PBA Galleries

Large collection of books, contracts, publicity stills, lobby cards, and a number of other pieces of miscellaneous ephemera. 

Kenneth Macgowan (1888-1963), American author and film producer, ran the Provincetown Playhouse along with Eugene O'Neill (1922-1924), then focused his experimental-theatre efforts at the Greenwich Village Theatre, before moving to Hollywood as a story editor for RKO, a producer for 20th Century-Fox., &c., &c. He went on to become chairman of the then-new Department of Theatre Arts at UCLA.

Includes:

Writings by Macgowan:

1. Macgowan, Kenneth. BEHIND THE SCREEN: The History and Techniques of the Motion Picture. NY: Delacorte Press, (1965). First Edition. 528pp w/index; 200+ illustrations from photographs, etc. Blue cloth, silver spine lettering lightly rubbed, in dust wrapper with spine crease. ¶ Completed just prior to the author's death, this book is a cinema history, a detailed study of movie-making techniques, and a description of how movie studios work.

2. Macgowan, Kenneth. FOOTLIGHTS ACROSS AMERICA: Towards a National Theater. NY: Harcourt, Brace, (1929). First Edition. pp: xviii, 398 w/index; frontispiece, 30pp of half-tone illustrations from photographs, two-page map and other line-cut illus in text. Black cloth, gilt cover lettering and picture; spine dull. ¶ Presentation copy, inscribed on front endpaper: “A joyous birthday and love / from the wife Edaie, and the author / Kenneth Macgowan” This book is dedicated to Eugene O'Neill.

3. Macgowan, Kenneth et al. HOLLYWOOD QUARTERLY, VOLUME III, Number 1, Fall 1947. Berkeley: Univ. California Press, 1947. First Edition. pp: iv, 109; 8pp of illustrations (4pp of "audiovisual music" and 4pp of 32 drawings for "Vectors," a Navy training film). This issue contains articles on: "Henry Morgan--Radio Satirist"; John Houseman, co-founder of Mercury Theater, on "Violence, 1947"; "Children's Cinema--America and Britain"; &c. Yellow wrappers, black lettering; portions of cover sunned..

4. Macgowan, Kenneth et al. HOLLYWOOD QUARTERLY, VOLUME IV, Number 3, Spring 1950. Berkeley: Univ. California Press, 1950. First Edition. pp: iv, 218-321. This issue contains articles on: "Film in Egypt" by Egyptian director Farid El-Mazzaoui; "The Postwar French Cinema" by film-historian Georges Sadoul; an added Television section; &c.

5. Macgowan, Kenneth et al. HOLLYWOOD QUARTERLY, VOLUME IV, Number 4, Summer 1950. Berkeley: Univ. California Press, 1950. First Edition. pp: iv, 323-427. ¶ This issue contains a radio script, "The Only Good Indian" by writer-director Arnold Marquis (one of four broadcasts on American Indians and "their cause"; and articles on: "The Making of the Quiet One," a 1948 documentary on the rehabilitation of an emotionally-disturbed African-American boy in Harlem, with commentary by James Agee; "The Technique and Content of Hitler's War" by John Altmann; &c..

6. Macgowan, Kenneth et al. HOLLYWOOD QUARTERLY, VOLUME II, Number 4, July 1947. Berkeley: Univ. California Press, 1947. First Edition. pp: iv, 327-436; 4pp of architectural plans and drawings for a "Four-Square [movie] Theater." This issue contains: Irving Pichel's review of "This Happy Breed" and "Great Expectations"; Abraham Polonsky's review of "Odd Man Out" and "Monsieur Verdoux" [both were blacklisted directors]; an article on "The Global Film" by Vsevolod Pudovkin; an article by Henry Dreyfuss on a "Four-square Theater" for projecting movies onto four walls, facing four audiences; &c.

7. Macgowan, Kenneth. "SCREEN WONDERS OF THE PAST--AND TO COME?.” Separate offprint from The Quarterly of Film, Radio, and Television, Volume XI, Number 4, Summer 1957. NY: Quarterly of Film, Radio & Television, 1957. First Edition. (13)pp, side-stitched. Interesting look at recent developments in movie technology such as stereophonic sound, Cinerama, &c..

