riddle

It’s not every day that a Hollywood Golden Era collection graces the doorsteps of Murray , Ky. However, Hollywood is closer to Murray than it ever has been before.

Stunning black and white photos and personalized letters from Clark Gable, a rare photograph and a purple-penned autograph from Greta Garbo, along with James Dean, Marilyn Monroe and Ronald Reagan movie posters are among the extraordinary pieces of Hollywood that will be displayed in the near future in Wrather West Kentucky Museum.

William “Hal” Harold Riddle, a 1942 Murray State Teachers College alumnus, is giving a large piece of his illustrious 50-year acting career back to his alma mater by donating his Hollywood Golden Era movie collection to the University.

Linda Moore, MSU assistant director development/donor recognition and stewardship, is cataloging the contents and is amazed at the magnitude of Riddle’s collection that includes over 1,500 items. Moore said she has read letters from famous stars that include the late Jack Lemmon, Billie Dove, Ethel Waters, Kevin Spacey, Dale Evans, Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Marshall, a rare hand written note from Harpo Marx and a typed letter from Gov. Ronald Reagan. “There are other letters from directors and screen writers and autographed pictures from a long list of great stars such as Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, Greta Garbo, Bette Davis, Shirley Temple, Elizabeth Taylor and Joan Crawford. Posters and books featuring Clark Gable and James Dean are also included,” she said. “It is unbelievable. I’m totally overwhelmed at the variety of items that span over 70 years. The public is in for a treat when this collection opens to the public.”

A native of Fulton, Ky., Riddle, 84, spent his childhood dreaming of becoming an actor. Occasionally he would skip school to catch glimpses of the latest Hollywood stars at the local theatre. At 11, Riddle received his first piece of Hollywood memorabilia that still hangs in his apartment in the new Fran and Ray Stark Villa, an assisted living quarters in the Motion Picture & Television Fund’s Wasserman Campus in Woodland Hills, Calif. Riddle wrote the late Billie Dove, a leading 1920s silent film actress, after seeing her in the silent film Adoration, and received an autographed photo.

This photo and the relationship between Riddle and Dove is one that has been touted in The New Yorker, the Los Angeles Times and most recently Entertainment Weekly. In Riddle’s retirement years in Woodland Hills he was finally able to meet Dove, create a close relationship with his lifetime infatuation, and also deliver a eulogy at her funeral.

The Riddle and Dove story is being considered for a movie by Kevin Spacey, and a book by Chris Nashawaty, author of the Entertainment Weekly story. “I keep asking myself, is all this really happening to me,” Riddle said. “My collection and now a book and movie.”

However, Riddle is adamant about the movie story and says the movie has to be done tastefully. “I have already decided the only way a movie will be made from my story is if all the information isn’t garbage and made up,” he said.

Riddle’s career credit to a Higher Power other than himself is predominately evident by his large beloved-framed painting of Jesus Christ, the focal point of his Golden Hollywood Era collection, which represents Riddle’s life-long spiritual journey. “My parents always told me to maintain common sense with college book sense, strong faith, remember to pray and these things will go with you wherever you go.”

Riddle said his Hollywood collection and his character actor roles in “Johnny Dangerously” with Michael Keaton, to “Speedway” with Elvis Presley and television shows that included “The Waltons,” “Days of Our Lives,” “Bonanza,” and “Highway to Heaven,” weren’t granted to him just because he was a pack rat, and an actor seeking fame. “There has always been a greater power than myself and the Lord has a way of bringing circles around,” he said. “Prior to going to Los Angeles I lived in New York and attended church there at Norman Vincent Peale’s Marble Collegiate Church and was very involved with the young adult group.”

In 1948 Riddle met a young lady in the church who was involved with The Hayloft Summer Theatre in Pennsylvania and who told him to contact the theatre. Prior to contacting the summer theatre, Riddle prayed, then made the decision to forgo a sales career with his current employer, the National Cash Register Co. and pursue his life-long dream of acting. While working for the summer theatre for $25 a week, Riddle stepped in for his roommate Jack Lemmon, who was hired away from the theatre for "That Wonderful Guy" television series.

Riddle eventually left New York and traded in his experience for a shot at Hollywood. “I never gained the fame that many others did, but the journey has proven many surprises to me and has been very rewarding—I never really played the Hollywood game,” he said. “As I look back on my life, the Lord has blessed me. Some actors have awfully big egos, but I managed to keep mine in check through my church work, keeping my feet planted on the ground and was granted many feature parts and commercials along the way.”

A Southern Baptist who describes himself as a one of “great faith and belief,” Riddle said he chose Murray State as the resting place for his collection for many significant reasons. “There have been many other universities, along with Warner Brothers Museum, pursuing this collection, but I wanted it to go back to my alma mater, to a place I knew it would be taken care of and displayed properly,” he said. “Murray State has been very sensitive to all my requests.”

The thought of all the people visiting the campus to view the collection is a humbling thought to Riddle. “Murray was such a joyful period (1938-1942) of my life, the faculty, campus and town.”

Jim Carter, MSU vice president for institutional advancement, said while this gift is important to MSU, it also represents a most significant part of Hal’s life. “During Hal’s almost 10 years at the complex, his personality and his incredible collection of Hollywood memorabilia have made him the unofficial mayor of the retirement community,” he said. “Hal’s story, attitude and personality coupled with his unique collection, has drawn such regular visitors as Tom Hanks, Ron Howard, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas and Kevin Spacey among others. The University and the region are very lucky to have an alum such as Hal willing to share his collection with us.”