GUIDE TO THE FULKERSON FAMILY / SAVOY THEATRE COLLECTION
COLLECTION NUMBER:
C054.
NAME OF COLLECTION:
Fulkerson Family/Savoy Theatre Collection.
LOCAL CONTROL NUMBER(S):
Photographic prints: OP 17121/1-154.
DATES OF MATERIAL:
1909-1967, bulk 1915-1930.
EXTENT:
159 items (158 photographic prints, 1 photomechanical print); chiefly gelatin silver, some hand col.; 36 x 28 cm. or smaller.
1 album (ca. 500 photographic prints, photomechanical prints, clippings, and ephemera); 34 x 24 cm.
13 drawings: graphite and ink; 38 x 28 cm.CREATOR(S):
Album probably created by W. Floyd Wilkerson, son of Walter J. Fulkerson; drawings by Randall Jerabek; photographic prints include snapshots by Fulkerson family members and portraits by commercial photographers from New York, Los Angeles, Hollywood (Calif.), and elsewhere.
REPOSITORY:
San Diego Historical Society
Booth Historical Photograph Archives
P.O. Box 81825
San Diego, CA 92138
ACQUISITION INFORMATION:
Gift of Beulah Osborne, daughter of W. Floyd Fulkerson, 1993 (D-115).
RESTRICTIONS:
Open for research.
COPYRIGHT:
For permission to reproduce or publish, contact the curator of the Booth Historical Photograph Archives at the San Diego Historical Society. Reproduction or publication of any part of this collection must include the following information next to the image(s) or in a special section of credits: Fulkerson Family/Savoy Theatre Collection, San Diego Historical Society, Booth Historical Photograph Archives.
GENERAL NOTE:
Forms part of San Diego Historical Society Original Print Collection. Album leaves disbound and enclosed in clear plastic sleeves.
ORGANIZATION AND ARRANGEMENT:
Organized by size and format: photographic prints (box 1); oversize photographic prints, album leaves, clippings, programs, and drawings (box 2). Photographic prints arranged numerically by local control number, album leaves arranged by original order and numbered 1-56, clippings and programs arranged chronologically.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE:
Walter J. Fulkerson (1871-1951), in association with the Palmer brothers, built and operated several theaters in San Diego, including the Savoy on 3rd and C streets from 1910-1931. His sons W. Floyd (1897-1988?) and Edward L. (1905-1989) also worked at the Savoy. The collection consists of photographic prints, an album, and drawings accompanied by programs and photocopied newspaper clippings. It chiefly documents the Palmer Brothers & Fulkerson's Savoy Theatre in San Diego, home to Pantages vaudeville acts and then the Savoy Players stock company, but it also includes Fulkerson family snapshots. The album contains photographs, prints, clippings, and ephemera and was probably created by W. Floyd Fulkerson. Images include vaudeville acts and entertainers; early stage and motion picture actors and actresses, including “Fatty” Roscoe Arbuckle; other theaters in San Diego; heavyweight champion boxers Jake Kilrain, James J. Corbett, and John L. Sullivan; National and American league all-star teams; the 1915 Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park; damage from the 1916 flood; Savoy manager Scott A. Palmer, W. Floyd Fulkerson, and other family members and friends. Loose photographs consist mostly of publicity shots by professional photographers of the Savoy Players and other stage and motion picture actors and actresses who made guest appearances at the Savoy, including May Robson, Eugene O'Brien, Francis X. Bushman, and Leatrice Joy. Many are inscribed. Of special note, several photographs of then world heavyweight champion boxer Jack Dempsey. Other materials include a series of drawings of each member of the Savoy Players stock company, Savoy Theatre programs, and newspaper reviews [ca. 1930].
SUBJECTS INDEXED:
Savoy Theatre (San Diego, Calif.)
Palmer Brothers & Fulkerson.
Pantages, Alexander.
Fulkerson family.
Families – California – San Diego.
Entertainers.
Actors.
Actresses.
Theaters – California – San Diego.
Theaterical productions.