8. Macgowan, Kenneth. “THE COMING OF CAMERA AND PROJECTOR--Part 1.” Separate offprint from The Quarterly of Film, Radio, and Television, Volume IX, Number 1, Fall 1954. NY: Quarterly of Film, Radio & Television, 1954. First Edition. 14pp, side-stitched. This early history of cameras and projectors includes Muybridge's innovations, the Zoetrope, &c.

9. Macgowan, Kenneth. "THE STORY COMES TO THE SCREEN--1896-1906" offprint from The Quarterly of Film, Radio, and Television, Volume X, Number 1, Fall 1955. NY: Quarterly of Film, Radio & Television, 1955. First Edition. (25)pp, side-stitched; four full-page illustrations and two in the text. ¶ Macgowan follows the early history of films from Edison's Vitascope in 1896 through the next ten years, printed here in advance of his book "The Film of Yesterday and Tomorrow."

Hollywood Contracts:

10. Macgowan, Kenneth. AGREEMENT BETWEEN RKO STUDIOS, INC. AND KENNETH MACGOWAN, DATED NOVEMBER 20, 1933. Hollywood: RKO, 1933. Original typewritten carbon, 15pp, signed in ink by Macgowan and an RKO vice- president, embossed seal. ¶ The contract provides that KM will "render his exclusive services as a supervisor in connection with the production of motion pictures" at $1,000 a week. The 21 contract clauses include that he "will conduct himself with due regard to public conventions and morals." Laid in are a two-page amendment from 1934, and a one-page TLS extending Macgowan's service for one year, November 1934-1935. Postbound with title typewritten on cover.

11. Macgowan, Kenneth. AGREEMENT BETWEEN TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX FILM CORPORATION AND KENNETH MACGOWAN, 26 SEPTEMBER 1935. Hollywood: Twentieth Century-Fox, 1935. Original manuscript. 14pp, typewritten carbon, signed in ink by Macgowan and J.J. Gain, Studio Manager, signed and sealed by a notary public. The contract provides that KM is hired as an "associate producer in the production of motion pictures," and outlines his duties in 26 clauses. His salary is $1250 per week for nine months, then $1500 per week for three months, with the right to extend the contract. Laid in are five (5) TLsS on Twentieth Century-Fox letterhead, extending this contract each year from 1936 to 1939, with an extra TLS in 1938, spelling out amendments to the contract. Bound in brown wrappers, title typewritten on cover.

12. Macgowan, Kenneth. AGREEMENT BETWEEN TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX FILM CORPORATION AND KENNETH MACGOWAN, 9 SEPTEMBER 1940. Hollywood: Twentieth Century-Fox, 1940. Original manuscript. 15pp, typewritten carbon, signed in ink by Macgowan and Vice-President Goetz, signed and sealed by a notary public. ¶ The contract provides that KM is hired as an artist, and "artist shall devote his services exclusively to the producer as an associate producer...." His salary is $1500 per week. Laid in are two (2) TLsS: one extending this contract through April 1943; the other granting him a leave of absence without pay, starting March 30, 1941 for an unspecified period "determined by you." Bound in brown wrappers, title typewritten on cover.

Publicity Stills & Lobby Cards:

13. Macgowan, Kenneth (associate producer). THE BIG BROADCAST OF 1937: Four (4) 8x10 inch movie stills from this picture, co-produced by Kenneth Macgowan. Starring Jack Benny, George Burns & Gracie Allen, Martha Raye, Benny Goodman and his Orchestra. Hollywood: Paramount Pictures, 1937. Original photographs. Four (4) original, black-and-white photographs of scenes from the movie.

14. Macgowan, Kenneth (associate producer). HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY: Two 8x10 inch studio portraits of Walter Pidgeon who starred in this picture, co-produced by Kenneth Macgowan, which won the Oscar for Best Picture of 1941. Hollywood: 20th Century-Fox, 1941. Original photographs. Two (2) original, black-and-white photographs, two different poses.

15. Macgowan, Kenneth (associate producer). HUDSON'S BAY -- A 20th Century-Fox Picture : Daryl F. Zanuck in charge of Production. Directed by Irving Pichel. Associate Producer, Kenneth Macgowan. Hollywood: 20th Century-Fox, 1940. First Edition. Original, full-color lobby card, showing Paul Muni, Gene Tierney, and others. Vincent Price was in the cast. 11" x 14" overall; 6" strip of transparent tape on front, brown paper tape on back.

