John W. Warner Papers, ca. 1946-1986

Manuscript Collection #519

  • Descriptive Summary
     
    Title: John W. Warner Papers
    Creator: Warner, John W.
    Repository: ECU Manuscript Collection
    Language: English
    Abstract: Papers (1947-1986) including correspondence, legal papers, post cards, a 45 rpm record, script, newspaper clipping, financial records, and photographs.
    Extent: 0.9 Cubic feet, 51 items , consisting of correspondence, legal papers, post cards, a 45 rpm record, scripts, newpaper clipping, financial records, and photographs.
  • Description
     

    Correspondence consists of two letters (1947) from John Warner and Sam Underwood to the Guaranty Bank and Trust Company concerning loans and a letter (1948) from the Marvel Distributing Corporation offering to buy camera equipment. Legal papers in the collection include the incorporation of Lord-Warner Pictures, Inc. (1947), promissory notes, deeds of trust, a bill of sale for film negatives and prints, and an agreement between a manager and a performer.

    Memorabilia from the rediscovery of the film in 1986 include a post card of a poster, post cards of still photographs from the film, a post card of William Lord, a soundtrack recording, background information about the people who made the film, a copy of the script, and a proclamation by Governor James Martin declaring "Pitch a Boogie Woogie Week."

    Miscellaneous papers include a receipt for shipping a copy of the film to the Library of Congress (1948) and a stock certificate for Lord-Warner Pictures, Inc. There are bills for equipment and storage (1947, 1952) and an original script for a screenplay called "Integration" by John Warner. Copies of newspaper clippings are of reviews and advertisements for the film as well as for the rediscovery in 1986. The collection also contains three insurance policies for camera equipment and miscellaneous financial records.

  • Biographical / Historical Note
     

    "Pitch a Boogie Woogie," released by Lord-Warner Pictures, Inc., in 1948, was the first movie made by a production company based in North Carolina. The film, which had an all-black cast of mostly local Greenville, N.C., performers, enjoyed success in the Carolinas, but was never shown outside that area. Lord-Warner dissolved in 1949 and John Warner went to work for a local TV station. His brother William Lord, who changed his name from Warner in the 1920s, returned to New York.

  • Administrative Information
     
    Accessions Information

    October 8, 1986, 28 items; Papers (1947-1949) of Greenville, N.C., film maker, including legal records for Lord-Warner Pictures, Inc., correspondence, photographs, scripts, and soundtrack recording from "Pitch a Boogie Woogie." Gift of Mrs. Shirley W. Taylor, Jacksonville, Florida

    June 10, 2010, (unprocessed addition 1), 2 items, 0.50 cubic feet; Motion Picture Films (ca 1946-1986) by John Warner including his 16 mm color film with sound of Hurricane Helene for WNCT-TV, Greenville, North Carolina; also, his 35 mm silent film of West Greenville, N.C. Businesses that he possibly intended for use as commercials in his theatre on Albemarle Avenue. Motion Picture Films & Cases. 2 reels. Recd. 9/16/2009. Note: The family of the late Mac Nicholson gave #519.2.a to Mr. Albright. William Shepherd gave #519.2.b to Mr. Albright. See also related collection: Boogie in Black and White Documentary Collection #1086. Donor: Mr. Alex Albright.

    Acquisition Information

    Gift of Shirley W. Taylor
    Gift of Alex Albright

    Access Restrictions

    No restrictions

    Copyright Notice

    Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

    Preferred Citation

    John W. Warner Papers (#519), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.

    Processing Information

    Processed by M. Cherry, January 1988

    Encoded by Apex Data Services

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