William Collier Sr. papers
Catalogued by Johnson, Doug
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 contains script material, clippings, programs, correspondence, some drawings, Friars Club dinner programs,
flyers and souvenir books for Friars Club Frolic, miscellaneous legal material, several pieces of short verse by Collier,
and scrapbooks.
Collector:
Collier, William Sr.
Dates: 1897-1961
Dates: 1897-1929
Collection number: 152
Collection Size:
3 linear ft. of papers
1 item(s) of photos
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 Collier Sr. papers, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Chatty Collier Eliason, 1988
Collection Scope and Content Summary
The William Collier Sr. papers span the years 1897-1961 (bulk 1900s-1920s) and encompass 3 linear feet. The collection contains
script material and subject files. The script material, usually in the form of sketches, was written by Collier for two unrealized
productions—SEE AMERICA FIRST! (1930) and a synopsis of an untitled 1932 story—and two dozen stage productions. Stage material
includes a published play script by Victor Mapes and Collier for "The Hottentot." More substantial material, including a scrapbook,
cast list, and clippings, documents the play "I'll Be Hanged If I Do," presented at Collier's Comedy Theater. Several other
scrapbooks and clippings for plays are included, such as "The Man from Mexico" and "Never Say Die" (1912). There are also
stage sketches by Mark Hellinger, Edgar Smith, and Jack Norworth. The subject files contain programs; individual telegrams,
notes, or letters from Eddie Cantor, George M. Cohan, W. C. Fields, Fred Niblo, Lillian Russell, Joe Weber, and Florenz Ziegfeld;
the book "Don't Do That" by William Collier; some drawings, including a sketch of Collier; Friars Club dinner programs from
1910 to 1927; flyers and souvenir books for Friars Club Frolic (some signed by Collier, Irving Berlin, and others); miscellaneous
legal material, including a 1902 contract between Collier and Joe Weber and Lew Fields; miscellaneous programs from theaters
in Philadelphia and New York in the 1890s, including one with an advertisement for an Edison Kinetoscope of a James J. Corbett
prizefight; several scrapbooks with programs, correspondence, and clippings covering 1899 to 1919; theatrical sketches, including
routines for Eddie Cantor, George M. Cohan, William Collier Sr., Buster Collier, and Marie Dressler; and several pieces of
short verse by Collier. There is a photograph album with photographs from family and friends, many signed.
Biography
William Collier Sr. (1864-1944) was born in New York City and began acting on the stage as a young teenager. In the 1880s
he appeared in New York and London stage productions with the Daly Company. From the 1890s through the late 1920s Collier
starred in numerous plays. In New York he often wrote, cowrote, or helped adapt material for the stage, including a number
of original farces such as "Never Say Die" (1912). Collier appeared in films as early as 1915 with Mack Sennett while continuing
his stage career. He moved to Hollywood in 1929 and made a number of films at Fox. A noted character actor, often in filmed
versions of plays, he appeared in dozens of films in the 1930s. His credits include MADISON SQUARE GARDEN (1932), THANKS FOR
THE MEMORY (1938), and DISPUTED PASSAGE (1939). One of his last films was YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1943).
Arrangement of the Collection
1. Production files (Unproduced); 2. Stage files; 3. Subject files; 4. Scrapbooks
Indexing terms
Collier, William Sr.