16. Macgowan, Kenneth (associate producer). I'LL GIVE A MILLION -- A 20th Century-Fox Picture : Daryl F. Zanuck in charge of Production. Directed by Walter Lang. Associate Producer, Kenneth Macgowan. Hollywood: 20th Century-Fox, 1938. First Edition. Original, full-color theater display, showing Warner Baxter, Marjorie Weaver, and Peter Lorre. Also in the cast were Jean Hersholt and John Carrradine. 11" x 14" overall; half-inch closed tear at lower left.

17. Macgowan, Kenneth (associate producer). LLOYDS OF LONDON -- A 20th Century-Fox Picture : Daryl F. Zanuck Production. Associate Producer, Kenneth Macgowan. Hollywood: Fox Film Corp., 1937. Original document. Original, full-color theater display, showing Tyrone Power (his first starring role), Freddie Bartholomew, and Madeline Carroll, heading "a Mammoth Cast." Image, 11" x 7.5"; matted to 18" x 12" overall. This film was nominated for two Oscars.

18. Macgowan, Kenneth (associate producer). MAN HUNT: Four (4) 8x10 inch movie stills from this picture, co-produced by Kenneth Macgowan. Starring Joan Bennett, Walter Pidgeon, and Roddy McDowell (his first film). Hollywood: 20th Century-Fox, 1941. Original photographs. Four (4) original, black-and-white photographs of scenes from the movie. This film is said to be the first one recognized by the Hays Office as being anti-German.

19. Macgowan, Kenneth (associate producer). STANLEY AND LIVINGSTONE -- A 20th Century-Fox Picture : Daryl F. Zanuck in charge of Production. Directed by Henry King. Associate Producer, Kenneth Macgowan. Hollywood: 20th Century-Fox, 1946. First Edition. Two (2) original, full-color lobby cards, showing Spencer Tracy and several other cast members in one scene, and an African-village crowd scene in the other. Half-inch piece torn from lower-corner margin of the second lobby card, not affecting the image. 11" x 14" overall; half- inch closed tear at lower left.

20. Macgowan, Kenneth (associate producer). TIN PAN ALLEY: Five (5) movie stills from this picture, co-produced by Kenneth Macgowan. Starring Alice Faye and Betty Grable. Alfred Newman's first Oscar for music. Hollywood: 20th Century-Fox, 1940. Original photographs. Five (5) original, black-and-white photographs of scenes from the movie. 8" x 10" Very Good.

21. Macgowan, Kenneth (producer). LA CUCARACHA: The Authentic Song from the RKO Picture, produced by Macgowan in 1934. NY: Irving Berlin, 1934. First Edition. 6pp, words and music. The cover shows scenes from the film, "La Cucaracha," a two-reeler for which Kenneth Macgowan won an Oscar in 1935 (Best Short Subject--Comedy). The film is one of the first live-action (i.e., non-animated) movies to use the "new Technicolor Process No. 4."

22. Macgowan, Kenneth (producer). LIFEBOAT: Six (6) 8x5 inch movie stills from this picture, co-produced by Kenneth Macgowan. Showing Alfred Hitchcock with Macgowan and others. Hollywood: 20th Century-Fox, 1944. Original photographs. Six (6) modern reprints of black-and-white photographs (two are duplicates) of scenes from the movie, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, from a story by John Steinbeck, and earning three Oscar nominations in 1944.

23. Macgowan, Kenneth (producer). THE RETURN OF FRANK JAMES: Four (4) 8x10 inch movie stills from this picture, produced by Kenneth Macgowan, directed by Fritz Lang: Starring Henry Fonda and Gene Tierney (her first film). Hollywood: 20th Century-Fox, 1940. Original photographs.

24. Macgowan, Kenneth. ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH OF KENNETH MACGOWAN AT HIS DESK. Hollywood: Twentieth Century-Fox, [1941]. Original photograph. This large, black- and-white photograph shows Macgowan seated behind a large desk, smiling, with the ubiquitous pipe in his mouth. Piled on his desk are papers and periodicals as well as the book, JENNIFER by Janet Whitney. Behind him are two period telephones and more papers. 10" x 12.5" Very Good.

