The Entertainment Industry Collection at the University of Colorado Denver

In August 2017, CU Denver was honored to receive the Volkmann Klapholz Memorial Library, an important collection of papers, books, and objects documenting many facets of the audio industry. Additional gifts from the Audio History Library and Museum and other sources, along with a collection of historical films and film artifacts already at CU Denver, were combined with this to create the Entertainment Industry Collection. Work is underway to catalog and digitize the Collection in order to make its contents available to scholars and enthusiasts worldwide, both in person and via the Internet.

The holdings of the Archive include:

• The papers of John E. Volkmann, engineer at RCA from 1929 to 1970. Volkmann’s extensive list of projects include the soundtrack for Disney’s 1939 film, Fantasia; the acoustic design of RCA’s studios in New York, Nashville, and Rome; the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; and the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. Also in the collection are hand-written notes for an unpublished textbook on acoustics.
  

• The papers of Jesse Klapholz, audio engineer, consultant, and editor. Klapholz served as an editor for Sound & Communications and the Audio Engineering Society. Included are notes for his sound system designs for the Philadelphia International Airport and Longwood Gardens, among others.

• Numerous books and journals formerly in the Audio and Acoustics collection of the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. Publication dates go back to 1836.
  

• Original test results and notes from Hirsch-Houck Laboratories, renowned for their in-depth testing of audio equipment for magazines such as Audiophile and Stereo Review. Over 5,000 product reviews are found here.
  

• Historical products from Jensen Loudspeakers, showing the evolution of their designs over the years.
  

• Historical test equipment from Brüel & Kjær, Hewlett Packard, and others.
  

• Artifacts relating to over 10,000 motion pictures, including complete films, production stills, promotional literature, and posters.

The Entertainment Industry Collection is grateful for the generous contributions of the following:

• The family and friends of Jesse Klapholz (1954-2017)
  

• The Audio History Library and Museum, and its founder, Louis Manno
  

• Howie Movshovitz, University of Colorado Denver
  

• and many others.

Do you have items that you would like to donate to the Entertainment Industry Collection? Please email scott.r.burgess@ucdenver.edu for more information

Penciled notes from Fantasia recording session, 1938

Photo of Red Rocks Amphitheater prior to opening