Collection Summary
Helton, Percy, 1894-1971.
Percy Helton papers
1901-1980
07154
3.05 cubic feet (3 boxes)
University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
English
Percy Helton (1894-1971) was an American stage, film, and television actor, primarily recognized for his character roles in Hollywood during the 1950s and 60s.
This collection contains scripts, correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, playbills, theatre programs, telegrams, a costume from one of Helton’s plays, and a 16mm film of a television interview.
System Requirements
Television interviews -- Film -- 16 mm.
Biography of Percy Helton
Percy Helton (1894-1971) was an American stage, film, and television actor, primarily recognized for his character roles in Hollywood during the 1950s and 60s. Born in Manhattan,
Helton began his career in Vaudeville at just two years old, performing alongside his British-born father, William Alfred “Alf” Helton. By 1906, he was already appearing on Broadway,
notably in "Julie BonBon," and later in "The Poor Nut" and "To the Ladies!" Helton served in the United States Army during World War I, where he deployed to Europe with the 77th Infantry
Division’s 305th Field Artillery and received the Distinguished Service Cross. While in service, he performed with the Argonne Players, a troupe entertaining fellow soldiers. After the war,
changes in his voice altered his acting trajectory, leading him to become a distinctive character actor in film and television. His film credits included
Miracle on 34th Street (1947),
The Set-Up(1949),White Christmas (1954), Kiss Me Deadly (1955), The Sons of Katie Elder (1965), and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969),
while his television work included multiple appearances on Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, and The Beverley Hillbillies. Percy also served as a member and the Vice President of the Masquers Club.
Helton married Edna Eustace in 1931, and they remained together until his death in September 1971 in Hollywood, California.
Scope and Content
This collection contains scripts sent to Percy Helton and his wife, as well as ones he acted or wrote, correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, playbills, theatre programs,
telegrams, a costume from one of Helton’s plays, and a 16mm film of a television interview.
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes,
and the collection is open to the public.
Copyright Information
The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright,
property, and libel laws as they apply.
Statement on Potentially Harmful Language and Images Found in Collections
The American Heritage Center aspires to approach all areas of our work in ways that are
respectful to those who create, use, and are represented in our collections. For a variety of
reasons, however, users may encounter offensive or harmful language or images in some of our
finding aids, catalogs, and collection materials.
Note that the AHC does not censor or alter contents of the collections as they provide context and evidence of a time, people, place, or event.
Therefore, we encourage users to bring questions and concerns about descriptions in our finding aids to our attention via email or anonymous web-form.
For more information, read our full statement.
There are no known other archival collections created by Percy Helton at the date of processing.
Finding aid available in repository.
The collection material was recieved from C. Edward Mortlock in 1979.
This collection was processed by Brittany Heye in November of 2024.
Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection
Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Access Terms
Masquers Club.
United States. Army.
Motion picture acting.
Acting.
World War I
Scripts.
Motion pictures.
Actors.
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Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Performing Arts
Container List
2Artifact - 3 piece grey costume suitundated
1Contracts1910-1947
1Correspondence 1911-1976, undated
3Motion Picture Film - Television Interview (16mm)undated
1Newspaper clippings 1901, 1930-1947, 1969-1971
1Periodical - "The Jester" Vol. 2, No. 11960
3Photographs - Allworth, Frank S.1929
1Photographs - Bailey, Pearl1969
1Photographs - Carr, Mary1922
1Photographs - Dunbar, Janetundated
1Photographs - Duncan, Vivianundated
1Photographs - George, Graceundated
1Photographs - Hackett, Ralphundated
1Photographs - Helton, Percy1929, 1948, 1953, 1970, undated
1Photographs - Lewis, Fred D.1927
1Photographs - Mendoza, Harry1960
1Photographs - Nolan, Lloydundated
1Photographs - Philbrook, Louisundated
1Photographs - Sands, Halundated
1Photographs - Sears, Miriamundated
1Photographs - Sheehan, Jackundated
1Photographs - Shelby, Juliet1911
1Photographs - Vinson, Robert C.undated
1Photographs - Wadding, Graceundated
1Photographs - Wilson, Margery1921
1Photographs - Club -- LambsMarch 4, 1921
3Photographs - Oversizedundated
1Photographs - Unidentifiedundated
1Playbills1938, 1943
1, 3Programs1915-1922, 1930, 1942-1943, 1948, 1970-1971, undated
1Scripts - "Blind Alley"undated
1Scripts - "Born Yesterday" by Garson Kanin1945
1Scripts - "Eliza"undated
1Scripts - "The Front Page" by Louis Bensingerundated
1Scripts - "Gads Hill" A Fantasy by Joseph Santley, performed at Masquers1928, 1980
1Scripts - "Light Up the Sky" by Francis Blackundated
1Scripts - "Live Your Own Life" by Louise Treadwell and Percy Heltonundated
1Scripts - "The Lucky Ones"undated
1Scripts - "Matinata" by Lawrence Langerundated
1Scripts - "One Sunday Afternoon" by James Hagenundated
1Scripts - "The Play's the Thing" by Ferenc Molnar - "Mansky" script section for Percy Heltonundated
1Scripts - "The Ruggles" #58November 23, 1950
1Scripts - "Shining Threshold" - "Martha" script sectionundated
1Scripts - "Three Men on a Horse" by John Cecil Holm and George Abbottundated
1Scripts - "The Unknown Soldier" by Gene Buckundated
1Scripts - Untitled partial scriptundated
1Telegrams (addressed to Percy Helton)1926-1933, 1940, 1961, 1969, undated