25. Macgowan, Kenneth (producer). ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH OF FOUR MEN AT THE FAREWELL LUNCHEON FOR KENNETH MACGOWAN ON HIS LEAVING 20TH CENTURY-FOX: Showing Darryl Zanuck, Kenneth Macgowan, Fred Metzler, and Tyrone Power. Hollywood: 20th Century-Fox, 1947. Original photograph. This black-and-white photograph commemorates Macgowan's departure from the studio (and the movie business) in 1947, having begun his second career as the first chairman of the new Department of Theatre Arts at UCLA in 1946. Old typewritten description taped to back of photograph.

26. Macgowan, Kenneth. GROUP OF FORTY-THREE (43) BLACK-AND-WHITE NEGATIVES, REFLECTING MACGOWAN'S CAREER AS A STAGE AND CINEMA PRODUCER. 1940s. Professional-quality images, each 3.75" x 5", most from his movies, some labeled, some not: "Alexander Graham Bell" (3 negs); Provincetown Players (1); "Return of Frank James" (1); "Four Men and a Prayer" (2); "Return of the Cisco Kid" (1); "Stanley and Livingston" (3); "Kidnapped" (3); "Lloyds of London" (3); "In Old Chicago" (4); "King of Burlesque" (2); Greenwich Village Theater (1); unlabeled others (19).

27. Dickson, Robert G. KENNETH MACGOWAN in "Films in Review," Volume XIV, Number 8, October 1963. NY: Films in Review, 1963. First Edition. pp: 449-512; illus from photographs. Dickson's obituary on Macgowan, who had died in April of 1963, is a detailed look at his film career and a catalog of the 50 films he produced. This issue also contains a 15-page illustrated piece on Clara Bow, and another piece on the 24th Venice Film Festival.

28. Macgowan, Kenneth (obituary). THE JOURNAL OF THE SCREEN PRODUCERS GUILD, Volume II, Number 4, June 1963. Beverly Hills, CA: Screen Producers Guild, 1963. First Edition. 36pp. In this issue: "Kenneth Macgowan--A Man to Remember" by Philip Dunne; "What Every Man Should Know," by songwriter Harry Ruby; "The Great [Mike] Todd Revolution" by Arthur Hornblow, Jr.; "Hollywood--One World Concept" by Sam Spiegel; &c.

Other Matter:

29. Macgowan, Kenneth. “A DOZEN RUBICONS: And the Next Step to National Cooperation” in Theatre Arts Monthly, Volume XIII, Number 7, July 1929. NY: Theatre Arts Monthly, 1929. pp: 471-558, (18) ads; 22pp illus from photographs. Macgowan's article is on pp 480-490. Also in this issue are an article on Experimental Theatre by Hallie Flanagan, Director of the WPA's Federal Theater Project; "A Second Lesson in Acting" by Richard Boleslavsky; and articles on many local theater groups in San Antonio, St. Paul, &c., and at colleges such as Wellesley, Cornell, and Stanford. Yellow wrappers, geometric design on covers..

30. Macgowan, Kenneth. EARLY MAN IN THE NEW WORLD: With Drawings by Campbell Grant. NY: Macmillan, 1950. First Edition. pp: xv, (ii), 260 w/index; frontispiece from photograph, many maps and drawings in the text. Blue cloth, gilt spine lettering, in lightly chipped dust wrapper. ¶ Explores the controversy over when man first appeared in the Americas and Mexico. [Association copy: On the front endpaper are the words "file copy" and the pencilled signature of Nannine Joseph, literary agent for Macgowan. Among others, she represented Eleanor Roosevelt and, briefly, FDR.

31. Clark, Barrett H. EUGENE O'NEILL. NY: Robert M. McBride, 1926. First Edition. pp: (iii), 110; frontispiece portrait from Steichen photograph. Blue cloth, gilt spine lettering. In a worn dust wrapper, lacking the entire backstrip portion. Stylized dust-wrapper portrait by Hugo Gellert. 7.75" x 5" Very Good in Fair dust-jacket. Original Cloth.

Presentation copy, inscribed on the front endpaper: "To Kenneth Macgowan / with admiration and / respect, from / Barrett H. Clark / August 1926." Macgowan's signature is pencilled at the top of the dust wrapper

32. Covarrubias, Miguel. "THE TRIUMVIRATE" -- REVERSE PROOF (WHITE ON BLACK) OF EUGENE O'NEILL, KENNETH MACGOWAN, AND ROBERT EDMOND JONES. s.l.: s.n., circa 1924. Early edition. Covarrubias caricatures the three men known as "The Triumvirate" who took over artistic control of the Provincetown Playhouse in 1924, operating as The Experimental Theatre. 12.5" x 9.5" Very Good.

