Finding Aid for the Jack Oakie papers 2222
Sarah Jardini for History Associates Incorporated
USC Libraries Cinematic Arts Library
2022 February
Doheny Memorial Library G4
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California 90089-0185
ctlibarc@usc.edu
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
Box 1, Box 1A, Box 2, Box 3, Box 4, Box 5, Box 6, Box 7, Box 8, Box 9, Box 10, Box 11, Box 12, Box 13, Box 14, Box 15, Box 16, Box 17, Box 18, Box 19, Box 20, Box 21, Box 22, Box 23, Box 24, Box 25, Box 26, Box 27, Box 28, Box 29, Box 30, Box 31, Box 32, Box 33, Box 34, Box 35, Box 36, Box 37, Box 79, Box R1, Box R2, Box R3
USC Cinematic Arts Library
Box 38, Box 39, Box 40, Box 41, Box 42, Box 43, Box 44, Box 45, Box 46, Box 47, Box 48, Box 49, Box 50, Box 51, Box 52, Box 53, Box 54, Box 55, Box 56, Box 57, Box 58, Box 59, Box 60, Box 61, Box 62, Box 63, Box 64, Box 65, Box 66, Box 67, Box 68, Box 69, Box 70, Box 71, Box 72, Box 73, Box 74, Box 75, Box 76, Box 77, Box 78
University of Wyoming