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Finding Aid for the RKO Radio Pictures Studio records, 1922-1956
3
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Description
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc. was founded in 1928 and continued as a major motion picture studio for more than 27 years. The collection
consists of script files, production information files, music scores and arrangements, script synopses and reader's reports,
what appears to be Story Department files of story submission cards and a library of books, and payroll records. Included
within the collection is information pertaining to 2,500-plus produced and/or unproduced projects related to the studio's
operations.
Background
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc. was founded in 1928 and operated out of the former Robertson-Cole studios in Hollywood (now part
of the Paramount lot). The company was born out of mergers among the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), the Film Booking
Offices of America (FBO) and the Keith-Albee-Orpheum vaudeville circuit in the 1920s. The result was Radio-Keith-Orpheum,
better known as RKO. The studio built its prestige upon a generally high production standard and the participation of major
stars, such as Fred Astaire, Irene Dunne, Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn and Ginger Rogers. Additionally, were the stars from
behind the camera such as Edward Dmytryk, John Ford, Howard Hawks, Val Lewton, George Stevens, and Orson Welles, among others.
Amongst its productions were The Bells of St. Mary's, Bringing Up Baby, Cat People, Cimarron, Citizen Kane, The Farmer's Daughter, Gunga Din, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Informer, King Kong, Kitty Foyle, Little Women, The Magnificent Ambersons, Morning Glory, Notorious, Suspicion and the classic Fred Astaire titles Carefree, Flying Down to Rio, Follow the Fleet, The Gay Divorcee, Roberta, Shall We Dance, Swing Time and Top Hat. Aside from its own productions, RKO also released Goldwyn, Disney and Selznick films such as The Best Years of Our Lives, Becky Sharp, It's a Wonderful Life and a variety of Disney feature animation films up until 1954. The company continued as a major motion picture studio for
more than 27 years. In 1948 Howard Hughes acquired a large share of RKO stock and gained control of the company. After a period
of financial difficulties, the company ceased production in 1958, and the studio lot was sold to Desilu. (Note: historical note based on information from Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, Margaret Herrick Library website
- http://www3.oscars.org/mhl/hn/RKO_hn.html)
Extent
2428 boxes (1214 linear ft) 1113 flat boxes (ca. 370 linear ft) 42 cartons (42 linear ft.)255 large shoe boxes (ca. 125 linear ft.) 346 shoe boxes (30 linear ft.)
Restrictions
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library,
Performing Arts 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.
Availability
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library, Performing
Arts Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.