33. Dickson, Robert G. KENNETH MACGOWAN in "Films in Review," Volume XIV, Number 8, October 1963. NY: Films in Review, 1963. First Edition. pp: 449-512; illus from photographs. Dickson's obituary on Macgowan, who had died in April of 1963, is a detailed look at his film career and a catalog of the 50 films he produced. This issue also contains a 15-page illustrated piece on Clara Bow, and another piece on the 24th Venice Film Festival.

34. Macgowan, Kenneth (obituary). THE JOURNAL OF THE SCREEN PRODUCERS GUILD, Volume II, Number 4, June 1963. Beverly Hills, CA: Screen Producers Guild, 1963. First Edition. 36pp. In this issue: "Kenneth Macgowan--A Man to Remember" by Philip Dunne; "What Every Man Should Know," by songwriter Harry Ruby; "The Great [Mike] Todd Revolution" by Arthur Hornblow, Jr.; "Hollywood--One World Concept" by Sam Spiegel; &c.

35. Marett, R.H.K. ARCHAEOLOGICAL TOURS FROM MEXICO CITY: A Guide to the Principal Archaeological Sites of the Pre-Spanish Civilizations of Mexico that can Conveniently be Visited from the Capital. Foreword by T.A. Joyce. NY: Oxford University Press, (1933). First Edition. pp: xiii, 117; 13pp illus from photographs, two maps in text. Printed tan wrappers; spine repaired with tan tape. ¶ Kenneth Macgowan's copy with his signature pencilled inside the cover and occasional marginalia in the text, reflecting his serious interest in archaeology and anthropology.

36. McCord, David. H.T.P.--PORTRAIT OF A CRITIC. NY: Coward-McCann, 1935. First Edition. pp: viii, 25; frontispiece portrait of H.T. Parker, full-page drawing of his office, and two-page manuscript facsimile. Red cloth, H.T.P. stamped on cover, paper spine label (sunned). ¶ This is #89 of 210 copies (200 for sale), numbered and signed by the author. Henry Taylor Parker (1867-1934) was an American theater and music critic for the New York Globe and then for the Boston Evening Transcript. From the collection of Kenneth Macgowan.

37. UCLA. UCLA DEPARTMENT OF THEATER ARTS 25TH ANNIVERSARY. Los Angeles: UCLA, 1972. First Edition. (32)pp; illus from photographs and drawings, printed throughout in blue ink. This booklet presents the history of theatre arts at UCLA, including the appointment of Kenneth Macgowan as professor when the department was established in 1947, and recognized here "In Memoriam"; a list of UCLA theatrical productions during 25 years; then- current staff, plays and programs (in Macgowan Hall), etc.

38. Macgowan, Kenneth. GROUP OF 21 ORIGINAL, BLACK-AND-WHITE PHOTOGRAPHS, REFLECTING MACGOWAN'S INTEREST IN ANTHROPOLOGY & ARCHAEOLOGY. v.p.: s.n., 1930s. Vernacular and professional-quality, black-and-white images of various sizes (2.75"x4" to 12.5"x9"). Subjects include views and carved-stone objects from Guatemala and Honduras. On the back of one photograph is a handwritten note to Kenneth, signed Susanne, in part: "... Am making arrangements for you and Karl to carry out for Guatemalan, Mexican, Ecuadorian and Peruvian exhibitions." Several photographs have glue residue on the back. not affecting the image.

39. Macgowan, Kenneth. GROUP OF NINE (9) LARGE, FULL-COLOR NEGATIVES, REFLECTING MACGOWAN'S INTEREST IN ANTHROPOLOGY & ARCHAEOLOGY. Meso-America:, 1930s. Professional-quality negatives , each 8" x 10", showing Meso-American wall paintings. [Another group of photographs in this archive included a handwritten note to Kenneth, signed Susanne, in part: "...Am making arrangements for you and Karl to carry out for Guatemalan, Mexican, Ecuadorian and Peruvian exhibitions."] Accompanying these color negatives is a note written on National Film Finance Corporation letterhead, datelined London, 6 Oct 1982, in part: "Dear Prudence [Kenneth's daughter], Thank you for the loan of the negatives.... Do phone call when you are next in the UK...."