It was only a couple of years ago that Claire Baldwin
contacted Hollywood Heritage and came to an Evening @ the Barn to chat
with our historians, Robert Nudelman, Marc Wanamaker and Bob Birchard about her
great grandfather, Charles W. Bradford, who came to Hollywood in 1915. A casual
contact with businessmen eyeing the promise of the fledgling moving picture
industry resulted in his establishment of Hollywood Studios in 1919, in a joint
venture with C.E. Toberman, who later became known as ‘Mr. Hollywood,’ and one
Jack Jasper who was the ‘ideas man.’ By 1923 Bradford was one of three
partners, along with C.E. Toberman, in the Hollywood Holding and Development
Company. (For a fascinating coincidence re this company, see the story on the
Covert Cottages.)
Hollywood Studios was successful from the start, with some
of the era’s biggest producers (Carlysle Blackwell, Mickey Neilan, King Vidor
and Harold Lloyd) making unforgettable pictures there.
Cut to: December 10, 2003, Art Laboe Evening @ the Barn.
Claire and her husband, Chris, arrived from their home in the Denver area and
asked for a few minutes and a mike before the evening started. Claire then
announced the Charles W. Bradford Grant of $10,000 to Hollywood Heritage in
honor of her great grandfather!! The cheering continued a week later when a
similar announcement was made informing the board.
Claire took the initiative on this project, creating the
Grant by assembling a group of history-minded friends and family, mostly in the
Denver area. The grant will go towards creation of an exhibit on Charles W.
Bradford and his role in early Hollywood’s history. Isn’t it great that after
all this time he got a really good agent!
Donors to the Charles W. Bradford Grant: Claire L. (Bradford) Baldwin and Chris Baldwin; Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey S. May; Bradford family members Brad & Leona McClellan, Dr. Marion K. McClellan and Michael Bradford McClellan; William B. McClellan; Lonnie Jenkins; Angel Hurlado; Michelle & Gabriel Aragon; Nicole Blackburn; Jeanice Caporaso Smith and Thomas E. Smith; Mr. and Mrs. Scott J. Yarmer; L. Jonell Andersen; Mr. and Mrs. Gary L. Windfield; Mr. and Mrs. Joseph L. Clark; Lisa Sevier; Deborah and Tracy Hanna; Deanna Hardy O’Mara; Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Smith.