Vaudeville shows.
Boxing.
CONTENTS LIST:
Box 1
Folder 1 OP 17121/1-49
Snapshots of 1915 Panama-California Exposition, zoo animals, Old Town, San Diego Bay, Point Loma, Sunset Cliffs, Ocean Beach, and other San Diego area scenes. Some photographs sepia toned.
Folder 2 OP 17121/50-82
Chiefly publicity portraits of actors and actresses, some inscribed. Includes Eddy Lawrence, Theodora Warfield, and other members of Savoy Players; also, May Robson, Eugene O'Brien, and other guest performers. Of special note, several photographs of world heavyweight champion boxer Jack Dempsey.
Folder 3 OP 17121/83-120
Additional portraits of Savoy Players and other actors and actresses, some inscribed. Of special note, Virginia Brissac, Belle Bennett, and Marjorie Rambeau. Also, Savoy staff, ushers, stage crew, and house organist Jamie Erickson. Includes some stage scenes and several photographs of Silverado Ballroom dance band.
Box 2 Oversize
Folder 4 OP 17121/121-147
Oversize portraits of Savoy Players and other actors and actresses who made guest appearances at Savoy Theatre. Of special note, Francis X. Bushman, Lillian Russell [?], Betty Bronson, Leatrice Joy [hand col.], and Tom Moore.
Folder 5 OP 17121/148-154
Stage scenes from play The Unseen Way.
Folder 6
Album (Leaves 1-20)
Disbound leaves of album with photographs, prints, business cards, postcards, tickets, clippings, programs, and memorabilia related to W. Floyd Fulkerson and Savoy Theatre when it hosted Pantages vaudeville circuit. Images include vaudeville shows, entertainers, dancers, and early motion picture actresses and actors, including Fatty Roscoe Arbuckle. Also, boxers Jake Kilrain, James J. Corbett, and John L. Sullivan; San Diego's Superba, Empire, and Grand theaters; National and American league all-star teams; and 1915 Panama-California Exposition. Family snapshots show young W. Floyd Fulkerson, his brothers and sister, and cousin Raymond Crane. Of special note, snapshot of IWW labor union strike.
Folder 7
Album (Leaves 21-40)
Disbound leaves of album with photographs, prints, business cards, postcards, tickets, clippings, programs, and memorabilia related to W. Floyd Fulkerson and Savoy Theatre when it hosted Pantages vaudeville circuit. Images include vaudeville acts and entertainers, dancers and musicians, and Savoy manager Scott A. Palmer. Also, San Diego High School photograph and ephemera, flood damage, and 1911 Santa Rosa shipwreck. Family snapshots show W. Floyd Fulkerson, other family members, and friends engaged in various leisure activities.
Folder 8
Album (Leaves 41-56)
Disbound leaves of album with photographs, prints, business cards, postcards, tickets, clippings, programs, and memorabilia related W. Floyd Fulkerson and Savoy Theatre when it hosted Pantages vaudeville circuit. Images include vaudeville acts and entertainers, theatrical productions, and early motion picture stills. Family snapshots include travel to Coney Island, Niagara Falls, Lake Erie, and Michigan.
Folder 9
Album
Loose items from album related to W. Floyd Fulkerson and Savoy when it operated as Pantages vaudeville theater. Includes tickets, cards, stamps, programs, and clippings.
Folder 10
Clippings (Photocopies)
Newspaper clippings [ca. 1930], mostly reviews and announcements of Savoy Theatre productions and guest appearances by various actors and actresses, including Francis X. Bushman, May Robson, Eugene O'Brien, and Leatrice Joy.
Folder 11
Programs
Savoy Theatre programs [ca. 1930].
Folder 12
Drawings
Graphite and ink drawings by Randall Jerabek of Savoy Players: Jamie Erickson, Eddy Lawrence, Howard Watson, William Heater, Edward Porter, Vane Calvert, Harry Hays, Ruby Kisman, Marie Gray, Theodora Warfield, and Howard MacNear.
