Robert Luthardt Papers, ca. 1900-1978, bulk (bulk 1960-1975)

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Summary

Creators:
Luthardt, Robert, 1917-1977
Abstract:
Robert Luthardt (1917-1977) was an art director and production designer for the motion picture and television industries, and a designer of restaurants and private residences. The collection consists of production files containing photographic and other research materials, plans for many of his set designs, and materials related to his work on commercial and residential interiors.
Extent:
51 boxes (25.5 linear ft.) 4 cartons (4 linear ft.) 10 oversize boxes

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of Robert Luthardt's files for twenty three film and television productions, seven television series, and several commercial and residential interior design projects. The bulk of the material consists of photographic documentation related to the design of productions and sets. Of particular interest are several boxes of photographs taken in the Les Halles district of Paris for Billy Wilder's 1964 film Irma La Douce, and photographs of the predominently African-American neighborhood Hough in Cleveland, Ohio for Jules Dassin's 1968 film Up Tight. Other photographs of note include a series of enlarged photographic prints documenting historic churches and landmarks in Mexico, by noted photographers Hugo Brehme, Rafael García, Antonio Garduño, and Guillermo Kahlo; images of the California and Nevada deserts, including Twentynine Palms and Las Vegas in the 1960s; and numerous files of photographs documenting the streets of Los Angeles and New York. In addition, the collection contains some personal photographs, scripts and photo albums related to television series from the 1970s, and sketches and plans for interior design projects.

Biographical / historical:

Robert Luthardt was born on March 3, 1917. A native of Chicago, Luthardt became an art director and production designer for the motion picture and television industries. He trained under French-Hungarian art director Alexander Trauner and assisted him on several Billy Wilder productions, including The Apartment and Irma La Douce. Other credits included Funny Girl, The April Fools, Carnal Knowledge, Hearts of the West, Lipstick, Kiss Me, Stupid and The Cheap Detective. He was nominated for an Oscar at the 1966 Academy Awards for his work on The Fortune Cookie. In addition, Luthardt became the art director for several long-running television shows and was a charter member of the Society of Motion Pictures and Television Art Directors; he also designed several restaurants and interiors, including projects for Billy Wilder. He died on October 1, 1977.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Robert Luthardt Jr., 1980.
Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series:

  1. Film productions, ca. 1960-1978 (28 boxes, 1 carton), subseries A-B as follows:
    1. Production files, ca. 1960-1978.
    2. Additional screenplays, ca. 1960-1975.
  2. Television productions, 1965-1975 (11 boxes, 1 carton), subseries A-B as follows:
    1. Feature films, 1965-1974.
    2. Series, 1971-1975.
  3. Research materials, 1928-1974 (9 boxes, 1 carton), subseries A-B as follows:
    1. Location photographs, 1960-1974.
    2. Miscellaneous, 1928-1972.
  4. Interior design, 1964-1974 (2 boxes, 1 carton).
  5. Mexico photographs, ca. 1900-1930 (4 boxes), subseries A-E as follows:
    1. Hugo Brehme, ca. 1910-1920.
    2. Rafael García, ca. 1910.
    3. Antonio Garduño, ca. 1910.
    4. Guillermo Kahlo, ca. 1901-1920.
    5. Anonymous, ca. 1900-1930.
  6. Miscellaneous, 1946-1977 (2 boxes).

Physical location:
Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
Website