- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"simple", "value"=>"3 linear feet (7 boxes)"}
- unitid
-
{"value"=>"*T-Mss 1998-008", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"21449", "type"=>"local_mss"}
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"Charles Pierce papers"}
- repository
-
{"value"=>"The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. Billy Rose Theatre Division."}
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"<p>Charles Pierce Papers, *T-Mss 1998-008, Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.</p>"}
- origination
-
{"value"=>"Pierce, Charles, 1926-1999", "type"=>"persname"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>Charles Pierce, female impressionist and actor, was born on July 14, 1926 in Watertown, New York. He was educated in Watertown, and worked at the local radio station WWNY while still a high school student. After graduation, he moved to California to attend the Pasadena Playhouse drama school. From the Pasadena Playhouse, he moved on to stage work in Newport, Rhode Island, and New York City, eventually returning to the Pasadena Playhouse as an actor in the early 1950s. It was during this period that he began to develop his nightclub act. His Sunday afternoon engagements at Club La Vie in Altadena were so successful, that the Club created a stage for him. He began a long engagement there in September, 1954.</p> <p>His early impressions were done with props and puppets, and it wasn't until he'd been performing for more than ten years that he began to don full female costumes for his act. This change reflects the evolution of Pierce's impressions, but also the changes in legislation which earlier made such an act illegal in many states. As a female impressionist (or male actress, as he referred to himself at one time), Pierce was best known for his roles as Bette Davis, Katharine Hepburn, Tallulah Bankhead, Mae West, and Joan Collins. His career, which spanned over four decades, took him to clubs around the United States and also to London where he appeared at the Fortune Theatre and the Country Cousin Cabaret. He is particularly well-known in San Francisco where he has performed regularly over the past 35 years.</p> <p>In addition to his nightclub act, Pierce appeared as Margo Channing in <span class=\"title\">Applause</span>. His television credits during the 1970's and 1980's include <span class=\"title\">Fame</span>, <span class=\"title\">Starsky & Hutch</span>, <span class=\"title\">Laverne and Shirley</span>, <span class=\"title\">Love, American Style</span>, and <span class=\"title\">Designing Women</span>. In 1988 he appeared in the screen adaptation of Harvey Fierstein's <span class=\"title\">Torch Song Trilogy</span>. Throughout his career, Charles Pierce has been recognized not only for his impressions, but also for his skill as an actor and performer.</p>"}
- custodhist
-
{"value"=>"<p>The Charles Pierce Papers were given to the Billy Rose Theatre Division of the New York Public Library by Charles Pierce in 1998 and 1999.</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>The<span class=\"persname\"> Charles Pierce</span> papers document Pierce's career from the late 1960s through the early 1990s. The papers reflect Pierce's professional life through a comprehensive collection of clippings, some publicity materials and programs, and also photographs of Pierce in some of his many roles. His personal correspondence includes letters and notes from friends and fans, many of them well-known personalities. The collection further contains some papers and photographs relating to female impersonators and their history in the performing arts.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The Charles Pierce papers are arranged in six series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21449#c301092'>Series I: Correspondence,.</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1971-1998</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>18 folders</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Correspondence is made up entirely of incoming letters, and is arranged alphabetically. The letters, notes, and cards are personal in nature, and include many congratulatory notes from friends written after seeing performances of his. Among the correspondents are Julie Harris, Hal Holbrook, Hildegarde, Angela Lansbury, Anita Loos, Bob Mowers, Kitt Russell and Liz Smith.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21449#c301105'>Series II: Personal Papers</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>ca. 1974-1996</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>13 folders</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>These are made up of biographical files, Pierce's files on female impersonators, Charles Pierce greeting cards, and writings by Pierce. Biographical material includes the transcript of an oral history interview given by Pierce for Southern Methodist University in 1989. Material on female impersonators is made up mostly of clippings, and a copy of the book <span class=\"title\">Great Pretenders</span> by Anthony Slide, which includes a section on Pierce. (Photographs of female impersonators are in the Photographs series).</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21449#c301113'>Series III: Scripts,.</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>ca. 1971-1988</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>14 folders</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Scripts include Charles Pierce's television and movie roles, as well as a small file on \"The Charles Pierce Show.\"</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21449#c301128'>Series IV: Photographs</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>ca. 1954-1990</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>13 folders</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>These include photos, slides, and some photocopies of photographs not in the collection. The photographs are primarily of Charles Pierce, both as himself, and dressed in his various roles as Bette Davis, Katharine Hepburn, Tallulah Bankhead, Mae West, etc. Also included are photographs of various female impersonators including Julian Eltinge, Ricky Renee, Kitt Russell, and Danny Windsor. The slides are outtakes from photo shoots to create the Charles Pierce greeting cards. Photocopies are of Pierce family photos and other miscellaneous shots of Pierce.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21449#c301131'>Series V: Ephemera,.</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1963-1998</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>24 folders 1 flat box</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This is arranged by genre and is made up of clippings, publicity, programs, oversize material and files relating to several performances by Charles Pierce. The clippings are arranged chronologically, and include reviews, interviews and articles documenting nearly 30 years of performance by Charles Pierce. The publicity and oversize items include flyers, posters, magazine covers and other public relations material. Mr. Pierce's \"make-up mouse\" has been transferred to the Division's *T-Cabinet.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21449#c301137'>Series VI: Scrapbooks,.</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>ca. 1969-1987</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>2 volumes</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Two volumes of clippings, photographs and programs documenting Charles Pierce's career from 1969 to 1987.</p></div></li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
- arrangement
-
{"value"=>"<p> <ul> <li>Series I: Correspondence</li> <li>Series II: Personal Papers</li> <li>Series III: Scripts</li> <li>Series IV: Photographs</li> <li>Series V: Ephemera</li> <li>Series VI: Scrapbooks</li></ul></p>", "supress_display"=>true}
- separatedmaterial
-
{"value"=>"<p>Charles Pierce's \"make-up mouse\" has been transferred to the Division's *T-Cabinet. The mouse is a stuffed animal about 4-inches high with a very long tail, sitting on a dark pink pillow, decorated with a faux diamond pin. The mouse is wearing pearls and holding a cane and straw hat.</p>"}
- accessrestrict
-
{"value"=>"<p>Photocopying prohibited.</p>"}
- userestrict
-
{"value"=>"<p>For permission to publish, contact the Curator, Billy Rose Theatre Division.</p>"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1954-1998", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1954/1998"}
- date_inclusive_start
-
1954
- date_inclusive_end
-
1998
- acqinfo
-
{"accession_number"=>"THE Mss 1998-008"}
{"date"=>"03/25/1998", "materials"=>"Papers", "source"=>"Pierce, Charles", "method"=>"Gift", "extent"=>"3 o", "value"=>"Papers: Gift, Pierce, Charles, 03/25/1998"}
- abstract
-
{"value"=>"The Charles Pierce Papers include correspondence, biographical information, writings, scripts, photographs, clippings, programs, and scrapbooks documenting his career from the 1960's through the 1990's."}
- keydate
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1954
- processinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Processed by Francesca Pitaro.</p>"}
- date_start
-
1954
- date_end
-
1998