newsok - Autographed photos of stunning silver-screen sirens, movie tough guys and comedy legends are on display in the University of Central Oklahoma’s Mitchell Hall.
“They range from Fay Wray in ‘King Kong’ to Clint Eastwood in ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,’ ” said Zina Gelona, UCO’s director of Galleries and Collections. The collection of 35 photos recently was donated by former UCO President George Nigh.
“He called me and said a friend of his, Ed Nall, had this collection and he was downsizing,” Gelona said. Nall, who has since died, developed this collection of movie star autographs and wanted to donate it.
Included in the collection are autographed photos of Will Rogers, Buster Keaton, Bette Davis, Katharine Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, Bob Hope and Lon Chaney Jr.
“These are really great images from the ’30s and ’40s to have in the lobby, considering the history of Mitchell Hall,” Gelona said.
Also on display in the front of the lobby is an archive gallery featuring photographs of early performers and speakers at Mitchell Hall.
The theater was built in 1926 and has hosted a number of famous personalities, including comedian W.C. Fields, aviator Amelia Earhart and poet Robert Frost.
Earhart’s photo is part of the archive gallery.
“She was here in 1936 as part of a tour to raise money for her flights,” Mitchell Hall theater director Jim Poe said.
Mitchell Hall closed for 15 months for renovation and reopened in September 2009.
“It was nice to be able to bring a new collection to go with the new look to Mitchell Hall after the renovation,” Gelona said.
The archive gallery also includes photos of the school’s Shakespeare Club from 1913, 1916 and 1918, and the Blue Curtain Players, another theatrical group, from 1937.
Both collections can be viewed for free from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and before any scheduled performance in Mitchell Hall.
Autograph Article 
