Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Oakie (Jack) papers
2222
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Cinematic Arts Library
Title: Jack Oakie papers
Creator:
Oakie, Jack, 1903-1978
Identifier/Call Number: 2222
Physical Description:
103.8 Linear Feet
83 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1888-1996
Abstract: This collection consists of scrapbooks, business files, financial records, scripts, radio transcripts, screenplays, publications,
television recordings, clippings, realia, and personal materials of American actor Jack Oakie (1903-1978).
Language of Material:
English.
Materials represented in the collection are business files, financial records, scripts, publications, television recordings,
radio transcripts, clippings, scrapbooks, realia, and personal materials. This collection consists of the initial donation
of items to USC in the early 2000s, and additional boxes transferred from University of Wyoming in 2017.
Present in the collection are leather bound scrapbooks documenting Oakie's life and career through the 1970s, with photographs,
article clippings, and film stills. Within the volumes are some behind the scenes photographs on the sets of Oakie's films.
Also represented are publications related to, or featuring, Oakie and his career, as well as copies of Jack Oakie and Victoria
Horne Oakie's book
When the Line Is Straight: Jack Oakie's Comedy in Motion Pictures. from Strawberry Hill Press (1997). There are 98 transcripts of the "Jack Oakie College" radio program (1936-1939), television
scripts for
Studio One (1958),
The Real McCoys (1962), and
Mister Ed (1964) and also screenplay, including
The Life of Riley (1949),
Around the World in 80 Days (1956),
The Rat Race (1960),
Lover Come Back (1961), and
Pocketful of Miracles (1961). Two 2'' Quadriplex recordings of Rona Barrett television segments from 1971, and 1973 about Oakie are included in
the collection. Among the personal items are magazines, books, USC football schedules, and Oakie's cameras and binoculars.
Realia includes items from Oakie's office, event invitations, and a sun helmet.
Jack Oakie (1903-1978) was an American actor who began his career in silent film and transitioned to talking films, becoming
well known for his comedies. Oakie appeared in 87 films and is best known for his role as Benzino Napaloni in Charlie Chaplin's
The Great Dictator (1940).
According to David Sonne, Trustee of the Jack Oakie and Victoria Horne Oakie Charitable Foundation "[Oakie] started off in
Wall Street and unbeknownst to a lot of people, there was some sort of underground explosion that took place outside of the
building he was working in, and he was functionally deaf for many years. His hearing started to improve later in life, but
most of his acting was via lip reading and, when dancing or singing, he was able to feel the beat of the music, even though
he could not hear it. And, astoundingly enough, Jack was able to sing in key."
The Jack Oakie and Victoria Horne Oakie Charitable foundation awards scholarships to USC School of Cinematic Arts students,
and provides awards for outstanding students of the University of Wyoming Department of Theatre and Dance.
Advance notice required for access.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
Finding aid description and metadata are licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Cinematic Arts Library
at ctlibarc@usc.edu. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Cinematic Arts Library as the owner of the physical
items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of the Jack Oakie Estate, September 29, 1976; later donation 2018.
[Box/folder no. or item name], Jack Oakie papers, Collection no. 2222, Cinematic Arts Library, USC Libraries, University of
Southern California.
Collection is partially processed.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Actors -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Motion picture actors and actresses -- United States -- Archival resources
Scrapbooks
Clippings
Oakie, Jack, 1903-1978 -- Archives