Finding Aid for the Herman Blumenthal Photograph Collection, ca. 1920s-ca. 1940s

Processed by Lauren Jung with assistance from Julie Graham; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé.
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: Herman Blumenthal photograph collection
Collection number: PASC 184
Contributing Institution: UCLA Library Special Collections
Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 1.75 linear ft. (4 boxes)
Date (inclusive): ca. 1920s-ca. 1940s
Abstract: Herman Allen Blumenthal was an art director and production designer for the film industry. The collection consists photographs of theater sets, scenes, and sketches of stage productions, including operas and Shakespeare plays. Additionally there are prints of various genres of art, assorted images of trees, and photographs of assorted published product advertisements. Some of the photographs derived from publications whose original sources were drawings, paintings, engravings, and photographs.
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: Blumenthal, Herman A., 1916-1986

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], Herman Blumenthal Photograph Collection (Collection PASC 184). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA.

Biography

Herman Allen Blumenthal was an art director and production designer for the film industry. Blumenthal was born in 1916. His credits include such films as Cleopatra, Hello, Dolly!, Miracle on 34th Street, The Three Faces of Eve, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. He won two academy awards for Best Art Direction, for his work on Cleopatra (1963) and Hello Dolly! (1969), as well as an earlier nomination for Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959). Blumenthal died on March 30, 1986.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of material related to the career of production designer, Herman Blumenthal. The bulk of the collection is photographs of theater sets, scenes, and sketches from various stage productions, including operas and Shakespeare plays. Additionally there are prints of various genres of art, assorted images of trees, and photographs of assorted published product advertisements. Some of the images in the collection are photographs derived from publications whose original sources were drawings, paintings, engravings, and photographs.

UCLA Catalog Record ID

UCLA Catalog Record ID: 4230393 

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Blumenthal, Herman A., 1916-1986 -- Archival Resources
Motion pictures--Art directors--United States --Archival resources

Box 3

Farewell momento from 20th Century Fox colleagues. no date.

Box 4

Advertisements (binder). no date.

Box 3

Caricature sketch of male, photograph of delapitated farm house, images of tropical/coastal area, and images of village. no date.

Additional Note

Persons in the photographs are not indentified; images may not be related. Some photographs signed by Blumenthal.
Box 2

Circus scenes. no date.

Additional Note

Most images appear to be copies from publications and photographs. Some maybe unpublished photographs.
Box 2

English thatching. no date.

Additional Note

Images appear to be copies from publications and include sources such as drawings and photographs.
Box 1

Floor or tile patterns - detail drawings. no date.

Additional Note

Copies. For projects such as Desiree, Daddy Long Legs, Lady in Ermine, The Robe, and Snows of Kilimanjaro.
Box 2

Japanese dwelling interiors and gardens. no date.

Box 1

Japanese Garden exteriors. no date.

Box 1

New York Mansions room interiors. no date.

Box 2

Stairs and Stairwells. no date.

Additional Note

Photographs and small number of drawings from appear to be copies from publications. Appears to represent homes in the Northeaster US from ca. 1700s.
Box 1

Street scenes of small village(s). no date.

Additional Note

Mostly church portals, crosses, and structure exteriors
Box 1

Street scenes of small village(s). no date.

Additional Note

Mostly structure exteriors and crosses in graveyards.
Box 2

Theater costumes, scenery, and performances photographs. no date.

Additional Note

Images appear to be copies from publications using original sources such as drawings, paintings, engravings, and photographs.
Box 2

Theater costumes, scenery, and performances photographs. no date.

Additional Note

Images appear to be copies from publications using original sources such as drawings, paintings, engravings, and photographs.
Box 2

Theater Interiors. no date.

Additional Note

Images include office space, dressing rooms, entries, in front of and behind the stage, among other areas. Some maybe unpublished photographs. Other images appear to be copies from publications using original sources such as drawings and photographs.
Box 2

Theater Interiors and Exteriors. no date.

Additional Note

With photographs of architectural plans for Carnegie Hall; interior and exterior shots of Follies Theater and The Old Mason Opera House, both in Los Angeles.
Box 4

Theater productions photographs (binder). no date.

Additional Note

Production titles unknown. Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 4

Theater productions photographs (binder). no date.

Additional Note

Production titles unknown. Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 4

Theater productions photographs (binder). no date.

Additional Note

Production titles unknown. Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 4

Theater productions photographs (binder). no date, 1906, 1920s-1940s.

Additional Note

Production titles unknown. Removed from binder for preservation purposes.
Box 4

Trees (positive prints) (binder). no date.

Additional Note

Removed from binder for preservation purposes.