Actors
Production files/Unproduced
folder 1
A GIRL OF THE Y.W.C.A.--script
Record ID: 71301320
Scope and Content Note
story by Kurt Siodmak, Joe May, and Robert Thoeren, undated, 26 pages [incomplete]
folder 2
SEE AMERICA FIRST!--script
1930--1930
Record ID: 71331610
Scope and Content Note
story for William Collier Sr. and Walter C. Kelly, September 26, 1930, 15 pages
folder 3
Untitled--script
1932--1932
Record ID: 71331611
Scope and Content Note
synopsis of a story by William Collier, March 30, 1932, 2 pages
folder 4
ACCIDENT [stage]--script
Record ID: 71331612
Scope and Content Note
sketch by Mark Hellinger, undated, 6 pages
folder 5
THE BENEFIT REHEARSAL [stage]--script
1917--1917
Record ID: 71331614
Scope and Content Note
sketch by Edgar Smith, 1917, 22 pages [heavily annotated]
folder 6
THE BONELESS BRIDEGROOM [stage]--script
Record ID: 71331615
Scope and Content Note
sketch by William Collier, undated, 11 pages [annotated]
folder 7
A BOY'S PROPOSAL [stage]--script
1909--1909
Record ID: 71331616
Scope and Content Note
published playscript by Arthur Eckersley (London: Samuel French, 1909), 28 pages
folder 8
CAUGHT IN THE ACT [stage]--script
Record ID: 71331617
Scope and Content Note
sketch by William Collier, undated, 20 pages [annotated]
folder 9
THE CENSOR [stage]--script
Record ID: 71331618
Scope and Content Note
sketch, undated, 9 pages
folder 10
CLUBS ARE TRUMPS [stage]--script
Record ID: 71331619
Scope and Content Note
sketch by William Collier, undated, 12 pages [annotated]
folder 11
CLUBS ARE TRUMPS [stage]--script
Record ID: 71331620
Scope and Content Note
sketch by William Collier Sr., undated, 12 pages [annotated]
folder 12
COLLIERISMS [stage]--script
Record ID: 71331621
Scope and Content Note
sketch by William Collier Sr., undated, 10 pages [annotated]
folder 13
THE CURSE OF WATER [stage]--script
Record ID: 71331622
Scope and Content Note
sketch, undated, 9 pages [annotated]
folder 14
THE DICTATOR [stage]--script
1909--1909
Record ID: 71331623
Scope and Content Note
published playscript by Richard Harding Davis (New York: Samuel French, 1909), 133 pages
folder 15
ENGLISH AS SHE IS BROKEN [stage]--script
Record ID: 71331624
Scope and Content Note
sketch by William Collier Sr., undated, 9 pages
folder 16
A GENTLEMAN FOR RENT [stage]--script
Record ID: 71331625
Scope and Content Note
sketch, undated, 5 pages
folder 17
GOOD TIME CHARLIE [stage]--script
Record ID: 71331626
Scope and Content Note
sketch, undated, 10 pages [heavily annotated]
folder 18
THE HOTTENTOT [stage]--script
1922--1922
Record ID: 71331627
Scope and Content Note
published playscript by Victor Mapes and William Collier (New York: Samuel French, 1922), 110 pages
folder 19
I'LL BE HANGED IF I DO [stage]--script
Record ID: 71331628
Scope and Content Note
script for the role of "Binks;" undated, 6 pages
folder 20
I'LL BE HANGED IF I DO [stage]--scrapbook
1911--1911
Record ID: 71331629
Scope and Content Note
cast list; clippings
folder 21
THE MAN FROM MEXICO [stage]--scrapbook
1897--1898
Record ID: 71331630
Scope and Content Note
clippings
folder 22
MARJORIE [stage]--script
Record ID: 71331631
Scope and Content Note
act two of play, undated, 35 pages
folder 23
MARSE COVINGTON [stage]--script
1923--1923
Record ID: 71331632
Scope and Content Note
published playscript by George Ade (New York: Samuel French, 1923), 16 pages
folder 24
MR. SMOOTH [stage]--script
Record ID: 71331633
Scope and Content Note
mimeograph copies of a script for the character "Arthur Chilleigh," undated, 40 pages
folder 25
MR. SMOOTH [stage]--scrapbook
1899--1900
Record ID: 71331634
Scope and Content Note
clippings
folder 26
NEVER SAY DIE [stage]--scrapbook
1912--1913
Record ID: 71331635
Scope and Content Note
clippings; programs
folder 27
THE NO'S HAVE IT [stage]--script
Record ID: 71331636
Scope and Content Note
sketch adapted by William Collier Sr., undated, 14 pages [annotated]
folder 28
NOTHING BUT CUTS [stage]--script
Record ID: 71331637
Scope and Content Note
sketch by William Collier, undated, 12 pages [annotated]
folder 29
ON THE BANKS OF THE SALINAS FAR AWAY [stage]--script
