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Finding Aid of the Warner Bros. Studios Music Collection
PASC.0317
PASC.0317
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Title: Warner Brothers Studios music collection
Identifier/Call Number: PASC.0317
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
600.0 linear feet
(1402 boxes)
Date: 1923-2000s
Abstract: A brief initial view of the collection presents 390 boxes of music used for silent film, including printed dance band arrangements
(scores and parts), sheet music, and other published and some unpublished music; 137 boxes of sheet music, choral editions,
and other published and unpublished music used as a music reference library; 47 boxes of books, mostly about music, frequently
stamped with "Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Music Library". Many of these books are signed by the authors. Many more are signed by George
Schneider, Music Librarian at MGM from 1928-1956, who founded and developed the MGM Music Library, which by the late 1940's
was one of the largest music collections in the country. This great library was sent to landfill in the '60's as part of what
has been called the "MGM Holocaust", the tragedy that destroyed most of the great manuscript scores composed for MGM films,
triggering a great deal of film music preservation activity, including the work that has been done here at UCLA. The materials
we have just received from Warner Bros may in fact represent the last (only?) remaining portion of the MGM Library. The collection
is in the midst of being processed and the finding aid will be updated periodically.
Physical Location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library Special
Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Creator:
Warner Bros. Pictures (1969- ).
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library Special
Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library Special Collections. 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.
[Identification of item], Warner Brothers Studios Music Collection (Collection PASC 317). Library Special Collections, Charles
E. Young Research Library, UCLA.
UCLA Catalog Record ID:
5993191
One of the most respected, diversified and successful motion picture and television studios in the world, Warner Bros. studio
began when the brothers Warner (Albert, Sam, Harry and Jack L.) incorporated their fledgling movie company on April 4, 1923.
In 1927, the release of the world's first "talkie," (synchronized-sound feature film), "The Jazz Singer," set a character
and tone of innovation and influence that would become synonymous with the name Warner Bros. And--as Al Jolson foretold in
this milestone movie--"you ain't heard nothin' yet!"
Since those early days, Warner Bros. has amassed an impressive legacy based on world-class quality entertainment and technological
foresight and created a diversified entertainment company with an unparalleled depth and breadth. Its unmatched consistency
and success is built on a foundation of stable management throughout its history (especially by entertainment industry standards),
long-term creative relationships with many of the world's leading talent, and an unwavering dedication to excellence. Today,
the vast Warner Bros. library, considered one of the most prestigious and prodigious in the world, consists of more than 6,650
feature films, 40,000 television titles and 14,000 animated titles (including over 1,500 classic animated shorts).
The collection consists of music used for silent film, including printed dance band arrangements (scores and parts), sheet
music, and other published and some unpublished music; 137 boxes of sheet music, choral editions, and other published and
unpublished music used as a music reference library; 47 boxes of books, mostly about music, frequently stamped with "Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Music Library". Many of these books are signed by the authors. Many more are signed by George Schneider, Music Librarian at
MGM from 1928-1956, who founded and developed the MGM Music Library, which by the late 1940's was one of the largest music
collections in the country. This great library was sent to landfill in the '60's as part of what has been called the "MGM
Holocaust", the tragedy that destroyed most of the great manuscript scores composed for MGM films, triggering a great deal
of film music preservation activity, including the work that has been done here at UCLA.
The collection is organized into the following series:
- Series 1. Books
- Series 2. Periodicals
- Series 3. Published Sheet Music
- Series 4. Orchestral Music
- Series 5. Silent Film Music.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Warner Bros. Pictures (1969- ). -- Archives
Motion picture studios--California--Los Angeles--Archives.