William Beaudine papers
Catalogued by Prouty, Howard
Margaret Herrick Library. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
333 S La Cienega Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Published January 2023
Descriptive Summary
Abstract: The collection consists of film and television scripts, correspondence, contracts, books and periodicals, scrapbooks and loose
clippings, miscellaneous items, and photographs.
Collector:
Beaudine, William
Dates: 1912-1973
Collection number: 167
Collection Size:
5.8 linear ft. of papers
Repository:
Margaret Herrick Library. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Access
Available by appointment only.
Publication Rights
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
William Beaudine papers, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Acquisition Information
Gift of William Beaudine Jr., and Lucille Beaudine Warden, 1992-2005
Collection Scope and Content Summary
The William Beaudine papers span the years 1912-1973 and encompass 5.8 linear feet. The collection consists of scripts (motion
picture, television, and unproduced); subject files; scrapbooks and loose clippings; correspondence; contracts; photographs;
books and periodicals; and miscellaneous items. There are scripts for 54 of Beaudine's feature films and 27 of his television
episodes, but little other documentation of these productions. Items of particular interest include two original caricature
drawings of Beaudine; several files of his directing contracts from 1916 through 1934; "Bill Beaudine's Box Score," a nine-page
typed list prepared by Beaudine of his directing credits from 1915 through 1969; two issues of "Film Follies" (the Christie
Film Company house organ), five issues of the "Kalem Kalendar," and five "Biograph Bulletins" from 1912 and 1914.
Biography
William Beaudine [Sr.] (1892-1970) was born in New York City and entered the film industry in 1909 as a prop boy and general
assistant at Biograph Studios. He began appearing as an actor in Mack Sennett's Biograph films in 1912 and continued to work
behind the camera as well. After moving to California in 1914, he got his first chance to direct while working on the Kalem
Company's Ham and Bud comedy series in 1915. He directed as many as 150 short comedies before graduating to feature film assignments
in 1922. His early feature work—including several comedies starring Bebe Daniels and Viola Dana, and three films each with
child actors Wesley Barry and Ben Alexander—quickly established him as a capable craftsman with a light touch and a special
knack for working with children. On the strength of these credentials, he was hired to direct two major Mary Pickford vehicles,
LITTLE ANNIE ROONEY (1925) and SPARROWS (1926). He went on to become one of Hollywood's most prolific directors, turning out
more than 150 feature films after SPARROWS in virtually every conceivable genre. He directed pictures for First National,
Universal, Columbia, Warner Bros., and Paramount prior to moving to England in the mid-1930s, during which time he made 13
films, mostly comedies starring Will Hay, Max Miller, and other popular British comics. Following his return to Hollywood
in 1937, he worked almost exclusively on B pictures at such studios as Producers Releasing Corporation and Monogram (later
Allied Artists). His credits include multiple entries in the "Charlie Chan" and "Bowery Boys" series, as well as such unusual
fare as the religious drama THE PRINCE OF PEACE (1951), the sex-education/exploitation film MOM AND DAD (1946), the Disney
features WESTWARD HO THE WAGONS! (1956) and TEN WHO DARED (1960), and his final two films (both released in 1966), the horror-westerns
BILLY THE KID VS. DRACULA and JESSE JAMES MEETS FRANKENSTEIN'S DAUGHTER. As his feature film output declined in the 1950s,
he moved into television, directing more than 200 episodes of such popular series as LASSIE, RIN-TIN-TIN, and WALT DISNEY
PRESENTS. At the time of his death in 1970, Beaudine was considered to be Hollywood's oldest active director.
