Collections for paging information.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UC Regents. 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], Harry Pilcer papers (Collection 1941). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research
Library, UCLA.
Biography
Harry Pilcer was born in 1885 in New York and debuted on Broadway when he was 14 years old. He was an American dancer and
entertainer who spent a good deal of time in France. He was known through his partnership with Gaby Deslys, who was a well-known
French actress and dancer in the early 1900s. Together, they popularized a dance named after Deslys, called The Gaby Glide.
Pilcer's stage credits include
Vera Violetta (1911),
Stop! Look! Listen! (1915),
Laissez-Les Tomber (1917) and
Pins and Needles (1922). He also appeared in the films
Her Triumph (1915) and
Infatuation (1918). After Deslys's death in 1920, Pilcer partnered with the French dancer Mistinguett for ten years. In 1930, he began
working as master of ceremonies and entertainer at French casinos owned by Francois Andre and remained a popular entertainer
in France throughout the 1930s. He was a choreographer for and appeared in the film
The Razor's Edge (1946). Pilcer continued to work as an entertainer until his death in 1961.
Scope and Content
The collection consists of photographs, correspondence, writings, and ephemera related to the career of entertainer and dancer
Harry Pilcer. The bulk of the material represents Pilcer's partnership with French dancer and actress Gaby Deslys. The photographs
include images of Deslys and Pilcer alone and together as well as what appear to be personal photographs of Pilcer and others.
The correspondence is primarily letters, notes and telegrams to Pilcer; a number of the telegrams and notes are from Deslys.
The writings include typescript and holograph versions of a story that appears to be about Pilcer and to some degree his association
with Deslys. The small amount of ephemera includes invoices billed to Pilcer, music and other miscellany. Additionally there
are two employment contracts. A small portion of the collection is in French.
Organization and Arrangement
Arranged in the following series:
- Photographs
- Contracts
- Correspondence
- Writings
- Ephemera
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Deslys, Gaby, 1881-1920.
Pilcer, Harry, 1885-1961 --Archives.
Dancers--Archives.
Photographs.
Photographs.
Scope and Content
The bulk of the photographs are images of Gaby Deslys and Harry Pilcer, alone and together. Although the photographs are not
dated, many appear to embody their professional partnership as dancers in the early 1900s. Additionally there are a small
number of photographs with Pilcer and other unidentified individuals. There is no specific arrangement to the series.
Box 2, Folder 6
Photographs (16 items).
no date.
Additional Note
Mostly of Gaby Deslys and Harry Pilcer.
Box 2, Folder 7
Photographs (24 items).
no date.
Additional Note
Some of Gaby Deslys and Harry Pilcer.
Box 2, Folder 1
Photographs of Gaby Deslys (47 items).
no date.
Additional Note
Some with Harry Pilcer.
Box 3, Folder 1
Photographs of Gaby Deslys and Harry Pilcer (11 items).
no date.
Box 3, Folder 3
Photographs of Gaby Deslys and Harry Pilcer (15 items).
no date.
Box 2, Folder 10
Photographs of Gaby Deslys and Harry Pilcer (16 items).
no date.
Box 2, Folder 9
Photographs of Gaby Deslys and Harry Pilcer (17 items).
no date.
Box 2, Folder 5
Photographs of Gaby Deslys and Harry Pilcer (18 items).
no date.
Box 2, Folder 8
Photographs of Harry Pilcer and others (16 items).
no date.
Box 2, Folder 2
Photographs of Harry Pilcer and others (35 items).
1947, no date.
Box 2, Folder 4
Photographs of Harry Pilcer and others (39 items).
1918, 1947, no date.
Box 2, Folder 3
Photographs of Harry Pilcer and others (92 items).
no date.
Box 3, Folder 2
Photographs of others (8 items).
no date.
Additional Note
Including autographed photographs from Olympe Bradna and [Glam] Pop Lee.
Box 1, Folder 13
Unidentified Photograph.
no date.
Box 1, Folder 7
Deslys and Pilcer Agreements (2 items).
1915, 1919.
Correspondence.
Scope and Content
The correspondence is primarily telegrams, letters and notes to Pilcer. The bulk of the telegrams and notes are from Gaby
Deslys. Some of the material is written in French. There is no specific arrangement to the series.
Box 1, Folder 6
Cards to Pilcer.
1948, no date.
Box 1, Folder 14
Letters to Harry Pilcer.
1916-1920, 1929, 1943-1949.
Additional Note
Many in French.
Box 1, Folder 15
Letters to Harry Pilcer.
no date.
Additional Note
Many in French.
Box 1, Folder 4
Notes to Harry Pilcer.
1919, 1920, 1946, no date.
Additional Note
Some in French.
Box 1, Folder 5
Telegrams.
19-teens, 1948.
Additional Note
Many from Gaby Deslys. Some in French.
Writings.
Scope and Content
The writings include typescript and holograph versions of a story that appears to be about Pilcer and to some degree his association
with Deslys. Additionally there is a multipage outline titled, Gaby and Harry. There is no specific arrangement to the series.
Box 1, Folder 1
Gaby and Harry Outline - typed manuscript.
no date.
Additional Note
Appears to be biographical information.
Box 1, Folder 3
Holograph manuscript (no title).
no date.
Additional Note
Appears to be biographical story about Pilcer. Possibly related to Typescript manuscript in box 1 folder 2.
Box 1, Folder 2
Typescript manuscript (no title).
no date.
Additional Note
Appears to be biographical story about Pilcer. Possibly related to Holograph Manuscript in box 1 folder 3.
Ephemera.
Scope and Content
The Ephemera series contains clippings and sheet music representing select projects in which Pilcer was involved, a small
amount of invoices billed to Pilcer, business cards, programs, and original and printed sketches. There is no specific arrangement
to the series.
Box 1, Folder 8
Clippings about Pilcer.
1945-1947, no date.
Additional Note
Some in French.
Box 1, Folder 16
Invoices billed to Harry Pilcer.
1940s, no date.
Additional Note
Appears related to living expenses; two billed to Fannie Brice.
Box 1, Folder 9
Programs.
1916, 1949, no date.
Box 1, Folder 11
Screen Actors Guild Membership and Receipts.
1943-1945.
Box 1, Folder 17
Sheet Music and lyrics.
c. 1911, c.1920, c. 1947, no date.
Additional Note
The Gaby Glide, Mam'selle, J'aime Ta Pomme from The Razor's Edge, and Mon Homme.
Box 1, Folder 10
Sketches, drawings and printed art work.
no date.
