These materials, collected by Jack Denslow, document the life of Henrique Vivian Messetti, a writer, performer, and member of a vaudeville-circus family active during the 1920's-1940's. Messetti was born on September 5, 1918 in Spain where his parents were performing. Upon the family's return to the United States, Los Angeles became their permanent residence. Messetti began appearing on the stage at the age of four. Most of his work was in vaudeville/circus productions although he also claimed to have performed in a few motion picture serials. In later years he dropped his first name while continuing as a female impersonator. He was with, among others, the touring Messett's Great Road Show, Little Eva's Temptation Company, and F.A. Cunningham's Kick High Musical Circus. The majority of the collection contains Messetti's incoming and outgoing correspondence.

Jack Denslow (1944-) was born in Tacoma, Washington and spent his early years in Hawaii and his high school years in Oklahoma. He earned a B.A. in Psychology, a B.S. in Computer Science, and an M.A. in Mythology, and has spent his career working in the technology field.

10.4 linear feet

Copyright is protected by the copyright law, chapter 17 of the U.S. Code. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections, General Library, University of California, Davis 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 by the researcher.

Collection is open for research.