A Group of Set Stills from the Henry Aldrich Series of Films

A Group of Set Stills from the Henry Aldrich Series of Films Including What a Life, Life with Henry, Henry Aldrich for President, Henry Aldrich, Editor, Henry and Dizzy, Henry Aldrich Swings It, Henry Aldrich Gets Glamour, Henry Aldrich Haunts a House, Henry Aldrich Plays Cupid, Henry Aldrich, Boy Scout, and Henry Aldrich's Little Secret. Please note that there may be some duplication of photographs in each film folder. What a Life (Paramount Pictures, 1939). Starring Jackie Cooper. Director Theodore Reed. Comedy. Approximately 50 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in., almost all with location descriptions handwritten in ink to border, some with 'Interior Decorating (36)' stamped to verso, one featuring Jackie Cooper and Eddie Bracken. Life with Henry (Paramount Pictures, 1940). Starring Jackie Cooper. Director Theodore Reed. Approximately 90 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in., almost all with descriptions to border handwritten in ink, some with 'Interior Decorating (36)' stamped to verso. Henry Aldrich for President (Paramount Pictures, 1941). Starring Jimmy Lydon. Director Hugh Bennett. Approximately 110 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in., many with location descriptions handwritten in ink to border, some with 'Interior Decorating (36)' stamped to verso. Henry Aldrich, Editor (Paramount Pictures, 1942). Starring Jimmy Lydon. Director Hugh Bennett. Approximately 60 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in., some with location descriptions handwritten in ink to border, some with 'Interior Decorating (36)' stamped to verso. Henry and Dizzy (aka Mr. Aldrich's Boy) (Paramount Pictures, 1942). Starring Jimmy Lydon, Charles Smith. Director Hugh Bennett. Approximately 65 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in., some with location descriptions handwritten in ink to border, most with 'Interior Decorating (36)' stamped to verso, 2 featuring Jimmy Lydon and Charles Smith. Henry Aldrich Swings It (Paramount Pictures, 1943). Director Hugh Bennett. Approximately 40 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in., many with location descriptions handwritten in ink to border, many with 'Interior Decorating (36)' stamped to verso. Together with 10 smaller photos, 4 x 5 in. Henry Aldrich Gets Glamour (Paramount Pictures, 1943). Starring Jimmy Lydon. Director Hugh Bennett. Approximately 40 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in., some with location descriptions handwritten in ink to border, some with 'Interior Decorating (36)' stamped to verso, one featuring Jimmy Lydon. Together with 5 smaller photos, 4 x 5 in. Henry Aldrich Haunts a House (Paramount Pictures, 1943). Starring Jimmy Lydon. Director Hugh Bennett. Approximately 80 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in., many with location descriptions handwritten in ink to border, some with 'Interior Decorating (36)' stamped to verso. Together with 6 smaller photos, 4 x 5 in. Henry Aldrich Plays Cupid (Paramount Pictures, 1944). Starring Jimmy Lydon. Director Hugh Bennett. Approximately 25 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in., almost all with location descriptions handwritten in ink to border, some with 'Interior Decorating (36)' stamped to verso. Together with 7 smaller photos, 4 x 5 in. Henry Aldrich, Boy Scout (aka Henry Aldrich, Code of Honor) (Paramount Pictures, 1944). Starring Jimmy Lydon. Director Hugh Bennett. Approximately 75 silver gelatin photographs, 4 x 5 in., many with location descriptions handwritten in ink to border, some with 'Interior Decorating (36)' stamped to verso. Together with 4 larger photos, 8 x 10 in. Henry Aldrich's Little Secret (aka Henry Aldrich Rocks the Cradle) (Paramount Pictures, 1944). Director Hugh Bennett. Approximately 70 silver gelatin photographs, 4 x 5 in., some with location descriptions handwritten in ink to border, some date stamped (June 1943), some with 'Interior Decorating (36)' stamped to verso. Together with 10 larger photos, 8 x 10 in. The Henry Aldrich series of films began with Jackie Cooper as the star; he appeared in the first two pictures in the series but later declined to appear in more because he didn't want to be typecast. The character of Henry had appeared on Broadway and radio before Paramount Pictures introduced the films. The film series was modeled after the Andy Hardy movies being produced at MGM, which starred Mickey Rooney and were wildly successful. After the first two Aldrich films with Cooper, young actor Jimmy Lydon took over the role of Henry. In these charming films, Henry is an earnest high school student who finds himself in mishap after mishap, thus creating fodder for many films as Henry becomes a boy scout, a high school editor, etc. Billy Wilder and his partner Charles Brackett were writers in the early part of the series. After great success on the big screen, the series later appeared on television as well, with different actors playing the roles. 8 x 10 in. or smaller Footnotes: The collection of Paramount Pictures set stills that is being offered in this auction is an extraordinary historical archive from the late 1920s to the early 1970s. Sets stills were taken for continuity purposes and to document the arrangements of the sets and props, etc, during the making of a film. Not only does this collection photographically document the changes in filmmaking through the decades, it details the changing styles of architecture, interior design (the Art Deco sets from the 1930s are astonishingly beautiful), fashion, cars, and more. In the cases of location shooting, one can see the evolution of various southern California towns and landmarks, from the tony nightspots of Hollywood to the open spaces of Brentwood to the artistry of the Paramount Ranch. The photos give a unique behind-the-scenes look at the stars during filming; some vamp for the camera while others avoid it, some study their scripts or confer with the director, and some look incredibly bored. Equally interesting is the appearance of the stars' lookalike stand-ins and famous extras such as Bess Flowers. The unsung heroes of filmmaking, the crews, are seen as well, holding the booms, adjusting the lights, holding the clapper boards, and waiting, waiting, waiting. And speaking of unsung heroes, the talent, imagination, style, and creativity of the art directors and set decorators for these films cannot be overstated. Most of the fashion designers of the 1930s and '40s, such as Edith Head, are recognized for their contributions, as well they should be; however, the set decorators and art directors are grossly overlooked. Masters of their profession such as Hans Dreier, Robert Usher, William Flannery, Hal Pereira, Ernst Fegte, Sam Comer, Walter H. Tyler, A. Earl Hedrick, and so many others, deserve their place in the sun, and hopefully, the future owners of these historic photographs will appreciate their artistry. Lot to be sold without reserve. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing