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John C. Tibbetts' collection of Hollywood press kits

 Collection
Call Number: MS 292

Overview

The John Tibbetts Collection of Hollywood Press Kits consists of press information for a variety of motion pictures; Tibbetts received the kits as part of his work as a film reviewer.

Dates

  • Creation: 1978 - 2004

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

No access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Spencer Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials.

Biography of John C. Tibbetts

John C. Tibbetts was born October 6, 1946 in Paola, Kansas and grew up in Leavenworth, Kansas. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1969, a Master of Arts in 1974, and a doctorate in 1982, all from the University of Kansas. His doctorate is in Multi-Disciplinary Studies (Art History, Theater, Photography, and Film).

From 1980 to 1996 Tibbetts worked as a full-time broadcaster. He hosted his own television show in Kansas City, Missouri, and worked as an Arts and Entertainment Editor and Producer for a variety of radio and television outlets, including KCTV (Kansas City's CBS affiliate), KMBC Radio, and KXTR-FM Radio. During that time he also contributed many broadcast stories about musicians, painters, playwrights, and filmmakers to CBS Television, the Christian Science Monitor Radio Network, Voice of America, and National Public Radio. He has produced two radio series about music, The World of Robert Schumann and Piano Portraits.

From 1976-1985 Tibbetts edited the bi-monthly magazine American Classic Screen (the publication of the National Film Society). He has written and illustrated 24 books, more than 200 articles, and several short stories. His books include His Majesty the American: The Films of Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. (1977), Dvorak in America (1993), The Encyclopedia of Novels into Film (1998), Shakespeare into Film (2002), Those Who Made It: Conversations with the Legends of Hollywood (2015), and The Gothic Worlds of Peter Straub (2016). Tibbetts has painted thousands of portraits of the subjects he has interviewed. His work has served as illustrations for his articles and books and has been featured in gallery exhibitions in Kansas City and at the University of Kansas. Tibbetts has also worked as a pianist, accompanying silent movies at venues including the American Film Institute in Washington, DC; the Silent Film Festival in Topeka, Kansas; and the Buster Keaton Celebrations in Iola, Kansas—the latter event organized by Tibbetts himself since 1992.

Tibbetts is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Film and Media Studies at the University of Kansas, where he teaches courses in film history, media studies, and aesthetics. He has also served as Associate Chair for the Department of Theater and Film. In 2008 he was awarded the Kansas Governor's Arts in Education Award by Governor Kathleen Sebelius.

History of the Hollywood Press Kit

See Pdf document available at ksrl.sc.tibbettsjohnpresskitessay.pdf for descriptive essay entitled, "The Hollywood Press Kit: a Brief History and Analysis," written by Tibbetts' graduate student assistant Brian Faucette, Ph.D. (2010).

Extent

18 Linear Feet (18 boxes + 2 oversize folders)

Language of Materials

English

Scope and Contents

This collection of Hollywood Press Kits, gathered by John C. Tibbetts, date from 1978 to 2004 and are arranged in three series, which reflect the decades that the collection covers: 1970s/1980s; 1990s; and 2000s. Folders within each series are arranged alphabetically by title. The kits generally consist of production information, biographical information on the actors, story information, and press release information. Most kits contain some form of visual materials, such as stills, slides, or digital press kits; these latter are on Cd-Rom and contain a variety of items, including images, video clips, and production information. In order to better prevent item deterioration, these visual materials have been removed from the rest of the kit and are foldered immediately behind the kit's manuscript portion. Both visual and manuscript materials have been left in their original (upon Library's receipt) order.

Physical Location

MS 292

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift, John Tibbetts, 2010

Related Materials

John C. Tibbetts papers, MS 325, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, Univviersity of Kansas.

Collection of Movie Stills, MS 297, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas.

Title
Guide to the John Tibbetts Collection
Subtitle
John C. Tibbetts' collection of Hollywood press kits
Author
Finding aid prepared by mbw, 2010.
Date
2010
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Finding aid written in<language encodinganalog="language">English.</language>
Finding aid permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/10407/7849829400
Preferred citation
John Tibbetts' Collection of Hollywood Press Kits, MS 292, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas

Repository Details

Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository

Contact:
1450 Poplar Lane
Lawrence KS 66045-7616 United States
785-864-4334