Arrangement of the Collection
1. Production files, subseries A-B as follows: A. Produced; B. Unproduced; 2. Television files; 3. Subject files, subseries
A-B as follows: A. General; B. Books and periodicals; 4. Scrapbooks
Indexing terms
Beaudine, William
Directors
Production files/Produced
folder 1
ANGELS' ALLEY--script
Record ID: 71328485
folder 2
BELOW THE DEADLINE--script
Record ID: 71328488
folder 3
BLONDE DYNAMITE--script
Record ID: 71328489
folder 4
BLONDE DYNAMITE--review
Record ID: 71328490
folder 5
BLUE GRASS OF KENTUCKY--script
Record ID: 71328491
folder 6
BLUE GRASS OF KENTUCKY--production
Record ID: 71328492
folder 7
BLUE GRASS OF KENTUCKY--review
Record ID: 71328493
folder 8
BLUES BUSTERS--script
Record ID: 71328494
folder 9
BORN TO THE SADDLE--script
Record ID: 71328495
folder 10
BORN TO THE SADDLE--script
Record ID: 71328496
folder 11
BOWERY BATTALION--script
Record ID: 71328497
folder 12
BOWERY BUCKAROOS--script
Record ID: 71328498
folder 13
BOWERY CHAMPS--script
Record ID: 71328499
folder 14
BOY OF MINE--script
Record ID: 71328500
folder 15
BOYS WILL BE BOYS--script
Record ID: 71328501
folder 16
BOYS WILL BE BOYS--clipping
Record ID: 71328502
folder 17
THE CANADIAN--reviews
Record ID: 71328503
folder 18
COME OUT FIGHTING--script
Record ID: 71328504
folder 19
COUNTY FAIR--script
Record ID: 71328505
folder 20
COUNTY FAIR--script
Record ID: 71328506
folder 21
COUNTY FAIR--review
Record ID: 71328507
folder 22
CRAZY OVER HORSES--script
Record ID: 71328508
folder 23
THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY--script
Record ID: 71328509
folder 24
DANDY DICK--clippings and reviews
Record ID: 71328510
folder 25
DANDY DICK--program
Record ID: 71328511
folder 26
DON'T GET ME WRONG--clipping
Record ID: 71328512
folder 27
EDUCATED EVANS--clippings and reviews
Record ID: 71328513
folder 28
FASHION MODEL--script
Record ID: 71328514
folder 29
FEATHER YOUR NEST--clipping
Record ID: 71328515
folder 30
THE FEATHERED SERPENT--script
Record ID: 71328516
folder 31
THE FEATHERED SERPENT--script
Record ID: 71328517
folder 32
FOLLOW THE LEADER--script
Record ID: 71328518
folder 33
FORGOTTEN WOMEN--script
Record ID: 71328519
folder 34
FORGOTTEN WOMEN--reviews
Record ID: 71328520
folder 35
FRISCO SALLY LEVY--reviews
Record ID: 71328521
folder 36
GHOST CHASERS--script
Record ID: 71328522
folder 37
HARD BOILED MAHONEY--script
Record ID: 71328523
folder 38
HERE COME THE MARINES--script
Record ID: 71328524
folder 39
HEROES OF THE STREET--script
Record ID: 71328525
folder 40
HOLD YOUR BREATH--promotional flier
Record ID: 71328526
folder 41
INCIDENT--script
Record ID: 71328527
folder 42
IT'S IN THE BAG--clippings
Record ID: 71328528
folder 43
JET JOB--script
Record ID: 71328529
folder 44
JIGGS AND MAGGIE IN COURT--review
Record ID: 71328530
folder 45
JIGGS AND MAGGIE IN JACKPOT JITTERS--review
Record ID: 71328531
folder 46
JINX MONEY--script
Record ID: 71328532
folder 47
JINX MONEY--production
Record ID: 71328533
folder 48
KIDNAPPED--script
Record ID: 71328534
folder 49
KILLER AT LARGE--script
Record ID: 71328535
folder 50
THE LAWTON STORY--script
Record ID: 71328536
folder 51
THE LAWTON STORY--script
Record ID: 71328537
folder 52
THE LAWTON STORY--production costs report (1950)
Record ID: 71328538
folder 53
THE LAWTON STORY--souvenir program ["The Prince of Peace"]
Record ID: 71328539
folder 54
LEAVE IT TO THE IRISH--script
Record ID: 71328540
folder 55
LET'S GO NAVY--script
Record ID: 71328541
folder 56
LET'S GO NAVY--script
Record ID: 71328542
folder 57
LET'S GO NAVY--production
Record ID: 71328543
folder 58
LITTLE ANNIE ROONEY--clippings and reviews
Record ID: 71328544
folder 59
LUCKY LOSERS--script
Record ID: 71328545
folder 60
THE MAD PARADE--script
Record ID: 71328546
folder 61
THE MAD PARADE--clippings and reviews
Record ID: 71328547
folder 62
MAKE ME A STAR--clippings and reviews
Record ID: 71328548
folder 63
MEN IN HER LIFE--review
Record ID: 71328549
folder 64
MISBEHAVING HUSBANDS--script
Record ID: 71328550
folder 65
MR. CELEBRITY--promotional flier
Record ID: 71328551
folder 66
MR. CELEBRITY--reviews and clippings
Record ID: 71328552
folder 67
MR. COHEN TAKES A WALK--clippings and reviews
Record ID: 71328553
folder 68
MR. HEX--script
Record ID: 71328554
folder 69
MURDER WITHOUT TEARS--script
Record ID: 71328555
folder 70
NEWS HOUNDS--script
Record ID: 71328556
folder 71
NEWS HOUNDS--production
Record ID: 71328557
folder 72
NEWS HOUNDS--promotional flier
Record ID: 71328558
folder 73
THE OLD FASHIONED WAY--clippings and reviews (U.K.)
Record ID: 71328559
folder 74
ONE EXCITING WEEK--script
Record ID: 71328560
folder 75
ONE EXCITING WEEK--production
Record ID: 71328561
folder 76
ONE THRILLING NIGHT--script
Record ID: 71328562
folder 77
ONE THRILLING NIGHT--promotional flier
Record ID: 71328563
folder 78
THE PANTHER'S CLAW--review
Record ID: 71328564
folder 79
PARIS PLAYBOYS--script
Record ID: 71328565
folder 80
PENROD AND SAM--reviews
Record ID: 71328566
folder 81
PRIDE OF THE BLUE GRASS--script
Record ID: 71328567
folder 82
ROAR OF THE CROWD--script
Record ID: 71328568
folder 83
ROAR OF THE CROWD--production
Record ID: 71328569
folder 84
RODEO--script
Record ID: 71328570
folder 85
RODEO--production
Record ID: 71328571
folder 86
SAID O'REILLY TO McNAB--review
Record ID: 71328572
folder 87
SECOND CHANCE--script
Record ID: 71328573
folder 88
SMUGGLERS COVE--script
Record ID: 71328574
folder 89
SO, YOU WON'T TALK--clippings and reviews
Record ID: 71328575
folder 90
SPARROWS--script
Record ID: 71328576
folder 91
SPOOK BUSTERS--script
Record ID: 71328577
folder 92
SPOOK BUSTERS--script
Record ID: 71328578
folder 93
SPOOK BUSTERS--production
Record ID: 71328579
folder 94
TEN WHO DARED--production
Record ID: 71328580
folder 95
TUNA CLIPPER--script
Record ID: 71328581
folder 96
TWO WEEKS OFF--script
Record ID: 71328582
folder 97
TWO WEEKS OFF--clippings
Record ID: 71328583
folder 98
WATCH YOUR STEP--pressbook
Record ID: 71328584
folder 99
WESTWARD HO THE WAGONS!--production
Record ID: 71328585
folder 100
WHAT A MAN!--script
Record ID: 71328586
folder 101
WHERE THERE'S A WILL--script
Record ID: 71328587
folder 102
WHERE THERE'S A WILL--clipping
Record ID: 71328588
folder 103
WHERE THERE'S A WILL--program
Record ID: 71328589
folder 104
WINDBAG THE SAILOR--script
Record ID: 71328590
folder 105
WINDBAG THE SAILOR--clippings and reviews
Record ID: 71328591
folder 106
WINDBAG THE SAILOR--program
Record ID: 71328592
folder 107
A WONDERFUL LIFE--script
Record ID: 71328593
folder 108
A WONDERFUL LIFE--production
Record ID: 71328594
folder 109
YUKON VENGEANCE--script
Record ID: 71328595
Production files/Unproduced
folder 121
BE YOUR AGE--script
Record ID: 71328608
folder 122
THE BULLFIGHTER WAS A LADY--script
Record ID: 71328610
folder 123
CHARLIE AND CHAN--script
Record ID: 71328611
folder 124
CORKY AND WHITE SHADOW SEQUEL--script
Record ID: 71328612
folder 125
[CORKY AND WHITE SHADOW SEQUEL]--script
Record ID: 71328613
folder 126
IS THERE A DUCHESS IN THE HOUSE--script
Record ID: 71328614
folder 127
IS THERE A DUCHESS IN THE HOUSE--script
Record ID: 71328615
folder 128
IS THERE A DUCHESS IN THE HOUSE--script
Record ID: 71328616
folder 129
IS THERE A DUCHESS IN THE HOUSE--script
Record ID: 71328617
folder 130
IS THERE A DUCHESS IN THE HOUSE--correspondence and contracts
Record ID: 71328618
folder 131
TIMOTHY'S QUEST--script
Record ID: 71328619
folder 110
ADVENTURE IN DAIRYLAND [television]--script
Record ID: 71328596
folder 111
THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF SPIN AND MARTY [television]--script
Record ID: 71328598
folder 112
LASSIE [television]--script
Record ID: 71328599
folder 113
LASSIE [television]--script