1938--1938
Record ID: 71331638
Scope and Content Note
a satire by Jack Norworth, 1938, 10 pages [annotated]
folder 30
RIPPING AND RAPPING [stage]--script
Record ID: 71331639
Scope and Content Note
sketch by William Collier Sr., undated, 7 pages [lightly annotated]
folder 31
RIPPING AND RAPPING [stage]--script
Record ID: 71331640
Scope and Content Note
sketch by William Collier Sr., undated, 6 pages
folder 32
RIPPING AND RIBBING [stage]--script
Record ID: 71331641
Scope and Content Note
sketch by William Collier Sr., undated, 11 pages [annotated]
folder 33
THE SISTERS GLEEK [stage]--script
Record ID: 71331642
Scope and Content Note
sketch by Jack Norworth and Joe Laurie Jr., undated, 9 pages [annotated]
folder 34
THE SISTERS GLEEK [stage]--script
Record ID: 71331643
Scope and Content Note
sketch by Jack Norworth and Joe Laurie Jr., rewritten and enhanced by William Collier Sr., undated, 7 pages
folder 35
SPEECHLESS [stage]--script
Record ID: 71331644
Scope and Content Note
comedy sketch by William Collier, undated, 18 pages
folder 36
THE VERY IDEA [stage]--script
Record ID: 71331645
Scope and Content Note
act three of play, undated, 29 pages
folder 37
A Bunch of Dates
1941--1941
Record ID: 71331646
Scope and Content Note
booklet by Charles E. Evans, compiled from material originally published in the "Masquers' Call Board" in 1936, 20 pages [inscribed
"To Bill with my compliments, C.E.E., April 30, 1941"]
folder 0
Clippings
Circa 1905--1925
Record ID: 71528868
folder 38
Clippings
1926--1932
Record ID: 71471148
folder 39
Correspondence
1909--1940
Record ID: 71331648
Scope and Content Note
postcard from Fred Niblo, June 19, 1912; note from Joe Weber, January 7, 1914; note from George M. Cohan, January 23, 1914;
telegram from Mr. Cohan, March 1, 1920; handwritten letter from Mr. Cohan, undated; handwritten letter from Lillian Russell,
March
folder 40
Don't Do That
1909--1909
Record ID: 71331649
Scope and Content Note
book, "Don't Do That," by William Collier (New York: Charles Frohman, 1909), 59 text pages [includes several pages of photographs
of Mr. Collier's stage performances]
folder 41
Drawings
1921--1921
Record ID: 71331650
Scope and Content Note
pencil drawing portrait of William Collier Sr. by H. C. Greening [Harry Cornell Greening?], August 30, 1921; blueprint, "A
place for everything and everything in its place"
folder 42
Fifty Years in Theatrical Management
1859--1909
Record ID: 71331651
Scope and Content Note
book, "Fifty Years in Theatrical Management," by M. B. Leavitt (New York: Broadway Publishing Co., 1912), 735 pages [inscribed]
folder 43
Friars Club dinners
1910--1927
Record ID: 71331652
Scope and Content Note
program for a dinner honoring George M. Cohan, April 3, 1910; program for a dinner honoring William Collier, April 23, 1911;
program for a dinner honoring Mr. Cohan and Sam H. Harris, December 11, 1911; program for a dinner honoring DeWolf Hopper,
March 2
folder 44
Friars Club Frolic
1910--1926
Record ID: 71331653
Scope and Content Note
flier for the third annual Frolic, April 17, 1910; flier and souvenir book for the fourth annual Frolic, May 28, 1911 [book
signed by George M. Cohan, Irving Berlin, William Collier, Fred Niblo, and others]; souvenir book for the fifth annual Frolic,
June
folder 45
Jokes
Record ID: 71331654
Scope and Content Note
pages of jokes and stories
folder 46
The Lambs
1898--1918
Record ID: 71331655
Scope and Content Note
four programs for "Lambs Gambols," May 1898, May 11, 1912, February 4, 1917, and November 10, 1918
folder 47
Legal
1902--1961
Record ID: 71331656
Scope and Content Note
contract between Willie Collier and Weber & Fields, April 19, 1902; copy of a letter from Samuel French, Inc. regarding the
value of "Going Crooked" and "The Hottentot" for Mr. Collier's estate, January 4, 1945; copy of a lett
folder 48
Magazines
1900--1900
Record ID: 71331657
Scope and Content Note
"San Francisco Music and Drama," vol. 33, no. 15, March 24, 1900 [Willie Collier featured on cover]
folder 49
Operas
Record ID: 71331658
Scope and Content Note
