Large archive of material from the estate of Paramount Pictures founder Adolph Zukor, containing correspondence, financial documents, photographs, award certificates, scrapbooks related to Zukor's international travels, and related ephemera. Highlights of the archive include three items signed by Adolph Zukor, a photograph inscribed to Zukor by President Herbert Hoover, several certificates recognizing Zukor's mammoth achievements in the motion picture industry, a large file of correspondence related to the 1937 'silver jubilee' anniversary of the founding of Paramount Pictures, and scrapbooks containing original photographs of Zukor's trips to South America and Hungary.
Born in Austria-Hungary in 1876, Zukor arrived in New York City as an immigrant in 1891. He became involved in the motion picture industry in 1903, when he loaned money to his cousin to invest in a chain of theaters. He established the Famous Players Film Company in 1912 to distribute French films in America, and merged with Jesse L. Lasky to form Famous Players-Lasky in 1916. He then organized a merger into Paramount Pictures Corporation, and continued to grow the company into an empire by acquiring smaller studios and distributors. A big believer in the power of stardom, Zukor signed and developed many of the leading heroes of the silent screen, such as Mary Pickford, Marguerite Clark, Pauline Frederick, Douglas Fairbanks, Gloria Swanson, Rudolph Valentino, and Wallace Reid. In 1949, Zukor received an Honorary Academy Award, recognizing the 'man who has been called the father of the feature film in America, for his services to the industry over a period of forty years.' This archive from Zukor's estate was part of the collection of Old Tucson Studios founder Bob Shelton, who was once married to Zukor's granddaughter, Jane Loew. In overall good to fine condition.
A comprehensive listing of the archive's contents:
A TLS by Adolph Zukor to the Board of Directors and Officers of the Old Tucson Development Co., one page, Paramount Building letterhead, July 14, 1967, in part: "Thank you for your invitation to attend the ground breaking ceremonies for Sound Stage No. 1. You have my best wishes for success of your undertaking, even greater than your anticipation."
A matte-finish 7 x 9 photo of Zukor meeting with President Herbert Hoover, signed and inscribed in fountain pen, "To Adolph Zukor, With Kind Regards of Herbert Hoover." Matted and framed to an overall size of 11 x 14.
A hand-illuminated certificate from 1945, signed at the conclusion, "Adolph Zukor," reading: "Be it known that Paramount Pictures, Inc., believing in the motion picture as a powerful medium for the establishment and maintenance of mutual understanding among nations, and believing that the future peace of the work depends upon the co-operation of all be of good will, hereby presents to the people of the Great American Republics, this pledge: That Paramount Pictures will devote its every resource and capability to the production of such films as will help increase the mutual understanding now existent between the peoples of our neighboring Republics and the people of the United States of America." Framed to an overall size of 15 x 17.5.
A hand-drawn cartoon panel for the 'How They Started' series by Hap Hadley, signed and inscribed in fountain pen, "To my friend A. Z., from Jack Alicoate." Framed to an overall size of 16.5 x 14, with a newspaper clipping showing this cartoon displayed in the corner.
A scrapbook album entitled, "Publicity matters of Mr. Zukor & Mr. Hicks's visit to Chile and Peru," containing mostly newspaper clippings, along with a few programs, invitations, and original photographs from the 1940 South American trip of Adolph Zukor and John W. Hicks, Jr. Zukor signs inside in fountain pen on the back of a photograph of a formal dinner.
Two large loose-leaf scrapbooks without covers, both bound with large metal brads: one contains 27 photographs of Zukor's trip to Australia in 1939, most measuring approximately 9 x 7, many with captions affixed below the image; and one contains numerous clippings of the Australian newspaper coverage of the trip.
A large file of correspondence from 1937, containing dozens of letters and telegrams sent to Zukor to congratulate him on the 25th anniversary of Paramount Pictures, as well as carbon copies of Zukor's responses. Nearly all are from theatre owners and managers, largely thanking him for their successes over the years. A handful are from newspapermen, with the most notable signers being New York Times publisher Arthur Hays Sulzberger and critic/screenwriter Frank Nugent.