Record ID: 71328600
folder 114
MOOCHIE OF THE LITTLE LEAGUE [television]--script
Record ID: 71328601
folder 115
MOOCHIE OF THE LITTLE LEAGUE [television]--script
Record ID: 71328602
folder 116
RACKET SQUAD [television]--scripts
1952--1952
Record ID: 71328603
folder 117
RIN-TIN-TIN [television]--scripts
1957--1958
Record ID: 71328604
folder 118
WILD BILL HICKOK [television]--scripts
1953--1953
Record ID: 71328605
folder 119
WILD BILL HICKOK [television]--scripts
1953--1953
Record ID: 71328606
folder 120
WILD BILL HICKOK [television]--scripts
1953--1953
Record ID: 71328607
folder 132
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
1930--1931
Record ID: 71328620
folder 133
American Film Institute
1969--1972
Record ID: 71328621
folder 134
Caricature--original art
Record ID: 71328622
folder 135
Caricature--printing plate
Record ID: 71328623
folder 136
Clippings
Circa 1920--1929
Record ID: 71328624
folder 137
Clippings
Circa 1930--1939
Record ID: 71328625
folder 138
Clippings
Circa 1960--1989
Record ID: 71328626
folder 139
Clippings--obituaries
1970--1970
Record ID: 71328627
folder 140
Contracts and agreements
1916--1925
Record ID: 71328628
folder 141
Contracts and agreements
1926--1928
Record ID: 71328629
folder 142
Contracts and agreements
1929--1930
Record ID: 71328630
folder 143
Contracts and agreements
1931--1934
Record ID: 71328631
folder 144
Contracts and agreements
1959--1959
Record ID: 71328632
folder 145
Correspondence
1955--1957
Record ID: 71328633
folder 146
Correspondence
1959--1970
Record ID: 71328634
folder 147
Credits
Record ID: 71328635
folder 148
Disney, Walt, Productions--cost reports
Record ID: 71328636
folder 149
Fay, (Mrs.) Hughey
Record ID: 71328637
folder 150
Miscellaneous clippings and papers (unclassified)
Record ID: 71328638
folder 151
Publicity
Record ID: 71328639
folder 152
Warner, Jack
Record ID: 71328640
folder 161
Beaudine, William
Record ID: 71304840
folder 162
Clippings
1925--2002
Record ID: 71303496
folder 163
Correspondence
1967--1967
Record ID: 71304829
folder 164
Hochreiter, Alexander
Record ID: 71304859
folder 165
Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery
Record ID: 71304828
folder 166
Periodicals
1964--1964
Record ID: 71304831
Subject files/Books and periodicals
folder 155
Book
1918--1918
Record ID: 71328644
folder 156
Christie Film Company
Record ID: 71328645
folder 157
Kalem Kalendar
1915--1915
Record ID: 71328646
folder 158
Periodicals (#1)
Record ID: 71328647
folder 159
Periodicals (#2)
Record ID: 71328648
folder 160
Miscellaneous publications
1914--1937
Record ID: 71328649
folder
Biograph Bulletin
1912--1914
Record ID: 71328476
folder
Miscellaneous
Record ID: 71328480
folder
Pacific Auto Laundries, Inc
Record ID: 71328481
folder
Pressbooks
Record ID: 71328482
folder
Warner Bros. promotional book
1925--1926
Record ID: 71328483
Scrapbook no. 1
Circa 1920--1950
Record ID: 71328478
Scrapbook no. 2
Circa 1921--1924
Record ID: 71328651
Scrapbook no. 3
Circa 1922--1931
Record ID: 71328652
Scrapbook no. 4
Circa 1930--1949
Record ID: 71328653
Scrapbook no. 5
1934--1935
Record ID: 71328654
Scrapbook no. 6
1967--1967
Record ID: 71328655