Conditions Governing Access
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Conditions Governing Use
Preferred Citation
Immediate Source of Acquisition
From SCREAD
Processing History
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Biographical Note
Scope and Content
Organization and Arrangement
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Title: Hans J. Salter papers
Creator:
Salter, Hans J.
Identifier/Call Number: PASC-M.0137
Physical Description:
90 Linear Feet
(180 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1935-1982
Abstract: The collection consists of music, personal papers, correspondence, photographs, production materials, business papers and
periodical clippings of one of Universal Pictures' film composers, Hans J. Salter. The various kinds of music are manuscript
and published music including conductor's scores, orchestral parts, sheet music, published music books, and sound recordings
on 7", 10", and 12" sound discs, 7" and 10" open reel analog tapes, and sound cassettes.
Physical Location: Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
CONTAINS AUDIO MATERIALS: This collection contains both processed and unprocessed audio materials. For information about the
access status of the material that you are looking for, refer to the Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements note
at the series and file levels. All requests to access processed audio materials must be made in advance using the request
button located on this page.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights to the physical objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other 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], Hans J. Salter papers (Collection PASC-M 137). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young
Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Estate of Hans J. Salter, 1995.
From SCREAD
Other Administrative Information
Location: SRLF
ORION no. for paging: 07-AKH-2434
ORION catalog number: 07-ARL-7078
No. boxes: 180
Date received:
Processing status: Recordings: B425 to SRLF Conductors Scores : will remain in B425 after the rest of the collection goes
to SRLF. Music Sketches, Music Performing Parts, Published Books, Awards and Citations, Photographs: B425
Staff notes:
Categories: FTMA / Composers
Formats: Recordings / Sheet music / Manuscripts / Photographs / Correspondence
Listed on MLSC website.
Processing History
Collections are processed to a variety of levels depending on the work necessary to make them usable, their perceived user
interest and research value, availability of staff and resources, and competing priorities. Library Special Collections provides
a standard level of preservation and access for all collections and, when time and resources permit, conducts more intensive
processing. These materials have been arranged and described according to national and local standards and best practices.
Collection processed by Rachel Curtis of the Center for Primary Research and Training Plus, UCLA Performing Arts Special Collections,
June 2009.
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Biographical Note
Hans Julius Salter (b Vienna, 14 Jan 1896; d Studio City, CA, 23 July 1994) was an film composer and conductor of Austrian
birth. He studied at the University of Vienna with Guido Adler, Egon Wellesz and Hans Gál, and at the Vienna Music Academy
with Franz Schreker, conducting with Weingartner, and composition with Berg. Later, Salter worked as an assistant conductor
in at the Volks Opera in Vienna and other small opera companies. He then worked as a conductor at the State Opera in Berlin
and later switched to conducting in movie houses in 1929. From 1930 to 1933 he composed musicals and dramatic motion picture
scores for UFA Studios in Neubabelsberg. Before leaving Europe, Salter worked for the European Branch of Universal Pictures
from 1933-1936. He emigrated to the United States in 1937 to work for Universal Pictures and became a U.S. citizen in 1942.
(Letter written by Salter to ASCAP)
Originally hired as an orchestrator for Universal Studios in 1938, Salter was soon promoted to the rank of composer. With
composer Frank Skinner he wrote music for serials, westerns, dramas, Deanna Durbin musicals and Abbott and Costello comedies.
Salter received six Academy Award nominations for his musical comedy and drama scores including:
It Started With Eve (1942),
The Amazing Mrs. Holiday (1943),
The Merry Monahans (1944),
Christmas Holiday (1944),
Can't Help Singing (1945), and
This Love of Ours (1945). Salter is remembered today for his contribution to horror films such as
The Wolf Man (1941),
Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943) and
House of Frankenstein (1944). When he retired in 1967, he had completed scores for over 200 films. He was honored with lifetime achievement awards
from the Society of Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Films in 1982 and the Society for the Preservation of Film Music.
He received an additional tribute at the Viennale, Vienna Film Festival in 1993. (New Grove Dictionary of Music)
Scope and Content
The collection consists of printed and manuscript music composed and arranged by film composer Hans J. Salter. The bulk of
music is published from Universal Pictures productions that were theatrically released between 1937-1964. Older music mostly
from German and Austrian film productions dated 1923-1933 is also included in this collection. The music formats include orchestral
parts, conductor's scores, sheet music, published books, and sound recordings in 7", 10", and 12" sound discs. The collection
also contains personal and business correspondence, film review clippings, awards, copyright and license paperwork, and production
materials.
Organization and Arrangement
The collection is organized into the following series:
- Series 1. Projects, 1930-1967
- Series 2. Salter Music Ideas
- Series 3. Non Film/Television Salter Compositions
- Series 4. Sound recordings, 1941-1971
- Series 5. Correspondence, 1940-1971
- Series 6. Personal and Financial Papers, 1965-1977
- Series 7. Photographs, 1930-1945
- Series 8. Business Papers, 1954-1967
- Series 9. Awards, 1993
- Series 10. Clippings, 1925-1982
- Series 11. Music by Other Composers
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Composers -- Archives.
Television music -- Archives.
Motion picture music -- Archives.
Music -- Manuscripts.
Salter, Hans J., 1896-1994 -- Archives.