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Jimmy Starr Film History Collection

MS SC STR

Biographical Note

Jimmy Starr (James Atherton) was a Hollywood film columnist, author, and actor (1904-1990). Hollywood movie columnist and motion picture editor from the 1920s to the 1950s, Starr began his newspaper career in 1924 writing reviews, gossip, and features for the now defunct Los Angeles Record. He later moved to the Los Angeles Express which became the Herald-Express. He left the Herald in 1961 when the paper merged with the Los Angeles Examiner. In addition, he was a press agent, mystery writer, and a screenwriter of silent comedies for Mack Sennett and was a title and scenario writer for Warner Brothers, 1927-1930, Paramount, Metro-Goldwyn Mayer, and Columbia Pictures, 1940-1950. In the early 1960s he moved to Phoenix to work for Ramada Inns, Inc., first as Director of Advertising and Public Relations, and later, by 1968, was named Vice president of Advertising and Public Relations before retiring in 1974. Starr authored 365 Nights in Hollywood, 1926; The Corps Came C.O.D., 1944; Three Short Biers, 1945; The Lady Lost Her Head, 1950; Heads You Lose, 1950 and numerous short stories.

Scope and Content Note

The collection holds the working materials of Jimmy Starr, such as personal and correspondence files; his writings, including typescripts, notebooks and published columns; research files which include biographical data, individual files of movie stars consisting of newspaper and periodical clippings, miscellany and subject files, and film studio ephemera. Although the material in the collection ranges from 1921 to 1989, the bulk of the holdings span the years 1923 to 1975. In addition, there are film scripts by Starr and others; photographs of movie stars, movie sets and movie stills; and as well as various audio-visual materials.

Arrangement

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

To view this collection, make an appointment at least five business days prior to your visit by contacting Ask an Archivist or calling (480) 965-4932. Appointments in the Wurzburger Reading Room at Hayden Library (rm. 138) on the Tempe campus are available Monday through Friday. Check the ASU Library Hours page for current availability.

Copyright

Arizona State University does not own copyright to this collection. Distinctive Collections recognizes that it is incumbent upon the researcher to procure permission to publish information from this collection from the owner of the copyright.

Related Material

Separated Materials

Motion picture trade and professional magazines as well as magazines and periodicals pertaining to radio, television, and theater are housed and catalogued separately, as are playbills and theatre programs collected by Starr from attended theatre performances.

Five hundred thirty nine sound recordings were transferred to the Music Library.

Access Terms

Administrative Information

Credit Line

[Identification of item], Jimmy Starr Film History Collection, MS SC STR, Arizona State University Library.

Provenance

Gift of Jimmy Starr; Mrs. Cherie Starr (1970); and the Starr Estate (1970-1997).

Container List