published libretto of "Faust" by Charles Gounod (Boston: Oliver Ditson & Co.); published libretto, in Italian and English,
of "Il Trovatore" by Giuseppe Verdi (Boston: Oliver Ditson & Co.); published score of "Mme. Favart"
folder 50
Programs
1875--1889
Record ID: 71331659
Scope and Content Note
program featuring Edwin Booth playing Shylock, November 28, 18??; ten programs from Mrs. John Drew's Arch St. Theatre, 1880-1881;
program featuring Anna Dickinson playing Hamlet, April 3, 1882
folder 51
Programs
1890--1898
Record ID: 71331660
Scope and Content Note
three programs featuring Lillian Russell, April 25, 18?? and undated; program for Yvette Guilbert's first American tour, January
21, 18??; program that includes an advertisement for an Edison kinetoscope of a James J. Corbett prizefight, March 18, 18
folder 52
Scrapbook
1899--1902
Record ID: 71331661
Scope and Content Note
cast lists of plays featuring Lionel Barrymore, Cecil DeMille, Marie Dressler, John Drew [Jr.?], Mrs. John Drew, Thomas Ince,
Richard Mansfield, Tyrone Power Sr., Lillian Russell, Joe Weber and Lew Fields, and Wallace Worsley; cast list of "On the
Qu
folder 53
Scrapbook
1909--1919
Record ID: 71331662
Scope and Content Note
note from Sam H. Harris, June 25, 1918; note from Irving Berlin, December 16, 1914; note from Joe Weber, November 29, 1912;
telegram from Billie Burke, undated; note from George M. Cohan and Mr. Harris, July 14, 1911
folder 54
Scrapbook
1910--1917
Record ID: 71331663
Scope and Content Note
telegram from Beth Fairbanks, November 27, 1911; telegram from Lew Fields, November 27, 1911; note from Mr. Fields, November
30, 1912; note to Mr. and Mrs. William Collier from George M. Cohan and Sam H. Harris, September 28, 1911; two notes from
Joe Webe
folder 55
Scrapbook
1911--1919
Record ID: 71331664
Scope and Content Note
two handwritten notes from George M. Cohan, undated; note from Frank J. Farrell of the American League Base Ball Club of New
York, June 21, 1913; two telegrams from Mr. Cohan, April 13, 1914, and May 11, 1916; letter from Mr. Cohan, April 26, 1917;
note f
folder 56
Sketches
Record ID: 71331665
Scope and Content Note
theatrical sketches, including routines for Eddie Cantor, George M. Cohan, William Collier Sr., Buster Collier, and Marie
Dressler [some incomplete]
folder 57
Testimonials
1938--1941
Record ID: 71331666
Scope and Content Note
toastmaster's scripts for testimonial dinners held by the Friars Club, the Masquers, and other organizations [many incomplete;
some annotated]
folder 58
Verse
Record ID: 71331667
Scope and Content Note
several pieces of short verse, including "Willie Collier Screws," lampooning Mr. Collier's move to Hollywood; "Why," by Mr.
Collier, about an unemployed film actor
folder 59
Wit and Humor of the Stage
1909--1909
Record ID: 71331668
Scope and Content Note
book, "Wit and Humor of the Stage," by Joseph Jefferson (Philadelphia: George W. Jacobs & Co., 1909), 236 pages
Photograph album no. 1
Circa 1913--1924
Record ID: 71422983
Scope and Content Note
Photographs, many signed to William Collier and his wife, actress Paula Marr (Polly), from family and friends, including Charles
Chaplin, Julian Eltinge, Buster Keaton, and Bessie Lasky.
Scrapbook no. 1
1892--1906
Record ID: 71422985
Scope and Content Note
personal clippings and reviews of stage plays, including “Hoss and Hoss” [on tour]; clippings regarding Louise Allen [Mrs.
William Collier]; program
Scrapbook no. 2
1906--1908
Record ID: 71422986
Scope and Content Note
personal clippings and reviews of stage plays
Scrapbook no. 3
1911--1911
Record ID: 71422987
Scope and Content Note
personal clippings; clippings regarding William Collier (Jr.) and child labor laws; clippings, invitation, flier, and program
for Collier’s three-act comedy “Take My Advice” [on tour]; two 4x4 snapshots at Lincoln’s tomb in Springfield, Ill. of Collier
(J
Scrapbook no. 4
1912--1913
Record ID: 71422988
Scope and Content Note
miscellaneous pictorial material apparently clipped from stage magazines concerning William Collier, Paula Marr, and many
others