A slim file of financial documents from 1932, including one document signed by Zukor: a promissory note for $107,500 to be repaid to Nicholas Schenck, secured in part by 12,822 shares of Paramount stock.
A slim file of miscellaneous letters and documents, largely financial, including a letter to Zukor signed by early motion picture executive Al Lichtman, and a document signed by Lichtman and director Felix E. Feist.
A large wooden document box, containing an itemized insurance document listing values of Zukor's "Mountain View Farm Properties" with associated correspondence, some financial documents, various commemorative programs, letters and telegrams sent to Zukor (including a telegram from Rudy Vallee), two scrapbooks containing original photographs of Zukor's 1946 trip to Hungary, and twelve folders containing Zukor-related press clippings from German newspapers.
A large semi-glossy 11 x 14 portrait of Zukor by Irving Chidnoff, bearing Chidnoff's stamp on the reverse.
A semi-glossy 14 x 11 portrait of Zukor with Thomas Edison, affixed to a foam core mount.
A glossy 8.5 x 6.5 Keystone press photo showing a bust of Zukor being sculpted by Jo Davidson.
An ornate oversized hand-illuminated certificate in Hungarian, 19 x 27, issued to Zukor on December 6, 1946. The certificate has suffered significant tears throughout and large areas of paper loss to borders.
A hand-illuminated vellum certificate signed by the "Members of the Cinema Veterans (1903)" [no particularly noteworthy figures], 14 x 20, recognizing Zukor's "Silver Jubilee."
A hand-illuminated vellum certificate awarded to Zukor by Paramount Pictures, 10 x 14, with the Paramount logo flanked by American and Italian flags. Much of the left and bottom edges have suffered insect damage.
A certificate from Look Magazine, 14 x 11, recognizing Zukor's achievements "in the field of Motion Pictures." Affixed to a foam core mount.
An official French certificate decorating Adolph Zukor as an officer of "l'order National de la Legion d'honneur," 20.75 x 17.75, dated February 4, 1937, with some paper loss to edges. Affixed to a same-size mount.
A large double-sided wooden plaque, measuring 12.5″ in diameter, engraved on one side with the Paramount Pictures logo, with a portrait of Zukor in profile on the other side, encircled by the Spanish text, "Felicitaciones de la Oficina de Guatemala, 1911-1936." Also engraved below the portrait with a facsimile of Zukor's signature.
A hollow plaster cast of the upper half of an Oscar statuette, measuring 13″ tall.
A faux Oscar statuette on a black base, measuring an overall 13″ tall.
A program for a 20th Century-Fox Studios banquet and ball held at the Cocoanut Grove in Los Angeles on June 3, 1937, with insect damage to a lower corner.
A binder containing photocopies of research notes for the production of Cecil B. DeMille's 1939 film Union Pacific, compiled by Frank Galvin.
Several framed pieces, ranging in size from 12 x 15.5 to 16 x 19, including: a print of a page from The Morning Telegraph of June 3, 1917, with a story about Zukor and the subject of "Organization"; a print of Zukor surrounded by a number of hand-drawn cartoon characters, with a hand-inked inscription, "Congratulations on this Golden Jubilee, With Affection, Famous Studios, Sept. 6, 1953"; a silk souvenir of the reunion of Weber & Fields on Broadway in 1912; a hand-illuminated certificate from Picture Pioneers, Inc., recognizing Zukor's "outstanding achievements and monumental contributions towards the building of the Motion Picture Industry," signed by Jack Cohn; and a hand-illuminated certificate in Hungarian recognizing Zukor.
Two glossy 10 x 8 photos of a trio sitting on a bench in front of an "Allen Holubar Productions" sign.
Three issues of The Film Daily newsletter publication from May 2-4, 1927. Robert Shelton's Old Tucson Studios Collection
