Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Academy Awards production records
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Academy Awards production records
- Date
- 1952-1953 (inclusive)
- Extent
- 0.19 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Actors.
- Award presentations (Motion pictures).
- Awards.
- Celebrity.
- Letters.
- New York (N.Y.)
- Scripts.
- Sheet music.
- Arrangement
- Collection retains its original order. Where possible original folder names were retained. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
- Preferred Citation
- 2009ms132.0372: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Academy Awards production records, 1952-1953, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- The 25th Academy Awards, held March 19, 1953, was a first in many rights. It was the first Academy Awards to be broadcast live on national television, the first to be held in Hollywood and New York City simultaneously, and the first where Best Picture, Best Director, and all four acting Oscars went to six different films. The show's script was written by Richard Breen, produced by Johnny Green (1908-1989), and directed by Bill Bennington (1914-2010). The show's Hollywood host was Bob Hope (1903-2003) and the New York City host was Conrad Nagel (1897-1970). Presenters at the show included Ronald Reagan, Frank Capra, Walt Disney, and Greer Garson.
- American Letters collector Wade Hall (1934-2015) was a native of Union Springs, Alabama. Starting in 1962, he lived in Louisville, where he taught English and chaired the English and Humanities/Arts programs at Kentucky Southern College and Bellarmine University. He also taught at the University of Illinois and the University of Florida. He held degrees from Troy State University (B.S.), the University of Alabama (M.A.), and the University of Illinois (Ph.D.). He served for two years in the U.S. Army in the mid-fifties. Dr. Hall was the author of books, monographs, articles, plays, and reviews relating to Kentucky, Alabama, and Southern history and literature. His most recent books include A Visit with Harlan Hubbard; High Upon a Hill: A History of Bellarmine College; A Song in Native Pastures: Randy Atcher's Life in Country Music; and Waters of Life from Conecuh Ridge.
- Scope and Content
- The Academy Awards production records (dated 1952-1953; 0.19 cubic feet; 14 folders) comprise notes, scripts, clippings, correspondence, and sheet music that document the production and planning for the 25th Academy Awards presentation. The notes include comments on hosts, emcees, staging of the show, and the script for the evening. There are two final scripts included in the collection, both written only days prior to the show, and these include breaks for commercials, times for music spots, and when the show will change between Hollywood and New York City. The correspondence includes official Academy letters sent to nominees, guests, and presenters; invitation acceptance replies, and the acceptance of Bob Hope to be the host. The sheet music is of some of the songs used in the show.
- The Academy Awards production records are part of the Wade Hall Collection of American letters, which includes correspondence and diaries from all over North America covering the time period of the Civil to Korean Wars. The materials were collected by Wade Hall and document everyday men and women.
Restrictions on Access and Use
- Conditions Governing Access
- Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
- Use Restrictions
- The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Contents of the Collection
Introduction and closing script for radio coverage of 25th annual Academy Awards for Paul Douglas, 1953
Pre-broadcast speech and cut-in instructions for Conrad Nagel, 1953
Production notes and meetings schedule, 1953
"Stage, lighting, etc..." notes, 1953
"Meetings (notes)" New York attendees and tentative Scientific or Technical Awards recipients, 1953
"Cast, final - possible", 1953
25th Academy Awards final script, 1953 March 14
25th Academy Awards final reroutined script, 1953 March 16
"Past winners and nominations", 1953
"Correspondence", 1953
"Directory, program committee", 1953
"Nominations" for 25th Academy Awards, 1953
"Songs" used in 25th Academy Awards presentation, 1953
24th Annual Academy Awards Presentation program, 1952 March 20
UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Table of Contents
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Requests
No items have been requested.
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
