Summary Information
Dr. A.H. Giannini Files: United Artists Corporation Records, Series 5B
1935-1939
- Giannini, A. H. (Attilio H.), 1874-1943
- United Artists Corporation
U.S. Mss 99AN/5B
1.6 cubic feet (4 archives boxes)
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Largely routine policy correspondence of Dr. Attilio Giannini, president and chairman of the board. Compiled by Giannini's assistant, Thomas L. Walker, and by Leo F. Samuels, assistant secretary, this file contains almost daily correspondence between Giannini, who remained in Beverly Hills, California, and the corporation's home office in New York City. The correspondence deals with the daily affairs of the corporation, with occasional letters relating to the personal affairs of Giannini and Walker. The file consists almost exclusively of the most routine of policy correspondence. No mention is made of the circumstances surrounding Giannini's appointment to the presidency, nor to the reasons for his abrupt resignation nor to the upheavals among the stockholders during this period.
Forms part of the United Artists Corporation collection.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-99an005b ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
Attilio H. Giannini (1874-1943) was trained as a physician, but became active in the banking ventures founded by his family (Bank of America), notably as a pioneering and continuing financier of motion pictures. Having gained widespread recognition as both financial counselor and arbitrator in the film industry, Giannini was appointed President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of United Artists on July 7, 1936, succeeding Joseph M. Schenck. Increasing tensions within the corporation, particularly between Samuel Goldwyn and the other stockholders, led to Giannini's resignation on June 11, 1938 with over three years of his five year contract left to run.
Scope and Content Note
This file of Giannini's correspondence as President and as Chairman of the Board of United Artists (UA) was compiled by Giannini's assistant, Thomas L. Walker, (Named a UA vice president in December 1937) and by Leo F. Samuels, assistant secretary. The file contains almost daily correspondence between Giannini, who remained in Beverly Hills, California, and the corporation's home office in New York City. This correspondence, usually drafted by either Walker or Samuels, sometimes at Giannini's direction and sometimes on their own initiative, deals with the daily affairs of the corporation, with occasional letters relating to the personal affairs of Giannini and Walker.
Among those with whom the Giannini office corresponded were: George Archibald, secretary and director of the London Subsidiary; Harry D. Buckley, UA vice president; F.M. Guedalla, solicitor for the British corporation; Arthur W. Kelly, vice president of UA in charge of foreign sales; Walter Liebler, foreign comptroller; H.J. Muller, comptroller (and treasurer after 1935); T.P. Mulrooney, foreign sales manager; Dennis F. (“Cap”) and Paul D. O'Brien of the law firm of O'Brien, Driscoll and Raftery which acted as UA's counsel; George J. Schaefer, a vice president and director of domestic sales distribution; Harry W. Schroeder of the foreign department; Murray Silverstone, chairman and managing director of the English corporation; and Loyd Wright, secretary of the corporation.
The file also contains correspondence with producers, for example, Walt Disney and Alexander Korda; job applications; and letters offering distribution rights to motion pictures and other business opportunities. Included are materials dealing with insurance, janitorial service, and building contractors and suppliers.
The file consists almost exclusively of the most routine of policy correspondence. No mention is made of the circumstances surrounding Giannini's appointment to the presidency, nor to the reasons for his abrupt resignation nor to the upheavals among the stockholders during this period. It is reasonable to conjecture that Giannini kept a separate office where the more sensitive and informative correspondence remained after his departure from United Artists.
The file is arranged alphabetically by subject and correspondent, and chronologically thereunder.
Contents List
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U.S. Mss 99AN/5B
Box
1
Folder
1
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Archibald, George, 1936 May-1938 June
: Secretary of British subsidiary.
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Box
1
Folder
2
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B, 1936 August-1938 June
: Includes correspondence with B. Behrens concerning refinancing and reorganizing the British subsidiary.
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Box
1
Folder
3
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Buckley, Harry D., 1936 July-1938 February
: Vice President of United Artists (UA). Note correspondence relating to proposed public issuance of UA stock; Television survey and report prepared by the Hays Office in June of 1937; Report (from Will Hays) on the first six months of the Producers-Screen Actors Guild Basic Minimum Contract for 1937.
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Box
1
Folder
4-5
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Building, 1936 October-1938 April
: Regarding building of new Executive Offices in Beverly Hills.
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Box
1
Folder
6
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C, 1937 October-1938 June
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Box
1
Folder
7
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Caddo Company Inc., 1936 October-1938 February
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Box
1
Folder
8
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The Challenge,
1937 January-1938 January
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Box
1
Folder
9
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D, 1936 March-1939 March
: Includes correspondence with E. Deregibus concerning five cases of pink champagne for Dr. Giannini.
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Box
1
Folder
10
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Disney, Walt, 1937 May-1938 June
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Box
1
Folder
11
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Dubbing, 1937 July-1937 September
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Box
1
Folder
12
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E, 1936 March-1938 April
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Box
1
Folder
13
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F, 1936 October-1938 January
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Box
2
Folder
1
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G, 1935 December-1938 May
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Box
2
Folder
2
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Guedalla, F.M., 1936 June-1937 December
: Includes correspondence relating to Alexander Korda, giving opinions and information on Korda's activities and personality.
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Box
2
Folder
3
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H, 1936 September-1938 May
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Box
2
Folder
4
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I, 1937 May-1938 April
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Box
2
Folder
5
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K, 1936 November-1938 May
: Includes correspondence with A. Krisel relating to China under date April 29, 1938.
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Box
2
Folder
6-7
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Kelly, Arthur W., 1935 February-1938 June
: Vice President of UA.
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Box
2
Folder
8
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L, 1936 May-1938 May
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Box
2
Folder
9
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Liebler, Walter, 1936 June-1938 June
: Foreign Comptroller of UA.
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Box
2
Folder
10
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M, 1936 June-1938 April
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Box
2
Folder
11
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Muller, Harry J., 1936 October-1938 June
: Comptroller and Treasurer of UA.
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Box
3
Folder
1-3
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Muller, Harry J. (continued)
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Box
3
Folder
4
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Mulrooney, T.P., 1935 May-1938 April
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Box
3
Folder
5
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N, 1937 January-1938 May
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Box
3
Folder
6
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O
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Box
3
Folder
7-8
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O'Brien office, 1936 June-1938 April
: (Captain) Dennis F. O'Brien was senior partner in the law firm of O'Brien, Driscoll & Raftery which was UA's corporate counsel. Paul D. O'Brien of the same firm also worked closely with UA.
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Box
4
Folder
1
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O'Brien office (continued)
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Box
4
Folder
2
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P, 1937 February-1938 April
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Box
4
Folder
3
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R, 1936 October-1938 May
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Box
4
Folder
4
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S, 1936 October-1938 May
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Box
4
Folder
5
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Schaefer, George J., 1936 July-1938 April
: Vice President of UA.
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Box
4
Folder
6
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Schroeder, Harry W., 1937 May-1938 April
: Foreign department of UA.
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Box
4
Folder
7
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Steele, Charles M., 1936 November-1938 April
: Concerning domestic sales and black books of foreign statistics (See Series 1F).
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Box
4
Folder
8
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T, 1936 September-1938 January
: Includes letter of November 17, 1936 from N.A. Thompson analyzing procedures in the various departments at the UA Home Office in New York.
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Box
4
Folder
9
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W, 1936 October-1938 May
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Box
4
Folder
10-11
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Wright, Loyd, 1936 August-1938 June
: Secretary of UA.
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Box
4
Folder
12
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XYZ, 1936 October-1937 July
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